to the ignorant jerk critic...

[acroyear]

...who decided to say that Simpsons was the "best animated film ever!" as a quote to be put onto the latest tv commercials:

May the Ghost of Walt Disney and 8 of his Nine Old Men strike you down with lightning so that Ollie Johnson can dance on your grave singing Halleluia!

I'm pretty sure Lasseter would approve.

Comments

[dawntreader]

i have to ask... was it done in Comic Book Guy tone? "Best. Animated. Film. EVER." if so, then i approve of the use of the quote. (though obviously not the content.) if not, then no, i have to disagree with the quote and content.

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

no - it was read by the off-screen narrator, same guy who does all of these movie and trailer commercials.

[fiona64.livejournal.com]

I really don't get the whole Simpsons phenomenon. I thought it was cute as filler for "The Tracey Ullmann Show," but it is just not my bag at all.

And how *any* Groening animation can be considered superior to, oh, "Sleeping Beauty" or any of the other Disney classics is beyond me as well.

[thelongshot.livejournal.com]

Well, we don't rate the best movies purely on technical skill. I mean, Final Fantasy was technically impressive for what it was, but it isn't that great of a film.

If Ratatouille wins, it won't be just because it was a beautiful film, but that the story was engaging. Same goes for The Simpsons.

[tyrus.livejournal.com]

Agreed. And since he didn't say 'best American animated film', I'm sure that Miyazaki would like to dance as well.

[thelongshot.livejournal.com]

Eh. Hyperbole is common amongst movie reviewers, so this shouldn't be shocking. Nor do I take it seriously.

Considering Jeff Wells talks about Ratatouille being the best animated film of the year, The Simpsons probably doesn't rise to that level.

http://hollywood-elsewhere.com/archives/2007/07/beowulf_animati.php

He also talks about whether or not Beowulf will be considered an animated film. Certainly, there are films which are pretty borderline nowadays.

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

oh, i don't care what they say about "best ... film of the year". but "ever"?

the main place where things are borderline is when motion-capture is used for everything, like Polar Express. and apparently Beowulf.

then again, there were so many effects and digital backgrounds and the like in the Star Wars prequels that those might have been considered "animated"...except for the fact that the acting sucked. :)

[thelongshot.livejournal.com]

So what? His opinion won't be remembered in history and the merits of any film will be written as time goes on, no matter what one person thinks.

And I don't think much of it since hyperbole has existed for years. Yes, it is a dumb comment, but what else is new from movie reviewers? (Especially those who shill for the studios.)

As for Beowulf, there does need to be a line, since as you say, there is a lot about the prequels that you could define as "animated". Certainly, there is some artistic merit animation-wise to Beowulf, but less so than a lot of films because of the heavy rotoscoping.

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

beowulf? :perks up:

[thelongshot.livejournal.com]

You must not have been keeping up with my journal:

http://thelongshot.livejournal.com/81875.html

[vvalkyri.livejournal.com]

:hasn't been keeping up with anybody'sjournal - she's been out off town and still is out of town:

[eac.livejournal.com]

So, I'm not at all under the impression that the Simpsons is the best animated film ever, but what's with your persistent adoration for the Mouse?

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

it had always been there - i just couldn't afford it 15 years ago.

granted, since going to WDW in may i've been "in a mood" which will likely change again when MDRF starts up in a few weeks, followed by a morris mood with the foggy bottom 30th anniversary tour then the washington revels.

after that? don't know.

[eac.livejournal.com]

I have great admiration for old Disney animation, but the new movies have soundtracks that make me want to shoot myself in the head. And then there's the copyright thing...

[acroyear70.livejournal.com]

I'm willing to give Disney slack on the copyright thing.

they are doing exactly what is required of them as far as stockholder value and preservation of their financial interests require.

i am more peeved at 1) congress for giving in to their lobby (and naming it for the late Sonny Bono, making it an election crime not to support), and 2) the supreme court for throwing the "limited time" clause of the constitution out the window.

that a corporation wants to protect its interests is fine, even necessary. that a government willingly gives up its control over corporations AND throws aspects of its own founding document into the trash for the sake of a few election dollars is what i have a problem with.

[neadods.livejournal.com]

*weeps bitter tears for the current generation*

[zombie-dog.livejournal.com]

Hayao Miyazaki also might have a few choice words.