tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post7818638408075207018..comments2024-01-04T21:21:02.068-06:00Comments on The Muppet Mindset: THE MUPPETS Movie ReviewRyan Dosierhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18128434357825986817noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-31060475535084291982011-11-25T22:54:47.063-06:002011-11-25T22:54:47.063-06:00Thanks for your very thoughtful review. I enjoyed ...Thanks for your very thoughtful review. I enjoyed reading it. I just got back from seeing the movie with my mother (70), my sister (32) and my son (7). I'm 42 and my sister and I both grew up with Sesame Street and the Muppets so we couldn't wait to see this movie. I think everyone in the family came away having enjoyed it for different reasons. I didn't realize how much I had missed Kermit until I saw him on the big screen. I was a little taken aback by the warm feelings of affection I have for a green, felt puppet. These are feelings generally reserved for people whom I've known and loved for a long time. Honestly, it's a little disconcerting and a testament to what the Muppets mean to many people who grew up with them. I know Jim Henson doesn't do Kermit anymore (and Steve, whom I will always consider the "new guy" does a really great job) but I couldn't help but feel like he was just around every corner in this movie and I really liked that aspect of it. Nice touch having his photo on the banners hanging on the building next to the Muppet theatre. I thought the song that Kermit sang at the beginning about being lonely was the best of the tunes. It's the only new one that made me feel anything. I actually felt guilty about kind of forgetting about the Muppets. Like they faded away because of fans like me who grew up and got on with the business of getting married, having kids and forgetting about their special kind of magic. As far as the other songs went..I saw a review that compared the Rainbow Connection number to a warm hug and that's what it was for me too... a warm hug from a beloved old friend I hadn't seen in too long. Ditto for the Muppet theme song. My sister and I both sat there with stupid grins on our faces brought about by the pure joy of watching a fond childhood memory brought to life again. The rest of the original new songs were okay, but not as good to me as the classics. I agree with everyone who's saying that the song about being alone seemed out of place. I also don't recall whether it's tradition in Muppet movies or not, but I thought the dialogue for the human characters was lacking a bit and I really came away not caring about any of them even a little bit. You could have gotten rid of all of them but the villain and Jack Black and I would have liked the movie just as much. Perhaps it's always been that way in Muppet movies and I just didn't notice 20 years ago. I particularly could have done without the human love story line, but I understand why it was in there. Some of the humor seemed a little overplayed and forced to me (the ongoing maniacal laughter bit for instance). Overall, I very much enjoyed seeing the old gang back together and look forward to seeing more of them. It's also given me an excuse to introduce all of the old movies to my son who drove me crazy singing the manamana song all the way home from the theater. Hopefully this film will spawn a whole new generation of Muppet lovers. <br />-Lisa, Pittsburgh, PALisanoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-82218608979402612572011-11-23T19:12:49.536-06:002011-11-23T19:12:49.536-06:00Ryan, thanks for the excellent, very detailed revi...Ryan, thanks for the excellent, very detailed review! As a lifelong Muppet fan (from the Rowlf Jimmy Dean days) one small, odd thing has kept me optimistic about this film, and it is this: the shape of Kermit's head. Over the years Kermit has been rounded off, inflated, whatever you want to call it. But now he is back to the classic shape from the Sesame Street and Muppet Show years, where you can sense and see the changing shape of the hand inside. It used to be Jim's hand of course, and maybe that's why after his death extra foam or fluff was added to disguise the fact that that famous hand was no longer giving life to Kermit. Jim got a lot of wonderful expressions out of that very malleable felt face. I have no idea whether this was ever a conscious decision or simply the result of changing Muppet construction methods, but when I saw the first trailer, I said to myself "Kermit's back!"Russellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-49597661656571918532011-11-21T09:23:57.695-06:002011-11-21T09:23:57.695-06:00I also had a chance to see an advanced screening a...I also had a chance to see an advanced screening and I agree with all your comments and thoughts! Cannot wait to see it again. Paying the second time!Nicholenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-67494424841348604112011-11-17T06:42:57.837-06:002011-11-17T06:42:57.837-06:00Had goose bumps reading the whole time! If I wasn&...Had goose bumps reading the whole time! If I wasn't super stoked to see this before, I REALLY am amped up now!!!Dave Hulteen Designhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02231892543360587082noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-30758418892759121172011-11-14T20:07:18.453-06:002011-11-14T20:07:18.453-06:00I got to see an advance screening of this last Thu...I got to see an advance screening of this last Thursday as well. I can not WAIT to see it again. I was pretty much crying from start to finish. It is not a perfect movie. Like Ryan said, Me Party could go, and so could another musical number and a random genre parody that is thrown in the middle. But while the movie may not be perfect, the Muppets themselves were. I really hope this does well in the box office so that we can get more!Seanhttp://www.youtube.com/seanjonesmtnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-79194520423178400912011-11-14T11:08:03.619-06:002011-11-14T11:08:03.619-06:00He went to a cast and crew screening in California...He went to a cast and crew screening in California, so that's how he saw it.Shane K.http://loversdreamersandyou.tumblr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-87250974031150559622011-11-14T10:29:03.293-06:002011-11-14T10:29:03.293-06:00Is this movie out where you are now then Ryan for ...Is this movie out where you are now then Ryan for you because or how did you see it then? I couldn't find it in my theatre listing yet. Did you like Janise in the movie???~Sparklenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-78991690885427285242011-11-13T19:01:01.107-06:002011-11-13T19:01:01.107-06:00Ryan, a most awesome and compelling review. If I h...Ryan, a most awesome and compelling review. If I had any doubt about this movie, you alleviated them. Thank you so much for getting me even more excited for November 23.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-7210119507506450602011-11-13T11:17:15.556-06:002011-11-13T11:17:15.556-06:00All right,it´s official:now i can barely wait to w...All right,it´s official:now i can barely wait to watch this movie.Thanks for the awesome review,Ryan!!Bennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00580150364845016768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-78604022228167497802011-11-12T03:50:47.739-06:002011-11-12T03:50:47.739-06:00I love to see comedic actors do a serious role. Et...I love to see comedic actors do a serious role. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Stranger Than Fiction are actually my favorites from those two actors. I admit I'm more of a comedic type, but the fact that they did them so well and so convincing I think made them my favorites.Fine Arts Reviewshttp://www.jamesweggreview.org/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-9645408570126531572011-11-12T00:48:52.916-06:002011-11-12T00:48:52.916-06:00Haha! Awesome comment Nic!Haha! Awesome comment Nic!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-36747987639670858942011-11-11T21:40:50.898-06:002011-11-11T21:40:50.898-06:00Fantastic review Ryan, it made me tear up a little...Fantastic review Ryan, it made me tear up a little. Now I'm worried I'm going to cry from happiness the entire time I'm watching the movie. (I'll just have to see it again!)Lucynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-22505254089589030912011-11-11T21:12:05.239-06:002011-11-11T21:12:05.239-06:00At last! I tell you all along there was Snuffle- ...At last! I tell you all along there was Snuffle- opps. I mean, I somehow knew this film would work.Nic Kramernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-82940190346433411282011-11-11T20:26:04.719-06:002011-11-11T20:26:04.719-06:00Vanessa--
Considering how long that the Muppets (a...Vanessa--<br />Considering how long that the Muppets (and their performers) have been around, changes are bound to happen.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-15607998775176093362011-11-11T20:19:23.437-06:002011-11-11T20:19:23.437-06:00I have never seen a muppets movie in theatres (saw...I have never seen a muppets movie in theatres (saw them only in dvds) and read your review just make me even more excited to see the film in the theatres, 23 november..Noranoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-61224943169270663122011-11-11T15:22:22.221-06:002011-11-11T15:22:22.221-06:00Thank you, Ryan! Your review was the one I was mos...Thank you, Ryan! Your review was the one I was most looking forward to because you are a huge Muppet fan as well!!!!!!Chrishttp://facebook.com/christherejectnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-68995468280844625102011-11-11T14:21:30.615-06:002011-11-11T14:21:30.615-06:00Wonderful review! I can't WAIT to see the movi...Wonderful review! I can't WAIT to see the movie. When it comes out on DVD, I'll definitely buy it.Nathan Diniznoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-90723592836855545962011-11-11T12:52:39.372-06:002011-11-11T12:52:39.372-06:00I've been fighting the hype on this from day o...I've been fighting the hype on this from day one because I've been nothing but crushed for the past 25 years by the sad way the Muppets have been kicked around. I assumed this would be another lackluster or down-right embarrassing attempt to squeeze a few more dollars out of us long-term Muppet fans. I've also been reluctant to accept the "new" Muppets, the lack of Henson's and Hunt's energy, and the loss of many talented Muppeteers who have scattered to the wind. But, okay. You got me. I'm excited. Well done.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-36615166799644635832011-11-11T12:52:03.559-06:002011-11-11T12:52:03.559-06:00Ryan, thank you writing this wonderful review - yo...Ryan, thank you writing this wonderful review - your words are so true and heartfelt and I trust your opinion and your judgement above just about anyone else's when it comes to the Muppets. I am beyond thrilled you were of the first to get to see it and if it's even possible to be more excited about seeing it myself than I already am, well, I am. I am seeing it on my birthday as a gift to myself and I know without a doubt it will be my best birthday ever. And hey - thanks for all you do for us Muppet fans in case I haven't told you that lately. <3Bethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05654415866049257661noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-13580392546150206122011-11-11T12:48:36.460-06:002011-11-11T12:48:36.460-06:00Excellent review! P.S. I believe I read somewhere ...Excellent review! P.S. I believe I read somewhere that "Me Party" was cut in an earlier edit of the film and was put back in for some reason, which may explain the "meh" response it gave you.Shane K.http://loversdreamersandyou.tumblr.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-11601607466766383202011-11-11T12:43:33.750-06:002011-11-11T12:43:33.750-06:00Thank you so much Ryan for this speedy and thought...Thank you so much Ryan for this speedy and thoughtful review. I read a lot of film critiques and this one is better than most. Not just because it's positive, rather because you communicate exactly what we need to know without retelling what the previews already told us or blurting out spoilers. I also want to add that, with the exception of "It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie" in 2002's, Kermit has largely taken a backseat or secondary role in recent projects since Jim passed. This film seems to honor the frog the way he once was. The true rebirth of confidence in the character from an all-too-long hiatus. All is as it should be. Let's hope others will see that too!james v carrollhttp://wijitworld.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-87364345816350102492011-11-11T12:41:15.295-06:002011-11-11T12:41:15.295-06:00Excellent review -- and coming from a Muppet fan w...Excellent review -- and coming from a Muppet fan who's extremely excited to share this experience with his daughter (who has never seen a Muppet movie in theaters), I have a feeling neither one of us will be let down.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-22276439569231337682011-11-11T12:40:44.808-06:002011-11-11T12:40:44.808-06:00Thanks so much for the review Ryan!
Now, more tha...Thanks so much for the review Ryan!<br /><br />Now, more than ever, I am excited about seeing the film, and no doubt all of the naysayers will become quiet after this film comes out.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5388731228923289276.post-7068525860604962072011-11-11T12:39:39.043-06:002011-11-11T12:39:39.043-06:00Well, congrats Ryan, your article just made me sta...Well, congrats Ryan, your article just made me start crying in the middle of my college's computer lab. I'm just filled with such an overall sense of relief, joy, excitement, and bliss. I cannot wait for this movie. Thank you for giving us a great review without revealing any spoilers!!!<br />-- Julia (ie. Puckrox)JGaskhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09477328879423154082noreply@blogger.com