The Adventures Of Rocky And Bullwinkle (2000)

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The Adventures Of Rocky And Bullwinkle (2000); Moose and Squirrel Strike Back!
Topic Started: Jun 17 2009, 10:34 AM (127 Views)
Chandu	Jun 17 2009, 10:34 AM Post #1
Knowledge Seeker and rascal at large Posts: 9,989 Group: Members Member #297 Joined: October 19, 2007	I ran across this the other night and since I'm a. a Rocky and Bullwinkle fan, and b. I'd never heard of it before, I took a look at it. Before watching it however, I decided that if it involved actors running around in moose and squirrel costumes, the "delete" button would be employed. As it turned out, moose and squirrel were animated and as soon as I heard June Foray doing Rocky's voice again, I was hooked! Once again they stumble and bumble their way to foiling Fearless Leader, played by Robert De Niro, Boris and Natasha, played by less well known actors but doing an incredibly and believable good job. I thought the whole thing was done very well, right in the spirit of the original Rocky And Bullwinkle TV show and I enjoyed it as thoroughly or more than anything I've seen lately. That may or may not speak well of my viewing habits.
	Didja ever drop your gum in a chicken coop and find it three times?


Laughing Gravy	Jun 17 2009, 02:33 PM Post #2
Revered in the UK Posts: 11,038 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: August 31, 2005	I thought it was one of the bottom 10 films I'd ever seen, completely witless. I did enjoy Miss Foray's voicework and the "Are you talkin' to ME?" from Fearless Leader, and that was it.



CliffClaven	Jun 17 2009, 05:54 PM Post #3
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 207 Group: Members Member #712 Joined: March 30, 2009	It wasn't a disgrace by any means. The problem was that the originals were aggressively flat and cheaply animated, which made the cartoons feel as quick and ad-libbed as the dialogue. The 3-dimensional Rocky and Bullwinkle moving through a real world were like silent comedians suddenly made bland by sound. And it's one thing for Boris and Natasha to mess with airplanes and build giant towers in a cartoon; it's something else to see quick sight gags made expensively real -- and slowed down so we can see the money was spent. I'll say it was as good as any big Bullwinkle could be. Like any blockbuster, there was probably a lot of pressure to make it look and feel like whatever else was hot, so it's surprising that the tone was so right so much of the time. Also, fear of outdatedness and controversy must have ruled out most really topical jokes -- in fact, a lot of best jokes would have worked just as well back in the 60's cartoon. But I wonder what would have happened if they slashed the budget and schedule, kept the two stars as flat, jerky cartoon characters without worrying about fooling anyone, and let some reckless satirists devise a what-the-hell script that echoed the TV show. It could easily have been a wretched mess, but it just might have been brilliant.



Chandu	Jun 17 2009, 06:14 PM Post #4
Knowledge Seeker and rascal at large Posts: 9,989 Group: Members Member #297 Joined: October 19, 2007	Laughing Gravy Jun 17 2009, 02:33 PM I thought it was one of the bottom 10 films I'd ever seen, completely witless. I did enjoy Miss Foray's voicework and the "Are you talkin' to ME?" from Fearless Leader, and that was it. Well I don't think I'll go out and beat my DVR into plowshares just yet. I also enjoy Charlie Chan, so I'd expect our tastes to differ somewhat. Besides, I'm easily amused. Does it show? Cliff's assessment may be closer to the truth. Edited by Chandu, Jun 17 2009, 06:17 PM.
	Didja ever drop your gum in a chicken coop and find it three times?


Stony Brooke da Mesquiteer	Jun 18 2009, 02:47 AM Post #5
Space Aged Workin' Balconeer Posts: 14,060 Group: Members Member #244 Joined: July 6, 2007	That's too funny. "I thought it was one of the bottom 10 films I'd ever seen..." This from a cat who does Monogram Week, and then watches 7 straight Monogram/Lugosi films. Funny I said ... damn funny.
	"It's a sad man, my friend... Who's livin' in his own skin... And can't stand the company"


Laughing Gravy	Jun 18 2009, 05:14 AM Post #6
Revered in the UK Posts: 11,038 Group: Admin Member #1 Joined: August 31, 2005	Well, "Private Snuffy Smith" is probably in the bottom 10 films I've ever seen. As for the rest, I laughed a hell of a lot more during The Ape Man than I did during Rocky & Bullwinkle!



The Batman	Jun 18 2009, 06:26 AM Post #7
Charter Member Posts: 5,567 Group: Members Member #17 Joined: September 4, 2005	I have to back LG on this one. TAORAB is not a good movie, by any stretch. But...that doesn't mean someone can't enjoy it on some level. It's not horrible. Or a lame-ass movie starring any member of the Beach Boys.



CliffClaven	Jun 18 2009, 09:12 AM Post #8
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 207 Group: Members Member #712 Joined: March 30, 2009	I hold that it wasn't a total failure, because the makers had knowledge of and respect for the original. Unfortunately, a movie Rocky and Bullwinkle was just not a good idea. it was more honorable than, say, Legend of the Long Ranger or The Shadow, which trashed the fairly straightforward virtues of the originals while proudly and consciously embracing every cliche of overblown summer blockbusters. In The Shadow, you can almost hear a bunch of guys in meetings: "Cloud men's minds -- nah. What if he had, like superpowers and could morph walls and stuff? And research says we can't have star who actually looks like those famous covers. Let's get Alec Baldwin and he, uh, TURNS INTO Victor Jory. Oh, and the whole first part could be Indiana Jones . . ." As for Legend of the Lone Ranger: "So instead of an outlaw, we have a mad militia leader who wants to kidnap every merchandisable hero of the old west and take it over. And we'll make the ambush bigger than WWII. Then we'll spend time on characters we won't really use until the sequels. Of course, we'll have to economize and use cheap actors for Ranger and Tonty . . ."



Chandu	Jun 18 2009, 09:48 AM Post #9
Knowledge Seeker and rascal at large Posts: 9,989 Group: Members Member #297 Joined: October 19, 2007	CliffClaven Jun 18 2009, 09:12 AM I hold that it wasn't a total failure, because the makers had knowledge of and respect for the original. An' I hold with Cliff, cuz I enjoyed it, but like I said, I'm easily amused.
	Didja ever drop your gum in a chicken coop and find it three times?


The Batman	Jun 18 2009, 10:21 AM Post #10
Charter Member Posts: 5,567 Group: Members Member #17 Joined: September 4, 2005	Chandu Jun 18 2009, 09:48 AM like I said, I'm easily amused. It's true, folks! He really is.



shelbyvinje	Jun 29 2009, 03:36 PM Post #11
Balcony Gang, Foist Class Posts: 401 Group: Members Member #470 Joined: June 3, 2008	I'll chime in. Waste of talent and the film could have been a LOT better. Anyone seen the first GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE movie? That is how the Rocky and Bullwinkle movie should have been. GEORGE was perfect and ROCKY was awful. Now if someone can convince Jay Ward's bodyguards to release season four and five so the world can be a funnier place...


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