"Battle For Terra" Review (Spoilers)
Also reviews for the latest episodes of The Simpsons, The Great North, Bob's Burgers, and Family Guy.
Battle For Terra
Wow, that had the exact same plotline as Avatar. And it came out a year before that did. I don't know who ripped off who, but if both scripts were written honestly that's quite a coincidence.
Here is an opinion that's gonna get me creamed. I like it far more than Avatar. I'm not saying it's a great movie. I'm saying Avatar's a bad one. The main human character here isn't reprehensible so it's automatically better, even if the movie isn't that well-made.
And it's not. The animation feels a LITTLE shoddy, even for 15 years ago, and it doesn't hold up. The characters are very creepy "Uncanny Valley", particularly the humans. Even worse, the humans all look alike, and the Terrans all look alike too. Not much variation in designs make the battle scenes a bit confusing.
I am not surprised this bombed at the box office. The main hero sacrificing himself at the end in a PG-rated cartoon is a big no-no, and not something kids or parents would respond to. Did I think it was a gutsy ending? Yup. Did it make me understand why no kids dug the movie? Also yes.
Under other circumstances, I'd be underwhelmed. But the fact that this underwhelming movie is actually better than a similar box office juggernaut amuses me and pisses me off at the same time. ***.
The Simpsons "You Won't Believe What This Episode Is About - Act Three Will Shock You!"
"Lemonade Karen" was good and the issue is kind of timely. But I dunno. I feel like Homer IS the kind of guy who would leave the dog in the car on a hot day with the windows up. Making him actually innocent of that specific thing was not necessary.
His rant at the Church was great though. It's amazing a dummy like Homer Simpson said the exact right, true things in that specific situation, while all Brian Griffin can do is brag about kissing a transsexual and watching black porn. The show is making a statement there. I'm sure of it.
Great episode title. The Simpsons used to have those. It's been awhile.
Okay. ***.
The Great North "Stools Rush In Adventure"
Here's something: I actually agree with the theater teacher that Judy is attention-starved and tries to make every theater production about herself. She and her new friend can say the teacher sucks, but I think she got what was going on perfectly.
I don't know if I've had occasion to mention this before, but Moon is a shockingly boring character. Bob's Burgers has Louise, and The Great North has him. And the contrast in little kids wearing animal ears cannot be more stark. He's neither funny nor interesting.
It was all right, I suppose, but I didn't really respond to it. **1/2.
Bob's Burgers "Video Killed The Gen-io Star"
I very much like the idea that Gene objects to the video for reasons of artistic integrity. I feel like the show often does wrong by Gene in the way they portray his musical aspirations as shallow and lazy. That was the show doing right by them for once.
And Teddy goes to Bob for the hug. Because of course he does.
I am with Bob in only being freaked out upon learning the briefcase is filled with walnuts. That is outright weird. We are in the presence of death.
Return of "Lick it like you like it." NOT a catchphrase I've missed.
Pretty good. Not great. ***1/2.
Family Guy "HBO-No"
I've never even heard of Succession and Big Little Lies.
Didn't understand the purpose of the Seth Green footage unless it was simply to remind us he's unfunny and unsuccessful.
It's true. Game of Thrones was only beloved for 6 and a half seasons. It then went downhill QUICK and became legitimately despised.
Come to think of it, the final battle with the White Walkers WAS kind of dark and hard to see.
Funny shot at Amazon Prime.
I don't much like Family Guy's trilogy episodes. Unless they're Viewer Mail. Bring back Viewer Mail.
Not a great night of Fox toons. Bob's Burgers won it with a night that was merely passable. **.
Battle For Terra
Wow, that had the exact same plotline as Avatar. And it came out a year before that did. I don't know who ripped off who, but if both scripts were written honestly that's quite a coincidence.
Here is an opinion that's gonna get me creamed. I like it far more than Avatar. I'm not saying it's a great movie. I'm saying Avatar's a bad one. The main human character here isn't reprehensible so it's automatically better, even if the movie isn't that well-made.
And it's not. The animation feels a LITTLE shoddy, even for 15 years ago, and it doesn't hold up. The characters are very creepy "Uncanny Valley", particularly the humans. Even worse, the humans all look alike, and the Terrans all look alike too. Not much variation in designs make the battle scenes a bit confusing.
I am not surprised this bombed at the box office. The main hero sacrificing himself at the end in a PG-rated cartoon is a big no-no, and not something kids or parents would respond to. Did I think it was a gutsy ending? Yup. Did it make me understand why no kids dug the movie? Also yes.
Under other circumstances, I'd be underwhelmed. But the fact that this underwhelming movie is actually better than a similar box office juggernaut amuses me and pisses me off at the same time. ***.
The Simpsons "You Won't Believe What This Episode Is About - Act Three Will Shock You!"
"Lemonade Karen" was good and the issue is kind of timely. But I dunno. I feel like Homer IS the kind of guy who would leave the dog in the car on a hot day with the windows up. Making him actually innocent of that specific thing was not necessary.
His rant at the Church was great though. It's amazing a dummy like Homer Simpson said the exact right, true things in that specific situation, while all Brian Griffin can do is brag about kissing a transsexual and watching black porn. The show is making a statement there. I'm sure of it.
Great episode title. The Simpsons used to have those. It's been awhile.
Okay. ***.
The Great North "Stools Rush In Adventure"
Here's something: I actually agree with the theater teacher that Judy is attention-starved and tries to make every theater production about herself. She and her new friend can say the teacher sucks, but I think she got what was going on perfectly.
I don't know if I've had occasion to mention this before, but Moon is a shockingly boring character. Bob's Burgers has Louise, and The Great North has him. And the contrast in little kids wearing animal ears cannot be more stark. He's neither funny nor interesting.
It was all right, I suppose, but I didn't really respond to it. **1/2.
Bob's Burgers "Video Killed The Gen-io Star"
I very much like the idea that Gene objects to the video for reasons of artistic integrity. I feel like the show often does wrong by Gene in the way they portray his musical aspirations as shallow and lazy. That was the show doing right by them for once.
And Teddy goes to Bob for the hug. Because of course he does.
I am with Bob in only being freaked out upon learning the briefcase is filled with walnuts. That is outright weird. We are in the presence of death.
Return of "Lick it like you like it." NOT a catchphrase I've missed.
Pretty good. Not great. ***1/2.
Family Guy "HBO-No"
I've never even heard of Succession and Big Little Lies.
Didn't understand the purpose of the Seth Green footage unless it was simply to remind us he's unfunny and unsuccessful.
It's true. Game of Thrones was only beloved for 6 and a half seasons. It then went downhill QUICK and became legitimately despised.
Come to think of it, the final battle with the White Walkers WAS kind of dark and hard to see.
Funny shot at Amazon Prime.
I don't much like Family Guy's trilogy episodes. Unless they're Viewer Mail. Bring back Viewer Mail.
Not a great night of Fox toons. Bob's Burgers won it with a night that was merely passable. **.