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Some spies have seen MADAGASCAR... Will it make the kids smile or yawn'
Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with a pair of looks at MADAGASCAR, the newest Pixar-lite flick from DREAMWORKS. I know folks love the SHREK movies, but I was only really able to stomach the second one... and SHARK TALE was one of the worst films I saw last year. It just didn't work, depending way too much on wink-wink references and too little on making characters you didn't want to jab a rusty, dull hook through their obnoxious mouths only to slowly suffucate them in a cooler that smells of the death of its brethren mixed with stale beer...
I'm sorry... where was I? Ah, MADAGASCAR. We were shown about 10 minutes from the beginning of this flick at BNAT this year and it actually had some laughs. Some of the jokes fell flat, but the ones that worked made up for it... But the real thing that has me worried about this film is that the part that fell flat was most of the stuff with the main characters and the parts that worked were, seemingly, smaller, one joke characters, like the SWAT-like squad of Penguins.
I want this movie to be good. I really liked ANTZ and like I said above, I liked SHREK 2... I'd love to have nothing but greatly made animated flicks. Below you'll find two opinions... well, technically 4 opinions... First up is a father that took his 2 kids to a test screening with some unfinished effects... This is the least positive of the two reports we got in. The second report is more positive from our pal JinXy Chaos, who saw 40 minutes of finished film... Here is the first!
I went to see a test screening of Madagascar, with my two kids, ages 6 and 8. We were approached the day before by perky men holding clipboards. After going through the metal detectors, we were escorted to our seats. A few minutes later, Jeffrey Katzenberg walked in, surrounded by some of the key creatives from the film.
Because the movie was still a work-in-progress, with plenty of scenes shown as blocky renderings or sketches, it's difficult to come down too hard on the film. But to me and my kids, it felt consistently averagely mediocre. After seeing a movie, I always ask my kids, You wanna see it again? That tells me right there how *much* they liked it. They just kind of shook their heads, Nah.
In the movie, a group of depraved zoo animals escapes, gets on a boat, and thinks they are heading to San Diego. They end up in Madagascar, where they fall into kingdom of spider monkeys. Once the animals escape from the zoo, and the movie changes settings, into the jungle, it becomes a bore. The penguins, a comedy mainstay from the first part of the movie, disappear for a while, and the plot points come together (Will the Lion eat his friends?) with a feeling of, Who really cares? Unfortunately, this film lags behind the last Dreamworks animated film, Shark Tale, and I don't see a real bright run for it.
Okay, I'm back. "... lags behind the last Dreamworks animated film, Shark Tale..." Yikes! I don't see how they could make it worse without really trying hard to do so... Here's a more positive look from JinXy. Maybe he saw the good 40 minutes? Hopefully there's another good 40 with at least a mediocre 10 or 20 thrown in there? I can compromise! It's also possible that seeing the final rendered version of the film will make all the difference in the world. Let's see what JinXy has to say:
Hey Harry,
JinXy Chaos returns from Madagascar….err the Movie not the island.
I was granted a look at portion of the film Madagascar the other night. From what they said the film is nearly complete, but out of the portion I saw it was pretty much done with only a few rough cuts and not refined CGI. No Animated storyboards or Animatics.
The film itself is pretty charming actually. The trailers don't do the film justice, sure it's a kids film and the trailers only want to show a few funny moments to get your kids juiced up to see it...and in that respect those trailers work just fine.
I wont talk about the plot too much since it's basically drawn out for you in the trailers as the fish out of water family film it is. But the movie takes a nice adult viewer friendly twist in how it's characters related to one another. The four main characters are at their core transplanted from both Seinfeld and Friends (maybe a little Fraser sprinkled on top). Much like Jerry, George, Elaine and Kramer these are four characters who really shouldn’t be friends, yet despite their differences (or food chain status) life's little quirks have placed them all together for the duration.
Of these four animals only one is truly dreaming of something better or at least different and is driven to find it, Otherwise they are all content to sit on display at the zoo being hand fed and spoiled. It's only when the Penguins (who rule by the way) plant the idea that life might be better somewhere else that Marty (Rock) feels the true weight of his restlessness an decides to go on a little trip, the end result of which is Marty and many of the other animals get a transfer to a new Zoo. And its Penguin intervention again that supplants this group of friends on Madagascar with among other things a group of insane rave dancing Lemurs.
As for the cast behind the voices, Ben Stiller is perfect in his role as Alex "The King of New York" Lion. He brings his dry yet childlike enthusiasm for goofiness and it fits. Chris Rock does what he does best and despite the fact that I think he's truly a funny guy He's just playing himself, but that's not a bad thing. David Schimmer as Melman the Hypochondriac Giraffe is pretty much Ross in Giraffe skin camouflage. Not much to say really it's not a good thing or a bad thing. I have to admit I'm not a fan of Jada Pinkett Smith but I have to say Her Gloria the Hippo is great! She's tough but as the Mother of the group she’s very warm and sweet. I had expected them to play her as Jada in a Low Down Dirty Shame (yes I've seen that…once) or something like it.
The real surprise in the cast is Andy Richter (A god of unappreciated comedy) and Sacha Baron Cohen (aka Ali G). While I only got a few minutes worth of these two during this viewing I can see where they are going with them and it should be good.
Being a parent I'm doomed to see pretty much any kids film out of the gate, So I appreciate it when a kids film can make me honestly giggle and enjoy myself. Thankfully I've done my job well and we watch stuff more like Wallace and Gromit and Robotech than forcing me to sit through Rugrats. (But I do know the Goofy Goober Song from Sponge Bob the Movie By Heart).
I've seen alot of test screenings and things like this and normally I don't prefer to write about them, partially because I was asked not too but mostly I try to realize it's unfinished work and by the time it screens it could be drastically different(good or bad) and besides I figure there's always time enough to bash a horrible film into the ground. But this time I was never asked NOT to write about it and it's a CGI film that seemed pretty locked on it's target so I gave it a shot and I hope it makes sense.
I'm sure this film wont be a grand slam like The Incredibles but it's going to be a funny pill to swallow while taking the kids out for a treat.
Hope you can use this.
Thanks
JinXy
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i don't know, i get weird PLANT vibes from review 2..anybody else agree?it just doesn't mention anything negative..
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appareantly neither have the makers of Madagascar... Can't say I have the right feelings with this movie.
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I guess I can sympathise with the first reviewer. The teaser which concentrated on the main characters' time at the zoo, made me think this film had promise. Then I saw a second teaser (or maybe it was a trailer?) which showed me some of the film set in Madagascar, and the good vibe was gone.
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Apr 08, 2005 7:27:50 AM CDT
In Brad Bird's commentary for The Incredibles, he said he tested
by frankdrebin
but went with "lesser" star Craig T. Nelson, because his voice was more inspiring to the animators. DreamWorks needs to follow that example.
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There are so many of them now I wonder if they'll burn out the market a bit. Most of them are following the same tired formula too.
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Apr 08, 2005 10:00:15 AM CDT
I think the first reviewer meant "deranged" not "depraved" -- th
by frankdrebin
The new Previews (the comic mag, not the movie mag "Preview") has some merchandise for "Shark Boy & Lava Girl" that looks very "Calvin & Hobbes"-ish. There's also some "Willy Wonka" merchandise that looks like "Nightmare Before Christmas"-ish with color splashed on it (ie: the curvy tree). PS: I always like to remind people that Tim Burton DID NOT direct "Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas". PPS: Here's a link to a "Nightmare" game in the works: http://www.gametrailers.com/gamepage.php?id=850
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Ok, seriously, if the moral of Madagascar is, 'it's ok to be different in a controlled mainstream environment; no matter what size or species you are...' then I'll be writing Dreamworks a letter. A long letter.
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I sympathize with you, Tuna. But as long as these movies will make money (and we all know they make TOO much money) there will be countless rip-offs with cute beings that achieve their unlikely goals with an Important Lesson learned at the end. Only with inspired writing (The Incredibles) this could make a great movie, but I'm afraid that Dreamworks and Fox still have to learn that lesson. Shrek 2 wasn't anything more than more spoofs than the Naked Gun trilogy combined. Funny, but nothing memorable.
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Apr 08, 2005 11:21:34 AM CDT
How many CGI films can be released until that genre caves in on
by funmazer
We had Shark Tale, Incredibles, Robots, Madagascar, then isn't there a pigeon movie in May as well (Valiant?) and probably another one this summer. Add on top Chicken Little this Thanskgiving and that's like 5-6 CGI movies in a year's time. This is just like the bandwagon of non-Disney 2D movies that came on the tails of Disney's early 90's success - only WORSE!. Granted these new "me too" CGI movies are doing better than say, Anastasia but DAMN! How many can people take? They can't be cheap to make and their profits are slowly declining... Remember when it seemed like every 2D Disney movie was gonna make more money than the last ENDLESSLY? Then they too started going downhill in BO but that didn't stop THE PIPELINE so the movies keep coming out! Perhaps people got sick of them cuz there were so fricking many? Anyway, I think it's gonna happen with CGI flicks soon as well. People will get sick of them, but instead of stopping production they'll finish everything in the queue and when stuff comes out and limps off with $30 mil domestic the suits will declare "3D is Dead!"
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It doesn't matter how well-written the film is (although the only thing in either trailer I've seen to generate actual chuckles have been the penguins), but, holy shit...UGLY. CHARACTER. DESIGNS. While the characters thankfully don't look like their celeb counterparts, this film, like Shark Tale, just looks plain ugly. The designs on a Pixar film are always pleasing to the eye, and have a central design motif that runs through the film (like the retro-60's look of The Incredibles), but it seems like Madagascar was slapped together just to cash in on the current CGI explosion (which *will* end up crashing and burning like 2D films did in the late-90's and beyond, due to too much product in the market).
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Apr 08, 2005 12:20:07 PM CDT
There are only 2 companies creating worthwhile animated films to
by spike fett
Pixar and Lucasfilm.
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Damn proud to be a Disney plant. ka ching.
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The second review sounds completely plant-like. It's language is very industry buzzwordy. I don't trust it. i say, PLANT!
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Period. They undoubtedly have talented people in their ranks but the only decent thing they ever released was Nick Park's Chicken Run, the production of which they had nothing to do with. Their story departments and directors, their "stunt celebrity" casting are all pathetic. Oh, and thanks guys (your associated "Go Fish" division) for so ROYALLY screwing up the Ghost In The Shell 2 DVDs.
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I agree with the theory that 3D will probably crash, and burn just like 2D did in recent years due to over saturation, and mediocre stories. The other studios have learned nothing from Pixar, and they won't bother to learn from them any time soon. Still, i'd like to see 2D make a comeback because 3D is starting to annoy me. What it all comes down to is good films. People want to see good films. Not the latest trends! If 2D ever dose make a comeback, i hope the studios learn from it's past mistakes with oversaturation, and cashing in. But who am i kidding. This is Hollywood. They never learn anything.
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Isn't that where we going to send the Jews?
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OK it's not as good as PIXAR films, thats obvious, but like Shrek 2 its got good jokes and makes me laugh, Shrek 1 is just too annoying for me, bad "love story", awful songs.
Anyway get of Shark Tales back it's good for kids who just wanna laugh and have no interest in the more in depth stuff from PIXAR, which I love by the way -
The first review said the movie was enjoyable until they left the zoo. The second review said he saw 40 minutes of the movie, went on to describe scenes at the zoo, and said it was good. Trailer viewing shows the same consistent breakdown: this movie has 40 minutes of good stuff in a zoo, and fifty-ish minutes of sub-par Shark Tale wanna-be action at the title site. Not looking forward to this, but unfortunately will be dragged to it by the somewhat nondescriminating horde of youngins who insist I carry out my fatherly duties. At least they don't ask for the crap movies on DVD and just get the good ones for repeated viewings ...
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I saw this screening, and while the character design is sometimes nice, the story is a mess. Once the characters get to where they're going, nothing happens. It's a 2 hour bore-fest. Reminds me a lot of that other dramworks flop, "Road to El Dorado." Only not as good looking.
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after Sin City, we have a ways to go before that happens....
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Yes, Vassilis, you are 100% spot-on, that's so gotta be a plant. Just like that weepy-positive Brown Bunny review a few months back. ugh. These Dreamworks films are horrible. Face it, Shrek 2 won't be funny in 10 years, it's too topical. The Incredibles and Toy Sory, anything PIXAR is timeless. That's why Dreamworks is putting out mediocre schlock like this Madagascar. Did anyone see the trailer with Ben Stiller in person, looking bored as hell, telling the story of Madagascar on the Shrek 2 DVD? They probably did this because they have nothing good to piece together for a finished film they're rushing out. Mark my words, we get more of these reviews in, they're gonna be negative! Worst. Movie. Ever.
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Antz was ok, but like pretty much all else Dreakworks has done, it copied PIXAR and sucked ass as a BAD copy! SHARKTALE SUCKED and even Shrek was only mildly entertaining!
Trust me on this, I do CGI and I know unoriginal crapfest when I see it! Formula= Get every famous actor we (Dreamworks) know and have them do a voice for our film+ crappy script/story= DREAMWORKS! -
"I do CGI..." LOL...no one who really works on feature animated CG films talks that way. You probably work on some shitty game that no one will ever see but imagine that your own "animation" is of the same quality. What a joke you are. Go kill yourself.
Madagascar will rock some serious ass. Just watch the numbers and weep your little CGI tears you numb-nuts. God I hate hypocrites.
Oh, and I too work in the CGI.
Moron.
Loser.
Half-wit.
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