Muppets

[Goofyernmost]

So, characters in live action films can have depth, but not cartoons or puppets? That's awfully dismissive to all the writers, directors, and actors who work in the latter mediums.

I can see that this is going nowhere, so, lets just say that the difference between cartoons or puppets and real people is palpable. All you folks are welcome to get obsessed by puppets, cartoon characters, be it comic books or filmed drawings if you like, but, I will never ever want to not see the difference and hope to always have the ability to tell the difference.

 

[erasure fan1]

So, here's an interesting discussion we could start up... Favorite and least favorite Muppet movies.

I'll just go released in the theater.
1a & 1b caper and Manhattan
2 the muppet movie
3 Christmas carol
4 the muppets
5 most wanted
6 treasure island
7 space

I also don't see why there is all the hate for most wanted. While not the best they have done, it wasn't bad. The reason it is lower on my list is that we really didn't need to go the whole caper plot again. It's a shame we won't see another movie for a long time if ever. I hope the TV show is good then we might see something on the big screen sooner.

 

[Tom P.]

I can see that this is going nowhere, so, lets just say that the difference between cartoons or puppets and real people is palpable. All you folks are welcome to get obsessed by puppets, cartoon characters, be it comic books or filmed drawings if you like, but, I will never ever want to not see the difference and hope to always have the ability to tell the difference.

Wow, you really are a condescending twit, aren't you?

 

[Brer Panther]

I also don't see why there is all the hate for most wanted.

Is it really that hated? I mean, I don't like it, but it seems pretty well-liked to me.

 

[Matt_Black]

Is it really that hated? I mean, I don't like it, but it seems pretty well-liked to me.

Film critics liked it well enough, it seems.

 

[Brer Panther]

Muppet fans seem to LOVE IT. Which, I must admit, I don't understand...

 

[POLY LOVER]

the old men are my favorites

 

[Launchpad McQuack]

I can see that this is going nowhere, so, lets just say that the difference between cartoons or puppets and real people is palpable. All you folks are welcome to get obsessed by puppets, cartoon characters, be it comic books or filmed drawings if you like, but, I will never ever want to not see the difference and hope to always have the ability to tell the difference.

Where exactly do you draw the line, though? Live action films like A History of Violence and Road to Perdition are based on comic books/graphic novels. Does this automatically give the film characters depth that the illustrated characters they are based on do not have? What about characters from novels? Do the characters in The Great Gatsby lack depth in novel (ink) form and then become better characters once Leonardo Dicaprio and Toby Maguire show up?

 

[Goofyernmost]

Where exactly do you draw the line, though? Live action films like A History of Violence and Road to Perdition are based on comic books/graphic novels. Does this automatically give the film characters depth that the illustrated characters they are based on do not have? What about characters from novels? Do the characters in The Great Gatsby lack depth in novel (ink) form and then become better characters once Leonardo Dicaprio and Toby Maguire show up?

I'm not sure a line has to be drawn. It doesn't have to be like real life because it isn't. It must line up with familiar emotions held by human beings, but their actions and reactions do not have to be predictable or even legal. They are the way we speak without fear of anyone calling us on it. Saying that cartoon characters have to conform to what we humans feel is justified, is just beyond my ability to comprehend. It's fantasy in it's purist form, it doesn't have the results that real live action would have and therefore does not need to be anything but entertaining. For example, if Snow White were attempting to fit in with human emotions, wouldn't she have to explain her living with seven dwarfs in a cottage in the woods. Of course, she would, but it is fantasy and even the most ridiculous of story line, we accept it because we know it isn't real. Spiderman, Fonzie, Kermit and any other none live action show (meaning anything with a believable story line) are not bound by rules of human sensibilities. So, why are we trying to make that be a requirement to be good, when it is illogical to even consider it.

The things that you are asking about are live action, with quasi-believable human story lines and therefore are labelled as a human emotion type of entertainment, and bound by behaviors within the norm of real life.

 

[Matt_Black]

I'm not sure a line has to be drawn. It doesn't have to be like real life because it isn't. It must line up with familiar emotions held by human beings, but their actions and reactions do not have to be predictable or even legal. They are the way we speak without fear of anyone calling us on it. Saying that cartoon characters have to conform to what we humans feel is justified, is just beyond my ability to comprehend. It's fantasy in it's purist form, it doesn't have the results that real live action would have and therefore does not need to be anything but entertaining. For example, if Snow White were attempting to fit in with human emotions, wouldn't she have to explain her living with seven dwarfs in a cottage in the woods. Of course, she would, but it is fantasy and even the most ridiculous of story line, we accept it because we know it isn't real. Spiderman, Fonzie, Kermit and any other none live action show (meaning anything with a believable story line) are not bound by rules of human sensibilities. So, why are we trying to make that be a requirement to be good, when it is illogical to even consider it.

The things that you are asking about are live action, with quasi-believable human story lines and therefore are labelled as a human emotion type of entertainment, and bound by behaviors within the norm of real life.

Your examples, specifically Spider-Man, are off. Spidey was specifically designed by Stan Lee to be someone kids could personally identify with. He was a poor kid from Queens, not some fictional town like Gotham or Metropolis. He was bullied. He had girl troubles. He was broke. And he has been one of the most important pop culture figures for over 50 years.

Characters resonate with people because of depth. That's something that transcends medium.