Review of Team America World Police 615
The movie is essentially a parody of your standard summer blockbuster. In this case we have "Team America", the stereotypical hodge podge band of freedom fighters brought together to kick ass (not surprisingly) for America and for Freedom. It turns out that marionettes are the ideal vehicle for such a film: the summer blockbuster genre has at its very core the super huge special effect. A parody would be hard pressed to convincingly duplicate these effects. But these are puppets. So the effects are supposed to look silly. And this is fortunate: the film takes constant blissful pleasure in the blockbuster tradition of demolishing national monuments, from the Eiffel tower to Mount Rushmore.
Our team of freedom fighters hits all the standard cliche's: we lose a member, find a replacement, who gets jaded and ultimately must come to terms with his feelings about his job while the team comes to accept the new guy.
Of course, there is some sort of a plot as well. In South Park the movie, Parker used Saddam Hussein as his evil joke. This time it's Kim Jong-il. He's really no different than Saddam was last time around. Just a ludicrous bad guy. In this case he's busy masterminding a stupid plot where he unifies the hollywood liberals and various terrorist organization as part of your standard wreck the world plan. It's thin, but no thinner than what it parodies.
I think my general concern going into this movie was the politics. The movie could very easily get mired down in preaching a point. But thankfully it never really does that. It simultaneously makes fun of liberal hollywood actors, and the rah rah 'Go America' right wing stereotype. But the movie isn't really picking sides: it's more about parodying the genre of summer blockbuster then it is about right vs left or war vs peace. Thats a good thing. Parker has proven time and time again that he can make simple points very well. South Park has addressed countless social issues over the years, and the feature film really took issues like censorship and parenting in a very meaningful way. Team America doesn't spend much time trying to seriously address the issues. It's just simple fun.
The other major concern that I harbored was that the marionette jokes would run thin. As I said before, the use of marionettes works great for mocking special effects, but the film easily could have constantly referred back to the fact that we are watching puppets. There are only a few jokes like that. Since they are used so sparingly, they make it all the more amusing when it happens. And there's a lot of hilarity to be derived from puppet sex when the film is pretending to be serious about it.
Like all of Parker's movies, they come out guns blazing, and 30 minutes in, I find myself needing a commercial break. The jokes are constant and funny. Maybe too funny. By the middle of the film you see something funny but are so desensitized that it's tough to muster another laugh. Of course then they turn around and beat you over the head with something new.
It's also worth noting that the facial puppetteering is really cool. Everyone involved should be really proud of themselves for pulling off something so visually unique.
I really enjoyed the film. I went in with high hopes and was pleased to have them all met. Even my wife, who is quite sick of South Park and wasn't looking forward to watching this at all came out absolutely giddy with laughter.
If you're a South Park fan, you'll love this movie. If you're a fan of summer blockbusters, and can tolerate the language, you'll love this movie. If you're a prude, watch something else. As for me, this is the first movie in months that I decided to buy the DVD before it was over.
Trailer (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Trailer (Score:2)
Just sayin'...
Re:I dream of a world without quicktime... (Score:5, Informative)
your savoir is called mplayer, and specifically the mplayer mozilla plugin.
instead of bitching, try looking for solutions next time.
Re:I dream of a world without quicktime... (Score:3, Interesting)
Mplayer on Solaris (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:I dream of a world without quicktime... (Score:3, Insightful)
Quicktime is tightly integrated with the OS, so there is no loading time for the movie to start. You click on it - it starts. Windows media has to open, load up, buffer - which takes at least 10 seconds longer to start than quicktime.
It's a quicktime movie because the film was made on a mac.
Re:I dream of a world without quicktime... (Score:5, Insightful)
QuickTime is available for Mac and PC, and MPlayer and a couple other applications will play the
But as for your complaint, there are movie trailers in formats other than QuickTime, you just can't access them from the Apple site. The issue is that Apple collects and displays movie trailers. Millions of people use these trailers daily because of they are accessible. Searching for trailers elsewhere requires going to many different sites, and using different media players from Windows Media to RealPlayer, this codec here, a different codec elsewhere.
Let's face it people link to Apple because their collection of trailers are easy to navigate, accessible, cross-platform, and in a single location. This just encourages movie studios to create more QuickTime trailers, because studios know people will go to the Apple site to look at what's coming out.
Re:I dream of a world without quicktime... (Score:3, Funny)
(There, I said what you wanted me to say. Could you take the gun away from my head now?)
Oh, ugh... (Score:4, Funny)
Maybe to funny.
You were doing so well...
Re:Oh, ugh... (Score:5, Funny)
I'll commit my changes to cvs shortly and hopefully folks will be able to finish reading the review without crashing their brains.
Re:Oh, ugh... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Oh, ugh... (Score:2, Informative)
Team America II: Grammar Patrol! (Score:5, Funny)
After the success of World Police, get ready for the sequel!
Team America: Grammar Patrol!!
Rated R for Retarded...
Where a group of lurky nerds troll Internet forums around the world constantly correcting spelling mistakes and bad grammar and denouncing it as the bane of the universe!!
Re:Team America II: Grammar Patrol! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Team America II: Grammar Patrol! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Team America II: Grammar Patrol! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Oh, ugh... (Score:4, Funny)
Maybe he could repeat another dozen times that its "parodying the genre of summer blockbuster" so that we get the idea that its "parodying the genre of summer blockbuster".
It's about time... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:It's about time... (Score:2)
Re:It's about time... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:It's about time... (Score:3, Interesting)
Yeah, we were in serious danger of holding our elected government officials responsible for their actions!
This should pull us off the trail, though. Whew!
Re:It's about time... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:It's about time... (Score:5, Informative)
Trey Parker makes fun of left and right because he thinks they are both stupid. That's right, folks -- Trey Parker is a Libertarian [theadvocates.org]. And you thought Libertarians couldn't be funny [slashdot.org]!
Re:It's about time... (Score:5, Funny)
And you thought Libertarians couldn't be funny!
Au contraire, I often find myself laughing at Libertarians.
Re:It's about time... (Score:5, Insightful)
That's not very libertarian. I've seen some of Trey's politics before (don't get me wrong, I'm a fan and think Orgazmo may be the best movie ever made). But when it comes to their political views, they are very retarded. They tend to believe all that crap Drudge puts on his blog. Any libertarian should be railing as hard as he/she can against this administration, and if they missed the chance to do this while taking pot shots at liberals I will be very disappointed.
And the 2 party system only failed after the Republican revolution in '94. What we have now is a 1 party system.
Oh yeah. And Tom Delay needs to get hit by a bus.
Re:It's about time... (Score:3, Insightful)
Are you saying Tom Delay doesn't need to be hit by a bus?! It's hard to take your comment seriously with implications like that.
Re:It's about time... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Laughter (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:It's about time... (Score:5, Funny)
Actually, I have always thought they are downright comical... especially when they explain their bizarre political beliefs! :-D
Re:It's about time... (Score:3, Interesting)
This is flatly incorrect. Political ideologies do not exist across a linear spectrum, but can be placed on a grid.
More information on the Nolan Chart [lairdwilcox.com].
10-question, 2-minute quiz [theadvocates.org] to chart your political leanings on the grid.
Re:It's about time... (Score:3, Insightful)
Its not 1d or 2d or 5d. Its sixteen hojillion little issues that happen to conform to certain political stereotypes, but there is no overarching geometric theory.
For example, one model I like is to treat it as an array of lines - not full 2d. Each line is a subject - authoritarian vs. libertarian. Conservatives
Re:It's about time... (Score:3, Insightful)
Just compare the famous deer-hunting scene in South Park with the recent incident where israeli soldiers shot a 13 year old girl on her way to school, because: She was running straight at them!
She is comming right at us, indeed
Re:It's about time... (Score:3, Insightful)
I mean, the idea of Hollywood liberals teaming up with North Korea isn't biased? I like South Park a lot, but let's face it, this is a right-wing movie these guys made.
Re:It's about time... (Score:4, Funny)
Sweet... (Score:3, Insightful)
Sorry to dash your hopes.... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Sorry to dash your hopes.... (Score:5, Funny)
Sean Penn's Semi-literate and... (Score:5, Interesting)
Unless Drudge made that thing up.
Re:Sean Penn's Semi-literate and... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Sorry to dash your hopes.... (Score:5, Informative)
I remember a cordial hello when you guys were beginning to be famous guys around Hollywood at some party. I remember several times getting a few giggles out of your humor. I remember not being bothered as you traded on my name among others to appear witty, above it all, and likeable to your crowd. I never mind being of service, in satire and silliness.
I do mind when anybody who doesn't have a child, doesn't have a child at war, or isn't or won't be in harm's way themselves, is encouraging that there's "no shame in not voting" "if you don't know what you're talking about" (Mr. Stone) without mentioning the shame of not knowing what your talking about, and encouraging people to know. You guys are talented young guys but alas, primarily young guys. It's all well to joke about me or whomever you choose. Not so well, to encourage irresponsibility that will ultimately lead to the disembowelment, mutilation, exploitation, and death of innocent people throughout the world. The vote matters to them. No one's ignorance, indcluding a couple of hip cross-dressers, is an excuse.
All best, and a sincere fuck you,
Sean Penn
P.S. Take this as a personal invitation from me to you (you can ask Dennis Miller along for the ride as well) to escort you on a trip, which I took last Christmas. We'll fly to Amman, Jordan and I'll ride with you in a (?) 12 hours through the Sunni Triangle into Fallujah and Baghdad and I'll show you around. When we return, make all the fun you want.
Developing...
Filed By Matt Drudge
Reports are moved when circumstances warrant
http://www.drudgereport.com for updates
(c)DRUDGE REPORT 2004
Not for reproduction without permission of the author
Re:Sorry to dash your hopes.... (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Sorry to dash your hopes.... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Sorry to dash your hopes.... (Score:3, Informative)
-Grym
Re:Sorry to dash your hopes.... (Score:5, Informative)
Excuse me but... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Why Parent is a dumbass (Score:2)
Recommend "Cannibal: The Musical" (Score:3, Informative)
Lets not forget... (Score:3, Insightful)
junket interview (Score:5, Informative)
Re:they're "libertarians" (Score:3, Insightful)
In sort, I just don't give a shit what their politics are, even though I am a pinko commie bastart I tend to enjoy their work. Although sometimes when I read some of their interviews they just come accross as being plain retarded, and it seems hard to associate some of their productions with their every day personas. But my guess it is that their inverviews
Re:they're "libertarians" (Score:5, Insightful)
Uh - keep in mind that college wouldn't be nearly as expensive if nobody could receive federal aid. If the Federal government would allow anybody to borrow $100,000 per year as long as it was spent on tuition, then you'd see college prices raise to $110,000 next week. Under this kind of system it is perfectly reasonable to be against federal aid and yet freely accept it for oneself. Banning it would only work if it were banned uniformly, causing colleges to find ways to cut costs...
The fact is that I don't agree with all the positions of any of the parties. However, for me the Libertarians tend to have the most reasonable positions on the issues that matter to me. I wouldn't assume that if they were elected their first order of business would be to impose total anarchy during week one.
Re:they're "libertarians" (Score:3, Insightful)
That said, I don't think the limiting factor on the cost of higher education is how much money the federal government is giving out. In fact, less than half [ed.gov] of students get any form of loan at all, let alone federal. The average loan? 5K. With tuiton running 25K \ year some places, it just isn't all getting paid for by t
Re:they're "libertarians" (Score:5, Informative)
[snip]
Stone: And the whole voting thing. All we ever said was that we thought that uninformed people should not vote -- on either side of the political spectrum. It doesn't matter who you're gonna vote for. If you really don't know who you're gonna vote for, or are uninformed, or haven't really thought about it? Just stay home. Don't let people fucking shame you into going to the polls.
Parker: If you have absolutely no idea, fuck it.
Stone: If you really don't know or you're just going to vote for George Bush because he's already in office, or you're gonna vote for John Kerry because he's on the cover of Rolling Stone, don't do that. That's lame. Just stay home. That's all we ever said.
[/snip]
I've heard some talk on NPR about this, about how MTV is running ads about voting like they are shaving cream commercials. I'm all for "get out the vote" campaigns, but I personally feel like being educated on the candidates and issues is important too.
Do we really want people who don't feel like learning about the candidates and issues voting on these things? I've voted in every election since 1988, and when I hit something on a ballot that I don't know anything about (usually local races that I have not followed), I don't vote. I don't think this is such a heinous idea - that you should only cast informed votes...
Re:they're "libertarians" (Score:3, Insightful)
There is a frickin reason why we have a vote so that we (partly anyway in the representational democracy) can have a direct effect on the course of our nation. Whether you like it or not, that is everyone's job. Not just a few "elite" people who know the issues. I find it incredibly sad that anyone would think this way.
Even a Clueless Vote is Good (Score:4, Insightful)
Y'see, the system was designed to be robust. That's why it's a "representative republic" instead of a direct democracy. That's why there are three branches set at odds with each other. The guys who wrote it up were assuming that the only way to keep a few people from screwing all the rest was to give everybody a chance to take some part in it with lots of opposition and lots of ways to block each other from overstepping their proper limits.
By voting, you're providing that necessary opposition, the much-needed buffer to thwart extremist control-freaks. So, VOTE. Figure out who you'll vote for later however you want but the more votes, the better.
Review reminds me of someone... (Score:5, Funny)
Jon Katz, where are you??
Re:Review reminds me of someone... (Score:5, Funny)
Dude, shut up! You might wake him up!
Movie Review as written by Katz (Score:5, Funny)
Uneven (Score:5, Interesting)
I wasn't desensitized; I just thought the first half of the movie was funnier than the second half. There were some good moments here and there later in the movie, but the first half had the whole audience laughing hysterically at least once a minute.
(Slight spoiler, I guess...) I think they overestimated the staying power of the "Hollywood stars are actually conniving villains" joke. The incongruity was funny at first, but the film repeated the same basic gag over and over with only slight variations and it got tiresome.
However, I'm glad I stayed till the end of the credits.
Re:Uneven (Score:2)
I also found this with South Park the Movie.
My favourite bits... (Score:5, Interesting)
The new guy's panic signal.
The stretch Lamborghini!
It's...inebidable.
The opening scene with the marionette's marionettes,
The new guy's terrorist disguise.
The psychic team member. "I sense I'm attracted to him."
The 'love' scene.
Team America's theme song.
Freedom costs a buck-oh-five.
I'm gonna go out on a limb here and guess Parker & Stone are gay, because they sure do seem obsessed by cock.
Re:My favourite bits... (Score:2, Interesting)
This passes for a movie review? (Score:5, Funny)
On a side note, Taco must be pissed off at his wife. Why else would he give her a Slashdotting?
This is VERY nerdy topic! (Score:3, Funny)
Play video game? You're a nerd.
Watch edgy-movies? Nerd.
Vote? TOTAL Nerd!
Some strings attached (Score:5, Funny)
Slashdotted Wife-Sounds like a cheap horror movie! (Score:5, Funny)
Oh my God, CmdrTaco! You Slashdotted your wife! You bastard! ;-)
Best theme song ever (Score:2)
Offensive (Score:5, Funny)
I believe I speak for my fellow prudes everywhere when I say I'm offended.
I haven't seen the movie, mind you, but I did read the review.
Is there no shame left? These are our children who are watching these sorts of things.
Shouldn't you mention? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Shouldn't you mention? (Score:4, Insightful)
So this slashdot review is not out of the ordinary, and it's nothing to criticize IMHO. However the general prevalant practice in marketing, of influencing key people in groups, or decision makers, is quite reprehensible. I don't care much about the effects in entertainment because People Know What They Like but I'm much more concerned when it comes to medicine and the drug industry. (An aside: carefully read those posters in your doctors' office next time, what products are they advertising?)
The Thund.. er... er, Team America is Go! (Score:3, Interesting)
Can't wait!
This Movie Almost Got An NC-17... (Score:4, Interesting)
Feel free to read my thoughts and pseudo-legal analysis [fallinggrace.com] on the subject.
I actually ended up endorsing a different position than I expected going in. However, my argument would be different if I viewed "as indirect censorship the government's long standing threat of the forced general labeling of movies absent industry self-regulation" (to quote myself).
- Neil Wehneman
Re:This Movie Almost Got An NC-17... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:This Movie Almost Got An NC-17... (Score:4, Insightful)
What does it say about our society when we readily celebrate instruments of death and destruction, but can't even bring ourselves to look at parts of our own bodies that bring life itself?
Re:This Movie Almost Got An NC-17... (Score:3, Funny)
It says that our country was founded by religious puritans that were so stodgy and uptight that fucking ENGLAND said "Get the hell out of here, you prissy bitches." They then proceeded to wipe out an entire indigenous people while speaking politely and screwing through holes in sheets.
Michael Moore had a cute little ca
Re: (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:This Movie Almost Got An NC-17... (Score:3, Informative)
" Puppet oral sex goes against grain for US censors " [guardian.co.uk]
I have that link (and others) in my own write-up, but I realize that not everyone is going to read that. So now you have the separate link
- Neil Wehneman
Re:This Movie Almost Got An NC-17... (Score:4, Funny)
Re: This Movie Almost Got An NC-17... (Score:3, Insightful)
There are two points on which my argument turns: first, that "those both under and over 17 are probably used to seeing vaginal sex referenced and occuring in mainstream commercial films, but are not used to seeing oral sex occuring." That fact would trigger "a film that most parents will consider patently too adult f
scary as hell (Score:5, Funny)
Am I the only one that's scared of marionettes, claymation and midgets?
Is that a review or an ad? (Score:5, Interesting)
Dude! You just /.ed your WIFE! (Score:4, Funny)
"Parker"? (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:"Parker"? (Score:4, Informative)
-psy
Original? (Score:3, Interesting)
It strikes me it pays much homage to the work of Gerry Anderson [bbc.co.uk] from Stingray [bbc.co.uk] , through Thunderbirds, to Terrahawks [terrahawks.org.uk].
In fact Team America is more of a homage to Gerry Anderson than the US live action remake of Thunderbirds.
Re:Prude Food. (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Umm.... (Score:3, Funny)
Dang! And I was getting comfortable with all that wireless technology.
Re:Umm.... (Score:3, Funny)
Re:'Umm' is right. (Score:4, Insightful)
Look at the number of +3 to +5 "Funny" posts in the comments of every article and you find at least one South Park reference and at least one Simpsons reference.
All are shows that mostly only nerds get the humor of. Sure, you have the overt dick and fart jokes, but there's an underlying substance. Nerds 'get it', while the people who are pleased by dick and fart jokes help to keep the series(es?) popular.
Team America, I gather, is about the same, if, like everyone says, it's just like an episode of South Park. Thus, two levels of humor, one nerdy, one pedestrian, and thus newsworthy for nerds.
Re:apolitical? No. libertariasm is teh new coolnes (Score:5, Insightful)
Yeah, people who are so serious about liberty as to be fanatical about it are stupid! That Kim Jong-Il sure showed those libertarians a thing or two when he abolished the ownership society and created the ultimate complete welfare state.
But seriously, I'm not sure you understand what libertarian means. You (a "liberal", obviously) seem to think it's some kind of right extremist movement. Conservatives, on the other hand, think it's some kind of wacky leftist movement. But it's neither. If you can't handle our crazy, freedom-loving ways, just ignore us and we'll try not to bother you at parties.
Re:apolitical? No. libertariasm is teh new coolnes (Score:5, Insightful)
maybe you should take a look at Barlett and Steele's new book on health care in the US. not only do we spend more, we live shorter lives, get sicker, and actually have wait times for most procedures within a statistically insignificant margin of Canada and much of western Europe. Whatever might have been good about the US health care system, say 20 years ago, has faded in the stupid experiment of a "free market" running health care. Result? 10-20% of expenditure is spent on bureaucracy (contrast with "bureaucratic government" running Medicare at 2-3% of expenditure), and the most senior physicians are just quitting the insurance scene entirely. The fundamental problem is that a free market system works when "selling more" makes sense according to some metric. But "selling more" health care is the opposite of what just about everybody wants from a medical system, and so it starts to break down. Add in the fact that "choice" is virtually incomprehensible in a system where employers pick insurance schemes and most consumers don't know even basic medical facts.
The real truth is that FDR's welfare state was a band aid to avoid a revolution that was brewing in American society during his term as president. Unlike the systems initiated in Europe, which were put in place as a result of direct protest by unions and other non-capital-owning organizations. FDR headed off the fears of the capital owners of the US by instituting a minimal welfare state that did enough to ease the worst fears of the poor, but little more.
And as for your 43% gains this year, lucky you. Just glad you weren't retiring in a period that saw persistent declines in stock values, let alone right after a massive drop like '87 or the tech bubble blowout.
Re:apolitical? No. libertariasm is teh new coolnes (Score:4, Insightful)
I would hardly call the current US healthcare system an experiment in free markets. It is the non-"free market" aspects of the current healthcare system that are causing it to suck so bad. Luckily it's in the process of correcting itself as best it can in spite of government interference. When healthcare ultimately does operate as a smooth free market, Doctors will have suffered a significant loss in their pay compared to how things used to be, insurance companies won't get to do the evil things they currently do, and everyone will actually be able to afford decent healthcare. Insurance will be for traumatic events and serious illness, and will be unneccesary for routine medical treatment, which will be affordable.
Re:apolitical? No. libertariasm is teh new coolnes (Score:3, Interesting)
I guess you haven't seen this report [mult-sclerosis.org]. And it's also interesting that how you bash the "free market" running the health care, yet fail to mention the malpractice suit crisis [cnn.com] here in the U.S.
Whatever might have been good about the US health care system, say 20 years ago, has faded in the stupid experiment of a "free market" running health care.
As far as I remember, whenever
Re:Title? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Title? (Score:3, Funny)
This reminds me of a story:
I was in a speech class (no, not learning how to speak) and I mentioned a Mexican news station I had watched. Some girl turned around and tried to correct me, saying very matter-of-factly, "Hispanic news station." I paused a second and said, "No, Mexican news station. It was filmed IN Mexico, ABOUT Mexico, F
Re:Grammar nazi strikes! (Score:4, Funny)
You don't make a plural with an apostrophe!
I thought he was trying to make an acute accent (clichés).
Re:I saw it too. It was funny, but not great. (Score:3, Insightful)
"Lies", which were also forcefully and repeatedly asserted by John Kerry, John Edwards, Daschle, the UN, Clinton, Albright, Gore, Ted Kennedy, Sandy Berger...
Looking at the EXACT SAME INTELLIGENCE as Bush, Kerry came to the same conclusion about Iraq's weapons programs. Logically, Kerry is therefore either a dupe or a liar himself.
, stripping away civil liberties,
by requiring that all the "evil" snooping requires JUDICIAL OVERSIGHT, and the common sense to AVO
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Get this... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Those French... (Score:3, Insightful)