Comments on: The Great Muppet Caper

By: Arjan

Arjan — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:38:07 +0000

@ Lee it sounds like those short movies MC was blogging about are something made for you
It’s been ages since I saw any muppets movie.

By: Dan

Dan — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 19:04:36 +0000

@Avitable, I can see why someone doesn't like Fozzie if they only know him from the later films, as he wasn't used properly in my oppinion. But his sweet vulnerability in the early muppet stuff is wonderful.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 22:22:25 +0000

@Dan, at this point, I should admit that Treasure Island is not one of my favorites (though it does have some good scenes). It's not that it's bad, it just doesn't do it for me the way Christmas Carol and Muppet Movie do. My wife does quote it from time to time, though, so it's got that goin' for it. Which is nice.

By: Avitable

Avitable — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:12:02 +0000

I haven’t seen it in a while, but I loved it the last few times I’ve seen it. I’m not a fan of Fozzie, though. I prefer Kermit, Gonzo, Beeker, Sweetums, and the Swedish Chef.

By: Kevin Spencer

Kevin Spencer — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 15:11:38 +0000

@Lee, you and me both mate.

By: Dan

Dan — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 09:41:14 +0000

@ESSGEETHREE, I perhaps have to confess that I've never actually seen Treasure Island all the way through. I just got bored. I'm thinking I may have to give it another shot in light of everyone's positive comments about it though.

By: ESSGEETHREE

ESSGEETHREE — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 08:45:25 +0000

Not a favourite of mine at all; I remember being excited about the trailer, then going to the film and being very disappointed. All the “stars” I didn’t recognize didn’t help, nor did the over-abundance of Miss Piggy! And it has not aged well!

I feel somewhat traitorous (sorry, Jim Henson!) when I confess that my favourite Muppet movie is a toss-up between Muppet Treasure Island (where, may I point out (OK- NIT PICK, Fozzie Bear aka young Squire Trelawney talked to Mr Bimble, the man who lives in the squire’s finger, NOT in Muppets From Space!) and The Muppet Christmas Carol. I think the latter – but that may have something to do with the time of year. Both use their small human cast well, and have, what I can only describe as an abundance of Muppet Heart.

OK. Shutting up now.

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:22:41 +0000

@always home and uncool, when Henson's beard is in the house there is no competition my friend.

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:21:37 +0000

@Kevin Spencer, I have beard envy.

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:20:31 +0000

@MrsW, Muppet Treasure Island is most probably my favourite Muppets film (I guess considering I've only mentioned it several thousand times now). It has nothing to do with my Frank'n'Furter fantasies which I try and keep separate from my movie reviews.

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 06:18:41 +0000

@Jeff, at one stage, specifically when I compared it to Deliverance I wondered if I hadn't gone a little far in my dislike for the film. But in reality the film just doesn't hold up in my opinion, I have no idea what direction that Charles Grodin was given. I still maintain though that I'm a huge Muppets fan still, this just didn't work for me.

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:59:55 +0000

@Idaho Dad, I've already mentioned Treasure Island over and over, I'm quite the fan of that one and even of Muppets From Space although it's really Pepe the Prawn that saves that one for me.

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:58:00 +0000

@Tara, it really creeps me out whenever someone hints even slightly at Miss Piggy in a sexual context. I don't get it. I really hate it when she tries to make out with Kermit... Maybe I AM thinking about this too much.

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:54:44 +0000

@Heather, LOL then you’ve never danced around the living room to cabin fever in Muppet Treasure Island… oh yeah… I mean I haven’t of course either but I’ve read about it…

By: Lee

Lee — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 05:53:10 +0000

@Rol, the Swedish Chef is easily one of my favourite Muppets but it seems really hard to get him into the movies, in fact in Treasure Island they even reference this fact by looking at the camera and saying 'how else were we going to get him in the film'. I was tempted to reply in Swedish Chef speak too (there's a translator online)

By: always home and uncool

always home and uncool — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:49:22 +0000

I think Jim’s beard was completing with his date’s hair.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:44:06 +0000

@MrsW, I find the TV shows a little hit and miss at times, although loved them as a kid. But he movies are on the whole fantastic, especially the first one - which as I say is amongst the finest ever made.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:39:24 +0000

@Kevin Spencer, There are rumors that it was actually a puppet, but I refuse to believe it.

By: Kevin Spencer

Kevin Spencer — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:44:00 +0000

Jim Henson’s beard is legendary my friend. Legendary.

By: MrsW

MrsW — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 17:16:11 +0000

I remember my Dad nearly choking himself laughing at The Muppets on a Sunday night, especially the old guys in the balcony. I never got it. I think I was both not young enough and not old enough. I did enjoy Muppet Treasure Island though, but I suspect that has more to do with my Frank’n'Furter fantasies than anything else… mmmmmm Curry…

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:53:58 +0000

@Jeff, I had very fond memories of the film too, and was a little disappointed that it didn't live up to them. The museum scene is still great, and so are a number of other scenes, but the pacing is way off and there is far far far too much Piggy.

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:35:14 +0000

Hmm… when I saw this in my youth, it was my favorite Muppet film, bar none. I even liked it more than the original. I still remember a couple of scenes, most notably the museum bit at the end. I haven’t seen it since then, though. It’s a bit disappointing to hear it ripped like this, but then if I watched it now I get the impression I’d be saying the same things. Piggy is criminally overused in most Muppet outings, for example.

And just to be clear, I have since switched my opinion of the first Muppet Movie, as it undoubtedly is one of the top movies ever. I like your forced repetition idea, Dan.

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:04:21 +0000

@Dan, lets go with the first option eh, it is nearly Christmas after all.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:54:18 +0000

@Idaho Dad, the first Muppet movie is amongst the finest films of all time. My advice is to force your kids to watch that film on constant repeat until they acknowledge the genius that is Henson.

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:52:28 +0000

@Tara, meep? I think Miss Piggy "jumped the shark" when her arrogance started outstripping her vulnerability. Although that could be reading just a little too much into what is basically a bit of foam with a hand in it

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 14:50:05 +0000

@Heather, I'm not sure if that says good things about us, or incredibly bad things about the muppets.

By: Idaho Dad

Idaho Dad — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:52:04 +0000

I have to agree. Miss Piggy is highly overrated. From the TV show through all the movies, whenever she is the focus I tend to lose interest.

Now that I think about it, I’m not sure I’ve even seen this Muppet Caper film. Hmmm… Will have to watch it with the kids. They’re still kind of lukewarm on The Muppets, although we all think Muppet Christmas Carol is a classic (but only because of Michael Caine and Beaker).

By: Tara

Tara — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:42:11 +0000

Totally agree with you on the Miss Piggy thing. She’s not that talented, I honestly don’t know how she ever got this far. Do you think she had something on Mr Henson?
Now Beaker on the other hand . . .

By: Heather

Heather — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 11:09:01 +0000

I think this is the most entertainment i’ve ever gotten out of a muppet film.

By: Hey ho, lets go! Lee and Dan’s Midnight Movie Club | all that comes with it

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:48:08 +0000

[...] over to Lee and Dan’s Midnight Movie Club to join the debate. This week we’re discussing The Great Muppet Caper. Bookmark [...]

By: Dan

Dan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:13:13 +0000

@Rol, He was in it, but a relatively minor role. He played a chef if I remember rightly. That guy really needs to watch out or he'll end up getting typecast.

By: Rol

Rol — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 07:12:40 +0000

What – no Swedish Chef?

By: uberVU - social comments

uberVU - social comments — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:30:46 +0000

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Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:11:40 +0000

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