As someone who never really watched G.I. Joe (I played with the toys as a kid), I didn't understand any of that opening. Why was Cobra attacking the Statue of Liberty? Are they Nazis, or terrorists? Terrorist Nazis? Did he just shoot lasers out of an M16? Also, wouldn't the Statue of Liberty be utterly destroyed by all the MISSILES EXPLODING ON IT?
In the opening to the TV series, Cobra was always referred to as a "ruthless, terrorist organization determined to rule the world." So that answers that question. They also loved to attack famous landmarks during the TV series -- it was part of their M.O. for whatever reason -- hence attacking the Statue of Liberty.
Yes, they shoot lasers out of what are ostensibly projectile weapons. Supposedly, it's because lasers are okay but real bullets are not with the 80s children's TV censors and stuff (although in some of the earlier TV episodes the "lasers" made bullet noises -- implying that the flashes of light were just how they animated bullets flying through the air).
As far as the Statue not being destroyed, Rule of Cool? Nothing in that opening can be considered realistic, but it's pretty fun to watch. As I said, we're talking Metal Wolf Chaos style awesomeness here.
The rest of the movie got away from a lot of the "mythos" of the TV series, which is part of the reason why it's bad to meh in my opinion. It actually would be completely bad, but it has a few enjoyable/awesome moments that keep it from being completely awful.
Not at all. Production techniques and pipelines for 1940's and 50's theatrical shorts were completely different compared to properties that were originally produced for the small screen. That's like comparing feature films like the Matrix to a serial TV show just because it was broadcast on that same channel at one point. The budgets are different, the timing and pacing is different: I am just saying, from the perspective of an animator, calling Merrie Melodies "Television Animation" is misleading.
I have an Oswald the Lucky Rabbit shirt, Chuck Amuck is one of my top 5 favorite books of all time, and twice I ran "Walt Disney and Ubbe Iwwerks, the American Tezukas," did you honestly think I didn't know about any good animation before the 90s?
I never said that, I more took issue with the fact that you stated that "80s takes the cake for the better films (the 70s beats both of them, mind you)" The 70's and 80's were notoriously fallow in terms of the state of feature animation projects. Not to say that there wasn't awesome stuff being made, but budgets were down and the industry was waning. Little Mermaid, like it or hate it, was a godsend for getting people back into the theater to watch cartoons.
EDIT: Also, Walt wouldn't like a word with me. Walt couldn't draw a polar bear in a snow storm well.
Yeah, he couldn't, but the people he hired sure could. If nothing else, he was a talented businessman.
My friend was at a party with her sister, and my friend got drunk and spent the night keeping people from turning her back on her sister, because her sister is a redhead, and might steal your soul.
Apparently there are Japanese crossword puzzles. And according to the native speakers I had handy, they ranged from hard (only katakana) to HARD (phrases and idioms and the like).
Comments
Yes, they shoot lasers out of what are ostensibly projectile weapons. Supposedly, it's because lasers are okay but real bullets are not with the 80s children's TV censors and stuff (although in some of the earlier TV episodes the "lasers" made bullet noises -- implying that the flashes of light were just how they animated bullets flying through the air).
As far as the Statue not being destroyed, Rule of Cool?
The rest of the movie got away from a lot of the "mythos" of the TV series, which is part of the reason why it's bad to meh in my opinion. It actually would be completely bad, but it has a few enjoyable/awesome moments that keep it from being completely awful.
Which he does.
Not his best, but still pretty great.