Following its premiere at the 77th Cannes Film Festival, Disney+ began streaming “Jim Henson Idea Man” on May 31, 2024. The documentary directed by Oscar winner Ron Howard chronicles Henson’s life, from the early years of his career to the creation of properties like the Muppets, “Sesame Street,” and “The Dark Crystal,” and also focuses on his creative and romantic partnership with his wife Jane Henson.
The movie is holding fresh with a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, stating “Howard captures Henson’s restless creativity, ambition, and artistic evolution in the style and spirit of his complex subject, an artist who revolutionized television, inspired generations, and created some of the world’s most beloved characters. Featuring new interviews with Henson’s closest collaborators and children, as well as never-before-seen materials from his personal archives–including home movies, photographs, sketches, and diaries–Howard brings us an entertaining and insightful look at a man...
The movie is holding fresh with a perfect 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, stating “Howard captures Henson’s restless creativity, ambition, and artistic evolution in the style and spirit of his complex subject, an artist who revolutionized television, inspired generations, and created some of the world’s most beloved characters. Featuring new interviews with Henson’s closest collaborators and children, as well as never-before-seen materials from his personal archives–including home movies, photographs, sketches, and diaries–Howard brings us an entertaining and insightful look at a man...
- 5/31/2024
- by Vincent Mandile
- Gold Derby
It’s fitting that Ron Howard’s documentary “Jim Henson Idea Man” gets its name from the man himself. During an early bit of voiceover, we hear the “Sesame Street” and “Muppets” creator describe his take on just what it is he does: Idea man. Nothing more, nothing less.
As the film winds on, others are more lofty in their estimations. Henson was a “man with a purpose,” a superhuman, someone for whom terms like “incredibly productive” can’t do justice. He “wanted to do more than was humanly possible,” one of Henson’s adult children tells us. Howard’s film reminds us how true that was during Henson’s lifetime and into his continuing legacy.
Henson was a puppeteer and creator of everything from The Muppets to “Fraggle Rock,” an animator and actor, a TV genius (Henson’s fingerprints are still on every element of “Sesame Street”), and a filmmaker.
As the film winds on, others are more lofty in their estimations. Henson was a “man with a purpose,” a superhuman, someone for whom terms like “incredibly productive” can’t do justice. He “wanted to do more than was humanly possible,” one of Henson’s adult children tells us. Howard’s film reminds us how true that was during Henson’s lifetime and into his continuing legacy.
Henson was a puppeteer and creator of everything from The Muppets to “Fraggle Rock,” an animator and actor, a TV genius (Henson’s fingerprints are still on every element of “Sesame Street”), and a filmmaker.
- 5/18/2024
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
There’s nothing better than firing up a Christmas classic while sitting around a crackling fire or getting your tree decorated. These days, which indeed are merry and bright, can be made merrier and brighter with the right visual accompaniment. And there’s just something about a Disney Christmas movie or special that is even more powerful. Below are 11 great options for a snuggly night in, embroidered and made bolder by that specific Disney magic.
Behold, our list of the best Christmas movies to watch on Disney+ right now.
Also Read:
The Best Christmas Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now Iron Man 3 (2013) Photo: Marvel Studios
Yes, “Iron Man 3” is a Christmas movie. In fact, “Iron Man 3’s” Christmas setting is an example of one of the few Marvel Studios movies to be set in a specific time; the rest of them are all part of a...
Behold, our list of the best Christmas movies to watch on Disney+ right now.
Also Read:
The Best Christmas Movies on Amazon Prime Video Right Now Iron Man 3 (2013) Photo: Marvel Studios
Yes, “Iron Man 3” is a Christmas movie. In fact, “Iron Man 3’s” Christmas setting is an example of one of the few Marvel Studios movies to be set in a specific time; the rest of them are all part of a...
- 12/22/2022
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
On December 11, 1992, “The Muppet Christmas Carol” was released to theaters. In his three-star review, Roger Ebert said that the movie “could have done with a few more songs than it has.” And he was right – up until the very last minute, there was an extra song (“When Love Is Gone”) that was removed at the insistence of a pushy Disney executive. Now, all these years later (and after one very close call), the song has been reinstated. “The Muppet Christmas Carol” is finally whole.
This is the story of how the movie came to be, how it lost a song and how that song eventually was found again.
Uncertain Times
On May 16, 1990, Jim Henson died following a short illness. He was only 53. (It was ultimately ruled toxic shock syndrome caused by Streptococcus pyogenes.)
At the time of his death, Henson was in negotiations to sell his company (and most of...
This is the story of how the movie came to be, how it lost a song and how that song eventually was found again.
Uncertain Times
On May 16, 1990, Jim Henson died following a short illness. He was only 53. (It was ultimately ruled toxic shock syndrome caused by Streptococcus pyogenes.)
At the time of his death, Henson was in negotiations to sell his company (and most of...
- 12/21/2022
- by Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Since the death of Jim Henson in 1990, there has been a scramble to figure out what to do with his signature creation, The Muppets. Some of the attempts have been quite successful, and some have fallen flat on their face. Remember that primetime ABC mockumentary series from the 2010s? Yeah, best we all forget that ever happened. For many Muppet fans today, the solution seems fairly obvious: bring back "The Muppet Show." Back to basics. It seemed like the 2011 Jason Segel-led movie "The Muppets" was going to result in that, but Disney went in a different direction. It has been over 40 years since that original show went off the air, and reconfiguring it for today could be a joy.
Back in 1990, though, that was not the clear path. The Muppets had moved to the big screen and starred in three incredibly funny, successful films. Television was in the rear view.
Back in 1990, though, that was not the clear path. The Muppets had moved to the big screen and starred in three incredibly funny, successful films. Television was in the rear view.
- 12/3/2022
- by Mike Shutt
- Slash Film
In the spring of 1992, the legendary singer-songwriter Paul Williams was walking in a park in the Los Angeles sunshine, thinking about Christmas. Sixteen years after first working with the Muppets, he was about to return to their colourful world, but he was apprehensive. Years of rock ’n roll debauchery having finally caught up with him, The Muppet Christmas Carol would be the first project he’d worked on sober in forever. Three decades later, he tells Empire, he needn’t have worried. “I sat on a bench and Scrooge’s song suddenly started coming to me: ‘Bom-bom-bom-bom… When a cold wind blows it chills you…’ I think I got as far as ‘There goes Mr Humbug, there goes Mr Grim / If they gave a prize for being mean, the winner would be him’ before I paused at all. I was like, 'Hey, that’s pretty good!' I was so...
- 12/1/2022
- by Owen Williams
- Empire - Movies
When Muppets creator Jim Henson died in 1990, the future of the Muppets franchise felt up in the air to its fans. At the time, Disney had already been in negotiations to purchase the Muppets, but Henson was on record with his refusal. Disney, still with a foot in the door, co-financed two Muppet feature films in the 1990s -- "The Muppet Christmas Carol" and "Muppet Treasure Island," both directed by Henson's son Brian -- which proved to audiences that the Muppets were capable of living on. Indeed, the two films provided a fascinating new premise for the Muppets: they would be stock players in adaptations of classic literature. Sadly, this tack did not play itself out, and after the not-very-good, straight-to-video "The Muppets' Wizard of Oz," that angle was abandoned.
Come now, Disney, "Muppet Midsummer Night's Dream," "Muppet Dracula," and "Muppet Moby-Dick" await.
"The Muppet Christmas Carol" (1992) is both one...
Come now, Disney, "Muppet Midsummer Night's Dream," "Muppet Dracula," and "Muppet Moby-Dick" await.
"The Muppet Christmas Carol" (1992) is both one...
- 9/14/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
At this year's D23 Expo, Brian Henson announced that his directorial debut "The Muppet Christmas Carol" would finally be coming to Disney+ in its complete and uncut form later this year. After a number of years of trying, the studio has finally found a way to properly restore the song "When Love Is Gone" to the film, so now it can be viewed the way it was originally intended.
However, "original" is a relative term in this instance because this beloved holiday classic that has become a seasonal staple for three decades was originally intended to be a TV special similar to the recent "Muppets Haunted Mansion." During the panel celebrating the film's legacy — and the new life it's about to receive thanks to this release — Henson shared the origins of what is regarded as one of the most faithful adaptations of Charles Dickens' iconic tale to date.
/Film's Dalin Rowell...
However, "original" is a relative term in this instance because this beloved holiday classic that has become a seasonal staple for three decades was originally intended to be a TV special similar to the recent "Muppets Haunted Mansion." During the panel celebrating the film's legacy — and the new life it's about to receive thanks to this release — Henson shared the origins of what is regarded as one of the most faithful adaptations of Charles Dickens' iconic tale to date.
/Film's Dalin Rowell...
- 9/14/2022
- by Ben F. Silverio
- Slash Film
Director Kirk Thatcher has worked with the Muppets for decades and, in all that time, he’d been hoping to help orchestrate a Halloween special. Following the success of last year’s short-form Disney+ series “Muppets Now,” Thatcher is getting his wish with the new “Muppets Haunted Mansion.” The 40-minute special sees the Great Gonzo, along with his friend Pepe the Prawn, visit the titular Haunted Mansion in the hopes of spending the night. Little does the pair know about the 999 happy haunts that live there — and those haunts’ desire to make Gonzo No. 1,000.
“There are three things that affected me growing up: Ray Harryhausen movies, Disneyland — particularly the Haunted Mansion, the Tiki Room, and Pirates of the Caribbean — and obviously the Muppets,” Thatcher, who’s worked with the Muppets for 35 years, told IndieWire. Unofficially, you could also include Halloween. Thatcher said he remembers being a small child humming the...
“There are three things that affected me growing up: Ray Harryhausen movies, Disneyland — particularly the Haunted Mansion, the Tiki Room, and Pirates of the Caribbean — and obviously the Muppets,” Thatcher, who’s worked with the Muppets for 35 years, told IndieWire. Unofficially, you could also include Halloween. Thatcher said he remembers being a small child humming the...
- 10/8/2021
- by Kristen Lopez
- Indiewire
Good news for Muppet enthusiasts – all five seasons of “The Muppet Show” will be available to stream on Disney Plus on Feb. 19.
Created by the legendary Jim Henson, the original “Muppet Show” was a variety half-hour featuring Kermit the Frog as the showrunner and host. The series originally aired from 1976 to 1981 on ITV in the U.K. and on CBS in the U.S. In addition to the show’s first three seasons, seasons 4 and 5 will also be available to stream for the first time.
Beyond Kermit, “The Muppet Show” features Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, the Swedish Chef, Sam the Eagle, aged hecklers Statler and Waldorf and other beloved characters. The colorful Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, anchored by excitable drummer Animal, served as the house band.
The show was notable for mixing the family-friendly Muppet characters with starry guest hosts that included Steve Martin, Elton John, Liza Minnelli,...
Created by the legendary Jim Henson, the original “Muppet Show” was a variety half-hour featuring Kermit the Frog as the showrunner and host. The series originally aired from 1976 to 1981 on ITV in the U.K. and on CBS in the U.S. In addition to the show’s first three seasons, seasons 4 and 5 will also be available to stream for the first time.
Beyond Kermit, “The Muppet Show” features Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo, the Swedish Chef, Sam the Eagle, aged hecklers Statler and Waldorf and other beloved characters. The colorful Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem, anchored by excitable drummer Animal, served as the house band.
The show was notable for mixing the family-friendly Muppet characters with starry guest hosts that included Steve Martin, Elton John, Liza Minnelli,...
- 1/19/2021
- by Ellise Shafer
- Variety Film + TV
Chris Cummins Jul 25, 2019
As The Muppet Movie celebrates its 40th anniversary, we talk to one of the men behind the Muppet madness.
Around a campfire with a group of his fellow stardom-seeking misfits, Gonzo the Great performs the haunting ballad "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday." Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of watching The Muppet Movie will be quick to point out that this scene is an instant tear-jerker that evokes a sense of longing.
It's a pretty unexpected move from a character previously known for misfire stunts and having uncomfortable relations with poultry, yet someone Gonzo becomes the emotional soul of the Muppets' first feature... and a character who sums up the dreams of anyone yearning for more than their current lot in life.
For the past 46 years, Dave Goelz has brought numerous Muppet legends to life (making him the longest consecutive Muppet performer). Included in...
As The Muppet Movie celebrates its 40th anniversary, we talk to one of the men behind the Muppet madness.
Around a campfire with a group of his fellow stardom-seeking misfits, Gonzo the Great performs the haunting ballad "I'm Going to Go Back There Someday." Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of watching The Muppet Movie will be quick to point out that this scene is an instant tear-jerker that evokes a sense of longing.
It's a pretty unexpected move from a character previously known for misfire stunts and having uncomfortable relations with poultry, yet someone Gonzo becomes the emotional soul of the Muppets' first feature... and a character who sums up the dreams of anyone yearning for more than their current lot in life.
For the past 46 years, Dave Goelz has brought numerous Muppet legends to life (making him the longest consecutive Muppet performer). Included in...
- 7/25/2019
- Den of Geek
We talk to Frank Oz and the other original Muppeteers about creating characters, watching them evolve, and giving them sentience.
After a few moving documentaries about individual puppeteers, this year’s SXSW debuted a new documentary directed by Frank Oz called Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets of the Show the Whole World Watched. The film is an hour-long free form discussion with Jerry Nelson (The Count, Mr. Snuffleupagus), Dave Goelz (Gonzo, Bunsen Honeydew), Fran Brill (Zoe, Prairie Dawn), and Bill Barretta (Pepe, Tree-Face-Guy) loosely moderated by Oz. Because it features so many of the key personalities that have been only briefly touched upon in spotlight docs on Big Bird or Elmo, it’s a must-watch for any Muppet Show obsessive who wants to hear about what it’s like being buried in a room under a fire pit so they could perform a song with John Denver.
You wouldn’t know it from the way they talk...
After a few moving documentaries about individual puppeteers, this year’s SXSW debuted a new documentary directed by Frank Oz called Muppet Guys Talking: Secrets of the Show the Whole World Watched. The film is an hour-long free form discussion with Jerry Nelson (The Count, Mr. Snuffleupagus), Dave Goelz (Gonzo, Bunsen Honeydew), Fran Brill (Zoe, Prairie Dawn), and Bill Barretta (Pepe, Tree-Face-Guy) loosely moderated by Oz. Because it features so many of the key personalities that have been only briefly touched upon in spotlight docs on Big Bird or Elmo, it’s a must-watch for any Muppet Show obsessive who wants to hear about what it’s like being buried in a room under a fire pit so they could perform a song with John Denver.
You wouldn’t know it from the way they talk...
- 3/15/2017
- by Da7e Gonzales
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
In today’s Horror Highlights we gather around the campfire for Boom! Studios’ Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Tales graphic novel. We also have screening details and a trailer for Jack Fessenden’s Stray Bullets and a promo video for tonight’s episode of TLC’s Paranormal Lockdown.
Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Tales Graphic Novel: Press Release: “Los Angeles, Calif. (February 2, 2017) – Boom! Studios and The Jim Henson Company are proud to announce Jim Henson’S The Dark Crystal Tales, a new children’s book set for release this summer by acclaimed writer and artist Cory Godbey (Have Courage, Be Kind: The Tale of Cinderella). The publication is a follow-up to last fall’s best-selling Jim Henson’S Labyrinth Tales, also written and illustrated by Godbey.
Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Tales delves deep into the Skeksis-ruled land of Thra in this beautiful look at some of...
Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Tales Graphic Novel: Press Release: “Los Angeles, Calif. (February 2, 2017) – Boom! Studios and The Jim Henson Company are proud to announce Jim Henson’S The Dark Crystal Tales, a new children’s book set for release this summer by acclaimed writer and artist Cory Godbey (Have Courage, Be Kind: The Tale of Cinderella). The publication is a follow-up to last fall’s best-selling Jim Henson’S Labyrinth Tales, also written and illustrated by Godbey.
Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal Tales delves deep into the Skeksis-ruled land of Thra in this beautiful look at some of...
- 2/3/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Jim Henson’s Turkey Hollow, Lifetime’s charming Thanksgiving film, almost didn’t get made. Jim Henson originally wrote the film’s treatment with longtime writing partner Jerry Juhl over four decades ago, but the project was shelved, and subsequently forgotten, when another of their projects became a huge success. “The original treatment is dated from 1968,” says Henson’s daughter Lisa, CEO of The Jim Henson Company. “By 1969, it was all hands on deck with Sesame Street.” So that treatment lingered in purgatory until it was recently rediscovered. “We came across this treatment,” Lisa recalls, “and I was so charmed by it. I … Continue reading →
The post Lifetime’s “Turkey Hollow” is a Howl appeared first on Channel Guide Magazine.
The post Lifetime’s “Turkey Hollow” is a Howl appeared first on Channel Guide Magazine.
- 11/17/2015
- by Kellie Freeze
- ChannelGuideMag
This past week, Lady Gaga hosted a fun, somewhat psychedelic hour of television on ABC: Lady Gaga and The Muppets’ Holiday Special. In many ways, the special transported me back to the mid-80s, when a post-Muppet Show troupe of puppets were still dominating all facets of media at the time. Now that the Muppets are successfully making a comeback, this led me to reminisce about the numerous Muppet holiday films over the years and question which one is my favorite.
Growing up as a kid obsessed with any and everything related to Jim Henson, the magic of the Muppets always brightened my spirits with laughter, wonder and imagination. Christmastime was always a magical time of year, but in my home, Christmas was about more than stuffing stockings with candy. Christmas was about stories, and sharing the wonder and belief of the holidays with friends and family. Every year, like stockings filled by Santa,...
Growing up as a kid obsessed with any and everything related to Jim Henson, the magic of the Muppets always brightened my spirits with laughter, wonder and imagination. Christmastime was always a magical time of year, but in my home, Christmas was about more than stuffing stockings with candy. Christmas was about stories, and sharing the wonder and belief of the holidays with friends and family. Every year, like stockings filled by Santa,...
- 12/3/2013
- by Tony Nunes
- SoundOnSight
And there was much rejoicing. Though the overall package could be improved, it’s hard to deny the joy of watching The Muppet Movie on Blu-ray for the first time. You may be, like yours truly, a Netflix subscriber who’s watched this 1979 family classic on the Watch Instantly service over the last few months, hoping that the so-called SuperHD upgrade would be enough of an upgrade compared to DVD. It turns out that Disney had a trick or two up its sleeve with regards to this film’s high-definition transfer, though. (Or, possibly, the Netflix SuperHD moniker isn’t 100% accurate, but with a name like “SuperHD,” how could it be lying?) And like most Disney catalog Blu-rays, The Muppet Movie is criminally light on special features, but the few that are present are quite something.
Logic, being fair, hasn’t entered in much to the timing of this Blu-ray release,...
Logic, being fair, hasn’t entered in much to the timing of this Blu-ray release,...
- 8/13/2013
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
Muppet Treasure Island
Directed by Brian Henson
Written by Jerry Juhl
Starring Tim Curry, Kevin Bishop, Jennifer Saunders, Billy Connolly
It is, admittedly, strange to criticize a movie adaptation of a well-worn classic for being too faithful. Some movies, of course, are too stuck on the books or plays they’re adapting, unable to break free from the tethers of the previously written word. But most often, we want our movie versions of beloved stories to be very much like those stories. Otherwise, what’s the point? Sometimes, however, the more faithful an adaptation is, the less successful it is as a movie. We have to remember that a book and a movie may tell the same story, but they can never tell it the same way. This point got lost in the shuffle during the Harry Potter franchise, but it’s pertinent: whatever experience you had reading those books,...
Directed by Brian Henson
Written by Jerry Juhl
Starring Tim Curry, Kevin Bishop, Jennifer Saunders, Billy Connolly
It is, admittedly, strange to criticize a movie adaptation of a well-worn classic for being too faithful. Some movies, of course, are too stuck on the books or plays they’re adapting, unable to break free from the tethers of the previously written word. But most often, we want our movie versions of beloved stories to be very much like those stories. Otherwise, what’s the point? Sometimes, however, the more faithful an adaptation is, the less successful it is as a movie. We have to remember that a book and a movie may tell the same story, but they can never tell it the same way. This point got lost in the shuffle during the Harry Potter franchise, but it’s pertinent: whatever experience you had reading those books,...
- 4/6/2013
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
The Muppet Christmas Carol: Smart, weird & filled with wholesome fortitude
Of all the visual retellings of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, none can quite compare to the warmth and fortitude of The Muppet Christmas Carol. Smartly narrated with humor, weirdness and a peppering of Dickens’ quotes by Gonzo, Director Brian Henson captures the story’s strengths while deftly intertwining Muppet personality. This holiday, the film is available on Blu-ray for the first time ever to mark the film’s 20th Anniversary.
Instead of jumping right into the narrative, The Muppet Christmas Carol begins with Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat, exchanging playful Muppet banter. Rizzo introduces himself by name, however Gonzo introduces himself as Charles Dickens. To prove his claim, Gonzo kick starts the story by quoting the first line of Dickens’ novel – with some artistic license. Instead of saying “Marley was dead: to begin with,” Gonzo says, “the Marleys were dead to begin with.
Of all the visual retellings of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, none can quite compare to the warmth and fortitude of The Muppet Christmas Carol. Smartly narrated with humor, weirdness and a peppering of Dickens’ quotes by Gonzo, Director Brian Henson captures the story’s strengths while deftly intertwining Muppet personality. This holiday, the film is available on Blu-ray for the first time ever to mark the film’s 20th Anniversary.
Instead of jumping right into the narrative, The Muppet Christmas Carol begins with Gonzo and Rizzo the Rat, exchanging playful Muppet banter. Rizzo introduces himself by name, however Gonzo introduces himself as Charles Dickens. To prove his claim, Gonzo kick starts the story by quoting the first line of Dickens’ novel – with some artistic license. Instead of saying “Marley was dead: to begin with,” Gonzo says, “the Marleys were dead to begin with.
- 11/15/2012
- by Bags Hooper
- BuzzFocus.com
Blu-ray & DVD Release Date: Nov. 6, 2012
Price: DVD $19.99, Blu-ray $26.50
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Twenty years after the Muppets took on Charles Dickens‘ classic holiday tale, The Muppet Christmas Carol is available in high-definition Blu-ray.
Released in 1992, the family movie stars Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as his wife and Academy Award-winning actor Michael Caine (The Dark Knight Rises) as Scrooge. Of course, the rest of the Muppets are also on board for the ghostly mayhem.
Brian Henson, the son of Muppets creator Jim Henson, directed the G-rated comedy film, his first. He later went on to helm Muppet Treasure Island as well as episodes of TV’s Farscape. The Muppet Christmas Carol was written by the late Jerry Juhl, a long-time Muppet scripter, who also worked on TV’s Fraggle Rock.
The DVD offers these special features:
audio commentary with Brian Hensonblooper reelPepe Profiles Presents “Gonzo...
Price: DVD $19.99, Blu-ray $26.50
Studio: Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Twenty years after the Muppets took on Charles Dickens‘ classic holiday tale, The Muppet Christmas Carol is available in high-definition Blu-ray.
Released in 1992, the family movie stars Kermit the Frog as Bob Cratchit, Miss Piggy as his wife and Academy Award-winning actor Michael Caine (The Dark Knight Rises) as Scrooge. Of course, the rest of the Muppets are also on board for the ghostly mayhem.
Brian Henson, the son of Muppets creator Jim Henson, directed the G-rated comedy film, his first. He later went on to helm Muppet Treasure Island as well as episodes of TV’s Farscape. The Muppet Christmas Carol was written by the late Jerry Juhl, a long-time Muppet scripter, who also worked on TV’s Fraggle Rock.
The DVD offers these special features:
audio commentary with Brian Hensonblooper reelPepe Profiles Presents “Gonzo...
- 10/25/2012
- by Sam
- Disc Dish
The winners of the 2012 Eisner Awards have been announced at San Diego Comic-Con International. Mark Waid and Archaia's Jim Henson's Tale of Sand dominated the event, taking three honours each. Waid's acclaimed Marvel Comics Daredevil title - which he has been writing alongside artists Marcos Martin, Paolo Rivera and Joe Rivera - received the awards for 'Best Single Issue (or One-Shot)' and 'Best Continuing Series', with the scribe also being named 'Best Writer'. Based on an unproduced screenplay by Henson and Jerry Juhl, (more)...
- 7/15/2012
- by By Hugh Armitage
- Digital Spy
It’s the first week of May and you know what that means, The Avengers in theaters kicking off the summer movie season on May 4, which is also Star Wars Day, and Free Comic Book Day, Saturday May 5. Fcbd has capitalized on the first weekend of May because of what seems like an annual release of a Marvel movie and hopefully there will be plenty of interest in stories starring Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, but we would be irresponsible to pass up the opportunity to showcase all of the other comic book publishers and diverse selection of comics to choose from that will be made to sample in the form of free comics, as well as hopefully well-stocked selections of their catalog at your local comic book shop, which you can find by dialing 1-888-comic-shop or visiting the Comic Shop Locator website.
Archaia Entertainment
In this spotlight, I wanted...
Archaia Entertainment
In this spotlight, I wanted...
- 5/5/2012
- by Ernie Estrella
- BuzzFocus.com
The nominees for the 2012 Eisner Awards have been announced. Mark Waid's Marvel Comics title Daredevil leads the way with six nominations including 'Best Continuing Series', 'Best Single Issue', 'Best Writer' and 'Best Cover Artist'. Archaia's graphic novel Jim Henson's Tale of Sand - based on an unproduced screenplay by Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl - received five nominations. Vertigo's iZombie and The Unwritten and Idw's Richard Stark's Parker: The Martini Edition all received three nods each. DC Comics, Idw Publishing (more)...
- 4/5/2012
- by By Hugh Armitage
- Digital Spy
Is it right for us to see the Muppets out of their natural habitat? That question was posed to audiences in the 1990s, as Walt Disney Pictures brought us The Muppet Christmas Carol in 1992 and Muppet Treasure Island in 1996, two adaptations of famous novels with Muppets inserted into key roles. There were humans present in both films, but humans play second fiddle to the Muppets. Simply by being Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, the Great Gonzo, and more, the Muppets take the spotlight away from the humans beside them. There have been different ways of saying it, but the biggest flaw in The Muppets is that Jason Segel and Amy Adams aren’t as compelling as the felt creatures standing next to them. But the problem in The Muppets isn’t nearly as frustrating as what happens in The Muppet Christmas Carol.
By making Ebenezer Scrooge a human character,...
By making Ebenezer Scrooge a human character,...
- 1/6/2012
- by Josh Spiegel
- SoundOnSight
Last year’s graphic novel and Tpb Top 10, was filled with some modern classics including Parker: The Outfit, Northlanders, Scott Pilgrim, and Beasts of Burden, so 2011’s offerings have a lot to live up to. As with last year’s this chart will only contain books released in 2011 that I have personally read.
1: Daytripper | Vertigo | Fábio Moon & Gabriel Bá
Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá can do no wrong, and Daytripper is their best and most personal work to date. The Brazilian twins tell the story, or rather stories, of writer Brás de Oliva Domingos; each chapter is a day in the life of Brás, with each day ending in the same way. Daytripper is one of the most poignant comics I have ever read, chapter 8 especially, which is odd as Brás is absent for that story. I look forward to seeing how Moon & Bá follow this. I should also...
1: Daytripper | Vertigo | Fábio Moon & Gabriel Bá
Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá can do no wrong, and Daytripper is their best and most personal work to date. The Brazilian twins tell the story, or rather stories, of writer Brás de Oliva Domingos; each chapter is a day in the life of Brás, with each day ending in the same way. Daytripper is one of the most poignant comics I have ever read, chapter 8 especially, which is odd as Brás is absent for that story. I look forward to seeing how Moon & Bá follow this. I should also...
- 12/28/2011
- by Baron Fornightly
- Nerdly
Throughout the month of December, TV Editor Kate Kulzick and Film Editor Ricky D will review classic Christmas adaptions, posting a total of 13 each, one a day, until the 25th of December.
The catch: They will swap roles as Rick will take on reviews of classic television Christmas specials and Kate will take on Christmas movies. Today is day 13.
A Muppet Family Christmas (1987) (TV)
Directed by Peter Harris and Eric Till
Writen by Jerry Juhl
What’s it about?
A Muppet Family Christmas first aired on ABC on December 16, 1987. In this warm Yuletide, one-hour Christmas special, Fozzie Bear surprises his mother Emily on Christmas Eve by bringing along the entire Muppet gang (including the cast of both Sesame Street and Fragle Rock), to celebrate the holidays. With a blizzard brewing outside, Fozzie’s childhood home becomes the backdrop for a medley of holiday tunes, as Doc and his dog Sprocket...
The catch: They will swap roles as Rick will take on reviews of classic television Christmas specials and Kate will take on Christmas movies. Today is day 13.
A Muppet Family Christmas (1987) (TV)
Directed by Peter Harris and Eric Till
Writen by Jerry Juhl
What’s it about?
A Muppet Family Christmas first aired on ABC on December 16, 1987. In this warm Yuletide, one-hour Christmas special, Fozzie Bear surprises his mother Emily on Christmas Eve by bringing along the entire Muppet gang (including the cast of both Sesame Street and Fragle Rock), to celebrate the holidays. With a blizzard brewing outside, Fozzie’s childhood home becomes the backdrop for a medley of holiday tunes, as Doc and his dog Sprocket...
- 12/16/2011
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
Discovered in the Archives of The Jim Henson Company, Tale of Sand is an original graphic novel adaptation of an unproduced, feature-length screenplay written by Jim Henson and his frequent writing partner, Jerry Juhl. Tale of Sand follows scruffy everyman, Mac, who wakes up in an unfamiliar town, and is chased across the desert of the American Southwest by all manners of man and beast of unimaginable proportions. Produced with the complete supervision of Jim’s daughter, Lisa Henson, Tale of Sand will allow Henson fans to recognize some of the inspirations and set pieces that appeared in later Henson Company productions.
The book will be on sale in comic shops tomorrow in limited quantities, and on a wider basis on Jan. 17.
Jim Henson’S Tale Of Sand
Original Graphic Novel Hardcover
Retail Price: $29.95 U.S.
Page Count: 160 pages
Format: hardcover (paper over board), 8.25” x 11.5”, full color
Isbn-13: 978-...
The book will be on sale in comic shops tomorrow in limited quantities, and on a wider basis on Jan. 17.
Jim Henson’S Tale Of Sand
Original Graphic Novel Hardcover
Retail Price: $29.95 U.S.
Page Count: 160 pages
Format: hardcover (paper over board), 8.25” x 11.5”, full color
Isbn-13: 978-...
- 12/13/2011
- by Glenn Hauman
- Comicmix.com
Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon the other night to promote their new movie, The Muppets. They also ended up playing the classic Password game show with comic actor Martin Short and the former lead vocalist for R.E.M., Michael Stipe.
While Kermit was at Rockefeller Center, he took a few minutes to "revisit" the famous Muppet pipes.
As you may recall, these are the water pipes that Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Don Sahlin, and Jerry Juhl "vandalized" while waiting to appear on Tonight Starring Jack Paar. They were told that their artwork would be quickly removed but it's survived and now, 47 years later, is part of the official NBC studio tour.
Here's the short video with Kermit (as well as the rest of his and Piggy's appearance):...
While Kermit was at Rockefeller Center, he took a few minutes to "revisit" the famous Muppet pipes.
As you may recall, these are the water pipes that Jim Henson, Frank Oz, Don Sahlin, and Jerry Juhl "vandalized" while waiting to appear on Tonight Starring Jack Paar. They were told that their artwork would be quickly removed but it's survived and now, 47 years later, is part of the official NBC studio tour.
Here's the short video with Kermit (as well as the rest of his and Piggy's appearance):...
- 11/18/2011
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Last weekend would've been Jim Henson's 75th birthday, but the beloved Muppets creator's legacy continues to live on in various forms -- including an upcoming graphic novel based on one of his unproduced screenplays.
Archaia Entertainment debuted a 20-page preview of Jim Henson's Tale of Sand this week, offering fans their first look at the project.
Based on an unproduced screenplay co-written by Henson and his longtime collaborator Jerry Juhl, Tale of Sand chronicles the adventures of a man who wakes up in a strange town with no memory of who he is or how me got there. After he's kicked out into the desert, the man must cross the increasingly bizarre landscape while avoiding a mysterious figure that's pursuing him.
The story was developed from ideas Henson had while creating "Timepiece," his Oscar-nominated short film.
Produced with the blessing of Jim Henson Company CEO Lisa Henson, Tale...
Archaia Entertainment debuted a 20-page preview of Jim Henson's Tale of Sand this week, offering fans their first look at the project.
Based on an unproduced screenplay co-written by Henson and his longtime collaborator Jerry Juhl, Tale of Sand chronicles the adventures of a man who wakes up in a strange town with no memory of who he is or how me got there. After he's kicked out into the desert, the man must cross the increasingly bizarre landscape while avoiding a mysterious figure that's pursuing him.
The story was developed from ideas Henson had while creating "Timepiece," his Oscar-nominated short film.
Produced with the blessing of Jim Henson Company CEO Lisa Henson, Tale...
- 9/28/2011
- by Rick Marshall
- ifc.com
When Jim Henson passed away, a few unproduced projects were left on his desk. One was an early project called Tale of Sand, a script written with frequent Muppet co-writer Jerry Juhl. The script has been adapted into a graphic novel, by Ramón Perez and comic publisher Archaia. A twenty-page preview is now online, so you can get a taste of how one of Henson's unrealized projects has been translated to the comic page. Archaia [1] has the preview (via Bleeding Cool [2]) but you can see four pages in the gallery below. Head to the Archaia link to see more. [gallery columns="2"] Bleeding Cool [3] did an interview with the publisher earlier this year, which sheds some light on the project's history: This is an idea he came up with in the mid to late 50s and worked with Jerry Juhl in scripting a feature length screenplay throughout the late 60s and early 70s.
- 9/27/2011
- by Russ Fischer
- Slash Film
To help celebrate the 75th anniversary of Jim Henson’s birth Archaia Entertainment debuted the first 20 pages of their upcoming graphic novel, Jim Henson’s Tale of Sand, which is based on a screenplay that was written by Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl.
Archaia timed the preview to coincide with search giant Google's own home page tribute to Jim Henson, which takes the form of [...]...
Archaia timed the preview to coincide with search giant Google's own home page tribute to Jim Henson, which takes the form of [...]...
- 9/24/2011
- by Dave3
- Geeks of Doom
Some screenplays never get turned into movies. In fact, a ton of them don’t, and the ratio doesn’t shift when talking about working screenwriters (or even legends of the game). Most have drawers of work that never made the jump from page to screen, so it’s always intriguing when someone takes an interest in something covered in dust. Of course, the dust is shinier when it’s collecting on something from the brilliant mind of Jim Henson. According to La Weekly, Archaia (which just scored Eisner Awards for two of its titles) has converted Henson’s A Tale of Sand script (which he wrote with writing partner Jerry Juhl) into a comic book complete with a font born from Henson’s own handwriting. “It’s the last and only screenplay that Henson never got to produce in his lifetime,” said Archaia Editor-in-Chief, Stephen Christy, “so we’re bringing it to life as a graphic...
- 8/29/2011
- by Cole Abaius
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
Deadline Comic-Con film correspondent Luke Y Thompson files: In a small-yet-packed room, all the way across the convention center and up the stairs from Hollywood's big Hall H stuff, significant bits of film history were coming to light. After Archaia Entertainment CEO P.J. Bickett warmed up the crowd with a joke about how their next project could be “New Kids on the Block meet Fraggle Rock,” it was revealed that Archaia's partnership with the Jim Henson Company included material from the Henson vaults, some of which had never been seen before. A full page movie script written by Henson and longtime collaborator Jerry Juhl in 1968, A Tale Of Sand, has been found and will soon come to light in comic book form. As for a potential movie form – that went unmentioned. Also never before seen, and screened, was a short piece of experimental animation set to the music of Chico Hamilton,...
- 7/24/2011
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Comic-Con International has released the full schedule for Sunday July 24th for San Diego Comic-Con 2011. This is the final day of the convention. Sunday is known as Kids day and is usually the slowest of all the days, there are a few surprises though. In all my years of going to Comic-Con I've never been to a panel in Hal H. Usually nothing is happening in Hall H on Sunday, this year there are a few TV programs going on in Hall H such a as Glee, Supernatural, Doctor Who, The Cleveland Show, Sons of Anarchy, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, and this year Buffy the Musical will be in the great Hall as well. I've never been to the Buffy Musical event, and I think I finally want to go this year. A couple of other things worth noting are a one on one panel with Nathan Fillion, and Max Brooks talks about zombies.
- 7/10/2011
- by Venkman
- GeekTyrant
Welcome to a special edition of Fortnightly Favourites where I’ll be looking at the best comics on offer at Saturday 7th May’s Free Comic Book Day.
The Amazing Spider-man | Marvel | W: Dan Slott | A: Humberto Ramos
For the past few years Marvel has led the way when it comes to the quality of comics available on Free Comic Book Day. This issue is a perfect jumping on point for new Spider-man fans, Slott and Ramos start with a Spidey recap and a double page spread of his origin. The main story is a classic hero controlled by villain verse hero fight, where Spidey, now lacking his spider-sense, must use his brains to defeat the villain and in doing so comes to realise that he needs combat training from Master of Kung-Fu – Shang Chi. The story ties into what Slott is current doing on Amazing Spider-man and leads into...
The Amazing Spider-man | Marvel | W: Dan Slott | A: Humberto Ramos
For the past few years Marvel has led the way when it comes to the quality of comics available on Free Comic Book Day. This issue is a perfect jumping on point for new Spider-man fans, Slott and Ramos start with a Spidey recap and a double page spread of his origin. The main story is a classic hero controlled by villain verse hero fight, where Spidey, now lacking his spider-sense, must use his brains to defeat the villain and in doing so comes to realise that he needs combat training from Master of Kung-Fu – Shang Chi. The story ties into what Slott is current doing on Amazing Spider-man and leads into...
- 5/8/2011
- by Baron Fornightly
- Nerdly
I first met Frank Oz on the set of Muppets From Space, in January of 1999. We got on quite well, and made plans to do an in-depth interview sometime in the near future.
Towards the end of the year, our schedules finally met in the middle, and we had quite a long conversation, marked by Oz’s complete candor about his time with the Muppets, his move into directing, and much more. I also learned that Frank Oz swore.
Like a sailor.
It was an endearing verbal affectation that sticks out in my memory to this day. Here was an iconic performer who brought to life a fair chunk of my childhood - Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Cookie Monster, Animal, Grover - and he cussed. A lot.
From the vaults, I present to you my chat with Frank Oz…
Ken Plume: You were born in England. When did your parents move to the States?...
Towards the end of the year, our schedules finally met in the middle, and we had quite a long conversation, marked by Oz’s complete candor about his time with the Muppets, his move into directing, and much more. I also learned that Frank Oz swore.
Like a sailor.
It was an endearing verbal affectation that sticks out in my memory to this day. Here was an iconic performer who brought to life a fair chunk of my childhood - Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Cookie Monster, Animal, Grover - and he cussed. A lot.
From the vaults, I present to you my chat with Frank Oz…
Ken Plume: You were born in England. When did your parents move to the States?...
- 10/18/2010
- by UncaScroogeMcD
Archaia has announced a graphic novel adaptation of Jim Henson and Jerry Juhl's A Tale of Sand. Henson and his long-time collaborator Juhl worked on the screenplay during the 1960s, but nothing ever came of the project. Working with The Jim Henson Company, Archaia will adapt the tale of a boy who is ejected from a dusty village and forced to wander out into the desert. "This script is a peek into the early creative mind of Jim Henson, and is a unique vision that is so different from his work with The Muppets, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth or any of (more)...
- 8/4/2010
- by By Hugh Armitage
- Digital Spy
I miss Jim Henson. I recall sitting in my home office and hearing the stunning news that the puppeteer had unexpectedly passed away. All I could think of were the movies and television shows that we would never see, the voice of Kermit the Frog growing silent. As it is, every time the family watches the Muppet Christmas Special, I sigh at the end when he makes a cameo appearance.
Henson was a gentle, creative man, but in the documentary, Henson’s Place, he’s also described as a having a “steely will” and he needed that to bring his creations to life and before the public. The 52-minute show was produced for airing in Wales in 1984 and has played on PBS here in the states. Today, Lionsgate releases the documentary on DVD. It’s a frozen moment in time, six years before his untimely passing, but well after he...
Henson was a gentle, creative man, but in the documentary, Henson’s Place, he’s also described as a having a “steely will” and he needed that to bring his creations to life and before the public. The 52-minute show was produced for airing in Wales in 1984 and has played on PBS here in the states. Today, Lionsgate releases the documentary on DVD. It’s a frozen moment in time, six years before his untimely passing, but well after he...
- 8/3/2010
- by Robert Greenberger
- Comicmix.com
Legend has it that, back in December 1964, Jim Henson and his Muppet troupe (performer Frank Oz, puppet builder Don Sahlin, and writer Jerry Juhl) were booked for a guest-spot on The Jack Paar Show. This was the period, before Sesame Street, when the team made their living via variety show appearances and commercials.
Henson and friends arrived at NBC at 10am for a rehearsal and were told that they wouldn't be performing until 4pm. With lots of time to kill, Oz opened a utility closet door in their dressing room and found essentially a wall of dusty, black pipes.
In a 1992 interview, Juhl recalled, "We had nothing to do, and Don had brought paints because we were performing something that needed touch-ups, so one thing led to another and we started decorating the pipes. It was Jim's idea -- a typical...
Henson and friends arrived at NBC at 10am for a rehearsal and were told that they wouldn't be performing until 4pm. With lots of time to kill, Oz opened a utility closet door in their dressing room and found essentially a wall of dusty, black pipes.
In a 1992 interview, Juhl recalled, "We had nothing to do, and Don had brought paints because we were performing something that needed touch-ups, so one thing led to another and we started decorating the pipes. It was Jim's idea -- a typical...
- 7/28/2010
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Plus Alexander Skarsgård drops robe, a gay prom king and queen, and the High School Musical franchise gets gay!
You know you need to get laid when your biggest problem with Glee is that they never bring up acquiring performance licenses for the music on the show. And you blog about it, in detail, with dollar figures.
I am a total geek, so when Wil Wheaton posted a link to an interactive, Flash-based map of Ringworld from the Larry Niven books, I knew I couldn't actually look myself, or you’d never get a Meme. Tell me if it’s wonderful?
Believe it or not, Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark is being penciled in for October previews, with a late November opening. The $52 million musical just needs to sell out the theater until 2016 to break even.
This weekend at L.A. Pride, Life Out Loud will be honoring teens...
You know you need to get laid when your biggest problem with Glee is that they never bring up acquiring performance licenses for the music on the show. And you blog about it, in detail, with dollar figures.
I am a total geek, so when Wil Wheaton posted a link to an interactive, Flash-based map of Ringworld from the Larry Niven books, I knew I couldn't actually look myself, or you’d never get a Meme. Tell me if it’s wonderful?
Believe it or not, Spider Man: Turn Off the Dark is being penciled in for October previews, with a late November opening. The $52 million musical just needs to sell out the theater until 2016 to break even.
This weekend at L.A. Pride, Life Out Loud will be honoring teens...
- 6/10/2010
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
Fraggle Rock was the very first show on HBO and, in a lot of ways, the ultimate palate cleanser for all the episodic storytelling and creativity yet to come. After all, almost every day in Fraggle Rock included a clean moral, a pitch perfect song, a pure act of friendship, and a nice, pared-down script. But being a Jim Henson product, and his wide vision of a world symbiosis guiding it lightspeed ahead of any other kids show, inasmuch as it was a “kids show,” it's hard to describe Fraggle Rock as simply a first foray into entertainment. In fact, in this last season, it actually feels more like a final word.
At some point or another here, the fun-loving and usually independent Fraggle friends each get their own special interactions with the mysterious Gorgs, Doozers, and Silly Creatures (humans) they share the planet with, and each results in a transcendent amount of warmth,...
At some point or another here, the fun-loving and usually independent Fraggle friends each get their own special interactions with the mysterious Gorgs, Doozers, and Silly Creatures (humans) they share the planet with, and each results in a transcendent amount of warmth,...
- 11/20/2009
- by Michael Narkunski
- JustPressPlay.net
At Disney's D23 they kept the movie surprises coming for nearly two hours, announcing a slew of new information about their upcoming slate of films for the next couple of years, and they trotted out John Travolta, Robert Zemeckis, Jerry Bruckheimer, Nic Cage, Miley Cyrus, and ... Johnny Depp in full costume as Captain Jack Sparrow. Yes, we're not kidding, and boy do I hate the "no cameras in the arena" rule that Disney busted on us. Of all the things to miss a photo of.
So yes, Pirates 4 is coming out in Summer 2011. That's probably the biggest news. What else did they announce? Check it out below ...
Disney's The Princess and The Frog will be screened at the Disney Studio in Burbank, which is being opened to the public for the first time ever, from November 25th through December 13th. The new Muppets movie will be called The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made.
So yes, Pirates 4 is coming out in Summer 2011. That's probably the biggest news. What else did they announce? Check it out below ...
Disney's The Princess and The Frog will be screened at the Disney Studio in Burbank, which is being opened to the public for the first time ever, from November 25th through December 13th. The new Muppets movie will be called The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made.
- 9/11/2009
- by Kevin Kelly
- Cinematical
Film review: 'Muppets From Space' Muppet Close Encounters / The latest installment in the Henson franchise is a goofy sci-fi diversion for kids and adults
Not as consistently entertaining or inspired as the best Muppet movies -- which include "Muppet Treasure Island", released more than three years ago -- "Muppets From Space" is still a goofy diversion for adults and a mini-sci-fi fantasy for kids. Up against tough competition, the Sony Pictures release should do business comparable to past installments: cheery but unspectacular boxoffice performers except for 20-year-old "The Muppet Movie".
It would have been very disappointing if there weren't irreverent homages to such popular science fiction films as "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Independence Day" -- rest assured, there are -- but the filmmakers don't get carried away with material that would go by younger viewers who haven't seen those and other films referenced.
With his prickly, faucet-shaped beak and a big chip on his little shoulder, Gonzo (voiced by Dave Goelz) is the featured character this time around when he comes to believe aliens like himself are coming to Earth. The hilarious opener is a biblical dream of Gonzo's in which he doesn't know what kind of animal he is and is thus refused a place on the ark by an unsympathetic Noah (F. Murray Abraham).
Indeed, one-of-a-kind Gonzo is an outsider who suddenly starts to act eccentrically -- even for a Muppet -- when aliens send a message to him at the breakfast table. With the help of Rizzo the Rat and Kermit (Steve Witmire), Miss Piggy (Frank Oz) and delightful new character Pepe the Prawn (Bill Barretta), Gonzo manages to stay away from a paranoid, unfriendly-to-aliens government agent (Jeffrey Tambor) and the UFO kooks who flock to him when he's featured on a bogus TV show.
While Andie MacDowell as a newscaster in a feud with Miss Piggy, Ray Liotta as an easily out-maneuvered security guard and David Arquette as a rodent-terrorizing associate of Singer's all make the most of brief scenes, the human elements of "Muppets" are generally less engaging than usual. But the Muppets' adventures are inventive, and the fine production values are consistent with this satisfying film series that joyfully carries on the spirit and showmanship of creator Jim Henson.
MUPPETS FROM SPACE
Sony Pictures Releasing
Columbia Pictures, Jim Henson Pictures presents
Credits: Director: Tim Hill; Screenwriters: Jerry Juhl, Joseph Mazzarino, Ken Kaufman; Producers: Brian Henson, Martin G. Baker; Executive producers: Kristine Belson, Stephanie Allain; Director of photography: Alan Caso; Production designer: Stephen Marsh; Editors: Michael A. Stevenson, Richard Pearson; Costume designer:Polly Smith; Music: Jamshied Sharifi; Visual effects: Thomas G. Smith
Casting: Michael Fenton, Allison Cowitt. Cast: Gonzo:Dave Goelz; Kemit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat: Steve Witmire; Pepe the Prawn: Bill Barretta; Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal: Frank Oz; K. Edgar Singer: Jeffrey Tambor; Shelley Snipes: Andie MacDowell; Noah: F. Murray Abraham; Gate Guard: Ray Liotta; Dr. Tucker: David Arquette; Agent Barker: Josh Charles; TV Producer: Rob Schneider.
MPAA rating: G. Color/stereo . Running time -- 88 minutes...
It would have been very disappointing if there weren't irreverent homages to such popular science fiction films as "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "Independence Day" -- rest assured, there are -- but the filmmakers don't get carried away with material that would go by younger viewers who haven't seen those and other films referenced.
With his prickly, faucet-shaped beak and a big chip on his little shoulder, Gonzo (voiced by Dave Goelz) is the featured character this time around when he comes to believe aliens like himself are coming to Earth. The hilarious opener is a biblical dream of Gonzo's in which he doesn't know what kind of animal he is and is thus refused a place on the ark by an unsympathetic Noah (F. Murray Abraham).
Indeed, one-of-a-kind Gonzo is an outsider who suddenly starts to act eccentrically -- even for a Muppet -- when aliens send a message to him at the breakfast table. With the help of Rizzo the Rat and Kermit (Steve Witmire), Miss Piggy (Frank Oz) and delightful new character Pepe the Prawn (Bill Barretta), Gonzo manages to stay away from a paranoid, unfriendly-to-aliens government agent (Jeffrey Tambor) and the UFO kooks who flock to him when he's featured on a bogus TV show.
While Andie MacDowell as a newscaster in a feud with Miss Piggy, Ray Liotta as an easily out-maneuvered security guard and David Arquette as a rodent-terrorizing associate of Singer's all make the most of brief scenes, the human elements of "Muppets" are generally less engaging than usual. But the Muppets' adventures are inventive, and the fine production values are consistent with this satisfying film series that joyfully carries on the spirit and showmanship of creator Jim Henson.
MUPPETS FROM SPACE
Sony Pictures Releasing
Columbia Pictures, Jim Henson Pictures presents
Credits: Director: Tim Hill; Screenwriters: Jerry Juhl, Joseph Mazzarino, Ken Kaufman; Producers: Brian Henson, Martin G. Baker; Executive producers: Kristine Belson, Stephanie Allain; Director of photography: Alan Caso; Production designer: Stephen Marsh; Editors: Michael A. Stevenson, Richard Pearson; Costume designer:Polly Smith; Music: Jamshied Sharifi; Visual effects: Thomas G. Smith
Casting: Michael Fenton, Allison Cowitt. Cast: Gonzo:Dave Goelz; Kemit the Frog, Rizzo the Rat: Steve Witmire; Pepe the Prawn: Bill Barretta; Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal: Frank Oz; K. Edgar Singer: Jeffrey Tambor; Shelley Snipes: Andie MacDowell; Noah: F. Murray Abraham; Gate Guard: Ray Liotta; Dr. Tucker: David Arquette; Agent Barker: Josh Charles; TV Producer: Rob Schneider.
MPAA rating: G. Color/stereo . Running time -- 88 minutes...
- 7/13/1999
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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