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South Park is a little bit like an Americanized version of Monty Python. You all know Monty Python, right? Well, at least from the re-runs you might. Anyhow, it's all about the pure ridiculousness of real life. The kids, the celebrity cameos, the intemittent unspeakable carnage, it's all meant to make us chuckle a little bit at the obscene ridiculousness of every day life.

Plus, fart jokes are always funny.

SHRUBBERY!!!
COCONUTS!
NIT!!!!
how could we not know?
NIT!
NIT!
we are the knights that say NIT!

Joram Lionheart wrote:Oh, about South Park. They're funny but not that funny. I saw that one movie where Kenny dies and goes to hell (now what was the name of it?) with the whole Saddam and the Devil being lovers, and that's just a sign the writers are not imaginative enough to come up with some really funny material so they put something ridiculous instead. That's right, South Park is all about ridiculing and offending people. It's impressionistic. Every now and then one of the characters will actually say something that's truly funny. Otherwise it's all about insulting someone or something, poking fun at someone or some idea/institution. That only works half the time because chances are that if you pick on everyone and everything out there you're going to step on my toes sooner or later.

The writers/creators did a talk show where they discussed how the movie was made. Every time they submitted scenes to the MPAA for a rating, they got shot down. (There was talk that the movie was actually going to be rated X, at one point.) So, to thumb their noses at the MPAA, they made it even more raunchy, and the MPAA liked it and they got their "R" rating. I would call that imaginative.

I saw the same interview about the movie. I was not amused. I still think their problem is that they lack true comedic genius. A real funny movie should be able to parody something without offending the object of the parody. I think Shrek did that wonderfully. South Park is like a bad political cartoon taken to the most ridiculous extreme (because they're not very good coming up with original storyplots 90% of the time they have to resort to making a political point of some sort). It's so absurd it's not even funny anymore.

I just saw (a few weeks ago) the "Passion of the Jew" episode where Cartman becomes a nazi and tries to kill all the jews because he saw the passion. Then when Kyle and the others try to get their money back after watching the Passion, they portray Mel Gibson as some demented fanatic, who is in love with himself and his movies. How funny is that? Even if I hated Mel Gibson I wouldn't think it was funny. There needs to be some basis on reality for a parody to be authentically funny. I'm sure I'd be able to dig up some dirt on Mel to protray him as hypocrite or something like that. But no, let's portray him as a crazy man instead, ha ha.

I think there comes a point where your comedy becomes so absurd that it either goes over your audience's head or you yourself don't know what's funny about it anymore. And from hearing the writers talk about their own show, I think the latter is mostly the case. 'It's funny because we wanted to get back at the MPAA', or it's funny because we can say $%#! 162 times in one show. Whoohoo! how funny is that!

Pleasssseeee. I have five words for the creators of South Park "The Simpsons already did it!"

Another Oldie but Goodie was "Freebie and the Bean". Does anyone remeber this one? Its from the early 70's. I know James Caan was in it, cant remember who the other actor was. They played private dicks.

Then there was Mother Juggs and Speed. An old one with Bill Cosby, Raquel Welch and someone else, cant remember who else. The 3 of them were ambulance drivers.....a comedy of course. Oh, and it wasnt RW that I was watching it for, it was the dialog, yeah that was it....uh huh lol

Herakles

I love South Park. In a way, it IS rather like Monty Python: they're both 'inventive' comedies. Instead of simply trying to add some polish to old jokes (which isn't a terrible thing either, but someone has to come up with the joke in the first place), they try to create entirely new jokes in areas that have never really been explored before. That sort of thing is a hit-and-miss proposition: about half the South Park episodes are absolutely brilliant, and the other half stink out loud. Monty Python kind of had an advantage, since they featured many short skits, so each episode tends to have one or two good skits, which tends to bring up every episode to the 'decent' level even if the rest of them completely miss the mark.

And just for the record, I think the South Park movie is brilliant.

Joram Lionheart wrote:Otherwise it's all about insulting someone or something, poking fun at someone or some idea/institution. That only works half the time because chances are that if you pick on everyone and everything out there you're going to step on my toes sooner or later.

So are you saying that its OK to poke fun at things as long as it not at the expense of something you like/believe in, or that comedy should never, ever insult anyone?

Lord Of The Rings Trilogy (thought there were couple of things missing like Tom Bombadil )

AHHH, the Tom Bombadil song rings throughout my brain. So catchy yet so annoying. Anyone else know the song?

On another subject, the creators, in the "Passion of the Jew" aren't just ridiculing Mel Gibson, more ridiculing movie makers in general and their lust for money. Cartman's character in effect parodies the people who get lost in these movie's meanings. A crazy man has produced a movie, and it has changed this boy's ideals. I really enjoyed this and most south park episodes. I'm not trying to strike up an argument or anything, just wanted to post my opinion. Sorry if I came off as aggressive.

Drocket wrote:So are you saying that its OK to poke fun at things as long as it not at the expense of something you like/believe in, or that comedy should never, ever insult anyone?

Yes, it is possible to poke fun at something or someone without seriously insulting that something or someone. You don't believe me? Try comparing how the Simpsons make fun of a certain issue and how South Park writers supposedly "parody" that same issue. I can think of countless times when I have felt a certain parody was not funny EVEN THOUGH I was against or dislike the object of the parody. I know if Jay Leno was making fun of president Bush I'd be laughing my ass off yet when when South Park does it I almost feel insulted myself (and I don't even like Bush!).

It is the difference between a funny joke and a tasteless, raunchy one.

Joram Lionheart wrote:

Drocket wrote:So are you saying that its OK to poke fun at things as long as it not at the expense of something you like/believe in, or that comedy should never, ever insult anyone?

Yes, it is possible to poke fun at something or someone without seriously insulting that something or someone. You don't believe me? Try comparing how the Simpsons make fun of a certain issue and how South Park writers supposedly "parody" that same issue. I can think of countless times when I have felt a certain parody was not funny EVEN THOUGH I was against or dislike the object of the parody. I know if Jay Leno was making fun of president Bush I'd be laughing my ass off yet when when South Park does it I almost feel insulted myself (and I don't even like Bush!).

It is the difference between a funny joke and a tasteless, raunchy one.

In YOUR opinion, Joram. You like to leave that out of a lot of your posts, I've noticed. That's YOUR opinion. Please don't try to tell me mine.

Atei wrote:In YOUR opinion, Joram. You like to leave that out of a lot of your posts, I've noticed. That's YOUR opinion. Please don't try to tell me mine.

Atei, if it wasn't my opinion, who else's would it be? It is rather redundant to say something that should be more than obvious. I was taught never to begin an essay/paragraph with "In my opinion" because not only does it make me look amateurish, it is truly unnecessary (comp 101 rulebook ). I don't see how I told you that you must think this way? I missed that part.

Joram Lionheart wrote:

Atei wrote:In YOUR opinion, Joram. You like to leave that out of a lot of your posts, I've noticed. That's YOUR opinion. Please don't try to tell me mine.

Atei, if it wasn't my opinion, who else's would it be? It is rather redundant to say something that should be more than obvious. I was taught never to begin an essay/paragraph with "In my opinion" because not only does it make me look amateurish, it is truly unnecessary (comp 101 rulebook ). I don't see how I told you that you must think this way? I missed that part.

"It is the difference between a funny joke and a tasteless, raunchy one."

That sounded like a statement of fact, to me, and that was what prompted my response. I should've realized it was your opinion, so my apologies.

The whole "in my opinion" thing just shows acceptance and respect to other people's beliefs.

Hmm trying to keep with the thread ill post my favorite movies:

Braveheart
Hackers
The Last Samurai
Office Space
Akira
Vampire Hunter D: Bloodlust
Predator 1&2
Alien 1-4
Lord of The Rings Trilogy
Legend
Robin Hood: Prince Of Theives
Super Troopers
Dogma
Jay & Silent Bob Strike Back
Clerks
Mallrats (cannot say this ISNT one of the funniest movies of all time)
The Crow
John Carpenter's Vampires
Pirates Of The Carribean
Army Of Darkness (Evil Dead 3 for you fanatics)
Snatch (No this isnt a Porno, before someone asks)
Rundown
Airheads
Split Second
Lion King & Aladdin (The best Disney has to offer in my opinion, even if Lion King was stolen from an old Anime tv show)