Is anyone else not looking forward to the Fraggle Rock movie?

[Janice & Mokey's Man]

I wonder if anyone else isn't looking forward to it, or if it's just me. :o

[Kiki]

Dude, you are definately intitled to your own opinion. I'm pretty happy about it all, seeing all the characters come together after 20-something odd years, but I'm not thinking about it all the time nor am I doing cartwheels so I'm not like, extremely exited or anything.

[melissa@muppet]

I am looking forward to the movie i just hope us aussies get it released here in australia.

[TheJimHensonHour]

I wonder if anyone else isn't looking forward to it, or if it's just me. :o
it may very well be you lol could you please tell us why?
Me I'm very excited but also worried but it's been so many years sure there could be plenty of bad things in it but I really don't see Brian letting that happen.

[The Count]

Wha huh? Byron, as one of the biggest FR fanatics here on MC, I'd've thought you'd be enthusiastic over the possibility of the pending cinematic debut of the Fraggles. It's OK if you're not, I'm just trying to understand your position on the issue.

[Janice & Mokey's Man]

Well, when I get so kindredly close with something, I get very apprehensive of future projects concerning it and what changes there may be.

Case in point: Narnia. Those are my favorite books, I've loved them since childhood and am so closely connected with them, and I was so deeply disappointed and let down by the theatrical version. I haven't seen it on DVD, and have no desire to watch it again---once was enough (in fact I would have gladly boycotted the DVDs in a protest had one been around). I do greatly enjoy the BBC version, because first of all I was exposed to it in childhood, so it's nostalgaic, and second of all they basically lifted the words right off the pages and brought them to life---which is the only way to do a book-to-movie, IMO. At least a book I'm so closely connected with, that is.

And Fraggle Rock...it's one of the shows dearest to me not only from my childhood (though I rarely got to see it), but in all genres of television shows period. But it's 20 years later! I may have been on board with this in 1988 or 1989, but decades later, I'm very shaky on how it will turn out...the Muppeteers' voices have aged, so the characters will sound different, we're in different times now, I don't know how much any personalities will change, etc. And from a few "hopeful hints" I read in a sticky thread here about the film, something may happen which I do NOT want to see happen in the Fraggle Rock universe, concerning the Gorgs.


I know many folks are excited about it, this is just my anxious viewpoint...it just seems odd to have this occur so many years later, and with all the changes that could bring that some fans like me may not like. :concern:

[heralde]

Well I kind of agree with you, Janice&Mokey'sMan. I'm not automatically happy with the idea of a Fraggle movie, just because their track record of late has disapointed. I'm just going to hope it works out.

Plus, even if it is a good movie, you can't go home again. It will never be exactly as it was before. That's why something's a classic, it can't be easily repeated. :)

[Tim]

As a production, I'm sure it will be fine, and we can all use another good quality family picture out there, especially for the kids. But without Jim, Jerry and Richard I doubt it can caprture the magic or live up to the fan base's expectations. Personally, while I appreciated the production and what Jim was trying to do, I was never into the whole "Fraggle" thing, so It makes no matter to me if it comes out or not, except where my working puppeteer friends are concerned.

I just think it's yet another "Who cares?" from the Henson Company. I mean, was ther any real demand for this? Put it up against the latest Pixar release or even "Shrek" and I doubt it would get much of an audience, except from preschoolers who don't pay to get in anyway.

Seems to be just an excuse to sell more DVDs and plush for the Disney Licensing division.

[heralde]

I doubt it would get much of an audience, except from preschoolers who don't pay to get in anyway.



Well they don't, but their parents do! ;)

[Fozzie Bear]

Is Disney now licensing the Jim Henson Company properties? They didn't get Fraggle Rock in the deal, only The Muppets and Bear. I don't know if Diz is selling JHC properties, though.

I kind of look forward to it. Zappa seems to be on target with keeping things original to the series, so if he does that I'm game. I just worry when they start saying "cameos" because I know the history of the JHC with their cameos in Muppets from Space, and the actor playing the Crocodile Hunter (ugh) in VMX. Though, if played off like the cameos in the original 3 Muppet films, it could work.

I look more forward to it than I am apprehensive about it.

As a production, I'm sure it will be fine, and we can all use another good quality family picture out there, especially for the kids. But without Jim, Jerry and Richard I doubt it can caprture the magic or live up to the fan base's expectations. Personally, while I appreciated the production and what Jim was trying to do, I was never into the whole "Fraggle" thing, so It makes no matter to me if it comes out or not, except where my working puppeteer friends are concerned.

I just think it's yet another "Who cares?" from the Henson Company. I mean, was ther any real demand for this? Put it up against the latest Pixar release or even "Shrek" and I doubt it would get much of an audience, except from preschoolers who don't pay to get in anyway.

Seems to be just an excuse to sell more DVDs and plush for the Disney Licensing division.

[Beauregard]

And from a few "hopeful hints" I read in a sticky thread here about the film, something may happen which I do NOT want to see happen in the Fraggle Rock universe, concerning the Gorgs.

Am I missing the point somewhere? What is it that people as so afraid of concerning the Gorgs?

I for one am looking forward to the movie with child-like naivety and excitement.

[heralde]

I for one am looking forward to the movie with child-like naivety and excitement.

I think I stopped being that way after seeing Muppet Christmas Carol (I know a lot of people like it and that's fine, but it wasn't my favorite Muppet film).

However, I've actually been pretty excited about the Fraggle film. All my friends think I'm crazy for believing it will turn out well. But I'm hoping we'll be surprised. :)

[christyb]

I think it's mainly the fact that Richard Hunt isn't around. After all Junior just isn't gonna be the same unless the voice is right.

[Beauregard]

I think it's mainly the fact that Richard Hunt isn't around. After all Junior just isn't gonna be the same unless the voice is right.
It could be that, I guess...but we have had many voice changes in the past (especially after so much time) and they have been ok...not great...but not daunting.

[heralde]

I wouldn't mind if they used another voice, as long as it's true to the character.

The only thing is, Zappa said he couldn't really talk about the Gorgs, that it was top secret. Now either that means he has big plans that he doesn't want to discuss. Or, he has no idea if they can use the Gorgs and he's being evasive. Just have to wait and see!

[Beauregard]

I wouldn't mind if they used another voice, as long as it's true to the character.

The only thing is, Zappa said he couldn't really talk about the Gorgs, that it was top secret. Now either that means he has big plans that he doesn't want to discuss. Or, he has no idea if they can use the Gorgs and he's being evasive. Just have to wait and see!
Hmm...I guess that's true. My guess is that he's either talking about Gorgs and Fraggles working together/computer animated Gorgs/Gorg's garden leading into outer-space.

[Luke]

For what its worth, i'm a bit mixed on the idea. I like the idea they are trying to stay true to the show, and i like the idea that music will play a big part, and they don't really have much option other than to get a lot of the original crew back on board. What Zappa says is for the most part very cool. However i don't really like the plotline, i don't like the idea of the celebrity cameos (unless they are really amazing choices, and for a small budget retro flick, i dont see how they can be), and i think 2009 is going to be way off target for this kind of film. It kinda needed to be now, while that market is hot. They should have had this idea years ago. People will be into other stuff by then. I'm also not convinced there is a big enough market for a Fraggle Rock film, infact i think it's painfully obvious there isn't - and this film does not have the backing of any major backers or distributors as yet. I can see it being another "Five Children & It" and that was another Henson company production that didn't really do the original justice, or recieve the promotion or exposure a film like that should have had. I'm not even sure i can see this Fraggle film actually making it into theatres.

[heralde]

Well the Fat Albert film had the same problem. They hadn't properly set up their young audience for who Fat Albert even was. Of course, that might not have mattered if the movie was well written! (I did like it, some parts were very sweet, but the plot was paper thin.)

[Beauregard]

Well the Fat Albert film had the same problem. They hadn't properly set up their young audience for who Fat Albert even was. Of course, that might not have mattered if the movie was well written! (I did like it, some parts were very sweet, but the plot was paper thin.)
I guess this good be a problem. The first thing they need to do is set up the relatioships..not change them, set them up. And then launch into the story.

As with X-men (I've used this analogy before). They didn't just start by throwing a million X-men on the streen the way they do in the third movie, they set things up slowly and carefully.

[Super Scooter]

I'd say I'm deffenitely looking forward to it, but I have my reservations. I'm torn here. Fraggle Rock is a wonderful show, and I would love to see a movie version... but it would have to be done right. When I say done right, I mean perfect. Fraggle Rock is the finest children's television show ever made. I'm a firm believer in that the world would be a far better place if all the world's leaders were forced to sit down and watch Fraggle Rock from beginning to end. It's a hard thing to achieve, and it'll be interesting to see if they can pull it off as well with the film.

[MuppetMarc]

Seeing as how I was never around to experience the Fraggle Magic in pop culture, I'm definetly looking forward to it. At leas I won't have ot explain what Fraggle Rock is to fellow students:smirk:

[matleo]

I actually have to say I agree with Byron. I'm just not that excited about it. When Jerry was alive and it looked like he and Jocelyn Stevenson would be involved, I was excited. And I was excited cause I knew they "got it". they would hit their mark. They would deliver something that would be poignant and funny and relevant and zant and..you know, fraggles. Sadly, my excitement for this died with Jerry.

I get nervous when I see them talkng about 'celebrity cameos' and various 'famous' musicians writing specialo songs for it. Truthfully, even the idea of taking the Fraggles out of the Fraggle world and into our world *aside form Travelling Matt of course) even makes me a little apprehensive. Because that's not what Fraggles is to me.

You want to do celebrity cameos, save that for a Muppet movie. And even then, some of those have just been lead ballons that stop the story short for no good reason (I'M TALKING TO YOU, CAST OF DAWSON'S CREEK!!!! I'M TALKING TO YOU!!! ...and you tell your buddy, Hollywood Hogan to stay outta my Muppet films too.) Fraggle Rock is about Fraggles. It's about Gobo, Mokey, Wembley, Boober and Red. It's not about Whoopi Goldberg winking at the camera, or Matthew Lillard being silly with Wembley. It's about the characters, first and foremost and I think when you introduce the celebrity cameo into this world, you start taking people out of it. That's kind of what sets Fraggles apart.

You want a soundtrack by Elton John or Phil Collins, save that for Disney. Why? Cause Fraglle music has a special feel to it. It's organic. it comes from those characters and those situations. Not from some singer/songwriter trying to get his name into a movie to impress his kids.

And as for taking them out into the world, well, where's the escapism in that? I've seen the real world. I look out my window every day and I see the world. The fun of Fraggles for me is the escapism of it. It's kind of like what I said earlier about the cameos. You're just taking people out of that world. What sets Fraggle Rock apart is that it isn't our world but we can see a bit if ourselves in it. We you try to reflect the mirror directly on us, we look away instead of looking in. Based on the most recent interview with Mr. Zappa, it sounds to me more like he's latched onto the gag of seeing Travelling Matt misunderstand humans and he's trying to make an 80 minute movie out of that. Sorry, but again, if you do that, you miss the point of what Fraggle Rock is about.

Anyway, those are my current feelings on it. I'm sure I'll go see it when it comes out and who knows, I may be pleasantly surprised. bun concerning the last few "Muppet" projects I've seen and the current direction I see this project going in, right now, I just can't get too excited for it.

What do you think, Gobo?

:smirk:

Yeah, I think he agrees.

--Matt

[Janice & Mokey's Man]

Yup, even more things inside me about this project...I've just been not wanting to think about it very much in the first place that I haven't reflected on everything that worries/upsets me about it, but you definitely hit some other nails on the head.

And since I was so scarred with "Narnia", I'm even more cautious now about films made from a book or TV show I love.

[Super Scooter]

Y'know, I didn't even think about the music. :o

... I'm scared!

[anytimepally]

I must say, my enthusiam for the project has waned since Jerry Juhl's passing.. and I am concerned about the music, because it has to be perfect..

that said, though I'm not super-excited, I'm still looking forward to it... as long as Jerry Nelson is involved... he was the heart of Fraggle Rock. and a movie just wouldn't seem right without his hand (get it? :crazy: ) in it

[Luke]

Y'know, I didn't even think about the music. :o

... I'm scared!

Well, whoever any big name who writes the music is going to want to perform it with the Fraggles so there's one of the celebrity cameos. I'm not quite sure of a cool band nowadays who could write and perform "Fraggly" music and want to do a kids movie for little money. I don't think Zappa just using his friends is the right way of findin someone really.

I think the music could be done right, it's just finding the right people, and writing it into the story so it actually fits rather than them just walking upto this band and doing a song, and then going onto the next scene. That'd just be like a MFS thing or the VMX Scrubs cameo - just for the sake of doin em rather than havin a good purpose.

[Super Scooter]

Well, what I don't understand... isn't the team that made the original music still around? Why not just go back to them? I don't think big-name musicians are what's going to sell movie tickets... personally. I think the Fraggles have a large enough fan base to stick true to them without worrying about big names and big changes for the characters.

But, that's probably just me, and others on here. As much as I love the cameoes in Muppet movies, I think the Muppets can survive on their own. In the case of the Fraggles, the characters have been developed where the audience has an emotional connection with them. We laugh with them, we cry with them, and, at least those who truly care for the Fraggles, accept them. I hope the Fraggle film writer realizes this and stays true to the Fraggles, not simply throwing them into a situation for the sake of the gag or the cameo, as you stated, Luke.

[Foodie]

As amazing as it is that a Fraggle Rock movie is in the works, I'm in no rush for it to be completed. I'd rather they do something good than just another " Muppets Take Manhatten " sort of thing chock full of guest stars and such. They should treat Fraggle Rock more like " The Dark Crystal " or something and keep it more towards a fantasy-world thing. To be honest, I hope they go a bit more action/adventure with it than the comedy route. It'd be great if they could do a 3-part trilogy or something. Why not go all out with it? Hopefully Ahmet & friends will keep it real. :smirk: + :excited: = ;)

[Fozzie Bear]

I agree, Foodie.

I do hope the music stays in the same veins as the show did, and I hope they take their time and really REALLY give us a good Fraggle Rock movie.

[CaptainPunjab]

I agree with the point made about how it should maybe be treated more of a fantasy movie rather than a Muppet-style, real world, celebrity cameos type thing. Except for Travelling Matt, the Fraggles never interacted with humans apart from at the very end of the series (to my knowledge), so suddenly having them come out into our world for the movie, while it kinda makes sense plot-wise (it sounds like an interesting story) would not be the best way to keep the same tone as the original show.

[Beauregard]

Question...is Steve contracted soley to Disney? Or can he work as Wembly with JHC here?

[Super Scooter]

Bill Barretta has done work for both JHC and the Muppets since Disney bought them, so I would assume it's the same with Steve.

... besides three of the co-owners of JHC working on The Muppets Wizard of Oz. ;)

[somethingofafan]

Question...is Steve contracted soley to Disney? Or can he work as Wembly with JHC here?

Comnsidering Ernie's still around, I don't think we have anything to worry about there.

I, myself, am cautiously optimistic about the movie. I won't succumb to hype (and thus set myself up for disappointment), but the fact that Zappa knows what the show is about gives me hope that it won't be terrible.

[Luke]

Question...is Steve contracted soley to Disney? Or can he work as Wembly with JHC here?

I don't think any of the Muppeteers are contracted to Disney, they are hired through the JHC.

[Beauregard]

I don't think any of the Muppeteers are contracted to Disney, they are hired through the JHC.
Thanks Luke. You are so helpfull to have around.

[Luke]

Well thank you sir, its a pleasure to be of service. Of course that doesn't stop there being exclusivity agreements and things, but Baretta was in Puppet Up and has been doing various other things so it seems like they can appear on other things, at least within the JHC.

[stick]

I'm looking forward to the movie & I just got the dvd's... they're great!:excited: :smirk:

[Kiki]

I am looking forward to the movie i just hope us aussies get it released here in australia.

Same here.... it's so unfair! :cry: ;)