Chiodo brothers, marionette, Masked Reviewer, reviews, spoiler, free, DVD, terrorism, trailer, anti-, right wing, left wing, liberal, conservative, Team America controversy">
  Team America

08/03/04

Home
Current Reviews
DVD Reviews
Old Reviews
Crystal Ball
About the M.R.
Photo Gallery
Celebrity Interviews
Oscars
Special
Feedback

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Crystal Ball Pre-Review of

Team America
The Masked Reviewer

Who are Team America?  What do they do?  Why do they do it? 

These are all fine questions.  The Masked Reviewer can tell you a few things about it.

Team America: World Police is being written, produced, and directed by Trey Parker and Matt Stone.  You may remember them from Baseketball, Orgazmo, "That's My Bush!", and, oh yeah, "Southpark". 

The Southpark movie is pure genius; Team America may well blow "Southpark" away.  It's a "Thunderbirds"-style marionette action flick.  It's a comedy.  It's a musical. 

It's also likely to be the most controversial thing that Trey Parker and Matt Stone have done, which is saying something.  Apparently, the White House has put pressure on Paramount (the distributor) not to release the film.  They're worried, it seems, that it will create a big brouhaha.  But, it's not just the right wing that will be upset.  The producers have promised that Michael Moore, John Kerry, and a number of prominent liberal activists will be equally (if not more so) appalled.

What's the hubub about?  The subject matter: terrorism.  It pokes fun at an issue that no one in this country can joke about, lest they be supporting the terrorists.  Matt Stone and Trey Parker have made their career off of irreverent humor.  It will undoubtedly be hated by many (probably many people who will hate it without ever seeing it).  It will be controversial and stir a huge debate about free speech and "appropriateness" and the Masked Reviewer will bet big money here and now that there will be several people in the media who will use the debut of this film as a reason to dig out that footage of Janet Jackson at the Superbowl (you know the footage, you know you do).  Family values, propriety, "save the children", all that stuff.  And, it's good to have that coming to the forefront again.

You can look forward to some deeply clever moments in this film.  The Masked Reviewer has high hopes...it could be even better than the Southpark movie.  What?  Is the Masked Reviewer on crack?  Wasn't it just a silly little movie with guys making really lowbrow jokes?  Oh no, it was much more.  It was a very intelligent social commentary.  It dealt with protecting children and taste and censorship and war and many other issues.  Team America will be very edgy, guaranteed, and will bring up some interesting ideas.

Part of the reason the Masked Reviewer has such high hopes is because no one is taking on this topic.  It's "too soon" for most people.  It's scary.  It's divisive.  There are too many things that would be considered bad taste.  Trey Parker and Matt Stone aren't worried about that.  So, they'll get first shot at a lot of these issues; everyone, every perspective, every argument will be mocked.  A lot of people will be mad.

All that aside, the movie will be awesomely funny and visually spectacular.  They've decided to go "old school" and hired the Chiodo brothers who did the special effects for Killer Klowns from Outer Space and Critters.  There's no high-tech computer graphics...it's models and marionettes, and if nothing else, it'll be great to see something different.  In addition to the Chiodo brothers, Team America will benefit from a bunch of former FX people that worked on Star Wars and the Muppets.

When Southpark: Bigger, Longer, Uncut came out, the TV show was big.  Now, it's huge.  Baseketball wasn't exactly a huge hit, but Team America will be.  You won't hear much about it before the October release, but their marketing will be done by the media and the controversy.  It may get more buzz than Fahrenheit 9/11.  It will be a polarizing film (chock full of controversy for both left wing and right wing flappers), but fans of "Southpark" are sure to be pleased.  The Masked Reviewer predicts: Excellent Movie.

Here's a trailer, if you want a little taste...

Official Team America Website

 

 

 

 

PREDICTION RECORDED: July 31, 2004

Home | Team America | Kill Bill Volume 2 | Hulk | Matrix Revolutions | Matrix Revolutions : an alternate option