Team America- World Police

[m21man 0]

Quote[/b] ]Didn´t those guys go to Columbine high also ?

Neither went to Colombine. Parker attended Evergreen High School and Stone attended Heritage High School.

[Baphomet 0]

Quote[/b] ]When I first saw it, though, I thought they were being sarcastic. "Team America - World Police", sounds like somebody poking fun at America's foreign policy if you ask me.

Good god I hope so.

[Balschoiw 0]

Quote[/b] ]what would that have to do with anything?

Erm, it was just a question My Lord.

[m21man 0]

Quote[/b] ]Erm, it was just a question My Lord.

But why ask ?

Quote[/b] ]Let me be the last to observe that we are currently living in a golden age of satire. While citizens in earlier eras had Walter Cronkite and the "CBS Evening News" to help them navigate contentious and confusing matters of public import, more and more of us seem to rely on Jon Stewart and Comedy Central. Which suits me just fine. I know I am not alone in confessing that my moral and ideological guides for the past half-dozen years have included four foul-mouthed Colorado youngsters made out of torn construction paper. Without "South Park," I would scarcely know what to think about issues like stem cell research, "The Passion of the Christ" or the Pokémon craze.

And so, with an election drawing near — on the very night of the second presidential debate, in fact — flush with a sense of civic duty, I put on my aluminum-foil Professor Chaos helmet and went to a screening of "Team America: World Police," the naughty new puppet action-musical from the resourceful and confrontational minds of Trey Parker and Matt Stone. I wanted a marionette version of what I get — twice a night, sometimes, thanks to TiVo — from "South Park": a wholesale demolition of everything pious, hypocritical and dumb in American culture and society, along with a few songs to hum on the way home and a few new ways to appreciate the inexhaustible comic possibilities of flatulence and excrement.

Maybe I expected too much. It's a big country, after all, busy inventing new forms of idiocy every day, and there's only so much a 98-minute movie can cover, especially if the filmmakers have to figure out how to make big-headed, loose-bodied puppets walk, shoot, fight and simulate sex. (Since the movie has an R rating, I'm pretty sure they weren't having real sex, though maybe that will show up in the DVD extras.) So perhaps Mr. Parker (director, co-writer, co-producer and bad celebrity voice imitator) and Mr. Stone (co-writer, co-producer and equally bad voice imitator), aided by a brilliant cohort of puppet-makers and set designers, had to be selective in their choice of targets. They expend most of their spoofy energy sending up action-movie conventions and over-the-top patriotic bluster, reserving their real satiric venom for self-righteous Hollywood liberals (with special attention to Alec Baldwin).

It seems likely, though, that their emphases and omissions reflect a particular point of view. "South Park," with its class-clown libertarianism and proudly juvenile disdain for authority, has always been hard to place ideologically, but a number of commentators have discerned a pronounced conservative streak amid the anarchy, a hypothesis that "Team America" to some extent confirms. Susan Sarandon, Tim Robbins and other left-leaning movie stars are eviscerated (quite literally — also decapitated, set on fire and eaten by house cats), while right-wing media figures escape derision altogether. The fact that Mr. Parker and Mr. Stone appeared in "Bowling for Columbine" does not grant immunity to Michael Moore, who is portrayed as an overeating suicide bomber.

Not that the movie is partisan, exactly. Tempting though it must have been, there are no puppets resembling John Kerry, George W. Bush, Dick Cheney or Edward M. Kennedy. The word Iraq is spoken only by the puppet caricaturing Sean Penn, who brags that he's been there. (The Matt Damon puppet is too dumb to say anything but his own name.) Saddam Hussein, an important supporting player in "South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut," has been retired from the comic bestiary in favor of Kim Jong Il, who in the movie's scenario (and maybe not only there) is organizing a diabolical plot to arm global terrorists with weapons of mass destruction. (In spite of his accent, Kim, voiced by Mr. Parker, sounds an awful lot like Eric Cartman of "South Park," which makes sense when you consider that Kim Jong Il is pretty much who Cartman wants to be when he grows up).

Opposing Kim's plot are the members of Team America, a squad of square-jawed, multiply talented Caucasians who fly around in screaming fighter jets, speed around on motorcycles and blow up a lot of stuff, including the Eiffel Tower and most of the pharaonic monuments in Egypt.

The team is led by a debonair super spy, Spottswoode, and their newest recruit is Gary Johnston, a Broadway musical performer (first seen appearing in a spot-on, devastating parody of "Rent"), who is recruited for his acting ability. Gary goes through the usual three-act gamut of rivalry (with a puppet whose resemblance to Seann William Scott is surely intentional), romance (with a puppet whose resemblance to Elisabeth Shue is probably not), self-doubt and redemption, much of it set to music. The most inspired song begins "I miss you the way Michael Bay missed the mark/ When he made `Pearl Harbor' " and continues to catalog the parallels between that misbegotten movie and Gary's ill-starred love affair.

But if they mock Michael Bay, Mr. Parker and Mr. Stone pay perverse tribute to Jerry Bruckheimer, the producer of "Pearl Harbor" (and just about everything else), by structuring their movie like one of his. Considering that it's all done with puppets, "Team America" is sometimes more satisfying as a straight-ahead blow 'em up than as a satire. Goofy as they are, the members of "Team America" are treated, in the end, with affection, even respect, which is part of the film's political gist. When Team America blows things up in other countries, they do it by accident, in the course of their sloppy but zealous fight against the people who want to do it on purpose. This is not a trivial moral distinction, and it is one the film hangs onto in impressive earnest.

The obscene patriotic ditty that is the Team America theme song might be hyperbolic (and impossible to stop singing), but it is not sarcastic. Nor is a speech, delivered twice in the course of the action, most powerfully at the climactic moment, that is meant as an answer both to the Hollywood peaceniks and to the wishy-washy world community, whose representatives have gathered in North Korea for a peace conference.

Because of its graphic (though metaphorical) discussion of human anatomy, I can't quote any of the speech here, but it is one of the more cogent — and, dare I say it, more nuanced — defenses of American military power that I have heard recently. It is conveyed in language that no politician would dare use, by a puppet speaking to a roomful of puppets, in the wake of jokes about oral sex — all of which provides about as effective a camouflage as the pink and blue fatigues the Team America agents wear on their operations.

Of course Mr. Parker and Mr. Stone are joking — what else is new? — but like most good jokers, they also mean exactly what they say. Clever comedians that they are, they have also rigged "Team America" with an ingenious anti-critic device, which I find myself unable to defuse. Much as it may pretend otherwise, the movie has an argument, but if you try to argue back, the joke's on you.

[Balschoiw 0]

Quote[/b] ]But why ask ?

Interest. Or why do you ask questions.

[Baphomet 0]

I fucking hated this movie.

Quote[/b] ]When Team America blows things up in other countries, they do it by accident, in the course of their sloppy but zealous fight against the people who want to do it on purpose. This is not a trivial moral distinction, and it is one the film hangs onto in impressive earnest.

The movie attempts very feebly to parody both sensibilities about the "war on terror" However implies quite blatantly that the kind of idiotic behavior displayed by Bush is justified. Idiots such as him do not need encouragement as far as I'm concerned.

Quote[/b] ]

The obscene patriotic ditty that is the Team America theme song might be hyperbolic (and impossible to stop singing), but it is not sarcastic. Nor is a speech, delivered twice in the course of the action, most powerfully at the climactic moment, that is meant as an answer both to the Hollywood peaceniks and to the wishy-washy world community, whose representatives have gathered in North Korea for a peace conference.

The song I'm assuming is the "America: fuck yeah" song. Which just... made my head hurt and my stomach turn.

Quote[/b] ]Of course Mr. Parker and Mr. Stone are joking — what else is new? — but like most good jokers, they also mean exactly what they say. Clever comedians that they are, they have also rigged "Team America" with an ingenious anti-critic device, which I find myself unable to defuse. Much as it may pretend otherwise, the movie has an argument, but if you try to argue back, the joke's on you.

Sorry I don't buy it. Simply because the ignorant patriotic set will ignore all but what they want to see anyhow. They basically imply that the united states despite the fact that they do as much damage as they attempt to prevent is justified because they're doing it trying to destroy those who are deliberately attempting to. That's worth argument in my opinion. And the whole "we're full of shit" sentiment that the movie attempts to convey is nothing more than a device to absolve themselves of responsibility for the values they so blatantly espoused in the movie.

Quote[/b] ]Republicans better stop worrying about them--and fast."

Too true. Unfortunately. This movie is a ignorant jingotard facist fuckhead's wet dream.

"Ohh yeah sometimes we bomb innocent people and go to war based on absent facts and lies... which in turn increase the amount of animosity and terrorist activity; but were doing it to protect you! So don't be such an ungreatful fuck"

... please. Contrary to the commentary in the movie. The only country at serious risk is the good old U.S of A. Including those who support their idiotic wars.

I'm happy that at least Canada didn't go to Iraq, even though we'd have done fuck all anyhow. Best save them bullets for when they come knocking on our door after they've sucked the middle east dry...

[Tovarish 0]

Quote[/b] ]www.youforgotpoland.com

*chuckle* bit OT but that's great, think I'm buying a T-shirt.

[billybob2002 0]

Quote[/b] ]I fucking hated this movie.

....

Now I really want to see this movie! Why the hell did I have to see the Matchmaker at Ford's theatre this weekend (for thet 110) and not this movie...  

[denoir 0]

Saw the movie yesterday:  Quite a disappointment I must say. There were a few funny scenes, but overall far below South Park quality. While Parker and Stone usually have a good musical score, the only song here that was remotely funny was the "I miss you like Michael Bay missed the mark with Pearl Harbor".

The political satire fails as it's not very funny and very trivial. Most of all they try to rely on 'shocking' humor such as puppets puking, an explicit puppet-on-puppet sex scene.. but frankly it's really rather lame.

I don't know, but the movie didn't work for me. It wasn't especially controversial, the humor was infantile, the political message trivial etc

Sure, it attacks both left, right, up and down - tries to insult as many groups as possible, but it isn't enough to make a good movie out of it.

[FSPilot 0]

I might go see it just for the puppet porn.

[ralphwiggum 6]

I might go see it just for the puppet porn.

not getting enough at college? wait, you are a conservative. celibacy until marriage.

i saw this movie over the weekend and gotta say it's crude joke laden and that's just about it. i left theater without a thing in mind. funny during movie, but no substance. relies on lame asian-language mocking, puking, and some satire of Star Wars.

however, i'd give credit for the human biology related figurative speech, for its somewhat of creativeness. I don't know how many will see it, but seems like creators tried to portray gov't as actual gay while actors were named as one.

people were definitly laughing more at crude jokes, and not subtle ones.

[theavonlady 2]

I might go see it just for the puppet porn.

not getting enough at college?

Maybe he meant to say "popcorn".

[Baphomet 0]

Quote[/b] ]people were definitly laughing more at crude jokes, and not subtle ones.

I laughed at some parts of the movie because they were genuinely funny. Such as the "panthers", or the martial arts marionettes, or pretty much the marionettes attempting to perform any complex articulation whatsoever. It was the more benign, absurd humor I appreciated. As opposed to the absurd bathroom humor.

I'm just glad I came home and found this on tv. I feel a bit better having made up for the time wasted in the theater.

[DeLiltMon 0]

I might go see it just for the puppet porn.

not getting enough at college?

Maybe he meant to say "popcorn".

Popcorn porn? The mind boggles, the internet has a lot to answer for!

[BoweryBaker 0]

I like to see people all pissed off at this movie because most of what these guys are putting in their comedies are true and it makes me think about the person who doesn't like it, when they show all this anger at the truth. That's the magic of movies and freedom of speach, and you know what, its good.

[DarkLight 0]

I might go see it just for the puppet porn.

not getting enough at college?

Maybe he meant to say "popcorn".

That's what i read...

Going to the cinema for the popcorn  

edit: I must admit that going to the movies for puppet porn isn't really.... uhm... normal either

[FSPilot 0]

If you lived almost exactly in the middle of nowhere you wouldn't say that.

<span style='font-size:11pt;line-height:100%'>DON'T JUDGE ME!!!</span>

[Commando84 0]

haha movie trailers seems fun! Got to watch it when it hits the streets! loved south park, just the thing i lvoe about americans all crazy and fun

[Baphomet 0]

Quote[/b] ]I like to see people all pissed off at this movie because most of what these guys are putting in their comedies are true and it makes me think about the person who doesn't like it, when they show all this anger at the truth.  That's the magic of movies and freedom of speach, and you know what, its good.

It's not though in this context. It's blatant self-indulgent revelry in the failings United States' imperialistic foreign policy. I guess you could consider it true if the majority of americans are ignorant belligerent shitheads.

It was a very one sided satire. There was no equivalent criticism to the anti war extremists. America's unreliable intelligence and blundering foreign policy was portrayed as an endearing idiosyncrasy. Furthermore they make an absurd attempt to establish in the movie that somehow the perpetrators of such idiocy are necessary. Why is it that every other country in the world seems to get by without having a few planes fetched upside their buildings? It's not because the world is jealous of you, get off your high horse.

There's a difference between appeasement and not being a belligerent twunt. President Bush doesn't see that and Trey Parker intended to movie to overtly portray the same viewpoint as Bush. The United States cannot fight the world. You have to learn to not aggravate uppity unstable people. Pushing people who are already near the edge is a stupid, stupid idea. The U.S will never ever rid itself of potential enemies, especially with how it conducts itself on an international level. The world isn't a perfect place and you have to learn how to be ready for as well as manage living near the shitheads in your life. It applies to both individuals as well as nations. The movie basically lumps even moderate points of view on the subject into an extremist category. However the only group that were criticized were those against frivolous wars. In my opinion Trey Parker wussed out and didn't hit below the belt enough at the United States military and it's current administration. I think primarily because he didn't want to offend a particular demographic.

I know Trey Parker subtly implies that even he is full of shit in the movie as we all are, but it's really a horrible horrible idea to leave a movie like this so open to interpretation by right wing dingbats. That's my problem with the movie. So close to an election they've basically given the republican masses a metaphoric handjob.

I find the ideals espoused in this movie almost riding an unnerving paralell to a Southpark episode in which Matt and Trey, satire Rob Reiner for taking a photo of the boys from Southpark at the "big tobacco" company. Then bringing it and the boys back to his "Smoke Stoppers" headquarters where he plans to make the photo incriminating. They protest to this and his justification for the forgery of the photo is because "Smoking is bad" therefore the lie is justified. This is similar insofar as the movie doesn't make a single effort to imply that war on Iraq and similiar initiatives are questionable in their legitimacy, something that's always been hotly contested. Now more than ever compelling evidence (from the CIA no less) suggests Bush and his cronies outright lied to get the American public to back the resolution. Now Bush and his minions contest that just because Saddam was "Bad" (just like smoking!) it suddenly constitutes ample justification for the war to begin with in spite of their lying. The message this movie conveys essentialy rides right along with that whole bullshit-train of thought. Using instead of anti-smoking that idealistic notion of "fighting terrorism", as their justification for the wanton destruction of innocent civilians throught the movie in the persuit of terrorists. These terrorists aim to do pretty much the same thing Team/"Real America" achieves already. How wonderfully hypocritical.

[FSPilot 0]

I think the movie makes fun of both mindsets of people, plus all the standard south park-ish humor.  I loved the movie because it was funny in a lot of ways, not just because they killed a lot of terrorists. I went to go have a good time with my friends, not to expand my mind with the director's opinions of U.S. foreign policy.  I get the feeling you guys are taking this comedy a bit too seriously.

Also, the puke scene was a whole lot worse than the sex scene.