movie review: The Muppets and The Fog (1980)

[snapdragon76]

Well, went and saw a few movies over the weekend. Well, more than a few, but these were the ones I've seen for the first time. So onto the reviewes!



Probably not gonna cut this since I'll keep the spoilers to a minimum. Went on Black Friday to see this and it seemed as if the entire world went to see the movies this weekend. The theater was PACKED!! I expected there to be a few kids there, but not this one annoying kid who kept making stupid comments during the movie and stamping his feet. Both mom and I wanted to strangle him.

Anyway, I digress.

• I was expecting there to be songs, but not from the human co-stars. Usually it's just the Muppets themselves who have the song montages. After the initial jarring sensation, it was fine. Bret McKenzie (of Flight of the Conchords fame) wrote the songs, FYI. It was funny in one scene where the entire town broke into song and after the main characters leave, the townspeople collapse in exhaustion when they're out of sight.

• Frank Oz wasn't back as Miss Piggy, but the Muppetteer who replaced him did a decent job, I think. I still kinda missed Frank, though.

• At the end when they put on the telethon and sang the old Muppet Show theme song, I got a little misty eyed I admit. Especially so when Kermit sand 'Rainbow Connection' again. S'cuse me, I have a little nostalgia in my eye...

• Jim Parsons cameo made me and mom both laugh out loud for several minutes. I think you have to be a fan of 'The Big Bang Theory' to understand why.

So all in all, I loved it. But then, I have a longstanding love for the Muppets in general.




This would be my second horror movie foray (after the original 'Halloween', another John Carpenter film). I watched this one via my Netflix instant on my Wii console so I could see it on my television set for a larger screen. Quality wasn't bad except for a few times I lost the signal, but after a while it got straightened out.

• I like the way it was shot. I noticed this while watching Halloween as well. A lot of establishing shots and lingering camera angles to heighten the tension.

• Again, the deaths weren't overly gruesome. A lot of cutaways and quick shots gave you just enough of what was going on without being too graphic. I like that. As I've said before, I lean more toward the creepy rather than the gory.

• Jamie Lee Curtis shines again as one of the heroines in this film. Adrienne Barbeau is the other and I loved that most of her scenes were where she was alone. Very little interaction with any of the other characters save for phone calls or over the radio. I think it added to the peril as she was being pursued by the vengeful ghosts.

• At least these ghosts seem polite. They knock on the door first before they kill you.

• Janet Leigh was in this one as well, acting alongside her daughter. I thought that was a nice touch.

• I thought the ghost effects were decent. Shadowy figures in the midst of the supernatural fog. The glowing eye effects were a little dated, but it didn't take away from the film, I thought.

Well, that's this week's movie review. And, in case anyone missed it, the new Breaking Dawn episode of made_of_fail_pc is now up (and no, I am not in charge of PR. I just like the podcast and am willing to share... if you ask nicely).