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- Frank Miller Bringing Buck Rogers Back? (May 9, 2008)
- Warner Independent Pictures and Picturehouse Shut Down! (May 8, 2008)
| Speed Racer | 8/10 |
| Iron Man | 10/10 |
| Iron Man | 9/10 |
| Baby Mama | 7.5/10 |
First Look: The Smurfs CGI Movie
February 17, 2008
Source: ComingSoon
by Alex Billington
You've got be kidding me! As much as I loved The Smurfs, that is, when I was about 8 years old, there's no need for a movie. Or am I just no longer a kid and missing the point? Either way, ComingSoon got their hands on some very early pre-visualization from the movie (the photo above is not related to the movie). The Smurfs is being turned into a CGI 3D animated movie that's being developed by Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon. Oddly, DreamWorks name has never been mentioned in connection with this, so it might be a production that Paramount is putting together on their own. If you're really curious to relive your childhood, then go ahead and check out these images.
ComingSoon says that these photos came from some sort of Happy Smurfday Euro Tour. I'm not sure whether that involves marijuana or another sort of hallucinogenic drug, or whether it's actually something "for the kids".
The Smurfs, or Les Schtroumpfs as they were originally called in French, first appeared in October 1958 in the Belgian comic magazine Spirou. They were created by the Brussels-born cartoonist Pierre Culliford — better known as Peyo — and were originally mere supporting cast in his medieval Johan and Pirlouit series. (via Time) Hanna-Barbera later produced a very successful animated TV show featuring the Smurfs that aired from 1981 to 1989 with around 256 episodes.
While there isn't a cast or even an animation studio attached, The Smurfs movie does have a screenwriter - Herb Ratner. Unfortunately this is his first writing gig ever, which isn't too promising. As for a director, IMDb shows Colin Brady in the slot. Brady was previously set to direct AstroBoy for Imagi Animation but was later replaced by David Bowers. The most recent updates on this project say that it's expected to arrive sometime in 2010.
Not only is this a very long way out from arriving, but it's a project that probably won't have much interest to me in the end. Like Horton Hears a Who, I'm interested in seeing it, but it's purely a kids movie and it's designed to entertain kids, not adults. Sure the Smurfs were a childhood enjoyment, but they probably won't provide the same level of enjoyment nowadays unless its with some hallucinogens. Anyway, enough of my own banter - I'm curious to hear what everyone else thinks about this project?
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Reader Feedback - 14 Comments »
1
Hmm, kinda cool I guess. I'll wait for the DVD/blu-ray though, and even then I'll only rent it and purely as a nostalgia trip.
Capn Trips on Feb 17, 2008
2
Sounds like a dud. Everyone prepare for Papa Smurf break-dancing with Smurfette beatboxing in the background. Atta boy, Hollywood! Set the industry a few more years back.
Frame on Feb 17, 2008
3
This could prove interesting. It's always nice to see a CGI movie coming out of a studio other than Disney/Pixar or Dreamworks. TMNT was a real treat because it was different, Dreamworks and Pixar, while the movies are good, aren't that different. Yeah the renderings look better with each movie, but it always has the same style.
Cant wait to see what happens with this.
Kail on Feb 17, 2008
4
smurfs is back
Darrin on Feb 17, 2008
5
It was only a matter of time. I was down with Les Smurfs back in the day, but highly likely this will capture the same "magic."
Ok - so might as well get someone working on THE SNORKS. That's right…The Snorks - The Smurfs underwater cousins.
Anyone remember those guys?
Christopher on Feb 17, 2008
6
Uh…that's UNLIKELY.
Christopher on Feb 17, 2008
7
the best way to watch this movie would be baked, it would be hilarious. Other than that not interested in this movie, i didn't even like The Smurfs when i was growing up.
Curtis on Feb 17, 2008
8
Yeah, I had some of those plastic figures back and traded them in the school playground back in the early 1980s; and watched the cartoon 
That sorta means I'm getting a bit of for this shi… I mean, for Smurfs (though Smurfettes are hot).
avoidz on Feb 17, 2008
9
Which one will eddie murphy voice?
Heckle on Feb 17, 2008
10
It would be nice if they left it as a hand drawn cartoon.
dubs on Feb 17, 2008
11
Looks like a dud? Did anyone else see the numbers for Alvin and the Chipmunks? thats right…over $200 mil.
Ramon M. on Feb 17, 2008
12
I'm actually interested in seeing if this new production will live up to the hype of the old series. Say what you want about "The Smurfs" but if I'm remembering right the TV show was one of the most watched of it's time period. I actually liked the show and I'm not ashamed to admit that. If more people were honest with themselves and with others they'd admit that too. It's popularity may be a bit shocking as we look back now, but it was what it was. I only hope that it's the type of movie that is interesting for both kids and adults while at the same time staying true to the original format of the character profiles. Nothing is worse than bringing back an old TV classic while destroying everything that made it a classic in the first place. Make it fresh. Keep it true to heart. Make it believable (well as believable as "The Smurfs" can be). If they are smart enough to make that happen, then I'll be the first to but the DVD once it's released.
*DDE
*Dorrian Doniel Eugene on Feb 28, 2008
13
P.S. - that "….but the DVD…" was meant to be "…buy the DVD…" (LOL … at myself) "my bad".
*Dorrian Doniel Eugene on Feb 28, 2008
14
This brings back the 80s when I was a kid, listening to Gargamel. Somebody mentioned that during the Christmas at my work, and then someone bashed it on You-tube, followed by that 50th year anniversary announcement.
Many people have to know that you don't TOTALLY grow out of The Smurfs. I am talking about that on You-tube along with my video game reviews.
However, when it comes to the world we live in today, many kids don't want to watch cartoons anymore. These days, kids are playing the Wii, and the PS3, and so am I. When the Smurfs came out in 1982, there was nothing but Atari, and two lame games. Since than, countless games came out in Europe. I played them on the emulator, and they were darn good. I think that the CGI movies could influence Warner Interactive and team up with another video game company to bring the Smurfs to the video game rhelm, and that could be a potential competition against Mario and Sonic.
And as for it only being for kids, that's just a statement. There are adults who like the Smurfs today, because these adults are Smurf veterans who loved the show 20 years ago.
My ruling is that they need to make The Smurfs entertaining towards adults as well as kids, like, put some butter into the series that could make adults want to watch the show (I enjoyed Shrek and Flushed Away, and played them on various system).
The only thing I hope for is for the movies and the video games not to turn me over. Because, I hate it when they release movies based on things I enjoyed as a childhood that wind up stinking. On the other hand, I hate it when they quit making stuff for things I like when I was a child.
But you never grow totally out of The Smurfs. Sure you may grow out of the cartoons, but you can allways use the Smurfs as your avatar and Talk Smurfy over the Internet. Even though I don't watch the cartoons that much anymore, I still want to see what my childhood favorite would turn out. Maybe they can put some action into it, so that adults can find it very fun, and hopefully, the games (if they make any) won't stink once it comes out. So untill then, Laa-laa-la-la-la-la, Smurf'in all the way.
James on Mar 1, 2008