Family Guy - Blue Harvest
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Movie Reviews of Family Guy - Blue Harvest
Movie Review: Once Upon a Time in the Griffin Living Room
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a huge fan of STAR WARS, but I'm not a huge fan of FAMILY GUY. However, I do watch the show occasionally from time to time and I noticed that the show makes quite a few references to STAR WARS. When I had heard that FAMILY GUY was going to be spoofing STAR WARS for its 2007-08 season premiere, I made sure to watch. It was one of the best spoofings of STAR WARS I have seen on television and one of the few FAMILY GUY episodes that would be okay for families to watch together.
That episode, "Blue Harvest", has now been released in a special extended edition on DVD. The episode is about forty-five minutes and follows the plot of STAR WARS fairly closely with plenty of FAMILY GUY humor thrown in. Chris plays Luke, Lois plays Leia, Peter plays Han Solo, Brian plays Chewbacca, Stewie plays Darth Vader, and Meg makes a brief appearance as the monster in the garbage pit of the Death Star. Guest voices include a wide range from Rush Limbaugh to Helen Redding.
True to FAMILY GUY style, there are some jokes and language on this DVD episode, though not too much, that didn't air when the show was first broadcast. Extras on the DVD include a commentary with Seth MacFarlane, director Dominic Polcino, and other writers, producers, editors, and artists; a conversation between Seth MacFarlane and George Lucas; a making of featurette entitled "Once in a Lifetime: The Making of Blue Harvest"; the animatic version of the episode; a FAMILY GUY Star Wars clip show featuring references to the movies used in the show; and a trailer for FAMILY GUY. I found the conversation between MacFarlane and Lucas to be most enjoyable of the extras because Lucas doesn't grant many interviews like that and because MacFarlane asked him a lot of questions that would not be asked otherwise. The "Once in a Lifetime" featurette was also enjoyable as it allowed many people who were behind the scenes to share their love of STAR WARS and tell their story of being involved with this particular FAMILY GUY episode. The animatic version of the episode will probably only interest those who have a serious interest in film or art--this is the version of the film used as a test for the studios before it was shipped overseas for coloring and perfecting.
Recommended for fans of STAR WARS. FAMILY GUY fans might also be interested, but this episode will be a part of the 6th Season DVD set so you might want to just wait until then. I also recommend this episode as an introduction episode to show people who have never seen FAMILY GUY but enjoy the type of humor on the show and would probably enjoy watching the series.
Movie Review: More than just an average parody.
Summary: 5 Stars
The main motive of the success that is 'Family Guy' is to rip upon all that is pop culture politics and everything in between. But, give creator Seth McFarlane a chance to make fun of Star Wars... and you get a true comical masterpiece.
We begin by understanding what exactly is the concept of parody. A parody is taking an original piece of work and mocking it by adding crude comedy, slapstick and the possible musical number. Mel Brooks did it well, Trey Parker and Matt Stone did it well and let's not forget David Zucker's classic 'Airplane!' But, when it comes to the holy of holys' The creators of Family Guy did something much more.
'Family Guy: Blue Harvest' is actually the first Star Wars film shrunk into 45 minutes with of course the usual Family Guy humor. There are no made up characters, just the cast members of 'Family Guy' playing the 'Star Wars' characters. There are actual lines from the orginal movie used and then given a spin. There are also comedic lines that play upon the 'Star Wars' lore to please the true fans To put it in lamenst terms this is pretty much if George Lucas intended on 'Star Wars' to be a space comedy and not a dramtic fantasy space opera. You still have the traditional 'Family Guy' brand comedy, meaning make sure you have either seen a lot of movies, watched a ton of TV and played bored/video games in your years. The other thing I love is the characters still have the same personalities they bring on the actual show in this special. The perfect example would be Quagmire and Cleavland playing C-3PO and R2-D2.
This was one of the best 'Family Guy' episodes I had ever seen since the show first aird after the 1999 Super Bowl. I am also glad that this specific episode was not included in one of the series volumes. Like 'Stewie Griffen: The Untold Story' 'Blue Harvest' is in fact a separate entity on it's own and to be placed along side the series. Sure you have to shell out some extra cash, but believe me, this is so worth it. I mean even the DVD box and DVD main menu are an exact replica of the origional! I am very excited to know that the crew of 'Family Guy' will in fact be making two more specials spoofing the next two 'Star Wars' films. I am happy to know that they will also be sold on their own and still keeping to the new tradition that has been put in place thanks to 'Blue Harvest.' I sure hope that there will be a prequel trilogy as well. So 'Star Wars' and 'Family Guy' fans alike enjoy this very sepcial gift and begin a new tradition as I have. Watch the original film and cap it off with 'Family Guy'!
Movie Review: Great Features Make it Worthwhile to Purchase a 48 Minute Movie
Summary: 5 Stars
While it may seem not worth it to purchase a feature that only goes for 48 minutes the DVD comes with a heap of features that take as long to watch as the film. You get a full length commentary by Seth McFarlane and other important people involved in the show, an interview between Seth and George Lucas which is a bit of an insight into George's life and answers many rumours Star Wars fans have put out there about the making of the original films. An animatic version of the entire film (I don't really see much point to this myself but its there). The clips from the regular season episodes of Family Guy where they made fun of, or parodied a Star Wars movie scene. An introduction to Family Guy, which is a clip show telling the viewer who has never watched a regular episode about each family member and a few scenes of them in action. A documentary on the making of Blue Harvest where the veiwer learns the significance of the name, that they're also doing Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi as well and you also get to see Blue Harvest being made. There's also a normal Family Guy episode as well.
I was really impressed by the Blue Harvest. I'm no passionate fan who knows every sentence ever written of either Family Guy or Star Wars but I have enjoyed watching both. I thought Blue Harvest was really well done even from the opening rolling text gags like we later find out Leia and Luke are brother and sister and he kissed her once in this episode, imagine if they had done more, to Peter (whose telling the tale) getting sidetracked and going on about a movie where he saw Angelina Jolie naked and where she was making out with a woman. The movie itself is also full of gags including spot appearances by non Star Wars movie characters such as the Griswalds from National Lampoon's Vacation. I thought the "what are we getting charged per laser now?" line when they decide not to fire on an empty of life forms lifepod, as well as "well you can just sit here and rot then you stuck up @#!*" when Leia (Lois) pays out her rescuer with "aren't you a little fat for a stormtrooper" were two of the funniest parody scenes I've ever seen.
A great episode and great features mean that if you can find this at a reasonable price it's a great purchase. For the die hard huge fan you can also get a version that comes with a free t-shirt and other stuff.
Movie Review: If Ever There Were A Star Wars Parody, Blue Harvest Is The Definitive
Summary: 5 Stars
For those who are regular watchers of Family Guy you will already know how easily they parody TV shows and movies in sketches that literally last a few seconds. Now they've decided to go one better and make a feature length episode as a parody of Star Wars Episode 4, and let me tell you this is just as strong as those few second long clips. Here is the scrolling writing that Star Wars is famous for but with a Family Guy twist on it all.
A long time ago, but somehow in the future.
Episode IV
It is a time of civil war,
and renegade paragraphs
floating through space.
There's cool space battles,
and the bad guy is the
good guy's dad, but you
don't find that out 'til the
next episode.
And the hot chick is really
the sister of the good
guy, but they don't know it,
and they kiss. which is
kind of messed up. I mean,
what if they had done it
instead of just kissed?
Angelina Jolie kissed her
brother. Yeah, she did. You
know it, I know it and
her Dad knows it. That's
why they hardly ever talk
anymore. You can run away to
Africa, but you can't run
away from the truth.
Oh, by the way, here's
a tip for you: when this
is over, go out and rent
the movie "Gia." She's way
naked in it, and makes out
with another chick and
everything. It's awesome.
I stumbled across it late
at night on HBO after I
had just got back from
hockey, and I almost
fainted. But I digest...
Princess Leia was coming
back from buying space
groceries when this
happened...
When reading that at the start of this, I just knew that the episode would be amazing. Chris as Luke, Lois as Leia, Stewie as Darth Vader, Peter as Han, Brian as Chewbacca and Hebert as Obie Wan Kenobie. Other Family Guy characters obviously take other roles from the Star Wars universe and they all blend together in a brilliant movie/feature length episode.
Buy it. I promise you won't be disappointed.
Movie Review: Absolutely hilarious, in the tradition of classic parodies
Summary: 5 Stars
There has long been a close tie between "Family Guy" and "Star Wars," probably because the comedic dimwit geniuses who supply the laughs for "Family Guy" were the same geeky nerds dressing up as Stormtroopers at the sci-fi functions. Not to put down these groups of people--God knows they came together and created one of the funniest shows on television.
"Blue Harvest" is delightful, plain and simple. It highlights "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" (as Peter Griffin says in the beginning segment: "This is the story of 'Star Wars.' Let's start with Episode 4"). Here's the cast, and my apologies if I get some of the "Star Wars" names wrong: Chris Griffin as Luke Skywalker; Lois as Princess Leia; Peter as Han Solo; Brian as Chewbacca; Old Man Herbert as Obi Won Kanobi; Quagmire as C-3P0; and Cleveland as R2-D2. No use outlining the plot; you probably know it.
The episode is hilarious. Is it worth the money? Well, I bought it. I will admit, the marketing behind "Family Guy" has been rather shrewd as of late; releasing half a season for the price of a whole one; releasing this 48-minute episode for the price of a full-length movie; dear God, they're getting their money's worth! But, hey, we continue to buy it. Why? Because we love this show. "Family Guy" is not the most original thing out there, and it's not the smartest thing out there; but it's certainly one of the funniest. And whether they're lampooning Sunday-afternoon golf, to honoring great comedic moments like Leslie Nielsen's cameo in "Airplane" (since I am a huge Nielsen fan, this latter provides my favorite moment of "Blue Harvest"), the creators of "Family Guy" are making us laugh are butts off. Don't spend the money if you don't want to--but I would. In this day and age, we all need a good chuckle or two. "Blue Harvest" is just as good a place to go for a laugh as any--and better than most.