Muppet Treasure Island

Cafe Society
1

Although well received at the time it was released, I think this film is too often overlooked.

Muppet Treasure Island was AWESOME!!!
If you haven’t seen it, see it.

Where to begin?

I’ll start with Gonzo and Rizzo.
After the death of Jim Henson we saw Kermit placed in less central roles in Muppet projects. For the first major post-Jim Henson Muppet works, The Muppet Christmas Carol, the direct to video release Muppet Classic Theater, and Muppet Treasure Island, we the audience were “hosted” by Gonzo and Rizzo- working together. This was a wonderful choice! It gave Steve Whitmire, newly performing Kermit, time to really sink in and make Kermit his own (as a secondary character, minimizing any “Kermit doesn’t sound like Kermit” griping), and the comedy duo work of Gonzo and Rizzo was awesome!
These two have always been one of the best comedy teams in all of Muppetdom. In this film in particular, they are at their best.

The human cast:
Jennifer Saunders and (particularly) Billy Connolly were great in the opening.
Tim Curry was perfect for this version of Long John Silver- and he truly knew how to perform with the Muppets.
They boy soprano playing the lead was fine, certainly couldn’t be bad enough to bring down a production that was so damn good in every other aspect. He is prominently featured on an early song that had me thinking “Oh no! We’re going to have to listen to this boy soprano sing throughout the entire film!” but, fortunately, it is the only song he is prominently featured on. For other songs, he just sings a few parts as part of the ensemble.

Songs by Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil!
All the songs are awesome! The “Shiver My Timbers” opening is an excellent opening. “Cabin Fever” is, perhaps, the greatest musical sequence in all of film history. The love theme, “Love Led Us Here”, is perhaps a little too sappy- but that is BRILLIANTLY remedied by having the entire song sung upside-down!!!

The sets are beautiful. Particularly the town sets when Jim, Gonzo, and Rizzo find Squire Trelawney then continue on to the waterfront.

Great new Muppets created for (or newly featured in) the film. Blind Pew ranks up there with the great Muppet creations (“Some kind of blind fiend!” “I think they prefer ‘visually-challenged fiend’.”). Clueless Morgan is hilarious, immediately became one of my favorite Muppets.

The Muppets we already knew and loved were each placed in the perfect role. We see the characters we always knew and loved, but they still branch out into new territory: Fozzie’s character talks to a little man who (he believes) lives in his finger? Bizarre! Bunsen and Beaker as the heads of Research and Development for Trelwaney Shipbuilders!
Sam the Eagle turned in what may be his greatest performance as Samuel Arrow (and, in the lifeboat, I believe this is the first time we have ever seen Sam’s feet!).
By the way, how do you have a Muppet movie where Miss Piggy does not make an appearance until 2/3s the way into the film and yet have it be entirely satisfying!!! Piggy comes in just as we need her, and makes a perfect Piggy entrance. Her absence for the first 2/3s of the film make the reveal that much better!!!

Highlights (SPOILERS ABOUND!):[ul]
[li]“He died? And this is supposed to be a kids movie!!!”[/li][li]“One leg, Jim! Count 'em: one.”[/li][li]The Big Reveal upon intorducing Kermit[/li][li]Rat Tours Lmt. (See Below)[/li][li]Roll Call (see below)[/li][li]Gonzo being “tortured” on the stretcher[/li][li]Clueless Morgan, hiding evidence that he was about to torture Rizzo with a hot poker, hides the red hot tip of the poker by closing his bare hand around it.[/li][li]Again, “Cabin Fever” perhaps the greatest musical sequence in any film[/li][li]Gonzo: “It’s just feels weird” Rizzo: “You mean now that Mr. Arrow is dead” Gonzo: “Yeah, that, and my pants are filled with starfish” Rizzo: “You and your hobbies!”[/li][li]Zoot: “I’m confused. Are we on the side of the Pirates or the Frog Captain” Floyd: “Aw, man, just play the gig. Don’t get involved in politics!”[/li][li]“When You’re a Professional Pirate” Musical Number[/li][li]Rizzo: “I’m beyond scared. I’m somewhere between bedwetting and a near-death experience!”[/li][li]“Dead Tom is Dead! Long John shot him!” “But Dead Tom has always been dead. That’s why they call him Dead Tom”[/li][li]Tim Curry’s great performance feigning shock and outrage that they would draw his death sentence black spot on a page torn from the Bible.[/li][li]Piggy: “You left me at the ALTAR!” Kermit: “What can I say? I got cold feet” Piggy: “You’re a frog! You’re SUPPOSED TO HAVE COLD FEET!”[/li][li]Piggy, as Long John Silver appears: “Hello, Loooooong John.” Kermit: “Oh, no! Him too???” Piggy: “Well, if you’d a MARRIED me!”[/li][li]Kermit’s face as he is holding Piggy’s full weight when the rope suspending her over a cliff snaps![/li][li]All kinds of greatness in the big fight scene!!![/li][li]After several have confronted Long John saying “If you kill (prior challenger), you’ll have to kill me!” Rizzo says “If you kill (prior challenger), you’ll have to . . . negotiate strenuously!”[/li][li]In the end, Clueless Morgan learns a valuable lesson![/li][/ul]
Rat Tours Lmt.: A bullet point would not do this justice!
Rizzo, to make some quick easy cash, sells cruise tickets before the ship sets sale. Thus, throughout the movie, there are vacationing rats traipsing about the ship throughout the film! The sailors/pirates are on an arduous voyage in search of treasure, while on the same ship these rats are on a pleasure cruise: “Margaritas at the midnight buffet!”
This was such a funny bit, and a gift that kept giving! They were sort of like a Greek Chorus except rather than offering commentary on the actions and fates of the main characters they were completely oblivious and uninterested in the actions and the fates of the main character!

Roll Call: Again, a bullet point would not do this justice.
First two sailors answer “Aye Aye!” but the next name called is “One-Eyed Willie” who answers “Aye!”
In quick succession: One-Eyed Wille, Black-Eyed Pea, Walleye Pike
In quick succession: Old Tom, Really Old Tom, Dead Tom
A beautiful woman who looks like she could be named “Angel Marie” answers to the name “Big Fat Ugly Bug-Faced Baby-Eating O’Brien”
Then, immediately following her, a hideous pirate who looks like he could be named “Big Fat Ugly Bug-Faced Baby-Eating O’Brien” answers to the name “Angel Marie”

Loved this movie. LOVED it. Certainly deserves to be held up with the best of the best of Muppet works.

Anyone else share this love?

Again, if you haven’t seen it, do yourself a favor. See it.

2

Seems Treasure Island is a pretty classic story, given that it survives genre conversion so well. I remember quite enjoying “Treasure Planet” quite a lot, too.

And of course, the premise of “The Muppets” is that they are a sort of theatre troupe, so they are inherently adaptable to different stories.

3

Sailing for adventure on the big blue wet thing.

It’s my favourite of the post-Jim Henson movies. It hit all the right notes for me. One of my favourite bits is the Boom Shakalaka chant at Miss Piggy’s grand entrance.

Also, interesting to note, Kevin Bishop, who plays Jim Hawkins, has had reasonable success in his own comedy sketch show.

4

Mr. Bimble says his favorite lines are:

Rat Tours! We put the ‘rat’ in Pirate!

Of course! What else are half-wit sons for?

5

Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil wrote music for this?! I’m impressed. I saw this as a kid but didn’t know that–then again, wasn’t too big on the Brill building back then.

I haven’t seen this in years but I remember liking it. Plus–Tim Curry!

6

It’s a great adaptation of a wonderful story. For some reason, I got the most enjoyment out of the scene in which Clueless Morgan gives Long John the Black Spot, saying, “This is for you …”

7

I remember Muppet Treasure Island was on during the Super Bowl one time. Guess which one garnered my attention? Hint: I’m posting in this thread.

8

You tore a page from the Holy Bible for a pirate’s Death Sentence?!

Seriously, TIm Curry is so unstoppably awesome in this movie that you wind up really rooting for him. It’s a combination of a great story, legendary character, amazing adaptation, and incredible actor all in one. And it’s not just cool - it’s fun!

9

The opening sequence is easily one of the best. The singing Muppets manage to be creepy yet still Muppety, the actual song is dark, and the whole thing ends with gunshots. How cool is that?

Also, I have only a few Muppet songs in my MP3 collection. Cabin Fever is among them. Great number.

10

Amazing movie. Lifelong Muppet fan here (see username) and this is one of my faves. Tim Curry’s awesome, as is Billy Connolly, and the whole thing is just so darn fun… Love it.

11

“Stage front, boys! This is my ONLY number!”

Tim Curry stole that show. It was great.

12

While not my favorite Muppet movie (that honor goes to Muppet Christmas Carol) it definitely ranks up there.

Seriously, “Big, fat, ugly, bug-faced baby eating O’brien” had me laughing for a good ten minutes.

13

It is truely amazing. :eek:

14

It’s my favorite Muppet movie, even though I haven’t seen it in for at least 10 years. My daughters loved it. Even now, we still bring out certain bits from the movie. In the past few weeks, I personally have used the following lines or actions:

  1. Playing a card game where my daughter was an opponent, I ran my finger across the faces of her cards and said, “What does she have, Mr. Bimble?”

  2. Helping load stuff in my other daughter’s car the other night, I pointed to the north and said, “Thar be Polaris!”

Good movie.

15

[QUOTE=Freudian Slit]
Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil wrote music for this?! I’m impressed. I saw this as a kid but didn’t know that–then again, wasn’t too big on the Brill building back then.
[/QUOTE]

GuanoLad quotes a great line. The songs are really funny. I don’t know of Cynthia Weil working in comedy previously, but she really delivered in this film (as a team, they really delivered, but I’m especially impressed with how funny the lyrics are- having never heard comedy from them before).

[QUOTE=GuanoLad]
Also, interesting to note, Kevin Bishop, who plays Jim Hawkins, has had reasonable success in his own comedy sketch show.
[/QUOTE]

As long as there’s no boy soprano singing.
Actually, the concept of a comedy show that imitates channel-surfing is pretty neat. Don’t know how much of it I could watch, though. I watched all of this 8 minute clip. Funny, but the format would have driven me away after another 30 seconds.

[QUOTE=Gordon Urquhart]
For some reason, I got the most enjoyment out of the scene in which Clueless Morgan gives Long John the Black Spot, saying, “This is for you …”
[/QUOTE]
Yeah, everything that came out of Clueless Morgan’s mouth was gold.
“You’re a nice man, a kind man, you’re precious . . . and beautiful . . .”

And, for the enjoyment of the Dope:
CABIN FEVER!!!
(I love the human actor who says “I’ve got it toooooooooo!”)

ROLL CALL!!!

16

As soon as I saw the thread title, I thought, “Cabin Fever!” Love that number, and Tim Curry is full of awesome and win throughout.

You know, I’m going to finally order this. It’s been languishing in my “save for later” Amazon pile, and this is clearly a sign I need to buy it.