Movie Lines

The Simpsons – a tribute
When I lived in Ireland for a semester in college, there were
plenty of things I missed about home. I missed having a heater that
turned on more than three hours a night. I missed the sunshine,
since it rained every day I was on the Emerald Isle. I missed
family and friends and a good slice of pizza. But there was one
thing from home I didn’t have to miss.
The Simpsons – a tribute

When I lived in Ireland for a semester in college, there were plenty of things I missed about home. I missed having a heater that turned on more than three hours a night. I missed the sunshine, since it rained every day I was on the Emerald Isle. I missed family and friends and a good slice of pizza. But there was one thing from home I didn’t have to miss.

Once a week, I’d walk to the campus housing development that was about a mile from the center of University of Ulster, Coleraine, in the cold and rain. A group of Irish college students I got to know early on in my trip gathered to watch their favorite television show – The Simpsons. While I couldn’t get a decent pizza or fresh-squeezed orange juice, the yellow-tinted first family of America was in regular supply.

After 18 years, the Simpsons have finally graced the silver screen and by now I am sure most people who wanted to see the movie – all the true fans, at least – have already seen the environmental disaster Homer causes all for the love of a pig. So here instead of a review is an homage to my favorite Simpsons’ moments through the years – and those of other loyal Simpsons fans.

Melissa Flores, 29

Favorite Simpsons character and why: Lisa Simpson – she always says what she thinks, even if it makes her a little bit of an outcast.

Favorite Simpsons’ episode or moment: It’s a tie between the moment Santa’s Little Helper suddenly understands Bart and passes obedience school and the one where U2 hangs out at Moe’s for a drink – and they make fun of Edge.

Thoughts on the movie:  The movie was not much different than an episode would have been except for a few risque moments. It was worth seeing for Simpsons fan and actually held the plot together much better than a lot of episodes in the recent seasons. It made me laugh out loud plenty.

Sarah Flores, 26

Favorite Simpsons character and why: Ralph Wiggum – he always has random lines that make me bust out laughing.

Favorite Simpsons’ episode or moment: The episode where Lisa feels sorry for Ralph and gives him a Valentine’s Day card (I Choo-choo-choose you!!).  Ralph ends up thinking Lisa likes him and Marge forces Lisa to “go out” with him because she feels sorry for him.

Thoughts on the movie:  I think the movie was pretty funny.  I definitely laughed a lot and it was worth seeing, but it felt like it was just a really long episode.  It didn’t really have a feature film (epic) feel to it that I was expecting from the first ever Simpsons’ Movie.

Gabriel Montes, 25

Favorite Simpsons character and why: Lisa Simpson – because she is a know-it-all

Favorite Simpsons’ episode or moment: The episode where the kids from Springfield meet the kids from Shelbyville and they are alternate versions of them.

Thoughts on the movie:  I liked it. I thought it was funny, was a good length, and did not try to shock people or be more over the top than any regular episode of the show. Also I liked that it had a good moral to it.

Sabrina Fernandes, 25

Favorite Simpsons character and why: Ralph because of his hilarious voice and sincere naivete.

Favorite Simpsons’ episode or moment: When Bart, naked on his skateboard, whizzes past Ralph, and Ralph says, “I like men now.” HAHAHHAHAHA!!!!

Thoughts on the movie: I thought it was well done overall, very intelligent and appropriate for the times and for what the writers/producers were trying to accomplish in terms of turning one of the (if not the) longest running sitcoms of all time into a good movie that captured the major characters’ relationships. Loved the intro when Ralph is singing the 20th Century Fox theme. The beginning of the movie felt much like the TV show because of its pace and plot. Then, halfway through, it started to feel more like a movie as the writers focused more on Springfield’s pollution and Homer’s lack of common sense and consciousness of the world around him and on his marriage.

Angie Hildebrand, 28

Favorite Simpsons character and why: Homer. C’mon … he’s so dreamy! He’s everything I look for in a man – funny, sweet, impulsive, beer-loving, and sexy. 

Favorite Simpsons’ episode or moment:  Of all time?  Probably the Valentine’s Day episode when Lisa gives Ralph the valentine with a train on it that says “I choo-choo-choose you” and he falls in love with her!

Thoughts on the movie: Great! The Spider-Pig song made me laugh so hard I almost peed my pants. 

Graeme Scargill, 20

Favorite Simpsons character and why: Apu. He makes a Squishee like no other!

Favorite Simpsons’ episode or moment: Any “Itchy and Scratchy” short.

Thoughts on the movie: I felt that seeing that the Simpsons have been around for 18 years and every fan waited, the movie could have been a lot stronger, but yet it was still funny.

Daniel Lemmerman, 20

Favorite Simpsons character and why: My favorite character is Ned Flanders. He bugs the hell out of me, but he is so weird it is funny. I hope I never meet a guy like that in person.

Favorite Simpsons’ episode or moment: The one where Homer smokes marijuana. It gets me every time.

Thoughts on the movie: The movie was pretty good. I was laughing all night. The plot itself could have been better, but it was so funny. Spider pig rules!

Kara Kovert, 28

Favorite Simpsons character and why:  I have always been a fan of Lisa because while she gets frustrated with her family and how different they are from her, she remains loyal to all of them.

Favorite Simpsons’ episode or moment:  I like the Halloween episode from Season 8 where Bart discovers his evil twin Hugo and America finds out Bill Clinton and Bob Dole are aliens.

Thoughts on the movie:  I thought the movie was great. I loved that they used so many characters from over the years. They also were able to cross the line on so many things that they straddled for years. They still kept with the common Simpsons theme of overcoming obstacles together, but never through an easy route.