The Flintstones [Blu-ray]

i would call it The Rocky Horror Principle.half an hour or so into The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Tim Curry asks Susan Sarandon what she thinks of his muscle-bound beach-boy creation. she doesn't exactly gush, so he sneers "well, i didn't make him FOR YOU!!"i always try to keep that scene in mind when i encounter a new movie, series, book, whatever, because it reflects an important but all-too-easily forgotten fact: there's always a "target audience," and one's judgement can easily be swayed by the realization that it's not necessarily you.if more of the professional critics would remember this, The Flintstones is one of (i suspect) several hundred not at all terrible movies that would be, if not necessarily more respected, at least less relentless whipping-boys.what's really unjust about the trouncing The Flintstones movie took is that people seemed to of forgotten it's history. all the critics acted on the assumption that it was a for-kids movie based on a for-kids show. i've said it before and i'm prepared to say it again: "kid-friendly" doesn't (or shouldn't) necessarily mean no grownups allowed.in point of fact, The Flintstones was always approached with a unique sophistication. being the first cartoon series to air in prime time is only part of the ground it broke. it was also, for instance, the first half-hour cartoon series ever to regularly devote said half-hour to a single story.one frequent gripe is that it devoted too much time to "adult" subject matter, such as office politics and sexual temptations...but neither was entirely absent from the series. i can distinctly remember seeing the reruns alongside the likes of G.I. Joe and Master Of The Universe as a kid, and while it's sitcom nature was admittedly anomalous in such company, neither i nor any kid i ever discussed it with had any trouble comprehending it. and yet, churlish reviewers kept insisting it's plot would fly over the heads of the pubescent demographic they blindly assumed was the target audience in it's entirety!even from the beginning the series set out to balance itself for younger and older alike. amidst it's cartoonier antics it could be quite sophisticated and sometimes even borderline racy. i recall once, for instance, Mr. Slate admonished his secretary for addressing him as "Poopsie." he then reflects that he's been "Poopsie" ever since the New Year's office party, and wonders what could of happened. one moment that's become downright notorious in recent years: Fred suggests Barney go to a costume party as a monster with two heads, and Barney replies "why would i want three heads?" there's only one possible interpretation for that line, and it's not the sort of thing you'd hear on Sesame Street.to say nothing of the pop-culture satire inherent in guest stars like of Ann-Margrock, Stoney Curtis, and Samantha from Bewitched. it could also be argued that it's use of animals as labor, and their snarky complaints, makes for a nifty commentary on class systems.even (albeit less flatteringly) the show's initial sponsorship by Winston cigarettes reflects the not-just-for-kids nature that somehow got lost in the shuffle.(of course, it could also have something to do with the fact that the position it had once held was in the process of being usurped by a dreadful little series called The Simpsons. honestly, how could a colossal turd like The Simpsons get on the air in the first place, much less last three decades and counting? there's only one possible explanation: creator Matt Groaning sold his soul to the Devil.)needless to say, the fact that film adaptations of tv series were becoming a favorite whipping-boy with critics didn't do it any favors, either.another thing that became a sore point was a "leak" that, despite a mere three credited screenwriters, there were actually more than 30 contributors to the script. what most likely happened here is what usually happens on tv writing staffs: one or two people developed the story, with everyone else contributing the occasional gag. like Rob, Buddy, and Sally used to do on The Dick Van Dyke Show. moreover, this isn't as rare as it was assumed or made out to be at the time. a given film script circulating from writer to writer, sometimes for years, is pretty much par for the cinematic course.so much for what the film isn't. as for what it is, it's a fully faithful, ion fact downright gushing, tribute to it's source material. this movie, as well as it's (slightly) less reputable sequel Viva Rock Vegas, are gushing love letters the series. it may not be a Gone With The Wind, but then no Flintstones fan would've wanted it to be.it certainly benefits for a (mostly) exemplary cast. (Rosie O'Donnell, despite a clear love and understanding of Betty Rubble, doesn't look enough like her to disappear into the role.) legend has it the ball was set rolling when Steve Spielberg remarked to John Goodman that he should play Fred Flintstone. indeed, they couldn't of done better if they'd used a ouija board to hire Jackie Gleason. (you do know about The Flintstones being modeled on The Honeymooners, right?) Rick Moranis is literally a rock-solid (pun intended) Barney Rubble. (but then we expected no less from the man behind Bob McKenzie and Dark Helmet, now did we?) to say nothing of this being the role that put Halle Berry on the map!even it's sequel/prequel is worthy. in fact, Viva Rock Vegas is the exception to another rule: it's the one sequel i've ever seen that actually worked despite having had to recast completely!if the whole mess proves anything, it's that the concept of "critical distance," while not necessarily an outright crock, is nonetheless flawed. there may be value in the feedback of someone who wasn't necessarily a fan of the series, but it's still the core audience, or "cult," who's needs need to be met.

It was as good as I remember! Great family film!

Wonderful movie

It's a classic!! What's not to like?

Corner and funny.

Bought for my son for Christmas....He loves it!!!!!

Daughter loves it

This is much better than cartoon movie. For me it is great movie

Lovely family film. Great for showing children anachronisms. They enjoy making lists of the different anachronisms seen in the film.

Great family film.

Un clásico se mi infancia, no la mejor película pero me trae buenos recuerdos, ni el bluray ni dvd vienen dobladas a español, el dvd es solo region 1, en general muy buena articulo y a buen precio

il parait a l'écrand en parfait 3 D ORIGINALImportant METTRE par le menu de l'appareil BLURAY le format Simili 3D ( et NON par le menu de l'écrand )Après choisi la profondeur par le menu de l'écrand qui n'ai pas disponiblesi vous l'activée par l'écrandGoogle Translateit looks great in perfect 3 D ORIGINALImportant PUT through the menu of the BLURAY device the 3D simili format    (and NOT through the screen menu)After choose the depth from the screen menu which is not availableif you activate it by the screen

CD arrivato imballato perfetto e puntuale, purtroppo non funzionava ,ho scritto all venditore che mi ha chiamata e mi dopo avere controllato se cd funziona ,mi lo ha spedito di nuovo .Venditore molto gentile e attento verso clienti complimenti.Secondo CD perfetto funzionante e un bell film divertente.