Chipmunks squeak onto big screen 50 years on - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

waichingliu81 · 12-11-2007, 06:33 AM

By Bob Tourtellotte Reuters - Tuesday, December 11 07:07 am

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Nearly 50 years after they topped the charts with a novelty Christmas song, squeaky-voiced chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore return this holiday season in a computer-animated film with a modern twist.

On Friday, the family film "Alvin and The Chipmunks" arrives in theatres, long after 1958's "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" catapulted to fame the ersatz rodent trio and their real-life creator, Ross Bagdasarian.

"To me, there is something about the voices themselves," said Bagdasarian's son, Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., who shares stewardship of the Chipmunks with his wife Janice Karman.

"It's really hard to be having a bad day when those voices start to sing. It's just hard not to smile," he said.

Back in the 1950s, his father was a struggling musician and songwriter earning a living as a sound technician. Bagdasarian found he could change the pitch in voices by adjusting the speed of tape recordings, and his hit novelty song, "Witch Doctor" was born. Soon after came "The Chipmunk Song", which won three Grammys.

In 1961, "The Alvin Show" debuted on TV with the "singing group" managed by human David Seville. The show lasted only one season, but Bagdasarian continued cranking out hit albums until he died of a heart attack in 1972.

PUNK 'MUNKS

By 1980, Bagdasarian Jr. and Karman had taken the reins of the Chipmunk empire, and he recorded an album, "Chipmunk Punk," that put wiseacre Alvin, book-smart Simon and young brother Theodore back in the limelight.

A second animated TV show, "Alvin and the Chipmunks" began airing in 1983, and since then Bagdasarian Jr. reckons the trio have been seen in more than 110 countries around the world.

"My dad created characters that every parent and every kid can identify with: the parent who is being driven nuts by good-hearted kids that are full of ideas but not always going to do the right thing," said Bagdasarian.

The movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks" utilizes that same formula and reinvents the trio for modern times. The voices of Alvin, Simon and Theodore are performed by actors Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and singer Jesse McCartney, respectively.

The Chipmunks' home tree in the forest is felled to become a Christmas decoration for a big city office building. To escape their new environs, the trio stowaway in a gift basket carried home by a struggling songwriter, Dave Seville (Jason Lee).

After a round of home-wrecking, Dave discovers the 'Munks can sing, so he writes a hit song -- naturally, "The Christmas Song" -- and the foursome soar to Hollywood stardom. Along the way, there are lessons to be learned about love, family and the corrupting power of fame and fortune.

(Editing by Belinda Goldsmith and Eric Walsh)

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/200712...90f61ed_2.html

Holly · 12-11-2007, 04:00 PM

I wanna see this movie it looks cute. the Chipmunks pretend to be Kunfue Monks, LOL.

CheersChild4life · 12-11-2007, 06:40 PM

I absolutely have to see this movie. When I was a kid I was the biggest chipmunk fan ever. The movie sounds great.

Mikado · 12-11-2007, 10:01 PM

I have no interest in seeing this movie, this is NOT the cute, loveable Chips I grew up with, they look as if they should be out, selling crack, in the hood!

catlover79 · 12-11-2007, 10:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

I have no interest in seeing this movie, this is NOT the cute, loveable Chips I grew up with, they look as if they should be out, selling crack, in the hood!

I SECOND THAT!!! Who wants to see CGI Chipmunks, anyway? They look almost as scary as Gene Shalit!!

comedyfreak · 12-12-2007, 05:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

I SECOND THAT!!! Who wants to see CGI Chipmunks, anyway? They look almost as scary as Gene Shalit!!

It's a heck of a lot better than watching some stupid animals that don't resemble the original animated ones, eg: Underdog. Underdog should have been CGI like the chipmunks it would have been better. The previews for this new movie looks really good.

Dean Winchester · 12-13-2007, 02:04 AM

why is everyone so opposed to good ol' handdrawn animation? Everything is CGI. Granted, I think CGI can be very impressive, but what was a cartoon should remain a cartoon

Mikado · 12-13-2007, 02:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

why is everyone so opposed to good ol' handdrawn animation? Everything is CGI. Granted, I think CGI can be very impressive, but what was a cartoon should remain a cartoon

Actually Dean, Cat and I both agree with that, if you read the posts

yup,yup!

waichingliu81 · 12-13-2007, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

why is everyone so opposed to good ol' handdrawn animation? Everything is CGI. Granted, I think CGI can be very impressive, but what was a cartoon should remain a cartoon

i don't mind CGI- i just don't like the character design of the chipmunks that's all. and them dressing up in hip hop garb, WTF is all that about? they should look remotely like the ones in my avator for example. now THAT is how alvin, simon and theodore should look like

waichingliu81 · 12-13-2007, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

I have no interest in seeing this movie, this is NOT the cute, loveable Chips I grew up with, they look as if they should be out, selling crack, in the hood!

they look like hampsters more than cartoon chipmunks

waichingliu81 · 12-13-2007, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waichingliu81

By Bob Tourtellotte Reuters - Tuesday, December 11 07:07 am

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks" utilizes that same formula and reinvents the trio for modern times.

(Editing by Belinda Goldsmith and Eric Walsh)

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/200712...90f61ed_2.html

well, storyline and narrative-wise maybe but in terms of appearance it bears no relation to the cartoon versions. i'm sorry but i loved the cartoons and thus, i think this movie is going to flop

Dean Winchester · 12-13-2007, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mikado

Actually Dean, Cat and I both agree with that, if you read the posts

yup,yup!

I read, but I was just venting. It gets annoying that EVERY animated movie out now is supposed to have this "realistic" 3D CGI feel to it. I think it can be interesting and a feast for the eyes at times, but the fact that they have killed off hand-drawn animation and every animated movie that comes out now is a special effects CGI orgy (Simpsons Movie doesn't count since it's just replicating the show) has gotten out of hand.

I have a feeling in 20-30 years, a lot of today's CGI animation will look incredibly dated while old Disney and Warner Bros. cartoons that will be near 100 years old by that time like Snow White, Fantasia, Looney Tunes, etc... will still hold up and stand the test of time.

waichingliu81 · 12-13-2007, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

I read, but I was just venting. It gets annoying that EVERY animated movie out now is supposed to have this "realistic" 3D CGI feel to it. I think it can be interesting and a feast for the eyes at times, but the fact that they have killed off hand-drawn animation and every animated movie that comes out now is a special effects CGI orgy (Simpsons Movie doesn't count since it's just replicating the show) has gotten out of hand.

I have a feeling in 20-30 years, a lot of today's CGI animation will look incredibly dated while old Disney and Warner Bros. cartoons that will be near 100 years old by that time like Snow White, Fantasia, Looney Tunes, etc... will still hold up and stand the test of time.

definitely. i am more of a fan of classic cartoons which didn't rely on CGI or computer generated graphics because back then, that was when cartoons were just cartoons. just because we are in the 'digital age', it doesn't mean that with hand drawn animation, it should be abandoned for good. it shouldn't

Dean Winchester · 12-13-2007, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waichingliu81

definitely. i am more of a fan of classic cartoons which didn't rely on CGI or computer generated graphics because back then, that was when cartoons were just cartoons. just because we are in the 'digital age', it doesn't mean that with hand drawn animation, it should be abandoned for good. it shouldn't

well, I think like the musical genre and John Travolta, hand-drawn animation will eventually make a comeback because more and more people will admit how much they miss the standard classic animation.

waichingliu81 · 12-13-2007, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean Winchester

well, I think like the musical genre and John Travolta, hand-drawn animation will eventually make a comeback because more and more people will admit how much they miss the standard classic animation.

i do hope so. i mean, i don't have a problem with CGI, its just that too much of it is excessive and people get bored afterwards. too much of anything is not good that is but anyway, i grew up on 2-D animation and i still enjoy it to this day.

i might still go and see this alvin and the chipmunks film, but no matter what it will never surpass the 60s and 80s versions. i understand in a way that the creators want to 'modernise' -if that's the correct word to use- the chipmunks but i just feel that personally, they have went about it in the wrong way, design-wise

12-11-2007, 06:33 AM	#1
waichingliu81 debbie allen Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 28, 2006 Location: london, england, UK Posts: 4,347	Chipmunks squeak onto big screen 50 years on By Bob Tourtellotte Reuters - Tuesday, December 11 07:07 am LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Nearly 50 years after they topped the charts with a novelty Christmas song, squeaky-voiced chipmunks Alvin, Simon and Theodore return this holiday season in a computer-animated film with a modern twist. On Friday, the family film "Alvin and The Chipmunks" arrives in theatres, long after 1958's "The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" catapulted to fame the ersatz rodent trio and their real-life creator, Ross Bagdasarian. "To me, there is something about the voices themselves," said Bagdasarian's son, Ross Bagdasarian, Jr., who shares stewardship of the Chipmunks with his wife Janice Karman. "It's really hard to be having a bad day when those voices start to sing. It's just hard not to smile," he said. Back in the 1950s, his father was a struggling musician and songwriter earning a living as a sound technician. Bagdasarian found he could change the pitch in voices by adjusting the speed of tape recordings, and his hit novelty song, "Witch Doctor" was born. Soon after came "The Chipmunk Song", which won three Grammys. In 1961, "The Alvin Show" debuted on TV with the "singing group" managed by human David Seville. The show lasted only one season, but Bagdasarian continued cranking out hit albums until he died of a heart attack in 1972. PUNK 'MUNKS By 1980, Bagdasarian Jr. and Karman had taken the reins of the Chipmunk empire, and he recorded an album, "Chipmunk Punk," that put wiseacre Alvin, book-smart Simon and young brother Theodore back in the limelight. A second animated TV show, "Alvin and the Chipmunks" began airing in 1983, and since then Bagdasarian Jr. reckons the trio have been seen in more than 110 countries around the world. "My dad created characters that every parent and every kid can identify with: the parent who is being driven nuts by good-hearted kids that are full of ideas but not always going to do the right thing," said Bagdasarian. The movie "Alvin and the Chipmunks" utilizes that same formula and reinvents the trio for modern times. The voices of Alvin, Simon and Theodore are performed by actors Justin Long, Matthew Gray Gubler and singer Jesse McCartney, respectively. The Chipmunks' home tree in the forest is felled to become a Christmas decoration for a big city office building. To escape their new environs, the trio stowaway in a gift basket carried home by a struggling songwriter, Dave Seville (Jason Lee). After a round of home-wrecking, Dave discovers the 'Munks can sing, so he writes a hit song -- naturally, "The Christmas Song" -- and the foursome soar to Hollywood stardom. Along the way, there are lessons to be learned about love, family and the corrupting power of fame and fortune. (Editing by Belinda Goldsmith and Eric Walsh) http://uk.news.yahoo.com/rtrs/200712...90f61ed_2.html

12-11-2007, 10:01 PM	#4
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,880	NO THX!!! I have no interest in seeing this movie, this is NOT the cute, loveable Chips I grew up with, they look as if they should be out, selling crack, in the hood! Attached Images

12-11-2007, 04:00 PM	#2
Holly I LOVE SUNSETS :) Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 25, 2005 Location: Albany NY Posts: 5,748	I wanna see this movie it looks cute. the Chipmunks pretend to be Kunfue Monks, LOL.

12-11-2007, 06:40 PM	#3
CheersChild4life Absolutely Fabulous Senior Member Join Date: Nov 23, 2002 Location: Somwhere Fabulous Posts: 2,814	I absolutely have to see this movie. When I was a kid I was the biggest chipmunk fan ever. The movie sounds great.

12-13-2007, 02:04 AM	#7
Dean Winchester Member Forum Fanatic Join Date: Sep 28, 2003 Location: Louisville KY Posts: 14,803	why is everyone so opposed to good ol' handdrawn animation? Everything is CGI. Granted, I think CGI can be very impressive, but what was a cartoon should remain a cartoon