4 Movies That Would Be Improved With Muppets | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

4 Movies That Would Be Improved With Muppets

Wakka wakka wakka

45
4 Movies That Would Be Improved With Muppets
pmcdeadline2.files.wordpress.com

All that Walt Disney did was slap his name on everything he legally could. Disney is a brand. Jim Henson, however, was the real deal. In the 50's, Henson created the show ”Sam and Friends” which featured a lizard named Kermit- who would later become the frog that became an internet meme that just wouldn't die. But before Kermit's transformation from reptile to amphibian, Henson made a load of commercials and talk show appearances where he showcased characters like Rowlf. He even had a stint on SNL before the writers got sick of writing for puppets. After breaking ground with Sesame Street, he created the best thing to happen to puppets since buttons sewed onto a sock. “The Muppet Show” was genius and you could tell from the two pilots created. This allowed the Muppets to transition smoothly to the big screen.

What's incredibly fascinating about the Muppets is how versatile they are. Henson created them for a wide audience and it shows. The vaudeville comedy with absurdist humor on top of lovable characters performed by industry legends like Frank Oz was a universal appeal. Kids loved it, adults loved it, and the series never felt like it favored one audience over the other. It was self-aware enough to appeal to people who felt like they were above puppet shows but at the same time and filled with enough spectacle and musical numbers to appeal to everyone else. They were recognizable no matter what role they were playing, and the films demonstrated this tremendously.

Their first film established how all of the characters came about meeting each other, but the sequel told a completely different story where Kermit, Fozzy, and Gonzo were news reporters investigating a crime while the rest of the Muppet crew were just eccentric guests in a run-down hotel. Kermit was still Kermit, Fozzy was still Fozzy, and Gonzo was as Gonzo as he's ever been, but they were not the same characters from the previous film. This continued with the other sequels as well, with each film portraying the characters meeting as if for the first time. You see, the Muppets aren't just fun characters, they themselves are actors taking on roles that compliment their personalities. Even if Kermit is dressed up as a ship captain and sword fighting with Tim Curry, he's still Kermit the Frog and the film makes no attempts at hiding it. It's like how Will Smith is always Will Smith in everything he acts in. Except these guys are made of felt and were in show business decades before Mr. Smith took a cab to Bel-Air.

This means that the Muppets can basically adapt any movie they feel like and fit in with it just fine so long as nobody is taking it too seriously. Although most of their movies have original stories, I think it's about time they came back with another adaptation of an already existing property.


Titanic (1997)

Tell me that you cannot see Kermit and Ms. Piggy at the edge of the great Titanic, looking onto the infinite sea. “I'm queeeeen of the worrrrld!!” Ms. Piggy blubbers, as Kermit struggles to keep her from falling into the water. Gonzo would be captain of the vessel, trying to steer it while skimming through a book with directions on how to operate a massive ship and Rizzo the Rat begrudgingly following his orders.

Rather than everyone freezing to death at the end, Fozzy would swing by in an anachronistic motorboat and everyone would squeeze on board. It'd have to bowdlerize itself from a PG-13 rating to something more PG but the Muppets have never shied away from innuendo. James Cameron would shed a single tear of pure joy.

The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003)

Animal would obviously be Gollum, that much is obvious. You might think that Kermit would be Frodo, but I think he'd make an even better Gandolf or Aragorn. Walter (from the 2011 reboot) could be Frodo and Fozzy could probably be Samwise. I can just picture Miss Piggy as Arwen on the back of a horse with her long flowing hair as she tries to seduce a somewhat reluctant Aragorn. Dr. Bunen Honeydew and his assistant Beeker could probably pull off Merry and Pippen unless there's a better duo in the Muppet crew.

Animal would chase Walter around shouting, “PRECIOUS! PRECIOUS!” and Fozzy would just watch because he's too afraid to intervene. And Kermit gulps quietly as he stands before the fearsome Balrog (played by Pepe the king prawn) and say something along the lines of “You shouldn't pass here!” holding his staff in the air. It'd be a brief summary of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, but one worth watching.

Citizen Kane (1941)

No filmmaker on earth has the balls to remake what has been called the greatest film of all time. This movie is precious. So, naturally, the Muppets would have to come in and drastically alter the movie in their way. Kermit and Fozzy would once again, take up the role as reporters investigating the tragic life of Charles Foster Kane (portrayed by Gonzo.) We would learn that in his youth, Kane went under the care of banker Walter Thatcher (Sam the Eagle) and spent his vast fortune buying knick-knacks and a coop so he can keep all the sexy chickens he wants. That is until he buys a plumbing business and runs it to the ground because he has no idea how plumbing works.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

This is the best idea anyone has ever had in the history of mankind. All of creation and millions of years of evolution were all building to this point. We, as people, were meant to make the Rocky Horror Muppet Show a reality.

Dr. Frank N Furter would probably be played by Miss Piggy, but that leaves the role of Janet to Denise- Kermit's new girlfriend in the recent TV series. It's either her or Janice (the guitar playing muppet who hardly ever speaks) or Camilla the chicken and well, she's a chicken. Brad would obviously be Kermit, and through the course of the movie he would leave Janet for Dr. Frank N Furter in a slight deviation from the source material. Clearly, Gonzo would be Riff Raff while Magenta and Columbia would be gender-swapped for Rizzo the rat and Pepe the king prawn. Rolf the dog would probably take Meatloaf's place as Eddy. Animal would be Rocky because he's so crazy. Sam the Eagle would be the criminologist, who introduces the story. Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Beaker would take the Doctor Scott. All of the guests in the lab would be Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem who would play a muppety version of “The Time Warp.” And of course, the Swedish Chef would serve everyone during the dinner scene.

Why hasn't anyone thought of this? It's so obvious. There's no reason this can't be done. Buy the rights, stab Richard O'Brien if you have to. Just get on with it. The world needs to see the Rocky Horror Muppet Show. Make it so, Hollywood.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Lifestyle

The Great Christmas Movie Debate

"A Christmas Story" is the star on top of the tree.

75
The Great Christmas Movie Debate
Mental Floss

One staple of the Christmas season is sitting around the television watching a Christmas movie with family and friends. But of the seemingly hundreds of movies, which one is the star on the tree? Some share stories of Santa to children ("Santa Claus Is Coming to Town"), others want to spread the Christmas joy to adults ("It's a Wonderful Life"), and a select few are made to get laughs ("Elf"). All good movies, but merely ornaments on the Christmas tree of the best movies. What tops the tree is a movie that bridges the gap between these three movies, and makes it a great watch for anyone who chooses to watch it. Enter the timeless Christmas classic, "A Christmas Story." Created in 1983, this movie holds the tradition of capturing both young and old eyes for 24 straight hours on its Christmas Day marathon. It gets the most coverage out of all holiday movies, but the sheer amount of times it's on television does not make it the greatest. Why is it,
then? A Christmas Story does not try to tell the tale of a Christmas miracle or use Christmas magic to move the story. What it does do though is tell the real story of Christmas. It is relatable and brings out the unmatched excitement of children on Christmas in everyone who watches. Every one becomes a child again when they watch "A Christmas Story."

Keep Reading...Show less
Christmas tree
Librarian Lavender

It's the most wonderful time of the year! Christmas is one of my personal favorite holidays because of the Christmas traditions my family upholds generation after generation. After talking to a few of my friends at college, I realized that a lot of them don't really have "Christmas traditions" in their family, and I want to help change that. Here's a list of Christmas traditions that my family does, and anyone can incorporate into their family as well!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Phases Of Finals

May the odds be ever in your favor.

1647
Does anybody know how to study
Gurl.com

It’s here; that time of year when college students turn into preschoolers again. We cry for our mothers, eat everything in sight, and whine when we don’t get our way. It’s finals, the dreaded time of the semester when we all realize we should have been paying attention in class instead of literally doing anything else but that. Everyone has to take them, and yes, unfortunately, they are inevitable. But just because they are here and inevitable does not mean they’re peaches and cream and full of rainbows. Surviving them is a must, and the following five phases are a reality for all majors from business to art, nursing to history.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition

10 ways to prepare for finals week—beginning with getting to the library.

3003
How To Prepare For The Library: Finals Edition
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash

It’s that time of year again when college students live at the library all week, cramming for tests that they should have started studying for last month. Preparing to spend all day at the library takes much consideration and planning. Use these tips to help get you through the week while spending an excessive amount of time in a building that no one wants to be in.

Keep Reading...Show less
girl roommates
StableDiffusion

Where do we begin when we start talking about our roommates? You practically spend every moment with them, they become your second family and they deal with you at your best and at your absolute worst. They are there to make you laugh just a little harder, cry a little less and make each day a little better. We often forget to thank them for the little things that they do to make college even a tiny bit easier and more fun. This list of 26 things are what you should thank your roommates for right this minute and every day that you live with them.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments