G4 Unpopular Opinion on MLP Movie (does contain spoilers careful)

tulagirl

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Okay so I watched the MLP movie on PPV. Please if you loved it ignore me. It is not my intention to hurt anyone's feelings. I am just really confused about what I observed. I figured if someone could help me understand it better I could change my mind. I just absolutely don't get why it was considered good. I have a few questions for everyone since I have never been a big G4 fan. I did and still do like the Apple Family though. So I give them that. I do embrace all pony generations though as they are all important to us. Toys aside though here are my questions.

Why is it that the princess ponies never seem to be able to do anything constructive for their land?
Why is Twilight Sparkle making decisions totally uncharacteristic of her moral code?
Why is so little of inspiring underwater land shown?

Why in the world is the leadership of said land so useless, negative and hopeless..unwilling to share and help to such an extent that the message here is a child is the only one that can do anything good in a crisis?

Why are the so called male villains acting like complete ignos again-annoying, stupid and so not villain like?
Why are bird pirates even fitting into this feature well?
Why are the female villains so predictable, forlorn, angry and pitiful with similar outcomes?
Why is the music in these shows make me feel like I need a closet and a straight jacket?
Why do they bring pop culture to their pony characters? Why can't ponyville just be it's own thing?
Why did I feel like there was way too much going on in this film and it lacked good structure due to that fact?

I really want to know what in the world is going on in the industry that these are the things they think are what make good characters and a good show?

And "babababoom baby?" Seriously, in a kids show? I guess it is my age. I came from a generation where a villain was down right scary even in a Disney movie. What they call villains now is a sorry excuse of something not villainy.

Why do I over analyze stuff? Well it is the teacher in me. When I was in college they taught us to pick apart kids shows and I love doing that. So, I can't just take it for what it was. So help me out with this one. I am ready to have the fakie toss hit me in the head. LOL I guess maybe they were all over the place trying to catch any child's position in life, but I for one don't think kids care about stuff like that.

My little niece told me once, "Oh Auntie they do that for laughs." I say to her, "and you think that is funny? Or stupid for real?" "Yea you are right it is stupid Auntie." LOL That was after I watched a dumb kids show on Nick. So I am super critical of kids shows. So back to Ponyo, now that was wonderful! ROFLOL I only watched 2 season of G4 FIM before I grew tired of it in general. So, maybe I have missed a lot and you can help me out here.

Oh and PS I don't want to ruin this for anyone, but I couldn't find a way to put my post in a spoiler. I don't want to start a negative fight fest either. I am really confused. I am totally willing to see this from another perspective. I just need one. :)
 
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The only question I can answer is the queen of the seaponies/hippogryphes just wants to keep her people safe the troubles of the other lands is not her problem so she does not want to help cause it could cause her and her people harm.

As far as twilight Panic attack through the whole movie maybe.

Iono I loved the movie I love Sia being Songbird and all but I will say Equestria seem to get new pop star every five mins.
 
Sense I don't care much for her Sunbottom just like other to do her work for her I think.
 
Sense I don't care much for her Sunbottom just like other to do her work for her I think.

Hey just curious what is a Sunbottom? I mean my mind is swirling with ideas on this one. I miss something?

I am so glad you enjoyed the movie Ology.
 
The movie was okay in my book. Was not into it enough to buy it for at home viewing.

I felt it was dumbed down compared to the t.v. series and had a very basic adventure story base applied to it.

I think a lot of this dumbing down had to do with different people hired on to do just this one movie.

Their facial features felt like they had one of the g3.5 artists animate the over-drawnout expressions to make them more "cute and alluring" to child audiences.

I also felt the mane 6 stray away from their core personalities as they exhibited in the main series and think it is due to different writers.

Hasbro said to different writers"hey I have these ponies do something with them!" and a thing was did done.

I also felt with how the store toy lines were done, sea ponies were not the main focus of the movie.

It was like merchandising took ahold and took over their concepts, putting more thought and care into them than the movie makers.

The villains were annoying.

Songbird Serenade only had a couple glimpses in the movie and with the toyline advertising you would have thought she atleast defeated a villain or something.

Aside from this criticism, I was glad to take my family of 4 out to see the movie, it was a much needed family date night. But it was a step down from the regular fim series, for sure.

I would venture to say it was designed for preschoolers.
 
I think if you like a movie you can pick it apart and find the faults in it but still like it. I liked the movie but it was not perfect no where close but I like that parts I got into and I loved some of the characters.
I liked tempest and I really of course love songbird. The sea ponies were ok but it was so short on that part I wish there had been more. I was not much for Capper I liked him but not as much as some people.
Pinkie pie annoyed me but I am not a huge pinkie pie fan anyway so even if I don't like her I don't say other should not. Heck I like Rarity but I cant stand fashion go figure.

Pick it apart like don't like that one thing I am glad of. ITS NOT ANOTHER EQUESTRIA GIRL MOVIE. I like those but only so much so lets not go there.

Certain Sunbottom I think could have done more in this film but again we her short comings and she the first or 2nd one taken out. Leaving the rest of the ponies to deal with the bad guys on there on.

Why do we really need Celestia beside the sun thing I mean come on. I like Luna and I am not getting into anything about how its just her duty at night. Sunbottom does nothing 95% time and you here how in the past she and her sister took out this and that. Its always twilight and the other that have to save the day.
 
The movie was okay in my book. Was not into it enough to buy it for at home viewing.

I felt it was dumbed down compared to the t.v. series and had a very basic adventure story base applied to it.

I think a lot of this dumbing down had to do with different people hired on to do just this one movie.

Their facial features felt like they had one of the g3.5 artists animate the over-drawnout expressions to make them more "cute and alluring" to child audiences.

I also felt the mane 6 stray away from their core personalities as they exhibited in the main series and think it is due to different writers.

Hasbro said to different writers"hey I have these ponies do something with them!" and a thing was did done.

I also felt with how the store toy lines were done, sea ponies were not the main focus of the movie.

It was like merchandising took ahold and took over their concepts, putting more thought and care into them than the movie makers.

The villains were annoying.

Songbird Serenade only had a couple glimpses in the movie and with the toyline advertising you would have thought she atleast defeated a villain or something.

Aside from this criticism, I was glad to take my family of 4 out to see the movie, it was a much needed family date night. But it was a step down from the regular fim series, for sure.

I would venture to say it was designed for preschoolers.

You know I noticed the odd change in art on the ponies too. I didn't realize they had new and different writers that explains a whole lot to me. I wish the Sea ponies had been more in fact the entire plot and was shocked at all the toys released yet their screen time was quite short. I wondered how in the world they could do that. I saw all these toys for a movie that hardly did much to introduce you enough to them to warrant so many toys. I kept waiting to see the babies that are in the toy line, but didn't. I could have missed them though. There was a lot going on in that movie. I guess they just wanted to sell a concept toy and hoped people would buy it all up even though not much bonding can be done with so little screen time.

I so agree with you about the fun and much needed family movie night. A movie doesn't have to be perfect for young children to enjoy it. Even I tend to like very poorly rated things. I just wish to goodness it had been more. It is because I have high standards for FIM and feel like so much more could have been done. Yea Preschool audience for sure on that one. If the pony community had a hand in making a movie it would be epic lol.

I think if you like a movie you can pick it apart and find the faults in it but still like it.

You are so right about this. My favorite thing to do with films is watch for errors. It has nothing to do with not liking them. I just like set design mess ups, wardrobe mistakes and seeing a camera man when I am not supposed to. I think they could have done so much more with Tempest, but I can see her appeal in a way. Is it just me or did a lot of people find it shocking that her horn was not repaired? I mean that is like an expected thing. Yet, it didn't happen. They had the power to do so, why not? I like Luna also and its funny you mention that there is question about her society roles, but I found that it isn't clear really with the princesses just what all they are there for since they can't do a whole lot. At least not yet. I liked Twilight a lot better before she changed into all this stuff she is now. I liked her little tree house and books and who she was and what inspired her. The Twilight in this movie was not her that is for sure. As far as Pinkie goes well she was her usual silly self lol. About the only scene I got a kick out of was the desert scene where they are all complaining, thirsty and worn out. That got a giggle out of me. Fluttershy really got on my nerves though and that is not surprising she is my least favorite of all of them with Rarity being a close second. Rarity reminds me of my step mother. They are identical. Uggg I think this is a personality thing for me. I tend to like strong characters that pull their weight and have strong self esteem. I am not as fond of wimpy characters that shake, hide and can't make things happen on their own. It drives me crazy. I am strong willed so that is probably why I just can't take that. ROFLOL Like take Looney Tunes. Whenever they do the Sylvester and his son episodes I cringe because, for some reason I can't take the sudden change in Sylvester and his inability to face the kangaroo. So that is probably the only Looney Tune segment that makes me frustrated. I am a huge Looney fan too.
 
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I haven't seen it. I don't care for the g4.5 toys and the show got pretty out there the 6th and 7th seasons. So glad I didn't pay to see it.
 
I haven't seen it. I don't care for the g4.5 toys and the show got pretty out there the 6th and 7th seasons. So glad I didn't pay to see it.

I am actually glad I watched it, but I do feel not being a G4 person makes it harder for me to enjoy it. I wanted to give it a chance though and I had nothing else to do that day lol. I didn't really like the G3 cartoons so, I am not sure what G3.5 was like if it was animated. I do not have any of the G3.5 toys. G3 animated shows drove me crazy with the voices. I did like Minty's Christmas though. That was the only one I could sit through. So, for me I don't use the shows to identify with the toys. I just like the toys for what they are. I am this way with G1 too. I didn't bond with certain ponies because of the shows at all. Its like I am a huge Lalaloopsy fan but not really of the animated series. Nope didn't like that much at all either. I have tons of Lalas anyway lol. I buy what I love to look at I guess. It is harder for me to like animation that targets the preschool group, but I did enjoy Carebears and Strawberry Shortcake. So, I can like a few of them lol. I really like that show Charlie and Lola. There are a lot of programs out there I have not watched because, I don't have kids.
 
If you watched the short g3.5 DVD's of baby ponies, you'd recognize the dopey facial expressions in the movie

Lol yeah baby sea pony toy line.... Those definitely were not in the movie.
And the pirate scene was barely a scene warranting the massive toy set you in stores x.x

I'm just assuming that it's different writers cause of how different everything is
It just screams it to me
 
I like the Twilight movies. Now ask me who your favorite Charater it's Alice and Dr Cullen with a tiny bit of the main group.
I like how goofy it is but I like the story it's just different. I can watch it and not bust out laugh at Edward looking like he's sea sick all the time.

There are worse movies. Pick a movie a part laugh at it enjoy what you can.

At lest the new mlp movie has some good moment.
 
I just liked the g4 main characters better before twilight got wings. They should have stopped there imo. I'll see the movie someday when it's free.
 
I tend to be a downer for movies because my imagination creates something so much richer. Something wrong in my brain.
 
If you watched the short g3.5 DVD's of baby ponies, you'd recognize the dopey facial expressions in the movie

Lol yeah baby sea pony toy line.... Those definitely were not in the movie.
And the pirate scene was barely a scene warranting the massive toy set you in stores x.x

I'm just assuming that it's different writers cause of how different everything is
It just screams it to me

I am not sure if I can put myself through watching that lol. My husband has this horrible movie called Chewbacca's Christmas or something like that made by Lucus. It by far was so bad it was torture watching it lol. Yea I don't get the whole pirate thing at all. That was just weirdo weird.

@Tak Yea I have a very creative mind and I can get frustrated by films that disappoint, but I like to have debates on movies. Some of our most fantastic talks with friends over dinner were debates over films that half of us loved and half us didn't. Like the movie "Beloved." I actually really really like this film and most people hate it with a passion. What i see in that film touches my heart in a deep place. Most people I guess can't see that level of the film. So I love debating that one since I don't find many people that feel it was fantastic like I do. LOL
 
Twilight Sparkle steals the pearl because she thinks it is the only way to save Equestria and the sea pony queen has already told her a flat "no."

Also her friends have been messing up since they left Equestria (trusting Capper, who just wanted to use them to settle his debt), being loud and obvious in the shambletown where Capper lives, and doing a Sonic Rainboom that led the villains right to them.) What saved them as they fell from the pirate ship was a plan Twilight Sparkle concocted BY HERSELF, using only HER OWN magic.

So from her perspective, she feels pressured to be the 'realistic' one while her friends fool around. 'Realistic' means practicing some relative morality and stealing something that the sea ponies don't even need--I mean, it's not like they will die without the pearl or anything, and she can always return it after Equestria is saved. (Honestly I am with Twilight on this one, I think it was perfectly morally acceptable to steal one pearl to save hundreds / thousands of people from slavery.)

Her argument with Pinkie Pie is fueled by all the bottled up stress and resentment she has at her friends (from her point of view) not taking the situation seriously.

Like, I agree the movie wasn't perfect, but the build up was there and it was surprisingly subtle for a kid's movie.
 
Oh gods the nostalgia critic reviewed that Star war holiday special and it was very hard to watch.
 
Everyone has a need and when one pony thinks their need is more important than another pony's need ponies can be harmed in this process. There are consequences that can be far reaching by assuming you deserve something more than someone else. Like say the enemy overcoming you and getting their hands on a precious something that could destroy a lot more ponies. (She got captured, what would have happened if she had stolen that pearl then? Nothing good.) This is a possible outcome that needs to be considered if you are going to assume it is okay for her to steal something from someone you think is going to be fine without that something. Who knows if they would have been fine. In this scenario no one would have been fine if she had actually had that pearl and the wackadoo villain got it and used it to further their control. In my opinion, It is uncharacteristic of Twilight to not have considered this fact since she was different character in the early tv series. This is my thought, mind you I only watched season 1 and 2 and if Twilight began to change and not always use the head she use to have when it came to right and wrong and personal property that was not her own then I didn't know about that.;) Just my thoughts as I do remember some weakness in personality in Twilight early on and can't quite recall what it was that she did now. This to me was quite an error of judgement especially when she went to this land we will call it for help. Yikes. Thanks for your thoughts on her though. I would be curious to know if she had changed a lot from what she once held true to.

Oh gods the nostalgia critic reviewed that Star war holiday special and it was very hard to watch.

Honestly, I don't think there was ever a good critic of that holiday special ROFLOL.
 
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Twilight Sparkle steals the pearl because she thinks it is the only way to save Equestria and the sea pony queen has already told her a flat "no."

Also her friends have been messing up since they left Equestria (trusting Capper, who just wanted to use them to settle his debt), being loud and obvious in the shambletown where Capper lives, and doing a Sonic Rainboom that led the villains right to them.) What saved them as they fell from the pirate ship was a plan Twilight Sparkle concocted BY HERSELF, using only HER OWN magic.

So from her perspective, she feels pressured to be the 'realistic' one while her friends fool around. 'Realistic' means practicing some relative morality and stealing something that the sea ponies don't even need--I mean, it's not like they will die without the pearl or anything, and she can always return it after Equestria is saved. (Honestly I am with Twilight on this one, I think it was perfectly morally acceptable to steal one pearl to save hundreds / thousands of people from slavery.)

Her argument with Pinkie Pie is fueled by all the bottled up stress and resentment she has at her friends (from her point of view) not taking the situation seriously.

Like, I agree the movie wasn't perfect, but the build up was there and it was surprisingly subtle for a kid's movie.


I hadn't heard a storyline breakdown. It sounds likes it would be an acceptable stand alone kids movie. Not having seen it I really can't judge. My daughter and I both moved away from the series at the start of season 6. She'd rather watch science documentaries and I always prefer a good book.
 
Well, the movie does frame it as the wrong choice; the right choice would have been to trust her friends. This is shown in the fact that Pinkie Pie does manage to convince the sea ponies to give up the pearl, but then they renege and toss the Mane Six out when they find Twilight trying to steal it.

As far as analyzing a movie to pieces, it's not something I do but I get it. The only thing that annoys me is when people over-analyze G4 but simultaneously ignore or excuse the faults of the G1 animation. I love G1, I mostly collect G1 ponies, I'm a G1 fan. But honestly MLP & Friends is not very good and the G1 movie was worse. "Hey, let's give Megan some siblings. They will have no character arc and be completely pointless. Hey, Tirek and Catrina are too scary. How about three bumbling witches as the villains? They will be inept! That will be so funny!" Meanwhile Transformers The Movie released that same year had a PLANET-EATING GIANT ROBOT villain. Life is so unfair.
 
LOL @LadyMoondancer I share some of your feelings about the G1 animation. This is why I don't collect ponies for the animation. If I did that it would ruin it for me. LOL Yes Pinkie's diplomacy was best. I forgot about that part and it is very good that they added that to show another way of dealing with a serious problem. I think when it comes to G1 a lot of people are more lenient because of the times it was made and the fact that most animated programs back in those days and even in my childhood were seriously inferior, full of flaws and somewhat dumb. With technology the way it is now, we might be a little harder on G4 because, movie goers expect more. We are past the days of inferior tv programs and things have to wow us more now than they did then. I see people discussing G1 and G3 sometimes. Right now though G4 has been shoved in our faces with merchandise, tv shoes, pony conventions that didn't exist during G1 and just a whole lot more saturation to our brains. Movie critics are a very important part to entertainment culture and debating is very healthy for the mind. I love when critics do what they do, but I can respect that critical remarks about movies is not everyone's favorite thing. I happen to be a huge movie buff with a wide range of interest that takes me all the way back to movies from the 1920's and beyond. People who like to study film, animation and cultural implications in movies in film are so interesting to listen to. They are quite intelligent and can take your mind to places you had not even thought about when reflecting on acting styles, animation styles, color, costume, music and so much more. There is a whole industry behind it. If it were not for all of these things we would not even have awards for movies, animation and musical score..and so on.
I just wonder who will win the best animated feature this year?
 
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