Posted by Kent in General News, TV, TV Review | 24 comments
Review: FAMILY GUY – SOMETHING SOMETHING DARKSIDE
SOMETHING SOMETHING DARKSIDE (SSDS) is the sequel to last years BLUE HARVEST, in which the FAMILY GUY cast is placed into the most popular film franchise of all time, STAR WARS. What’s amazing about these parody’s is that they’re completely licensed by Lucasfilm and include everything from the original sound effects, to the original score, and retell the stories almost exactly as the happened in the film, but of course with a Family Guy twist. Even more amazing is that it actually works because of the obvious care and love that has gone into both of these one hour specials. Of course SSDS is a retelling of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, my favorite Star Wars film, and in my top 3 favorite movies of all time.
Like BLUE HARVEST, SSDS starts out with a power outage forcing Peter to tell his family the second part of the Star Wars saga. The cast puts Lois as Leia, Peter as Han Solo, Stewie as Darth Vader and Chris as Luke. Much of the rest of the Family Guy cast rounds out the rest of the characters. You get the usual opening crawl full of some really good jokes and then the retelling truly begins. I really can’t dive into the story because if you’ve seen Empire Strikes Back then you know EXACTLY what’s going to happen, without it most of these jokes would simply go over your head and be a waste. So I’m saying this right now… If you haven’t seen the original Star Wars trilogy then go see it right away before watching this special. What makes SSDS so great is the attention to detail to all of the classic moments in Empire. Some shots are as close to frame by frame recreations as you can get with this kind of animation. It’s this level of detail that makes the jokes pop that much more. There are moments where the score, the sounds and the action will just make you think you’re watching some parallel universe version of the film and you’ll fall back into the classic nature of the series and then you’ll get thrown right into a fit of laughter from some really deranged look at the Star Wars universe.
The jokes here are pitch perfect, in fact they surpass the jokes in BLUE HARVEST several times over. SSDS is a better special in every single way. There are some great moments in here that I won’t be able to get out of my head when I go back and watch the original EMPIRE. It’s just that good. My only complaint with the entire thing is one that would actually sound pretty strange if you know me… I didn’t like the harsh Language. Family Guy has definitely taken this special into R-rated territory and that’s a shame. It’s unnecessary and really cuts down on their audience. Sure it brought a chuckle out of me when I heard Luke dropping an F-Bomb, but there were four of them. With how many kids love cartoons, and how many kids love Star Wars it’s just a bit of a disappointment. Maybe if there were a censored version it’d be ok, but with that many F-bombs, I can’t really even watch this with my mom. The other issue I had was that it’s in the 4:3 aspect ratio, meaning that it’s the wrong size for modern TVs. With most TV shows already adopting the 16:9 (Wide screen) nature of modern TVs, it’s amazing that Family Guy is still in 4:3. Even their spin-off The Cleveland show is in 16:9. I don’t know if it’s some way to try and keep continuity between every season, but it’s nearly 2010, 4:3 is the way of the past. But other than that this thing is perfect. It’s the best Star Wars parody to date because it genuinely shows that there’s a love for the series.
Family Guy’s Something Something Darkside gets a 4 1/2 out of 5 stars.
hahahahahahahh
Great review, definitely have to agree that it's the loving attention to detail and 'moments for fanboys' that make this so special – I watched 'Blue Harvest' once with friends who were family guy fans, but not Star Wars…they were stonefaced through the whole thing!
Only one disagreement with the review and that's the criticism of the 'R rated content' – Family Guy is an adult cartoon that is known for offensive humour and proud of it…I would not be recommending Family Guy for any squeamish children (or adults), F-bombs or not. Why should this change just because it is a Star Wars parody?
I agree with you on the similarities with star wars but the whole movie pretty much sucked. The jokes were just something the guy pulled out of his butt, and seemed as if it was accumulation of puns that the writer experienced in a 24 hour period. It was as if the writer was some ADD 5 year saying what happen to pop in his head at that time in relation to the seen.(or some joke was stuck in the guys head so he let it out in some scene that had nothing to do with it). To sum it up, laughed once in the whole movie, then returned it to target next day.( surprisingly enough before I popped the disk in I was saying to myself that Family Guy is one of the few things in today's media that has not changed and yet to disappoint.
OK, it's bugging me just a little bit here… it's Something, Something, SOMETHING Dark Side. Three Something's.
Anyway, glad to see the jokes might be even better than that first. Also, there will be an edited version without the language when it airs on FOX in May. Par for the course with Family Guy. One (tame) version for FOX, a second (slightly less tame) version for Adult Swim and cable, a third (raunchy as hell) version for the DVDs.
Also, just cuz it's animated does not mean its for kids… ever.
Yeah, I absolutely HATE when people make that assumption. It's the reason 4Kids Entertainment exists and continually rapes and tames anime day after day!
Great review though, can't wait to see the special either on TV or rental/internet.
Yes, Family Guy makes a lot of raunchy jokes but you don't hear swearing on TV so it just seems so out of place when it's on the DVD. Swearing just for shock value is stupid and unneeded. We've all heard the bad words so I agree that it takes away from the movie.
Family Guy swears on TV all the time… they use "bitch" and plenty of other words all the time!
Good review, I don't know if I would consider it better than blue harvest. Maybe I had my expectations too high. I just about passed out laughing when the rebels took down the walkers. As for the F-bombs, some did seem out of place, but when Han told Leia to F-off that was choice. Seth MacFarlane is a comidic genuis
Good review. The main issue I have with it, is the format. I stopped buying movies in 4:3 format ten years ago. Its a shame I can't put this movie in my collection because of that.
get over yourself
I must say it doesn't live up to the quality of humor that Blue Harvest did, and every one of my friends who watch these agrees. It is very recommended, however.
Methinks your love for the original that SSSD is parodying is coloring your perception.
I have to agree about the swaering. I liked the OCCASIONAL expletive- R2D2 after shooting down a tie fighter in the first one- but this one was gratuitous, and I thought it was too much- didnt add to the humor, and brought down the video. I have 2 sons around the age of 10. They could handle the first one- wont show them this one..Disappointed..gratuitous swearing is lazy and lame..
I really want to see it. CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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ALL YOU PEOPLE SUCK DICK!!!!
When exactly was it good? The original (blue Harvest) at least had originallity, clever obsivation and a bit of sophistication, this one is just the occasional family guy fart or boob joke spliced into the original script
Moron. Grow the hell up. If you or anyone close to you are offended by swearing, i hate you. Grow the hell up and tell ur mum to grow up too. Jesus christ i hate censorship.
I agree 100%. here is the email i sent foxmovies@fox.com:
Hi Fox- Could you please explain why in 2010 the new Family Guy Blu Ray movie Something Something Dark Side is provided in only the 4:3 aspect ratio / why it is shot in the 4:3 aspect ratio? It looks terrible with the two black bars on the side of the screen.
good movie though
thanks
Ok, I just watched this movie last night. I love family, and I am a fan of star wars. I enjoyed a few of the scenes and jokes in this movie, but over all, it was a complete disaster. They jokes were reused from old episodes of Family Guy, NOT MUCH ORIGINAL CONTENT!
The use of the word F**k took away from the actual flow of the movie because as a regular family guy fan, you don't hear these people say that often, and when they do its like, "Did he just say F**k? Does he even know what that word means?"
I felt like I was watching some YOUTUBE POOP Version of Star Wars! If I wanted to watch Unoriginality slopped together in and made into a "What they consider a parody". I would have just watched Family Guy Youtube Poop, and! It probably would have been funnier!
Worst Episode Ever….
AS a HUGE star wars and Family Guy fan, and someone who really liked the first one, I was really disappointed with this one. It was just . . . weak . . .and not that funny. It had a few good moments, but it was a severe let down. It looked amazing, the animation was incredible, but the script was just a mash of lame, rushed and unfunny jokes.
It could have been so much better.
Very weak. I felt like they spent half the time showing ships in space instead of making jokes. This is a parody people, not a remake. And what jokes they had room for were lame. The best bit was probably the Back to the Future ending.
Family Guy set the bar high with Blue Harvest — the xylophone musak Imperial Death March in the elevator, "did he say strap in or strap on," the jive and Thai tie fighters, Han Solo giving relationship advice…these are just few of the many hysterical throwaway gags — and SSSDS just didn't measure up. The gags were lukewarm and some of them were just plain stupid (Yoda was a waste…Cookie Monster was stupid…"Don Don" Knotts was pathetic…Darth letting out his "darth farts"…or (gawd) doing the pun thing about 'flipping' Luke…the whole Rockey III thing…the sad list goes on).
There was only one line in the whole movie that rocked — Han's response to Leia after she tells him he loves her. That was hilarious.
But it wasn't enough to save this. Blah. Major disappointment. I hope ROTJ is better. It can't be worse.
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