The Flintstones (1994)

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

an ambitious but ultimately ineffective debut endeavor.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Through painfully honest and emotional moments, the movie becomes irresistibly relatable

The Flintstones (1994) ** (out of 4)John Goodman as Fred Flintstone, Elizabeth Perkins as Wilma Flintstone, Rick Moranis as Barney Rubble and Rosie O'Donnell as Betty Rubble. In this live adaptation of the animated television show, Fred finally gets the job that he's always dreamed of but it's going to come at a cost he might not be willing to pay.If you're old enough then you probably remember having to live through the dark years of theatrical movies. You remember back in the early 90s when various television shows were being put on the big screen. One of the most anticipated ones was THE FLINTSTONES, which came out of nowhere, became a hit and even got a sequel but I don't think there's much to defend here as the film is quite bland.There are a lot of problems with this film but I will say that they got one thing right and that was the casting of Goodman as Fred Flintstone. This here was the perfect choice for the role and Goodman does a terrific job with it. The only problem is that he isn't given anything to work with as the screenplay is quite bland and poor without too many original ideas or laughs.The biggest problem is that the screenplay doesn't have much to do. Fred is given this new job, it causes problems at home, he fights with Barney and then we get to the conclusion. The film certainly looks qutie good as the prehistoric scenery is quite believable but it's all eye candy with nothing to support it. Halle Berry as well as a certain cameo are also good but more of this was needed.

Yes, it's a yabba-dabba-dumb dumb movie, but it's a fun film. I kinda like this rock and a hard place movie. It's not as bad, as some people may think. It's somewhat underrated. Directed by Brian Levant, this live action adaptation of the 1960s animated television series of the same name tells the story of Fred Flintstone, a stone-age family man living in the town of Bedrock. Each week, Fred pursue several ill-fated schemes in order to get rich, often getting in trouble. The film follows a similar plot line in which, Fred Flintstone played by John Goodman venture into yet another scheme; this time run by the villainous, executive vice-president of Slate & Co, Cliff Vandercave (Kyle MacLachlan). Only to find out that this 'get rich' plan, might cost him, his friendship with long-time, buddy, Barney Rubble (Rick Moranis). Without spoiling the movie, too much, like the show, it's highly parodying the 1950 show, 'the Honeymooners', while also having clever juxtaposition of the modern day with a Stone Age flair. It's the main reason for this movie's charm. As adaptations go, this is probably one of the most faithful you can find of a source material. Of course, it also helped that the creators, William Hanna and Joseph Barbera were supervising the whole project as executive producers. One of the reasons, Brian Levant was selected as the director was because he was a huge fan of the animation series and it shows in how much work and love, Levant and his crew provided. Everything prop, costume and set in this film, looks and feels like it was from the animation series. It was amazing! Added to that, the visual effects for Dino, Dictabird, and the other prehistoric creatures were great! Jim Henson's Creature Shop did a hell of a job! Even most of the casting match so well to the original series. Reportedly, this version would not have been made if John Goodman had turned down the role. He was awesome. Rick Moranis also, work well as Fred's friend, Barney. I really do buy their friendship. Elizabeth Perkins was astonishing as Fred's wife, Wilma. Not only, was she beautiful, but she was able to show Wilma's signature sass. I like the conflict, she has with Halle Berry's Miss Stone. Berry was sexy, and on fire with this role. Yet, how iconic would it, be if Sharon Stone was to play the character with her namesake character. It would had been great. Anyways, however, not everybody was great in this film. Rosie O'Donnell is a great example. She really fails to live up to the role as Barney's wife, Betty, even with her mastering the character's signature giggle. The reasons for that, is that she doesn't show any other mannerisms, besides Betty looking worry and caring for her husband. Where was Betty's attitude!? Honestly, the original choice of Janine Turner would had been better! Another distracting role in the film, had to be Elizabeth Taylor as Wilma's mother, Pearl Slaghoople in her last theatrical appearance. She looks nothing like the original character. If anything, she was just rehashing a role, similar to 1962's 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?'. In my opinion, I would rather see, Audrey Meadows, as she was wonderful, in her deadpan delivery as housewife Alice Kramden on the 'the Honeymooners'. Plus, it would be a clever way to ease fans into seeing this film. Yet, there were some fans that criticized this film for its adult-driven storyline, which they deemed too mature for family audiences. In my opinion, those critics are all wrong. It's so faithful to the original, which also had references to sex, plus on screen drinking and smoking. The show was popular, because of its adult-driven humor. The first two seasons of the show were kinda notorious for it. Look at those old Winston Cigarettes commercial to get what, I'm talking about. Anyways, the show turn more, family-friendly by the third season when the baby, Pebbles is introduced & the ratings start to drop. If anything, the adult storyline save this movie from being boring. As a kid of the 1990s, the embezzlement plot wasn't too complex, not to figure out. I think, our children are smarter than we take them, for. At least, the plot is better than the original plot that seem to be a weird version of 1940's 'The Grapes of Wrath'. That really sounds depressing. Yet, there were some plot-holes in the story that I didn't like, such as the inconsistencies of Barney's kid, strength and the villains wanted an idiot to run the company to the ground, by hiring the smartest person for the job with an aptitude test. It just doesn't make any sense like the saber-toothed tiger that somehow is in the show's credits, but never in the show. Anyways, I have to say, this movie deserve more credit. It's not the worst out there. If anything, the 2000's prequel, 'The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas' is far more unwatchable. Unlike its predecessor, it failed at the box office, which this film didn't. In the end, give the 1994 version, another look. It's deserve it.

This wouldn't be worth 7 stars if it weren't a product of PERFECT casting and wasn't so necessary.What I mean, is that in the early 90's, in the midst of a trend of movies based on classic TV shows, someone had an idea, and with John Goodman virtually personifying Fred Flintstone and dead-on talent around for Barney and the rest of the character, CGI technology mature enough to create convincing cartoon dinosaurs, and the Vasquez rocks only 40 miles away, it HAD to be done, the folks at Amblin and Universal just wouldn't be able to live with themselves if they didn't.So it was a matter of cramming as many gags and jokes as possible into an hour and a half without betraying the spirit of the original cartoons.And to that end, it's a moderate success. It cold have been funnier, there was plenty of room for improvement, but they were faithful top the look and feel and spirit of the cartoon, and like I said, it just HAD to be done.I seriously doubt the directors and producers could have forgiven themselves if they passed on this opportunity - I certainly wouldn't have forgiven them.And Mr. Slate naming a new discovery after his daughter, Concretia, remains one of my favorite gags of all time.

Fred Flintstone is promoted to vice-president in order to serve as an unwitting patsy for a fraud, and it costs him his lifelong friendship with Barney Rubble.This film exists in order to bring to life all the anachronistic gags from the TV series, and it does this very well - the iconic title sequences, in particular, are recreated with loving accuracy. Of course, a film needs rather than that in order to sustain 2 hours' running time, and here we have a story of corporate skulduggery with a subtext about the value of friendship. It is perfectly adequate as a basis for the visuals.Because Bedrock is just about perfectly realised, and the casting is very nearly spot-on, too - only Rosie O'Donnell comes across as a little too brash and robust for Betty. The playing is broad, but it needs to be.This is a fun family film, but it will mean rather more to those who grew up with the TV cartoon series.