Brilliant satire, not for kids!!

Rating: Null/10 (15 July 1999)

After much ado, and after seeing most of the first season and a handful other of the TV shows, I saw the movie today.
First let me emphasize, second, and third the notion that this is ABSOLUTELY NOT for kids (middle school or younger). I know this is true because when I came out of the theater, I felt that the movie had been a bad influence on ME, a 19-year-old (although I admit I know some 13-year-olds that would NOT have been influenced badly by this, judging from their vocabularies and attitudes; it's all relative I suppose).
I'm surprised that none of the reviews I've seen so far have mentioned the original "Jesus vs. Santa" short. The profanity in this movie, though more massive, just about pales in intensity and density compared to the 5-minute short. In fact, throughout most of the movie, I noticed the creators paying homage to the short (in some of the vulgar jokes used, and the whole "bryan boytano" sequence). I laughed so hard, when they set it up like they did in the short but he didn't appear, that my brother got mad at me (I was disturbing the other 5 people in the matinee showing).
I loved the social commentaries, satires, and parodies. I liked how the whole "terrence and philip movie" concept was actually a parody of "the south park movie"!! I liked the musical parodie, and how it didn't quite tear down musicality but instead used it as a tool for more satire. The rips on the MPAA were "sweet". The bill gates thing was unexpected, funny, and short enough to contribute before becoming petty (like the "siskel and ebert" gag in godzilla). I was also surprised by the amount of screentime and destruction recieved by the scanned-headed character of Saddam H; it seemed like it would be just a one-liner, judging from the commercials.
Anyone who thinks the movie is mean-spirited truly doesn't get the whole parody/satire deal. Everyone they bashed, except for saddam and the MPAA, was being bashed in backward-satire; the usual bashing was being exaggerated in order to properly satirize it (such as "operation human shield", an ingenious farce of racisim in the military).
This all being said, I must admit that as a whole the movie wasn't perfect. It was more of a roller-coaster in its various parts; it started off slow, shot up, went down some, shot up again, and on and on, being a little weak in some parts only to draw outrageous laughter (or outrage) a minute later. All in all I'd say it's very worth seeing, but ONLY if you are keen to south park's usual satirical humor (or, not offended by every little thing like some people I've seen). A definite DVD purchase for me! I just hope they include the original short! (I was rather disappointed that it didn't roll after the credits, though another "tasty" morsel did if you missed it).
In closing; 9 out of 10 stars (only since i can't give 9.5), and the last star is for the weak parts, and saddam's rubber "thing" which i really didnt need to see. Also, i'm curious as to how (as one reviewer put it) it pokes fun at anime?? ;-)