Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Once again the earth is DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOMED!, 28 Nov 2007
In a nutshell I liked it and it is a worthwhile buy for any Futurama fan.
However it isn't amazing. The format doesn't quite translate from a half hour tv programme to a 1 1/2 hour film. The writers evidently tried to cram as many of the minor characters in as possible which in some ways is a good thing but characters such as Robot Santa and Al Gore perhaps were given bigger parts than they should have been at the expense of say... Luur.
That said there are many laugh out loud moments and the plot while ludicrous is no worse than many in the TV series. A very welcome return for a much missed show.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A reasonable return for a great TV series. , 24 May 2008
I am a huge fan of 'Futurama'. I love its characters, its ridiculous situations... everything about it. It was the sharpest animated comedy on television (better than even the mighty 'Simpsons', which had already started to go off the rails slightly by the time that 'Futurama' first appeared). I have all of the episodes and have watched them to death, so I was delighted and excited when I heard that four new DVD movies were being made. And although it isn't 100% perfect, it makes a reasonable return.
I got my copy from US import (to get it sooner) and couldn't wait for it to arrive.
My main worry was that, after around five years out of production, that the sharpness of the original series would be lost. But I need not have worried. Although I wouldn't say that it is a classic example of 'Futurama', the characters and sharp lines are still very much on form.
The plot itself isn't really one of 'Futurama's best, but it has a lot of twists and turns and some good moments along the way.
The opening few minutes, as Planet Express goes back into business, are probably the best, and it's great to see our show "back on air". The minutes after that as the real story kicks in are good, and although things start to loose their way slightly later on, the gags hold up well enough to see things through.
Without giving too much away, the way that things are finally wrapped up and explained is pleasing, but you do have to pay attention and stick with it.
Leela and in particular Fry get a lot of screen time, as does Bender - who (being many fans favourite character) is very much used as the selling point of this DVD, even getting his name in the title. He has some good lines, but spends a great deal of the story suffering a computer virus and working for his crooked new bosses, which is a slight shame, as we don't get much of 'typical Bender'.
As others have commented, there is the sub-plot with Hermes - probably the dullest of the regular characters. But at least he had something to do here, and I personally didn't mind it too much.
As well as the main characters, there are a number of secondary characters from various episodes putting in appearances, and it's nice trying to name them all - however, I did feel that one or two of them were stuck in just for the sake of it.
The picture size is widescreen (it's a shame that the original episodes weren't in this format, as they would have looked great), and it looks really good. The animation for the most part is extremely sharp, and looks great.
Like the original television episodes (and the classic-era 'Simpsons'), it is one of those things that not only can you watch again, but actually improves from repeat viewings, as there are new little things and hidden gags that you'll notice each time.
The main drawback is, as a few other reviewers have said, is that the expansion to 90 minutes doesn't completely work in places. Later on, some of the story starts to feel slightly 'bitty', especially with a number of new timelines opening up that gets rather confusing upon first viewing. But I have to say, it didn't completely fall flat either. The expanded time gives more room for exploration into the various plots, and there are more than enough good jokes to keep things bobbing along.
If you are new to 'Futurama' then although you may still enjoy moments of this movie, some of it maybe be slightly confusing or lost on you; I'd say check out the original season by season box sets first, you won't be disappointed.
There are a nice array of extras on the DVD, including a commentary by various cast & crew, a live comic book reading (still comic book pictures with voiceovers from the cast), a few deleted scenes, a maths-in-Futurama lecture, and a whole episode of 'Hypnotoad'(!).
All-in-all, although not a classic example of 'Futurama', this is a welcome return to our screens - and while it maybe unfair to compare, I have to say, it comes off much better than the watchable but ultimately somewhat disappointing 'Simpsons' movie.
At very least, it acts as a warm up, and the next three DVD movies look set to be good ones.
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21 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Hasn't missed a trick, 21 Dec 2007
In the months of apprehension leading up to this release I was biting my nails on a regular basis. Futurama on television was possibly the best animated television program ever released (I know this is subject to debate so don't hurt me if you disagree) and like many comebacks there was the fear that it would not match its predecessor and the big build-up would come to naught. But from the first gag your hooked and it stays that way for the entire 90 minutes. The fantastical plot elements coupled with the off-the-wall humour common to Futurama make a delicious script and you don't lose out in the visuals either, the pristine animation is better than ever and works terrifically in a 16:9 format. But as it always was with Futurama, the show's like-ability didn't just fall in with the Sci-Fi parodies and zany jokes, it came through its willingness to be a proper comedy-drama and not just be a 20 minute gag-reel, like shows like Family Guy (which are hilarious, but lack substance). In Bender's Big Score you get all the touching moments that tug at your heart strings along with the laughs, it really takes something quite special to make you feel so strongly about what is essentially a cartoon. I loved this film from start to finish and as far as I can tell it is up their with the rest of the Futurama series, Matt Groening and co. haven't missed a trick with this one. It just as good as it always was, if slightly iffy in its 90 minute format. You won't be disappointed.
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