Saturday, June 21, 2008
Mini-DVD Review: Futurama - Beast With a Billon Backs (June 24)
Futurama - Beast With a Billion Backs (20th Century Fox, $29.98) is the second installment in Fox's series of movies based upon the Sunday night animated sitcom from the past. The feature film picks up where the previous feature, Bender's Big Score, leaves off, when they try to find a way to keep peace and joy in the galaxy. But all doesn't go so well when a beast... a beast with a billion backs... takes over the society and makes Fry the Pope! How will they get out of this mess? Or will we have to wait until one of the next two installments to find out?
The movie looks and sounds great on DVD, with Dolby Digital Surround Sound audio. Of course, you can't compare this to how it looks on TV, as this has yet to be shown on TV, but to put it simply, it looks great.
Of course, the DVD also contains a plethora of special features, which honestly are much better than the movie itself. For starters, there is a commentary track that includes commentary from all of the important people involved with the movie. The "Futurama: The Lost Adventure" featurette is actually a lost full-length episode of the original series—kind of. This was produced for a Futurama video game that never quite made it, but now we get that "episode" on this DVD... with commentary, of course! "Meet Yiyo!" gives you a look at Yiyo, the title character of the movie. "Blooperama: The Futurama Cast at Work" lets you get a behind the scenes look at the screw ups made along the way in the production of this movie. And of course, there are animatics and deleted scenes--what would a Fox animated series be without those on DVD? Finally, there is a short preview of the next movie in the Futurama movie series, Bender's Game.
Any true fan of Futurama is going to want to see this simply because it is another chapter in a series that they are a fan of, but even these true fans should prepare themselves to be disappointed. It seems that the idea of the series has changed quite a bit with these movies, and it has become less of a good animated sitcom and has gotten more into the realm of science fiction, which would be fine except it is still being written by comedy writers. I can't really think of any time where my real disappointment with a DVD has been about the content of what is on it as opposed to a bad DVD compilation. The compilation in this case is excellent, and fans will certainly appreciate that, and it is worth watching the movie anyway if you are a fan.
-- Reviewed by skees53
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Sitcoms Airing Tonight / Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows
Friday, October 24
Vampirina: Teenage Vampire - "
First Heartbeat" (Disney Channel, 8:00PM ET/PT)
Vee reconnects with Billie (from Wizards Beyond Waverly Place) and gets a surprise visit from the Vampire Council. Meanwhile, Britney is mad at Elijah for forgetting their plans.
Vampirina: Teenage Vampire - "First Power Trip" (Disney Channel, 8:30PM ET/PT)
Vee, Sophie, Elijah and Britney compete to be Millie Eyelash's opening act. Meanwhile, Demi is forced to protect Dean Merriweather.
Sitcom Stars on Talk Shows (Week of October 20)
Friday, October 24
- Tom Hanks (Bosom Buddies) - Watch Tom on a repeat of Jimmy Kimmel Live! at 11:35pm on ABC.
- Jennifer Lopez (South Central) - Jennifer appears on a repeat of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon at 11:35pm on NBC.
- Bette Midler (Bette) - Bette is a guest on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Tim Meadows (DMV/Schooled/No Activity/Son of Zorn/Mr. Box Office/The Bill Engvall Show) - Tim appears on a repeat of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert at 11:35pm on CBS.
- Reneé Rapp (The Sex Lives of College Girls) - Reneé is a guest on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Christian Slater (Breaking In) - Christian appears on a repeat of Late Night with Seth Meyers at 12:36am on NBC.
- Roy Wood Jr. (Sullivan & Son) - Roy talks about The Man of Many Fathers: Life Lessons Disguised as a Memoir with the ladies of The View on ABC at 11am ET/10am CT-PT.
- Brie Larson (United States of Tara/Raising Dad) - Brie and Courtney McBroom tell Drew about their new cookbook – and make a delicious dish for her in the kitchen on The Drew Barrymore Show, so check your local listings.
- Wilmer Valderrama (That '70s Show) - Wilmer chats about his Starring: Desi Arnaz & Wilmer Valderrama podcast on Access Daily with Mario & Kit, so check your local listings.
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02/04 - The Wayans Bros. - The Complete Series
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04/01 - Abbott Elementary - The Complete Third Season
05/13 - The Drew Carey Show - The Complete Series* (missing 4 episodes and some music has been replaced or altered)
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07/22 - Bewitched - The Complete Series - 60th Anniversary Special Edition (Blu-ray)
08/26 - The Huckleberry Hound Show - The Complete Original Series (Blu-ray)
10/07 - Georgie & Mandy's First Marriage - The Complete First Season
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