Futurama: Bender's Big Score

Cymro · 11-29-2007, 12:02 PM

When Futurama got cancelled I and a lot of people were really bummed about it, so when the long standing rumour of a DVD Movie was confirmed, I was excited as hell. But you see, the problem when I'm excited about stuff is that I think it's going to be better than it is and then I get dissapointed. Fortunately, this isn't the case with Futurama.

The film's mission statement becomes pretty clear in the first few minutes, where the characters discuss having their license cancelled by the "asinine morons" at the "BOX" delivery network and subsequently celebrate their renewal. Then we get a big long extended title sequence (the Title gag is "It just won't stay dead!", the best bit of which is probably Hermes stamping the screen as "renewed".

As we progress through the film, we encounter pretty much everything that ever made Futurama great in the first place (though I could have done with seeing Lrr, ruler of the planet Omicron Persei VIII again!) while the bulk of the episode's story is based around time travel and the classic Fry - Leela love story that was such an important part of the show.

"Bender's Big Score" isn't the best Futurama episode ever, it isn't the funniest, most original or the cleverest, but it's still really good at what it sets out to be - a big (and not at all subtle) middle finger to the FOX Execs who cancelled them, and a big "We're Back" celebration for both the production team and the fans, and boy does it succeed!

That being said, the narrative does get a little sluggish and confusing at times, and much like BSG's Razor there are too many Flashbacks.

Overall I'd give it a grade A, but if I weren't so happy about Futurama being back it'd only be getting a B.

Closet Racist · 11-29-2007, 12:15 PM

I purchased a copy this morning and am rushing home to see it!

Brikar · 11-30-2007, 01:15 PM

It was pretty friggin' hilarious. As is the episode of "Everybody Loves Hypno-Toad" in the extra features.

Closet Racist · 11-30-2007, 02:10 PM

I just found out that the BestBuy version has an extra disc...

Brikar · 11-30-2007, 04:22 PM

It does; there's a few animatics from "Bender's Big Score" and a preview of the next movie.

Cymro · 12-01-2007, 04:44 PM

I really want to see the bonus features, but I had to DL it because I don't want to buy the Region 1. I don't know if a PAL release has even been announced yet.

Closet Racist · 05-27-2008, 08:09 AM

On the horizon...FUTURAMA: THE BEAST WITH A BILLION BACKS is slated for release on June 24!

Brikar · 05-27-2008, 02:27 PM

Awesome.

11-29-2007, 12:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Cymro Religious Fanatic Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Shitsville, CF63 Posts: 4,921	Futurama: Bender's Big Score When Futurama got cancelled I and a lot of people were really bummed about it, so when the long standing rumour of a DVD Movie was confirmed, I was excited as hell. But you see, the problem when I'm excited about stuff is that I think it's going to be better than it is and then I get dissapointed. Fortunately, this isn't the case with Futurama. The film's mission statement becomes pretty clear in the first few minutes, where the characters discuss having their license cancelled by the "asinine morons" at the "BOX" delivery network and subsequently celebrate their renewal. Then we get a big long extended title sequence (the Title gag is "It just won't stay dead!", the best bit of which is probably Hermes stamping the screen as "renewed". As we progress through the film, we encounter pretty much everything that ever made Futurama great in the first place (though I could have done with seeing Lrr, ruler of the planet Omicron Persei VIII again!) while the bulk of the episode's story is based around time travel and the classic Fry - Leela love story that was such an important part of the show. "Bender's Big Score" isn't the best Futurama episode ever, it isn't the funniest, most original or the cleverest, but it's still really good at what it sets out to be - a big (and not at all subtle) middle finger to the FOX Execs who cancelled them, and a big "We're Back" celebration for both the production team and the fans, and boy does it succeed! That being said, the narrative does get a little sluggish and confusing at times, and much like BSG's Razor there are too many Flashbacks. Overall I'd give it a grade A, but if I weren't so happy about Futurama being back it'd only be getting a B. __________________ "Let me tell you something about humans, nephew: They're a wonderful, friendly people - as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working. "But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those friendly, intelligent, wonderful people...will become as nasty and as violent as the most blood-thirsty klingon."

11-29-2007, 12:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
Closet Racist Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: With a side of fava beans and a nice chianti... Posts: 1,203	Re: Futurama: Bender's Big Score I purchased a copy this morning and am rushing home to see it! __________________

11-30-2007, 01:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
Brikar The Dude Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,606	Re: Futurama: Bender's Big Score It was pretty friggin' hilarious. As is the episode of "Everybody Loves Hypno-Toad" in the extra features. __________________ "A million monkeys typing until the end of time will produce the complete works of William Shakespeare. Ten thousand monkeys typing for ten thousand years will write a Hemingway. Ten monkeys typing over Columbus Day weekend will give you a Dan Brown." http://olympusmans.blogspot.com http://benforrealz.blogspot.com

11-30-2007, 02:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
Closet Racist Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: With a side of fava beans and a nice chianti... Posts: 1,203	Re: Futurama: Bender's Big Score I just found out that the BestBuy version has an extra disc... __________________

11-30-2007, 04:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
Brikar The Dude Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,606	Re: Futurama: Bender's Big Score It does; there's a few animatics from "Bender's Big Score" and a preview of the next movie. __________________ "A million monkeys typing until the end of time will produce the complete works of William Shakespeare. Ten thousand monkeys typing for ten thousand years will write a Hemingway. Ten monkeys typing over Columbus Day weekend will give you a Dan Brown." http://olympusmans.blogspot.com http://benforrealz.blogspot.com

12-01-2007, 04:44 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cymro Religious Fanatic Join Date: Nov 1999 Location: Shitsville, CF63 Posts: 4,921	Re: Futurama: Bender's Big Score I really want to see the bonus features, but I had to DL it because I don't want to buy the Region 1. I don't know if a PAL release has even been announced yet. __________________ "Let me tell you something about humans, nephew: They're a wonderful, friendly people - as long as their bellies are full and their holosuites are working. "But take away their creature comforts, deprive them of food, sleep, sonic showers, put their lives in jeopardy over an extended period of time and those friendly, intelligent, wonderful people...will become as nasty and as violent as the most blood-thirsty klingon."

05-27-2008, 08:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
Closet Racist Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: With a side of fava beans and a nice chianti... Posts: 1,203 View Edit History:	Re: Futurama: Bender's Big Score On the horizon...FUTURAMA: THE BEAST WITH A BILLION BACKS is slated for release on June 24! __________________ Last edited by Closet Racist; 05-27-2008 at 11:34 AM.

05-27-2008, 02:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
Brikar The Dude Join Date: Dec 1969 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 3,606	Re: Futurama: Bender's Big Score Awesome. __________________ "A million monkeys typing until the end of time will produce the complete works of William Shakespeare. Ten thousand monkeys typing for ten thousand years will write a Hemingway. Ten monkeys typing over Columbus Day weekend will give you a Dan Brown." http://olympusmans.blogspot.com http://benforrealz.blogspot.com

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