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Rating:  -
As a taste-test for any of the Futurama box sets, the "Futurama - Monster Robot Maniac Fun Collection" works as a quickie. Four episodes from different seasons, including three classics. The Beastie Boys appear in "Hell is Other Robots," a plethora of guests on "Anthology of Interest 1," including (Tenth Level) Vice President Al Gore, Stephen Hawking, DnD inventor Gary Gygax and Hansen, the 2002 Emmy-winning "Roswell That Ends Well" and finally the sci-fi movie parody of "The Sting."
Probably the only other animated series that blends pop-culture jokes so seamlessly and effortlessly are "The Simpsons" and "South Park." Compare the easily blended musical puns in "Hell Is Other Robots" to any given "Family Guy" episode. The jokes are made in service to the script instead of the jarring stop/starts of "Family Guy" at its most non-sequitorial. Much like "The Simpsons" at their best, the politics are gently funny (Gore's "Tenth level Vice President," for example) and less sledgehammer.
The hysterically funny "Roswell" episode pokes holes in so many genres that it's impossible to categorize it. Science fiction, 50's Nuclear Scare movies, Alien Autopsies, Gomer Pyle and homophobia all take it in the face in under 25 minutes. "Futurama - Monster Robot Maniac Fun Collection" is worth having just for this one episode.
But the subtlety here is limited to the four episodes. It is fun to rent for an evening, but it's really an effective advertisement to get any of the box sets. (Futurama, Vol. 1, Futurama, Vol. 2, Futurama, Vol. 3, Futurama, Vol. 3, Futurama, Vol. 4)
Rating: -
Futurama: Monster Robot Maniac Fun Collection collects four episodes of the much loved sci-fi spoofing series from Simpsons creator Matt Groening. The episodes collected here include "Hell Is Other Robots", "Anthology of Interest I", "Roswell That Ends Well", and "The Sting"; all of which are quite funny and great episodes as well, and the DVD itself includes some introductions from Groening and others as well. However, all that being said, this DVD compilation is for ultra casual fans of the series only who don't already own the DVD season box sets. For those that do own the DVD season box sets, there's absolutely no reason to buy this disc at all, but for ultra casual fans of the series or those new to the series and are looking to get into it, this is a decent buy. It's just disappointing that a few more extras weren't included on here, which would have been really nice.
Rating:  -
Hell Is Other Robots, Anthology of Interest I, Roswell That Ends Well, The Sting
Let me break down my review into two parts: Futurama the show and Monster Robot Maniac Fun dvd.
First the show. I have grown up with the Simpsons so I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of Futurama and it did not dissapoint. The show is funny and irreverant without going too far over the line (like Family Guy). I am pleased to report that like Family Guy the show is going to be given a second chance on Comedy Central. CC has purchased something like 13 episodes which will air in 2008 and they will also be able to show all of the episodes from the original four seasons. Give the show a chance and don't try to compare it to anything else on tv and see if you like it, chances are you might.
The DVD is a nice collection of four episodes (one from each one of the four seasons). The other reviewers have posted a great deal of substance on the episodes themselves so I won't rehash them here. However, I must say that Roswell that ends well is one of the funniest and well-thought-out episodes of the entire series.
Enjoy.
Rating:  -
dear whoever is reading this,
me and my 16 year old brother LOVE futurama.there is sometimes jokes that aren't suitable for kids(for example:Fry one time said "My @$$ has blisters from the slide!",but i know it's not a good thing to copy what people on TV say),but hey i'm 9 and my mom gave me permission to start watching this show.yes,i am a girl,but who says we can't like this to?after all,i like sonic,and it's aimed at boys.
i AGAIN have nothing left to say.......
bye!
PS.sorry for the brief laungauge,but i feel the need to tell kids that @$$(if you are reading this out loud,don't say that sensered word)is a bad word
Rating: -
I must say that Futurama is a very interesting show; While comparing this show and Family Guy's fourth season (not the previous three seasons really), I can say that Futurama is much funnier and more bearable than FG's new season. So after seeing this DVD came out, I thought "What the hell. Kick in $10 and you won't have to buy the Volume sets."
Like the FG Freakin' Sweet Collection, Futurama's Monster Robot Maniac Fun Collection is a compilation of four episodes (one episode per season) hand-picked by the creator himself. Here are my given thoughts on these episodes:
Hell is Other Robots is probably the funniest episode of the first season, where Bender, while trying to clean up his act, joins a robot religion group which irritates his friends at the Planet Express. Plenty of gags and music to keep you happy. 9/10
Anthology of Interest I is one of my all-time favorites; I always enjoy 10-minute sketches compiled into a half-hour episode like Simpsons' Treehouse of Horror and Family Guy's Viewer Mail. Fry, Leela, and Bender lend their wonders in a "what-if" machine; Bender wonders what if he was 500 feet tall (obvious to see him on the DVD cover art), Leela wonders what if she was a little more impulsive, and Fry wonders what if he never fell into the cryogenic freezer and never come into the future. 10/10
The Emmy-award winning Roswell that Ends Well follows Fry accidentally opening a time portal by a pot of popcorn while at a supernova explosion in a microwave and transporting the entire Planet Express Crew into Roswell, New Mexico in the year 1947, the time where Fry's grandfather was alive...well, at least Fry tries to keep him that way. Funny episode, well-written, period. 9/10
One thing I like about this show is that unlike Family Guy, which would just be a string of gags without any thick plotline, Futurama would concentrate on the characters' evolution and create such solid concepts. That's where The Sting comes in. Leela keeps thinking that Fry is alive and is communicating through her dreams after Fry is instantly killed by a giant bee. The bulk of this episode focuses on the Fry/Leela relationship; Clever and surreal, and while not as funny as the other episodes on this disc, it still has heart. 8/10
Now on to the extras: We get an overall disc intro, as well as individual intros per episode, by creator Matt Groening, developer David X. Cohen, a few producers, and voice actors Billy West and John Dimaggio. We also get a "lost" animatic of Hell is Other Robots with an optional commentary by the same people. This DVD doesn't offer much really, but these extras at least save this from being another bare-bones release. 6/10
Hardcore fans may appreciate the extras in the DVD, but the main focus is for newcomers for the shows, and of course, for casual fans. I still don't feel like buying the season sets yet, simply because the show is still rerunning on Adult Swim and TBS.
Overall score 7/10
Note to fans: The Futurama crew's called back to do four Direct-to-DVD movies so the show still has a future!
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