'Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder' - High-Def Digest Review

[Attebery]

Drew has reviewed 'Futurama: Into the Wild Green Yonder.' As a Futurama fan, he was a little disappointed, but says this is a passable entry in the series. This Blu-ray offers strong video and audio, but your series devotion may decide if you want to shell out for the upgrade. Some good Supplements. Overall, this one is worth a look.

Full review here:
http://bluray.highdefdigest.com/1971...eenyonder.html

[Super-VHS]

There are no Blu-ray exclusives.

Not true.

The audio commentary is also offered with video "enhancement" - requiring a Profile 1.1 enabled player - and only available on blu-ray disc. If that isn't a high def exclusive, I don't know what is.

Also, what's up with the "br>" at the end of the bullet points?

Other than that, decent review. I too have been disappointed with these direct-to-video releases. The films are not terrible (each one has a few shining moments) but overall they just lack whatever made the series special. However, I think the presentation scores are too low. The video is nearly perfect (if not a 5 at least a 4.5) and the audio is impressive for what it is. Three stars is low in my opinion.

[Gunyaga]

Hmmm. trying to decide what I think of the review-I do have to agree some of the plot seems a bit more derivative of previous epoisodes than the other movies do, but I still enjoyed my Futurama fix with this disc alot. I also was more impressed with the picture and sound vs. the DVD than the reviewer was.

[Gunyaga]

Originally Posted by Super-VHS

Not true.

The audio commentary is also offered with video "enhancement" - requiring a Profile 1.1 enabled player - and only available on blu-ray disc. If that isn't a high def exclusive, I don't know what is.

Also, what's up with the "br>" at the end of the bullet points?

I just noticed that in the review. Also, as I mentioned above in brief, there is a pretty big difference in color presentation and LFE use between the DVD and blu. Not sure how you could not see a big difference if both SD and HD were truly reviewed, and certainly don't understand how the commentary could be missed.

[horrorbusiness]

I really want to watch this on Blu but I can't seem to find this to rent anywhere. My local blockbuster is very picky about what movies they get on Blu.

[typ44q]

hmm I was looking to blind buy this if I could find a really good deal on it but now I might just give it a rent first.

[Gunyaga]

Originally Posted by typ44q

hmm I was looking to blind buy this if I could find a really good deal on it but now I might just give it a rent first.

I would not let the review persuade/disuade you. General consensus among my friends (and others on this board I think, too) is if you liked the other movies, you'll probably like this one, too. Some folks have said this is their favorite, some like Benders or Beast better, etc.

[joeymac]

[throat clearing noise]ahemm[/throat clearing noise]

WHERE IS THE BOX SET OF THESE!?

I'm not going to buy them individually, I'm not an idiot Fox... I don't pay your blu-ray prices anyway (I own no Fox blu-rays in the 20+ I have so far), but the completest in me wants these last 4 Futurama thingys. However, you will only get my cash if you price your goods according to their actual value and make an attempt to make available for purchase. It's not rocket science. Good day Sirs.

[Hastor]

I really liked all the movies, though some better than others. The first was my favorite because it tied up some open ends and made one episode in particular not nearly as sad as it was. From a storytelling point of view, that episode stands alone fine, and will hopefully be seen before any of the movies, sad is ok. But as someone that's become attached to the characters, I was glad to see that things turned out a little better for them.

I disagree with saying that it works better in shorter bursts. I think, at least if you are into Futurama as much as I am, it is nice to have stories that are too long for a regular episode, and being able to let a scene go exactly how it should without trimming for time. It is just more Futurama, other episodes had a lot in common with each other if you break the plot down to their very basics. The major plot was rarely my main interest though, it was the particular dialogue, character development (esp between Fry and Leela), artwork, jokes, and sight gags, which have not really been retreaded that much. Sure a lot of the same characters pop up, for a show that takes place in a galaxy, they sure seem to bump into a LOT of the same people even when lots of light years from home, as much as show like Family Guy that sticks mostly to one town has the same people around (which makes more sense). I don't have a problem with this, I'd rather have slightly developed background characters than extras every time.

I'd give all the movies 3 or 4 out of 5 stars, as there ARE a few episodes that top the movies. They are perfectly welcome to me as more Futurama content to take in though, and I've had no problem with them. They just aren't as profound or emotional as some episodes were, but at least as good as your average episode. I'm used to watching Futurama off DVD or back to back episodes anyways, so I'm used to taking it in hours at a time already. With the multiple plots in each, they could probably be edited each into 3 different episodes about one plot each, but this gives you a break from one to cover something else then comes back to it, I like the variety that provides.

While not exactly profound, this is the most preachy Futurama I've seen, having to do with ecology, though the galaxy's, not Earth's, the message is still there, and since it is introduced early on and is pretty much the main plot, I don't think that is a spoiler. I hope that the series does come back because it would be a lot more total time than these movies, but if not, I'd rather have more movies than nothing!

Though yeah, looking at the very basics of the plot, it isn't that new of a plot, but the execution is what interested me a lot more, and of course all the jokes were new and what you'd expect from Futurama. Also, yeah, the Blu-ray looks great, as far as sound, all I can say is that the higher bitrate of the audio vs the DVD sounds better. I can't handle above 6.1 DD or DTS over optical though, so that's all I can comment on about the sound.

[freekedoutfish]

**************SPOILERS**************

You've been warned!!!!!

I absolutely agree this last DVD movie of futurama sucked sooo badly!

But I dont agree with...

"So far, there have been three movies ('Bender’s Big Score,' 'The Beast with a Billion Backs,' and 'Bender’s Game') and three galaxy-sized disappointments. Sure, they’re beautiful little movies, and sure, there are a few good laughs in each, but they’re more a drag than a delight. And that’s a real shame."

...the previous three were REALLY good (with varied degrees). The attack of the Morcs in the dungeons and dragons one alone was worth it just for that.

But YES, this last one did suck sooo badly.

It was just the most pointless and non-character developing story ever.

A energy wave will pulse through the galaxy and they need to save a small tiny rock of life or..... what exactly? Nothing at all!! Oh and a big evil creature needs to be killed to add more.

Yeah... BORING!!!

I honestly think I chuckled twice during this and just couldnt keep my concentration otherwise. This compared to laughing me head off during the last 3 and being glued to the screen too.

This time it was near impossible to sit still and watch it.

This should have been a film about Fry and Leela FINALLY getting together and gettting some closure, getting married and having all the characters have their lives be perfect at last.

But instead we got NOTHING concerning character development. Ok, so yes there was a small amount, but nothing more then we ever got in the series which just bounced back and too between "will they, wont they".

Its about damn time we got them together FOR GOD SAKE!

And then it ends by putting them into a worm hole! What?

We have had the whole "Fry and Leela" loose end for over 4 series and 3 previous films already, and then we get nothing after all this time.

WE DESERVED BETTER AS A SEND OFF!!!!

[Gunyaga]

Originally Posted by freekedoutfish

WE DESERVED BETTER AS A SEND OFF!!!!

Let's hope it really isn't one

[Hastor]

Might wanna throw some spoiler tags on there since you are giving away the ending and all.

[Hastor]

Are they ever gonna fix the fact that it doesn't mention high-def extras? BTW try looking up the page for "The Thirteenth Floor" which is due out soon. You get box art and a description of "The Da Vinci Code" and the discussion link goes to the forum on "The Devil Wears Prada". The feedback form has been broken. This has been my favorite site but looks like it is starting to fall apart, at least in the places I'm looking.

[Attebery]

Originally Posted by Hastor

Are they ever gonna fix the fact that it doesn't mention high-def extras? BTW try looking up the page for "The Thirteenth Floor" which is due out soon. You get box art and a description of "The Da Vinci Code" and the discussion link goes to the forum on "The Devil Wears Prada". The feedback form has been broken. This has been my favorite site but looks like it is starting to fall apart, at least in the places I'm looking.

I have altered the review to note the picture in picture.

Site isn't falling apart. I'm just juggling a lot of stuff. If Thirteenth Floor were reviewed and we said it was the Da Vinci Code and linked to the the Devil Wears Prada disucssion, then you should worry, but these are very minor problems in the grand scheme of things, and all have now been fixed.

[ben1080p]

I hope to god this isnt how they are ending it! I agree with the reviewer, Futurama is better as small segments. Its like non of the episodes effect each other(so the rules are thrown out the window). In the movies you to go on for an hour and a half and it has to all relate and work. Just cutting it off every 20 minutes and restarting makes for a more spontaneous and humorous comedy. I just hope they bring it back as a show. PLEASE.