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Author Topic: Bender's Game reviews (Spoilers ahoy!)  (Read 56172 times)
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Gopher

Fallback Guy
Space Pope
****
« Reply #320 on: 11-11-2008 02:48 »

if the show is not brought back for a new season and dvd sales on BG don't pick up, I'm holding you personally responsible, shepherd.
Curious Gorge

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #321 on: 11-11-2008 02:58 »

Bender's Game was much better than BWABB.

If BWABB was an episode it'd be "The Route of All Evil", some funny moments but when the sub plot is much more interesting than the main plot you've got problems.
ShepherdofShark

Space Pope
****
« Reply #322 on: 11-11-2008 03:00 »

At least everyone agrees on something. Series = best (no debate). The films are another matter however, I think they should be critiqued that way - poor plotting shows a lack of imagination. Basically they stuck the fantasy part into an over-long episode. And I'm afraid that makes it boring (you with me, OPJ?)

What's weird is I never understood the problems that folks had with BBS or BWABB, I loved them both instantly. But then Shepherd don't ship, and that seems to be the main problem (or related problems) people have with those movies. But at least they were movies.
km73

Space Pope
****
« Reply #323 on: 11-11-2008 03:16 »

Ok.  Bender's Game - yes, mainly only the first hour or so was good. I already said that in various places and there seems to be a lot of consensus on it. BG > the other two. But indubitably, series > all movies, no debate here either.  Now, as for problems with BBS and BWABB: that is most definitely NOT my primary problem with them.  There is no way I am getting into it again but basically they lacked the feel of the episodes, they didn't really work in the format of movies, they weren't funny enough, they were overpandering to certain segments of the fanbase, and so on and so forth.  All that especially applies to BWABB.  In addition BWABB had a lame, abrupt ending; plus what Sine said. The plot made little
sense.   I've amended my original low opinion of Big Score a little bit lately but have yet to think that all 3 movies are not just more or less disjointed messes when compared to the series.

Regarding BG, the fact that one can enjoy the first 50/55 minutes/hour and then feel it devolved into weakish parody and somewhat Family Guy-ish-type references after that doesn't mean that it isn't still overall the best; the dialogue, humor and characterization (except, in my opinion, for Leela) were all much improved and Bender in particular was actually almost on a level of the series.
ShepherdofShark

Space Pope
****
« Reply #324 on: 11-11-2008 03:24 »

I love how no one agrees.
Sine Wave

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #325 on: 11-11-2008 03:33 »

About what? With you? About what was worst about BWABB? Direct objects, lad.
ShepherdofShark

Space Pope
****
« Reply #326 on: 11-11-2008 03:37 »

I meant how some people love BBS the most (like me), some love BWABB, and some love BG (God help you).

DXC said he wanted to do a few different themes in the movies and I guess he succeeded.
km73

Space Pope
****
« Reply #327 on: 11-11-2008 03:54 »

What about some of us who don't exactly "love" any of them?

Also, from everything I've seen, one of the few things most people do seem agreed on is that the first two parts or first hour or what have you of BG pretty much pwns the concluding part.
aknightofni

Starship Captain
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« Reply #328 on: 11-11-2008 04:02 »

I liked all of it, but mostly because I like the fantasy / lotr stuff too.
ShepherdofShark

Space Pope
****
« Reply #329 on: 11-11-2008 04:10 »

Tired rhetoric it may seem, but I love all Futurama. (At least I used to).

BG has been played 7 times now on my DVD player and I know the parts that I like. But it's the first time I've disliked a section of Futurama so that makes BG, as a whole, a serious low point in the overall collection.

But I really really hope it grows on me.
Frisco17

DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #330 on: 11-11-2008 05:30 »

I meant how some people love BBS the most (like me), some love BWABB, and some love BG (God help you).

I loved all of them but I definitaly agree with you about BBS though. I never go why so many people didn't like it. IMHO it was epic beyond reason.
MatMan

Delivery Boy
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« Reply #331 on: 11-11-2008 09:49 »

I loved BBS. It was an epic return and promised much to pull you into BWABB.

I enjoyed BWABB but was disappointed when essentially the only connection to BBS was a hole in the sky, let down with what ended up being behind the hole too. Overall enjoyable though.

If I hadn't seen either BBS or BWABB then I probably would've found BG MUCH more enjoyable. You know what pissed me off the most? What the hell was the go with Nibbler? He 'leaves the universe' at the end of BBS then there's no explanation for his return.
Gocad

Space Pope
****
« Reply #332 on: 11-11-2008 14:03 »

Did you understand the meaning of the intro of BWABB?

nasarius
Crustacean
*
« Reply #333 on: 11-11-2008 14:38 »

Let's see...I loved the series, disliked BBS and BWABB (except for Bender vs. Calculon), and enjoyed much of BG. Though it loses points for the straight-up and uninspired LOTR parody, and the commentary (my favoritest part of Futurama DVD releases) was pretty dull.
Otis P Jivefunk

DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #334 on: 11-11-2008 22:08 »

At least everyone agrees on something. Series = best (no debate). The films are another matter however, I think they should be critiqued that way - poor plotting shows a lack of imagination. Basically they stuck the fantasy part into an over-long episode. And I'm afraid that makes it boring (you with me, OPJ?)

What's weird is I never understood the problems that folks had with BBS or BWABB, I loved them both instantly. But then Shepherd don't ship, and that seems to be the main problem (or related problems) people have with those movies. But at least they were movies.

I am with you, but I think my opinions overall differ to everyone else’s. You see the way I look at Futurama as a whole is in a very uncompromising way. I look into every element, not just the main elements like story and jokes, but animation, art direction, voice acting, pacing, timing and the whole feel of it. In my opinion the best years of the show were Season 1, 2 and half of Season 3. The rest of it lost a certain something in my opinion, a something that made it feel like Futurama to me. Although I will grant that “The Sting” certainly stands up in its own right from Season 4, Futurama was just different…

The humour style changed, the pacing and feel of the show changed. The show got a lot more serious and less about pure comedy, great timing and pacing of jokes. The whole tone changed and started to move away from what I loved about the show. But don’t get me wrong here, there were still plenty of comedy episodes, but they had lost something. Sure deep emotional episodes help prove how great and deep Futurama as a show is, but the light hearted episodes in half of Season 3 and all of Season 4 weren’t as sharp or clever. This is why while I was always hoping for more Futuaram, had also feared what it was turning into. The movies; especially Bender’s Game have justified my fear.

About Benders Game…

I have thought long and hard about why I didn’t like Benders Game and I have come to the following conclusions. Also I have now watched the commentary. That did little to raise my opinions. Worst commentary of the three movies, again boring and most of the time they were just talking about random boring crap. That would have been ok if it was funny, but no...

There was a serious lack of jokes in this movie, or should I say a serious lack of funny jokes. There were a few good jokes but I could count them on one hand. The good jokes in my opinion were the joke with the professor and the monkey using his thoughts to talk through the monkey. What made that joke was the ending with the professor acting like a monkey to translate his thoughts, genius! Farnsworth's boomerang joke was also rather amusing. They are the kind of Futurama jokes that I like. Another good point was having The Scary Door back, that always cracks me up!...

But most of the jokes simply weren’t funny, there wasn’t very much clever dialogue either. A joke that bothered me was Leela getting angry at the rednecks and shouting at Fry in the shower. That really bothered me and seemed out of character despite her anger problems sub plot. I mean these rednecks are the same people who in Parasites Lost were making fun of Leela, and yet it was Fry who reacted, not her. It was totally unnecessary and contrived. On the subject of Leela’s anger sub-plot the whole thing seemed very forced. They kept milking it for lame jokes, and in the end it just went nowhere with no pay off.

Another abysmal joke was the Dixie Chicks gag. And some ok gags were overdone to the point they lost their humour such as the killbots shooting each other. The Mom slapping gags got old very quickly, she may as well have taken out a dead horse and beaten everyone with it. Bringing back the Slurm Queen in the intro was pointless and annoyed me, as was the Trannybot joke which was the same damn joke as it had in Fry & The Slurm Factory!...

Fry as Gollum also didn't get any laughs from me. Most of the LOTR and D&D jokes were lame. Futurama is normally really good at parodies and you would have thought there would be loads of great gags to be made of such a premise. Even with such a short portion of the movie dedicated to the fantasy world it still failed. Also where were the visual gags? Normally there are loads, but this movie barely had any…

The pacing in this movie felt way off in all honesty. I mean that demolition derby seemed like a complete waste of time and came out of nowhere. It really didn’t have much relevance to anything. The animation was really poorly done in this section as well; this section was cheap on all levels. Then of course there’s the fact that such a small part of the movie actually ended up in the fantasy world. It’s quite sad how that’s turned out to be a good as that is really the purpose of this movie. And I have to disagree with the people who say that the first 50 or so minutes make up for it because they don’t. This movie never gets going and instead it just gradually slows down and becomes more and more tedious and boring.

Not just the pacing but the timing was bad in this movie, the jokes so rarely hit and yet Futurama used to be so good at pacing and timing. They were one of its strongest points back in the first few seasons. This movie felt rather sparsely paced and badly timed, plodding along in a tangled mess of plots and sub-plots that really didn’t fit together at all.

There was the whole thing with Bender’s imagination so at least it didn't come completely out of nowhere, but the way everyone was transported to the fantasy world, and then transported back and... it seemed, it didn't feel natural. I think this would have worked much better as a "Tales of Interest" story, or even if they had visited some sort of fantasy planet. But not in the way it was portrayed here. I understand that it was somehow tied to dark matter, but it all felt extremely rushed and slapped together for a show that prides itself on having well thought out story arcs. The Nibbler story arc explaining how he got on Vergon 6 was the only part of the plot which was handled well. I will give them some credit as that was pretty clool.

Another thing which bothered me was why was Hermes, Amy and Dr Zoidberg also sucked into the fantasy world? They weren’t even there in the confrontation. And when they got sent back to the real world it was for what reason? Because Mom has won? It was all to cliché, especially following that Star Wars parody which has been done to death more than Mom’s slaps. And that’s how they chose to reveal that (gasp!) Ignar is Farnsworth's son!! *chirp* *chirp* Yeah, that's what I thought, too. Just what every Futurama fan has been waiting for in a movie…

Speaking of why any of this movie justified its format, which quite frankly it didn’t. That’s a large part of why it didn’t work. Both BBS and BWABB were more cinematic, for DVD releases they kinda look a little more spectacular than a regular episode of the series. This one seemed like one of the weakest episodes. Actually it was weaker than any episode. The humour was a lot more consistent in the previous two movies too.

BBS was built on a strong emotional plot, and to some extent, so was TBWABB (although not as successfully), but the latter was funnier. This one didn't have anything particularly memorable or deserving to be made into a movie.

There was also a ton of gore, limb-chopping, decapitations, large splashes of blood etc, but it didn’t really bother me because it was a parody of LOTR. What did bother me though was Leegola ripping out hearts and eating one. It all went too far and stupid. Also Dr Zoidberg can’t be penetrated by a sword, think about 30% Iron Chef here when he tries to stab himself with a sword and it just crumples up. Yes I know in this movie it’s a fantasy world, and Dr Zoidberg is has morphed into a monster. But you would think his shell would be even stronger as a big monster...

This movie can’t have it both ways, it can’t reference episodes and one-time characters in a big fanfare and then go back on other things already established in the show. It just doesn’t work. Don’t go overboard crediting your hardcore fans and then patronize them.

I don’t like the over-heavy referencing of episodes in this movie either. To me it had gotten to the point where it referenced other episodes so much that I was annoyed at the movie for not being original enough. We’ve seen the whole mental asylum for robots before, it wasn’t worth bringing back unless there was truly something worth bringing it back for. It all seemed like filler, and again made the movie feel badly paced.

Roberto was wasted. He is one of my fave characters from the show, and here he just wasn’t very funny. The writers had written him as just being a parody of himself. Yes we know he is insane, now please write something original. Instead they have made Roberto out to be a very one dimensional character with the same jokes about the same thing. They didn’t try fleshing him out as a character and he wasn’t worth bringing back the way he was here.

Another thing and I know a lot of people will disagree with me here but I don’t like Cubert anymore. Most people hated Cubert in the first place, but I actually liked his annoying remarks. Now he has totally been toned down. This started to happen in The Route Of All Evil, and then more so in Bender Should Not Be Allowed On TV. Now even more so in Benders Game. He just isn’t funny anymore and has no personality. He used to be great when he was first introduced to the show. Also I dislike how Bender’s voice has gotten so husky lately.

I’m not very keen on the animation in any of the movies. The widescreen look just doesn’t suit Futurama even for movies. The characters are often drawn painfully off-model. The art direction lacks much of the creativity that the show had, and this is unforgivable for a movie format. I’ll grant that BBS and BWABBB had there moments, which is more than I can say for Benders Game…

I think all of the movies are worse than the original series, and they’ve all had there problems. BBS has that alloying Leelu sub-plot which let it down for me. BWABB had a terrible ending. But at least those two movies were funny and felt more like Futurama. Benders Game is just quite utterly terrible really…
soylentOrange

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #335 on: 11-11-2008 22:38 »

I've read alot of reviews of Bender's Game, BWABB, and Bender's Big Score, and all I can say is: guys, what are we doing?  This is new Futurama that we've got here, the thing we've been wishing and hoping for since the last episode aired in 2004!  Why, now that we've got what we wanted, are we clubbing it like a baby seal? 

Sure, I think we can all agree that these movies are not as good as many of the original episodes.  The shippiest moments in any of these movies doesn't compare to The Sting or Jurassic Bark, and the humor isn't on par with the funniest moments in the series, but can you seriously say that any if the movies weren't as good as episodes like That's Lobstertainment, a Leela of Her Own, or The Lesser of Two Evils? 

I think that we die-hard fans do ourselves a disservice by getting too close to the show.  If Fry and Leela don't do x-y-z in the course of a movie, we get frustrated and suddenly can't enjoy it.  If there isn't a certain number of sight gags per frame-second, then suddenly the movie is a disappointment.  Why?  I'm not saying I don't suffer from the same mentality.  I still grind my teeth when I think that Fry got himself a new girlfriend a month after BBS, but seriously, does it really matter that much?

Really, I guess all I'm saying is that maybe we'd enjoy the show alot more if we weren't always trying to dissect it.  I mean, of course you're going to find flaws in an American sitcom if you examine it closely enough.  Every once in awhile we just need to sit back and be entertained by the show and remember that it could always be worse...  We could be watching Family Guy.
eviljester

Crustacean
*
« Reply #336 on: 11-11-2008 23:17 »
« Last Edit on: 11-12-2008 00:35 »

I completely agree with you soylentOrange, but i have to be honest and say i think it's shocking how many terrible reviews i've read from 'so called' fans, surely we should all be happy that the show we love so much is back?

Of course not everythings going to make sense, futurama is far to complicated a show to have every loose end tied up and every bit of 'non continuity' discovered before airing. For example, in the case of Nibbler dissapearing in the first film, i was half expecting his leaving of the universe to be explained, but the fact that it hasn't does not make me angry. Some times continuity can be disregarded for an hilarious joke, which in this case it has, but seriously so what?

I'm just finding a lot of these reviews incredibly unfair, it's Futurama that your bashing, the same crazy characters, the same crazy world, and things as trivial as the Slurm Queen being used in the intro, i'm sorry otis, but i really don't get your problem, and i'm fairly certain the killbot joke was used only twice, how can a joke get old that quickly?

I feel sorry for everyone who has been attacking these films because you seem to have forgotten how to enjoy the show. I only hope you learn to love it again.
Nixorbo

UberMod
DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #337 on: 11-11-2008 23:19 »

I've read alot of reviews of Bender's Game, BWABB, and Bender's Big Score, and all I can say is: guys, what are we doing?  This is new Futurama that we've got here, the thing we've been wishing and hoping for since the last episode aired in 2004!  Why, now that we've got what we wanted, are we clubbing it like a baby seal?

There is nothing in this world so easily disappointed as a nerd with (unreasonably) high expectations.
JBERGES

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #338 on: 11-11-2008 23:42 »
« Last Edit on: 11-11-2008 23:43 »

Well said Soylent!  I refuse to be shoehorned in with the likes of naive raving fangirls simply for not wishing to eviscerate these movies searching for fault.  Believe it or not, old Futurama was not a paragon of character consistency, development, or flawless gag to laugh ratios.  It simply wasn’t! 

Writing off these movies because each was not the pinnacle of what we recall is both arrogant and ridiculous.  Futurama has meliorated in the back of many of your brains, becoming this unreasonable beacon of animated perfection; and now you’re stuck searching for everything you imagined its resurgence would be.

I couldn’t have written satires of nerdy complaints more humorous than some of the point-docks I’ve been reading here and in other reviews.  Get of your clouds and just watch a pretty funny movie, wontcha?
Sine Wave

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #339 on: 11-12-2008 00:02 »

I also concur, for the most part. I still think they're not quite as good as the original shows, but few things are, and a that's probably the idealization you guys are talking about (something I discovered myself in trying to formulate an opinion on the movies). I think my opinions would probably be a lot different if I hadn't come across the series after it was already off the air, and I think most everyone's would be different if there hadn't been as much of a gap between the series and the movies. In fact one thing the movies have done is made me realize how sort of silly all of this analyzation and griping is. I know I recently stepped into one of these gripe battles, but I think I would have made similar arguments regarding two of the regular episodes and which is better.

So, in summary, are the movies perfect? No. Are they still a good time? Yes. And even if they weren't, it's just a show. You should really just relax.
Otis P Jivefunk

DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #340 on: 11-12-2008 01:01 »
« Last Edit on: 11-12-2008 01:04 »

but can you seriously say that any if the movies weren't as good as episodes like That's Lobstertainment, a Leela of Her Own, or The Lesser of Two Evils?

I can honestly say Bender's Game wasn't...

I'm just finding a lot of these reviews incredibly unfair, it's Futurama that your bashing, the same crazy characters, the same crazy world, and things as trivial as the Slurm Queen being used in the intro, i'm sorry otis, but i really don't get your problem, and i'm fairly certain the killbot joke was used only twice, how can a joke get old that quickly?

I feel sorry for everyone who has been attacking these films because you seem to have forgotten how to enjoy the show. I only hope you learn to love it again.

Yes the Slurm Queen thing is trivial, but personally I just didn’t like it. The Killbot joke was ok the first time, I wasn’t a fan the second time. I’m not the only person to have criticized the killbot joke either. I have read another review on another board criticising it too. Different jokes for different folks.

As for enjoying the show, I still do. I love the show. I even pretty much said so in an earlier post in this thread where I stated I watched Anthology Of Interest again and still loved it.

There is nothing in this world so easily disappointed as a nerd with (unreasonably) high expectations.

Leave it to Peelers to patronize other peoples opinions. As I said in my review I feared where Futurama was heading. As a consequence I didn’t have high expectations of any movies. It doesn’t mean just because I lowered my expectations I would like it more. Also nerd? I’ve never played D&D and I’m not big into LOTR or Star Wars or many of the nerdy things this movie is based on. I may be a bit nerdy, but only in that I’m a Futurama fan and I waste too much time on the internet. In fact I’ve seen people argue this on other boards that because they aren’t nerdy enough they didn’t enjoy this movie as much. That could be partly the case for me too.

Well said Soylent!  I refuse to be shoehorned in with the likes of naive raving fangirls simply for not wishing to eviscerate these movies searching for fault. 
 

Again with the patronization. It’s funny how I never resorted to labelling anyone else in a patronizing way who had opinions opposite to mine. I have no respect for peoples points when they are put across in such a manner. Not just to me but to anyone. Also in my review I did point out that I found positives in the movie.

The truth is I have been on various boards on the internet in which people have stated a lot of the same opinions as I have. I am far from being alone in my views even if I’m in the minority on this particular board. And yet nearly all of these same criticisms have been made by people on other boards and were never called up by other members with patronisation. Only Peel has that honour. I could easily turn the argument around and say that all of the people who like this movie are failing to see fault in their beloved show Futurama. But let’s be honest, that would be just as incorrect as the patronization made against mine. That’s why they are opinions.

In conclusion I am grateful for the movies, and I did enjoy BBS & BWABB more than BG by quite a way. But as a paying customer and someone who has always bought into this show and supported it for many years I am entitled to say what I think…

ShepherdofShark

Space Pope
****
« Reply #341 on: 11-12-2008 01:06 »

I guess I've been so vocal cause it's the first time I've actually disliked (parts of) Futurama, hard as that is for me to take. And the problems that any one fan may have with any of the movies are bound to be expounded proportionally to the running time (or ruining time, if you like) compared to a bad episode.

But since there seems to be no common consensus on which is the best/worst episode maybe we should all consider the possibility that it's just horses fuck horses.
soylentOrange

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #342 on: 11-12-2008 01:09 »

dude, Otis, relax.  No one is patronizing you.  My post wasn't aimed at you in particular; you just happened to be the last person to have posted before I did.  You're entitled to your opinions, and I (and everyone else who posted after me, I would imagine) aren't trying to say otherwise.  But we're entitled to our opinions as well.

no hard feelings, alright?
JBERGES

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #343 on: 11-12-2008 01:10 »
« Last Edit on: 11-12-2008 01:21 »



Well said Soylent!  I refuse to be shoehorned in with the likes of naive raving fangirls simply for not wishing to eviscerate these movies searching for fault. 
 

Again with the patronization. It’s funny how I never resorted to labelling anyone else in a patronizing way who had opinions opposite to mine. I have no respect for peoples points when they are put across in such a manner. Not just to me but to anyone. Also in my review I did point out that I found positives in the movie.
  Otis, I wasn't calling you a raving fangirl.  I was referring to the people that feign superiority by nitpicking, calling those who fully enjoyed the movie such. As you've said, you haven't done that. That part of my post was in no way directed at you.  We're not all against you, honest, we just happen to disagree.

Edit:

Quote
But since there seems to be no common consensus on which is the best/worst episode maybe we should all consider the possibility that it's just horses fuck horses.
  I've never heard that saying before, and will now probably use it for no apparent reason in the coming weeks... thanks a lot.
Frisco17

DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #344 on: 11-12-2008 03:28 »

Well said Soylent!  I refuse to be shoehorned in with the likes of naive raving fangirls simply for not wishing to eviscerate these movies searching for fault.  Believe it or not, old Futurama was not a paragon of character consistency, development, or flawless gag to laugh ratios.  It simply wasn’t! 

Writing off these movies because each was not the pinnacle of what we recall is both arrogant and ridiculous.  Futurama has meliorated in the back of many of your brains, becoming this unreasonable beacon of animated perfection; and now you’re stuck searching for everything you imagined its resurgence would be.

I remember talking to SO about something like this after BBS came out and it was essentially these two points. Why are we picking apart something we wanted so badly with such viciousness? The old Futuramas are now so glazed with perfection in our minds that nothing could possibly live up to them. It's the same with most things when they come back from the dead. The new Indiana Jones is a perfect example, I thought it was great but alot of people hated it because they had built such a huge pedestal for the originals.
upside_ur_head

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #345 on: 11-12-2008 16:54 »
« Last Edit on: 11-12-2008 20:34 »

Woah, now this is some heated debate!!!!! I have to agree that all three movies are not as good as a large chunk of the original episodes. Moving characters from a half hour TV show to a feature length movie was always going to be difficult. Look at The Simpsons, it took over 10 years and serveral different ideas before a full length movie came to light. Even then some of the fans of the show said it wasn't up to the standards of the original episodes, particularly the older ones. The other major problem the three Futurama movies have had is the plan to show them on TV in half hour slots. The question is this, if the new Futurama stuff was always going to be shown in a half hour slot on TV why not make half hour episodes? I know the plan to do direct to DVD was in the pipe before the deal with Comedy Central/Sky but surely they could of just delayed the return of the series made 4 episodes for each direct to DVD release and then shown them on TV! Of course they could of shown the movies whole on Comedy Central/Sky but that never seemed likely.

All three 'feature length' episodes or movies or cut up movie parts (you see this is the problem what the hell are they supposed to be!) have had there problems. BBS was always going to have trouble after following Devil's Hands, particually as it left a satisfing ending to the series. The thing that irked me about BBS most was the fact that basically the characters were reintroduced at the beginning and no mention of the events after Devil's Hands was said. No a wishy washy explaination of the company not being able to make deliveries for 3 years will not do. Other than that the plot for BBS was decent enough though and the ending thats leads into BWABBs was great, but there were moments that were rubbish (Leelu, the first singing number and the pointless appearance of some minor characters like Tinny Tim amongst other things). Those rubbish moments did drag it down and made it seem average at best. The animation however was really good and they were some (if only a few) good sight gags as well. It also doesn't help that I don't really like shippiness in Futurama (my opinion is that it's run its course and the show needs to move on) which is why I like BWABB and BG more than BBS.

BWABB has many problems of its own. A number of characters (Leela, Fry, Amy and to a slightly less extent Zapp) just didn't seem like the characters they were on the original series and many seemed much less likeable than they were. An exception to that here is Bender whose sub-plot with Calculon was one of the best things so far in the movies to date (it's the main reason why this is the one of the three I like the most). The short piece with the Robot Devil was good but the Bender's son piece did irk me somewhat. As for the main plot, well it was a mess really. The ending was also complete crap and wraps up very little and asks a thousand and one questions about this and that (and the questions are not good ones that would make for great future episodes of Futurama either).

Bender's Game (well I reviewed it earlier but I'll add a bit more here) does probably the best thing and completely ignores the ending of BWABBs. I still believe that the first hour is still good and the last half hour is weak however. The other thing that I feel is that the animation seems to be taking a hit as you go though the movies. BWABBs also had very few sight gags and BG had from what I can remember one, the sign to Mom's dark matter mine/ factory/farm). The reason for this might be that the money available to make the show with is lower than before or that the use of widescreen and a high def format (although where are the Blu-ray version of BBS and BWABBs?) is more costly than originally realised. I know that sound took a slight hit for that very reason. Hopefully they were saving money here to make the final release ITWGY superb. ITWGY has me worried though as the preview (and I know it's only a preview) hasn't filled me with much hope although it might be good to see the robot mafia again (seeing as they only had a wlak on part for BBS). The number 9 guy thing is perhaps the most interesting thing although I fear that the nibblonians will bearly feature and that the brainspawn might not be brought back at all.

Now don't get me wrong these three errrrr.... films are still fun in places and when I'm not analyising things (which is more often than many here will possibly think) they are enjoyable to watch. I just feel that Futurama worked better as 22 minute episodes than as 88 minute films. The only real way to confirm that though is if in the future Futurama comes back with more episodes that are only 22 minutes like before.

Please note I am not agruing against anyone on this board and am only putting my feelings about the show forward. We should perhaps all agree on this. Futurama is still one of the best, if not the best animated sitcoms around and whilst the movies and hell, even the old episodes divides the fans (I quite like The Route of All Evil but don't like The Cryonic Woman and I know there are many who think the other way around). It's this ability to unite and yet in some way divide the fans that makes Futurama the great show that it was and still is and that it gives us on Peel (and other fan sites) things to comment, debate, praise and criticise on about the show.

Perhaps that's the best thing about Futurama above all else.

EDIT: Damn my grammer and spelling has gotten bad!
Otis P Jivefunk

DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #346 on: 11-12-2008 19:13 »
« Last Edit on: 11-12-2008 19:15 »

dude, Otis, relax.  No one is patronizing you.  My post wasn't aimed at you in particular; you just happened to be the last person to have posted before I did.  You're entitled to your opinions, and I (and everyone else who posted after me, I would imagine) aren't trying to say otherwise.  But we're entitled to our opinions as well.

no hard feelings, alright?

Otis, I wasn't calling you a raving fangirl.  I was referring to the people that feign superiority by nitpicking, calling those who fully enjoyed the movie such. As you've said, you haven't done that. That part of my post was in no way directed at you.  We're not all against you, honest, we just happen to disagree.

To both of the above, that’s clool then :cool:

The other major problem the three Futurama movies have had is that the plan to show them on TV in half hour slots. The question is this, if the new Futurama stuff was always going to be show in a half hour slot on TV why not made half hour episodes

This is a good point which I didn’t touch upon. I will cut all of the movies some slack on the grounds that they are designed to also be divided into episodes. Although thinking about it this may have been one of the root problems with all of these movies. This could be why certain sections of each movie are noticeably weaker. Although it is a clever concept and probably the only way they could have brought the show back in terms of a bargaining position, it does seem apparent that the movie-designed-to-be-split-into-episodes format doesn’t work. It makes all of the movies feel a bit disjointed as a result.

This is a reason why I would be very interested to see how a movie designed for the cinema would turn out. It wouldn’t suffer the limitations imposed on these four direct to DVD movies. It would also likely have a bigger budget, the main advantage of that being a score…
Bigboysdontcry

Professor
*
« Reply #347 on: 11-12-2008 19:32 »
« Last Edit on: 11-13-2008 15:54 »

Futurama will die, I see it before my eyes. If the fans are turning on the new stuff, then whos going to keep it alive. Obvious answer no one. I think the Futurama crew did a great job. They can only do so much with the deal fox gave them. I think they went above and beyond with them. BG might not have been the best one so far, but it wasnt nearly as bad as everyone is saying(but hey people can have thier own opinions. Opinions are like ass's, everyones got one and they stink. But who cares light it on fire and watch it burn in our hands.  Who cares if D and D was in it, I have never played the game but who cares it was all in good fun. Stars Wars, whats not to like, im not obsessed with it but its still great. This is a sad day. Futurama will die. I guess everything ends sooner or later. So I guess none of you would want a new season. I cant say that I know most of you do. You cant hate nerds, the creators of futurama are nerds, if you dont like them then what the hell is anyone doing. If your on this sight you are a nerd. A futurama blog site, whats more nerdier. Not much and who cares, Im proud of being a futurama nerd. You cant point a finger at one person, were all damn nerds. I dont know who said that and I dont care.

Please note I am not agruing against anyone on this board and am only putting my feelings about the show forward. We should perhaps all agree on this. Futurama is still one of the best, if not the best animated sitcoms around and whilst the movies and hell, even the old episodes divides the fans (I quite like The Route of All Evil but don't like The Cryonic Woman and I know there are many who think the other way around). It's this ability to unite and yet in some way divide the fans that makes Futurama the great show that it was and still is and that it gives us on Peel (and other fan sites) things to comment, debate, praise and criticise on about the show.

Perhaps that's the best thing about Futurama above all else.
I hope your right, I really do. Im not that sorry if I stepped on anyones toes. If the shoe fits wear it. Long Live Futurama.
upside_ur_head

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #348 on: 11-12-2008 20:48 »
« Last Edit on: 11-12-2008 21:04 »

Futurama will die, I see it before my eyes. If the fans are turning on the new stuff, then whos going to keep it alive. Obvious answer no one.


Woah woah!!! I don't think everyone here is ready to jump off the ship (no pun intended) just yet!!!! Also the sales of the DVDs have been pretty good (here in the UK at least). Bender's Game is outselling the likes of Clarkson's new DVD and Ugly Betty in the TV charts round where I live which are definite good signs. Hell it was sold out in my local Woolworths as well yesterday (and the other two didn't manage that!!!). I think that many people here can't wait to see how Into The Wild Green Yonder turns out, not least because it might turn out to be the last Futurama we will ever see on TV (let's hope not though).


This is a good point which I didn’t touch upon. I will cut all of the movies some slack on the grounds that they are designed to also be divided into episodes. Although thinking about it this may have been one of the root problems with all of these movies. This could be why certain sections of each movie are noticeably weaker. Although it is a clever concept and probably the only way they could have brought the show back in terms of a bargaining position, it does seem apparent that the movie-designed-to-be-split-into-episodes format doesn’t work. It makes all of the movies feel a bit disjointed as a result.

This is a reason why I would be very interested to see how a movie designed for the cinema would turn out. It wouldn’t suffer the limitations imposed on these four direct to DVD movies. It would also likely have a bigger budget, the main advantage of that being a score...…


I agree with you there Otis but my point about the characters from a half hour TV show possibly not being able to work in a film format still remains valid. I would rather see a 22 minute episode of Futurama as an extra on ITWGY even more than the possiblity of an episode of All My Circuits to see if its the characters themselves that have changed or the fact that they don't fit well in a feature length form.

Also I know this is off topic but is there a thread on PEEL for new member introductions as I've been on here for well over a year and still haven't really introduced myself.
Ryan Ro

Crustacean
*
« Reply #349 on: 11-13-2008 06:37 »

I think it's silly to say "don't criticize, just enjoy."  I *didn't* enjoy Bender's Big Score and it was important to me to figure out why.  I laughed hard at BWABB, and I loved the first 50 minutes of Bender's Game but the fantasy section bored me.  I don't like every single Futurama episode in general (Cryonic Women is pretty terrible).  That said I've calmed down a lot since I went off on BBS and I am over all just happy I'm getting more Futurama.  It's just not as good as the series.

You know, of course, ultimately whether you think Bender's Game (or any of the movies) is good/great/bad/awful/worse ever, you need to tack two words on the end of your opinion.

"...to you."

It's all subjective.

chocobeano
Crustacean
*
« Reply #350 on: 11-14-2008 02:13 »

www.ilovebender.com/widget
:P
i'm bored
futurefreak

salutatory committee member
Moderator
DOOP Secretary
*
« Reply #351 on: 11-14-2008 09:34 »

To ff, and anyone else who loved the series but "didn't get" Bender's Game: you've clearly lost your nerd mojo. You've probably spent too much time socializing, partying, drinking, dating, and generally engaging in other non-nerdy activities. You should all be ashamed of yourselves. Ashamed!
i've lost MY nerd mojo? i was just in a comic book store today leafing through some firefly/serenity back issues. don't you tell me i've been outnerded

i'm not into fantasy. THERE I SAID IT! i think it should be in an entirely different section than science fiction, and i hate that the two are grouped together in the bookstore. I HATE IT
Chug a Bug

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #352 on: 11-14-2008 21:48 »

Now then, DVD vs. Blu-ray. Well, features wise there is little in it. Yes, Blu-ray has the video commentary but my Blu-ray version is missing the preview to ITWGY although the box has it written on the back (anyone else had this problem?)

Nope, it's present on mine. I even copied it to my HDD. Looks good in hi-def.

Quote
Sound and picture is superior on the Blu-ray version but I must say that in animation the difference is much smaller than that in live action films. If you want the best out of Futurama it's just as well you get the DVD version first mainly for the ITWGY preview.

On my HDTV the difference is outstanding.

Quote
Yes I preferred BwaBB to BBS so go shoot me.

Bang!
upside_ur_head

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #353 on: 11-14-2008 22:19 »

Now then, DVD vs. Blu-ray. Well, features wise there is little in it. Yes, Blu-ray has the video commentary but my Blu-ray version is missing the preview to ITWGY although the box has it written on the back (anyone else had this problem?)

Nope, it's present on mine. I even copied it to my HDD. Looks good in hi-def.

Quote
Sound and picture is superior on the Blu-ray version but I must say that in animation the difference is much smaller than that in live action films. If you want the best out of Futurama it's just as well you get the DVD version first mainly for the ITWGY preview.

On my HDTV the difference is outstanding.

Quote
Yes I preferred BwaBB to BBS so go shoot me.

Bang!

Damn, oh well at least it's not a common problem with Blu-ray copies. Also I still stand by my view that the difference is not massive. Yes it is better but to be honest the sound was what stood out much better on the Blu-ray version to me.

Also no bullet can withstand my skintanium armour.
Chug a Bug

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #354 on: 11-14-2008 23:36 »





Blu-Ray, DVD

Even more noticeable on TV.



dr.bender nye

Liquid Emperor
**
« Reply #355 on: 11-15-2008 00:22 »

I see the difference.
Do you have any pictures on what the Picture-in-Picture capabilities are like?
Chug a Bug

Bending Unit
***
« Reply #356 on: 11-15-2008 14:47 »
« Last Edit on: 11-15-2008 23:56 »

I have screenshots of the PiP video but no pictures of the PiP within the main picture yet. No software BD player will play the disc correctly at present although it works just well enough to snatch these framegrabs, still waiting for an update from the suppliers. Pesky FOX and their DRM obsession. It plays fine on my PS3/HDTV but my digital camera is broken. Maybe later.



Xanderz

Delivery Boy
**
« Reply #357 on: 11-16-2008 14:16 »
« Last Edit on: 11-16-2008 16:55 »

I bought the Region 1 DVD yesterday :D Nice release with sweet packaging as always. After first viewing I can say I enjoyed it. I loved the Scary Door segment and the Yellow Submarine homage ! I'm not sure if I like it better than TBWABB but so far BBS is my favorite. Even though I think D&D is cool I thought some aspects of it, in the plot were a little dull at some moments (Cool they dedicated it to Gary Gygax though) , and I didn't particularly like the LOTR references but I see why they went that direction because of the adventure of it all. As I say I'll watch BG again.

As with the ITWGY preview...
CrustaceanLove
Poppler
*
« Reply #358 on: 11-17-2008 03:25 »

So far this sounds pretty good I hope it is as good as the last one that came out
fryfanSpyOrama

Urban Legend
***
« Reply #359 on: 11-17-2008 03:36 »

What was interesting about Bender's Game was that fact Wernstrom and Mom dated and it's implied Walt and Larry are perhaps their kids.  I wrote a fanfic a few years ago implying that as well.

http://futurama-madhouse.com.ar/fanfic/crossovercrisis6.shtml
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