Futurama: Bender's Game
by Dwayne Carey-Hill
List Price:
Our Price: $13.64
You Save: $16.34 (55%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.00 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD releases
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD Cover Information
Actor: Crystal Chesney, Derek Lee Thompson, Dwayne Carey-Hill, Jon L. Hooper, Rich MooreDirector: Dwayne Carey-Hill
Brand: Fox
Writer: David X. Cohen
Writer: Eric Kaplan
Writer: Michael Rowe
Producer: Claudia Katz
Writer: Eric Horsted
Writer: Matt Groening
Writer: Patric M. Verrone
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); English (Original Language)
Format: AC-3, Animated, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.78:1
Running Time: 88 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-11-04
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Movie Reviews of Futurama: Bender's Game
Movie Review: I never cared for D&D, but I loved BG! (very minor spoilers)
Summary: 5 Stars
To recap the Futurama movie DVDs so far:
Futurama: Bender's Big Score -- Completely complex, somewhat nerdy, completely enthralling and funny. Thought the preview for "Billion Backs" was decent...
Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs -- felt like the Futurama characters in a sub-par "Family Guy" episode, in terms of both inane story banality and jokes... only twice as thrice as long. The preview for "Game" was also very disappointing and leaving me uncertain...
And now onto something completely relevant:
Futurama: Bender's Game: Well, I'm happy to say my fears and uncertainty were completely unfounded.
This third installment isn't quite as complex plot-wise as "Big Score", seems to explain previous situations that occurred in the show's time line (some of which made even more weird by later events) and I must say, technically, this explains some loose ends (e.g. why Nibbler was alone on Vergon 6) with aplomb. These did not feel forced or fanwanky; they worked. Given that revisiting old scenes is a sign of "jumping the shark", this feature-length episode does not feel worn out at all. To compare, I recall a season 4 episode where Fry meets up with the Brain creatures again, entitled "The Why of Fry" -- THAT felt like juicy, tender shark bait. Indeed, given how "The Why of Fry" also involves Nibbler, it's amazing how well everything pieces together...
While "Big Score" wins on sheer complexity with Time, "Game" is complex in character motivations and resolving various character circumstances and mysteries. If there were any continuity flaws, they're well hidden -- or directly lampooned on screen in typical Futurama fashion (the self-lampooning scene stands out and for all the right reasons; trust me, it works.)
"Game" has the task of not only parodying Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), but also remaining true to being Futurama. I was expecting to dislike this as I never cared for D&D. It's presented in such a way you don't need to be a die-hard fan - or even knowing the game - to appreciate it.
Yes, the movie has its crude moments - all of Futurama has, but its sci-fi-with-aliens setting allows even the most crude of crude to be given a funny side that "real life" based TV couldn't even begin to get away with. Not even "Family Guy". Indeed, the worst of them goes back to, you guessed it, Nibbler, and sick as it was I was rolling.
And, yes, there is a cameo from a certain Star Trek cast member - and may I say that alone, if for no other reason and trust me there are many, makes this DVD worth buying. Best. Zinger. Ever. :)
And the Dixie Chicks (in name only) make an unexpected cameo too... that also had me rolling.
As usual, DVD video and sound quality are tops, though the Dolby 5.1 made the opening credits sound like they were a tad muffled.
And, as usual, the packaging is not Earth-friendly as we are all going out to buy proper boxes so we don't get our discs scratched and have to re-purchase them 80 times... Again, FOX is just cutting costs and hoping we all re-purchase due to excessive scratches after the third playback...
Oh, I didn't mention the preview for the finale - due in 2009 and we all want it now, dagnabbit! All I can say is that it is pretty much unassuming, except for one giveaway scene which means it's not going to happen that way, which is for the best because it's clear "Futurama" has NOT run out of steam just yet.
To close, "Futurama" is back on form! Looking forward to the hopefully-not-final installment in the-earlier-of-2009-the-better. :)
Summary of Futurama: Bender's Game
FUTURAMA:BENDER'S GAME - DVD MovieSimilar DVD Movies
Futurama - Monster Robot Maniac Fun CollectionMonster; Release date: 2005-08-23; DVD
Best price: $4.69
Price in other shops:
Futurama, Vol. 1Fox; Release date: 2003-03-25; DVD
Best price: $13.99
Price in other shops:
Futurama, Vol. 2Fox; Release date: 2003-08-12; DVD
Best price: $14.65
Price in other shops:
Futurama, Vol. 3Fox; Release date: 2004-03-09; DVD
Best price: $13.98
Price in other shops:
Futurama, Vol. 4Fox; Release date: 2004-08-24; DVD
Best price: $13.88
Price in other shops:
Futurama: Into the Wild Green YonderFox; Release date: 2009-02-24; DVD
Best price: $11.80
Price in other shops:
Futurama - Bender's Big ScoreFox; Release date: 2007-11-27; DVD
Best price: $16.34
Price in other shops:
Futurama: The Beast with a Billion BacksTWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2008-06-24; DVD
Best price: $15.88
Price in other shops:
Futurama: Volume 6Twentieth Century Fox; Release date: 2011-12-20; DVD
Best price: $16.80
Price in other shops:
Futurama: Volume FiveTwentieth Century Fox; Release date: 2010-12-21; DVD
Best price: $16.29
Price in other shops: