Futurama: Wild Green Yonder.

[Property of Ned Flanders]

That is DEFIANTLY the best cover art of the four films.

I fail to see how the cover is defiant in any way but it cerainly is attractive

Anyway, yeah, I hope we get a well written finale here but I highly doubt it. Oh well, I'll still torre-- I mean buy it when it comes out.

[troymclure17]

Still no word on if Seth is playing a character, or HIMSELF in a jar???
AND, shouldn't we be seeing a member of the WATERFALL family in THIS ONE???

Might be Peter's head in a jar.

[Sprocketeer]

Our good friends at CGEF have put up a semi-spoiler-filled review (apparently a whole week ago), so approach with caution.

Spoilerish tidbits:
 - Seth MacFarlane sings the introduction song
- Not written as a series finale due to uncertainty over the series' future, which may disappoint some
- Apparent "backstory for a character that has been a mystery for fans of the show since the very beginning". Scruffy? Morbo? I dunno. 
Two weeks, folks. Likely less until a leak.

[Ryan]

- Apparent "backstory for a character that has been a mystery for fans of the show since the very beginning". Scruffy? Morbo? I dunno.

That's not a spoiler. Groening and Cohen have spilled that a good year and a half ago, and numerous times in commentaries since...

[James L. Brookes]

i believe its been said that the character backstory, will be the "number nine guy"

[Jye]

Yeah, you even see him in the trailer.

[Postmaster]

Thought people might like to know that this has leaked, of course I and everyone at the NHC would never approve of torrenting such things.

[Sprocketeer]

Holy hell, was this an earlier leak than BWABB was? I dunno...for what may be the final bit of Futurama, I may hold off.

Yeah, I forgot about Number Nine Guy.

[Adam R]

do we have to wait for official release until the r&r thread. anyway...


























it was AMAZING. seriously, fantastic end to the series. I hadn't been this excited watching anything since bender's big score. I have one or two minor things I disliked but this is a more than satisfying end to the series and maybe my favourite of the films (I really liked bender's big score though). however there was one fairly major thing that should've been handled a little differently:

 I understood where leela's "I love you" at the end came from ("you're you", etc.) but it seemed a little out of place and rushed. could've done with about 30 more seconds, even if it was in the middle of a huge space battle. aside from this part, the ending was planned out fantastically. 

but overall, I am really pleased with these series of films. each one was great (even the middle two, which I initially didn't think much of but warmed up to) and a really great end to the series. I'm happy with leaving that as the futurama legacy. one final thought:

 AGNEWWWWWWW  

[Ryan]

Thought people might like to know that this has leaked, of course I and everyone at the NHC would never approve of torrenting such things.

Um, all torrents I've gotten have these wonderful viruses and trojan horses just waiting to feast on my hard drive. Can anyone at least PM me a torrent link that they have successfully downloaded Wild Green Yonder from...

[EthanRunt]

Saw it, very dissapointed, down there alongside The Beast With A Billion Backs.
Like Bender's Big Score all twists were blindingly obvious from the outset and the jokes were too random and pop-culture based as opposed to set in their world and about characters, I mean, tivo, iPods, in 3009?
The plot was slow, dull and had nothing to really hook you in, like Billion Backs, and I can't remember a single joke that landed in the whole ordeal.

Whereas The Devil's Hands Are Idle Playthings ended the series perfectly, bringing it back to life and pushing it through a blender did it no favours.

Personally I hope to never see a new Futurama cartoon ever again.

[Ryan]

^DUDE, spoiler tags...

EDIT: Nevermind on that PM, I found a download. A significant improvement over "Bender's Game", but not quite a home run like "Bender's Big Score". Overall, I'd give it around a 4/5. Now onto the spoiler part of this review!

 Whoever saw this and didn't think "series finale intentions" is on serious crack. I know Fox might buy more episodes/movies, but let's face it: this is probably it for Futurama. And, hey, there are much worse ways to go out. I'll get to that in a second, let's nitpick for a second.

First off, Bender and Fanny will make for a horribly cop-out cliffhanger when the movie is split on Comedy Central. Although the fact that it brought back the robot mafia for the first fourth is pretty much gold. In fact, the entire Mars Vegas episode was so hysterical that it almost made up for being nearly irrelevant. (unlike, let's say, the demolition derby from Bender's Game)

Secondly, Kif and Amy. Having Kif just run up onto the PE ship and having them hold hands is the way they resolved it? Lame, lame, lame! The last complaint is that the Madfellows meetings were very long-winded and hard to sit through. A bit of cutting in them could've done a lot of good. One more is that I disliked the supreme court scenes a lot. The only good that came out of him was later when Fry was reading Snoop Dogg's mind ("Naked ladies naked ladies naked ladies...")

What's good about this one? Pretty much everything else. Very epic and interesting, cramming in so many past episodes and once again using Fry's delta brain wave for restoring peace to the universe (though no Nibbler!). Despite what others might think, I thought it was clever that the leech was the dark force. Usually we'd get something big and sinister like the Brain Spawn, but this was a nice twist on that expectation.

As for the ending, I predicted from a much earlier review of Wild Green Yonder where the guy mentions, "We learn how Leela REALLY feels about Fry", and I commented that it would be tacked on. Well, surprise, surprise! Well...kind of. There was this running motif throughout where suddenly the two were gushing over each other, I guess that might have carried over from Bender's Big Score, but what about Billion Backs where Fry was dating what's-her-name (Colleen, right?) Well, the final three minutes pretty much wrapped up the series giving every fan what they wanted to see: epic sci-fi ending where the crew is heading into the unknown, Fry and Leela confess their love for each other and kiss, the end!

Hello, people, no matter how you slice it: THIS IS A SERIES FINALE. That's it. Except for the possibility of a feature film, this is how it should end. Period. Yes, more Bender antics would be great (he was hysterical in this one, trying to keep his high felony score), and there's more to be explored I guessed, but in the long run Groening and Cohen did what they wanted to do. They finished their story. If they really had more uber-important things to tell, then installments like "Beast with a Billion Backs" (a wacky, but definetly throwaway story) would have never happened. I would like more Futurama, but not in this format. They only got it right half of the time, and the level of quality was never consistent. If they're going to do it, be it separate episodes or a feature film. 

On that note, can't wait for the commentary and blu-ray! Guys, if you DO want more episodes, remember to BUY THE DVD. 'Kay? All right...

[TriforceBun]

I'm gonna wait for the DVD, but...can those that have seen it compare it to the other movies? I wasn't a big fan of the last two due to the disjointed storylines and mediocre sex jokes.

How's the story? Good, bad? No spoilers please!
Are the sex jokes still mediocre and, like, EVERYWHERE?

[Ryan]

I'm gonna wait for the DVD, but...can those that have seen it compare it to the other movies? I wasn't a big fan of the last two due to the disjointed storylines and mediocre sex jokes.

How's the story? Good, bad? No spoilers please!
Are the sex jokes still mediocre and, like, EVERYWHERE?

Okay, I'll try to be as vague as possible. It's an improvement over the last two, yes, but not a slam dunk like BBS. There's nothing like a total shift into fantasyland like Bender's Game, but there is ONE instance of a slightly disjointed storyline, but it happens right at the beginning. Although the main bit of it goes nowhere, it makes up as it is (unlike Bender's Game) funny. Damn funny, actually. The background subplots actually develop from there into the main story.

The main story, once they really get to it at around the thirty minute mark, is suitably epic, but not as encompassing as BBS. As for sex jokes, fortunately, they are kept to a minimum, and are not too bad. (in fact, one put me in hysterics) If anything, the spectacular final three minutes are kind of worth the price of the DVD, but that's just me...

[Tomacco]

Okay, I'll try to be as vague as possible. It's an improvement over the last two, yes, but not a slam dunk like BBS. There's nothing like a total shift into fantasyland like Bender's Game, but there is ONE instance of a slightly disjointed storyline, but it happens right at the beginning. Although the main bit of it goes nowhere, it makes up as it is (unlike Bender's Game) funny. Damn funny, actually. The background subplots actually develop from there into the main story.

The main story, once they really get to it at around the thirty minute mark, is suitably epic, but not as encompassing as BBS. As for sex jokes, fortunately, they are kept to a minimum, and are not too bad. (in fact, one put me in hysterics) If anything, the spectacular final three minutes are kind of worth the price of the DVD, but that's just me...

I agree with all this. I thought this movie was probably the 2nd best of the four, just about on par with BWABB (which I liked a lot). The first "episode" here was amazing, even though it was very much divided from the rest of the movie. Overall though, a really enjoyable episode (Snoop wasn't funny though).

[Adam R]

 First off, Bender and Fanny will make for a horribly cop-out cliffhanger when the movie is split on Comedy Central. Although the fact that it brought back the robot mafia for the first fourth is pretty much gold. 

 yeah this was the other thing that I didn't like. it didn't lead to anything did it? it was just completely irrelevant. still, I was giddy seeing clamps again 

I think looking at the movies as a whole, I really liked them a lot more than most people, although I can see why people didn't like them. adapting from a half hour format to an hour and a half is really tough. there's two ways to do it: making the film seem like one long episode or making it seem like four episodes tacked together. futurama kinda went with neither, and I'm glad because I'm not sure how well doing either of those two things could work for futurama. they made each film crammed in with as much material as they could manage and had several intertwining storylines, most of which seemed like they were going nowhere, and tied everything up with a nice bow at the end. some could say the writers were just trying to throw a bunch of loose ends and leftovers they had from the series together but I think this format was wonderful and most importantly, very futurama (most definitely made for the existing fans and not pick up new ones, I guess none of these would've worked theatrically). the plots of all four films were offputting at first because of this disjointedness, but the stories constantly kept me interested and excited to see what would happen next. I completely understand everyone that dislikes any of these films and I would at least partially attribute that to the stories being told in a way very differently to they were in the series (even thought retaining a very futurama atmosphere). if you hated the jokes though, I will concede that the joke writing was not on par with the series. as mentioned; mediocre sex jokes, poor pop culture references and the dodgy execution here and there kinda brought the films down. I found a lot of the humour I liked most came from simply some of the ideas and storylines used and I enjoyed the films regardless.

[Postmaster]

Well I've seen it now.

Easily a better story than bender's game and beast with a billion backs, much more in line with big score because it was much more story driven. It's not as clever or as epic as big score, but the first "episode" of big score was kind of terrible with not much plot and just a load of weak sex jokes and cameo's for old favourite characters, whereas this had a much better first part, probably the funniest of all the episodes, so it sort of makes it an even trade off.

I enjoyed it, but I still feel dissapointed, probably because it's the last we'll see of futurama, and so anything less than perfection would be dissapointing.

It was a good way to end it I think, but at the same time just a bit annoying and frustrating.

[vince23]

Alright, guys who have seen it.... does Seth play a character, or himself in a jar?

[Postmaster]

He sang a song over the intro that is all, no need for any hysteria.

[vince23]

He sang a song over the intro that is all, no need for any hysteria.

Oh, jeez.... he doesn't even act in it?

bummer.

[D4C]

In case anyone was lazy about finding the meaning behind the encoded message at the beginning:  "the humans shall not defeat us" 

[Cartoonnetwork]

I thought it was better than Bender's Game but worst than Bender's Big Score and The Beast With A Billion Backs.

Bender's subplot in the first part was hilarious, but I would have loved to see it during the whole movie. Only this change could have make this my favourite of the four movies, considering how funny this segment is. Maybe they couldn't expand it to a longer story, but surely they could have done a little bit more with it.

The ending was a bit forced and tacked on. I also thought there was too many explanatory dialogue here and there.

Other than that, it was pretty decent. I agree with homer5000's review. Except I liked TBWABB more than this one.

[TriforceBun]

Thanks for the responses. Most of what I've heard is pretty encouraging, but I'd still buy this even if it was the weakest of the series. Futurama as a whole is just too good to not support with a few bucks. And good DVD sales can only help.

Well I've seen it now.

Easily a better story than bender's game and beast with a billion backs, much more in line with big score because it was much more story driven. It's not as clever or as epic as big score, but the first "episode" of big score was kind of terrible with not much plot and just a load of weak sex jokes and cameo's for old favourite characters, whereas this had a much better first part, probably the funniest of all the episodes, so it sort of makes it an even trade off.

I enjoyed it, but I still feel dissapointed, probably because it's the last we'll see of futurama, and so anything less than perfection would be dissapointing.

It was a good way to end it I think, but at the same time just a bit annoying and frustrating.

This is also encouraging, because I definitely agree about the first "episode" of Bender's Big Score. Nudar and his buddies were just unpleasant and most of the gags in the beginning were indeed "a load of weak sex jokes."

Quick other question--anyone know how the past DVDs have sold? Is there anything in the works for the future of Futurama?

[Disgruntled Goat]

Woohoo, only 10 days until UK release!

[McClure]

 I'll do a full review when it's released, but I really liked it. Not quite as good as Bender's Big Score, but much better than Bender's Game.

A few quick comments:

The Good
The Muck Leech. Sure, they kept doing the same joke over and over again, but it made me laugh every time. I liked that it was the dark one (I thought it might turn out to be Leela)
Snoop Dogg. I'm sure people will complain about him, but it worked.
The poker game, having used to watch a lot of poker, a lot of the jokes hit their mark with me.
The society of madfellows
Freida Waterfall, I knew she was going to die, but I was still upset.
Most of the Mars Vegas opening (although not the Bender/Fanny subplot)

The Bad
I have to admit, I didn't really like Bender in this one. Maybe I need to watch it again, but a lot of his moments seemed like they were shoved in there just so we could see him. The first episode plot with Fanny kind of went nowhere, I was hoping that it would at least have some payoff, maybe like Fanny & DonBot helping Bender rescue Leela.
That Tress MacNeille stock character who is obsessed with Nutley. I never liked her.

The Okay
The opening was fun, but not as good as the one for the first two.
the money destroys the environment jokes were a bit over-used, as were the feminist jokes, and they seemed forced. Some of them were good though, like the Professor in a money shower.

The disappointing!
No Nibbler, I was expecting the Nibblonians to figure into this somehow. Oh well.
No God Nebula. I thought it would figure into this.
 

[Wiggy479881]

The first part (first "episode") of Wild Green Yonder, is right up their with the funniest Futurama of any of the television series.

I was in absolute hysterics for most of it.

[Jye]

Loved it. It's been my favourite of the movies. That being said, I still have not seen 'Bender's Game' yet, but I don't expect it to be better than the other three.

Into The Wild Green Yonder > The Beast With A Billion Backs > Bender's Big Score

[Jims]

Looking forward to getting this. I'm glad to see it getting decent reviews.

Quick other question--anyone know how the past DVDs have sold? Is there anything in the works for the future of Futurama?

I looked up some data at DVD by the Numbers. According to them, it's not the exact numbers, but it's based on studio data and estimates.

Bender's Big Score - 807,610
Beast With a Billion Backs - 226,191
Bender's Game - 135,152

Don't know how accurate they are by now, but I did hear somewhere that BBS did just under a million. A lot of falloff in the second two, though, but still not completely horrible numbers.

[Ryan]

I looked up some data at DVD by the Numbers. According to them, it's not the exact numbers, but it's based on studio data and estimates.

Bender's Big Score - 807,610
Beast With a Billion Backs - 226,191
Bender's Game - 135,152

Don't know how accurate they are by now, but I did hear somewhere that BBS did just under a million. A lot of falloff in the second two, though, but still not completely horrible numbers.

OUCH.

Yeah, uh. Futurama ain't coming back, guys...enjoy your series finale!...

[TriforceBun]

Thanks for the numbers.

I really hope the leaking of all the movies on the internet hasn't hit the sales numbers that hard. This is the Futurama fans' last chance to help prove that people are still interested! It'd be a shame to have piracy kill it.

Support the series and buy the DVDs!