Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Volume 6 + Metalocalypse:
Season 2 + Frisky Dingo: Season 2
(Cartoon Network/Warner DVD)
Picture:
B/B-/B Sound: B- Extras: B Episodes: B/B-/B+
Cartoon
Network’s Adult Swim is well known for two things; housing some of the best
prematurely canceled animated series and having the craziest assortment of
offbeat animated comedies around. Adult
Swim had a slight following in the beginning, then busted out in a huge way;
having a “golden age” with its solid variety of new and inventive series. This reviewer has written time and time again
about the ‘hit or miss’ type series that have existed throughout the years on
Adult Swim and though the Network was in a slump for a while with its disgustingly
moronic series such as 12 ounce Mouse and
Tom Goes to Mayor; it seems Adult
Swim is on an up swing of good programming once again. With series such as Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Metalocalypse, and Frisky Dingo on the air there is once again an obvious movement
toward having programs that balance the characters’ insanely hilarious nonsense
with a level of intelligence that can’t be found anywhere else.
First up
as we paddle through the waters of Adult Swim is Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Volume 6.
Over the past 7 years Aqua Teen
Hunger Force has come to be known as the epitome of what Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim is all about. The perfect mix of insane and intelligent
banter that is served up on Aqua Teen
Hunger Force makes the creators and voice-actors of the series almost
impenetrable to criticism. The series is
smart, funny and well designed in almost every way. This newest season release of Aqua Teen in particular proves the
mainstay capability of the series. As
many of the episodes do not even feature the series three main characters
(Frylock, Master Shake, and Meatwad) the creators prove that the series is not
a one joke act; utilizing many other creative elements to hold the show
together and to demonstrate that the world they have created always has
something new to offer.
This
season series creators Dave Willis and Matt Maiellaro introduce us to the Fast
Food Trio’s landlord, Markula. It seems
Frylock, Master Shake and Meatwad had a bit of a disagreement with Markula over
a quite sizable gas leak in the house (which Markula refused to fix) and so
Markula trapped the trio in a cave in the Mohave Dessert with a pińata filled
with killer military spiders. With the
team trapped in the dessert Carl , being an opportunistic entrepreneur, decides
to sell the house; but it seems his realtor skills are quite lacking. Markula intervenes, ruining Carl’s plan to
rid himself neighborly chaos, by continuing to rent the house to the wackiest
band of characters the world has ever seen.
From annoying robots to sexy sirens (who bring along Philadelphia legend
John Kruk), Markula houses them all.
More
exciting than the nine episodes already aired on television in this set are the
four never before seen episodes (Chick
Magnet, Gene E, Shake Like Me, and She
Creature) included here. The
episodes are fueled by racial insensitivity, classic archetypes, and enough
pure nonsense to make any Aqua Teen
aficionado drool at the thought. In Shake Like Me Master Shake in an odd
series of events gets turned into a “chocolate version” of his normally whiter
than white, “vanilla” self. With enough
racially charged language to make the most un-PC person blush, the episode is
pure genius as it balances bigotry with societal anarchy. In Gene
E the classic tale of Aladdin and his magic lamp gets twisted in a manner
that only the boys of Aqua Teen could;
with drunken genies and misguided wishes galore. All in all Aqua Teen Hunger Force is as great as ever and this season proves
that the series is full steam ahead as it flings itself into the deep end of Adult Swim madness.
For more
information on Aqua Teen Hunger Force
please follow the link below to another review from this site:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6573/Aqua+Teen+Hunger+Force:+Season
From
water waves to sound waves Adult Swim
has it all and the rocktastic animated series of Metalocalypse takes the late night favorite to a whole new wave
length all together. It took some time
for this reviewer to get used to the idea of Metalocalypse, but after seeing through the initial hardcore aura
that the series projects it is quite entertaining. The series features a band named Dethklok
that grew to such popularity in a financially and governmentally unstable world
that all worldly decisions are based on the whim of the band who themselves are
the world’s largest economy. The series
for the most part features the band members sitting around and bickering over
what they will and will not do that day and occasionally playing a show that
leads to utter chaos and death (a lot of death). While the band wallows in a pool of
self-indulgence the governments around the world try to seize the power that
the heavy metal band holds on society; but always greatly falling short of
their goal. In the end, the animated
series is Spinal Tap for a darker,
more hardcore generation. The seemingly
brutal nature of the series is perfectly orchestrated so that each head-shot
and gore filled frame never seems out of place.
Each episode evolves with a fluid and crisp storyline that allows a
unique but intelligent brand of banter to shine through; always being sure to
stay on track, but ride the crazy train at the same time.
For a
series that seems so wildly simple, it is much more. With a plethora of unique and creative
characters topped off with some even cooler music the series was a hit from the
very beginning. If at first you think
the series is not your chalice of blood, keep drinking it up…it’ll grow on you.
For a
look back at Season One follow the
link below:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6098/Metalocalypse
The final
lap on our doggie paddle through Adult
Swim features the relatively new but fantastic series, Frisky Dingo. We reviewed Season One here with much esteem and
praise and Season Two is no
different. From beginning to end the
series consistently delivers. With an
insanely dry sense of humor and total lack of any moral center, the series
propels forward with comedic excellence.
This series took a bit of inspiration from reality with its politically
charged season and its undying superhero vs. super villain rivalry as Xander
Crews (also Awesome X) battles the tyrannical Killface. It is basically insanely obnoxious versus
insanely intolerant. As Season Two opens Xander is left down
and out selling boiled hypodermic needles to drug addicts as Killface runs for
political office after accidentally saving the earth from global warming, when
he was actually attempting to destroy it.
The dry martini humor that the series embodies leaves it open to both
topical and original humor alike. It
seems pretentious to say, but you either get Frisky Dingo or you don’t.
The series can be insanely ridiculous or so dry it might as well be on
the BBC; but one thing is for sure, the show is fantastic. The Adult
Swim style banter between characters is in full swing throughout each
episode of Frisky Dingo and though
it may seem like a formula at this point; if it ain’t broke…don’t fix it.
Follow
the link below to Frisky Dingo: Season
One:
http://www.fulvuedrive-in.com/review/6780/Frisky+Dingo
The
technical features on all of these sets are quite nice and only seem to improve
with each progressive season/volume set release. The picture on ATHF and Frisky Dingo are presented in a bright, colorful, and incredibly
crisp 1.33 X 1 full frame image that all in all impresses this reviewer.
While many other TV on DVD releases are sub par, the image transfers on the Adult Swim sets standout as incredibly
well done with precise detail attention.
Metalocalypse does have a few
more issues than the other two sets reviewed here, being darker and grittier
than intended/necessary from time to time; but overall still well done. The sound on all three sets is a simple Dolby
Digital 2.0 Stereo track that is nothing special and comes heavily from the
front, but remains crisp and clean throughout. With the series being so
highly detailed it is said that they lack surrounds and a solid
directionality.
The
extras are sadly nonexistent or minimal on both Metalocalypse and Frisky
Dingo sets, which this reviewer finds insanely odd because the same thing
happened on the previous releases of these series. Metalocalypse
has a few extras, all of which are hidden Easter Eggs that are not only
annoying to find, but not very worthwhile to watch either. Frisky
Dingo features two special features that are essentially promotional spots
for the DVD you are already watching. ATHF seems to be the only Adult Swim series on DVD that
consistently delivers both hilarious episodes and a full special feature
platter. Aqua Teen’s extras feature a ton for fans to sift through. First there are the four extra episodes that
were listed early in this review, as well as commentaries on three other great
episodes (Hoppy Bunny, Reedickyoulus, and
Marines). The conversations throughout the commentaries
are crazy, bold, and completely off the topic of the series; but they do give
you a solid grasp on where all the wacky ideas for the series are coming
from. Other special features include
Carl’s living room rants entitled “I’m Pissed” where he rants about…well,
everything; “Terror Phone” a live action short ; some Adult Swim ‘bumper’
segments; all the animated segments collectively put together from the ATHF Videogame; and many other
fantastic special segments for fans to enjoy.
As an added bonus the ATHF set
comes with some very (ummm) interesting and creative stickers. In the end certainly a nice set of bonus
features.
This
reviewer can not stress anymore how great Adult
Swim series are. It seems that the
network has worked out all the kinks and is finally back on track with a great
line up of amazing animated series.
- Michael P. Dougherty II
