Welcome back to the world of tomorrow...

Introduction

Despite being consistently brilliant, Futurama was cancelled after only four seasons in 2003. Once again, "the network" didn't get a show enjoyed and loved by fans, and gave it the boot whilst still shelling out for garbage like American Idol, America's Most Wanted and Are You Smarter than a 5th Grader...

However, following repeats on Cartoon Network (in the US), the show was revived (following a deal between Comedy Central and Fox) into 4 straight to DVD feature length episodes, which are now being split into 20 minute TV episodes and have become the "fifth season". This has just begun airing on Sky One here in the UK.



This is the third instalment of the four features, following on from Bender's Big Score and The Beast with a Billion Backs. The final instalment Into the Wild Green Yonder is due out on DVD in February 2009.

With fuel prices going up (this was pretty topical until the last few weeks when the oil prices here on planet Earth crashed), the Planet Express crew sets off on a dangerous mission: to infiltrate the world's only dark-matter mine, source of all spaceship fuel. But they eventually end up in a far stranger place...a medieval land of dragons and sorcery and intoxicated knights who look suspiciously like Bender...

Video and Audio

Everything looks and sounds great. As with the other features in the series, Futurama is now in widescreen, and there's a DD5.1 soundtrack to go along with that. Nothing to complain about.

Extra Features

Again, as with other films, we get a full length commentary featuring the usual suspects of Groening, Cohen and company. Interesting and amusing as ever.

Alongside this we have the usual things found on animation DVDs - storyboards, animatics and lessons in how to draw the characters.

We also get an amusing (but far too short) blooper reel, a deleted scene, a small feature on the influences of Dungeons & Dragons on the show, the option of creating your own character hybrids and a trailer for the final film "Into the Wild Green Yonder".

Finally there's a brilliant parody of those annoying anti-piracy warnings featuring Bender.

Conclusion

Another excellent instalment of Futurama proves yet again that it should never have been cancelled in the first place. If you like Futurama, then you'll enjoy this. If you've never seen Futurama but like one or more of comedy, animation and science fiction, then you should check it out also.

Looking forward to the final film next year.