South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (US)

When I persuaded my girlfriend to see this film at the cinema, I wasn`t sure what her reaction would be. Being, for her, a foreign language film, and particularly with the likelyhood of some swearing, it was a bit of a gamble. I needn`t have worried. Five minutes into the film with the appearance of Terence & Philip singing "that" song she was laughing herself sick, just like everyone else in the cinema. South Park - Bigger Longer & Uncut exceeds any expectations you might have. It is funnier, wittier, more inventive and has much much MUCH more swearing than you could imagine. But it is definitely not crude - it`s just an intelligent reaction to an insane world. Every cinematic cliché is taken outside and given a right good kicking, and all to a great soundtrack. The final line of `Blame Canada` sums it all up.
As far as the DVD version (region 1) is concerned there are few extras, but in my case one really stands out - it has a French soundtrack available! With my girlfriend away over Christmas to visit her family (in France if you hadn`t already guessed...) I`m playing this every day. I hope she`ll be impressed by my new grasp of the language

; )

Kev

A cool movie, although I was hoping for a better one. The movie is nothing else but a long (not too long, though) chapter of "South Park" with the same graphics and characters.
The video transfer is ok. Naturally, all the characters are ridiculously simple, but the effects (especially in hell) are nice.
The DD 5.1 soundtrack is ok, although I wish they`d use the surrounds more frequently.
The menus are very simple and static.
Sadly, there are no extras at all.
Bottom line - a cool movie for fans and an average one for non-fans.

South Park the movie, why? Possibly one of the worst films ever that coughs up little laughs but pushes the boundries of cartoon taste with things like Sadamm Hussien and The Devil in bed etc, truly a bad film.
The Dolby Digital is all right but not really used to it`s full potential, no Extras, only trailers, which do make you laugh but wheres the information on the film, A Commentary by creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker. Well it`s a paramount disc, what do you expect?

Content

The story revolves around the boy`s attempts to see their Canadian idols, Terrence & Phillip, in their new movie "Asses of Fire". To this end the boys, with the help of a particularly easily swayed vagrant, sneak in to the "R" rated film. After a song in which Terrence & Phillip accuse each other of doing unsavoury things to their uncles, the boys start to emulate the on-screen profanity at every chance. Of course, all this terrible swearing horrifies Kyle`s Mom (she is a bitch after all), and together with some of the other mothers in South Park she forms the organisation M.A.C. (Mothers Against Canada). After M.A.C. kidnaps Terrence & Phillip and condemns them to death, Canada sends a squadron of bombers to blow up the Baldwin residence, killing all of the Baldwins in the process! Soon after, Kyle's mom is appointed Secretary of Offence for the United States of America and declares war on Canada! As if this isn`t bad enough, the death of Terrance and Phillip will fulfil an age-old prophecy. Satan is poised to take over the world with the help of his lover, Saddam Hussein, and this is just what he has been waiting for! Can the boys save their idols and avert the Apocalypse? Will Stan ever find the clitoris? Watch and learn.

As usual the voice acting in South Park is excellent. Over the course of the TV show's run, many famous actors have lent their voice talent to the cause and it is no different here. Stars such as George Clooney, Minnie Driver, Brent Spiner, Eric Idle, Dave Foley and Mike Judge (of Beavis & Butthead and King of the Hill fame) supply voices. Of course, Isaac Hayes still provides the voice of Chef, and he's as cool as ever.

The jokes come thick and fast. There is a particularly funny Windows 98/Bill Gates joke near the end, and the whole film is littered with references to other popular movies. It is extremely rude, crude and quite possibly indescribably offensive, but it is very funny stuff.

Video

The video is of a high quality throughout the film. The picture is presented in its 1.85:1 theatrical ratio, and is anamorphically enhanced. The colours are really vibrant and the picture is very sharp. There are no problems with compression at all and, on the whole, everything looks great. This kind of animation is deliberately ropey, and there are even a couple of jokes poking fun at this during the film. In a major departure for the series, the South Park movie features some pretty decent CGI at one point (during Kenny's decent into hell). Overall this is a good transfer.

Audio

Sonically, South Park doesn`t disappoint either. The many songs littered throughout the film all sound fantastic in Dolby Digital 5.1. In fact it's the songs that make the film in the end, with only one dragging on a little too long. The opening number lulls you into a false sense of security before you are hit with the classic 'Uncle F**ka'. From then on it doesn't let up, with songs like 'Blame Canada' and 'Kyle's Mom's a Bitch' all sounding great. The sound effects and other music are all perfectly suited to this film. Voice acting is great and the centre channel remains clear throughout, with the surrounds used when necessary.

Features

Extras are a bit disappointing. I was hoping for an introduction from Trey Parker and Matt Stone, similar to the ones present on the VHS & DVD box sets, but no such luck I`m afraid. Instead we get a couple of, admittedly funny, teaser trailers, as well as the theatrical trailer. For once this R1 disc is the poor cousin of its R2 counterpart.

Overall

This is a must have if you're a fan of the series, but others should be warned that the humour isn't to everyone's taste. That said, if you have an "alternative" sense of humour, aren't particularly religious and are in need of a really good laugh, then this is for you. I didn't stop laughing from beginning to end and as far as I'm concerned that's all you can really ask of a comedy.