Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Season 5 (Warner DVD-Video)

 

Picture: B     Sound: B     Extras: B     Episodes: B

 

 

What amounts to a confusing and long waited release to Aqua Teen Hunger Force fans, Aqua Teen Hunger Force: Season 5 deserves a slight explanation or clarification.  This is the Fifth Volume of Aqua Teen Hunger Force released on DVD and was the Fourth Season to appear on television, yet Cartoon Network and Warner Brothers for whatever reason decided to call this release Season 5; though all other releases were volumized.  This reviewer can only assume the title of this release for two reasons, one being that this is indeed a complete season release (though it is technically Season 4 and NOT 5) and two that there has already been a Volume 4 released, so to call it Season 4 may confuse fans?  But let’s be honest, nothing about this show has ever been sane or made much sense.

 

The series stars Frylock, Master Shake, and Meatwad as a band of bumbling, self indulgent, insane living fast food products.  Originally, the shows concept was to have the odd food products solve even crazier crimes, but that idea was quickly abandoned and is often referenced as a running joke throughout the series.  The show has been on the air since 2000 and has produced over 78 episodes and one feature length film to date.  There was no episodes produced in 2007, presumably due to the production of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force feature film and as of 2008 only 10 episodes have been known to be made.  With the crime solving concept being abandoned early on, Aqua Teen moved more into the realm of nonsense and complete insanity.  The show explores creative and odd concepts that can barely be explained; but one thing is for sure is that Aqua Teen Hunger Force has caught the attention of a wide range of viewers, especially this reviewer.  In Season 4 (Season 5 for the purposes of this release), Aqua Teen Hunger Force placed our beloved Meatwad, Frylock, and Master Shake into a variety of ridiculous situations like encounters with a monster named dirtfoot, a horny ‘dog’ named Handbanana, a persistent Gutter Salesman in the form of the Grim Reaper, and even Master Shake meeting his long lost son…Ezekiel.  The episodes are not the best the series has ever produced, but they are down right hilarious; each and every one.  Ezekiel in this reviewer’s opinion is one of the best episodes that the series has conjured-up; with the other episodes being on the level of good, but not outstanding.  Overall, Aqua Teen Hunger Force is a highly recommended series that is not for the closed minded or those who are easily weirded-out.

 

This reviewer in previous reviews of Cartoon Network series has commented on the tendency of Adult Swim creators to lean more towards the odd for a laugh in the hopes that the series will take off; Aqua Teen Hunger Force is a big reason for that creative mentality.  Besides Space Ghost, Sealab 2021 and The Brak Show; Aqua Teen Hunger Force was one of the main forerunners in Adult Swim moving toward the creatively weird; but with the good comes the bad.  Though Aqua Teen may have incited many good, yet ridiculous series to be made like Robot Chicken or Squidbillies; it also spawned a plethora of disgustingly uncreative, insane garbage that was just bad like 12 ounce Mouse.  This reviewer at times has suggested that Adult Swim was just throwing any odd junk out there hoping people would love it.  The especially bad series include those that are almost live-action, like Tom Goes to Mayor, that seem have such loose plot and creative processes that it makes the viewer cringe.  Overall, Aqua Teen is the good that came from the often times bad and hopefully is around for much longer.

 

The technical features on this creative 2 disc box set are quite nice and well presented.  The picture is presented in a clear, crisp, and bright 1.33 X 1 full screen and though this reviewer would hope for an anamorphic widescreen release, full screen is nice enough since it is the original aspect ratio.  The sound is also clean and crisp in its Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereos and treats the series well.  The extras are nice and presented right in front of you for the most part, unlike the plethora of Easter Eggs waiting to be discovered on previous Volume releases.  The extras include:

 

• Favorite Episode Promos
• Aqua Teen Hunger Force Responds to the Critics
• I Like Your Booty But I am Not Gay Music Video
• ATHF Movie Premiere with Space Ghost
• Deleted Scenes
• Learn to Shred Like the Master
• Tera Patrick Eats a Hot Dog
• Granny Takes Her Top Off
• Space Ghost Coast to Coast ‘Chambraigne’
• ATHF Zombie Ninja Pro-Am Trailer
• The Worst Game Ever

 

 

The extras are plentiful and all have the same odd and creative humor as the rest of the series.  One of the best extras is the ‘Aqua Teen Hunger Force Responds to the Critics,’ because it shows what the show is really about and doing so in a funny manner.  Overall, the technicals are great and could only be improved by a Higher Definition format.

 

On top of the set having good picture, sound, and extras this reviewer would like to take a moment to comment on the DVD casing.  The art work on the box, discs, and inserts is always top notch with Aqua Teen Hunger Force releases.  Also included this time around for hardcore fans is a set of 12 or so ATHF stickers of some of the most ridiculous moments from this season.  If other studios are looking to see what box art and creativity should be, look no further than Aqua Teen Hunger Force.

 

All in all this is a great release from a great series.  There are many people who criticize this series and even fans that criticize this particular season; but let it be known that Aqua Teen Hunger Force is just as good as ever.  It is never so much about plot (that is just creative icing on the cake), but about the interactions between characters that makes the series worth while.  Fans have seem to forgotten this, let’s hope the writers never do.

 

 

-   Michael P Dougherty II