UnicornMaiden
Joined Aug 2005
Welcome to the new profile
We're still working on updating some profile features. To see the badges, ratings breakdowns, and polls for this profile, please go to the previous version.
Reviews5
UnicornMaiden's rating
I agree with the previous reviewer that since Futurama returned to TV it has been floundering a little. This episode however, has everything that has made the show great- the laugh-out-loud jokes and the deep, character-affirming emotion.
Due to a critical defect, Bender finds that he has no back-up copy and is therefore mortal. With Hermes' help, he sets out to search the Central Bureaucracy for any trace of the robot inspector who missed the defect in order to get revenge.
Few episodes explore Bender's relationship with humans other than Fry, but "Lethal Inspection" shows him developing a very real friendship with Hermes. It also shows Bender learning to deal with mortality and to treasure the time he has... more than he would have if he still thought he was immortal. This episode will hold its own and stand alongside episodes like "Jurassic Bark," "Luck of the Fryrish," and "Leela's Homeworld."
Due to a critical defect, Bender finds that he has no back-up copy and is therefore mortal. With Hermes' help, he sets out to search the Central Bureaucracy for any trace of the robot inspector who missed the defect in order to get revenge.
Few episodes explore Bender's relationship with humans other than Fry, but "Lethal Inspection" shows him developing a very real friendship with Hermes. It also shows Bender learning to deal with mortality and to treasure the time he has... more than he would have if he still thought he was immortal. This episode will hold its own and stand alongside episodes like "Jurassic Bark," "Luck of the Fryrish," and "Leela's Homeworld."
This is a movie that can be looked at one of two ways. You can look at it as an adaptation of Anna Sewell's classic novel, or you can look at it as a story about a bunch of people who all happen to own the same horse. I'll do both.
As an adaptation of the novel this movie disappoints terribly. The plot bears almost no relation to the original story. Classic characters like John Manly, Reuben Smith, and Jerry Barker are cut out completely. New characters are often shallow and one-dimensional. Ginger, one of the most important horses in the story, acting as a foil for Black Beauty and with her own heart-wrenching story is turned into a gelding, given about three seconds of screen time and has no involvement in the actual story. The plot, particularly the ways in which Beauty passes from owner to owner, often seems contrived. On more than one occasion Beauty is simply standing around in the middle of nowhere and someone comes along and finds him. Other times he performs some heroic deed which would merit his owners deciding to keep him forever and the next thing we know he's being sold again. While the novel deeply explores the society of the time and the effects of that society (for better or for worse) on both the humans and the animals this movie disregards that aspect entirely. It portrays some rather stereotypical views. Worse, some of the bad guys are just that: bad guys with no depth or personality. Take for instance the young squire who is cruel for no reason and loves to hurt horses just for the fun of it.
As a movie with complete disregard to the book it isn't half bad. The story as it is presented here is not about the horse; it is about all the different people who own the horse. Beauty isn't a character so much as he is a plot device. If you don't mind the focus shifting from animal to human it is an enjoyable sequence of stories. I stand by what I said earlier about many of the characters being one-dimensional, but when the entire cast is reviewed as a whole it displays a wide range of personalities and backgrounds. There is a good balance between kind and cruel owners. Pacing was fairly good. The movie had a nice balance with enough action but not too much. Cinematography was very nice. Many of the shots of the countryside were beautifully done (if occasionally somewhat overdone). Most of the stories were fairly standard plots (a decent farmer at the mercy of a heartless bank, young lovers forbidden from meeting) but some, such as the circus family were rather creative and even the recycled plots were well done. Acting was good overall.
My conclusion: A good animal and people story, but if you want something closer to the source watch the 1994 version.
As an adaptation of the novel this movie disappoints terribly. The plot bears almost no relation to the original story. Classic characters like John Manly, Reuben Smith, and Jerry Barker are cut out completely. New characters are often shallow and one-dimensional. Ginger, one of the most important horses in the story, acting as a foil for Black Beauty and with her own heart-wrenching story is turned into a gelding, given about three seconds of screen time and has no involvement in the actual story. The plot, particularly the ways in which Beauty passes from owner to owner, often seems contrived. On more than one occasion Beauty is simply standing around in the middle of nowhere and someone comes along and finds him. Other times he performs some heroic deed which would merit his owners deciding to keep him forever and the next thing we know he's being sold again. While the novel deeply explores the society of the time and the effects of that society (for better or for worse) on both the humans and the animals this movie disregards that aspect entirely. It portrays some rather stereotypical views. Worse, some of the bad guys are just that: bad guys with no depth or personality. Take for instance the young squire who is cruel for no reason and loves to hurt horses just for the fun of it.
As a movie with complete disregard to the book it isn't half bad. The story as it is presented here is not about the horse; it is about all the different people who own the horse. Beauty isn't a character so much as he is a plot device. If you don't mind the focus shifting from animal to human it is an enjoyable sequence of stories. I stand by what I said earlier about many of the characters being one-dimensional, but when the entire cast is reviewed as a whole it displays a wide range of personalities and backgrounds. There is a good balance between kind and cruel owners. Pacing was fairly good. The movie had a nice balance with enough action but not too much. Cinematography was very nice. Many of the shots of the countryside were beautifully done (if occasionally somewhat overdone). Most of the stories were fairly standard plots (a decent farmer at the mercy of a heartless bank, young lovers forbidden from meeting) but some, such as the circus family were rather creative and even the recycled plots were well done. Acting was good overall.
My conclusion: A good animal and people story, but if you want something closer to the source watch the 1994 version.
No matter how funny a comedy show is, its best moments are always defined by it serious episodes. Along with "Godfellas" this is my favorite episode in the series. Bender, Fry, and Leela are sent on the same mission which killed Professor Farnsworth's previous crew: collecting honey from killer space wasps. Although Fry does not want to go, Leela forces him. As they are completing their mission, Fry jumps in front of Leela, taking the wasp sting that was meant for her. Following Fry's funeral, Leela suffers terrible guilt.
"The Sting" is a pivotal episode as it shows the deep emotional bond that Fry and Leela share. Although it does have moments of classic Futurama comedy (including the main cast breaking into a rousing rendition of "Don't Worry, Be Happy"), this is a really deep, serious episode, which will likely bring viewer to tears.
"The Sting" is a pivotal episode as it shows the deep emotional bond that Fry and Leela share. Although it does have moments of classic Futurama comedy (including the main cast breaking into a rousing rendition of "Don't Worry, Be Happy"), this is a really deep, serious episode, which will likely bring viewer to tears.