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'Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs' DVD

By Nancy Basile, About.com

'Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs' DVD

'Futurama: The Beast with a Billion Backs' DVD

Fox Home Entertainment

'Futurama: Beast with a Billion Backs' Plot Summary:

In their latest extraterrestrial exploits, Bender, Fry, Leela and crew encounter a repulsive, planet-sized creature with billions of probing tentacles, and soon find themselves involved in a disturbing – yet sensuous – interplanetary love story. Space itself rips open, revealing a gateway to another universe. But what lies beyond? Horror? Love? Or maybe both, if it happens to contain a repulsive, giant monster with romantic intentions. Compare prices for Futurama: Beast with a Billion Backs.

'Futurama: Beast with a Billion Backs' Guest Stars:

Guest appearances from David Cross (Alvin & The Chipmunks, Arrested Development), Brittany Murphy (King of the Hill, Sin City), Dan Castellaneta (The Simpsons) and world-renowned physicist Stephen Hawking join the regular cast of Futurama.

'Futurama: Beast with a Billion Backs' Bonus Features:

Bonus material includes commentary from Matt Groening and David X. Cohen, cast members Billy West, John DiMaggio and Maurice LaMarche, director Peter Avanzino, and producers Claudia Katz, Lee Supercinski, and Michael Rowe; an entire 30-minute "Lost Futurama Adventure"; featurettes "Meet Yivo!" (behind the scenes with David Cross) and "A Brief History of Deathball"; a sneak peek at the next Futurama epic, Bender’s Game; storyboard animatic; deleted scenes; bloopers, and more. Futurama: The Beast With A Billion Backs will be available June 24, 2008.

My Two Cents:

Though Beast with a Billion Backs' story isn't as cohesive as Bender's Big Score, it was still packed with laughs. The beginning and end are strong, with the story getting a bit muddled in the middle. That seems to happen frequently with half-hour cartoons that get stretched to feature length.

Beast is also true to the Futurama we know and love, with great characters turns by Zap, Kif, Fry and Leela. I especially loved the guest voice work by David Cross, though we don't get his brand of humor until almost the end.

'Futurama: Beast with a Billion Backs' Trailer:

Watch the trailer for Futurama: Beast with a Billion Backs.

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