1/5 Total Ripoff
  by Eric J. Peterson (Tulsa)
Why would anyone waste 10 bucks on four episodes when you could go to wal-mart and buy an entire seaon for 15? even if you were only trying out the show youd get 3 or 4 times as many episodes for 5 more bucks

1/5 5 stars for the series, 1 star for this DVD
  by C. Mounce (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA)
Let me start out by saying I love the series Futurama. This DVD is crap four random episodes are on this thing churned out by Fox to make a quick buck. For less than twice the price of this DVD you can buy the whole 1st season of Futurama. Save your money and boycott these quick cash garbage DVDs.

3/5 Who would have thought Hell would be in New Jersey?
  by Tim Brough (Springfield, PA United States)
As a taste-test for any of the Futurama box sets, the "Futurama - Monster Robot Maniac Fun Collection" works as a quickie. Four episodes from different seasons, including three classics. The Beastie Boys appear in "Hell is Other Robots," a plethora of guests on "Anthology of Interest 1," including (Tenth Level) Vice President Al Gore, Stephen Hawking, DnD inventor Gary Gygax and Hansen, the 2002 Emmy-winning "Roswell That Ends Well" and finally the sci-fi movie parody of "The Sting."

Probably the only other animated series that blends pop-culture jokes so seamlessly and effortlessly are "The Simpsons" and "South Park." Compare the easily blended musical puns in "Hell Is Other Robots" to any given "Family Guy" episode. The jokes are made in service to the script instead of the jarring stop/starts of "Family Guy" at its most non-sequitorial. Much like "The Simpsons" at their best, the politics are gently funny (Gore's "Tenth level Vice President," for example) and less sledgehammer.

The hysterically funny "Roswell" episode pokes holes in so many genres that it's impossible to categorize it. Science fiction, 50's Nuclear Scare movies, Alien Autopsies, Gomer Pyle and homophobia all take it in the face in under 25 minutes. "Futurama - Monster Robot Maniac Fun Collection" is worth having just for this one episode.

But the subtlety here is limited to the four episodes. It is fun to rent for an evening, but it's really an effective advertisement to get any of the box sets. (Futurama, Vol. 1, Futurama, Vol. 2, Futurama, Vol. 3, Futurama, Vol. 3, Futurama, Vol. 4)


3/5 For ultra casual fans only
  by N. Durham (Philadelphia, PA)
Futurama: Monster Robot Maniac Fun Collection collects four episodes of the much loved sci-fi spoofing series from Simpsons creator Matt Groening. The episodes collected here include "Hell Is Other Robots", "Anthology of Interest I", "Roswell That Ends Well", and "The Sting"; all of which are quite funny and great episodes as well, and the DVD itself includes some introductions from Groening and others as well. However, all that being said, this DVD compilation is for ultra casual fans of the series only who don't already own the DVD season box sets. For those that do own the DVD season box sets, there's absolutely no reason to buy this disc at all, but for ultra casual fans of the series or those new to the series and are looking to get into it, this is a decent buy. It's just disappointing that a few more extras weren't included on here, which would have been really nice.

5/5 Nice little compilation of a great animated series
  by M. Anderson (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Hell Is Other Robots, Anthology of Interest I, Roswell That Ends Well, The Sting

Let me break down my review into two parts: Futurama the show and Monster Robot Maniac Fun dvd.

First the show. I have grown up with the Simpsons so I was eagerly awaiting the arrival of Futurama and it did not dissapoint. The show is funny and irreverant without going too far over the line (like Family Guy). I am pleased to report that like Family Guy the show is going to be given a second chance on Comedy Central. CC has purchased something like 13 episodes which will air in 2008 and they will also be able to show all of the episodes from the original four seasons. Give the show a chance and don't try to compare it to anything else on tv and see if you like it, chances are you might.

The DVD is a nice collection of four episodes (one from each one of the four seasons). The other reviewers have posted a great deal of substance on the episodes themselves so I won't rehash them here. However, I must say that Roswell that ends well is one of the funniest and well-thought-out episodes of the entire series.

Enjoy.