Post your reviews of: Home Movies - "Politics"

[Killtacular]

Well, it's week three of the reviews.. as usual, post your thoughts on the week, and the reviews will be added to the page by next week.

I should have the pages up for last week's reviews tonight. Lots of people helped out last week, and a big thanks goes out to all of you.. :)

(p.s. This is the first Home Movies episode to be animated in Macromedia Flash.)

[isaackelley]

Politics

Hmm. Season one of Home Movies ended in a cliffhanger. Brenden picks up the phone, and we fade to black.

Season two premiers, and... no resolution. What the hell?

New animation style. Goodbye Squigglevision, hello Macromedia Flash. Everyone looks the same, but they're oddly static. The non-fuzziness is very surreal.

New score. Familiar, but edgier. It's a second season sort of theme. Nicely accents the disjointed familiarity/unfamiliarity created by the new animation.

And as for the content...

Synopsis: Brendan runs for and wins the office of Class President. He is unaskingly aided by bully Shannon, who uses his connections with Brendans seat of power to spread his reign of terror throughout the school. McGurk becomes the "Soccer Comic." Paula is Nicest Teacher of the Month.

While Politics was definitely a good episode, it didn't have the greatness that I have come to expect from Home Movies. McGurk works best when playing off Brendan and Melissa. Melissa and Jason were barely used this episode. Furthermore, there was practically no soccer or moviemaking this episode.

On the plus side, Brendan's political video was hilarious.

An average episode of an excellent show.

[Killtacular]

"Brendan's Choice" will likely be resolved in the episode "Dad".

[isaackelley]

Then they should have friggin aired it first this season! Argh!!!

[Killtacular]

They want to air the show in order. And that's the order Soup2Nuts wanted.

Wheras Baby Blues is just straight syndication, so WS can air it out of order if they feel like it.

[IkeTheMachine]

I loved this episode just because of the huge amounts of Shannon. That happy theme song after the com break cracked me up. Especially since they had the small square in which he was crackin open a car hood with a baseball bat. I'll always be much more of a Sealab fan, but I liked this episode more than any previous Home Movies.

[The Big Crouton]

I think McGuirk works good anywhere, not just off the kids. When he was doing standup as the soccer comic, it was awesome. It was also good how we saw how easily McGuirk's aspirations are brought down as he had to use cones for a goal onstage instead of an actual goal like he told Brendon earlier. The whole makin' fun of Melissa was pretty hilarious though.

The lack of squiggle didn't really phase me that much, but the weird zooms make it seem like you are watching it on a computer. Some online animation or something, and I don't really like that.

[timsqueegee]

Hello, i've been lurking around for a bit..here's my first post.

Anyway, home movies is my favorite show on AS, but this episode was a little weak. the McGuirk stuff was top notch, but everything else...well, i guess i just expect more.

Regardless, looking forward to next week.

[zimed]

The lack of squiggle didn't really phase me that much, but the weird zooms make it seem like you are watching it on a computer. Some online animation or something, and I don't really like that.

...well it was done in flash

[spectre316]

The flash animated zooms were so freaking cool... everything was amazing to me. Better animation, great lines, ... I thought everything was great. And we get tons of Shannon. The whole Shannon montage was hilarious. A

[Obi]

Personally, I never liked Squiggle Vision, so the new Flash program suits me better. The animation is (obviously) much smoother now, and it just seems so much cooler. The plot was good, but not the top quality Home Movies has had before...but the "Election Video" in the beginning was hilarious. Anyone else like the mime when McGurk was the Soccer Comic? A-

:D :D

[G-Pnet_Chris]

In the words of Chris Farely, from every movie he ever starred in, "OH MY FREAKING GOD!" I couldn't believe how funny this episode was. I loved everything about it; Shannon's theme song, McGurk's "house" and the soccer coach comic, and the video at the beginning. This episode topped every one made before it, and I can't wait to see more!

[Lisa]

I loved it! This was my first time watching Home Movies, or even adult swim, and I jsut loved it so much. I couldn't stop laughing at some of the parts. Like when the person who was running against him in the election (what was his name again??) said "I'm gunna beat the pants off you, Small" and then Branden said "Well, I'll plan on not wearing any then." I could not stop laughing! It was a great show. I also loved how his mom wouldn't move the flowewrs and he said "Damnit, Mom!". Another funny, funny, part.

As for squiggle stuff, I hate that, so it was nice.

[thankyouenjoi]

It's boring without the squiggles! And why is the theme song now played on a sitah (sp?)

[Eddy]

I miss Squigglevision! It's still good in Flash. There was oen thing I had a problem with, Shannon was at there school but if you remember- in the episode when Brendon had a fight with Shannon, Brendon said- "Shannon doesn't even go to this school!" It was very funny, though.


"Brendon... what are you doing in my house?" - McGuirk

[Zorakfan]

meh, it was ok. But then again, I don't like Home movies that much.
B- rating, because the Shannon stuff was funny.

[Chibi Kageboshi]

I'm with Obi on this one... the Flash appeals to me much more.

[IkeTheMachine]

Originally posted by Eddy
I miss Squigglevision! It's still good in Flash. There was oen thing I had a problem with, Shannon was at there school but if you remember- in the episode when Brendon had a fight with Shannon, Brendon said- "Shannon doesn't even go to this school!" It was very funny, though.



Maybe he got the boot from the other school. On the ther hand, maybe Shannon had run out of people to beat up in his old school and needed fresh meat. Then again, since he didnt actually have many friends, he could have changed schools to talk to some ppl he knew. Also, he mentioned that he had just moved there. It's possible that he had been going to the school near his old home and now hes transferred to a closer school. Last, there's always the chance that he wanted to get closer to Melissa (he showed a liking for her after all).

There's really a possibility of any of these.

[¤~B²~¤]

:mad: I thought that the new Home movies Sucked majorly i mean i didnt really want to watch the story because one of the best parts of it disapeered!! where is the squigglevision???? :confused: I dont really know if this is going to change all of the new ones i might have to change my Favorite show!!

[Sora Takenouchi]

Correct me if I'm worng, but didn't Shannon go to a different school?

But anyways, I thought this episode rocked. The flash animation is clean and crisp, though I did like the Squigglevison :( . The jokes were funny so it looks like the guys still have it. Looking forward to next week!

[randomguy]

Well, I missed the Sunday Run, but thankfully, I caught the new Home Movies this Thursday Evening, and I have to say, I loved it. When Home Movies first debuted on UPN, I caught the first episode, and for the first couple of minutes, I hated it. By the end though, when Brendon was asking Erik to play Freebird on his violin, I had fallen in love with the show. I've been watching it ever since, and it's easily my fave Adult Swim show. I found myself more or less doing the same thing with this episode. At the first the dialogue seemed off, the new animation annoying, but by the end, I had laughed a lot and really enjoyed the whole thing. The lack of squigglevision was a first a problem, but really, the show is so much clearer, brighter, and smoother that I have to admit the animation is a step up (seeing the original squigglevision in an AS promo, later in the evening, it clearly looked worse). I'll admit, the music is an unwelcome change, I was sorry to see that neither Dwayne nor Erik were in this episode (and Melissa is ALWAYS underused), but overall, I was impressed. With Williams Street episodes being released sporadically, and Cowboy Bebop in reruns, Home Movies is THE Adult Swim show for the forseeable future, and I, for one, am looking forward to seeing where it goes.

[Ben]

Whiney whine I miss Squiggles!

Can you say "missing the point?"

This could be a PUPPET show and it would still be funny. Heck, the SLIDE SHOWS with one frame every five seconds are funny. They're doing it in Flash because it takes less time to animate. So they can concentrate on, in the words of Jon Stewart, "bringing the funny."

Anywho, average episode. The election vid belongs on a best-of collection, though. Sheer brilliance.

[DJRed]

For the very first time ever i truly enjoyed Home Movies. I definetly enjoy the flash animation. Like Dr. Katz before it i just couldn't stand the squigglevision. I mean if you make a show make it look decent. Although yes, looks are not the important part of the show. whoever makes this still can't draw inside the lines when it comes to their clothes. Just one really odd thing. When did brendan become Pinnochio? One second he has a long pointy nose, the camera turns away and when it comes back to hmm woops he has a short kind of normal nose.
I like the longer nose look much better.

[Lonestarr]

The first HM ep in Flash; I consider it to be a step up from Squigglevision, basically because the animation is much more fluid.

The actual ep, though...

What I liked: the election video (who knew that reading could be so dangerous?) and Melissa's long-winded campaign slogans; I'm surprised that Jason came up with the shorter and more clever "Think big. Vote Small." I also liked the bits with Paula (I feel the same way about smokers, but I liked the irony that soon popped up).

What I didn't like: McGuirk's stand-up (though this was redeemed over the end credits) and I don't know about the rest of you, but a little bit of Shannon goes a long way, not a lot! I mean, he doesn't even go to the same school as Brendon.

Overall grade: B-

Addendum: To the earlier poster, I don't think there was a sitar used in the music.

[DR. BELCH]

--the caricatures of Jerry Seinfeld and Carrot Top at the bar in the comic club during the pan right before we see McGirk?

[Sisto]

I thought that the new look wasn't that great. The plot was okay, centering around a school-election which is very common, but I just didn't like the new, bright look. I loved Squigglevision, and the music. But they gave the music a rockier-sound which kind of took away from Home Movies basic element. Other than that, an okay ep.

[Scissorkicks]

Hey folks,

I'm in the UK. Cartoon Network here have just finished airing season 2 (don't worry... no spoilers).

When I saw "Politics", I was a little disappointed. The move away from Squigglevision seemed like a shame, and it didn't seem to gel like the first season.

Well, was I WRONG AS HELL?!

After a slow start, it gets better and better and better. The last 3 or 4 episodes are truly fantastic. One is almost entirely devoted to a film the gang have made... you know, instead of being a subplot, the movie is the main thread with the school stuff as an aside.

I'm almost envious... I wish I was seeing them for the first time again.

Anyone know if there will be a third season yet?

Also, Cartoon Network UK, despite getting the Second season months before the US, treat the show like crap. Moving it around in the schedules, zero promotion, shown at inappropriate times (there is no "Adult Swim" style segment on CN UK). Also, they only release minimal schedule info - so it's impossible to know which episode is aired on which date.

Well, enjoy, and I'm glad I found this site.

PS - You're going to LOVE Walter & Perry <zip> :-)

[Scissorkicks]

Originally posted by ¤~B²~¤
:mad: I thought that the new Home movies Sucked majorly i mean i didnt really want to watch the story because one of the best parts of it disapeered!! where is the squigglevision???? :confused: I dont really know if this is going to change all of the new ones i might have to change my Favorite show!!

Trust me. Stick with it. It gets SO much better :D

[AgentMaxX]

I was glad that the squiggliness was gone. The humor was just as good as before, if not better. That's the most simple way to sum it up, I really enjoyed the new season's first episode and can't wait for tomorrows episode (well, tomorrow is in 30 minutes for me).

[Billy]

Here's the way Cartoon Network UK currently handles it's 'Adult Swim' although as ScissorKicks says,it's never called that. (All times are GMT)

19:30 Toonheads
20:00 Home Movies
20:30 Home Movies
21:00 Samurai Jack (What's this doing here?)
21:30 Space Ghost Coast To Coast (1994-1998 repeats)
22:00 Toonami: Dragonball Z (Repeat of the 17:00 showing)

[IkeTheMachine]

Originally posted by BillyH
Here's the way Cartoon Network UK currently handles it's 'Adult Swim' although as ScissorKicks says,it's never called that. (All times are GMT)

19:30 Toonheads
20:00 Home Movies
20:30 Home Movies
21:00 Samurai Jack (What's this doing here?)
21:30 Space Ghost Coast To Coast (1994-1998 repeats)
22:00 Toonami: Dragonball Z (Repeat of the 17:00 showing)

No sealab? OUCH!

[JTurner954]

Hi, I saw Home Movies for the first time on Thursday. I liked it;it kind of reminded me of Dr. Katz animation (although there wasn't a lot of squiggle). B + in my book. I liked the Nicest Teacher bit and the whole thing about "reading is bad".

[Scissorkicks]

Originally posted by JTurner954
Hi, I saw Home Movies for the first time on Thursday. I liked it;it kind of reminded me of Dr. Katz animation (although there wasn't a lot of squiggle). B + in my book. I liked the Nicest Teacher bit and the whole thing about "reading is bad".

Um.. you know a lot of the same people are responsible for both Home Movies and Dr Katz? The first season of Home Movies was made in 100% squigglevision.

Have a look at the Soup2Nuts (http://www.soup2nuts.tv) site for more production info (and some fun audio out-takes).

[JTurner954]

I had a feeling it might of been the same people (even the show had the same kind of tone at points) but I wasn't sure. The thing about less squiggle didn't bother me. As long as I can see it, I'm ok.

[¤~B²~¤]

Originally posted by Scissorkicks


Trust me. Stick with it. It gets SO much better :D

OK well tonite is the big thing to see if it gets better i hated the last episode because of stopry and no squiggle lets see if it does get better. Season 1 Rocked!!!