Customer Reviews

Daria - Is It College Yet?

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I love Daria and this movie was a very fitting sign off for the series. However, for some unknown reason, MTV found reason to make numerous small cuts throughout the movie from the original version as it appeared in its original broadcast. Jokes are deleted, natural conversations between characters are reduced to "just the facts, Ma'am." At least one scene, in which Daria decides not to go on a date with Tom in favor of staying home, was totally cut out of the movie. ???

The original soundtrack was also replaced with a generic music backdrop to avoid obtaining video distribution rights for the original music.

I recommend buying the DVD if you have no other way to see the broadcast version. I just hope that someday MTV will someday see fit release it uncensored, as well as complete unedited season releases. (Noggin edits episodes for content).

This movie is really quite an entertaining piece of 'Daria'-dom and a good series ender (which I must admit has gotten better over time). The menus and design of the DVD are also quite good and superior to the previous Daria release 'Is It Fall Yet?' It's also nice that the extra episodes were included. So what could be wrong? Could it be the fact that this version of the movie is the edited-for-commercials version? Eight minutes of this film were only seen at the movie's premiere, and presumably will never be seen again, short of the people who taped the premiere. What sense was there to not include the unedited version? The movie still is coherent without the eight minutes, but there are some funny one liners missing and some depth (and other times, padding) missing from certain scenes. I wasn't initially going to buy this, but after viewing a friend's and seeing the care that went into simple things like menus and a good transfer of the episodes, I just may. I'll just stick to my VHS recording of the FULL version when watching the actual movie (and there's absolutely no reason why it shouldn't have been included on this DVD). Still, for those who don't own any copy at all of the movie, or who have never seen it, I recommend you check this out, as the movie's still good, but not as good as it could be in this form. (My only other beef was with the removal of the 'Sick, Sad World' theme from the episodes. What was that?) MOVIE: 5 DVD PRESENTATION: 5 FACT THAT THEY INCLUDED THE EDITED VERSION: 2

The easter egg on this DVD is a short clip from Beavis & Butthead featuring Daria (or is it diarrhea ?!) in her original incarnation. She's looking a lot better in her own series.
Move the pointer to 'Special Features' then move it to the left; a stripe on Daria's gown will be highlighted. Select this to view the clip

I really enjoyed watching this movie as well as the two 30-minute extras that came with it. And would HIGHLY recommend this dvd to those who enjoyed watching the series on TV. I received this dvd only 2 weeks ago and have already watched the movie and extra episodes twice in the little free time I have!

Word of advice though, do watch the 30-minute episodes before the movie. They ease you into the movie with the info on where we were left off last! This is the same for "Daria -Is It Fall yet?". Another DVD to have! The 30-minute episodes are a wonderful bonus! It would be great to watch "Is It Fall Yet?" before this one, of course!

Another thing is that it would be really TERRIFIC if the entire season were put on DVD so that we Daria fans can watch and re-watch each episode over and over again. Could MTV please do so? I know the series was released on VHS but that is currently unattainable for those not living in the States. I tried to order it from an Amazon.com seller but was told that they don't send internationally! Please put the entire series on DVD!

Like its companion made-for-tv movie, this never ceases to please as I repeatedly watch it and the included episodes. Buy the pair and then petition MTV for box sets of the full 5 seasons.

This Daria DVD is defiantely one that I would choose to watch again and again, though I do have a couple complaints. For one, that there were only two bonus episodes, which was a disappointment to the Daria starved person that I am. Daria hasn't been shown on TV in ages where I am, though I know reruns are still be shown in California (I heard this via my uncle), so I was really hoping for some more episodes.
However, this DVD did have all the typical Daria sarcasm and cyancism that I was hoping it would. You see a new side of Daria in "boxing Daria", one of the bonus episodes, and it was really nice to see her having some different emotions that come when she realizes things she made happen without meaning to. Tom is definatly a great charecter throughout the whole DVD, a person I would definately date if he were real. This did have less of Trent than I would have liked, but the few appearences he does make are humorous in the usual Trent-style fashion.
This DVD actually deserves four and a half stars, but since I couldn't do that, four is what the rating shows. The only reason for the half star being taken off is the lack of extra episodes. If you're a Daria fan, this is the DVD for you. But if you can only get one Daria DVD, I suggest the "Is it fall yet?" DVD over this one.

I was so sad to see Daria end. She was my cartoon inspiration, uncompromising and unapologetic for being real and cynical in a superficial world. Now, she's off to college and MTV has provided the final chapter (or is it?) to her television life. Thank God the cable channel Noggin is doing reruns because I couldn't imagine just NOT having this show around anymore.
I too was glad that Daria and Tom's relationship ended. They turned out to be from two completely different worlds (and families) and were going in different directions. Daria gets where she needs to go through respect while Tom uses a family recommendation letter. Thanks, Daria, for moving on.
Jane also went through a transition and realized that she did not want to end up like her brother, broke and living at home. Trent calls her a "sellout," but I disagree. She had real talent that was going to take her somewhere.
Okay, it may seem like I'm too into this show, but I really think it was so different than everything else MTV had at the time (or even has now). Who would have thought that a minor teenage girl character from a gross-out cartoon like "Beavis and Butthead" would spin off into her own very intelligent, very cleverly funny show? It was a show that would speak to millions of people who see past appearances and look deeper. I was one of them.

'Hello, life: Goodbye, (to) Lawndale!'

I imagine The Association singing that line to the melody of their soundtrack hit "Goodbye, Columbus" (1970).

"Is It College, Yet?" is the second "Daria" film that superbly wraps up the entire tv series. Even though this is an MTV comedy cartoon, the "Daria" series have elements of a soap opera. Or, should I say, an American cartoon telenovela?

I won't go into details as reviewers have already done so. Daria and her gang are in their last year of high school, and preparing for college. There are the ups and downs of the high school seniors in getting accepted into the college of their choice. There is the Daria and Tom romance. Bratty sister Quinn has to get a job to pay off a high credit card bill she ran up (A $[...] purchase on a pair of fake alligator-skin shoes. She's so ridiculous!). There are other situations involving the rest of the "Daria" cast I won't mention as I would be revealing too much. So I'll stop here. You have to see it for yourselves.

A unique highlight of "IICY" is the 'Time traveling' sequence at the opening credits. Daria, Jane and the rest of the cast go back in time to college life in America, from the 1920's to the present. Daria and Jane are the primary eyewitnesses as they go from each era, dressed in the fashions of each period (as do the cast). They witness the fads and trends of: the Charleston and flagpole sitting (1920's); goldfish eating and marathon dancing (1930's); women being `Rosie the Riveter' (1940's); panty raids and phone-booth crowding (1950's); `Flower Power' (late 1960's); car crowding, bra-burning, disco (1970's), and hip-hop and punk rock (1980's). The song "College Try (Gives Me Blisters)" in this sequence is performed, once again, by Splendora.

As a history lover, I thought this 'back-in-time' intro was well-done! I've replayed this segment several times as it's delightful to watch. The "Daria" cast superbly recreated daily life and some of the events of those past decades. For example: Kevin and Brittany recreate the "VJ-Day Kiss" from the famous 1945 photo of the sailor kissing his nurse sweetheart in Times Square. Even the black-and-white/early color graininess effect, seen in films and newsreels of the 1920's - 1940's, looked authentic! The 'Time Travel' segment is worth repeated viewings as it is well-done. In addition, it is very nice to see Daria `dressed-up' for a change, and out of her trademark combat boots.

What's also interesting is that Jane has gotten over the 'Tom Thing' (from "Is It Fall Yet?"). For the Roaring 20's segment, Daria and Jane are flappers. Tom, dressed as a '23-Skiddoo'er, and carrying a 'State' pennant, takes his sweetheart by her hand as she steps out of his roadster. Jane hops down from the back of the car. The 'Flaming Youth' trio runs off to have fun. She doesn't give Tom and Daria's hand-holding another thought. Maybe they all want to go and dance the Charleston with Mack and Jodie in the following shot.

There are two "Daria" episodes on the dvd which lead to the film, and are the final episodes of the t.v. series: "Boxing Daria" and "Lucky Strike". "Boxing Daria" deals with Daria's attraction to a refrigerator box for a special reason. "Lucky Strike" involves the Lawndale High School teachers going on strike, with disastrous results.

Also featured is the Character Profiles in 'Special Features'. This gives brief information about the main characters, and show early sketches of them in 1995. I'm glad the animators improved their looks by 1997 when "Daria" came on the air. And I'm quite sure you will be, too, once you've seen their early versions. (A foolishly grinning Daria in the black-and-white pilot episode??)

Finally, there's the bonus 'Easter Egg' that several reviewers mentioned. It's a clip of Beavis and Butt-Head's "Babes-R-Us" from their second season. Daria is featured in it. All three characters are roughly drawn before Mike Judge modified their features.

How to see it: With your dvd player remote, go to the Main Menu; highlight 'Special Features'; go left, until the stripe on Daria's graduation gown is highlighted. Then press Enter on your dvd player remote to access the clip. Thanks, reviewers, for making mention of that!

In conclusion, "Is It College Yet?" is an 'all's well that end's well'. It can be a little sad at times as it marks the end of the "Daria" series. And like all high school graduations, as we've all experienced, everybody is growing up and going their separate ways in life. Most of us recall applying for various colleges of our choice; awaiting word of our acceptance; getting the bulky packages in the mail with brochures of the colleges; the excitement, etc. "IICY" takes the viewer down `Memory Lane': both with the opening 'Time Traveling' intro, and making us remember when we were preparing for college.

"Is It College Yet?" is a gem for Daria fans, and 'newbies' like me. This and "Is It Fall Yet?" are proof enough that MTV should get the entire "Daria" series on dvd. Having the complete "Daria" series will go well with my Beavis and Butt-Head Mike Judge Collections. Why? To contrast with the humor and total stupidity of B and B. And, especially, to see how successful Daria (formerly 'Diarrhea' by B and B) has become.

What was great about Daria - the 2 movies and the series - was Daria's dry sense of humor and insight, plus the fact that I have NEVER encountered a 17 year old who is that self confident and together. Come to think of it, I have never encountered a 37 year old who is that self confident and together. Although I don't think it is necessarily a good idea to decorate one's room like a padded cell, Daria had an admirable sense of self that could not be rattled by the conventions of others. This movie wraps up the Daria series and deals with the outcome of the college plans of Daria, her boyfriend Tom, best friend Jane, and classmates Jodie and Mack. Also, Daria's sister, superficial Quinn, gets her first real job and actually grows up to the point where she realizes that she doesn't need the fashion club anymore in order to define herself. Daria gets confirmation of what she already knows - that connections and personality trump brains - when distinguished college Bromwell passes her over for admittance, but accepts her old-moneyed and more conventionally likeable boyfriend, Tom. When Daria realizes that after graduation she will have a long distance romance with Tom that will eventually end badly, she decides to break up with him in order to keep what she really values most - his friendship. How many adult women would come to that conclusion without the involvement of much kicking, screaming, and Haagen-Daz?
One of my favorite parts of the movie were the end credits in the original broadcast where we see what happens to the characters in the future. Mack and Kevin have marketed their own brand of food products, Miss Lee has become a shut-in ala Howard Hughes, covering everything with aluminum foil in an attempt to keep out the radio waves of anyone who is listening to her, Jodie is a high-powered business woman opening what appears to be a casino, and finally, we see Daria and Jane sitting in front of a banner entitled "Good Mornings With Daria and Jane", apparently hosting their own TV talk show.
It's too bad this DVD is so sliced up due to editing, and it is also too bad we will probably never have a DVD set of the entire Daria series. This is because Daria used "current" pop music for scene introductions and also ending credits. With several different songs being used in every show, the inherent licensing nightmare makes complete episodes for DVD a highly unlikely prospect. Since Daria originally aired during the period immediately before the beginning of TV-on-DVD, this problem could not have been foreseen during production.

I totally loved this show. It's full of crazy characters (Daria's dad in particular) and hilarious stereotypes (who sadly reoccur with frightening frequency in real life). Plus it's the second show to be spun-off from Beavis and Butthead (King of the Hill being the first). It's weird to think of them all existing in the same world.

What separates Daria from other popular animation such as The Simpson's or Family Guy is the character interaction. In some places Daria almost feels like a drama, giving it a touch more integrity.

She's a tough girl to love. Daria basically has no faith in anything but her own judgment. It's makes a little bit hard to get close to her but she is a proud outsider in a mad world.

This DVD features the last (extended) episode of Daria making it to college and what happens once her High School life is over. There are two bonus episodes (Boxing Daria and Lucky Strike) included. The DVD is in 1.33:1 as drawn, the colors are bright and clear as is the Dolby 2.0 soundtrack