Customer Reviews

Mtv / Wet Shorts: Best of Liquid Television

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Is MTV for real? LqTV, for a few years, was the finest showcase for original and imaginative animation on MTV. But that was before the onslaught of reality-TV, a genre we can blame on shows that MTV pioneered, like "Real World" and "Road Rules". While MTV reality shows have gotten the season-box-set treatment, the best they can apparently do with this fine show is to merely excerpt it. While I'm happy to see almost any reminder of this great show from the days when MTV was actually worth watching, the monumental gap in the way this show has been treated is infuriating.

First off, we get some "Beavis & Butthead" and "Aeon Flux" really don't belong here. Not that they're not great - they are, but each got their own show anyway. If we're gonna be picky, we should have more of the stuff from animators who didn't get their own shows, or even much time on LqTV. This disc is even more annoying because of what was left out - much of Brad Dharma, psychotic postcards ("Dear Mum, met up with `Operative...X'".) and "Stick-Figure Theater". The disc seems to concentrate on the mini-franchises" - ongoing work recurring throughout the series, like "Winter Steele", and ofcourse "Aeon Flux" - likely because they think just one "episode" is sufficient reminder of all of them. (Though I guess that there's an argument to be made for this given "Art School Girls, of Doom".) The work that collectively became LqTV was funny, poignant, biting savage but also tender. And much of it was apparently tossed, just so we could concentrate on whole seasons of "Pimp My Ride" and "Cribs". Unless you somehow recorded and kept this show when it appeared in the early `90's, or got a bootleg copy of it, or a video disk "ripped" from a bootlegged VHS, it's sad to say that this will be your only reminder of what MTV once was, and your only respite from what MTV has become.

There is so much cool stuff that was on Liquid TV that is not on this DVD that one struggles to consider it 'The Best of'. Where are the 'Dear Mum' sketches, or the Oingo Boingo song 'Don't go in the Basement', or the 'Istanbul was Constantinople' song, or 'The Art School Girl's of doom, or 'Dog Boy'? None of it is here. Sure we have some cool stuff like couple of 'Stick Figure Theatre' sketches and some 'Bobby and Billy' and, the way past cool, Aeon Flux. But I reckon there won't be any other DVDs of Liquid TV so go right out and buy this. It's still worth it.

These are far from the strange and bizarre shorts that I remember. Other than a few "Aeon Flux" shorts and a "Bobby & Billy" or two, you probably won't even recognize this DVD as "Liquid Television". Remember the crap that had to be waded through to get to the good stuff? Well here is a 90min. showcase of it. Typical Mtv... All fluff... NO SUBSTANCE!

They have the Aeon Flux, they have the Psychadelic Detective ("You'll never take me alive!" "I never said I would."). But there is definitely some of the greatest stuff missing. Another reviewer mentioned the "Der Mum" shorts, I also think they should have included "Running Man," and the rest of the Aeon Flux shorts. What about the short with the workers getting replaced by robots? They missed out on a lot of Cut-Up Cameras, too. This isn't a fans' choice, this just seems to be a random collection, which is sad, because Liquid Television was a truly great show.

This DVD has some memorable stuff, but where is some of the more bizarre stuff. Remember that bit with the postcards and that agent who narated it, starting off by saying, "Dear, Mum....", and how about that "Istanbul" video? That's why I bought it... because of those things!

I watched Liquid TV when it first aired. There was a lot of great stuff and a little mediocre stuff. it was entertaining to say the least and wetted my appetite for the wierd and bazar. What you have done MTV is labled the mediocre stuff as greatest when it was not. Just for starters, where the heck is "Snookles the Dragon"? It was first aired on Liquid TV and has to be the HANDS DOWN best thing ever shown on that once marvelous show. It was the only cartoon that caused me pain because I laughed so hard I fell out of the couch I was sitting in. The back of my head hurt from the strain of laughing so hard not to mention the not so soft landing on the floor. That is something that does not happen much if at all and yes that one cartoon is that funny the first time you see it.
TOO MUCH AEON FLUX!! You can get more from the AEON FLUX DVD (not the new live action movie) if you gotta have your Aeon Flux. Don't get me wrong about Aeon Flux, It is surrealistically bazar and intensly erotic. For what it is, it is cutting edge even for today's animation in the raw story and presentation. It invokes dark imagery and constant motion that is somethimes a trot that quickly goes to warped speed in an 'oil me down and spank me' sort of thrill ride for the eyes and ears. BUT It was not the best of Liquid TV (it is damn good though and I DO watch it). Where was all the one shot stuff we used to laugh at? Did Spike and Mike get it all? Where is Road Kill the Speed Bump Possum? Did that not air on Liquid TV as well?
Which came first? Spike and Mike or MTV? Who Had this animation first? Spike and Mike or MTV? I remember MTV when it was a half hour TV show at 9:00 PM on channel 9 in Los Angeles YEARS ago like in 1979. Spike and Mike didn't even have a show of their own untill the late 80's. I seen this stuff for the first time on Liquid TV and later at a Spike and Mike 'Sick and Twisted animation festival.' Could it be that MTV FOOLISHLY sold the rights to such brilliant gems of entertainment only for smart people like Spike and Mike to jump on the rights cheap? If so I bet that it was like tossing hotdogs to starving wolves. Sell the best and keep the rest??? What??? And loose later profit from great products??? HUH? Or maybe they never had the rights to the greatest stuff and didn't have the forethought to secure reprint rights when they released tapes and DVD labled 'THE BEST OF...'
This does have at least one endearing quality for animation from Liquid TV in that yes most of it is funny although Stick Figure Theater was funny once but after that it fell very short. For what this DVD costs do yourself a HUGE favor and go with Spike and Mike's Sick And Twisted but buy carefully. A couple of the later ones were stinkers while the earlier ones shined.
MTV, you are an embarrasment to yourself! SHAME ON YOU! You think you are the best. KEEP DREAMING!
POTENTIAL BUYER: For what you will be getting be certian it is worth the money to you to avoid buyer's remorse. I am not speaking out of a sense of egotistical aesthetic judgement but as a consumer who likes to get a decent product for a decent price. MTV is just jerking the customer here. I have to agree with the other reviewers. Too Short, Lacks the really great episodes, and TOO high priced. Practices like this lead to a thriving Piracy market.
Again, buyer choose well when looking for your wierd animation fix. THIS PURCHASE IS NOT WORTH THE CASH! You get more for the buck with Sick and Twisted and you are not spending so much MOOLAH! I would not even represent another product in a review if the one I was rating offered something for the dollars I spent but this is just outrageous.

Où sont "The Art School Girls of Doom" d'antan?

I used to watch this show when i was like in the 4th grade, now that i realize it, mtv was so much more independent back then, seeing as how their so commercial now

Outstanding. They managed to pick some of the better animation from the MTV TV show. I look forward to future releases of material from this show.

The first ever dvd release of this groundbreaking Mtv show! If you have been waiting like the rest of us for Mtv to re-air it your out of luck. So just buy the dvd and relive the good old days of Liquid Tv! With shorts like...Aeon Flux, The Dangwoods, Uncle Louie's Blind Date, Beavis and Butthead, bitchin' puppetized cycle babe Winter Steele and so much more. If your looking for any other title on awesome animated shorts look no more this is it!