Customer Reviews

SpongeBob SquarePants: Season Five, Vol. 1

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

 

 

I rarely watch SpongeBob Squarepants on TV, so usually the first time I see the episodes is when they're released on DVD. I read some of the poor reviews of this set and thought the show would probably be better than they suggested. I thought wrong. There really is some magic lost in this season. There are some flashes of the usual brilliance here and there but, mostly, these episodes are forgettable. They sometimes take an idea and push it to the absurdly extreme ("Night Light," "Rise and Shine," "Spy Buddies"). Also, some seem a lot shorter than the others. A good sign for the next volume is that Disc 2 is much better than Disc 1, which indicates improvement during the season. I'll definitely be checking out Volume 2.

Disc 1 (2 stars):
"Friend or Foe" (2-parter)--Mr. Krabs tells a tale of when he and Plankton were adolescent chums picked on by their classmates and how they came up with the idea to start a hamburger joint. Cute but that stupid Patchy the Pirate keeps showing up.
"The Original Fry Cook"--SpongeBob meets Mr. Krabs's first fry cook, Jim, who makes patties so good they take SB on a spiritual journey (what was in those patties, anyway? The flashbacks do look like they were set in the '60s...hmmmm). Feeling inferior, SB resigns, but Jim explains why SB is actually the best fry cook for Mr. Krabs. This episode is unrealistic. How can anyone be a better fry cook than SB? Just watch "SB v. the Patty Gadget."
"Night Light"--After reading a scary story, SB becomes afraid of the dark and uses so many night lights he summons Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy and a fiendish moth. This episode is very annoying.
"Rise and Shine"--Observe a typical Patrick morning. This episode is totally lame! We all know Patrick is a moron but come on! His stupidity here is bordering on the ridiculous! It also seems very short but, for this episode, that's probably a good thing.
"Waiting"--After sending in 99 Kelpo box tops for a prize, SB becomes obsessed with waiting for his free toy to arrive in the morning. Not very good, except for the Patrick/gift/cake/fork bit.
"Fungus Among Us"--SB gets the ick and infects the entire Krusty Krab. Gross.

"Spy Buddies"--Mr. Krabs hires Patrick and SB as spies to watch Plankton's inevitable next scheme. The ending of this one is a little much.
"Boat Smarts"--An instructional film from Mrs. Puff showing a driver with boat smarts (Squidward) and a driver without boat smarts (SpongeBob). For once, SW is the positive example; however, in this film, I think it would be better to be the driver without the boat smarts as the one with them keeps getting into accidents.
"Good Ol' Whatshisname"--Mr. Krabs creates a contest to see which employee can learn the names of all the Krusty Krab customers. The prize being a cruise, Squidward, for once, is a willing participant. SB, of course, already knows all the customers' names; SW has to resort to more unorthodox measures. One of the better episodes, but I'm a little puzzled by the ending. How did Patrick end up behind bars?
"New Digs"--Was something cut from this ep? SB trips because he put his eye blinders on before racing to bed and, in the next scene, he shoots into bed with no comment. Anyway, SB oversleeps and clocks into work late. SB, of course, is devastated and decides to live at the Krusty Krab: a dream come true for SW but not for Krabs or his customers.
"Krabs A La Mode"--Mr. Krabs won't let anyone turn up his thermostat, so Plankton creates a freeze at the Krusty Krab, but they use the icey conditions to make money another way.

Disc 2 (4 stars):
"Roller Cowards"--SB and Patrick are afraid to ride Glove World's new sensation: the Fiery Fist O Pain, but both are ashamed to admit it. The mascot of Glove World is called "Glovey Glove"--I think the writers are starting to lose some of their creativity. Good episode, though.
"Bucket Sweet Bucket"--Plankton gets SB, Patrick and even Squidward to renovate the Chum Bucket while Plankton goes after what he really wants. I like how Squidward painted the restaurant.
"Breath of Fresh Squidward"--SW gets so mad at his neighbors he installs an electric fence around his house. He, of course, gets shocked and turns into a friendly, work-loving chum who makes SB jealous.
"To Love a Patty"--SB makes the perfect Krabby Patty, falls in love, and spends all his time with "her" even as "she" rots. A shower cap on a Krabby Patty??? You've got to be kidding!
"SpongeBob Versus the Patty Gadget"--Patchy the Pirate (actually tolerable here) tells a story--in Dr. Seuss-like style--about SB competing against a patty-making machine built by Squidward. I like the line "The crowd was impressed, they cheered full of glee. All except Patrick who had to go pee." This episode, while short, is pretty funny.
"Money Talks"--Mr. Krabs's wish comes true: he can talk to money. Be careful what you wish for!
"Slimy Dancing"--Squidward thinks he's a shoe-in to win a dance competition. When he doesn't make the cut, he takes over SpongeBob's body (SB is a sponge, afterall).
"The Krusty Sponge"--Food critic Gene Scallop--who looks suspiciously like Today show's film/book critic Gene Shalit--reports on the Krusty Krab and praises SpongeBob. Mr. Krabs decides to market SB by using his image on everything (hmmmm, sounds familiar).
"Sing a Song of Patrick"--Patrick writes a song and SB helps him get it on the radio. Actually, this episode does not work on my disc. Did anyone else have that problem?

I loved the earlier seasons, and I'm ok with this new one, but the new episodes are not as clever as the first episodes in the first seasons. The new ones arn't as funny, the story lines arn't as good, and they have gotten WAY more childish, sadly. Also, my problem is that the new episodes have these stupid sing along songs much to frequently. SB used to be like a child/immature adult show. Now it's faded into one of those new Nick show types for babies. It's better than any other cartoon on Nick, but season 5, or maybe 6, will probably be the ending for the SB franchise.

When I buy the seasons, one by one, I will make sure to get this season because I love the show as a whole. But this season is definetly not as superior as seasons 1, 2, or 3.

Friend or Foe 4 out of 5 stars: It's the history of the Krabs/Plankton rivalry! I thought this episode was interesting, for example, did anyone else know that if it weren't for Plankton the Krabby Patty would have never been invented? I would have givin it 5 stars if Patchy wasn't in it.The Original Fry Cook 2 out of 5 stars : The Krusty Krab's original stops by and Spongebob knows he's worse than the original and gives Mr.Krabs a reggonenation. No one`s a better fc than spongebob. Night Light 2 out of 5 stars : Spongebob reads a scary book before bedtime and then everything seems spookier. So, he buys every night light possible to light up the room. Then, Patrick, Mermaid Man, Barnacle Boy, and an evil fly all come in sometime during the episode. It was kinda stupid. Rise and Shine 1 out of 5 stars: This episode is Patrick's morning routine. Two words to describe it are 'boring' and 'lame'. Waiting 2 out of 5 stars : Spongebob sends in box tops and waits and waits and waits for his free toy. This isn't a very good episode, I would give it 1 out of 5 stars if there weren't some funny lines involving Patrick. Fungus Among Us 1 out of 5 stars : Spongebob gets a fungus and gives it to everyone in Bikini Bottom. One word gross! Spy Buddies 3 out of 5 stars : Mr. Krabs sends Spongebob and Patrick to spy on Plankton. The ending's a little to much. Boat Smarts 2 out of 5 stars : Mrs. Puff narrates an instructional video with a driver with boat smarts ( Squidward ) and one without ( Spongebob) Good Ol' Whatshisname 3 out of 5 stars: Mr.Krabs holds a contest between Squidward and Spongebob: whoever learns more customer's names wins a prize. The idea for this episode is really good, but it had an awful script. New Digs 2 out out of 5 stars: Spongebob moves into the Krusty Krab. There are a couple of gross features in this one. Krabs a La Mode 4 out of 5 stars : Plankton makes the Krusty Krab a freezing cold ice rink. Very, vey good. Rollar Cowards 4out of 5 stars : Spongebob and Patrick go to Glove World to ride a scary as well as dangerous roller coaster. Bucket Sweet Bucket 2 out of 5 stars: Plankton tricks Spongebob, Patrick, and Squidward into giving the Chum Bucket a complete makeover. With them occupied and Mr.Krabs on vacation, Plankton makes his wat to the Krabby Patty formula. Breath of Fresh Squidward 4 out of 5 stars:Squidward gets electrocuted by his own fence and turns into the most happiest guy in Bikini Bottom. But completely takes Spongebob's place. To Love a Patty 2 out of 5 stars: Spongebob makes a Krabby Patty and falls in love with it . He takes it every where. Within a few hours his patty's gross-tastic! Spongebob vs. the Patty Gadget 2 out of 5 stars: This whole episode is Patchy talking this is the worst episode of Spongebob ever! Money Talks 2 out of 5 stars : Mr. Krabs gets his wish he can talk to money! He's very happy until he learns that money wants to be spent. Slimy Dancing 3 out of 5 stars: When Squidward doesn't make the try-outs for a dance contest he agrees to train Spongebob. The Krusty Sponge 4out of 5 stars : A food critic says spongebob's the best part of the Krusty Krab, Mr.Krabs goes overboard and gets everything Spongebob themed. Sing a Song of Patrick 3out of 5 stars: Patrick writes a song and then Spongebob helps him get it on the radio.

When it comes to cartoons these days, the classics seem to be often overlooked, but for Nicekeloden, they've really brought out the best in animation from shows like Jimmy Neutron, The Fairly Odd Parents, and especially Spongebob Squarepants. Nevertheless, the cartoons keep showing just how much fun the show has maintained its joy for so many viewers young and old alike. The past several seasons have brought out some great moments for our favorite freinds from Bikini Bottom, and with its latest round of shows finally on DVD, it is sure to please even more joy for Spongebob fans.

Spongebob Squarepants Season 5, Volume 1 is the first half of Spongebob and his friends Patrick, Squidward through some of the most interesting cartoons ever. The DVD has been remastered well, and includes some of the latest chapters in Spongebob's life including Slimy dancing, where Spongebob, and Squidward enter a dance competition with Squidward placing himself inside of Spongebob, and tries to dance to win the trophy, after being originally rejected for the contest. Another great episode, Friend Or Foe?, looks back at the origin of why Plankton and Mr. Krabs originally became rivals, after being rejected for food at a local take out joint, and try to develop what becomes the krabby patty. Although the episodes miss out at times with what Spongebob had sucessfully made then, considering there are more cartoons at a shorter time, they are still a lot of fun to watch.

All in all, I loved watching a lot of the new shows Spongebob Squarepants have aired, and they are just a true delight. But, some newcomers might be a bit dissapointed, hoping for more shows like the previous complete 1st, 2nd and 3rd seasons brought out on DVD. Still, if you haven't seen Spongebob yet on Nickelodeon, you may want to watch these and enjoy the laughter.

Shows: B-

Price: C+

Extras: B

Overall: B-

Spongebob has finaly gotten better than season4! The must buy seasons of spongebob squarepants are, seasons 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6! Season 4 was terrible!

...at least 3 times a week, no joke!!

They live for Spongebob, Patrick, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Gary, Sandy, and Mrs. Puff.

But I don't and can't blame them really; Spongebob is a catch and from time to time, the show itself is actually quite funny. It all takes place at Bikini Bottom, a town underwater, away from most sharks and beneath all the humans who dwell on earth. From time to time, Spongebob and Patrick make it a rare habit to come up out of the water, and take a looksee around. Immediately, they puff up like Mrs. Puff, Spongebob's driving teacher. He never learns how to drive successfully either. He's no good in that department, and should stick to the Krabby Patties!

Anyway, I'm gonna describe and then rate all of the characters and then rate a few aspects of the actual film:

Spongebob Squarepants: Very silly, upbeat and so nice to everyone that is nice to him. Even if you're mean, he tries to see the good in everyone. My second favorite character. A

Patrick Star: Super goofy and kinda spaced out, he's basically Spongebob's right-hand man. His personality, while goofy, consists of being nice to Spongebob but he tends to have an anger spout here and there. An OK character. B-

Squidward Tentacles: Another keeper, character-wise. He's the moody, selfish and very negative critic of the series. Many enjoy his company, especially Spongebob, but funnily, Squidward doesn't feel half the happiness when around the yellow sponge. He'd rather have his hands around his neck, doing the unthinkable. B+

Mr. Krabs: Very work-oriented, and a decent man who tries to instill the work ethic into Spongebob and Squidward also. Spongebob follows, and Squidward carries on, as if Mr. Krabs said NOTHING. Not one of my favorite characters. C-

Gary: My absolute favorite! I can't really pinpoint a true-blue personality to him, but he makes cat sounds, is usually quiet, which leads me to believe that he's an introvert as opposed to an extrovert, and loves Spongebob till the ends of the sandy ends of Bikini Bottom. A+

Pearl Krabs: The whiny, big-headed whale-daughter of Mr. Krabs. She's so ridiculously spoiled that I would slap her if I was an imaginary fish, residing in Bikini Bottom. She's not a bad character, and is usually super-dramatic. B+

Sandy: Level-headed and sweet, Sandy is nearly as friendly as Spongebob. Get on her bad side though, and she's unafraid to show you a piece of her mind! B

Mrs. Puff: She holds one of the absolute worst jobs in Bikini Bottom; trying to teach the unteachable Spongebob to drive! She goes crazy every time she spends 5 minutes with him, and for very, very good reason. A-

Cover Art: B
Story: B-
Dialogue: C+
Characters: A-
Comic Relief: B-
Overall: B-

3.85 stars.

Anyone who needs to review and give their own opinions on which season of SpongeBob is good and which is not, needs to take a stiff shot. THESE ARE FOR CHILDREN!!!! NOT FOR ADULTS!!!!!

Great episodes! Season 5 is a whole lot better than Season 4! I like Friend Or Foe, New Digs,Krabs a la Mode and The Krusty Sponge! If you like spongebob BUY THIS! The only episode that is kind of bad is Fungus Among Us! Great DVD!

I really liked this season. It is alot better than season 4. Every episode in it is good and funny.

This Spongebob season is a really good season, although there are times that will make you cring with the over development of the characters.