South Park’s three-part episode, “Imaginationland.” aired in 2007 (same year The Sopranos ended) on Comedy Central. It earned positive reviews from critics, fans and viewers alike. Imaginationland won an Emmy for “Outstanding Animated Program for One Hour or More.” I consider Imaginationland as a standalone sequel to “South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut.” All three parts were released in 2008 on DVD uncensored with never-before-seen footage. Anyway, the latest video game, “South Park: Snow Day” is out.
Light SPOILERS are present.
Good & Evil Aspects
Good: Trey Parker & Matt Stone did an awesome job crafting a three-part episode. They were inspired by 24’s narrative.
Animation uses digital ink paint to mimic construction paper and Stop Motion.
Satirical depictions of Filmmakers/Celebrities, Hippies, Terrorism, Politics, Government, U.S. Military and the common trope, Good vs. Evil. Ten times funnier than “Epic Movie.”
Butters factors in playing a key role. He’s been captured by terrorists. After they blew up a wall causing it to release evil characters, Butters is chosen by the good characters. The Council of Nine convince him he has the power to use his mind to construct anything that’ll help them save the world.
After signing an agreement with Kyle, Cartman’s goal is to make him do something gross. He doesn’t take no for an answer.
The Woodland Critters make their return siding with the evil characters. They may look cute, but they are absolutely savage.
ManBearPig’s a member of the evil characters. He came from Al Gore’s mind. The concept of the creature was conceived when Trey & Matt poke fun at Al’s views on climate change. Especially the documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth.”
Famous people are lampooned such as M. Night Shyamalan, Michael Bay, Mel Gibson, Kurt Russell & Al Gore.
As you know, all three episodes aired in 2007, a few things came out the exact same year. Given various characters reside in Imaginationland.
- Michael Bay’s Transformers – Optimus Prime partakes in the battle.
- Spider-Man 3 – Venom marches with the evil characters.
- Alien vs. Predator: Requiem – Both baddies encounter Butters.
- Super Mario Galaxy – Mario also partake in the battle.
- Grindhouse: Death Proof – Kurt Russell’s recruited by the army to enter a portal. Obviously, a Stargate reference.
- Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer – Silver Surfer and the good characters charge into battle.
- God of War II – Zeus is a member of the Council of Nine. Medusa also appears siding with the bad guys.
- TMNT – Leonardo resides in Imaginationland.
My favorite parts were the “Saving Private Ryan” parody with Stan witnessing the residents getting massacred. Film directors heavily relying on their trademarks. Last but not least, the epic battle.
Kyle delivers a dramatic speech about fictional characters changing a person’s life.
There are so many characters from various intellectual properties or IP for short. Imaginationland was the first to achieve this before “Ready Player One.” South Park pulled a “Simpsons Did It.”
An epic battle between good and evil characters is like a geek’s fan fiction becoming a reality.
The DVD version features new scenes.
- All three parts spoof an Opening Credits of a movie. For example, Part 2 parodies the opening from The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
- Part 1 – Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz is shot by terrorists.
- Part 2 – A Cyclon from Battlestar Galactica shoots Mickey Mouse in the head.
- Part 2 – Cthulhu charges with the bad guys. He later appears in another three-part episode, the Coon and Friends Trilogy.
- Part 3 – Oscar the Grouch, Sauron and Alex from A Clockwork Orange appear.
- Part 3 – Harry Potter and James Bond see a nuclear bomb coming out of the sky.
- Part 3 – A crowd sings Imaginationland.
I know the show’s notorious for completing an episode within a week, but the epic battle didn’t last long. I don’t mind a delay for Trey & Matt to create a Helms Deep-esque battle between good and evil characters.
The Final Verdict: A-
Not as flawless as South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut, Imaginationland is a near-perfect standalone sequel. Had Trey & Matt delayed Part 3 allowing them time to extend the epic battle, I would’ve given it my highest grade an A, FOR APEX. An A- will do.
Nickthemoviecritic.com 