Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2629 in DVD
• Released on: 2009-02-02
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Format: PAL
• Number of discs: 3
• Running time: 296 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Nine seasons in, and South Park hasn’t lost its ability to upset people. This boxset brings together the 14 episodes from the ninth season, including the hugely controversial “Trapped In The Closet”, which is actually one of the weaker inclusions here (and we somehow doubt that it’s Tom Cruise’s favourite, either). However, it garnered headlines for its tale of Stan taking a Scientology test, and the repercussions of it.

That said, this particular series of South Park has much more to commend it. Across the episodes in what can be easily described as a lively season you’ll find the gang starting their own talent agency, a hippie music festival coming into town, and the small matter of Mr Garrison switching gender. All of this is the foundation for a rapid-fire collection of gags.

What South Park isn’t given credit for often enough though is what’s bubbling up under the surface. The reason creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone never seem to run out of ideas is that very often they have something to say with their episodes. And while, on one level, they can be enjoyed for being the quick hits of outrageous fun they are, there’s a wise intelligence in the midst of it all, too. Perhaps that’s why the show still shows no signs of running out of steam, and season nine is the latest evidence to back that up. --Jon Foster

Synopsis
What began as a construction-paper film short evolved into a veritable pop-culture phenomenon for Trey Parker and Matt Stone's outrageous animated comedy series South Park. Centred on the hilarious misadventures of four potty-mouthed primary schoolers in the perpetually wintry environs of South Park, Colorado, the series skewers the vagaries of the modern American cultural landscape with politically incorrect humour and satirical plotlines ranging from homophobia and terrorism to boy bands and talking poo. This collection presents all 14 episodes from the show's ninth series, including controversial favourites like 'Erection Day', 'Follow That Egg', and 'Trapped In The Closet'.

Customer Reviews

Oh boy... but THAT episode aside, a good season
South Park is an adult comedy cartoon - children and people who don't like foul language, crudity and such things should leave the building.

Before I tackle 'that', I shall say that this season has some really good episodes, and some average ones. 'The Death of Eric Cartman', 'Ginger Kids' (a fine example of Cartman's Alf Garnet/Archie Bunker side in full swing and a suitable comeuppance), 'Marjorine' and the Garrison sex-change episode are probably the stand-outs, as they are just plain funny. The 'Day after Tomorrow' parody is pretty good, and 'Best Friends Forever' is a great example of when they combine dark humour with subtle poignancy. Others, like 'Bloody Mary' are a little too much, and although the point it raises about the AA is interesting, that point is buried under controversy over the crudity level and the excessive disrespect shown to Catholicism. But that's free speech... not always palatable.

All in all this is not as classic a season as seasons 6-8 were - they were the peak so far, in terms of consistent turnout - and sadly, for reasons connected to the rest of this article, it is the last season to feature fresh material from Isaac 'Hot Buttered Soul' Hayes as Chef.

Okay... (deep breath)

Season 9 is notorious for just one episode... the 'Closet' episode. Now, I like free speech, and as other critics have pointed out, Catholicism and Mormonism come off a lot worse than Scientology. The Scientologists should not be so offended, and nor should anybody else; if the doctrine they portray is inaccurate, then say so; if not, then what the problem is, I don't know, it isn't like this has had some 'Mein Kampf' effect, and if I were Jewish I'd be wishing this is as bad as it had got in Nazi Germany. If you decide to buy something, you expect to be clear on what it is and what it does first... something you choose to buy _into_ should be the same, right...? The accusation that it's all about money is levelled at religions across the board, even by the less-edgy Simpsons... so why all the fuss? Free speech allowed the faith to exist, and it must by default allow its critics. That seems fair, especially as this 20-minute cartoon - which is not their best material by any means - doesn't appear to have had much effect other than depriving the show of a (now sadly deceased) leading cast member.

And on that note, I say this; whether the Closet episode is there or not, it matters little. Some of the other episodes are actually a lot better, so just buy on the strength of those, and remain open-minded. That's what it's all about!

Best Season Yet
This is the season ive been waiting for. Its my favourite and just about every episode is a classic, with the mini commentaries making them even better. Of all the things Ive bought off amazon, this is one the best purchases ive made.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

South Park Season 9
Series 9 of southpark is a great series, deff a must have if you like southpark, as every series have really funny episodes in them :)