Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.0
Audio		4.0
Extras		2.0
Overall		3.5

South Park: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie Review

Say what?

South Park's fifth season begins by breaking down a language barrier, opening with an episode about a TV show that's going to utter the "S" word a single time, and throughout the episode itself uses the word so many times it keeps a running tally on the screen. Matt and Trey once again break down barriers in hilarious fashion, not building up to a moment but making the entire episode the moment, going all-in and full-throttle in their pursuit of airing as much verbal crudity as possible...and it's not like the season is without physical crudity as well, including the reveal of a new mode of transportation that makes the rider suck on one stick while another penetrates the buttocks. Yup, it's South Park in all of its rude and crude glory. Season five offers a little less in the way of pointed commentary, instead more subtly making noise about issues such as wealth and race, homosexuality, scientology, and stem cell research. The season offers plenty of hilarious Cartman antics, revels in various stereotypes (notably Kyle's cousin), and dabbles in life in the post-9/11 world.

• It Hits the Fan: A popular television drama is going to use the “S” word, redefining the television landscape. Almost all of South Park is hooked on every syllable. But once the word airs, everyone begins using it, but the barrage of obscenities isn’t without consequences.
• Cripple Fight: The boys are headed to scouts, and none other than Big Gay Al is in charge of Troop 69. Jimmy entertains the troop with his own brand of stand-up comedy and is invited to join the group of Stan, Kenny, Cartman, and Timmy…much to Timmy’s dismay, who doesn’t want to share the cripple spotlight with anyone else, leading to a massive fight in the vein of They Live.
• Super Best Friends: Magician David Blaine brainwashes the boys. Stan sees through it all and wiggles his way out (after shaving his head), and must assemble the "Super Best Friends," led by Jesus and including other famous figures, to save the day.
• Scott Tenorman Must Die: Cartman claims to have just reached manhood because he has pubic hair. But he actually bought them from high schooler Scott Tenorman. When he learns the error of his ways and cannot secure a refund, he vows revenge.
• Terrance and Phillip: Behind the Blow: Terrance and Phillip are coming to the Denver coliseum. The boys are beyond overjoyed, but their hopes of attending are quickly dashed when the Earth Day Brainwashing Festival heads to town and they are forcibly enlisted to help set up during the show. They lie about recruiting the Canadian duo to perform at the festival and must find a way to not only get them on board, but help them reconcile their differences.
• Cartmanland: Cartman’s grandmother has died, and she has left him one million dollars. It fulfills a lifelong dream, and he intends to spend it on the one thing he has always wanted: his own amusement park.
• Proper Condom Use: Cartman learns how to “beat off” a dog, and the process becomes a hit with the boys. Stan gets grounded for doing it, and the South Park parents demand that the school start teaching sexual education at a younger age.

• Towelie: Stan’s mom buys her son the new 2001 Okama Gamesphere video game console. The system absorbs the boys’ lives, and they suddenly find themselves randomly in the company of Towelie, a living towel with bits of life advice and invitations to get high. But when a couple of government spooks figure out that they know about the towel, they take the console and demand the towel in exchange to get it back.
• Osama bin Laden Has Farty Pants: In the post-9/11 word, the boys fear the worst in their everyday lives. Their bags are searched prior to getting on the bus and the school mandates that the boys contribute $1 each to Afghan children. In return, the Afghan children send a goat to South Park, which the boys cannot keep, and accidentally fly halfway around the world to return it.
• How to Eat with Your Butt: For school picture day, Kenny manages to get his buttocks photographed instead of his face. Cartman finds it hilarious, has it printed on milk cartons, and captures the attention of real people with butts for faces who are looking for their long-lost son. Meanwhile, Butters’ “bad picture” -- a hair out of place -- lands him in the principal’s office.
• The Entity: Frustrated with the state of airline travel in the post-9/11 world, Mr. Garrison invents a new mode of transportation that’s…unique to say the least. Meanwhile, Kyle’s cousin Kyle visits, and he’s very needy and obnoxious.
• Here Comes the Neighborhood: Cartman takes issue not only with Token’s race, but also with his family’s wealth. Token begins to question his and his family’s status and demands that he get his clothes where everyone else does. But he cannot escape the privilege and launches a campaign to bring more wealthy black families to South Park so he might have more in common with other children his age.
• Kenny Dies: They killed Kenny! For real! Meanwhile, Cartman attempts to sell aborted fetuses.
• Butters' Very Own Episode: Butters' mother does her best Susan Smith impersonation.

South Park: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

South Park: The Complete Fifth Season's 1080p transfer follows suit with the previous entries on Blu-ray, offering a generally good, even excellent, general picture quality that's hampered by occasional bursts of severely jagged edges. Some episodes fare worse than others; "Scott Tenorman Must Die," "Cartmanland," and "The Entity" are noticeably more affected. "Super Best Friends" introduces some serious judder effects that are not present on any other episode. Otherwise, the image is stable and pleasing, with solid clarity and textural delights even in the relatively flat animation. Colors are pleasing and accurate insofar as the series' bright but otherwise rather limited palette allows.

South Park: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

South Park: The Complete Fifth Season features a Dolby TrueHD 5.1 lossless soundtrack that's in-line with the quality of previous seasons. The track never wants for added clarity of stability, featuring firm, well defined music (whether the more thumping opening title song or lighter, more basic supports) as one of the highlights. General sound effects in school and elsewhere offer positive definition and good basic placement. The Afghan War episode delivers the most intensive bass as American planes bomb various structures in quick succession. "Super Best Friends" enjoys some solid reverberation in an auditorium. Dialogue propels the season, and it's presented with excellent clarity and front-center placement.

South Park: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

South Park: The Complete Fifth Season contains only the "mini commentaries" for each episode. Parker and Stone talk up the episodes in short-burst chunks.

South Park: The Complete Fifth Season Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

South Park's fifth season is just another in a long line of comedic excellence. Several episodes stand apart, including the season's vulgar debut, the "cripple fight," the introduction of Towlie, and Kenny's real death. South Park: The Complete Fifth Season's Blu-ray offers generally good but occasionally problematic video, solid lossless audio, and the "mini commentary" tracks. Highly recommended.