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Review
Archives
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Today's
Date is:
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Felicity
- The Complete First Season
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Reviewed
by: |
David
Litton |
| Genre: |
Television
Drama |
| Video: |
1.33:1
fullframe |
| Audio: |
English Dolby
Digital 2.0 |
| Language: |
English
|
| Subtitle: |
English
(cc) |
| Length: |
Approx.
1080 min |
| Rating: |
Not
Rated |
| Release
Date: |
11/5/2002
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| Studio: |
Buena
Vista Home Entertainment |
| Commentary:
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Screen-specific
commentary with co-creators J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves |
| Documentaries:
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None |
| Featurettes:
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None |
| Filmography/Biography:
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None |
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Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
Sneak peeks |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
None |
| Cast
and Crew: |
Keri Russell,
Scott Speedman, Scott Foley, Tangi Miller, Greg Grunberg, Amanda
Foreman |
| Screenplay
by: |
Assorted |
| Produced
by: |
Assorted |
| Directed
By: |
Assorted |
| Music: |
Assorted |
| The
Review: |
It may not have been as big a hit
as hoped for from the WB, but "Felicity" certainly ranks as
one of the network's most popular series to date. Beginning
in 1998 and bidding its farewell earlier this year, the show
stars the age-defying Keri Russell as the title character,
who is seen in the pilot episode of the series chasing her
high school crush Ben Covington (Scott Speedman) to New York
City, only to make that shocking discovery that life isn't
all about school-girl crushes and dreams coming true. ***
It's a standard teen drama, covering
basic issues like the rape of a secondary character, a new
love interest between Felicity and Noel Crane (Scott Foley),
resurfacing emotions between Ben and Felicity... you get the
picture by now, I'm sure. Truth be told, it's much more interesting
to watch the actors chew on the material than to pay attention
to much of anything else: Russell always puts on a well-rounded,
sparkling demeanor that is pleasing to the eye, while her
two male counterparts provide the show with enough masculinity
to keep the teen girls in the target audience swooning. While
it may have lived a relatively short life on television, "Felicity"
has left its mark on those who loved it.
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| Image
and Sound |
Pretty much a standard TV-goes-DVD
release in terms of the appearance of the episodes on the
format. The 1.33:1 fullframe aspect ratio features remarkable
use of warm, inviting colors complimented by solid blacks
and accurate fleshtones. Contrasts are wanting, however, and
the overall brown saturation of the color scheme provides
for some melding. Clarity could be improved upon, but is not
bothersome; while it's not an eye-popping experience, the
DVD preserves these episodes better than most other television
shows to hit the format. ***
The sound is mastered in Dolby Digital
2.0, and for what it is, it works. Considering the fact that
this is a dialogue-driven piece, you're not going to be blown
away by deep bass or surround usage, but the dialogue sounds
clean and remains nicely centered, and it fits the show nicely.
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| The
Extras |
Some
commentaries and a trailer... not much for such a lofty price.
|
| Commentary |
Only
a few extras grazing this release. There are two commentaries
from co-creators J.J. Abrams and Matt Reeves, one for the pilot
episode, the other for the season finale. I like this because
it gives them a chance to discuss the beginning and ending of
the show's first seasion as well as the in-between parts. Their
conversation is generally geared towards Felicity fans, but
newcomers may find it entertaining. |
| Final
Words: |
It
may not be one of the more popular WB shows like the neverending
"Dawson's Creek," but "Felicity," with all its college-girl
charm and acting chops, dazzles in all the right ways. The DVD
is a step above the barren release of the show "Once and Again,"
but it's a very small step, and for diehard fans only considering
the price. |
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