| Review:
|
After fans wanting it in season sets for
years, Matlock finally hits the DVD format. ***
The story behind Matlock is simple enough. Andy Griffith
(Andy Griffith Show, Salvage 1) stars as the title character,
an attorney who goes above and beyond when it comes to defending
his clients. With a plethora of interesting characters and
guest stars, the series ran from 1986-1995 - with its popularity
always remaining fairly high. ***
This 6-disc set contains all 23 episodes from the show’s
now-classic second season. There are some classics here,
including the Billionaire episode. In addition to having
a brilliant main cast, led by the always excellent Andy
Griffith, plenty of guest stars appeared over the course
of the show's nearly decade-long run. The season season
is no exception. Matlock is a classic series that stands
the test of time, and it's about time we get it in season
sets! With solid acting, entertaining guest stars, and a
plotline so simple yet so effective, it's a fantastic series,
and it's as entertaining now as it's ever been. ***
I also wanted to point out, before moving on, that the
DVD set has Paramount's now-standard “some shows may have
been changed from the broadcast versions” disclaimer. It's
impossible to tell what, if anything, has been altered.
But I wouldn't worry too much about this. If there have
been any cuts or edits, they certainly don't impact enjoyment
of the episodes. ---
Image and Sound: Matlock gets an average-looking and
sounding transfer to the DVD format. Picture quality shows
its age, looking a bit soft and fuzzy at times, with the
occasional blemish to the quality. Audio fares slightly
better, but it's clear that neither audio nor video were
touched up nearly as much as they should have been. Still,
it's better than a lot of old TV shows on DVD look and sound.
---
|
| Special
Features: |
All we get are some alternate endings for the Hucksters
episode… Why couldn’t they hunt down Andy Griffith and have
him record some interviews or commentaries? They’d better
do it for one of the upcoming season sets, and soon, because
at the rate Paramount is releasing the sets, the show’s
former star may be dead and gone before we have the complete
series on DVD. ---
|
