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| Dvdivas
was founded by John Gabbard in 2000. It's purpose has been and
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the latest dvds and movie reviews. It will continue to be your
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“The
Simpsons- The Complete Fourth Season”
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Reviewed
by: |
Wayne A. Klein |
| Genre: |
Comedy |
| Video: |
1.33:1 Full
Screen |
| Audio: |
Dolby Digital
Surround 2.0 |
| Languages |
English |
| Subtitles |
English |
| Length |
506 minutes
|
| Rating |
NR |
| Release Date |
6/15/04 |
| Studio |
20th Century
Fox Home Video |
| Commentary:
|
On all the
episodes by Matt Groening |
| Documentaries:
|
None |
| Featurettes:
|
“Animation Showcases”,
“The Cajun Controversy”, “Bush vs. the Simpsons” |
| Filmography/Biography:
|
None |
|
Interviews: |
None |
| Trailers/TV
Spots: |
Previews |
| Alternate/Deleted
Scenes: |
None |
| Music
Video: |
None |
| Other:
|
Deleted scenes,
Easter egg bonus commentary and sketches, promotional syndication
reel, “A word from Matt Groening”, Animatic with optional commentary
|
| Cast
and Crew: |
Dan Castellaneta,
Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright, Yeardley Smith, Hank Azaria,
Harry Shearer, Marcia Wallace, Phil Hartman |
| Written
By: |
Richard Appel,
Neal Boushell, J. Stewart Burns |
| Produced
By: |
James L.
Brooks, Matt Groening |
| Directed
By: |
Neil Affleck,
Mark Ervin, Mark Kirkland |
| Music:
|
Danny Elfman
(theme) |
| The
Review: |
America’s greatest sitcom? Possibly.
Satire has never found a better home than “The Simpsons”.
Over the years the series has addressed a number of serious
issues with tongue firmly in cheek. Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa
and Maggie and the other extended family members on this series
regular take on serious issues in comedic form. What’s brilliant
about the show is how entertaining the producers can be in
their message of tolerance in the differences in others and
other major issues of the day. No other producer has been
able to rack up such a consistently funny and topical series.
---
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| Image
and Sound: |
“The Simpsons”
looks better the most seductive jelly filled donut. It sounds
almost as good as well. You could probably hear the jelly squirt
out as Homer bit into it on this nicely done transfer. The lush
cartoon colors of Springfield are faithfully reproduced with
better texture and much brighter than I recall in the TV broadcasts
of the various episodes. There was some minor distortion on
a couple of episodes. It appears that this distortion was caused
by a manufacturing flaw in the set that I watched (not too dissimilar
to the issues surrounding “The X-Files” boxed sets as well).
I wouldn’t expect to find this problem on most of the discs
you could purchase at a store or via the internet. --- |
| The
Extras: |
“The Simpsons”
comes with more goodies than a box of donuts. Well, not really
but it’s got more extras than any other boxed set in a similar
price range. We get a trio of featurettes that are all high
quality to say the least. Yes, there are recycled clips from
the show to illustrate the point (something I detest in boxed
sets) but there’s plenty of original material as well. Additionally,
we get deleted scenes, an Easter egg bonus commentary track,
sketches and promotional syndication reel that fans wouldn’t
otherwise see prior to the advent of DVD.
|
| Commentary:
|
Here’s where
the set really shines. With commentary on all the episodes,
it’s like attending a class in comedy taught by Matt Groening.
His insightful, funny, probing and occasionally off the wall
comments make this enjoyable enough to watch with only the commentary
tracks. |
| Final
Words: |
“The Simpsons-The
Complete Fourth Season” shines. Fox has done a spectacular job
putting together this set and kudos to the DVD producers for
gathering such a wealth of featurettes, deleted scenes, commentary
tracks and background information on the show. America’s best
sitcom continues to age gracefully and the fourth season caught
the series nearing its peak. Even at its worst “The Simpsons”
is better than an exceptional comedy series. This set will hit
you like a baker’s dozen hits Homer; you won’t be able to leave
it alone and once you get your fill, you’re going to want a
whole lot more. |
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