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Malcolm in the Middle - The Complete First Season

Malcolm in the Middle - The Complete First Season

List Price: $39.98
Your Price: $29.99
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "You're not the boss of me now"
Review: When Malcolm in the Middle first began I was there for every episode. And when it came out on DVD, I was like a child begging for it for Christmas. And I got it. Oh, and it was totally worth the begging. It is by far my most favorite sitcom. The workings of this show is so close to home, yet so unreal. And besides, I happen to be a geek too. I can relate to Malcolm's predicament.

Never seen it? You should. Shame on you for not watching Malcolm in the Middle. Anyway, if you are considering it, I'd highly recommend that you buy it. You'll get hooked. And you know what? When the next season comes out, I'm going to get my copy.

So, please, for laughing's sake. Buy Malcolm in the Middle. You'll laugh so hard, you'll have milk (or whatever you're drinking) come out of your nose. Tears will come to your eyes. You'll be rolling on the floor.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Stuck In The Middle With You
Review: A great comedy series come few and far between in these current times of television. Even then, most of them are the same. What a blessing and a breath of fresh air "Malcolm In The Middle" was when it debuted a few years ago. This family was far from perfect. They weren't clean or in control. It has been said that this is like a live action version of "The Simpsons". That sounds about right. All 16 episodes of the first season are presented here in full screen format(thank god!). Each episode is rich with inspired comedic performances and hilarious and clever writing and direction. It's the first comedy to come along that has made me laugh out loud in years. The series is about Malcolm(Frankie Muniz), the middle child of a crazy family. He speaks to the camera while all of the zaniness goes on around him. He's usually a target for his older brother Reese(played by Justin Berfield), who's an obnoxious bully who always has an idea to cause mayhem or inflict some kind of pain and horror on his younger brothers. Ahhh, big brothers. Then there is little Dewey(Erik Per Sullivan), the baby of the three. Dewey is hard to explain. He doesn't say a whole lot. There is a fourth brother named Francis(played by Christopher Masterson), who has been shipped off to military school, which is where we see him throughout the entire season. I have saved the two best for the very last. Mom Lois(the brilliant Jane Kaczmarek), and doofy dad Hal(the equally brilliant Bryan Cranston). These two are unlike any parents seen on TV in a while. Lois is like a dictator. She is smart. She's tough. She knows when the kids are giving her BS and she doesn't take it. She has a way with punishing them. She knows her stuff. She seems to be the one of the two that is in control of the household and the family. Hal is like a big child himself. The punishing and everything is more Lois' department. He likes to have fun with the boys. He's a very likeable schlub who never seems to get a break. When he does, something goes wrong. These are two extremely interesting and brilliantly performed characters. Why these two haven't won emmy's yet is anyone's guess. The episodes themselves are classic. You can't go wrong with any of them. There are a few standout episodes on the disc. They are all standouts, but these are the best. "Krelboyne Picnic" takes place at a kid's party. Nothing goes right. The entertainers' acts bomb, families get into fights, and Hal serves up some less than desireable food. A good one. "Funeral" has Malcolm having a date, but is stuck having to go to a relative's funeral. He tries to scheme his way out of the ceremony. "Cheerleader" has Reese falling for a teasing cheerleader. He even joins her squad to be close to her and impress her. The two best episodes come late in the season. The first one being "Rollerskates". This is the episode that really made me worship the show. The episode that made this a can't miss show. Malcolm wants to rollerskate. This is music to Hal's ears. He teaches Malcolm all these techniques that only annoy Malcolm. The scene with Hal doing his schtick to the song ' Funkytown' is priceless. A classic gut buster. Perfect. The other episode is the season finale of which I forget the title of it. The family goes to a theme water park. In the meantime, Dewey is babysat by an older lady. The babysitter is played Bea Arthur. The scene with the two of them dancing to the ABBA hit 'Fernando' is another priceless scene until...well, that would be telling. Every other episode is great, but these are my favorites. "Malcolm" is zany, wild fun. But it's intelligently written and performed. It's a show for the ages. Get this disc and get lost in the greatness that is this family.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: frst time viewer
Review: I'd never watched the show before buying the DVD. I have to say that this series is a nice fresh difference when it comes to sitcom. It has a cool style, and you can associate with the characters. I also enjoy the fact that there is no laugh-track. However, as enjoyful as it was, there was nothing which made me laugh so hard I lost my breath. Still a very good show.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Brilliant Show!
Review: I started watching Malcolm in the Middle at the beginning of the current (just-ended) season, on Fox 5 (season four, I think it was)when Lois had baby #5, etc. I saw each episode of season four and enjoyed every one of them and adored several; I immediately got hooked on this show and ordered this DVD (season one, with special features) as soon as I realized it was available. Once I got it, I watched it straight through, more or less, over a weekend and MY GOODNESS!!! The first season is FABULOUS!!! Linwood Boomer (creator of Malcolm in the Middle)is simply brilliant. Each and every show of the first season is utterly hilarious AND well-written And witty AND smart AND succint AND moving AND incredibly well-acted by everyone involved, from the six principal characters (mom Lois, dad Hal, children/brothers Francis, Reese, Malcolm and Dewey) right on down through the supporting players (especially Francis's Drill Sergeant, Spangler, and Malcolm's best buddy and fellow genius, Stevie). I really think that Bryan Cranston (Hal, the dad) should have won three Emmy awards by now...he is INCREDIBLE and utterly content to take a backseat to Jane Kazcmarek (Lois), because he obviously realized right away that it worked best that way. Kudos to him for that! In my opinion, he shines the brightest in every scene he's in just because he's understands the Hal character so perfectly...he steals almost every scene from Kaczmarek's Lois who has more dialogue and is by far more dominant, louder, better-looking, and nuttier. (Jane Kazcmarek has an easier role to play, in my opinion, than Bryan Cranston. She certainly does a great job and is as famous as Frankie Muniz (Malcolm) for her great work, but it's really Cranston who has a harder role and pulls it off brilliantly in every scene that he's in. Watch Cranston in the "Special Features" segments and you'll see how different he really is from the character he plays.) I'd have to say that Hal is my favorite character on this wonderful show, followed by Malcolm. Frankie Muniz as Malcolm is absolutely terrific and adorable and SO smart as an actor...he loses something in the later seasons, maybe because he grew so much and his voice changed and he lost the "Adorable Little Boy Genius Perpetually Befuddled by his Family" appeal...Muniz still does a good job now, certainly, but he was utterly superb in this first season. The season finale, which takes place in a water park, was my favorite (I was screaming with laughter), but a VERY close second was the "Rollerskates" episode. The first episode was also excellent, if slightly awkward and strange at certain spots, probably because every character was not fully defined yet and the actors were still feeling them out and getting to know each other. Only Maloclm remains the same character from that first episode through the rest of the season one episodes; the others change very subtlely (for the better). MY GOODNESS, WHEN IS SEASON TWO COMING OUT ON DVD??? ANYONE HAVE ANY IDEA??? I'm in withdrawal here! HELP!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Outstanding first season for the "true" American family
Review: I don't know about you, but I've always felt that The Simpsons didn't represent the goofyness at the heart of the American family. I'll admit it--the family on this television program represents mine at the most intimate level. One exception is that whatever humor we find in situations that occur in ours is usually in hindsight. Luckily we can laugh at this family the first time around.

The DVD is of exceptional quality. The full screen presentation does suffer from grain problems on occasion but, on the whole, the transfers are very good. The commentary, outtakes and gag reel are worth the price alone. While the show has continued to evolve and is still as funny as the first season (and, yes, I believe this is the best written sitcom bar none--it's also better written and funnier at a gutbusting level than the Simpsons. Don't get me wrong, I admire The Simpsons but it's strayed away from the very qualities that made it special and funny a long, long time ago).

Frankie Muniz is perfectly cast as Malcolm but, more importantly, the actors portraying this family are equally as loopy and fun to observe. I really haven't found a weak link in the first season casting. The pilot deservingly won Emmys for best direction and writing. The extended version adds a bit of additional fun that wasn't on the final aired version. Additionally, there are bits added to a couple of episodes that were deleted for time constraints and other reasons when the original episodes aired in 2000. It's amazing that such a quality show could ever have been seen as nothing more than a mid-season replacement.

While the box set is a bit light on episodes (there wasn't a full season produced during season one as it was a replacement series) the extras more than make up for that. Additionally, the commentary adds quite a bit to a couple of episodes and make the discs worth viewing again just to find out the odd little tidbits mentioned.

While Season Two would continue to build on the success of the first season, it wasn't until Season three that there was additional comic depth added to the program.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: great
Review: This dvd set is great. I have been waiting a long time for season 2, and many others have as well. (...)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: GREAT FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT!
Review: This is a great investment in family entertainment. We watched the whole season with our kids' grandparents and hadn't laughed so hard in a long time.It also provides an excellent forum for discussion of pertinent issues with kids. We highly recommend it to everyone we know and are hopeful that additional seasons will become available soon.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Best season out of all of em'
Review: Malcom in the middle is one of the best shows that came on fox since the simpsons,X files, and of course FAMILY GUY.
This had all my favorite episodes!
Including the Pilot episode which was my 3rd favorite malcom episode.

Each episode is great.
Especially the red dress episode!

Though the newest season of the show, well uh...sucked.
This season doesn't. It has it's share of ups and downs but overall this is a great show for the entire family.

If you're a fan of MITM then this is the perfect season to get.
Get this series....Trust me it's as funny as it gets. And the dvd is great! With some nice extras and good features.

Get it......

Later

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Malcolm is at his best!
Review: This set gives America just what they didnt want to see. Malcolm in the Middle is a fantastic look at the american family with all the crazy antics and tragic fun we all love in a good comedy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Fox Get Off Your A**
Review: When is Fox going to start releasing the other seasons? And why is this in the 9000 something selling rank. Come on guys this is one of the best shows on television.


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