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The Simpsons - The Complete First Season

The Simpsons - The Complete First Season

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

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Whoo Hoo!
Review: Just recently got this, and it is fantastic.

Why do I love this DVD set?

#1 Is price. Compare the price for a 3 DVD set, containing the entire, un-cut, un-edited first season of the Simpsons! With the price for the special VHS releases they did awhile back, such as the "Political Simpsons Set," and the "Halloween Simpsons Set," and you will see which is the better deal (even now).

#2 DVD quality. ( I have no idea what the other reviewers are talking about - I have a high definition TV, and I am using component video cables, and it looks crystal clear to me.) If you tape the Simpsons every week like I do, or you buy the few VHS releases they have put out, and compare these VHS versions to DVD you will see quite obviously the difference in quality of both video and sound (my DVD player is using s-video so that may be why my video is so much better). It is even more fun if you have your DVD player hooked up into a good sound system, surround sound Simpsons is INCREDIBLE! Then there is the fact that with DVD's you don't ever have to rewind anything ever again, and you can pause the action and slow-step through it, and actually SEE what is on the screen.

#3 All 13 episodes of the first season:
1. "Simpsons Roasting on an open fire"
2. "Bart the genius"
3. "Homer's Odyssey"
4. "There's no Disgrace like home"
5. "Bart the General"
6. "Moaning Lisa"
7. "Call of the Simpsons"
8. "The Telltale Head"
9. "Life on the Fast Lane"
10. "Homer's Night Out"
11. "The Crepes of Wrath"
12. "Krusty Gets Busted"
13. "Some Enchanted Evening"

#4 BONUS MATERIAL!
In contrast to VHS special features which invariably have to be tacked onto the end of a VHS tape, and only if the movie isn't that long - DVD special features can be numerous, and you can jump right to them if you like. As more and more seasons are released on DVD I imagine that the special features will be getting even more interesting as the cast and crew digs up their notes, cut-scenes and other goodies. But here is what was included on this set:

DISK ONE:
a.) "Bart the Genius" script.
b.) "Bart the General" script.
c.) "Moaning Lisa" script.
d.) All episodes are available in the English language or French with only spoken language, or subtitles as well. Plus a sound selection of 5.1 Surround, or Dolby Surround.
*The scripts are cool because they are scanned into the DVD format and you can step-through them and see the original script for an episode, including stage and voice actor-type directions, and you can see things that were crossed out, and replaced, or things that were highlighted or emphasized. It is something that you have to be a Simpsons fan to love*
DISK TWO:
a.) All episodes are available in the English language or French with only spoken language, or subtitles as well. Plus a sound selection of 5.1 Surround, or Dolby Surround.
DISK THREE:
a.) Never before seen outtakes. *The outtakes are from an unaired version of "Some Enchanted Evening," and they really aren't anything all that spectacular, just the Simpsons being goofier and more "cartoon-like" than they normally are. But the bonus here is there is the option of watching the outtakes with commentary from Matt Groeing, James L. Brooks, David Silverman and Al Jean.*
b.) Animatic from "Bart the General." *This is sort of an "evolution of a scene" type thing, where you see a scene go from idea, to rough sketch to final version, it also has commentary by Matt Groeing and David Silverman.*
c.) The Making of the Simpsons, "America's First Family". *Sort of a "behind the scenes" look into how the Simpsons got started, with a narration from some female narrator. Matt Groeing, tells the origins of how he got the Simpsons started - bumpers between the acts of the Tracey Ullman Show.
d.) Foreign language clips. *These are just the same short clip of a scene but available in French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and Portuguese. Useful if you are studying a foreign language and you want to try out your listening/comprehension skills. Or if you are curious as to what they Simpsons sound like in different countries.*
e.) Tracey Ullman Short: "Good Night Simpsons." *This is just one of the many Tracey Ullman bumpers that they made, I was actually disappointed that they only included one of them on this set. But oh well - maybe the next set.*
f.) Albert Brooks Audio Outtakes. *Albert Brooks did the voice for the romantic bowler Marge almost had an affair with. In this special feature they show clips of the show, and Albert Brooks goofing around with his lines, amusing, but not hysterical.
g.) The art of the Simpsons. *Shows the creation and design of many of the Simpsons characters, and other interesting tidbits.*
h.) "Some Enchanted Evening" script.
i.) All episodes are available in the English language or French with only spoken language, or subtitles as well. Plus a sound selection of 5.1 Surround, or Dolby Surround.

Well there is my review. I hope it has been helpful for those of you who read reviews to see if you should buy something. The only complaint I have about this DVD set is the packaging could have been a helluva lot sturdier. The DVD trays are in a 4-part fold out style, and the covers are done in thin cardboard-like paper. Although I must say that at least they chose a DVD tray that holds the DVDs in place while storing them, but allows you to remove them without any kung-fu knowledge. Plastic casing would have been better, or at least sturdier cardboard, but hey that is small potatoes compared to what you get. And the art of the DVDs and the case is very well done.

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Simpsons are great, extras are usless
Review: If you like Simpsons and feel you HAVE to have them in your collection, then go ahead and get it. But if you are interested in extras or supplementary material - this DVD is pretty useless. The most surprising to me was how bland and boring are commentary of the creators of the Simpsons: they obviously do not know what to say, it all just chit-chat between 3 of them with very little substance. I do not think there is a single extra on this DVD that make it worth buying, unless, of course, you are interested to read original scripts on your TVs screens.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Good stuff
Review: This DVD is a fan's dream, and is loaded with clips, commentary, and of course the groundbreaking first season of shows.I Like ultimate street brawls at streetbrawls.com A landmark show finally has a fitting DVD set. The early episodes of course aren't quite as sharp in the animation department, as the art and produciton values will continue to grow with each season. The writing is there, however, and its fun seeing how the characters have evolved/grown over time. And hey, these are the classic episodes! I look forward to the release of the rest of the seasons, but for now will enjoy this wonderful set. If you are a fan (and you probably are since you're reading this) this is a must have. This is the kind of set you go buy a DVD player for!

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Don't Get It Just BECAUSE You're A Fan
Review: Personally, I was very disappointed in this set. We had been promised all of the Tracy Ullman shorts, and we're given only one. This was my main reason for purchasing the set. Otherwise, the extras are useless.

I can see the episodes endlessly on TV. Why have them without something pretty cool to go along with it? In this case, it's bark (packaging) is much better than its bite.

I traded the set the very next day, and felt much less dirty. I was so angered that my first two reviews were rejected as too... something. That's how strongly I felt.

I will not be looking forward to, nor purchasing, any subsequent sets.

So sad. So very, very sad.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: It's good, but...
Review: I bought a region 4 of this and I presume they're all exactly the same: at the end of every episode the viewer has to sit through those endless copyright notes you can't skip. Seeing it once, fair enough, but EVERY TIME I watch a single episode, I can't move onto the next ep without seeing this loooong list of Don'ts after the closing credits.
The DVD itself is great and the voice overs of Groenig et al funny, albeit often not even remotely related to the action going on before them!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: need to own
Review: well if you consider yourself in the least a simpsons fan than you need this DVD collection. This is the first season. Kinda like a foundation for all other seasons to be enjoyed. Its a little raw being the beginning but there are many quality scenes like when they shock each other at the Dr's office. This is a must have for when friends stop by or a sunday afternoon.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It can only get better
Review: I am an animation lover and I always snap up the 'definitive collector's editions'. Naturally, I'm delighted that the Simpsons will be joining my DVD rack soon and I can retire my worn old tapes. This is a very good start to a great cartoon dynasty here.

Great things about these DVDs: Complete-and-uncut, crisp, digital-sound episodes.

Consider-for-future-DVDs things: More production art (the character sketches could have been a little better chosen). A studio tour would be great, perhaps a section with Alf Clausen on the music of the show, tighter proofing of the audio commentaries (there's a lot of repetition and, while the spontaneity of Groening/Silverman et al. is great, it needs to be more tightly planned and with a touch more professionalism. Lasseter and the gang at Pixar do it perfectly.). More about the show's history - like the technical and artistic transition from Ullman show to primetime. And finally, a feature to just run all the episodes back-to-back would be great (rather than have to go through menues to play each one).
As said, it's a very good start. I would suggest to Fox that they study the DVDs Disney puts out. They have collector's DVDs down to a fine art. Some fans are happy to just have the episodes, but an equal number want to bask in the genius BEHIND the show too. Fox HAS the material there, it's time to show it off!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: From Humble Beginnings
Review: The Simpsons have earned a spot in American television history as one of the best cartoon series of all time. Who among us is not familair with Homer, Bart, Lisa, Marge and Maggie Simpson? Or catch phrases such as "Don't have a cow, man", "Eat my shorts", and "D'oh!" They are perhaps the most dysfunction fictional family on television; yet, they are more of a family unit than the Bundy's from "Married With Children", and certainly more endearing, and easier to love.

"The Simpsons", of course, were born on The Tracy Ullmann Show, as mere short sketches. They were crude drawings, harkening the stone age of their humble beginnings; their bodies etched and drawn as though they preceeded the age of "The Flinstones"; their voices were deeper, more scratchy; their movements less than dynamic.

For anyone who has not seen these sketches, or are less familair with episodes from the first year of "The Simpsons"; who only grew up watching episodes from the later years, when the Simpson family looked more defined, more molded into what we are used to seeing a cartoon character look like, it may be difficult for them to watch the earlier programs.

But for those of use who love "The Simpsons", no matter their appearance, "The Simpsons - The Complete First Season" will most definitively appease our raging appetites. They are still crudely drawn; they still have less than dynamic motions, and they still possess the deep and scratchy voices. And yet, all that is overshadowed due to the brilliant writing behind the scenes. The simple fact is - "The Simpsons" is genuinely hilarious. They give us an ample supply of events to laught at, as did "Married With Children". The difference is that "The Simpsons" possess more heart than the Bundy family ever could. We are not merely laughing at the Simpson family, and mocking their livelihoods; and we do not consider them to deserve all the bad things that happen to them, as we do with the Bundy's.

The first year of "The Simpsons" includes such classic episodes as "Simpsons Roasting On An Open fire". A Christmas episode where Homer tries his hand at being a shopping mall Santa Claus so he can earn enough money to buy his family presents. When he recieves his pay check, and finds out the cost of his suit and the Santa classes, have been deducted, leaving him with about eleven dollars, he is in despair, and ends up at a race track for hounds, hoping to win the money he needs to buy the gifts. This episode also introduces the Simpson family dog, Santa's Little Helper.

A Second episode is "Crepes of Wrath". Bart becomes an exchange student. He goes to live with a family in France, which turns out to be two bad men making illegal liquor. They abuse him to no end, until he is able to escape and, having learned some French, finds a local policeman and tells him about the men. Bart is an instance hero.

A third episode is "Krusty Gets Busted". All loyal Simpson fans are familair with Sideshow Bob, and his hatred of Bart, and his schemes to kill him. This is the episode which started it all. Krusty is framed for robbery, and it is up to Bart, his last remaining loyal fan, to find the real robber.

"The Simpsons" owes much of its early success to great writing. And though the writing of today's episodes are still funny, and worth watching and laughing at, the first season of "The Simpsons", is perhaps their finest season of all.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: It's about time.
Review: The Simpsons have been one of my favorite shows since I can't remember. This DVD does a wonderful job of bringing back those old fantastic episodes, which while not perfect animation wise, are still classics and possibly some of the best in the shows history. Even if you have never seen The Simpsons (those five of you left) this DVD set is one of the best sets out there.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Its the simpsons
Review: Its the simpsons, in their first season, what else could one ask for? The added commentary and scripts are wonderful additions.


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