Rating: 
Summary: Why this show got cancelled is beyond me
Review: Okay, it is common knowledge today that the cancelling of "My So Called Life" was a dumb, dumb decision by the powers that be at ABC, but what a lot of people have forgotten is how great this show was.
The template that gave us both Claire Danes and Jared Leto in showcased in its nineteen epiosode glory. And though not every epiosode is flawless, for the most part, this is as real as network television came to understanding the adolscent expiernce in the ninties.
Some key epiosodes are(sorry, I don't remember the title to all of these, so I'm gonna give a brief description of 'em.):
1. Pilot: The introduction to the show sets up what would follow in the eighteen epoisode that followed.
2. The episode where there is a shooting at the school. A definte problem in the latter half of the ninties, this epiosode showcases how ahead of its time this show was.
3. The epiosode where Rayanne overdoses of ecstasy and too much alcohol. Shows shy away from the subject of teen substance abuse, but not this one, which showcased it with sadness and a little bit of horror at the same time.
4. The epiosode where Rayanne joins Frozen Embroys. If jsut to see Jared Leto, pre-30 Seconds to mars-singing the Ramones. Funny.
5. The epiosode where Rayanne and Jared Leto, uhm, get it on. The repricotions of the action are shown with such honesty, its amazing that the creator of this show wasn't a teen herself when she created this show.
Rating:
Summary: The most amazing television you will ever watch
Review: This show is real. Forget Dawson's Creek, no one talks like that. Forget anything else you've ever watched. This is what it's really like to be a teenager. If you've forgotten... it sucks. But you survived, didn't you? This series will remind you how. And maybe scare you a bit if you have kids of your own.The acting and script-writing in this series is mind-blowing. If you've never seen it, you've missed out. Technical issues like poor sound quality, and the occasional episode with slightly ropey colour, would mar it a little were it not for the fact that these are the best five DVDs on the planet. I cannot recommend it highly enough. What are you waiting for? Buy it now.
Rating:
Summary: Why I dont watch TV anymore
Review: I was the same age as the main character in the show, Angela, when the show aired on ABC. I am male, but I could still relate to Angela and her coming of age, youth driven angst. In my opinion, this is the best show, ever, to be shown on TV. The reason why it had low ratings was because most audiences could not understand it -- they are used to the usual mindless drivel like "Friends" or "King of the Hill". I just found out that I could get My So Called Life on DVD a few days ago. Thinking about this show almost makes me want to cry -- because of how much it spoke to me and how it was taken off the air so quickly. Also, I was never into the grunge or alternative scene -- I was into rap, hip hop, and pop music back then. Nevertheless, I was able to relate to Angela, as I think many other people can. This show definitely transcends any racial or cultural boundaries. Decisions to drop shows like My So Called Life, Relativity, and Freaks and Geeks from television are the main reasons I don't watch TV anymore. It seems like if any show has substance, it will not last on the networks...
Rating:
Summary: A Real Teenagers Life Caught On Screen
Review: I loved this DVD. The first time I saw it was of course on MTV.But I would catch it when I could which wasn't very often. So then I saw the collection at my home library. And I picked it up and took it home. I watched it over and over again. And I fell in love with it. Because it shows the true problems of a teens life. Not the little stupid stuff other tv shows, show like people being irritated by their little brothers. It shows real stuff. Like people having crushes on people who don't even know there alive.I mean the main character Angela doesn't have the perfect life. She's not like the girl who plays on clueless with the perfect life, the perfect hair, rich, and all the good stuff. She has real life problems like her friend Rayane ODS on drugs. And Rickie gets beat at home to the point that he's scared to go home and lives on the street. I mean this is real stuff not the stupid little stories people make up.This is a great DVD home collection and I would recommend it to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: Perfect
Review: When I saw that this was on DVD I was genuinly shocked. While 4 seasons of Friends and the dead Dark Angel are transferred to quality DVD before something like Northern Exposure or Thirtysomething, it's suprising to see a show of such quality given it's proper respect. Gorgeous in it's bumbling nervousness, this show is the only television that ever came this close to representing the anxiety of adolescence. And for that very reason it was cancelled. Despite the fact that this only lasted 2 seasons, and maybe because of that as well, it accurately and near perfectly captures those couple of years between the onset of hormonal havoc and the confidence gained from a first kiss. The complete series: what more could you ask for? Well, I suppose some special features. Personally, the actual show (and in its entirety, no less) is special enough.
Rating:
Summary: a great series
Review: I am glad to see that they finally released this series on DVD. This series was a life saver growing up in today's society. It's so real and rang true in a lot of ways for me in my life. I would recommend this series to anyone, especially teens. Even though it is a little old (1995) it is still a great series that will never be out dated!
Rating:
Summary: Delicious
Review: It is only in recent years that psychologists have identified early adolescence as critical, high stakes years for just about everyone. My So-Called Life shows us why. In its inimitable gentle, compelling, realistic, loving and at times gut-wrenching way, it takes us through scenarios that reconnect us with our own experiences and feelings. Emphathy with the characters is immediate and deep. Confronting the issues of growing up in a world that can be exhiliarating or hurtful, reassuring or jarring, and all in the same day, takes masterful writing and acting which this series has to extreme. From it, we emerge with deeper insights, reconciliation of our own experiences, -- and all with a warm glow of having been put in touch with our own humanity. Ingenious. Well worth the while of most of us. That the major networks cut the series in its first year does not detract from this -- quite the contrary, considering the source.
Rating:
Summary: I'm speechless; it's that good!
Review: "My So-Called Life" is not good television; it's extraordinary television-making. It is what TV shows could be if people took the time to create them instead of worry about how much money will be made.
I fell in love with "My So-Called Life" when it was rerun on MTV awhile back, just like everyone else. After purchasing the DVD set and rewatching the episodes, I've fallen in love all over again. How can any show be this good? It's not just the extraordinarily witty and insightful writing, not just the excellent acting, the complex characters, its...everything.
MSCL is real; it's the antithesis to shows like Dawson's Creek. Its characters are real. They're flawed, but in believable ways. It's a very complex, nuanced, and subtle show. What's great about this show is that none of the characters are given the "short end of the stick". Each character unforgetable and multilayered. Angela Chase herself is one of the most complex characters ever created for television. There's just so much to her that you can't believe someone made her up. Such a shame that we didn't get to know her better before the show was cancelled. My favourite character though is Brian Krakow, the first TV character I could identify with. Brian's a sort of tragic anti-hero nerd. Characters like this have appeared in other shows, but usually as comic relief. MSCL has sympathy for Brian and gives him a voice, yet does not overlook his many faults. There's just so much psychology, philosophy, so much depth and genius in MSCL.
I honestly do not believe there's a bad episode in the entire show (albeit there were only 19 episodes ever made). The Halloween episode comes close, but it was worth it just to see Danielle dressed up as Angela and all the unconscious tension it implied. In general I thoroughly enjoyed watching ever second of every episode. I'm stunned with awe after every episode. This show is for anyone who's ever been a teenager in the 90's. It captures perfectly the defining aspect of our generation.
I had the pleasure of personally meeting and Winnie Holzmann, creator and writer of MSCL when she visited UC Berkeley recently (yes, I'm a bear. Cal pride!). I got the opportunty to thank her for creating the show. I think the consensus of the audience that we had our mouths open salivating for more when the show was killed off. But Winnie said it best "It was tragic that the show was cancelled after only one season, but in a way I'm happy with the way it worked out. With only 19 episodes, there's kind of a preciousness to it that's preserved forever, instead of what would have happened, had we continued the show to the point where everyone was tired of the show and no one could come up with any new ideas". Indeed, there is tremendous preciousness to the show.
One last thing: Claire Danes is so HOT!!! How can Brian not be in love with her? Anyone else notice how her eyebrows curve upwards in the middle like this: ^ ?
Rating:
Summary: best show of life lifetime
Review: my so called life followed into the lives of not just the pretty cheerleader or a great athlete or even a sensitive acting boy who lives on a lake. this is not degrassi, dawsons creek, felicity, or anything of the sort and if thats what your wanting. by all means, click the back button on your computer and dont consider this buy any furthur.
if you want a year view of a 15 year old named angela chase, what seems like everyday girl going through the parts of life that create who you are and trying to find herself as well as getting a year view into the lives of: Ricky Vasquez- dealing with many things he finds in his life and his sexuality is just one thing. Brian - the dorky neighbor with a big fat crush. deals alot with jealousy this one. he cant let go of the way things were and cant seem to focus on the way things are now. Rayanne Graff- shes got a heart of gold, a smile of an angel and one hell of a reputation. shes a best friend to both angela and ricky. shes also dealing with substance abuse, both alchohol and ecstacy. Jordan Catalano- Hes the little bad boy(not so little as the other ones though being that hes been let back quite a few times). Ya know, the boy with the pretty eyes and cherry red car who makes your parents gringe.
Hes dealing with poverty and dyslexia. Sharon- Shes popular, she comes from a nice home, shes pretty honest and pretty loyal. she cant seem to deal with change much. she was angelas best friend for 15 years until angela took her big step into self discovery. After that Angela kinda wanted sharon out of the picture but sharons pretty loyal. shes not going without a fight. kyle- the athlete. hes Sharons boyfriend. You dont get to know Kyle all that well. Patty and Gramme- Angelas parents. They try to understand her but cant seem to realise that they are doing just fine. Gramme wants his daughter to think hes all cool and Patty is a bit more of the pressured mother but they still let her know their mom and dad. They can get a bit edgy about Rayanne from time to time but their good parents. They just have to understand things which you see patty and gramme grow up to be amazing parents through the series. you really see them spread their wings. Rayannes mom- (okay i forgot her name but this lady was awesome)
Rayny(as she calls her daughter rayanne)'s mom is an ex dead head who use to live in a bus with a girl named pop tart.
she sees her daughter so much as being an equal that sometimes she forgets that rayannes still a kid. shes dealing with alot of realization of her daughter in this show. in all, this show shows just about everyone. their are more.
they deal with issues such as homelessness, homophobia, substance abuse, friendship, sexual discovery, guns in school, parents trying to get to know their kids. the best thing about this show is that it can be watched by teenagers and their parents together. i mean, yeah, theres sex, but its not graphic, mostly you just know its taking place, yeah theres drinking but its a reality in highschool,
i was quite happy having this show when i was at the age. why it cancelled.... nobody knows. everyone watched it, i mean the ratings were excellent, but i look back now and say that it was on for a perfect amount of time. it began and it ended and left you to decide what you think happens. if you want what happened afterward then theres a book. "My So Called Life Goes On" but i must say that i bought the book and despite it being a great book i quit reading it cause i just didnt want to know what happened. i wanted to remember it as it was.
Rating:
Summary: Great show, so-so dvd transfer....
Review: OK, first the show... I presume if you are reading this you probably already know, remember or have a good idea about the plot of My So Called Life so I'll be brief.
My So Called Life is the story of Angela Chase, a 15 year old high school student, her family, friends, hopes, dreams... Angela has a crush on a handsome but vapid guy at her school. Her bright but awkward neighbor has a crush on her. The show follows one year in the lives of Angela and the people in her life, exactly one year, and ends with a bittersweet 'what if' that is never answered as the show was cancelled despite having a strong fan base.
Anyway, this show is perhaps one of the best depictions of teenage high school life and angst ever to appear on TV, and managed to be both realistic and sweet simultaneously. This is quite an accomplishment given the medium, and this alone should justify a viewing of this dvd set.
Regarding the dvd set... hmmm. The first few episodes have video that looks washed out or slightly bleached. I'm not sure if this was intentional or a problem with the transfer. I have an HDTV, progressive DVD player, etc, and despite this the video quality just didn't seem that great. Again, I don't know if its due to the source material or the transfer. Its good, but not great, and it took some playing with the controls to get a good picture. Audio is good but in my opinion the plain stereo soundtrack is much better than the remastered Dolby 5.1 soundtrack. The Dolby remastered soundtrack has dialog that just sounds washed out by the music, and from what I could tell there was no attempt to use Dolby directional support: all five speakers gave out the same sounds. Stick with the plain stereo track, much better quality all the way around.
So... ignoring my short gripes about the dvd itself, you should rent, buy or borrow but in any case watch this show again. You won't be disappointed!
|
