Rating: 
Summary: Hillariously Funny
Review: The Monkees are great! Once you get past the fact that these shows were filmed in the '60s, they are quite enjoyable. I like the fact that these episodes contain clean humor. They are very family oriented and extremely funny!
Rating: 
Summary: Better than the first season, good extras, bad sound
Review: The second season box set is much like the first, in that it is overpriced, with suprisingly poor sound (the 5.1 selection is best but even that is not anywhere near what it should be), but otherwise a great compilation of all the episodes. Some fans prefer the tighter first season, and some the looser second year. I go for the second season, primarily because the songs are superior (with nearly all stemming from their two finest works "Headquarters" and "Pisces, Aquarious..."--just imagine what those teenyboppers back in late '67 must've thought when they heard "Star Collector" for the first time!), and I do enjoy the greater spontaneity and half-improvised nature of the scripts. The group look like they are having fun, goofing around on set and filming cool tags for the end of each show that parody normal television formulas. The jokes are more sophisticated, culminating in the
delightful "Frodis Caper", directed by Dolenz and quite possibly the first sitcom episode to feature drug humor. There are also cool guest spots by Zappa, Tim Buckley and Charlie Smalls, a stunning a capella rendition of "Riu Chiu" for the Christmas episode, and the increased color and intensity of the psychedelic era in general. Note also the transitional nature of the earliest episodes filmed in the spring of '67 (which you can tell because Mickey's hair is still straight in them): some of the tightness of the first season remains (along with the use of several rejected first season scripts), but the wilder fashions and more risque humor of the latter half of the season also begins to creep in; it is this perfect combination of tight and loose which makes that period my favorite of the show. The best episodes include the aforementioned "Frodis Caper", the touching "Devil And Peter Tork", the truly bizarre "Monkees Watch Their Feet" (with Pat Paulsen in fine form and Dolenz an absolute riot as a robot) and "The Monkees' Paw" (Dolenz in dazzling comic form once again). The band were even allowed to parody their own frustration with the increasingly formulaic nature of the scripts in "The Monkees In Paris"--which only proved that they weren't so formulaic, although Davy Jones still falls in love every other episode. The commentaries are generally pretty good, and Mickey is a scream reminiscing about "The Frodis Caper". Finally, the extras are nice, including some TV appearances and news footage, as well as the vastly underrated and overlooked special "33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee". While "33 1/3" has a thin plot and some filler--including their worst filmed moment as singing chimps--it also contains some of their best-ever performances and *spectacular* guest stars, including Julie Driscoll (a superb singer) and her partner Brian Auger (a brilliant Keith Emerson-like organist), plus the three piano giants from the 50s: Little Richard, Fats Domino and Jerry Lee Lewis. Add The Buddy Miles Express, and the complaint that The Monkees were second-billed in their own special becomes moot--with guest stars like these, who cares? The band itself are still good, and the closing performance of "Listen To The Band" has to be seen to be believed--their mind-blowing final live appearance (before the 80s/90s reunion tours) being the total avant-garde antithesis of their commercial bubblegum image. In short, the entire box set is worth it, although you'll have to pay a pretty penny for it...and be sure to turn the volume *way* up.
Rating:
Summary: The Monkees are back
Review: This is a review for season one a great DVD set. It has trivia for each episode which I found interesting and entertaining. It has some commentaries on some of the episodes by each Monkee. Episode 48 has commentaries by Mike and Peter. It was interesting to see the same show and hear 2 different points of view. Bob Rafelson commented on the episode that he directed and it is about time we heard from the man who really created the Monkees. It also includes the Monkees special 33 and 1/3 Revolutions per Monkee commented on by Micky and Brian Auger who was the villian on the show. There is also an interview with the editor Gerry Sheppard and a photo gallery. The box is rather original as it is designed to look like an old portable record player from the 60's. The sleeves of the disc look like the Monkees 45's. A book is included on teh behind the scenes of the Monkees 2nd season written by Andrew Sandoval. If you just want to hear and see the music videos without the episodes there is a feature that that will allow you to just play the videos. After all they were the original MTV. If you are a Monkees fan or a fan of good music or sitcoms from the 60's. Buy this DVD set.
Rating:
Summary: The Monkees are back
Review: This is a review for season one a great DVD set. It has trivia for each episode which I found interesting and entertaining. It has some commentaries on some of the episodes by each Monkee. Episode 48 has commentaries by Mike and Peter. It was interesting to see the same show and hear 2 different points of view. Bob Rafelson commented on the episode that he directed and it is about time we heard from the man who really created the Monkees. It also includes the Monkees special 33 and 1/3 Revolutions per Monkee commented on by Micky and Brian Auger who was the villian on the show. There is also an interview with the editor Gerry Sheppard and a photo gallery. The box is rather original as it is designed to look like an old portable record player from the 60's. The sleeves of the disc look like the Monkees 45's. A book is included on teh behind the scenes of the Monkees 2nd season written by Andrew Sandoval. If you just want to hear and see the music videos without the episodes there is a feature that that will allow you to just play the videos. After all they were the original MTV. If you are a Monkees fan or a fan of good music or sitcoms from the 60's. Buy this DVD set.
Rating:
Summary: The Fab Four...FINALLY!
Review: This is the groundbreaking show that proved to everyone that the Monkees were real. The White Album, Yellow Submarine, Sargeant Pepper, comeon! It gets no better than this. Buy a little piece of the magic.
Rating:
Summary: A Tip From A Rhino
Review: To all the Monkees fans: look for the bonus "easter eggs" on this set. They are pretty neat-o. Disclosure - I work for the company that produced this DVD.
Rating:
Summary: These are my people!!
Review: Well here I am again keeping the British end up! I have loved the Monkees for at least 23 of my 26 years on this earth so heres my two pennies worth: Good Bits About The Set: They are all a lot more themselves and less cheesy. I.e. Peter is more hippy and less dippy, Mike is more mardy and sarcastic and less strong and silent, Davy camps up his cheesy lines and is a bit more funky, less boy next door and Micky is as silly as ever - but even more!!! His hair says it all!! I like the way they take the micky out of the stupid situations they are put into. I particularly like Wild Monkees and Some Like It Lukewarm. Speaking from my perspective (as a rag a bone and a hag of hair!) Davy looks particularly gorgeous and apart from Micky they all look loads more attractive in their more natural styles. Ok so theres some bad bits .... Sounds goes up and down, need more commentary - and more USEFUL comments I agree with a previous commenter that they dont have a great deal to say about the episodes (Fairy Tale commentary from Mike is the best). 33 and a third RPM is sooooo boring. The one good bit is Mike singing Naked Persimmon and the rest looks like a hippies nightmare. I wonder if these people were paid? Still, as a die hard Monkees fan I have to like the series itself it and its in stark contrast to the first series. Its a lot cooler but the cold sarcasm and unveiling of their situation only goes to put a nail in the coffin of The Monkees. There is a very samey feel to the episodes - why wasnt Mike ever in a romantic episode? Surely they didnt all fancy Davy - Mike is about 6"2 after all!!! Ive rated this 4 stars because the Monkees have a special place in my past. If they have that in yours then buy this. If they dont laugh at a friends copy - may be best viewed after a few bottles of wine though!! Melissa :)
Rating:
Summary: Monkees collection near completion
Review: With the release of both Seasons 1 and 2 of "The Monkees" television series on DVD now over, I'm close to saying my Monkees collection is complete. Most of the other reviewers have accurately described the contents within this release: all the episodes look great, the packaging is fantastic and creative, and it certainly is a treat to have the 1969 NBC special "33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee" on DVD (even though it is NOWHERE near as innovative as their 1968 feature film HEAD). I will also agree with reviewers below who complain about the sound going up and down when switching back and forth from the menus to the actual episodes, but that is a minor quibble, and in the long run, hardly something to lose sleep over. The fact is...I no longer have to watch my 20-year old VHS tapes that I compiled in 1986 during the Monkees resurgence of that year when MTV ran the series three times a day. Sure, the Monkees' individual commentaries are not overly-enlightening, but what is it about "The Monkees" television show that we already don't know? The general public needs to remember that this series was a 'day job' for the Monkees, and should not fault them for being foggy on the details of a certain episode that aired way back in 1968. However, longtime Monkees caretakers Rhino could have treated us and included the Monkees' 1997 ABC television special, but it is nowhere to be found. It also would have been nice to collect all of the Monkees' television appearances of 1969 into a bonus feature as well--like their guest spots on the Johnny Cash Show, The Tonight Show, the Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, etc. etc. (NOTE: some footage of the Monkees on Glen Campbell's show is included as a bonus, but their musical performances on that show have been edited out!) This release highlights the superior second season, with episodes like "The Devil and Peter Tork," "The Frodis Caper" and "The Fairy Tale," plus "Monkees on the Wheel"...my choice for most underrated episode of the second season! Recommended.
Rating:
Summary: The Second Season Better of the 2...
Review: Yes. The second season of the Monkees TV series is out. And it looks and sounds great. This season is the better of the 2 seasons the Monkees filmed because the Monkees (as well as the writers, directors, etc) are more "in tune" to how the show structure is supposed to be. As a result, what you get is some zany episodes along with some great tunes. Pretty great stuff. Add Season 1 as well as this to your collection and you will have the complete Monkees series. A++ all the way!
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