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The Simpsons - The Complete Second Season

The Simpsons - The Complete Second Season

List Price: $49.98
Your Price: $37.49
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The Second Season is the Best
Review: The best aspect of DVDs is being able to buy huge chucnks of your favorite TV shows in one relatively compact package. "The Complete Second Season" is a great example, collecting 22 classic Simpsons episodes and a generous helping of extra material on a mere four discs. The show has long since lapsed into a comfortable and endlessly repeated formula, but in 1990-91 when these shows were first broadcast, they were considered so controversial and subversive that President George Bush (senior) publicly berated it (to which Bart gave an absolutely hilarious response in the introduction to a susequent episode). Nothing was sacred on those original shows, particularly hypocritical politicians.

Many of the best Simpson's episodes ever are collected here, from the first Halloween special to Marge's war on Itchy and Scratchy to Mr. Burns running for governor to the flashback episode showing how Marge and Homer met. Included among the extras are the videos for the songs "Do the Bartman" and "Deep Deep Trouble" from "The Simpsons Sing the Blues" as well as the Bart Simpson Butterfing commercials. There is also plenty of commentary from the creators of the show.

Overall, a fantastic collection of classic Simpsons that is a must have for any fan of the show.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: "As the Only Adult Here, I Feel I Should Say Something..."
Review: COOL! (Name the character and episode of that hysterical line.) Plenty has been said about the technical aspects of this DVD set, both good and bad. Personally I find the color and focus suspect. But all hardcore Simpsons fanatics should let these limitations slide because you may not be seeing the forest for the trees. Here we have the full second season of the Simpsons, and this was the season when the show really took off. Of course during the first season the Simpsons, and especially Bart, became a cultural phenomenon. But the show itself was still developing, with the animators and voice actors still ironing out the kinks of the classic Simpsons style. In this second season, not only are the animation and voices solidified, but you can see the writing and characterizations getting better with each passing episode. Bart was moving into a more complex and subversive brand of hell-raising, the true depths of Lisa's strange intelligence were coming to the fore, and Homer most of all was becoming deeper and more quotable. Also notice that this season was when Homer started to surpass Bart as the true star of the series. The second season gave us great classic episodes like "Oh Brother Where Art Thou" (first appearance of Unky Herb), and the politically subversive "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge." A surprising amount of emotional power, which would later become standard for the show, is revealed in "Bart Gets an F" where Bart shows true vulnerability, and "Lisa's Substitute" in which we start to plumb the depths of Lisa's character.

Some editing seems to have taken place with these episodes, showing that we are watching post-syndication versions. The most blatant example is the deletion of a scene from "Bart the Daredevil" - that being the second time Homer falls down Springfield Gorge. This may be anathema to superfanatics. The DVD extras still contain a few throwaways but are generally better than the first season package. Included are the two videos from the "Simpsons Sing the Blues" album, which are reminders of what a huge cultural phenomenon the Simpsons were back at the beginning of the 90's. The best bonus offering is an interview with Matt Groening in which he describes the inspirations for the characters and the philosophy behind the show.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Money Well Spent
Review: I am a major Simpsons fan. I grew up on the Simpsons. I would highly recommend you getting this box set insted of Season 1. The first season box set was primative and not the most fun to watch. The second season is when the Simpsons become what they are today. If you are undecided on the first or second season, GO WITH THE 2ND SEASON! Also, this DVD set contains scenes that were cut out before air on TV, some of them extremely funny!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Getting better...
Review: The second season of The Simpsons began at the peak of Simpsons-mania, when t-shirts, key chains, stickers, note pads, buttons, figures, and the infamous bootleg Simpsons t-shirts were selling in large quantities everywhere. Fox took the step of moving the show to Thursday nights at 8 p.m., creating a showdown of sorts with The Cosby Show.

Most people's favorite episodes aired during this season, among them "Treehouse of Horror" (the first Halloween episode), "Bart the Daredevil", "Lisa's Substitute", and "Three Men and a Comic Book". So, there's really not a duff episode to be found in this set.

This DVD set of the second season improves on the first. Matt Groening provides audio commentary for all 22 episodes, for one thing. There are a few more extras - two music videos, and clips from the Emmy Awards and the American Music Awards, for example - since there was more "extra" type stuff available.

A couple of complaints about the authoring/design, however. First, the animated tricks before you get to the menus are only clever the first time around; it's annoying to not be able to access the menus directly. Second, there seems to be no option that allows you to watch all of the episodes on a disc back-to-back; you must go through the menus (the main menu, plus a separate menu for each episode) every time you want to watch a different episode. And easter eggs are no longer cool. Who wants to spend [money] to have to go looking for stuff that may or may not be there? If you can't be bothered to put it on the menu, leave it out, please.

That aside, this is an essential item for Simpsons fans. Naturally, there will be some duplication if you own any of the VHS releases (or if you've been diligently taping every episode as it airs), but the quality is worth the extra bucks.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: The growth of our favorite family
Review: After getting off to a hilarious, but still technically crude start, season 2 found the Simpsons starting to hit their stride. Bart and company were all over the stores and Simpson-Mania had begun. Now it's a given that the Simpsons are popular, but back then, they were still finding their voice. Many familiar characters were introduced, and the first "Treehouse of Horror" appeared, marking one of the great running series within the Simpsons that continues to this day.

Technically, the artwork improved and smoothed, and our characters moved a lot closer to their final form that we know and love. Being a guest voice started to become a status symbol for some celebrities. And these episodes are restored to all their glory -none of the cuts we see for syndication today.

To me one of the gems are the two music videos "Deep Deep Trouble" and "Do the Bartman." These examples help show the branching out of the Simpsons into other areas - here putting out a musical album. I had not seen these in years and it really pulled me back. Just like the old time animated short subjects, it's amazing how much the animators could pack into a simple few minutes of cartoon.

Just a glorious treatment for one of the best shows on TV. Let's get some more of the seasons out!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Excellent. (said while tenting fingers)
Review: Both the DVD and this season is excellent. Its embarassing how much I love and watch the Simpson's and this DVD just puts me a in a state of bliss...as stupid as that may seem. The second season is where Springfield and the characters are starting to flesh out more and of course this season is more hilarious than the first. The characters and their catch phrases introduced in this season are numerous including: Nelson's "Ha-ha", Professor Frink, Hans Moleman, Mayor Quimby, Lionel Hutz, and Groundskeeper Willie among others I may be forgetting. I believe this season probably could have either made or broke the Simpsons but the animation, story, and humor bounded ahead in this great season. This season has some of my personal favorites such as: "The Way We Was", "Dead Putting Society", and "Bart Gets an F". This Season has a profusion of guest voice appearances also, including: Dustin Hoffman (uncredited yet suprising), James Earl Jones, Danny Devito, and Tracey Ulman.

As for the quality of DVD, it has also got better since the first season. Although the matching up head to body thing at the begining of the DVD's can be alittle annoying (as some reviewers have already pointed out)it doesn't take away from the DVD all that much. It is also great to see these shows uncut after having to watch them chopped up in syndication for so long. The commentaries, as ussual, are funny and informative, The commentary for "Dead Putting Society" is especially funny. All the extra features are great as well.

If you want to own the begining of a great show this is the season to buy. I grew up watching the Simpsons and this DVD brings back fond memories. I can't wait till the 3rd and 4th seasons comes out (my all-time favorite seasons).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Annoyed fans forget ingenuity
Review: Some fans have complained how they dislike having to play the "game" at the beginning of the DVD where you must spin the wheel three times before being able to watch any of the shows. Well, I'm sure someone else has discovered this, but it isn't necessary to "play" the silly game. Just hit your remote's "MENU" button. Ta-da! Again, I don't take credit for this "discovery." (I am so smart. S - M - R - T.)

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: PLEASE INCLUDE DUBBING IN SPANISH!
Review: The version in Latin American Spanish of the Simpsons has been recognized as one of the most talented and creative!!. Please, in the following collections include the dubbing in Spanish!!. I guarantee the sales of these collections will increase dramatically from all those Spanish-speakers living in the US and abroad

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A Celebration of The Simpsons At Their Best
Review: The Simpsons Second Season is one of my top favourite seasons. The characters are more developed than season one, and the satire and witty humor hues closer to the Simpsons that fans have all come to know and love. This season is by far better than any other season, except perhaps season five. Some of my favorite episodes in this season are "Simpson and Delilah", in which Homer grows hair and is promoted by Mr. Burns, a romantic and relatable reminiscence of how Homer and Marge met and fell in love in "The Way We Was"; Mr. Burns has hypohemia and recieves a blood transfusion in "Blood Feude", and also, in "Bart Vs. Thanksgiving", Bart learns a good lesson about remorse and family love. As for the extra bonus features, they're much better than The Simpsons complete season one DVD. This DVD includes classic music videos "Deep, Deep Trouble" and "Do the Bartman", the Simpsons presenting Emmy awards, an interview with creators of the Simpsons, the making of animation, and more! So, if you're a true Simpsons fan, this would be a great DVD to buy! :)

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Simpsonerrific!
Review: Okay, that was a terrible title for this review. Fortunately, the same can't be said about this spiffy, super-deluxe DVD set. It's called "The Simpsons- The Complete Second Season," and that's what it is. But there's more!

The second season consists of 22 brilliant episodes. This is the real thing, when the show began to gel, but before so many episodes centered on yet another whacky occupation for Homer. Sure, you get to see Home-boy as a baseball team mascot in "Dancin' Homer," but the other family members get spotlight time, too. Marge takes on cartoon violence in "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge," Lisa gets her most poignant storyline in "Lisa's Substitute" (heartfelt, and with excellent guest vocals by Dustin Hoffman, plus a hilarious B-story featuring Bart), and Bart battles his friends and the darker side of comic collecting in "Three Men and a Comic Book."

This is your chance to own a full 22-episode season. Your opportunity to learn Mr. Burns' full name, to feel superior to your peers as you recognize sequences lifted from classic movies ("Psycho" and "Citizen Kane" come to mind). You'll gasp as Homer displays shockingly drunken behavior at a party, belch as you enjoy a giant tub of Duff beer during "Nuclear Plant Employees, Spouses, and No More Than Three Children Night," then tremble as Bart and Lisa trade horror stories up in the treehouse. Plus, you get episodes featuring Ringo Starr and Phil Hartman, Danny DeVito, George Takei, Tracey Ullmann, and Larry King.

Like the "Season One" set, you also get a Springfield-sized load of extras. The commentary alone would be enough, but you also get music videos (did anyone actually DO "The Bartman?"), Simpsons appearances outside the show (commercials and award ceremonies), a documentary on how a show is made, and interviews. The only negative is the annoying animated menu where you'll have to swap everyone's heads a three times before you're allowed to get on with the show. You can avoid this by pressing "menu," but that's documented nowhere on the DVD itself.

But that's a minor glitch in a top-notch set. Each episode is beautifully presented, looking better than they did when originally aired. And minus the commercials. For a Simpsons fan, this is definitely the ultimate (so far!) need-to-own item. This is one of tv's greatest shows, on the cusp of gaining its full satirical powers, and I can't recommend this set highly enough!


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