Rating: 
Summary: Warning-Disc1 Doesn't Work W/XboxDVDPlayer! Great Otherwise.
Review: Just wanted to write a quick note of warning - DVD #1 (with the actual show) was incompatible with my Xbox DVD player. I've tried 3 different discs and none would work. Disc #2 with featurettes does work. Would have rated 5 otherwise. Enjoy!
Rating: 
Summary: "Magical" Ms Madrigal Invites You to 28 Barbary Lane, SF
Review: Olympia Dukakis leads a cast of otherwise little-known actors in this very entertaining serial about life, lust and liasons surrounding the tennants at 28 Barbary Lane in San Francisco of the mid-1970s. This set keeps going where the "2nd" set left off. A few casting changes were made (some for the better, other...oh, well!). A few facts worth knowing for those who are "jumping in" with this 3rd installment in the series: The main character, Maryann Singleton, an innocent 20-something Ohio girl escapes the smothering arms of her over-protective parents and becomes the latest arrival at mysterious Ms Madrigal's house of sweet, odd and gorgeous young people. Not only is she (like everyone else) welcomed and accepted, but soon finds herself in a web of weird situations, corporate greed, sexual experimentation, suicide, and other shocking things. The recurring central focus on homosexuality eventually becomes so nonchallante, that the viewer soon no longer sees this as anything worth talking about. It's almost like watching episodes of "Ellen", "Roseanne" or "Will & Grace", only that any "viewer advisories" seem redundant now (it's about time!). Tales of the City is a look back at the 1970s decadence we saw in "Studio 54", but otherwise only 'heard rumors about'. This is an honest, unashamed view of the "San Francisco Scene" as experienced by the author/screen writer Amistad Mopin. Along with historically authentic facts and references (The "Jonestown Tragedy" of 1979 is briefly referenced at the end - if you blinked you missed it!) this otherwise mostly ficticious plot makes for fun viewing. The 6 part series nicely fits on this DVD. Have it piece meal or all at once. I think you're gonna like this picture!*****
Rating:
Summary: Quite good but, should have been Very good!
Review: This release consists of two disks. The first features all four episodes of 'Further.' The second, which I have yet to watch all of, contains the extras (those that I have seen are very good). My only problem with this release is that instead of screening all four episodes uncut, they have released them as a feature length movie. In Britain 'More' was released on video in the same format. The result was that all the scenes at the start of each episode that had the cast/production credits on screen were cut so I, the viewer, missed out on a number of scenes. I haven't seen the TV version of 'Further' so cannot comment on whether this dvd version has cut some scenes due to the on screen credits or whether they have included these scenes minus the on screen credits. 'More' was released as six episodes back to back. 'Further' should have been released this way as well. The production is classy although there are a few dodgy shots here and there, such as establishing shots of the ship spoilt by rain drops on the camera lens. Viewers of 'Tales' and 'More' should enjoy this release. Viewers new to 'Tales of the City' will probably find the characters in 'Further' a bit cold and would be advised to watch the first two mini-series before watching 'Further'. Its hard to believe that in 2003 the first mini-series will be ten years old. Lets hope it doesn't take ten years to see the last three books developed for televison.
Rating:
Summary: Quite good but, should have been Very good!
Review: This release consists of two disks. The first features all four episodes of 'Further.' The second, which I have yet to watch all of, contains the extras (those that I have seen are very good). My only problem with this release is that instead of screening all four episodes uncut, they have released them as a feature length movie. In Britain 'More' was released on video in the same format. The result was that all the scenes at the start of each episode that had the cast/production credits on screen were cut so I, the viewer, missed out on a number of scenes. I haven't seen the TV version of 'Further' so cannot comment on whether this dvd version has cut some scenes due to the on screen credits or whether they have included these scenes minus the on screen credits. 'More' was released as six episodes back to back. 'Further' should have been released this way as well. The production is classy although there are a few dodgy shots here and there, such as establishing shots of the ship spoilt by rain drops on the camera lens. Viewers of 'Tales' and 'More' should enjoy this release. Viewers new to 'Tales of the City' will probably find the characters in 'Further' a bit cold and would be advised to watch the first two mini-series before watching 'Further'. Its hard to believe that in 2003 the first mini-series will be ten years old. Lets hope it doesn't take ten years to see the last three books developed for televison.
Rating: 
Summary: It might have been good, but...
Review: What I managed to watch was great. Unfortunately, the DVD seems to be cheap or flawed and I could not manage to finish watching it due to technical difficulties. I tried it in other DVD players, I tried cleaning it, I even returned it in exchange for another one thinking the one I got was a dud, but in the end, I could not watch it past the same point in both copies. I am very disappointed. I am toying with the idea of buying the VHS version to finish watching it. Maybe I will rent it first just to make sure. The good thing is that I received all my money back, but I still want to watch it and own it...
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