Rating: 
Summary: Jem Takes Center Stage
Review: Rhino has done an exceptional job on this dvd!! Whenever I watch these dvds, it brings back so many good memories. The production value on this dvd is amazing! All the great songs are on this dvd. I almost passed out when Like a Dream and Click Clash videos appeared on the same episode! Any fan hesitant to buy this dvd will not be disappointed. My only complaint about this dvd is the fact that you can't pick which video you want to see. The videos just play one after another. A small complaint, but it's bearable. Buy this now!!!!
Rating:
Summary: JEM: GLAM ROCK FOR THE NEW MILLENNIUM!!
Review: Just when you thought she was a distant memory.... Jem is back in all of her Glam-Rock Glory!!!There isn't much that I can add that all of the other fans haven't said, but I still wanted to express my thanks to all who were involved in resurrecting Jem. You'd never believe how happy I was when I found out that Jem was coming to DVD!! Her adventures, her music, and her fashion (!) are now available to another generation, not to mention her advice on issues that kids deal with (talking to strangers, stealing, running away from home, etc.).Writer/Executive Story Editor Christy Marx has a commentary track for four episodes. The only disappointment is that she didn't do more. She talks about the characters and at the same time, gives us a peek into the cartoon creation process. Wonderful! Christy also gives a 16 minute interview which is deliciously insightful. Her own history and the path that led her to Jem is finally revealed.Samantha Newark (the voice of Jem) also gives an interview which is delightful, but the Jem Production Bible is a real treasure!! It gives so much information on Jem and her world. It's just page after page of character breakdowns, histories and biographies.Thank you so much Christy, Samantha and Rhino for keeping happy childhood memories alive!!
Rating:
Summary: Totally Outrageous
Review: All I can say is good things comes to those who wait and patience is a virtue. I have waited a long time for this. Like many others I have purchased VHS videos from sellers and the quality was poor. The DVDs brings back so many good memories. I actually had Jem Party. The extra features are a plus. If you are a Jem fan like myself, you will watch these DVDs over and over. My cousin who is only 7 loves Jem. She says this cartoon is so much better than the cartoons of the today. And I agree with her 100 percent. Thanks Rhino for releasing these 26 epsiodes on DVDs. I look forward to remaining 39 epsiodes to be released.
Rating: 
Summary: It's About 90% Truly Outrageous
Review: First and foremost, I have to express how surprised I was when I heard that Jem was coming to DVD. I am really grateful that Rhino rescued Jem from fading into 80's trivia obscurity.
So what's the DVD like? I'll tell you the good news first. The sound is unbelievable!! I can't believe how improved and clear it is, especially the songs! The menus on the DVD are brilliantly designed as well. The special features consist of very insightful excerpts from the Jem Bible, an interview with creator Christy Marx, Jem public service announcements, some commentary tracks, and the best feature: the option to watch all of the videos on each disc back to back.
Now for the complaints. There is also an interview with Samantha Newark, who was the speaking voice of Jem on the show. Unfortunately, she mostly talks about how she is a singer/songwriter, and nowhere is it made clear that she was only Jem's speaking voice, not Jem's singing voice. Jem's vocals in the Holograms' songs were actually provided by Britta Phillips (currently of the band Luna). If I were Britta, I'd not be pleased. Don't be misled!
As for the packaging, it's kinda weird. The pictures of Jem and the Holograms on the inside are almost crudely drawn and are not at all like the drawings of the characters that were on the packaging for the dolls. Plus, on one part of the package, it says "Passion and Glitter, Fashion and Fame." As every Jem fan knows, it's "GLAMOUR and glitter!" What a terrible oversight!
Another weird inconsistency is that Pizzazz's hair isn't the right color in the cartoons. Instead of the vibrant green that it's supposed to be, it's a washed-out olive. What's the deal?
My only other complaint is that someone somehow screwed up one of the Misfits' best songs, presumably during the remastering process, in the episode "The World Hunger Shindig." "Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie" is one of the Misfits' best songs, and whoever worked on that song for this DVD managed to mess up the drumbeat, totally ruining it in the process! If you already have the DVD, you know what I mean.
Anyhow, other than these minor complaints, if you're a Jem fan, buying this DVD is a no-brainer. It's so nice to have the show in such good quality for the first time. And other than the tragic and bizarre butchering of that one Misfits song, pretty much every Holograms and Misfits song worth hearing is on one of these 4 discs.
All in all, it's a job well done by Rhino and I hope the final 2 seasons of Jem make it to DVD as well! The Stingers need to make it to DVD too!!
Rating:
Summary: THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT MEMORIES!
Review: I am so happy I got the Jem DVDs today. I remember now why it was my favorite cartoon and it was practically surreal sitting down and watching some of the episodes again. This cartoon has influenced my life so much that it's almost creepy...to me as a musician in an all-girl punk band, wanting to own/work for a record company and my obsession with 80's fashion...whooo boy it made me who I am today! I hope my kids can grow up on it as well, any Jem fan should have this collection.
Rating:
Summary: Truly truly truly outrageous!
Review: Props to Rhino for finally bringing the classic 80's cartoon Jem to DVD! This truly is "the year for Glitter and Gold!" Not only is Jem here in all her pink-haired glory in the first twenty-six episodes, but Rhino has also included some fantastic special features to boot! These include an interview with one of my own personal heroes, Christy Marx, the writer and story editor of many of the episodes of the series. She sheds light on the background behind the cartoon and the toy line, and describes her inspiration for four of the episodes in four separate commentaries. Another interview included in the set is one with Samantha Newark, the speaking voice of Jem. It's neat to finally put real faces behind the making of the pink-haired pop princess. As an added bonus, there is also a "Play Songs" feature on all four discs that lets you watch just the music videos from each episode. Truly outrageous! All-in-all, this is a set every true Jem fan must own! I'm crossing my fingers that Rhino will release the third and fourth seasons of Jem on DVD, too, somewhere down the line. I pray that this is "Only the Beginning!"
Rating:
Summary: THANK YOU RHINO HOME VIDEO!
Review: Jem is back in a BIG way and she's never looked better! I have been a huge fan of Jem (the dolls, TV show, music) since 1987. I am 29 now. I collected all the dolls, clothes, playsets, etc. during my early teens. And during its syndicated run on the USA cable network in the late 80s/early 90s, I embarked on a labor of love to record all 65 episodes of the TV series in SP-mode on high grade videotape. I wanted to forever preserve my absolute all-time favorite show before it became extinct from the airwaves as the ill-fated dolls did from toy shelves. 32 tapes later (I recorded them twice for bacup) I had what I thought at age 15 was the only surviving complete "Jem" video collection. Little did I know that years later in my late twenties Jem would start popping up all over the internet. I discovered that numerous fans visit Jem websites, auction jem merchandise, petition stations to re-air the series, and even (GASP!) sell personally recorded videos (like my precious ones) of the episodes. And I thought I was the only one who cared about her!? I never considered selling mine, however, because I thought they were irreplaceable and that the show would never be on TV again. And certainly it would not be released in its entirety on home video...UNTIL NOW!
Rhino Home Video has released an incredible 4 dvd box set of the complete 1st and 2nd seasons of the "Jem" TV series. Honestly, "Jem" is the absolute last series I ever thought I'd see on DVD because she's not been replayed on TV since 1991. But miracles do happen. And Rhino has performed one with this set. The video transfer is incredible. Viewing the episodes on DVD is like seeing them for the first time. And they sound great too. The Dolby digital 5.1 option brings out noises and effects I have never heard in the show after repeated video viewings over the years.
The presentation of the 26 episodes is very faithful as well. Included within each episode are the 3 intros and outros originally used for commercial breaks. Some might find this annoying, but I remember the musical breaks as well as the rest of the show. So preserving them adds to the reminiscing. Also, the packaging includes a booklet listing all the episodes and their chapters. YES! Each episode is divided into 4-6 chapters for fast scene and music video access. The cool animated menus are great fun too.
The special features are outstanding. Not only is there an option to view the music videos alone like a jukebox, there is also a 20+ minute interview and 4 commentary episodes with"Jem" head writer, Christy Marx. Her insight and history into the Jem story and its creation is amazing. I have studied and enjoyed Jem for 17 years and even I learned new things from her.
Most importantly, though, I have learned the power of the fans to help DVDs get released. I read rumours a year ago online that fans were writing Rhino encouraging them to release "Jem" on DVD like they had started doing with "GIJOE" and "Transformers". I thought it would never happen. But sure enough word soon got around online that "Jem" was coming to DVD. And Rhino was bringing her home. THANK YOU RHINO HOME VIDEO!! The "Jem" set is incredible! You are making a lot of fans very happy. Please keep up the terrific work of bringing "Jem" and the other classic 80s cartoons to DVD. But please put the other seasons of "Jem" at the top of your list.
Rating:
Summary: OutRAGEous!
Review: I was so excited to find out that this favorite show of my childhood was coming on DVD, and preordered it right away. Watching it now I can still see why I liked it so much when I was little-such a fun show! The stories are very engaging, often ending with a gripping cliffhanger. Kind of a soap opera for kids! (Only this one's actually good!) Most of the songs are great and a lot of fun-it's amazing they were able to churn out so many new songs every week. Plus, what girl of any age can resist all the fashion and glamour of Jem? The corniness of the villains and their harebrained schemes will make you giggle but you'll be entertained through and through.
One thing I really like about Jem is that, as the lead heroine, she is not just a total helpless innocent priss à la Snow White. Aside from being kind she's also determined, strong, intelligent, brave, independent and street-smart. She's also not perfect-e.g. she has no patience for the immature antics of the Misfits. The Misfits are sort of cool as well. You'll probably cheer on the Holograms' side but the Misfits have their way of bringing out the bad girl in you. Both groups are cool in their own way (good-girl sirens/naughty minxes)-and all that colorful, outrageous hair is the icing on the cake!
The DVD comes in really cool packaging and the extras are solid. The commentaries (4 total) and interviews (one by creator Christy Marx and one by Samantha Newark, the voice of Jem) are interesting, and the Jem PSAs are cute although corny. There's also a "Jem Production Bible" which is very long (50 pages) but contains a lot of interesting info. You can also go straight to the songs on each disc with the "Play Songs" feature.
I hope they release the rest of the series soon; if and when they do I'll be certain to snatch that up right away!
Rating:
Summary: Jem is excitement, Jem is adventure!
Review: Being a child of the 80's there are many things that I love and adore growing, one of them was JEM. I know it may sound weird, because i'm a guy and the show was taylored to appeal to girls, but I'm sure there were some guys out there that loved the show simply because of the gorgeous babes on display.This show epitomized all that was great about the 80's, the big hair, the glitz, the glamour, the music, it was outrageous. the show may have been a cartoon, but there was a great deal of depth to this show than most cartoons because of its intelligence and sophistication while still showing itself to be acceptable to kids, pre-teens, etc. The show possesses an infectious charm, something that even as an adult grabs a hold of your heart and appeals to the child inside in a way that is simply marvelous. There are some important lessons to be learned here, things that are easy to catch onto without being overtly trite and obvious, and these are lessons that make sense and do not insult the intelligence of the viewers. Plus, the battle of the bands between The Holograms and The Misfits for dominance over the music charts truly symbolizes the sort of cutthroat ambitious mentality the music industry can sometimes be. It is also something that can be truly inspirational to anyone, working hard, sticking by your friends, and believing in yourself, anything is possible. I am so glad that this show is being released on DVD, because the show can now be enjoyed by the original fans who grew up with it and be introduced to a whole new generation.
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely, positively, fantastic (...)
Review: Whether you loved to watch Jem back in the 80's or you've never seen it, this is a must have either way. The animation is excellent, the story lines rock, great interviews in the special features, and each episode has been restored so well that it looks like your watching it for the first time. The quality is unbelievable(...)
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