Rating: 
Summary: Five solid hours of pure entertainment!
Review: This wonderful PBS adaptation of Armistead Maupin's "Tales of the City" is remarkably faithful to the book, a delightful look at San Francisco during the era of free-love. The cast, led by Olympia Dukakis as mysteriously quirky landlady Anna Madrigal, brings the tenants of 28 Barbary Lane to life on the small screen. Trivia buffs will undoubtedly smile when they see Thomas Gibson, better known to 90s TV fans as Greg on the television show "Dharma & Greg," as Beauchamp Day, one of the many unforgettable characters in this mini-series. It will make you laugh. It will make you cry. It will make you wish YOU were a resident of Barbary Lane. But be forewarned: At Barbary Lane, absolutely nothing is considered taboo. So grab a bowl of popcorn, Babycakes, and enjoy the ride! END
Rating: 
Summary: Would have been perfect, but...
Review: To begin, I give Tales of the City itself five stars. I would give it ten if I could. I get sentimental every time I catch it on TV, loved it on PBS ten years ago and just as much now.
My problem is with this DVD Collector's edition. It states very clearly on the box that this is the original, unrated, unedited version. Which is why I buy it, take it home and wait for one of my favourite scenes. Finally Brian picks up Connie Bradshaw at the Laundromat and I'm waiting for that wonderful post-coital confrontation. And I realise that the dialogue has been DUBBED OVER. Over the course of the next three hundred minutes I agonise over the several other scenes that have been cleaned up.
This boxed set is beautiful. It has some wonderful extras including rehearsals and commentaries, but the dialogue has been tampered with and yes it does absolutely detract from the story
Rating:
Summary: Would have been perect, but...
Review: To begin, I give Tales of the City itself five stars. I would give it ten if I could. I get sentimental every time I catch it on TV, loved it on PBS ten years ago and just as much now. My problem is with this DVD Collector's edition. It states very clearly on the box that this is the original, unrated, unedited version. Which is why I buy it, take it home and wait for one of my favourite scenes. Finally Brian picks up Connie Bradshaw at the Laundromat and I'm waiting for that wonderful post-coital confrontation. And I realise that the dialogue has been DUBBED OVER. Over the course of the next three hundred minutes I agonise over the several other scenes that have been cleaned up. This boxed set is beautiful. It has some wonderful extras including rehearsals and commentaries, but the dialogue has been tampered with and yes it does absolutely detract from the story
Rating:
Summary: The Greatest City Tale Ever
Review: What can I say about Tales of the City, no other story had made me truly care and worry about these characters. I myself live in San Francisco, I was a real life Mary Ann Singleton. What I truly love about Tales is how all these different character make you care about and want to go with them to their life process. I especially love Mrs. Madrigan, Olympia Dukakis is wonderful. Hopefully they will start doing the third installment with the original actors from the first. Olympia,Laura,Marcus, Chloe, William. Thank You Armistead Maupin.
Rating:
Summary: Weird, Mysterious, but Good!!!
Review: When I started to watch this movie I thought it wasn't going to be good, but as I watched it more it got interesting! That's why i'm giving this movie 5 stars! No ifs, ands, or buts about it! This was definitely a great movie!!!
Rating:
Summary: A drippingly gorgeous, quirky masterpiece.
Review: Why everyone should watch Tales of the City immediately:
A. This collection is a lesson in fine, subtle, and overall masterful acting. The performers brim with intellect (their commentary shows their analyses and hard work) and psychological nuances.
B. It's wildly entertaining, with constant wit, some camp, mystery, and a whole lot of loving characters that are a joy to follow. I personally would readily marry any one of them: Mouse is incredibly cute, Mona is sweet, and Mary Ann is like the audience's bridge into the mythical world of 28 Barbury Lane.
C. It's an important statement on accepting who we are and who others are and finding that, despite our unique, perhaps, skin-deep differences, we all share common ground (symbolically as the tenants share their living space).
D. Laura Linney is one of the best, most convincing actors of her era. Olympia Dukakis is remarkable and gorgeous in her truly tour-de-force portrayal of Mrs. Madrigal.
E. It's a beautiful ode to San Francisco (with stunning location shots), the 1970s, and living out life in general.
F. It had me staying up 'til wee hours in the night so I could finish all 6 hours and, despite symptoms of sleep deprivation, it has been an immensely satisfying watch (despite brief falls into soap opera-ness that are redeemed by the dazzling performances).
There should be more TV like this; the world would be an infinitely better, more intellectual and loving place. If ever you get a chance to read or view this breathtaking work don't pass it up, it may change your life and your perception of other people's, but most of all you'll be compelled to dance in white boxer briefs to funky music and invest in an ornament for your, ahem, tree.
Rating: 
Summary: Amazing series...DVD transfer - not quite so sure of you
Review: Yes anyone who's reading this review already knows how incredible this series is. An amazing adaptation of one most entertaining series of books I've had the pleasure of reading (and rereading and rereading). HOWEVER, for those you expecting a remastered Tales of the City, lookout. This DVD edition has only been transferred from its grainy PBS original onto DVD. No remastering, no clean up, nothing. Argh! When compared to the other two DVD sets in the series, the quality is very disappointing - especially given the cost of the set. Is it still worth the cost?, hell yeah, but don't say I didn't warn you. Mr. Maupin, I still adore you...
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