Rating: 
Summary: Outrageous in dvd quality, but the packaging isn't so hot.
Review: I was shocked, when out of the blue I searched for Jem here, and found that the DVD would be released a week later. So, I bought it. I thought the price was a little high for a kids cartoon, but overall, I'm pretty happy about my purchase.The image and sound sparkles in this DVD, leaving me wondering how the animation company kept their film so pristine before the digital age. Bravo. The actual cartoon is pretty great too... I haven't seen a lot of episodes since I was a little kid, so I was expecting something really childish, but the writers made a pretty mature show, all things considered. By actually watching the episodes in sequence and following the storyline, there are several overlapping story arcs with a lot of drama and psychology. The Christy Marx commentaries are pretty interesting too. Just to see a little bit of what went on behind the scenes. (Can't believe she even remembers!) What I was unhappy about is the packaging. I think they could have commissioned some better artwork for the cover, rather than resusing that nondescript picture of Jem. As an artist, I was horrified by the new cartoon renderings that are _inside_ the package. Underneath each CD is a terribly traced image of one of the Holograms, each one a little wierder looking than the next. Beyond the artwork, they inconsistently spelled Synergy. On the outside she is "Cynergi" and on the inside she is "Cynergi" and "Synergy." Who is she anyway?
Rating: 
Summary: My sister really likes it.
Review: I got this for my sister. She really likes Jem. She was very happy when she got the DVD. She said that the sound quality was very good and she watched at least six or seven hours of Jem without a break. I really think she has a problem, but probably not as many problems as I have.
Rating:
Summary: EXACTLY LIKE I REMEMBERED!
Review: This is the best idea anyone's had in a long time. The episodes are exactly as I remembered, and I have enjoyed every minute of this wonderfully cheesy and totally melodramatic cartoon. Rio is still hot, the hair is still huge, and the drama is still truly outrageous! The songs are, believe it or not, still so ingrained in my brain that I could sing along. BUY THIS SET. If you can't afford it, share it with a couple of Jem Girls. I've already got a waiting list filled with sorority sisters - and I'm almost thirty!
Rating:
Summary: Brings Back Memories
Review: Wow. This DVD is so great. I remember when i was only 5 and these complete seasons bring me back when they were aired on TV. I can totally picture myself with all the JEM toys, i mean i had everything. I wanted to be jem and i wanted rio as my man! yea baby! I was wishing that this would come out on dvd..and look! it finally did! Thanks Rhino for releasing this series. This is something i could never forget! The quality of the cartoon was like watching it when i was younger...amazing!
Rating:
Summary: Truly, Truly Outrageous!
Review: Thank you Rhino. For soooo many years, Jem fans have had nothing but two measly "selected episodes" tapes and the doll collector's market. Despite the wave of 80's nostalgia, typically, this girl-power pioneer has not seen the resurgence other (and dare I say less significant, culturally, at least) 80's cartoons have enjoyed, like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, for example. You can't see Jem anywhere on the air, and, if you're like me, you've been looking fearfully at those old video tapes and that cheap VCR wondering how long before a world without Jem. Enter Rhino. Jem on DVD. Seems too good to be true! Not "selected episodes," not somebody's idea of how to make a few bucks until a better opportunity comes along, no, the entirety of seasons 1 & 2, in order. AND the "play songs" feature, so that, FINALLY, you can rock with the Holograms and the Misfits at will, without having to rewind, fast forward, or sing off-key from memory! This would've been enough for Jem-starved me, but I actually think they did a fine job on the packaging. First of all, although they didn't do what in my mind would've been the perfect thing but I can see the difficulties, which is package it with those great 80's commercials (I miss the My Little Pony interludes, frankly), they did keep the animated commercial intros--perfect. The box also opens three ways to reveal some gorgeous stills, like that ol' standard, the Rio kiss. Underneath each DVD is a friendly Hologram's face, smiling back at you in full makeup and big hair. Beyond my expectations. All that petitioning the Jem webring did might not have gotten it back on the air, but here's to hoping the fans rally enough so that Rhino sees it fit to put out the next seasons. There's so much that's missing, really the height of the show: Raya, Jetta, The Stingers, Hollywood Jem. Can't wait. If you at all consider yourself to be a Jem fan, don't hesitate. This is an express to youth, and fun, and, at this point, feminist high culture. I don't have a daughter, but it gives me some consolation to think that, if I ever do, I may now be able to share such an important part of my past with her. As for now I'll be content to force my husband to watch with me. He's more of a Misfits fan, but what the heck. Apparently Pizzazz has some sort of male cult following. Whatever! It seems to me that there is no such thing as a lukewarm Jem fan--those who "got" it, loved it. So much of me is wrapped up in this strangely adult and soap-operaish cartoon: my sense of style, my sexuality, my confidence, my interpersonal skills. No kidding! Jem/Jerrica was/is such a great role model, and so unique from the girl perspective. Similar to Wonder Woman in employing the hidden identity/super identity trope for a woman, it is nevertheless different because of its realism (true, there's a superholographic computer, but that's not the same as superstrength or the ability to jump tall buildings--Synergy is a potentially scientifically reasonable device; in other words, Jem is sci-fi, Wonder Woman fantasy). It is also a great document for the times, reflecting so much of what was hip then: MTV, videos, the corporate-world obsession. The good old days. Outrageous.
Rating:
Summary: Show's Over Synergy!
Review: Jem was truly outrageous! She started off as a line of dolls by Hasbro, and one poor writer had to come up with a storyline just from snapshots of the toys. But give it to the woman for grace under pressure because what we got was a girl centered show that had action, adventure, and ... well ... music videos! Jem emerged to be a more popular show than even the dolls because boys clicked to the hip fact that the animation of the women was pretty easy to look at and the show moved quickly from one state of peril to the next. Rhino delivers a great set of DVDs. The colors are candy coated, and you can select how you want to hear the episodes. You also get commentary on the first episode, and a montage of ALL the music videos. Great job! A fan's dream! Now something else has been nagging me... Did anyone else kind of like the MISFITS songs just a little better than the sugary sweet stylings of the HOLOGRAMS? They were no nonsense straight up divas! Spoiled and rotten, but they had better guitar lines and really tight harmonies. They were like a cartoon/pop version of HOLE. Hmmmm! And why did Rio (Jem's boyfriend) have purple hair? And boy was he fickle about Jem/Jericha and who he preferred. And how did that hologram hold up when they were kissing? Synergy was pretty dang good! Enjoy JEM! The 80s only cartoon pop diva!
Rating:
Summary: one glitch on jem
Review: ok there is only 1 glitch in the encoding of the jem dvds I found that seems very obvious to many. check the 2nd dvd of jem: play the first episode and switch it to the new 5.1 audio remastered version. In Time 1:55 it starts to repeat the recap audio instead of the actual audio for that scene! It goes back to the right audio at time 02:15. At first I thought it was a disc problem but after exchanging it 3 times, trying it out on different dvd players and asking other people who bought it the same problem remind. Check your disc 2 for this and make a complaint to rhino to fix the small glitch. THe quallity of this show is good for it's age and I really like the play all songs option but I expected better packaging for jem. If transformers and gi joe can get hardbound dvd holders with holograpic prints why not jem. Also they could of added more special features to the set. Add original artwork sketches,tv posters, jem doll figure pictures,jem action figures and some deleted scenes but since this is a first dvd release I can understand the low features. I hope they don't mess up on the last 39 eps. Add more special features and better packaging.
Rating:
Summary: Girl, you got issues.
Review: Jem was one of the best cartoons of the 80's. After the death of her father Jerrica Benton inherits half of her fathers record label the other half belongs to the evil ERIC RAYMOND! (...) The animation is kinda crude in the first 5 episode story arc, but the following 21 episodes are remarkably well animated. Each episode contains three pretty good musical "videos" that pertain to the plotline, sung by Jem or The Misfits. (Now my complaints Jerrica needs therapy, she has a boyfriend, Rio. Rio is unaware of Jerricas secret identity and she goes out of her way to seduce him as Jem. How can someone make her boyfriend cheat on herself with herself? Another complaint is The Starlight Orphans, annoying little girls that were obviously there just so little girls could identify themselves wth them and when they take part in the plotlines it is unberable. Overall Jem is a wonderful show full of action, music, bad 80's fashions and soap opera showdowns and i'm loving every episode. EP
Rating:
Summary: GREAT CHILDHOOD NOSTALGIA FOR ME & NEW GENERATION OF JEM FAN
Review: I grew up watching JEM, so when I got these dvds, I sat down with my 6 year old daughter and 10 year old neice, both of whom instantly loved Jem!! They act out scenarios now and sing the songs!! Granted, you can tell the cartoons were done in the 80's, they are not really enhanced at all, but still good. The only pain is the little lead ins & outs for commercials, which for some reason are still throughout each episode. Could've done without that!!
Rating:
Summary: Rock on JEM!!!
Review: I really enjoyed JEM when I was little and I still enjoyed it NOW. I waited very patiently for the DVD to be dispatched to my home. I stayed up all night watching every single episode of JEM and I am glad to see that extra scenes were added to the first 5 episodes. All her songs are wonderful especially songs like Like a Dream, Truly Outrageous, Music is Magic, Who is He Kissing, Jealousy, Broadway Magic, How you play the Game & Glitter and Gold!!! The Play Songs feature is cool because you can watch the music videos without having to watch the actual episodes and also, the Public Service Announcement feature is cool because if anyone gets involved in a kind of situation like that, then they would know the right thing to do. I just wish they would release the remaining 39 episodes on DVD. Thank you RHINO!!!
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