Post by criterionmaster on Dec 23, 2006 22:34:21 GMT -5
Some say this season is the start of a “decline” in quality for The Simpsons and that the seasons that follow are much worse, but I think those people are just stuck in the past. I mean seriously, this has about 10 of the best Simpsons episodes ever made. Some of my favorites like when Homer’s car gets towed in New York and he goes to try and get it back, “The Principal and the Pauper is another classic episode even if it is one of Matt Groenings most hated, and when Bart destroyed Christmas. Also don’t forget about the 200th Emmy winning episode. All the episodes in this set are just amazing, and still as funny as ever. Moments that define the series can be found in this season.
Episodes:
- City of New York vs. Homer Simpson, The (9/21/97)
- Principal and The Pauper, The (9/28/97)
- Lisa's Sax (10/19/97)
- Treehouse of Horror VIII (10/26/97)
- Cartridge Family, The (11/2/97)
- Bart Star (11/9/97)
- Two Mrs. Nahasapeemapetilons, The (11/16/97)
- Lisa the Skeptic (11/23/97)
- Realty Bites (12/7/97)
- Miracle on Evergreen Terrace (12/21/97)
- All Singing, All Dancing (1/4/98)
- Bart Carny (1/11/98)
- Joy of Sect, The (2/8/98)
- Das Bus (2/15/98)
- Last Temptation of Krust, The (2/22/98)
- Dumbbell Indemnity (3/1/98)
- Lisa, the Simpson (3/08/98)
- This Little Wiggy (3/22/98)
- Simpson Tide (3/29/98)
- Trouble with Trillions, The (4/5/98)
- Girly Edition (4/19/98)
- Trash of the Titans (4/26/98)
- King of the Hill (5/3/98)
- Lost Our Lisa (5/10/98)
- Natural Born Kissers (5/17/98)
Rating: 10/10 (there are very few, if any, seasons that get less then this)
Packaging:
(*First disc was in my player)
I am glad they are back to the way they should be, as you read in the review for the last season I wrote I explained the whole “packaging controversy” but here they are pack to normal. Nice added bonuses, as you can see in the pictures, they added post cards. The discs are sometimes hard to get at, and the booklet a little to thick so you kinda have to push harder to get it in the slip cover, but it is still good.
Rating: 9/10
Features:
This is where The Simpsons DVD’s crush anything and everything possible. Seriously this gives the show a replay value of about a 1000. I can watch these things so many more times, with new features for new experiences. And also learn a little bit behind some of my favorite episodes
Commentary: “And the best DVD features ever go to…” The best, most fun, most informative tracks I have listened to. I listened to all the commentaries 4+ times on all other seasons, as I plan to do for these. I feel like I know the people doing these commentaries, I basically know there lives and I learn more and more each season. For those following the commentaries throughout the show, the writer, John Swartzwelder, who has written more episodes than anyone on the show refuses to do commentaries, he won’t even say one word. Well for this set they surprise call him on the phone without him knowing he is on a commentary. Makes for one of my favorite moments in commentary history. It must be listened to!
Matt Groening introduction: Perfect way to start off the sets, it always makes me want to sit in bed and watch the whole series all the way through. He is really funny.
“A Moment with U2” Featurette: not very good, some behind the scenes footage with narration. Not too interesting.
Deleted Scenes w/commentary: I love seeing these, even if they suck. I love the show so much that seeing anything new is just an amazing feeling. The commentary basically just explains the reason the things were cut.
Illustrated Commentaries: whoever came up with this idea deserves a pat on the back. I fucking love watching these, the creators just let loose and have fun with them. They draw on the screen while watching an animatic. It is really funny when they notice something terribly drawn.
Multi-Angle Animation Showcase: good for hardcore fans, I always check through these to see some things you don’t normally get to see and to see things different ways. Not much replay value, but good for a look.
Sketches: awesome seeing some original character ideas.
Commercials: fantastic look back into my past. I remember seeing some of these things on TV back in the day, it is so much fun to see them again.
“The Simpsons Movie Sneak Peek”: A nice look at an animatic from The Simpsons movie. Funny.
Easter Eggs: there are about 15 deleted scene easter eggs that I have found. If you can't find them just ask me and I will tell you where.
Rating: 10/10!
Overall:
Another perfect season of The Simpsons; I could watch the show non-stop and never get sick of it. Looking back at some of my old favorite episodes is so much now because I get so many of the more obscure hidden references they so cleverly add into the show. Which just adds to my appreciation of the show even more. ADVICE: Buy all these sets!
Rating (overall): 10/10
Season Rankings:
8th
4th
7th
6th
5th
3rd
9th
2nd
1st
(All Perfect)
