Reviews (20)

Volume 2 is the best so far!
In my opinion, Volume 2 is the best of the four sets released thus far. "Pod People" and "Cave Dwellers" are among MST3K's classic episodes, and what fan would miss out on the Shorts?

Angels Revenge: T&A are the main assets in this Charlie's Angels ripoff, wherein buxom vigilantes fight drug dealers. Notable stars include Alan "Skipper" Hale, Jim "Thurston" Backus, Pat "Mr. Haney" Buttram, and Jack Palance -- all obviously in more desperate times.

Pod People: A magical ALF wannabe from outer space visits a northern town -- wackiness ensues. "Pod People" uses the cinematic convention that aliens will attack adults and befriend children. As Dr. Forester says, "It has nothing to do with pods, nothing to do with people, and everything to do with HURTING".

Cave Dwellers: A knockoff of Conan the Barbarian, "Cave Dwellers" features a medieval world vaguely under attack. The heroine's pie pan chestplate and an inexplicable hang-gliding scene make this one a breeze for Joel and the Bots. Not as good at the Steve Reeves Hercules episodes, but still good fun.

Shorts: Arguably the best part of MST3K, the Shorts Volume 1 collects half of the bits from the Shorts VHS collection for your viewing pleasure. The shorts are a nice change of pace from the two-hour films, which can become tedious after a while if you're not in the mood for them. They also cover topics *so* obscure (from chicken farming to industrial arts to "A Date With Your Family") that you can be sure this is the only time they'll ever be on DVD.

As stated, this is my favorite MST3K volume. It may not be the best collection to pull in new fans, but for veterans of the series, it's definitely the best Rhino's released yet.

Top-notch collection
This is a good collection of DVD's featuring some classic episodes, as well as the ultimate feature: a DVD with shorts on one DVD.

The first two films - "Pod People" and "Cave Dwellers" are some of my favorite episodes. The skits are funny and so is the heckling, and I would definately invite people to introduce friends to MST3K this way.

"Angel's Revenge" is...well, it's not HILARIOUS, but it is funny. I wouldn't suggest introducing some one to MST3K with it, but definately watch it after you've gotten into the series. It's kind of weak in the beginning but picks up better after a while ("So they just destroyed all the drugs in the world?").

The Shorts Collection - while perhaps missing "Mr. B Natural" - is still the funniest piece of the pie. I laughed through ever last one of them, and "Cheating" made me fall out of my chair. Such lines as "I will bring you down Johnny!" or "You've made some powerful enemies, son" will stick in my mind forever. The last short involving chickens was fittingly good as well ("Where's the driver? Oh my god the chickens are taking over!")

In short, for MSTie or MSTie-in-training, this is an excellent volume. Get it. Got it? Good!

Another great collection from the funniest show ever!
This is Rhino's second DVD collection of four episodes of "Mystery Science Theater 3000," and it's excellent. It has three great episodes from various seasons, and a fourth disc of hilarious short subjects. And it comes in a nifty package with moving parts!

In case you're new to the world of "Mystery Science Theater 3000" (MST3K for short, that's what us fans -- "Misties" -- call it), this is the famous TV show where a silhouette of a man and two robots in theater seats provide running commentary for some of the worst movies ever made. The ninety-minute episodes are scattered with sketches and songs and amount to some of the smartest, most pop-culture savvy, side-splitting comedy ever made.

This DVD contains three episodes, plus a compilation of short subjects from different episodes. The episodes cover a wide spectrum: two are from early in season three, when Joel Hodgson was the host and the show was just kicking into high gear. The third is from late in the sixth season, when the show had developed a much more slick and sarcastic approach with host Mike Nelson. People new to the show will get a good chance to compare the styles of the show. Personally, I love both, but they are quite different. The Shorts are brief films that the host would sometimes make fun of before the movie. Originally, they watched episodes of old movie serials, but when those quickly became tiresome, they turned to educational, commercial, and industrial filmstrips (you know, those annoying things you had to watch at school assemblies in sixth grade?). They contain some of the funniest riffing in the series, and are favorites of the fans.

Here's what's on this collection:

ANGEL'S REVENGE. Episode #622. A 1978 film originally titled "Angel's Brigade," this is an hysterically awful rip-off of the TV show "Charlie's Angels," only it's worse, if you can imagine that! A group of attractive and not-so-attractive women decide to wage war on L.A.'s drug dealers by dressing in white jump suits. The female leads (including Playboy Playmate Susan Lynn Kiger) are horrendous actresses, but what's really embarrassing is the presence of well-known guest stars slumming at the pits of their careers: Jack Palance, Jim Backus, Pat Butrum, Alan Hale, and in a depressing performance, Peter Lawford. Poor Peter appears to have been drunk for the entire filming. Mike and the 'Bots have an absolute field day making fun of the relentless 70s style ("Entertaining was a lot easier in the 70s!") and the poor, unfortunate guest stars ("Do you think Peter knows where he is?"). This is one of my favorite Mike Nelson episodes, and it's the best disc in this package.

CAVE DWELLERS. Episode #301. This film was originally released in 1984 as "Ator the Invincible" and then as "Blade Master" on video. It's a sequel to "Ator the Fighting Eagle," and is one of many cheap-o copycats of "Conan the Barbarian." This stinker stars Miles O'Keefe as beefy warrior Ator, who also knows lots of sciencey stuff (like how to manufacture a hang-glider in two minutes with just sticks). Ator travels to the Ends of the Earth to stop some John Saxon-like villain from obtaining some vague object with a funny name that might do something really bad. Or whatever -- the film is just fantasy of the worst kind. It's so cheap there are no special effects, and the only monster is an immobile velour snake. This is first episode of season three, and this is really when the show entered its golden phase. Joel and the 'Bots have some good times here, especially at the outlandish finale, and there's a hilarious parody of the movie's opening credits. A good episode, and the start of great things.

POD PEOPLE. Episode #303. The poor dubbing in this film automatically marks it as foreign, but since it's obviously trying to pass itself off American, it's tricky to figure out where it was really shot. Mystery over: this is a 1983 Spanish film called "Los Nuevos Extraterrestres," released in America as "The Unearthling." It's an awful attempt to copy "E.T." and combine it with a horror film. Aliens that resemble miniature two-legged versions of Snuffleupuggus from "Sesame Street" invade the mountains. A high-pitched little kid befriend one of the aliens, Trumpy, while the rest start killing people for no reason. There's an awful pop band on a trip (their performance in a recording studio is one of the highlights of the episode), some poachers, and a dysfunctional family up in a cabin. None of it fits together, but Joel and 'Bots create some classic running gags. It's the perfect kind of film for the MST3K treatment. You'll love their re-creation of the incomprehensible "song" performed by the band in the move. ("It stinks!")

SHORTS, VOL. 1. These come from many seasons, and all are great. Tom Servo does a joking intro for each one. "The Home Economics Story" (from episode #317) is a 1950s film for high school girls that encourages them to study home economics in college, implying that they aren't destined for anything other than being housewives. "Junior Rodeo Daredevils" (from episode #407) tells how a group of kids in a tiny town set up their own rodeo, and then broke all their limbs and snapped their spinal chords -- all in good fun! "Body Care & Grooming" (from episode #510) informs college students how to spend all their time grooming their hair and skin, because people will only like them if they're pretty! "Cheating" (from episode #515) tells the tragic story of Johnny, who cheated and rose to power, and then fell into the pits of despair not unlike a Kafka novel. "A Date with Your Family" (from episode #602) is the best of the bunch: a nightmare about the perfect 50s family having a perfectly repressed 50s dinner. The riffing here is as sharp and satiric as anything ever done on the show. "Why Study Industrial Arts" (from episode #609) is the reverse of "The Home Economics Story," encouraging young men to risk sawing off their limbs in shop class. And finally, "The Chicken of Tomorrow" (from episode #702) explains breeding techniques to create meatier chickens. It's very depressing.

(In a bit of a mistake, two of the shorts are already available on other DVDs: episode #609, "The Skydivers" is on the first Rhino DVD collection, and Episode #515, "The Wild World of Batwoman," is available as a single DVD, so you might have already seen two of these shorts.)

This is another awesome collection from Rhino. There's more laughs here than you'll find in a year's worth of Hollywood comedies. A must for MST3K fans and newcomers alike!

Keep circulating the DVDs, Rhino!
Rhino continues producing MST3K boxed sets, and I can't thank them enough. They foster my MST collecting habit with each release. I adore the boxed sets and recommed them for any devoted MiSTie. That said, on to the Film Blecch in this set.

Angels Revenge (bad puctuation not mine): a blatant, charm-free Charlie's Angels poser. The 'angels' aren't even remotely attractive, but they use their womenly wiles to bring down the drug trade. The real surprise in this one is the --ahem-- famous names, like Jim Backus, Alan Hale (he's shown up in a BUNCH of MST-treated flicks), and good heavens--Mr. Haney. Summary: cheesy 70s T&A theme flick, with as little story as possible, so as not to burden the audience. A dippy teacher rounds up a model, a scary stuntwoman, a lousy Vegas singer, and some other person to defeat the pushers. This one takes more than one viewing to enjoy the jokes, because it is JUST that bad.

Cave Dwellers: Rhino was smart to package this movie in the set that houses its sibling, Pod People. This cinematic train wreck has the same jumbled production values of Pod People--you'll recognize it immediately. Signature element: scenes from some other movie play behind the opening credits. Cave Dwellers gave Miles O'Keefe a set of fringed boots, a tiny loincloth, and not much else. You will HOWL during the host segment when Joel & the Bots do a half-screen action sequence of the guy with the fruity hat.
Summary: ?? go to the ends of the earth, and you still won't get what this turkey is about. Images not to be missed: Ator & Thong's fight with invisible monsters, Ator hangliding, and the scene with the "Most Attractive Man of the Middle Ages--MY MY MY!" Ultimately, there is a short bit of the actual Cave Dwellers, but the film has zero to do with them. ??

Pod People: HUZZAH! A real crapfest, complete with a bargain basement Alf wannabe. Can you imagine the pitch for this film? I think it must've gone like this: let's have a cuddly but murderous alien, a bad rock band, a weird mountain family with a poorly dubbed child, and OH! for extra spice, POACHERS! If this leaves you saying, "What the hell?" -- you are ready to watch the movie.
Summary: cuddly Alf-like killers inconvenience a bad rock group's weekend in the mountains.

Shorts, Vol 1: the best Shorts volume, IMHO. This set of shorts has actual hosting by Tom and includes The Home Economics Story, Junior Rodeo Daredevils, Body Care & Grooming (they're cops!), Cheating, A Date with Your Family, and Why Study Industrial Arts? A Date with Your Family is my personal favorite--"A violent argument erupts over whose day was more pleasant." This short couldn't get any whiter if it tried. Life in the 50s as introduced to us by the MST cast!

A great boxed set--pop the popcorn and get ready for cinema's disasters to spin in your player. A must for MST collectors, and even the box design is cute!

Rhino Misses Mark on Volume 2
Last year I made a discovery... MST3K. Well, not really, I'd been watching the episodes for years. I only became VERY interested last year because I discovered Rhino had started issuing the MST episodes on DVD and including the original unedited films on the flip-side of the disks. The first four episodes Rhino put on DVD, I Accuse My Parents, Red Zone Cuba, Mitchell and Manos had lacked this feature and I had not been interested in getting those.

As a collector of odd-ball films I own a ton (many of them are Rhino tapes), but when Rhino started putting out double-sided DVD disks I became a died-in-wool MST collector too because for me the MSTied versions are like really, really good commentary tracks added to the disks. They are the kind of commentary tracks that all good DVD commentary tracks should aspire to be!

But now I discovered beginning with MST3K - Collection Volume 2, Rhino has reverted to the old practice of only one-sided disks!! Shame!! Tragedy!! On top of that, they've left the retail price in the same ballpark as the first collection which contained both versions of each film!

Oh yeah, I've read posts from others, "Rhino doesn't need to put the un-MSTied versions on the disks, those films are not worth viewing anyway! TRUE MST fans only want the MST episodes, blah, blah, blah…" Well, here is one person who is really saddened that Rhino has lowered the value of their disks (and not lowered the price!) Shame!

Who was the marketing genius at Rhino who dreamed this one up? I think there are other folks like me who enjoyed having the original films on the disks. I thought Rhino staff were people who (like me) who had a genuine love for off-beat cinema! Maybe Rhino has marketing-types running the show at company headquarters now instead of people who have a love for the product.

Here's the short version: Rhino won me over by putting out MST WITH the uncut films. Yes I'm still a big MST fan, but when allocating scarce dollars I will think twice about what gets purchased first. You know what? I don't own any of the single-sided disks. Rhino can sit on 'em! I'll buy them when they show up in the $5 cut-out bins.

Pisstified in S.F.,

Bob Burns ... Read more

Reviews (87)

'Yo Adrian!
I LOVE THE ROCKY MOVIES!!! my god my god my god. they are totally awesome. the first is amazing because it details the beginning of Rocky Balboa's(Stallone) career & relationship w/Adrian(Talia Shire)..that fight against Apollo is one of the best boxing matches & is widely recognized. Follow your love for this movie onto Rocky II where Apollo Creed has a rematch w/the hero Rocky. in Rocky III, Mr. T fights Rocky.. Rocky & Apollo are best friends now & Rocky is really rising(hits the big bucks) meanwhile Adrian & he are still together. she's a very loyal wife. in part IV, Rocky heads off to Russia to fight Ivan Drago(Dolph Lundgren)..this is another gr8 fight..totally & completely nail-biting. & in Rocky V, well Rocky's had many downs in his life/career right now.. audiences find Rocky managing an ambitious youngster & having father-son issues..i suppose what makes these movies one of my faves & one of those well-loved movies is: it demonstrates how a common guy can have a dream,fulfill it, rise up in his career & life, then suddenly fall because of a stupid mistake..the important thing is to realize who is w/him throughout all this time. Rocky's a very courageous, down-to-earth type character. combined w/gr8 fighting sequences & renowned music themes, the ROCKY movies are immediate take-home Blockbuster material. Why are you wasting time reading this?? Buy the movies!!! the DVD is gr8! complete w/awesome features. well hope ya like it!

ROCK-Y! ROCK-Y! ROCK-Y! ROCK-Y! ROCK-Y! ROCK-Y!
So many people have written about the things that make the Rocky movies so successful, and I have no doubt that I'll be repeating some of them in my review. But I have to throw my hat in the ring anyway, so to speak.

Rocky Balboa certainly qualifies as one of the most unique and determined heroes in cinema. His story is truly an inspiraton to us all. In the first movie, of course, he starts out with basically nothing, gets a chance to fight Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), and loses. In the second movie, he wins the heavyweight title from Creed in a rematch. By the third movie, Rocky is basking in the glow of his success; he and Adrienne now have a son. But Clubber Lang (Mr. T) has been making his way to the top as well, and he challenges Rocky to a match. Rocky trains hard and tries his best, but his concerns about his manager Mickey's (Burgess Meredith) health make it difficult to concentrate, giving Lang the advantage...and Rocky's title. With encouragement from Adrienne and his former rival Apollo Creed, who takes over as manager after Mickey's death, Rocky rediscovers his Eye of the Tiger in the rematch and puts Lang in his place.

In the fourth movie, Apollo is killed in battle by Russian champion Ivan Drago (Dolph Lundgren). In one of the most intense boxing matches of the entire series, Rocky finds the "chink" in the Russian's seemingly impenetrable armor. It's worth getting the fourth movie just for that match.

But, by the time of the fifth and final movie, things are quite a bit different. (As I'm writing this, I've just finished watching the fifth one for the very first time.) Not only do Rocky and his family find out that they're broke, but Rocky seems to be suffering from brain damage as a result of his fight with Drago. He becomes a manager for a new young fighter, Tommy Gunn (upsetting his son quite a bit), who allows his ego to cloud his judgement, thus luring himself into the sleazy side of the boxing business. When Tommy gets a shot at the heavyweight title, the audience is already in a bad mood because Rocky isn't there on stage with him. But when Tommy takes the title in just over three rounds, the audience is REALLY in a bad mood; at least Rocky had class.

Rocky and Tommy end up resolving their differences in a street fight, and for several agonizing minutes it looks like it could be the end...but Rocky has the spirit of Mickey with him, and for the fourth time, the Italian Stallion wins, proving that he's still a champion and always will be, even after fifteen years.

Whenever I watch these movies I can still feel the excitement of seeing them for the first time. When the odds are stacked against him, even in the face of several brushes with death (Tommy Gunn makes Ivan Drago and Clubber Lang look like pussycats somtimes), he still manages to triumph.

I love you, Rock...you the man!

Awsome Series
I luv all 5 Rocky movies. It was by far one of the best series I have ever seen; along with all Star Track, Star Wars, and Lord of the Rings!!! I just finished watching them all this 4th of July weekend when and most of them I watched twice!!! It was an all day Rocky Fest on AMC. I watched them with my girls and they loved it just as much as I did. The movies had a moral to every storyline althrough sometimes repeating itself...It was still good. It was just like I saw it for the first time. I luved it!!

WOW!
I-5 stars-an underdog story
II-5 stars-the rematch
III-5 stars-he gets soft then he gets mad
IV-5 stars-do you believe in miracles?stupid soviets
V-3 stars-it wasnt that good
it teaches you to beileve and never give up-its about heart
once i saw them i got some boxing gloves and started beating up
my best friends.
and i dont get what u yankees and people dont like about #IV,
its better than #V and just as good as the other ones.
dont like my review? say it to my face!

His Entire Life Was A Million To One Shot
American classics only come along once in awhile. Films like Star Wars, The Godfather, and The Terminator are among many. Sometimes you say to yourself, "If that movie never existed, it would have a real effect on culture today." And you're quite right. Star Wars brought us immortal lines like "Luke, I AM your father." and "May the force be with you." The Godfather brought the American fascination with the mafia to life. Just think, No Godfather, No Sopranos. And The Terminator established Arnold Schwarzenegger and James Cameron's careers as well as the "technology gone wrong" and "I'm from the future" genres. Yes, films like these have believe it or not had an effect on everyone. And who can forget the world's sporting people. Everyone who participates in sports has to train hard and balance their personal lives with their professional lives. When I played basketball in high school, I had to. And we all need something to motivate us. To drive us. And being a film fanatic, I got my inspiration from a movie. That movie Was Rocky. Sylvester Stallone's masterwork series that showed us the stages of a man's life through his sport of boxing. From his one shot that put him on the map (Part 1), to his rematch that won him a world title (Part 2), to a rise and settlement, loss, and redemption (Part 3), to a burning vengeance (Part 4), to a retirement, betrayal, and final fight(Part 5). This series shows us that you can be the poorest, dumbest guy in the country, and become a legend just by taking your one chance. Now these movies are on DVD in a beautifully crafted boxed set. Now you can enjoy one man's journey from zero to hero anytime with a great DVD transfer and good special features on the first disc only (didn't understand that one.). This movie can change your life. Now, I recommend the first Rocky over them all because it's very realistic and humanistic. I recommend Rocky 2 as a good sequel with a shocking conclusion. Rocky 3 was the best sequel not only because of the performances of Hulk Hogan and the talented Mr. T, but because it shows how fame can cloud your mind and how putting bitter rivalries and materials behind to regain your drive can help you overcome. Rocky 4 was my least favorite not only for a far fetched storyline and that damned robot, but because it lost it's humanism to go for the revenge plot.Plus it was Stallone's blatant "let's end the Cold War" peace offering. It was saved by good performances, a great fight sequence, a cool villianous contender, and good 80's music. It also screws up the timeline of the story a bit. Rocky 5 regained the humanism and returned Rocky and Adrian back to their roots and it was good because it was different. Rocky had one fight, and it was one hell a fight- on the street. Plus it showed how quick trusting someone else in the fighting game can destroy you. These movies are all good but if you have to see any of them I rank them 1,3,2,5,4. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Season one of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman captures the popular television series at its most charming and original: a gently feminist, 19th-century Western with mythic overtones, a Gunsmoke-like vision of small-town constancy, and an audacious love story that might best be described as Buckskin Bronte. British actress Jane Seymour scrubbed away her accent to play Michaela Quinn, fifth daughter of a well-to-do Boston physician who encouraged her to get a medical degree despite social obstacles.

The headstrong Quinn moves to rough-and-tumble Colorado Springs to set up a practice, faces stiff resistance from the locals, witnesses the brutality of white America's expansionism, and generally experiences a classic Western transformation from privilege to pioneering. Along the way, Quinn makes a heartfelt connection with the mysterious Sully (Joe Lando), a laconic outsider/cowboy-knight-errant/widower preserving his broken heart. While the series' pilot may be the best thing in this set, there is a lot to enjoy about further episodes (with such guest stars as Johnny Cash and Robert Culp) exploring Quinn's hard-won admiration from town skeptics. Dr. Quinn creator Beth Sullivan admirably balances the many influences and narrative forces at work; some of the best shows are idea-driven, such as "Portraits," which deals with prejudice. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (20)

Dr Quinn Medicine Woman
I just love it. I have already received the first season on DVD, and I love watching it. The quality is wonderful. I really hope that they release the other five seasons. I finally have my favorite show on DVD.

Timeless Show
What a terrific show! I was very disappointed when CBS cancelled this series but I am grateful A&E saw the value in putting the shows on DVD. Jane Seymour and Joe Lando are terrific together. The romance is wonderfully entertaining without being smutty. The ensemble cast work so well together. Each character has his/her own quirks that make you love them all. I highly recommend this series. It doesn't lose it's charm the longer it's off the air, but instead, it only gets better. Popping in a Dr. Quinn DVD is a wonderful vacation from all the garbage that is on television these days. Well worth the money! I can't wait to get Season 2. Hurrah!

Wonderful show
I never watched this show when it aired on TV, so I took a chance on this DVD set. Being a fan of Little House on the Prairie, I figured it had to be similar. All I can say is that I adore this show and have already purchased Seasons 2 and 3 and will continue to purchase the sets as they are released. It is a nice show about families, love, and independence. I have been very pleased with this set as well. I've noticed a little bit of choppiness with scene transition, but overall, very good. I highly recommend!

One of the finest shows ever....
Dr. Quinn is one of the finest shows ever produced. For six seasons, this show took us back to the period just after the end of the Civil War when the West was still wild, beautiful and dangerous. Jane Seymour is unforgettable as Dr. Michaela Quinn who leaves Boston high society to begin a medical practice in Colorado Springs. The history of medicine unravels before our eyes, along with the history of the West, the injustices carried out against Native Americans, the birth of the railroad, etc. Dr. Quinn also tells one of the greatest love stories ever written for television. The chemistry between Jane Seymour and Joe Lando was truly amazing.

There was good reason for the uproar unleashed when CBS canceled this show before its time was done. It was a terrible mistake in judgment. It is a decision that continues to haunt the President of CBS, Leslie Moonves, who recently admitted that he still receives (more than 7 years after Dr. Quinn's cancellation) over 100 protest letters and e-mails a month.

If you have never seen this show -- watch it now (commericial-free!!!) and enjoy one hell of a ride.

I forgot how much I loved this show!
I haven`t seen Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman since it was on TV years ago, but I suddenly had a desire to watch it again. I`m so glad I ordered the DVDs! ... Read more

Amazon.com

The midpoint of what would be a nine-season show, the fifth season of The X-Files (the first to be put on DVD in anamorphic widescreen format) gives fans a heavy heaping of what they love. For the mythology buffs, riveting episodes from the season bookends "Redux" and "The End" to several episodes in between tease with new revelations about the vast government conspiracies and alien invasion plot lines sketched in earlier seasons. But enough questions are left unanswered for the theatrical X-Files movie, which was released the subsequent summer, and the seasons that followed. Supporting characters like the Lone Gunmen, Agent Krycek, the Pusher Robert Modell, and Fox's father and sister Bill and Samantha Mulder are flushed out in more detail in several episodes that occasionally jump back in time to cover the prehistory of the X-files. New chess pieces are introduced, each raising new questions: the clairvoyant child Gibson Praise, Agent Spender, faceless alien resistance fighters with pyromaniacal tendencies, a child who may be Scully's, and Mulder's old flame, agent Diana Fowley (Mimi Rogers). All the time, no one knows who will be assassinated next, who is or isn't dead, just who isn't potentially a child of the Cigarette Smoking Man, and why the base of the neck is everyone's vulnerable spot. The creature feature stand-alone episodes vary in quality, but all are redeemed by the outrageously funny self-parody episode "Bad Blood," a fan favorite that guest stars Luke Wilson as a small-town sheriff who catches Scully's eye.

Finally, "shippers" (fans who would love nothing better than to see Mulder and Scully act upon their feelings for each other) get a heavy dose of the usual sexual innuendo and lingering, tender glances between the attractive costars. Mimi Rogers and Luke Wilson incite palpable jealousy between the leads; the appearance of a wedding band on Mulder's hand in a back story hints at stories not told; and the usual extreme and dimly lit crises illustrate just how far Mulder and Scully will go for each other. In the end, the complexities of their relationship may be the most tense and intriguing of all the mysteries explored by this epic television series. --Eugene Wei ... Read more

Reviews (39)

Halfway through the show, The X-Files reaches its peak
Season 5 of The X-Files is definitely the best season from the show's nine-year run, in my opinion. Season 5 is where the mythology arc of the show really takes over, resulting in a superb season finale before finally leading to box-office glory in the summer of 1998 with The X-Files Movie: Fight The Future. Season 5 was actually filmed after the movie, despite the movie coming out after Season 5! This brilliant season of The X-Files contains a mere 20 episodes - the movie was Chris Carter's excuse as the concluding "episode/s" to the season. David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson as FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully respectively are surprisingly not at their best, acting-wise in Season 5.

As previously stated, Season 5 is where the mythology arc of the show really takes over. These conspiracy episodes are the best from any season in The X-Files, and made Season 5 more epic than any other. Season 5 begins with the great episode Unusual Suspects. In a flash back scene from 1989, the Lone Gunmen meet for the first time and join forces with Mulder to stop a covert government experiment that may be targeted at the American public, after been contacted by a distraught woman. We finally catch up with what happened at the end of Season 4 in the first two-parter of Season 5; Redux/Redux II. Mulder was presumed dead at the end of the previous season, yet the agents play the game better and are one step ahead of everyone else - I won't spoil it for you, but it's truly an amazing two-parter, definitely one of the best in the show's history. The next two-parter we receive from Season 5 is Christmas Carol/Emily. In the former, a mysterious phone call leads Scully to investigate a woman's suicide and a young girl who may be the daughter of her deceased sister, Melissa. In the latter, Scully attempts to adopt three year old Emily Sim, only to discover that the girl has developed a disturbing illness that may be the by-product of a sinister conspiracy. The next in a long list of Season 5 two-parters is Patient X/The Red And The Black. In the former - after a group of alien abductees are burned alive by faceless assailants - Mulder and Scully uncover proof that the event is linked to alien colonisation. In the latter, the agents discover more evidence of the planned alien colonisation of Earth and set out to preserve what may be humanity's last remaining link to freedom. Since the beginning of Season 5, Mulder's opinions on what he believes have been severely challenged. We see an extremely sceptical Mulder in this two-parter, not willing to believe anything without proof. The fans aren't used to this, so it's just as glad he reverts to his normal self soon. The Season 5 finale - The End - is another absolutely stunning episode in which Mulder and Scully discover a 12-year-old clairvoyant whose life may be in danger due to his gifted ability to solve all the unexplained phenomena in the X-Files. The Ciagrette-Smoking Man really gets involved in this finale, arriving back with full force - intent on complicating things more than they could be and, of course, covering up the truth.

The stand-alone episodes of Season 5 are amongst the best the show has ever produced. While containing some superb ones such as Kitsunegari, Schizogeny, Kill Switch, Mind's Eye, All Souls, The Pine Bluff Variant and Folie A Deux, it also contains one atrocious one - Travelers. This is just a rubbish episode, which I turned off between the first viewing. One of the best episodes of Season 5 is Detour. In the episode, Mulder and Scully are stalked by an ancient legion of lethal beings while out in the woods investigating a boy's claims that he was attacked by an invisible creature. The striking and rich greens of the trees in the forest make this one of the most memorable episodes in X-Files history. The Post Modern Prometheus is a special episode, filmed entirely in black and white. While investigating the appearance of a freakish creature in a rural town, the agents uncover a dangerous genetic experiment that has spun wildly out of control. The comedy scenes (Mulder and Scully suddenly appearing from behind a door-frame to quiz a suspect is hilarious) make for a much-loved episode. Chinga (called Bunghoney from a few sources for some strange reason) is another one of the season's highlights. Rumours of witchcraft and sorcery surrounding a bizarre murder lead Scully to a little girl and a cursed doll that may be hiding a murderous secret. The episode was co-written by horror story legend Stephen King and contains some truly scary moments - such as the supermarket one...and watch out for the "I want more cherries!" scene! Bad Blood has to be the funniest episode of The X-Files you will ever see. While exploring the deaths of cattle killed by a series of blood extractions, the agents uncover a cult of vampires residing in a small Texas town. Both Mulder and Scully offer their sides of the story on what happened in flashback scenes. At one point, the agents become so annoyed with each other that when Scully explains what location they were at (with that trademark writing appearing at the bottom of the screen), Mulder cuts in and believes Scully to have got the location wrong! The writing at the bottom of the screen then changes to what Mulder believes it to be! Very funny stuff!

OVERALL GRADE: 10/10

Season 5 of The X-Files is one of the best seasons of any TV show I have ever seen - only Seasons 3 and 5 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer tops it! The season contains many different characters such as Cigarette-Smoking Man, Alex Krycek, the Lone Gunmen, Maria Covarrubias, Diana Fowley and The Bounty Hunter which only add to the season's quality. Be a part of The X-Files legend and own Season 5 on DVD today!

The Greatest Science Fiction Show Hits Season 5
If you are reading this, you are proabbly a very big X-Files fan like me. If you are not a fan, you have no idea what great stuff you are missing. So here is the lowdown. As most of us nerds know, X-Files Season 5 was the first season to be filmed in anamorphic widescreen, but it was broadcast in fullscreen.Fox has announced though that the DVD's (Thank You Jesus!)will be presented in their originall anamorphic widescreen! Now for the episodes...
Disc 1: Unusual Suspects, Redux, ReduxII and Detour
Disc 2: Christmas Carol, Post-Modern Prometheus, Emily and Kitsunegari
Disc 3: Schizogeny, Chinga, Kill Switch and Bad Blood
Disc 4: Patient X, The Red and the Black, Travelers and Mind's Eye
Disc 5: All Souls, The Pine Bluff Variant, Folie a Deux and The End
Disc 6: Supplemental Materials.
And for the special features...
The audio will be presented in Dolby Surround 2.0. There will also be international clips for several episodes, deleted scenes from The Post-Modern Prometheus, Christmas Carol, The Red and the Black and All Souls, audio commentaries for The Post-Modern Prometheus and The Pine Bluff Variant, a thirty minute documentary - The Truth About Season Five, Behind the Truth Spots, special effects clips with commentary, a two minute featurette from the FX network, tv spots, and a DVD-ROM game.
I hope this helps ... and remember THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE!

Incredible season.. Best I have seen yet
Up until recently, I never watched a single episode of the X-Files. Now that the DVD sets have been reduced in price, I had the opportunity to start watching the show. After watching the first four seasons on DVD I have become a huge fan, and in my opinion The X-Files is one of the most addictive and well done science fiction shows ever created. However, the only five star season that was great from start to finish, was the third season. Going into season five, I never expected to see a season of The X-Files that could manage to overcome season three in terms of storytelling and episode quality. I was wrong. The fifth season was absolutely amazing. I enjoyed every single episode, and I doubt that any season for the rest of the show will be able to top it.

The thing that I probably enjoyed the most about season five, is that Mulder and Scully switch roles. Based on what he learns at the end of season four, Mulder turns somewhat skeptical and comes to think that everything he believed in was a lie, while Scully starts to become more of a believer based on things she discovers about her abduction. The fifth season offers so many wonderful episodes, it is hard to choose a favorite. The first two episodes "Redux" and "Redux II" offer a wonderful conclusion to the season four cliffhanger. One of my favorite episodes "Unusual Suspects" goes into how the Lone Gunmen came to be. "The Post-Modern Prometheus" is loosely based on the Frankenstien monster, and is shot in black and white. This was definately one of the best episodes I have seen so far. Everything from the writing and cinematography, to the music used was fantastic. "Bad Blood" is the funniest and most entertaining episode of The X-Files that I have ever seen, and will probably go down as being my favorite episode of the entire show. "The End" is the best season finale of the show that I have seen so far, and is definately on my top ten list for best episodes.

Overall, the fifth season of The X-Files is the best season I have seen so far. While there were only 20 episodes, each one managed to be fantastic. The fifth season would be worth owning for the episodes alone. However, the DVD package is great. This was the first DVD set to offer the episodes in widescreen! The extras are very good as well. My favorite feature was the 45 minute "Inside the X-Files" featurette. It was very in-depth and featured tons of great information. You also get deleted scenes with commentary from series creator Chris Carter, commentary on the episodes "The Post-Modern Prometheus" and "The Pine Bluff Variant" from the writer of those particular episodes, and more.

A solid 5 stars...

End of Vancouver
This season marks the last season that was shot in Vancouver. After that, they moved to L.A. Amidst all of that, as well as writting an entire season to lead up to the movie, this season proved to be really great.

[Spoilers]

As usual, the conspiracy deepens with the season premier, and we get a cure for Scully's cancer, an answer to Mulder's supposed death, and a new monkey wrench thrown into the Syndicate's plans: Mulder and Scully discover a boy that can read minds, which in turn could expose the syndicate.

[End Spoilers]

This season had great stand alone episodes as well as mythology episodes. It proved that The X-Files still had a lot going for it.

This season ended with a pretty good season finale, but wasn't as good as Season 4's. However, this didn't matter, because the REAL season finale was the movie "The X-Files: Fight the Future" that was released a few weeks later in theaters.

Overall, a great season and a great setup for the movie and future seasons.

Great season, great DVD.

End of Vancouver...
For the first five seasons of the show, they filmed in Vancouver. After that, they moved to LA. Even through all that, the show remains incredibly well done.

In this season, we have a cure for Scully's cancer, we find out what really happened in the Season Four finale episode, and we learn just how deep the conspiracy goes. We also learn more about what happened when Scully was abducted in "Christmas Carol/Emily," and more in "Patient X/The Red and the Black." The latter two-parter also expands more into what the aliens are really up to.

The season ends with a decent finale, although not as good as last season's. But that's ok, because a month later we got the movie!

Great season, great DVD. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The second four-disc set of Fushigi Yûgi continues the adventures of Miaka and Yui, two Japanese middle-school girls drawn into an ancient Chinese book, The Universe of the Four Gods. The later episodes are darker in tone, marked by threats of rape, attempted rape, and the deaths of several secondary characters (some of whom die two or three times). Miaka and her friends, who fight in the name of the "beast-god" Suzaku, are pitted against the warriors of the rival deity, Seiryu: twins Amiboshi and Suboshi; werewolf Ashitare; lightning-wielding Soi; Miboshi, who looks like a tiny monk; Tomo, who dresses like a Peking Opera general; and the icily vicious Nagako. Nagako commands this troop in the name of Yui, who is waging a vendetta against Miaka. Despite the myriad plots, battles, and spells, director Hajime Kamegaki focuses on the romance between Miaka and martial artist Tamahome. Tamahome has lost the outlaw panache that initially made him attractive, and Miaka has grown no more prepossessing. She whines continuously, and every third episode seems to end with her either declaring she'll never forgive some evil or apologizing for not living up to someone's expectations. What does Tamahome see in her? Their endless proclamations of undying fidelity leave little time for the activities of the more colorful and interesting supporting characters--transvestite Nuriko, sorcerer-in-training Chichiri, and mountain bandit Tasuki. While Miaka and her friends slog on, her brother Keisuke and his friend Tetsuya are reading The Universe of the Four Gods and tracking its effects in the real world. The final battle that pits Tomahome against Nagako and Suzaku against Seiryu proves more anticlimactic than apocalyptic. Kamegaki has several key events occur off camera, including Yui's final wish to Seiryu and how Miaka escapes from the penalty customarily imposed on those who summon Suzaku. Fushigi Yûgi should be seen one or two episodes at a time: watching for more than an hour is like eating a box of bonbons in one sitting. Rated 13 and up for violence, nudity, and sexual situations, including suggestions of rape. --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Reviews (54)

An Improvement over the 1st Half but.....
The second half was definitely better than the first but it still had a lot of problems (what else would you expect from Fushigi Yugi?). First the good things. The animation was better for the most part (there were a some poorly and lazily done episodes), but I guess they made up for it with the "Nuriko, the Eternal Farewell" episode. That was a fantastic episode. One of the best one in the entire series. Also, the episode where Tatara and Suzuno were reunited was fantastic. The music set the feeling of the moment perfectly resulting in one of the best moments of the series or of any anime series for that matter. The summoning of Seiryu was done very well also. The ending was great too with some nicely done animation. Great voice acting on the part of Seki Tomokazu, Touma Yumi, and Nuriko's seiyuu. Now onto the bad. In the second half I still had a problem with the main character Miaka who was still (except for the very end) a bad character in my opinion. In this second half of the series she was still running after Tamahome or away from (We can't be together I can't marry you bladdy blah blah) and saying stuff like that would be the best for Tamahome then running off which was complete [nonsense]. The creators of the anime must have been TRYING to make us not like Miaka. They succeded pretty well. Miaka's voice actress, Araki Kae, should stick to the little girls like Chibi Usa instead of doing 8th grade girls because she sounds horridly annoying in Miaka's role. Tamahome is not much better, all of his 2,000 love speeches to Miaka or about Miaka make me want to mute the TV even though it IS Modorikawa Hikaru doing Tamahome's voice. Thankfully there wasn't as much Hotohori scenes in the second half. The animation in the episode where something surprising happens involving Chiriko (I think you know what I'm talking about) was awful. That episode was the most screentime Chiriko had in the entire series, more than the amount of all his previous screentime put together. All the stuff about I want to know Tamahome's true feelings was annoying too. Did anybody notice after Miaka came out of Tomo's shin shell thing and it showed that up (sort of at an angle shot) of Miaka? It was riduculous. No human is that thin and certainly no human who eats as much as Miaka does is. Even Yui isn't shown as thin as that and she isn't obssessed with food. There was way too much Miaka fan service, half of the time she has no clothes on, partly because everybody else is always taking them off (Tamahome, Nakago, Tomo, Nuriko) and everyone's always trying to take away her virginity so she can't summon Suzaku, very annoying. I wish we had been able to see more of the Byakko Seven because they were all much more interesting than Miaka and Tamahome ever were to me. I loved Tatara and Suzuno especially. Fushigi Yugi has lots of ups and downs and it's your choice whether you want to invest the money for the whole thing.

Hmmm...
Well, I'm writing this under the assumption that all readers are considering buying/have bought and watched the first half of the Fushigi Yuugi series. I'll start right now by saying that I've only ever seen it in Japanese, so I can't give you a fair opinion on the English dub.

In brief, what I thought of Fushgi Yuugi in general- well, I really quite liked it. It's not a favourite of mine, and I don't think it ever will be, but its still incredibly cute and funny.

What I thought of this set:

Well, excuse me while I go bang my head against a wall. Don't get me wrong- the second half is definately not bad, and for the most part is very, very enjoyable. There are, however, certain aspects that have inspired within me the urge to hurt something.

1) The complete shifts in characters. Miyaka started out as a likeable character. Granted, she was a ditz, but the character had spirit and passion, and was done very well. By this point in the series though, her personality has shifted completely. Gone is the girl who was willing to fight a gang in an alley because she didn't have to worry about teachers yelling at her. (This was in episode 3, I believe.) Enter Miyaka, weak priestess, who wanders around wailing and blushing, waiting for people to cater to beck and call....

Tamahome suffered the same personality shift as Miyaka. Like her, I really loved Tamahome at the start of the series. His character was portrayed as being shallow with a good heart underneath it all. Like Miyaka, he was hilarious, and incredibly likeable. I shamelessly admit that I was cheering him on the whole time, hoping he'd 'get the girl'. By the time the second series rocked up though, he had Miyaka and had become a simpering mess. He was completely whipped, no longer the strong character I liked. It was extremely disappointing.

We get to see more insight into Yui, but not much into the Seiryuu Seven, which is vaguely disappointing, but can be forgiven. We see the Byakko Seven- well, three members- and slowly find out more and more in the dark past of 'The Universe of the Four Gods', which I have to say, is excellently done. Sadly though, there is very little Hotohori- in my opinion, a real shame, as his character was wonderful and his Japanese voice actor is one of my personal favourites.

The plot is still engaging. It doesn't focus on the other members of the Seven as much as I'd like, in favour of screams of 'Tamahome!' 'Miyaka!' but each character does get their brief spot in the limelight.

The drawings are still excellent, and the animation flows as well as the first season. When it's not trying too hard to be deep and meaningful, we see that wonderful Fushigi Yuugi humour, which was originally the first thing that caught my attention. There's still plenty of fanservice, which was kind of misplaced, considering this is a series that targets girls, but is still funny.

All in all, the second series is enjoyable, and is a nice way to round out the series. The ending leaves a bit to be desired, but that's what the OVAs are for. If you've seen the first half of Fushigi Yuugi (which was, to me, superior) this half is a necessity. I don't think that, on the whole, you'll be disappointed. Still, if you're anything like me, you'll wish that certain parts had been revised.

Fushigi Yugi
4 GODS, 2 WORLDS, 7 WARRIORS, 1 QUEST.

WARNING, MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS (okay it does)!!!

Hi it's me again!! You know from Fushigi Yugi Boxed Set 1.

If you haven't read it yet go and read it!!
Here are all the characters (with their powers) so far:
Susaku-Miaka-Priestess, Tamahome-Martial Arts, Hotohori-Sword, Nuriko-Strength, Tasuki-Harisen, Chichiri-Magic, Mitsukake-Healer, and Chriko-Intelligence.
Seiryu-Yui-Priestess, Nakago-Magic, sort of but much more powerful then Chichiri's, Amiboshi-Flute, Suboshi-His spinning balls (I forget what they are called), Soi-Lightening. The next three are Ashtaire, Tomo and Miboshi.(I won't tell you their powers

Okay. Now this DVD set begins with a show that reviews over all the characters. Starting with Tamahome, Hotohori, Nuriko, Tasuki, Chichiri, Mitsukake, and last but not least Chriko.
The last episode on the first Boxed Set was when Miaka and the Susaku 7 set off for Genbu on boat.
On the way there, there is a terrible storm caused by Soi of the Seiryu 7(who controls lightening). Tasuki gets washed of the ship and since he doesn't know how to swim Miaka jumps in to save him but she just ends up sinking faster then he does.
Tamahome, the hero, has to jump in to save her and Nuriko from the ship throws down a rope for Tasuki to grab on. Nuriko falls and goes down into the ocean along with Tamahome and Miaka and gets washed away. Miaka and Nuriko get onshore to a rock but Tamahome doesn't make it in time and gets eletrocuted in the water.Nuriko pulls him up to safety and they all rest in the cave. Lightening hits the cave and water is rushing in. Nuriko with her strength holds the walls up but Miaka falls into the water and Tamahome dives in to save her (oh yeah, he's all right now). The current pushes them away but Nuriko grabs them and pulls them out with his superstrength just before the lightening strkes the water.

That's just a preview of what happens, to find out the rest buy this excellent DVD set!!

Be brave: stick it out
I have to say that for a good portion of this half of the series, I was Less Than Impressed.

First of all, the writers seemed to forget about their WONDERFUL supporting cast (except, of course, for when they were killing them off, but I'll get to that) and focused a great deal of this half to JUST Miaka and Tamahome. While I can find it in my heart to stand Miaka, I hate her and Tamahome as a couple. Probably mainly because somebody forgot to give Tamahome a personality. There's a good ten episodes (the figure could be off; I never actually counted) where I seriously considered just giving up on the series all together; it got repetitive and annoying.

However, I stuck it out, and I'm really hoping that anybody else who spends any amount of time on this series will do the same. Except for the middle section, this half is a REAL emotional roller coaster. It has the same comedy as the first half (though in this half there were quite a few awkward gags that would have been better left out, and there might have actually been more fanservice in this half than in the first, which, if true, would really be saying something), but there are several episodes that will leave you in tears, even watching them a second or third (or more) time. There are deaths, and a lot of them; they increase in frequency the later in the series it gets, and for saps like me, the last few episodes will get really hard to watch. While these episodes are very dramatic, it's a shame some of the best characters are killed off as this leaves them unavailable to provide relief during the rocky middle section.

On the plus side, we also get to learn more about the history of the Universe of the Four Gods and the Priestesses who came before Miaka and Yui; this information was intriguing enough to keep me invested.

I got to the last three or four episodes thoroughly believing that no ending could really satisfy me, and I am VERY happy to say that I was proved wrong. While an attempt at garnering sympathy for Nakago failed and I still don't like Tamahome, I was otherwise blown away by the ending. It was wonderful, and I was very glad that I did stick with it. Take my advice on this one; I'm sure you won't regret it.

The Best Part of the Series...
... and really, the best part of all of Fushigi Yugi, including Eikoden (shudder) and Oni (though not including the manga). As I said in my previous review of Suzaku, I believe this series is under-rated, and, to repeat myself further, I was guilty of this as well. I really didn't like the first few episodes, but kept watching and grew to like it. Then I saw Seiryu, and it was all worth it. Seiryu has all of the characters we have grown to love, with a much deeper, darker message than Suzaku. We grow to understand why Yui has grown to hate Miaka so much (you would too if you ended up with a mind-f***er like Nakago). We really begin to feel for the characters and their heart-ache. And we begin to see Yu Watase's deeper messages: messages about life, love, friendship and war. When I first started Suzaku, I wondered how anyone (Gilles Poitras) could list Fushigi Yugi in their top 41 recommended titles. Seiryu made me see why. It's a great series, and once you make it through the first half, you can enjoy the wonderful second installment. ... Read more

Amazon.com

For Seinfeld, the third season's--for want of a better word--the charm. The show has found its misanthropic voice (by season's end, a fed-up Elaine tells herself, "I gotta get some new friends"), the ensemble has a firmer grasp of their characters, and the writers rise to the occasion with episodes that have entered the Seinfeld pantheon, including the Seinfeld equivalent of a Very Special Episode, "The Boyfriend," with Keith Hernandez and the J.F.K. parody, "The Library," featuring Philip Baker Hall channeling Jack Webb as library bookhound Bookman, "The Pez Dispenser," and "The Keys," with an L.A.-bound Kramer winding up on Murphy Brown. Michael Richards, especially, comes into his own this season as Kramer. The first two seasons built up the mystique of this "man-child"/"parasite." So while he was absent in season 2's "The Chinese Restaurant," he is now out and about with the close-knit, albeit dysfunctional, trio. Julia Louis-Dreyfus has some of her giddiest golden moments, zonked on painkillers in "The Pen," or, as a bored party guest in "The Stranded," telling an obnoxious bride-to-be that "Maybe the dingo ate your baby." And don't get us started on Jason Alexander as George, series co-creator Larry David's neurotic and angst-ridden alter-ego. To paraphrase what Julia Roberts said of Denzel Washington, we don't want to live in a world where Alexander doesn't have an Emmy.

But it's the extensive bonus features that give this four-disc set "hand" over other TV-on-DVD releases. The "Inside Look" episode intros, optional pop-up "Notes About Nothing," and candid, albeit a little too casual, commentaries offer a fount of information to even the most obsessive Seinfeld fans. We learn that even the most outrageous episodes, such as "The Pez Dispenser," were inspired by real-life events. Especially telling is Alexander's observation that Jerry never really socialized with the other ensemble members. This has extended to the commentaries: Seinfeld pairs with David on some episodes, while Alexander, Richards and Dreyfus team up on others. They are gracious to the guest stars and extras, and mostly mum on Jer. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Amazon.com

To the delight of Star Trek fans everywhere, the stellar second season of The Next Generation (1988-89) belonged to Lieutenant CommanderData. As the Enterprise-D's resident android, Data (in the Emmy-worthy hands of Brent Spiner) would gain legal sentience in the season highlight "The Measure of a Man," and his increasingly "human" personality would refine itself in such diverse episodes as "Elementary, Dear Data" (Data as Sherlock Holmes), "The Outrageous Okona" (a misfire, but worthy from the Data perspective), and "Pen Pals." While Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher) took a sabbatical of then-unknown duration (gracefully replaced by original Trek guest star Diana Muldaur as Dr. Pulaski), the remaining bridge crew would match Data's vitality: Riker grew a handsome beard and proved his command potential; Worf became richly nuanced in "The Icarus Factor," and met his match (and mate) in guest Suzie Plakson's fiercely Klingon sexpot K'Ehleyr; Wesley matured admirably, despite continuing fan disapproval; Betazed culture emerged as Troi locked horns with her eccentric mother, Lwaxana (Majel Barrett, in a recurring role); and La Forge made good on his promotion to chief engineer while Chief O'Brien (Colm Meaney) flawlessly rode on Geordi's coattails.

In a crucial series development, Guinan (special guest Whoopi Goldberg) revealed a connection to Q in her helpful capacity as Ten-Forward's enigmatic host, while Q himself (John DeLancie) precipitated the Enterprise's first, fateful encounter with the Borg (in the suspenseful "Q Who?"). Through it all, Patrick Stewart brilliantly intensified all of Picard's renaissance qualities (especially in the dazzling "Time Squared"), exploring the captain's facets with equal measures of curiosity, fascination, amusement, courage, and philosophical insight. Despite its lame finale with the money-saving clip-show "Shades of Gray," season 2 charted a warp-nine course to the even better season 3. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (36)

Too Short A Season
The second season of STAR TREK-TNG is marked by change. It also has 4 fewer episodes than the usual 26. The shorter season happened because of a Hollywood writer's contract dispute over the hiatis. In my opinion, the strike caused the writing staff to lose momentum. The end result is a lopsided effort. The producers decided to replace Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden) with Dr. Katherine Pulaski (Diana Muldaur). This also marks the beginning of Guinan's (Whoppi Goldberg) appearences on the ship. Goldberg is a boon for the show. Unlike most folks, I thought Muldaur did ok as the doctor and made the best of her one season stint. She is a fine actress but didn't have the same connection to Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) as Crusher does and I think that is why people didn't go for her. Despite my criticism of a majority of season 2 episodes, there are a handful of standouts. They are:

Where Silence Has Lease
Loud As A Whisper
A Matter Of Honor
The Measure Of A Man
Q Who
Pen Pals
Times Squared
The Emissary

The rest of the shows are ok but that's it. Like the DVD box set for season one, there is about an hour's worth of featurettes that provide insight into the season, culled from previously seen and new interviews from cast and crew. This may not be TNG's finest season but I still recommend the set for fans and completists. Besides, with the season 3 DVD set right around the corner, the "Best" is yet to come. Recommended

ST TNG 2
This release of Star Trek The Next Generation on DVD contains all of the episodes of its second season. During the second season we see Dr. Crusher replaced with Dr. Pulaski and we are introduced to the Borg<...All 22 episodes are contained on 6 disks.

The Child - Dr. Pulaski pronounces Troi pregnant at the hands of a traveling alien. The child is born in two days and matures at a quick rate.

Where Silence Has Lease - An advanced alien traps the USS Enterprise in a mysterious black void, as part of some research. The aliens only have to sentence half the crew to die in its research.

Elementary, Dead Data - Data, Geordi, and Dr. Pulaski play out a Sherlock Holmes mystery in the holodeck. Geordi ask the computer to create an adversary capable of defeating Data, Professor Moriarty that takes over the ship.

The Outrageous Okona - The USS Enterprise grants asylum to Okona, a roguish captain pursued by the planets Atlek and Streleb.

Loud as a Whisper - The Enterprise seeks Riva, the deaf Great Mediator, to settle a dispute on Soleis Five. When Riva's Chorus of telepathic translators are killed, Troi assists Riva.

The Schizoid Man - Dr. Ira Graves transfers his consciousness into Data, and separating the two disparate personalities rests with Picard's ability to persuade Graves of his mistake.

Unnatural Selection - The crew of the USS Lantree die of old age. The Enterprise traces it to the Darwin Genetic Research Station, where Dr. Pulaski gets infected.

A Matter of Honor - A Starfleet exchange program brings a Benzite ensign on board the Enterprise and sends Riker to the Klingon vessel Pagh. The Klingon's captain attacks the Enterprise, suspecting Picard of sabotage.

The Measure of a Man - Captain Picard defends Data's rights and the prosecuting attorney is Commander Riker.

The Dauphin - The future ruler of Daled Four, falls for Wesley Crusher.

Contagion - A mysterious computer virus destroys the USS Yamato, and threatens the Enterprise.

The Royale - After finding wreckage from a NASA vessel around Theta Eight, Riker, Data, and Worf become trapped in the Hotel Royale, a reconstruction of an Earth novel.

Time Squared - The USS Enterprise stumbles upon one of its own shuttles carrying a duplicate of Captain Picard from six hours in the future. It is six hours in the future that the ship is destroyed.

The Icarus Factor - Riker has been promoted to command the USS Ares, but first he must deal with the problems between himself and his father.

Pen Pals - Data breaks the Prime Directive while communicating with a young girl on a distant planet, which is about to be destroyed by seismic disruptions.

Q Who - Q takes the Enterprise to another part of the galaxy to encounter the Borg.

Samaritan Snare - A Pakled vessel kidnaps Geordi and Picard's goes in for heart surgery.

Up the Long Ladder - While Picard is rescuing one colony in the Ficus Sector from solar flares, he learns of a second colony comprised of a dying race of clones.

Manhunt - Picard hides in the holodeck in the Dixon Hill scenario because Troi's mother shows up while undergoing "the Phase."

The Emissary - A group of suspended Klingons are revived and set on attacking the Federation. A special emissary K'Ehleyr is called in to mediate a special problem she was a former love of Worf's.

Peak Performance - The Enterprise is pitted against the USS Hathaway in war-games.

Shades of Gray - Riker's body is invaded by a mysterious parasite and Dr. Pulaski's only recourse seems to be the stimulation of his mind with memories.

Building on the First Season, but with an unfortunate end...
The First Season of Star Trek: The Next Generation gave the show a firm foundation and a good block to build upon. We saw a new Doctor in Kate Pulaski and it picked up right where the First Season left off. Geordi LaForge has been promoted and is now serving as the Chief Engineer, Data's qualifications for being a lifeform are questioned, and argueably the best villain in Star Trek is introduced. Unfortunately, there are 22 episodes in this season instead of the normal 26 episodes due to a Writers' Guild strike, however, the season finishes strong and gives another block for the upcoming savior of Star Trek third season. Though short, Season Two is a great season in this show.

Personal Favorite Episodes,

Where Silence Has Lease, Elementary, Dear Data, The Outragous Okona, Loud as a Whisper, The Measure of a Man, Contagion, The Royale, Time Squared, Q Who?, The Emissary, Peak Performance

sort of an uneven season
I'm a big trekkie, but I'll have to say that this is probably one of the weaker seasons. The short season had to do with the writer strike, which is fine. But because of this by the end of the season it ended on a very weak episode which was mostly footage from past shows. This is the one that most people complain about. But I also couldn't quite see the point of The Royale. I mean, it didn't didn't really give us a better understanding of the ship or the people, not exacly. I've also heard about people not liking Dr. Pulaski. That's too bad. Diana Muldaur actually does a good job, but I guess she just never really meshed too well with the crew. She reminds me of the crusty Bones though, whom I liked very much. (Just wish she wouldn't have picked on Data just because he's an android. Maybe that's why people didn't like her. I mean, Data is quite the popular android, no?) I've bought all the boxed sets because, well, I'm a trekkie, and I wanted a complete collection, but I'd have been much happier if Paramount had not charged so much for this season at least, especially since it has less content. OK, I'd have been happier if they charged less for all the sets in general :-) , but in particular this one. Heck, if Stargate SG 1 is only half the price..... Ya know what I mean? I think it was just following the trend set by X-Files or something. Sigh.
But at least by the second season everyone is more established, so things have settled down a bit. Q is always good.

A weak season, but not too bad...
"Star Trek: The Next Generation's" second season begins with Riker's new beard, Geordi's promotion, a new (but not better) doctor, and Wesley the weasel deciding to stay aboard. Sounds like a mixed bag to me. The season premiere "The Child" doesn't have much in the way of excitement, and Marina Sirtis wasn't quite as good yet to carry the episode, but it looks great with some neat looking exterior shots and an introduction of Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan the bartender. The from there the season continued with a few gems ("Elementary Dear Data," "Q Who?") and a few more missteps ("The Outrageous Okona," "Pen Pals," "Shades of Gray).

We meet the Borg in a great episode with Q, played by the always-dependable John DeLancie, Data butts heads with a holodek version of Moriarty, Riker finally comes to terms with his father, and Wesley is given his first command. With a writer's strike hindering the production of the episodes, many of them feel rushed. A few potentially cool ideas like "Contagion" and "Peak Performance" feel lacking in suspense or direction.

Ah, but the cast is perfect and carries out each episode wonderfully. Even the terrible stock-footage show "Shades of Gray" is handled well by the cast. However, the season lacks two major characters from season one: Tasha Yar and Dr. Crusher. While Yar can't come back (she died late in season one), the good doctor does return in season three and she's welcome. Diana Mulduar is a talented actress, but Dr. Pulaski just isn't compatable with the other characters.

My recommendation is to get season two only if you're trying to collect them all. It's not the perfect season and there's much better ones out there. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The extended edition of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring was perhaps the most comprehensive DVD release to date, and its follow-up proves a similarly colossal achievement, with significant extra footage and a multitude of worthwhile bonus features. The extended version of The Two Towers adds 43 minutes to the theatrical version's 179-minute running time, and there are valuable additions to the film.Two new scenes might appease those who feel that the characterization of Faramir was the film's most egregious departure from the book, and fans will appreciate an appearance of the Huorns at Helm's Deep plus a nod to the absence of Tom Bombadil.Seeing a little more interplay between the gorgeous Eowyn and Aragorn is welcome, as is a grim introduction to Eomer and Theoden's son.And among the many other additions, there's an extended epilogue that might not have worked in the theater, but is more effective here in setting up The Return of the King.While the 30 minutes added to The Fellowship of the Ring felt just right in enriching the film, the extra footage in The Two Towers at times seems a bit extraneous--we see moments that in the theatrical version we had been told about, and some fleshed-out conversations and incidents are rather minor.But director Peter Jackson's vision of J.R.R. Tolkien's world is so marvelous that it's hard to complain about any extra time we can spend there.

While it may seem that there would be nothing left to say after the bevy of features on the extended Fellowship, the four commentary tracks and two discs of supplements on The Two Towers remain informative, fascinating, and funny, far surpassing the recycled materials on the two-disc theatrical version.Highlights of the 6.5 hours' worth of documentaries offer insight on the stunts, the design work, the locations, and the creation of Gollum, and--most intriguing for rabid fans--the film's writers (including Jackson) discuss why they created events that weren't in the book. Providing variety are animatics, rough footage, countless sketches, and a sound-mixing demonstration.Again, the most interesting commentary tracks are by Jackson and writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens and by 16 members of the cast (eight of whom didn't appear in the first film, and even including John Noble, whose Denethor character only appears in this extended cut).The first two installments of Peter Jackson's trilogy have established themselves as the best fantasy films of all time, and among the best film trilogies of all time, and their extended-edition DVD sets have set a new standard for expanding on the already-epic films and providing comprehensive bonus features.--David Horiuchi ... Read more

Reviews (1869)

Stupendous!
"They don't make movies like that any more." This is reference to Cecil B. DeMille's spectacular remake of THE TEN COMMANDMENTS. I mention one of the few universally acclaimed film epics of all time because with THE LORD of THE RINGS-THE TWO TOWERS,
Director Peter Jackson has staked unchallengable claim to motion picture immortality. Visually the movie is staggering in technological excellence. It seamlessly combinines sweeping photographic grandeur with superlative integration of CGI and modelwork(Claymation & Superdynamation)that humbles even the work
of IL&M, and would have made Ray HarryHausen proud.

Thematically, the story is truly grand and has raised film making--again--to the level of Mythological. Those familiar with Tolkien's literary epic--with rare exception--have been astounded by this director's monumental artistry in cinematically incarnating one of the greatest "stories" ever written.The cast(humans;creatures; monsters;)is brilliantly essayed.(Sean Astin deserves particular recognition as Frodo's "guardian" friend, SAMWISE). The complex plotting is clearly delineated;and ACTION(quest development;battles; epic romance interludes)ranges from apocalyptic to majestic. THE LORD of THE RINGS-THE TWO TOWERS magnificently continues what was begun in THE FELLOWSHIP of THE RING. Peter Jackson has created a unique work of film making that is both artistically wonderous and breath taking entertainment.It is a stupendous achievement.(10 Stars)

Incredibly, once again, Peter Jackson does the impossible
From gliding through the Misty Mountains and reliving Gandalf's battle with the Balrog to the Battle of Helm's Deep, the climactic scene of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, I think that, even though Frodo Baggin's (Elijah Wood) quest is still unfulfilled, a group of hard-working New Zealanders have once again created an epic adventure confection of a movie, full of fantasy, courage, imagination and flair. J.R.R. Tolkien would not have been disappointed.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, since is a continuing of a story, doesn't stop to introduce us to the quest or the characters from the first part, The Fellowship of the Ring. Beginning right where the first left off, Frodo (Elijah Wood) and Sam (Sean Astin) must continue their quest to Mount Doom and destroy the evil One Ring. Hunting them done is the rascal Gollum (Andy Serkis) but promises to lead them in to Mordor secretely. In Fangorn Forest, captured hobbits Merry (Dominic Monaghan) and Pippin (Billy Boyd) escape from the Orcs and are rescued by Treebeard (voiced by John Rhys-Davies), an ancient ent.

Meanwhile, Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and Gimli (John Rhys-Davies) enter the country of Rohan. After the miraculous return of Gandalf (Ian McKellan), the four see King Theoden (Bernard Hill). But the king isn't doing too well. He's doing practically everything his servant Grima Wormtongue (Brad Dourif) is telling him. Wormtongue is in league with Saruman (Christopher Lee) and therefore is kicked out of Rohan. Aragorn, Gandalf and Theoden must discuss Rohan's plans to counter Saruman and Sauron.

Saruman is preparing for war, as we've also seen in The Fellowship of the Ring. He has been crossing orcs with goblins, breeding the dreadful Uruk-Hai to launch against Men of Gondor and Rohan. Gondor has it's own problems holding off Sauron's evil army. It all comes down to Saruman against the country of Rohan: A war of 10,000 Uruk-Hai against hundreds of Rohan people. Can Men claim a victory against Barad-dur and Orthanc, the union of the Two Towers?

The Two Towers, for me at least, had a quicker pace and sharper sense of movement than the more-episodic Fellowship of the Ring. Peter Jackson easily presents a film that will keep your attention for the full three hours. In many ways, The Two Towers is a much livlier film than it's predecessor. It takes a deeper look into it's character's own problems, dreams and future, covering many subjects: The war for Rohan, the war for Gondor, the war for the ents, and possibly the most important, the fate of the One Ring.

If The Fellowship of the Ring was a beautiful-looking movie, The Two Towers easily surpasses it visually. With the use of a program called MASSIVE, Peter Jackson and company takes flawless computer animation and simplistically adds it to real-life to create a stunning world. The Battle of Helm's Deep is one of the most memorable scenes of all time, while it uses a fantastic blend of live-action and computer animation. I say it's already got the Best Visual Effects Oscar in the bag. Not just because of the CGI, but with the camera trickery to make the hobbits small and the great backdrops.

I am appalled by the number of reviewers saying that this isn't faithful to Tolkien's book. Everyone should know that books and film are two different media, and should be treated as such. Many things in Tolkien's story would've gone horribly wrong on screen. As Peter Jackson said, if you were to film LOTR page by page, faithful to everything, what you would get is a mess. Many don't realize that what works in a book will NOT work on film. Be happy that you actually have a LOTR movie. Many filmmakers would not have been up to transferring Tolkien's story to the big screen. Jackson did make a few unnessesary changes, but he's a brave filmmaker to actually take on LOTR and still make something this good. Quit whining.

It might need a bit more humanity, but I'd say the chemistry between characters is much more alive and vivid in The Two Towers than with The Fellowship of the Ring. The relationship shared by Gollum and Frodo, or more importantly, Gollum and Sam, works wonderfully. Aragorn trying to convince King Theoden to go to war and the characterization involving Gimli was exceptionally. The Return of the King will see a lot more of this.

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers continues Tolkien's trilogy with very few missteps. It is on every count as good as the first, and in many ways, even better. It could possibly be the most sinister film ever, a banquet of monsters and beasts. It's doing so much better at the box-office than the first, and it easily surpasses it in spectacle. It's still unclear how it will do at the Oscars. Being a sequel, it might not get nominated for Best Picture. However, I'd say it has already sweeped the technical awards. It certainly deserves it.

This is the best of the three!!
Usually, the second movie in a trilogy is the weakest. It doesn't have the freshness of the first movie or the finality of the final movie. The Two Towers, however, is the exception to the rule. For lack of a better phrase, it rocks!!! The extra material included in this extended version DVD really fleshes out the movie. After you watch it you'll wonder why Peter Jackson left it out; it makes the movie complete. The fight scenes at Helm's Deep are great, and you forget that a lot of what you're seeing is computer generated. Several new characters are introduced, but you feel like you've known them all along. The best part of the movie is the addition of a Boromir/Faramir scene. Of course, I could be biased. I love Boromir (Sean Bean). This movie is a cinematic masterpiece. It's great!!!

Excellent
Not just pasting in deleted scenes, this version was assenmbled from scratch with additional material that add to the depth of this movie. THIS is the version to buy for watching at home.

You haven't seen LOTR until you've seen this!
OMG! I love this movie so much, I never put it back in the case...it's always in the dvd player. If you at all liked the original theatrical version, you HAVE to get the extended version. The addded footage completes the story and fills in character developement. And you HAVE to listen to the cast commentary. Dom and Billy are hilarious. And the bonus disks are well worth the money. Forget that...added Viggo footage makes it WELL worth it. Plus, the box is beautiful. ... Read more

Description

Is Duvinder guilty? Or is he innocent? Share the tension and the excitement as the jury decides.

John Maher (Billy Scott) lay dead in the grass, the victim of 28 well-placed stab wounds. A stolen sword coated in blood lands near the 15-year-old schoolboy's body. It's clearly a case of unrestrained vengeance. John's Sikh schoolmate, Duvinder Singh (Sonnell Dadral), hated him. Hated him enough to commit murder. A horrendous, premeditated murder in cold blood. Or so we're told.

We're also told this gentle, intelligent boy is incapable of killing. He's innocent. Chilling suspense fills "The Jury" as the highly publicized trial pits Sikh and Anglo communities against each other. Logic against intuition. Pride against shame. The jurors must decide what side they're on - both inside the courtroom, and outside.

Award-winning actor Sir Derek Jacobi (Gosford Park; Gladiator; I, Claudius) stars as George Cording QC (queen's council). As Duvinder's lawyer, he must convince the jury of the young boy's innocence in the face of compelling evidence that suggests otherwise. Cording knows his only hope is to confront the evidence head on and expose a scathing case of prejudice. His powers of persuasion have never been sharper.

Gerald Lewis QC (esteemed actor Sir Antony Sher, Shakespeare in Love, Alive & Kicking, Superman II) can be arrogant-he's entitled. After all, his witness saw blood on the accused's shirt. His witness saw an agitated Duvinder running away. His witness found the body. An impassioned relating of the events will certainly bring the guilty verdict Lewis demands. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A Brilliant Masterpiece
I thoroughly enjoyed this work because it is focuses not just on the trial but on the personel lives of the jury members. I was glued to the screen the entire time that this show was on and I bought the DVD as soon as I could. If you haven't seen this fascinating work, you have been missing out. Don't hesitate to pick up this video and watch it. You won't be disapointed!

STELLAR JOB OF IT
I must admit it (sadly) - I am not exactly the biggest fan of OPB, and never before had I watched their weekly showings of Exxon Mobil (that how you spell it?) Masterpiece Theatre. A TV Guide description of The Jury got my curiosity...and I watched it.
For joy! I was BLOWN away. This magnanimous, superb, top-notch mini-series will forever be rendered as stellar. The actors and actresses are wonderful, fully playing the part they were meant to. The jury is composed of separate individuals, all with their own casualties (perhaps not so much different from our own world!). I was waiting expectantly for the next week's episode, and fully satisfied. The case is plausible (not some silly idiotic case that the viewer can instantly solve) and has interesting refutes. I was captivated. Anyone who has an ounce of intellect, a joy for drama, and a passion for the courtroom will be drawn in just as I have.
You will be apalled at the injustice and discrimination that is displayed in the film. You will quite possibly yell at the tv, while at the same time you're waiting for the next episode. I suppose that many who wath this will turn their backs on it, but I for one, loved it.
Enjoy!

The British do it again! A great mini-series!
What a powerful piece of drama! Incredible, powerhouse acting and brilliant writing--loaded with subtext. It's impossible to speak too highly of this 6-episode dramatic mini-series.

This story focuses on seven of the jurors chosen to serve on an especially grisly murder trial (a Sikh teenager is accused of slaying a classmate with a ceremonial sword). These jurors are a mix of people, some are eager to serve (a woman in an emotionally stifling marriage; a single mom who is estranged from her mother, but who must ask her mother to care for her daughter while she serves on the jury; a lonely older woman with inoperable cancer; a married man whose powerful sense of civic duty is more than matched by a nagging sense of underachievement); some are reluctant (a seminary student who is unsure whether he wants to continue on his path to the priesthood; a recovering alcoholic just out of rehab; a married man who lost all his family's savings due to a bad business venture he was talked). The story, like the trial it revolves around, is a study of mixed motives, changes of heart, and living with fear. In the process of revealing each characters personal daily struggles we discover just how much of the human experience is comprised of learning to endure and deal with violence. In this drama we see the defendant and witnesses badgered by clever lawyers, friends manipulated by friends, and boundary-violating in-laws prying confidential information out of their son-in-law who is serving as a juror. Even the alcoholic's AA sponsor has a touch of the autocrat about him. And the young woman who has fled to jury duty as a way of creating an adventure for herself ends up using her womanly charms to manipulate a man into falling in love with her (even though she is fully aware that she is not free or capable of taking on a romantic relationship with him). I defy anyone to watch this compelling drama without questioning their own propensity to abuse power. We are all capable of being bullies. It's just a matter of circumstances and opportunity. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Even the Borg cannot save this show
During Voyager's hiatus, rumors circulated that Jennifer Lien was being let go, two years before her contract was up. The official story was the writers were having difficulty nailing Kes' character down, plus they seemed inhibited by her nine-year life cycle. Unofficially, her departure was due to adding on a new character. Like Michael Dorn, who was brought in to bring up DS9's ratings, they hired Jeri Ryan, late of NBC's very little seen Dark Skies, to play a female Borg to be rescued by Janeway. Getting rid of Kes was the less of many evils. Since the series had begun, she was one of the most consistently underused characters, and was becoming Voyager's version of Troi from TNG -either missing from episodes altogether or there, but with only a few lines. Jeri Ryan is a very beautiful, full figured woman. And put into a clingy cat suit, she would be the eye candy for the 18-35 year old males, one of the most sought after groups by advertisers. Rating were bound to go up, was the theory. Plus, Seven would now take over for B'Elanna's role as the daughter to the Janeway as mother analogy. And for a bit, the ratings were in an upswing. But the more things change, as the saying goes, the more it remains the same. The stories continued to be problematic. Some stories had good ideas like Day of Honor, Nemesis and Revulsion, but were executed in the silliest way. In particular, Revulsion, while a good concept and exceptional performances from Dawson and Picardo and guest star Leland Orser, but you had to be a complete idiot not to guess that Orser's character was loopy. It's this stuff; this meaningless that angered many fans. Year of Hell, perhaps, was the highlight of the season, a complex two-parter that had the crew up against a real threat, though as the show unfolds, you really discover that the character of Annorax is not evil. Like the Vidiians, his only crime is what he does in the undertaking of his goal. With both the Vidiians and the Kazon now 10 years behind them (see The Gift) and Species 8472 temporarily not around, a new enemy was introduced. The Hirogen were quietly introduced in Message in a Bottle, after Seven discovers a network of relay stations that lead to the Alpha Quadrant (and who built them is never really explained, as it certainly was not the Hirogen). The Doctor spends sometime on the Prometheus, an experimental Starfleet ship taken over by the Romulans. It was a witty script and it gave the Doctor a chance to tell Starfleet of their situation, thusly ensuing they would begin thinking of ways to save the stranded starship (its called foreshadowing, kids). Meanwhile, the Hirogen were barley seen in the next episode called Hunters, though with a title like that you kind of expected too, but they became the B story, as the main focus of the episode appeared to be reactions to the letters the crew was getting. Prey was next, and we learn more about them. They are a species that hunts other intelligent species for their skulls. They have no homeworld, with their entire culture based on the hunt. They would pop up again a few episodes later, in the uneven two-parter, The Killing Game. Somehow, though it never is clearly explained, they have taken over Voyager and are using the crew on the holodecks. The Hirogen's have chosen World War II scenario as they try to figure out the humans (though you would think the Borg attack at Wolfe 359 would be a better choice). In the end, it is discovered that the Alpha Hirogen fears that they have spread themselves to thin, and if they don't learn to adapt to new aliens, they will be defeated. And while the story is pure escapism, it also features one of Janeway's and the series, greatest blunders. After all is resolved, she actually gives the Hirogen's holodeck technology. This was just another blatant misuse of the Prime Directive to fit the plot. Further evidence that under Braga's leadership, Trek was becoming his show, filled with his ideas and be damned continuity and logic. And despite the claim by Paramount that ratings had improved since Jeri Ryan's arrival, he said that was far from true. Which it was. Ratings had started off good for the fourth season, but quickly leveled off Meanwhile, the rest of season four continued, like pervious seasons, on an up and down escalator ride. From the real bad: Omega Directive, Unforgettable, Living Witness and Demon, to the mildly interesting Vis a Vis, One, and the season-ender Hope and Fear.

Excellent season!
The fourth season of Voyager is one of the best. Season four marks the introduction of Jeri Ryan as Seven of Nine in "Scorpion, part II" and Jennifer Lien's character Kes leaving in "The Gift." The two parter "Year of Hell" is by far the best Voyager episode(s) ever produced. Other excellent offerings are "Scientific Method," "Message in a Bottle," "The Killing Game," "Living Witness," and "Hope and Fear."

Voyager is my favorite Star Trek series, and the fourth season is a must have for any Voyager fan.

Kes Evolves Into Something Powerful, Seven of Nine Stays
Less than one year following the concluding season of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" in 1994, executive producer/writer Rick Berman, along with Michael Piller and Jeri Taylor, created a fourth television series based upon the "Star Trek" universe originally created by Gene Roddenberry (1921-1991) in the 1960's. This fourth television series, entitled "Voyager" (which is the name of the Federation of Planets starship used in the series), first aired in January 1995, and ran for seven seasons until it concluded in May, 2001. Because "Voyager" aired initially in the month of January (instead of the traditional September), only 16 episodes were filmed for the first season. The succeeding six other seasons had 26 episodes each, for a grand total of 172 episodes for the entire series.

Unlike the previous three "Star Trek" television series, which (for the most part) took place within the bounds of the Federation of Planets (or in nearby sovereign areas of space, such as the Klingon Empire or the Romulan Empire) in the Alpha Quadrant, the starship Voyager is hurled tens of thousands of light-years from home into the previously unknown and unexplored Delta Quadrant, which is located at the far side of the Milky Way Galaxy. Even while traveling at warp 8 (the fastest safe speed that a typical starship can travel), it would take Voyager several decades to return to Earth. Hence, the series focuses on the survival of Voyager's Starfleet crew, who are completely isolated and unable to even maintain normal communications with Earth, as well as the crew's ultimate desire to find a way home faster than their ship is capable of doing. Also, along the way, Voyager adopts a few Delta Quadrant natives.

The primary cast members of the fourth season of "Voyager" include Captain Catherine Janeway (Kate Mulgrew), Commander Chakotay (Robert Beltran), the half-Klingon Lt. B'Elanna Torres (Roxann Dawson), Delta Quadrant native (Ocampan) Kes (Jennifer Lien, first two episodes only), Lt. Thomas Eugene Paris (Robert Duncan McNeill), Delta Quadrant native (Talaxian) Neelix (Ethan Phillips), the holographic Emergency Medical Holographic Program (a.k.a., "The Doctor", played by Robert Picardo), the Vulcan Lt. Cmdr. Tuvok (Tim Russ), Ensign Harry Kim (Garrett Wang) and the former Borg drone Seven of Nine (Jeri Ryan). Voyager's fourth season begins with the second part (episode "Scorpion, Part 2") to the third season's cliffhanger about Voyager making an agreement with the Borg to aid in their war against the seemingly unstoppable species 8472.

With the departure of Kes in the second episode ("The Gift"), the fourth season of "Voyager" focuses much attention upon its newest crewmember, Seven of Nine, whom Captain Janeway chose to cut off from the Borg Collective at the end of episode "Scorpion, Part 2". She begins to relearn what it means to be human primarily from Captain Janeway, but also from the holographic doctor. Other stories during the fourth season include B'Elanna and her ongoing struggles with her Klingon half, a change in the relationship between Paris and B'Elanna, Cmdr. Chakotay becomes involved in an interspecies war in episode "Nemesis", the doctor encounters a psychopathic hologram (Leland Orser) in episode "Revulsion", the crew discovers the source of many physical problems afflicting the crew in episode "Scientific Method", Captain Janeway continues to enjoy time in the holodeck with Leonardo Da Vinci, Voyager's encounters the hunting Hirogen and Voyager encounters the most dangerous substance known to the Federation in episode "The Omega Directive". The best fourth-season episodes, in order of airdate, include "Scorpion, Part 2", "The Gift", "Day of Honor", "Nemesis", "Revulsion", "The Raven", "Scientific Method", "Year of Hell, Part 1 & 2", "Concerning Flight", "Waking Moments", "Message in a Bottle", "Prey", "The Omega Directive", "One" and "Hope and Fear".

Overall, I rate the fourth season of "Voyager" with 4.5 out of 5 stars, rounded to 5 stars. Thankfully, the Kazon are no longer around, but the Hirogen become slightly annoying and predictable over time. Though many "Voyager" fans regretted the loss of character Kes, the development of Seven of Nine's character was very good and only continued to get better in the succeeding seasons, as well as the further story development of the Borg collective itself.

Introducing Seven of Nine
Star Trek Voyager has always been the most commercial Star trek series despite it's lost in space plot.One of it's most boldest (and sucessful, ratings-wise) moves was the introduction of Seven Of Nine (Jeri Ryan), A former Borg drone who serves as the Spock-Data-Odo perspective on humanity, as well as the show's new sexpot clad in a silver catsuit.
Some of the regular castmembers get shortshifted in favor of Seven,but Voyager takes on a different ,although not risky,tone.Classic episodes include Scorpion Pt.2, The Gift (Kes's final episode),Message in a Bottle, Hunters,Prey, The Killing Game, Demon, One and Voyager's all time greatest episode, The Year Of Hell.
For many it was both the beginning and the end of Voyager,but season four was a turning point for the direction of the show.

If you only buy one season of Voyager make sure it's S4!!!
Season four was totally awesome. I really never watched Voyager on a regular basis until season 4. There is no bad episodes!!! Even the weaker episodes are still good!

Season four had some major changes to it from the first couple of episodes in the season. Seven of Nine a half Borg/Human joined the cast, Kes left the series, Paris and Torres finally got together, the Doctor made contact with the Federation, the crew got a lot closer to home, and Voyager encountered the Borg, and many new and exciting enemies.

Season four will give you great episodes like "Scorpion, part II", "Year of Hell, parts I and II", "Message in a Bottle", and many more!!! The only problem with the season was a classic season cliffhanger to help bring in season five. This is no big deal since season four was the greastest of Voyager and one of the best of Trek. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Extraordinary footage and eloquent narration by David Attenborough highlight the BBC's remarkable wildlife series The Blue Planet: Seas of Life. "Ocean World" begins with astonishing views of a gigantic blue whale--the elusive Holy Grail of undersea photography--and the marvels continue to demonstrate the power, diversity, and profound ecological influence of Earth's oceans. "Frozen Seas" examines whales, walruses, penguins, and other creatures under the extreme conditions of the Arctic and Antarctic Circles. The next two episodes are even better. "Open Ocean" travels thousands of miles into the vast "liquid desert," where currents determine how the ocean's diverse life forms will assume their places in the food chain. More amazing, "The Deep" descends with a state-of-the-art submersible to the ocean's abyssal plain and beyond, filming such bizarre creatures as the fangtooth, bioluminescent jellies, transparent squid, the giant-mouthed gulper eel, and the never-before-seen hairy angler fish.

"Seasonal Seas" focuses on the explosion of life that accompanies every annual blooming of plankton, numbering in the countless billions and captured here with brilliant microphotography. In "Coral Seas," miles-long reefs of living coral are explored, from deep within (requiring brief computer animation) to the surrounding environs, where you'll see white-tipped sharks in a feeding frenzy while beautiful harlequin shrimp wrestle with a starfish. "Tidal Seas" explores the myriad life forms that thrive when lunar gravity pulls the oceans offshore. "Coasts" is easily the most brutal episode, but no less mesmerizing. The most unexpected, and horrifying, sequence is the orca, earning its "killer whale" nickname by capturing, killing, and tail-tossing a seal pup--a sequence so mysteriously primal that even the most seasoned marine biologist will be utterly amazed. One of the finest wildlife programs you're ever likely to see, The Blue Planet: Seas of Life provides the privilege of visiting a truly alien world teeming with the rarest wonders of nature. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (31)

Unbelievably Beautiful.
There are many reasons to own this wonderful series on DVD, but one reason stands out: The Killer Whale/Seal Pup segment of the "Coasts" DVD. The Amazon.com main reviewer mentioned this scene in his review - and with good reason. It is THE most amazing piece of wildlife footage EVER captured on film - even surpassing the National Geographic special with the Great White Sharks breaching.

If you need more reasons than that, the "Ocean World" DVD contains unbelievable footage of Sir David in a skiff right above a Blue Whale (the largest creature ever to have lived) along with a stirring segment about an orca pod pursuing a gray whale and her calf.

All of my friends - who are decidely NOT nature buffs like me -were left speechless after seeing some of the segments in this set (particularly the aforementioned ones).

The Life of Mammals DVD set by Attenborough is also terrific.

Wondrous, but I'd rather hear Sir David than the music...
This is a beautifully filmed and presented documentary series, though that goes without saying if it's done by David Attenborough and his crew. I'm not sure if it's my cheap DVD player or the discs themselves, however, that are the cause of my only complaint. The music and effects, especially in the opening episode are so loud compared to Attenborough's narration that it must be turned up to an almost uncomfortable level to understand him over it. Coming from the Life of Birds series, which is flawless IMO, this was a disappointment. The scenes caught on film certainly are not! The episode travelling down to the deepest regions of the ocean provide probably the most fascinating visuals you'll ever see. You will literally be amazed that such creatures are actually a living part of the world that are almost completely unknown to anyone.

WOW!
WOW!

I recently returned from scuba diving in Australia, Bali, and Palau as part of a larger 7 month world trip. This video set further opened my eyes to the beauty underneath and above our waters and how it all relates. I was almost entirely speechless the first few episodes - except for when I uttered frequently - (...)...or the sound of my gagging in disbelief.

The adrenaline dropped a little during the the 3rd and 4th CDs, but there are clips in those that made my jaw drop too! The "Deep Trouble" featurette / segment on the 4th CD is highly recommended too. I visited Tokyo, Japan - Tsukiji fish market - in Dec 2003 and saw the Bluefin Tuna auction first hand, among other sites - wow! If you never thought the world could be overfished, or don't act like it is - you must go to Tokyo and see the market first hand. It's free to go in!

We should take some of the next round of $50 billion used for the Iraq war and buy a copy of this and send it to every *household* in America. There would be even enough to give a free DVD player to those wihtout. Europe and Japan should do the same. There would still be money left over to send to Iraq too!

Don't miss this thrilling collector's set
This is definitely a must have for entertainment & educational purposes. You can watch these dvd's over and over again & still be amazed at the sea life being captured on camera. Although, some scenes may be a little graphically violent, these dvd's are something to be shared with people of most ages.

Excellent!
I spent a weekend completely mesmerized by this series.

This is an incredible journey through the oceans of the world. From the freezing poles to the warm water tropics, you meet numerous species and observe them and their habits in incredible detail. There are times when you can't tell if what you're looking at is full size or microscopic, were it not for the narrative. You learn about breeding, defense, hunting tactics, feeding, and migration. From majestic giants like whales, to the tiny plankton so many ocean species live on, there's a lot to learn, and many surprises.

It's an 8-part series:
"Ocean World," "Frozen Seas," "Open Ocean," "The Deep," "Seasonal Seas," "Coral Seas," "Tidal Seas," and "Coasts"
Each episode stands alone, concentrating most on details pertaining to its title. Where Frozen Seas concentrates more on severe weather conditions and the amazing species that can tolerate it, and how they do it, the Tidal Seas episode offers insight to the moons effect on our oceans, and the species that rely on tidal conditions to survive. In The Deep episode, you go to incredible depths, where no sunlight can penetrate and see footage of entire ecosystems that have somehow evolved and survived without the sun. Some of the species in The Deep could easily have been inspiration for many horror film monsters.

Clear, spectacularly vivid imagery, and an excellent narrative by David Attenborough make this series a must see.

I love the ocean, and being at the beach, and have always been curious and cautious about it's inhabitants. Some things I've learned here will not be forgotten. For instance, even the most likable species has to eat, which means it has to hunt and kill. All survival tactics are clever, and necessary, but some are rather cruel. And we certainly can't do more than speculate as to the reasons.

The more we learn about our oceans, the better able we are to respect and appreciate its riches. (and beware it's predators)! ... Read more

Reviews (79)

Perhaps the best "silent" comedy of all time.
Though "Blackadder" is, in my opinion, his best series, "Mr. Bean" is ultimately what put Rowan Atkinson on the map. The story of a bumbling, almost mute loner getting through life might not sound overly exciting, but it is made hilarious by outrageous situations and Rowan Atkinson's priceless delivery.

Newly released, this 3 DVD set has all of the episodes, and some decent extras. Anyone who purchased the VHS tapes when they were made available (circa 1995) would know that the episode "Hair by Mr. Bean of London" was not televised. It is included here. As well, all the episodes that we know and love are here to enjoy. My favorite episodes are "Mr. Bean in Room 426" (where he stays at a resort hotel), "Do-It-Yourself Mr. Bean" (where is drives his car while sitting in an armchair on the roof), and "Back to School Mr. Bean" (where he gets the wrong pair of trousers and steals them back). All of the episodes are funny in their own way, but some definitely stand out. Similar to most comedy shows, the jokes will dull with repeat viewing. Most of these episodes I have seen many times, so I don't laugh quite as hard as I used to. But I could watch Rowan Atkinson in anything, and I think he rivals any comedian around. I enjoy him more when he plays more speaking parts, because he's very well spoken and funny on a more intellectual level, but Mr. Bean is for the more slapstick comedy fan.

The DVD package has some nice extras. The big attraction is a 40 minute documentary called "The Story of Bean", which is actually the story of Rowan Atkinson. It has interviews with Atkinson himself, his past collaborators (writer Ben Elton, actors Angus Deayton and Helen Atkinson-Wood), and it also includes information tidbits on how he started out in comedy, how he develops his characters, and so on. It is very entertaining. They have also included two sketches from UK comedy relief, where Mr. Bean goes on a dating show (hilarious!) and where he caused trouble at an ice skating show (also very funny). There are also two Mr. Bean sketches that have never seen the light of day, and they are both very funny.

Happy as I was with what was included, I couldn't help but be disappointed by what they didn't include in this set. There is no commentary, which would have been good since there is no dialogue in the episodes and the commentary (especially from Atkinson) would be fun. Also, they didn't include any of Atkinson's wonderful standup comedy bits. I would have loved it if they could have included "Rowan Atkinson Live" in this package, to give Mr. Bean fans a chance to see some of his better work. But you can't always have your cake and eat it too, so I am content overall with this DVD package.

Really funny show on 3 DVD's
I don't know what user "dennislee" was watching. The turkey segment is included in Disc 2 episode Merry Christmas Mr. Bean & the beach segment is included on Disc 1 episode Mr. Bean. It's not cool to rate things that you haven't even seen. It's bad for A & E to edit 2 or 3 minutes from each tv episode now on DVD, but that doesn't mean that everyone has to give it just 1 star for the 3 DVD set. Each episode runs between 23 & 25 minutes & there's 14 episodes so there's plenty of good laughs. If you're somewhat of a Mr. Bean fan, you'll love it.

Yes, this set is missing entire scenes...
...and for an example I will give the "Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean" ep in which he scams to win a turkey contest and is successful but the scene in its entirity is missing (several minutes) and what you get is a giant turkey suddenly appearing in his kitchen which is, granted, a funny sight gag, but would have made more sense and would have been funnier if you knew the story of how and why he ended up with a giant raw turkey--I admit I haven't watched all the discs yet, but that missing scene to me verified what the other reviewers making the same point have been warning you and I about--I only went ahead and bought the set as I had a unnamed store gift card and used it to purchase this set and therefore no big loss...

As for the humor, unlike what a previous reviewer has stated, the Mr. Bean character is not entirely silent, he talks more often than is stated but in short sentences and in a strained voice not unlike the character he voiced during a "end-of-the-world cult" sketch in "The Secret Policeman's Other Ball"--if you want a comparison, the style of humor owes much to Chaplin or Keaton, but in a modern setting...

In short, excellent humor but sadly incomplete with no complete set anywhere in site--either stick with your VHS copies or take your chances here...

Mr Bean is my idea of joke
This box set is the complete collection of episodes of the Mr Bean series. It even contains some parts that didn't go to air here in Japan. The picture quality is unbelievable for an English show as last time I was in the UK in the sixties many English shows were still in B&W.
Mr Bean is seen as a god here in Japan. He is an alien. At the beginning of each episode you see him drop from a UFO. My favourite part in the whole series is where Mr Bean's bathing costume comes off at the public swimming pool. You can see his can. It is very funny. I also like where he blows his noes on this jacket in church. I also like his car. It is very English and very comical as also is Mr Bean. Mr Bean reminds me of Prime Minister Tony Blair. Every time I see Tony Blair now I laugh.

Prince Charles once said "To laugh is to be free".
Purchase this DVD and you will be more free than Osama Bin Laden.

Great for an American fan.
As an American fan, I never actually saw Mr. Bean as aired in sequence. I had only seen repeats. This is an excellent collection for me (and anyone else) since I had little memory of the episodes and had only seen very few of them. Although I'm positive the collection could have been made better, I'm still very happy with it. Afterall, it's Mr. Bean (Rowan Atkinson) and I'll take anything. ... Read more

Description

Available just a few months after the arrival of Home Movies Season One, Season Two features 13 more episodes of the irreverent animated series seen on Cartoon Network's [adult swim]. Squigglevision is gone, replaced by Flash animation and the characters developed in Season One — an alcoholic soccer coach, a single mother who swears at parent/teacher conferences and an eight-year-old who makes art films and documentaries in his basement with his friends — are in situations even more humorous than before. Great bonus features round out this must-have set!

Program Listing:

Disc One
Episode #201: "Politics"
Episode #202: "Identifying A Body"
Episode #203: "Hiatus"
Episode #204:"Business & Pleasure"

Special Features
Winning entry of "Small Shorts" Film Competition
Brendon Small interviews Melissa Galsky
Memories Featurette: Guest stars remember Home Movies
Animatics – "Politics"
Commentaries with Brendon Small, Melissa Galsky and Loren Bouchard

Disc Two
Episode #205: "The Party"
Episode #206: "Impressions"
Episode #207: "Dad"
Episode #208: "Therapy"

Special Features
Audio Anatomy Of A Scene
Animatics – "Party"
Interview with Brendon Small, Melissa Galsky and Loren Bouchard
Commentaries with Brendon Small, Melissa Galsky and Loren Bouchard

Disc Three
Episode #209: "Class Trip"
Episode #210: "History"
Episode #211: "Writer’s Block"
Episode #212: "Pizza Club"
Episode #213: "The Wedding"

Special Features
Animatics with crew commentary – "History"
Home Movies music – extended songs and music lesson
Home Movies writer Bill Braudis speaks!
Commentaries with Brendon Small, Melissa Galsky and Loren Bouchard ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Oh, thank goodness!
I was terrified that sales of Season One wouldn't be good enough to justify further releases.

My hope for this set:That they mixed the commentaries properly, so the episode audio doesn't interfere with the commentary hijinks.I would love to be able to hear the commentaries without getting an extreme headache.

Brendan Small is a . . . GENIUS (musical and comedic) . . . and H. Jon Benjamin may be the only performer who can steal the show from him!Janine DiIlulio is admirable for IMPROVING on Paula Poundstone's role (and lending the character sex appeal), and Melissa Bardin Garsky is a witty foil.Not to mention the great guest performers, and semi-regular Jonathan Katz.It's really amazing:"HOME MOVIES" is OVERLOADED with TALENT!No, seriously . . . I think the show would have lasted longer, if there had been less talent.

Finally, MORE!
I became addicted to this show a couple of years back, when my employer had me living out of a hotel room for month. After a 14-hour workday, I'd get back to the room mentally drained. While flipping channels to fall asleep, I happened upon this irreverent little cartoon show that was as hillarious anything I'd seen since the early days of The Simpsons, or the comedy of Jake Johansen.

The smart silliness of this animated show was, for me, the perfect antidote to fried-brain syndrome; and needless to say, I became hooked. Only thing is, I've never had cable at home; so when I got back, I went through withdrawls from no longer being able to see the show every night. FINALLY, I spotted the Home Movies: Season 1 box set at Tower Records and immediately had to get it. And I'm so hyped to know that the second season is about to be realesed!

On days when I come home for lunch, I end up watching Home Movies for an hour--it's way better than Judge Judy--and return to work ready to serve out the rest of the day with a grin on my face. I can't wait to own 13 more episodes of this great show.

$25???????
$25 is a BARGAIN for a movie that will give you MILLIONS of laughs!!!

Home Movies had a way of taking situations that we can all relate to, usually uncomfortable ones, and finding the greatest humor within them

If you've already seen Home Movies, then I don't need to go any further

However, if you're new to it, then just believe me when i say that this is comedy that you just won't find anywhere else

and besides - $25 is a pretty small risk to take

"I stand on land!"
To me it has always been a breech of decorum to review something on Amazon before it has actually been released but to me, "Home Movies" Season 2 is an exception from where I stand. I've seen the second season of Home Movies many more times than I can count.

Adult Swim (for those who don't or can't tune in) can be considered the home of "cutting edge" (though cheaply animated), gutsy, adult oriented animated programming. That's what they, and anyone with low enough standards thinks. What the block really consists of is exhaustively rerun cartoons and every half year something new--- which they will rerun until you can spout out any line of any show on demand.

These days, I change the channel until it's time for Home Movies. I've seen the other programs worth watching on the block a hundred times squared anyway, and Home Movies has always been the one gem to consistently make me laugh, even though I know every line from every show thanks to Adult Swim's lack of up-to-date programming. I can't explain it.

The first season DVD was great, simply because the show is. They could leave the commentaries, Brendon Small's attempts to display his below average musical ability, and the cast's attempts to convince us that they have careers away from Home Movies off the DVD and we'll still have a 5-star boxed set to add to our growing collection.

They did us all a favor and switched from Squigglevision to Flash Animation. The colors are brighter, movements more fluid and the lines hold still, thank God. The shows are less improvised and more scripted, and after hearing Loren Bouchard explain how episodes were recorded in the first boxed set: hours and hours of Jon Benjamin and Brendon Small goofing around, improvising dialogue and then editing the choicest stuff into the episode was probably a huge waste of time and money. One can certainly understand scripting the episodes, and letting the actors go from there and it never once changed the overall feel of the show at the core.

My favorite episodes of Season Two are "Therapy", "Class Trip" and especially "The Wedding" ("I am Elfor, The Landstander! I stand on land!"). The show has so many great moments that choosing a favorite is harder than it looks.

I was happy to read that Melissa Galsky is joining the cast on the commentary track. I missed hearing her cute voice on the first season commentary. It seemed incomplete to have Brendon and Jason on the track, but no Melissa. I am keeping my fingers crossed that they offer more to us than just a goof-off session on the commentary tracks. I hope to learn something about the process, but if I don't I'll still enjoy this.

The show stands by itself, and with or without DVD extras this set is worth the price. I imagine they put extras there just so people wouldn't shell out their money and complain about how the dvd had no extras. I personally could care less about dvd extras, though I harbor some hope that Soup 2 Nuts learned from the mistakes of the last boxed set.

Many thanks to Soup 2 Nuts for continuing to release Home Movies on DVD, and I hope to see the rest of the show on DVD all the way to the very last episode. I'd hate to have to keep tuning to Adult Swim at 2AM to get my "Home Movies" fix. Their new shows, such as "Tom Goes to the Mayor" and "Robot Chicken" are so painfully un-funny and difficult to sit through (even for 15 minutes) that I end up watch reruns of South Park or Chapelle's show. The new stuff Adult Swim Sunday offers aren't fit for streaming video, let alone a slot on a TV network, but I guess there's no school like the old school.

Many thanks for reading my worthless opinion and I hope it helped a little bit.

Brilliant!!
I was hoping they would release more than just Season One of this magnificent show. I could not sleep one night and by chance saw one episode from the first season. I was crying from laughing so hard. I immediately went out and bought the DVD's and have enjoyed them ever since. Admittedly I have not seen any episodes other than season one but what makes this show is the writing and I can't imagine that much of a downfall. Some of my favorite scenes from Season One....
The camping scene from "Yoko"---- Eugene "I peed in Coach Mcguirk's canteen.""Tastes like pee turkey."
Mcguirk is living with Melissa and Erik and he tries the yoga. Ok, it's immature but the fart jokes still crack me up.
My favorite, Jason, "What question would you like to 'axe' me?"
Oh man, I'm laughing just thinking about it. On par with Family guy. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fruits Basket (the name refers to a children's game similar to "The Farmer in the Dell") has all the elements of a classic shojo (girl's) series: a sweetly domestic heroine, unconventional living arrangements, and two romantic candidates--one exquisitely gentle, the other hiding a heart of gold beneath a thorny exterior. Sixteen-year-old orphan Tohru Honda has been living in a tent when she meets the Sohma family. Handsome, intelligent Yuki is the most popular boy in school; his older cousin Shigura is a pulp novelist; Kiyo, another cousin, is a hot-tempered, red-haired martial artist. Members of the Sohma family labor under a curse: when embraced by a member of the opposite sex, they turn into animals from the Chinese zodiac: Yuki becomes a rat; Shigure, a dog; Kiyo, a cat. (According to legend, the cat failed to attend the feast held by Buddha at which the animals of the zodiac were chosen, but Tohru adores cats.) After short time, they return to human form--naked. The set-up owes a lot to Ranma 1/2, but Fruits Basket is a schmaltzy romantic comedy, not a martial-arts farce.

Tohru moves into this weird household and wins everyone's heart by cooking, cleaning, and keeping their secret. She also functions as an in-house Dear Abby, helping all the Sohmas with their emotional problems, which grow increasingly sentimental as the series progresses. Adolescent girls are clearly the target audience for Fruits Basket. (Unrated, suitable for age 13 and older, violence, mild profanity, minor risqué humor, tobacco use) --Charles Solomon ... Read more

Amazon.com

Deep Space Nine's third season begins eventfully, with Sisko promoted to Captain and being given a prototype warship equipped with a cloaking device, while Odo learns where he came from. In the two-part opening tale, this clever gambit is played to hook viewers into the idea of DS9 becoming an ongoing mystery/conflict show. Why the sudden intense change in format? Mostly it was to ensure the show continued to thrive, when a really rather greedy production hierarchy fast-tracked Voyager onto the air mid-season (cue unnecessary crossover episode with Tuvok). Of greater concern was ratings thief Babylon 5, which played its counter-Trek cards at precisely the right time. Fortunately the result (initially at least) was a genuine boost for DS9.

Cast members seemed to have hit their stride and played off one another more assuredly than before. For example, Odo's character took several additional interesting twists, especially in his relationship with Kira. Rene Auberjonois had a very good year, directing two episodes to boot. Avery Brooks had begun this trend with the previous year's penultimate show. The real surprise was seeing Jonathan Frakes's name working behind the camera on three occasions, because he also appeared on screen in his alternate rogue Riker role, when Thomas dramatically steals the Defiant. Other welcome cameos that aided the feeling of casual camaraderie included the return of Lwaxana Troi, as well as first appearances by Quark's mother, the spooky Founder Leader, the lovely Leeta, and the sneaky Eddington. Clint Howard--a cult Trek figure--was briefly welcomed back, and with the many faces of Jeffrey Combs another was born. Stories advanced the complicated Bajoran/Cardassian healing process, while simultaneously brewing potential conflicts far worse than the behind-the-scenes ratings war. --Paul Tonks ... Read more

Reviews (30)

DS9 Season Three - The series suspense is building...
DS9's third season proved to be quite a pivotal season and a great buildup to the following seasons. Throughout the course of the season, several questions were answered and several new ones were introduced, leading up to an instrumental and somewhat ominous season finale in which a Founder tells Odo "you're too late, we're everywhere." That one sentence made for a long summer at that time, leaving fans in throes of anticipation for the fourth season. Important developments of the third season were the addition of the Defiant, additional back stories on the Dominion and its makeup, to include finding out who Odo's people are and the series taking on a more "serialized" tone.

I highly recommend this DVD set, the two previous seasons and the remaining four seasons, to any and all fans of Star Trek, especially those who didn't quite give DS9 a chance in its beginning because you will find that DS9 represents some of the best Star Trek to date.

Standout episodes of the season: (They all stand out, but space is limited)

The Search Parts I & II - As a grand conclusion to season two's "The Jem'Hadar" and setting up season three through seven in the "epic" of Deep Space Nine, these two episodes are extraordinary. It is from this point you know as a viewer that DS9 has a sense of purpose. Here we find out where Odo comes from and the terrible truth that revelation brings about.

The House of Quark - In this hilarious Quark episode, by a twist of fate, he becomes the head of a Klingon house. Robert O'Reilly makes a return as Gowron, Chancellor of the Klingon Empire. This is another brilliant Ferengi/humor episode.

Equilibrium - In this extremely compelling and captivating episode, Jadzia begins having hallucinations for no apparent reason. Then it becomes clear that she may lose her symbiont, thus her life as well. She finds out that she has not been told of "every" host the Dax symbiont has had. The ending to episode is quite beautiful.

Second Skin - This episode epitomizes why DS9 is such an exceptional series! Kira is kidnapped and altered to appear as a Cardassian and told that she is a deep under cover agent of the Obsidian Order.

Defiant - In this poignant and ominous episode, Thomas Riker makes an appearance, hijacks the Defiant as part of a Maquis operation and then takes her to Cardassian territory intent on uncovering a large fleet of Cardassian warships he "believes" are preparing to head into the DMZ.

Past Tense Parts I & II - This two hour episode is quite possibly the most stunning and moving episode of the entire season. Sisko, Bashir and Dax attempt to transport to Starfleet Headquarters but due to unexpected circumstances are transported to the year 2024 in the midst of one of the most crucial historical reference points for Earth and the Federation.

Heart of Stone - This fascinating episode involves Kira and Odo making their way back to DS9 but they intercept a Maquis ship and follow it down to a moon in the hopes of capturing the solitary occupant. This episode is relatively important in lifting the vale on some of Odo's feelings.

Destiny - This episode is a perfect example of the beauty of the epic "saga" that is DS9 as it brings in Sisko's role as the Bajoran Emissary when the mission of trying to set up a communications array on the other side wormhole has been prophesized some three thousand years ago by a Bajoran prophet.

Prophet Motive - In this uproarious and brilliant Ferengi episode Grand Nagus Zek shows up on DS9 and he's totally rewritten the Rules of Acquisition towards a "not for profit" bent and Quark is beside himself with "grief."

Visionary - This is a brilliant O'Brien episode in which he unexpectedly finds himself time shifting around the station while at the same time, Romulans and Klingons are aboard.

Through the Looking Glass - This is another superb "Mirror, Mirror" episode that became a highly looked forward to annual episode of every season!

Improbable Cause & The Die is Cast - These episodes constitute two of the finest hours of Star Trek. Garak survives what is seemingly an "assassination" attempt and Odo steps in to investigate. Before long, we have the Obsidian Order, the Tal Shiar, the Jem'Hadar and Starfleet involved, setting up what will be the arc that carries this series.

Explorers - In this beautiful episode Sisko decides to build an Bajoran solar sailing vessel to prove that the Bajorans used these ships to get to Cardassia eight centuries earlier..

Family Business - This is another terrific and humorous Ferengi episode in which Quark is shut down by the Ferengi Commerce Authority because his "Moogie" has been earning profit and he must find a way to stop it or he'll be financially destroyed.

Facets - This brilliant episode involves Jadzia and her need to complete her "zhian'tara," a Trill ceremony where her friends temporarily receive the memories of her past hosts. This episode played wonderfully as the main characters assumed the roles of these past hosts.

The Adversary - In this exceptional season finale, Sisko is promoted to Captain and given the mission to attempt to stop a full scale war between the Federation and the Tzenkethi, or are they as they soon find that there is a changeling aboard the Defiant. The beauty of this episode plays out in the last scene. {ssintrepid}

Special Features:

The Birth of the Dominion and Beyond

Michael Westmore's Aliens - Season Three
Drew Dossier: Odo
Time Travel Files - "Past Tense"
Sailing Through The Stars: A Special Look at "Explorers"
8 "Hidden" Section 31 Files

Episode list:

The Search, parts I & II
The House of Quark
Equilibrium
Second Skin
The Abandoned
Civil Defense
Meridian
Defiant
Fascination
Past Tense, parts I & II
Life Support
Heart of Stone
Destiny
Prophet Motive
Visionary
Distant Voices
Through the Looking Glass
Improbable Cause
The Die is Cast
Explorers
Family Business
Shakaar
Facets
The Adversary

DS9 Gets Defiant
Just as the third season of The Next Generation, proved to be a creative turning point for that series, the same could be said for DS9's third year. By this time, TNG had left the air for the big screen, and Voyager was being readied for launch mid season.

With the Dominion and Jem Ha'dar threats, hinted at in year two, Starfleet gives Sisko (Avery Brooks) a promotion to Captain (finally). He also gets to command the starship U.S.S. Defiant, docked at the station, this lean mean ship comes with a Romulan cloaking device. By giving the show its own starship, the producers were answering critics who felt the crew never went anywhere. The Search Part I & II starts the season as security chief Odo (Rene Auberjonois) learns the shocking truth of his origins. The two parter would continue to have an impact on the series until its conclusion 4 years later. Defiant saw the return of Enterprise First Officer Riker (Jonathan Frakes). In The House Of Quark station bartender Quark (Armin Shimmerman) gets involved in Klingon politics; While in Family Business, we get to meet his "moogie", or mother (Andrea Martin). The 2 parter Past Tense takes Sisko and crew back in time in a clever story. Major Kira (Nana Visitor) gets to face off against the Cardassians in Second Skin: she also loses a love and Bajor loses a spiritual leader in Life Support (my personal favorite from year 3). This forces the cunning Vedek Winn (the great Louise Fletcher) to return. Dax (Terry Farrell) loses her Equilibrium and fans of the character get to see her many Facets. Explorers allows Sisko to bond with his son (Cirroc Lofton) The season also sees the return of Trek vets Lwaxana Troi (Majel Barrett) Gowron (Robert O'Reiley), Garak (Andrew Robinson), Tain (Paul Dooley), The Nagus (Wallace Shawn seen in Prophet Motive) and marks the first appearance of Dabo girl Leeta (Chase Masterson). This was a very busy year that ended with The Adversary, a great set up to year 4 Behind the scenes, the show's greatest boon in year 3, came in the form of former TNG writer Ronald D. Moore, coming on board as a writer producer. His respect for Trek is clear. He fit into the show like a baseball fits a glove.

The DVD box set features all 26 episodes of season three, as well as some solid extras. These extras are set up in the same fashion as the previous sets for the series. The featurette The Birth of the Dominion and Beyond is my favorite of this set. In it series Executive Producer Ira Steven Behr and others discuss the development of DS9's arch nemesis and how this impacted the series. There's also a look at award winning make-up man Michael Westmore's alien designs for season three. It includes a detailed look at Ferengis, Kira as a Cardassian, Bashir's aging process, and several dramatic changes for Odo The Crew Dossier this time out spotlights Odo. It features a "new", exclusive interview with Rene Auberjonois on his character The time travel 2 parter "Past Tense" is discussed The final featurette, entitled Sailing Through the Stars a look at "Explorers", allows for production designer Herman Zimmerman and others to talk about the creation of the award-winning ship design piloted by Siko and Jake, the episode, including rarely seen still photos and illustrations of the unique flier.

Season three has it all. Bold new changes greatly enhance the show. The cast seems more comfortable as well. Season 3 is a must have set if you are a fan of the show...if you are not, now is the time to give it a shot

Consistancy is Key here
The DS9 box set is consistant, one thing it has over the Next Generation box set. Each disk in each season is set up the same way: the introduction is the same, 4 episodes per disk, no preview clips. The only variation on this is the last disk, which has the special features.

The accent colour for this box set is a deep green, which looks really out of place next to the red and sickly green on the first and second seasons. I'm not exactly sure why they chose the colours they did, but I would guess they have a reason.

The episodes in this season are interesting, the storyline really start to heat up. However, it's not fair to the box set or anyone who reads this to outline them all, and rate the box set according to its episodes. That should be reserved for individual episodes.

Great stuff on season 3
Andrea Martin stars as "Moogie" in "Family Business", and watch for the introduction of The Founders....aka the Changelings (Odo's race)

Boldly going where no Trek had gone before
DS9 is (in my never-to-be-humble opinion) the best of Trek and season 3 is an excellent example of why.

By the third season the series had really begun to hit its stride. The basic premise had been established, main characters and conflicts had been introduced and now new themes needed to be found and developed. The series had been criticized as not having enough action, especially when compared to TNG. Conflict needed to be introduced and it was on many levels. The on-going quest of Odo to find his own people was addressed and expanded to incredible levels. Kira was forced to face her beliefs about her faith, her people and herself. We learn more about the Ferengi and their culture as Quark and him family struggle to evolve with its changes. Sisko deals with changes in the Federation, the Bajoran and his own family. O'Brien faces his own mortality and the ever present conflict in his own family. Jadzia lays to rest her past lives and Bashir enters into new relationships. And those are just the main characters!

The Federation itself recovering from the recent assault by the Borg, and trying to maintain uneasy relationships with Klingons, Romulans and Cardassians now is becoming aware that threats exist from the Dominion.

The groundwork is laid for upcoming seasons including the format of story lines building over a series shows in arcs. The on-going themes already established by this series of making the characters more multi-dimensional than either TOS or TNG by incorporating more of their lives into the story is continued and expanded as are the mirror universe and time travel premises.

The additional features include about 45 minutes of interviews with the producers, writers, actors and others focusing on certain aspects of the show or particular episodes. The 'hidden files' (I found 7) are segments about 2 minutes each appear to be snippets from the interviews but are well worth the effort to access them. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Based on an idea by Gene Roddenberry, Andromeda confidently wears its debt to Star Trek on its sleeve, recalling the best sci-fi of Roddenberry's heyday. The two-part premiere "Under the Night" and "An Affirming Flame" make for a terrific introduction to the lead character, Captain Dylan Hunt, played by Kevin (ex-Hercules) Sorbo. He's a sympathetically flawed idealist in command of the Andromeda Ascendant, a massive starship of the now-disbanded Systems Commonwealth. The fall of civilization has meant that although she ought to be a relic she remains the zenith of technological advancement.

In the series opener we see Captain Hunt in battle against 10,000 enemy ships, winning a bout of fisticuffs with a close friend turned enemy traitor, wrestling with the shock of being frozen in time for 300 years and then diplomatically negotiating his way out of a salvage rights battle for his ship. The Andromeda Ascendant's emotionally driven, life-like computer is desired by the Eureka Maru salvage vessel, and feisty Captain Beka Valentine can barely stop her engineer Harper from drooling about tinkering with her. The Maru's shipmates are similarly driven: Rev Bem (from another sworn enemy race) has a spiritual calling, while cutesy-pie Trance Gemini's motivations are part of her winning mysteriousness. One final addition is the show's muscle, Tyr, the enemy with a conscience who would later get the spotlight in such episodes as "All Neptune's Great Oceans" and "Music of a Distant Drum."

"The Pearls That Were His Eyes" was one of the first conceived episode ideas, but was delayed until the availability of a Star Trek regular. That eventually turned out to be John (Q) de Lancie, who gives a brilliant turn as Beka's long-lost Uncle Sid."Star-Crossed" is the first-season episode that caused more gossip than any other. Stargate regular Michael Shanks guest stars, falls in love with Rommie on screen (and with Lexa Doig off screen), and then suddenly quits SG-1. There's certainly a spark between them in the show to support the gossip. The secondary cause for talk was its broadcast rescheduling in sympathy with the events of September 11 since it opens with a terrorist attack. Criticized by some for its extreme violence, the season finale "Its Hour Come 'Round at Last" will stay with you one way or another. Maybe for the sight of an alternate Rommie turning uncharacteristically nasty to everyone and seriously kicking butt. Or maybe the mind-blowing Magog Worldship, made up of 20 planets and their sun. Or maybe just the seemingly impossible scenario each major character is faced with as the show ends. --Paul Tonks ... Read more

Reviews (9)

A great, fun, action/sci-fi show
First I'll review the show, then the box set itself.
The Show:
From the first few moments I knew this show would be enjoyable. The production values are pretty magnificent. The CG battles are easily on par with feature films. The makeup could use a lot of work, but the sets are pretty solid. The characters are definitely unique. My favorite being Tyr (Anasazi, out of Victoria by Barbarossa) the Nietzschean mercenary and perfect foil to Kevin Sorbo's Dylan Hunt. The plot seems to meander quite a bit in this first season, with more filler than I like, but when it works it works spectacularly. The season finale is some seriously tense television.
Overall I love this show, dispite its flaws. It seems to think it has the epic scope of Farscape, DS9, or Babylon 5. And at times it reaches those heights, but not consistently. At its heart it is a character driven action show, and on that score it delivers by the boatloads. If you're a sci-fi nut like myself you'll find little not to like. Personally I see it as both contemporary and companion to the show Farscape.

The DVD/set:
As with all ADV products I've run across, the sound and picture quality are magnificent. That's never the problem. The box set is pretty dry on the extras I like to see, namely interviews and behind the scenes footage, both with the cast and the writers. Though there is a lot of info on the background on the world, I'll give them that. Again, as with other ADV box sets (*cough* Farscape *cough) you're truly better off waiting for the box than buying each "collection" individually. Unlike the FS boxes however, you can buy this and still afford food that month.

Overall: The show got better in the 2nd season, and it could use more interesting extras, but its still a great and underrated show.

I wish people would stop complaining
I like this series, and I'm now waiting on the Season 2 release to be delivered.

I just wish people would stop complaining about the fact that ADV released the boxed sets at a lower price than the individual discs. Buying in bulk, things are always going to be cheaper, that's just the way things are. I always wait before buying any series, including this one, because boxed sets will come eventually, and as time goes on, prices will inevitably fall on just about anything.

I don't want to be rude, but I think anyone who didn't have the foresight and patience to wait for prices to fall, and boxed sets to come out, and rushed in to buying individually packed discs at inital retail prices, deserved to get ripped off.

Brilliant - waiting for more box set releases
This really is brilliant SciFi. I thoroughly enjoyed series 1 box set. The best treat was I thought that Voyager was the end of an era. I'm so glad to find another series that matches or exceeds the StarTrek series.

Studio: Please release some more full season box sets. Buying the 5 individual collection sets is way too expensive. I agree with the other reviewer -- just release series box sets. We don't need these 2 disk collections.

One last comment. The packaging is ok. But why do these box sets need to be so big. Take a leaf out of Fireflies box set. They use super thin individual disk boxes. The other annoying thing is that with these big multi-DVD boxes the disks actually fall out of the clip during the long transit to Australia, resulting in scratches on the surface. The FireFly box on the other hand hold the disks in place super firmly.

Congratulations on an outstanding series everyone involved in the production.

A fresh and original sci-fi series
A highly underrated series. After hearing some negative comments, I didn't expect much from Andromeda. However, I was very pleasantly surprised and I am now a big fan.

After watching the dissapointing Voyager, with its cliche storylines and mediocre character development, Andromeda was a refreshing experience. The plot and back story are excellent, the writing intelligent and original, the acting and character development superb. Special effects are some of the best I've seen on a television show.

One thing I really like about Andromeda is that the characters are not black and white like other science fiction series. All the major players have their own agendas, and only a little is revealed at a time. The show is full of plot twists, surprises and a lot of action. Several important themes are explored, such as philosophy, morality and science.

I highly recommend this collection to anyone who is open to something new and different.

"Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda"
I recently got hooked on "Gene Roddenberry's Andromeda" when Sci-Fi began airing the series; I was hooked from the first episode. I'm not sure about some of the science; for example, is it possible for a starship to edge close to the event-horizon of a black hole, yet not get sucked into it, since even light cannot escape a singularity? And why is there a starfield in front of the black hole, and the "Maru," as she's towing the "Andromeda" away from the event-horizon? Wouldn't the black hole swallow any star systems in the area-as well as both ships? Or does the "Andromeda Ascendant" have capabilities which allow her to safely maneuver that close to a collapsar? And why does the technically advanced "Andromeda" not have tractor beams for towing?

Other than that, its a great show-so great in fact, that the occasional science inaccuracies don't seem so bad.

The First Season DVD is a keeper. It has pretty good special features; the timeline of the Systems Commonwealth adds a nice bit of background history, as do the Argosy/High Guard ship specs. My only complaint is that the ship specs should feature blueprints of the ships along with the specs. Still, I s'pose that's a minor complaint. The print for the ship specs and actor/character bios are very small and difficult to read. But I can live with that. I like the commentaries and actor/producer interviews as well.

The second season "Andromeda" DVD graphics and features are a bit slicker and more sophisticated than those of season one, still, though season one's very much worth owning if you're a fan.

All-in-all, a worthy addition to the Roddenberry corpus of fine sci-fi shows. Its nice that Majel Roddenberry, "Star Trek" TOS's Nurse Chapel, and Roddenberry's widow, is executive producer. And series developer/producer Robert Hewitt Wolfe, of "Star Trek Deep Space Nine" does his usual great job on this series as well. This series has an epic scope that comes across real well-you can actually believe there was a vast Systems Commonwealth, which collapsed three hundred years in Dylan Hunt's past.

If you're a fan, you'll need to order the season one boxed set. ... Read more

Amazon.com

It looked like a standard teen soap on the outside, but once you scratched the surface of the glittery, sun-dappled Fox drama The O.C., you'd find underneath a number of surprisingly well-developed characters, fun plots that played around with their soap conventions, and some of the wittiest dialogue this side of an Aaron Sorkin show. The setup was pure high concept: hunky, brooding Ryan (Benjamin McKenzie) was a good kid from Chino starting to go bad, and thanks to the interference of his lawyer, Sandy Cohen (Peter Gallagher), finds himself whisked away from the wrong side of the tracks to the mansions and manicured lawns of Orange County. Soon, Ryan finds himself living in the Cohens' pool house, involved with troubled rich girl Marissa (Mischa Barton), and bristling against the societal confines of his new home, as the people may be richer but they're just as screwed up as anyone else. Still, somehow, he manages to bring out the humanity of the superficial people around him, and they become all the better for knowing him.

Okay, enough with the Beverly Hills, 90210 scenario--what The O.C. turned out to be was the most addictive TV soap in recent memory, and one with a brain to boot. Smarter than Melrose Place, sexier than 90210, funnier than Felicity, and not as enamored of itself as Dawson's Creek, The O.C.reveled in clever and hilarious dialogue (the pilot episode earned a WGA nomination) and quirky, eccentric characters. Most noteworthy was breakout star Adam Brody, who as Ryan's geeky newfangled brother-type Seth practically stole the teen heartthrob mantle away from Russell Crowe-lookalike McKenzie. Barton was a bit of a blank as the troubled Marissa, but her best pal, the blissfully superficial Summer, was played by Rachel Bilson as the perfect supporting character in a dizzy farce. And the adults, especially Gallagher and Kelly Rowan as the supportive Cohens, grounded the other half of the show in you know, like, maturity. Not that The O.C. ever forgot the fun that was to be had in TV-land, as most every other episode ended with a fistfight or someone falling into a pool--sometimes both. Here was a soap you could purely enjoy without guilt. --Mark Englehart ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Matters of Honor" launched Babylon 5's third season with the introduction of the White Star, a spacecraft added to enable more of the action to take place away from the station. Also introduced was Marcus Cole (Jason Carter)--in another nod to The Lord of the Rings, a Ranger not so far removed from Tolkien's Strider. In "Voices of Authority" the show finds an epic scale as Ivanova seeks the mysterious "First Ones" for allies against the Shadows, and evidence is discovered pointing to the truth behind President Santiago's assassination. A third of the way through the season "Messages from Earth," "Point of No Return," and "Severed Dreams" prove pivotal, changing the nature of the story in a way previously unimaginable on network TV. Earth slides into dictatorship, the fascistic Nightwatch takes control of off-world security, and Sheridan take decisive action by declaring Babylon 5 independent.

"Interludes and Examinations" presented the death of a major supporting character, while the two-part "War Without End" reached apocalyptic dimensions in a complex tale resolving the destiny of Sinclair and the fate of Babylon 4 (dovetailing elegantly with the events of the first season's "Babylon Squared"), resolving a 1,000-year-old paradox and presenting a vision of a very dark future for Sheridan and Delenn. All this was trumped by the monumental "Z'ha'dum." In the preceding "Shadow Dancing" Anna Sheridan (Melissa Gilbert, Bruce Boxleitner's real-life wife) returned from the dead, no longer entirely human. In the mythologically resonant climax Anna invited Sheridan back to the Shadow homeworld with no hope of survival. Just as in The Lord of the Rings Gandalf fell into the abyss at Khazad-Dum, so Sheridan took a comparable leap into the unknown on an alien world. --Gary S. Dalkin ... Read more

Reviews (52)

Season 3: The Point of No Return
Season 3 of Babylon 5 is the year where all of the story arc threads come together. For those of you not familiar with the show, Babylon 5 is a space station created by Earth Alliance as a meting place for humans and alien species, sort of like a United Nations in space. By the start of the third year, Babylon 5's mission of keeping peace has failed, and war has broken out between to of the major alien races. At the same, an even greater threat to all species is slowing moving, and gathering its forces, for an conflict of epic proportions. Highlights of this season include the 3 episode arc "Messages from Earth", "Point of No Return", and "Severed Dreams" and the last 2 episodes of the season, "Shadow Dancing" and "Z'ha'dum". This year, Jason Carter joins the cast as Marcus Cole, a ranger assigned to feed information to the Babylon 5 staff. Year 3, 2260, is widely regarded as the best year of the show, and is a must for any Sci-Fi fan.

Babylon 5 Season Three - Point of No Return - Payoff time!
B5's third season is clearly the most pivotal of all the seasons. Here is where truths are revealed and new questions are raised. This is where J. Michael Straczynski's brilliance as the shows creator shines brightly in that with each episode he shows us what is to come, but at the same time, doesn't give us the how or why which leaves you, the viewer, hungry for more.

This season also brought an unprecedented event, no television series before this ever had an entire season written by one screenwriter. With the multitude of variables and directions that J. Michael Straczynski needed to take the series for this season, he felt that he was the only one that could take them there. As it turned out, this was a brilliant decision, despite a few of the episodes being a bit lackluster, the overall feel and theme of the season is breathtaking in its scope and detail.

A brief synopsis of the more intriguing episodes:

Matters of Honor - In this exciting season opener, the Minbari religious cast bestows upon Captain Sheridan the White Star which is a starship built of Vorlon and Minbari technology that no other race has seen until now. Here is where we meet Marcus who escapes a planet where the Rangers are training but have been blockaded by the Centauri. He seeks Sheridan's help in clearing the blockade so the rest of those in training can escape.

A Day in the Strife - This is an interesting episode that brings to the forefront Steven's addictions to stims. Meanwhile, Sheridan and Ivanova must deal with a probe that is prepared to annihilate the station if a whole battery of questions isn't answered properly.

Passing Through Gethsemane - In this intriguing episode, the Narn provisional government has given in to the Centauri and sent a Narn representative to B5 to replace G'Kar and send him home, most likely to his death. Meanwhile, one of the monks who recently came to the station starts suffering through some rather odd delusions.

Dust to Dust - Psi cop Bester makes a return in this brilliant episode in which he comes to the station to track down a shipment of dust which is an illicit substance that when used brings out the Psi ability in anyone, even mundanes. G'Kar hopes to use this as a weapon against the Centauri and tests it himself which brings him to Londo's door where he learns a great many truths about Mollari and his activities.

Messages from Earth - In this pivotal episode, Sheridan learns that Earth and the Psi Corps has been aware of the Shadows and their vessels and that they have discovered one on Mars. Risking detection, Sheridan takes the White Star to Mars to stop Psi Corps from gaining control of this shadow vessel.

Point of No Return - In this extraordinary episode, Earth has reverted to martial law and extends that to Babylon 5 where Sheridan must find a way to deal with the Night Watch officers who attempt to seize control of Babylon 5.

Severed Dreams - This is the episode that B5 has building to for quite some time in which Sheridan is now forced to make the decision to publicly defy Earth Force and the President. President Clark has sent an armada to B5 to seize control but Sheridan has other plans...

A Late Delivery from Avalon - Sheridan proposes a mutual defense treaty with the League and Michael York of "Logan's Run" fame makes a poignant guest appearance as a man who comes off a transport and believes he is King Arthur.

Ship of Tears - Bester makes another appearance and he proposes an alliance with Sheridan and crew. He's searching for a transport vessel that he believes is carrying weapons that he'd be interested in. Here is a where a terrible truth is revealed about the Shadows and their weapons.

Interludes and Examinations - In this incredible episode, Sheridan believes that he must deliver a victory against the Shadows and appeals to Kosh and the Vorlons to get it. They deliver but the victory comes at a terrible price.

War Without End, Parts I & II - With these two episodes, J. Michael Straczynski out does himself as he brings back Sinclair and Babylon 4 and he plays out the story he's been eluding to in the past and tells the tale of where Babylon 4 went and ultimately who Valen is.

And the Rock Cried out, No Hiding Place - In this brilliant episode we see the true colors of Mollari as he works his political machinations to better secure his position in the royal court.

Shadow Dancing - In this superb episode, Sheridan brings together an alliance and a large fleet to take the offensive against the shadows in an unprecedented space battle involving hundreds of ships.

Z'Ha'Dum - In this extraordinary and stunning season closer, Sheridan's wife Anna, played by his real life wife, is sent to B5 as an emissary from the Shadows. She implores him to return to Z'Ha'Dum with her to hear their side of the story. For some time, he's been warned not to go to Z'Ha'Dum, but he trudges on any way, leading to a dramatic conclusion of the season and a long wait until season four comes out. {ssintrepid}

Special Features:

Documentaries:
Behind the Mask: Creating the Aliens of Babylon 5
Building A Better Narn
Designing Tomorrow: The Look of Babylon 5

The Universe of Babylon 5:
Data Files: Battle for Babylon, Grey, Mindwipe, Thunderbolt, White Star
Personnel Files: Zack Allen, Alfred Bester, Marcus Cole, David Corwin, Zathras
Shadow Dossier

Episode list:

Matters of Honor

Convictions
A Day in the Strife
Passing Through Gethsemane
Voices of Authority
Dust to Dust
Exogenesis
Messages from Earth
Point of No Return
Severed Dreams
Ceremonies of Light and Dark
Sic Transit Vir
A Late Delivery from Avalon
Ship of Tears
Interludes and Examinations
War Without End, Parts I & II
Walkabout
Grey 17 is Missing
And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place
Shadow Dancing
Z'Ha'Dum

The best season of Babylon 5
While Seasons 2 and 4 of Babylon 5 were also very good, none of those achieved the consistent excellency and drama of Season 3.

First, a 3-part arc concerning the Earth war happens in the first third of the season, and those 3 episodes are some of the best of the series. "Messages From Earth" has great music and suspense, while "Point of No Return" ups the ante and intensity, and "Severed Dreams" shows the situation escalate in to one of the best and most amazing space battles of the series.

After that, the rest of the season is basically a big build-up to the shadow war. "Interludes and Examinations" shows the long-awaited confrontation between the Vorlons and Shadows, while "War Without End" brings back Sinclair in a joint adventure through time against the shadows with Sheridan.

The last 3 episodes of the season are great: "And the Rock Cried Out, No Hiding Place" shows both the Narn Homeworld and the death of Lord Refa (which is filmed extremely well). "Shadow Dancing" shows the first large-scale battle against the Shadows (with the second one being "Into the Fire" in Season 4), and "Z'Ha'Dum has probably the best cliffhanger of the entire series with both Garribaldi and Sheridan persumed dead/missing.

All in all, the best season of the series. In the overall view of the series, Season 4 would be the only season to ever come close to the greatness of this one. Season 3 is the apex of the series, and it all goes downhill from here (referring mostly to Season 5).

968 minutes; Equivalent of PG to PG-13; Contains violence, some profane language, and brief sexual content.

Audio and video problems
After reading reviews of all the box sets and some of the problems some people have had,I just wanted to add my experiences.
I too had a few occasions where the picture would break up and even freeze as someone else has mentioned.
I removed the dvd from the player and cleaned it useing a cd/dvd spray cleaner.When I reinserted the dvd and played it again I had no further problems.
I have encountered this on one or two other brand new dvds of other shows and in each instance a good cleaning solved the problem.
The discs never look dirty or scratched and are always played fresh out of the case which leads me to believe it may be a coating of something that cant be seen by the naked eye but is detectable by the players laser.
It may not solve everyones problem but its worth trying before returning the discs for an exchange and then encountering the same problem.
I hope this helps as the series itself is great and nothing is more frustrating then having a problem in the middle of watching it.

... where the Shadow War affects the whole Galaxy...
The 3rd season by far is the best season ever to achieve an epic sci-fi television series that brings a whole new perspective of what it means to create a good science fiction epic tale that doesn't require special effects, only the script and characters that will bring viewers to the screen.

A war exploded right to the face of the galaxy and its up to Sheridan and Delenn to stop this war with the help of others, G'Kar's downfall happens here with the uprising of Landou. Out of 5 seasons, this is the best of the best and enjoyable in its own way. It will leave you with a cliffhangar that you can't refuse to go for Season 4...

An achievement in television series like no other... ... Read more

Amazon.com

If the first season of Star Trek: Voyager was a shakedown cruise, then season 2 represents a vital blossoming of the series' potential. As Captain Janeway, Kate Mulgrew maintained Starfleet integrity in the lawless expanse of the Delta quadrant, and became the ethical conscience of her still-uneasy Maquis/Starfleet crew, whose unanimous loyalty would be dramatically proven in "The '37's" (a first-season hold-over). Janeway's moral guidance would also assert itself in "Death Wish" (a "Q" episode featuring NextGen's Jonathan Frakes) and "Tuvix," in which life-or-death decisions landed squarely on her shoulders. Season 2 brought similar development to all the primary characters, deepening their relationships and defining their personalities, especially Robert Beltran as Chakotay (in "Initiations" and "Tattoo"), now firmly established as Janeway's best friend (and nearly more than that, in "Resolutions") and command-decision confidante.

Solid sci-fi concepts abound in season 2, although "Threshold" is considered an embarrassment (as confessed by co-executive producer Brannon Braga in a self-deprecating "Easter Egg" interview clip). It was a forgivable lapse in a consistently excellent season that intensified Janeway's struggle with the villainous Kazon, exacerbated by a Starfleet traitor in cahoots with the duplicitous Cardassian Seska (played by Martha Hackett, featured in a lively guest-star profile). The psychologically intense "Meld" (featuring a riveting guest performance by Brad Dourif) was a Tuvok-story highlight, and the aptly titled "Basics, Pt. 1" provided an ominous cliffhanger, including a second planetary landing (in a season full of impressive special effects) that left Voyager's fate in question. DVD extras are abundant and worthwhile, especially the season 2 retrospective and "A Day in the Life of Ethan Phillips" (who plays Neelix under a daily ordeal of latex makeup). Several Easter egg surprises--including a music video performance by Tim Russ (Tuvok)--are hidden (but easily found) among the "Special Features" menus on disc 7. All in all, this was one of Voyager's finest seasons, leaving some enticing questions to be answered in season 3. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (24)

best of the star trek series
i watch, and like, all of the incarnations of star trek. voyager is my favorite.
a few of the best episodes from this season:
meld
the thaw
tuvix
resolutions
basics, part 1
unfortunatly, the price is too high. so, i decline to purchase
this set, as i have all of the star trek releases.

great sci-fi
okay--the original Star Trek series started it all and it was great. i enjoyed/enjoy all the shows that are springing from it, and i'd have to say that Voyager is the best 'child' of the asexual Star Trek parent. i like that it takes you away from all the traditional Star Trek components. by writing up a crew that get's lost in a whole new unchartered part of the universe, the writers have put watchers and fans in a totally fresh Star Trek state of mind. not to mention Kate Mulgrew plays the perfect FIRST Star Trek series captain. kudos and more to the show. i have season one on dvd; can't wait to own them all...specifically so i can watch Seven wrestle with that hottie The Rock in that one episode.

*insert Voyager theme music here*

Great Voyager DVD's!
I really love these dvd's. This season is the first one where voyager lands, ie, really cool effects. I also love the episode "deadlock", where voyager splits. Great idea! The special features are really awesome on this one. The "day with ethan phillips" is really cool, becuase it shows the application of his makeup. There is an awesome easter egg on this one too. It's one of Tim Russ's (Tuvok's) music videos! He sings Kushangaza (and has a nice voice might I add ;) )

I would really suggest these dvd's to anyone who loves all things star trek. I'm glad I added to my collection, and will watch these for years to come!

Wow, "Threshold..."
... still sucks. I saw it when it first came out and I was like "no way!?!" Now, I'm almost ten years older and may or may not be wiser (the fact that I bought this DVD set indicates the latter), and I am again shocked by the 220-proof ridiculousness of "Threshold." What an insane piece of writing! Okay, while turning people into cat-fishes is a great way to dispose of useless characters like Kes, Troi, or Wesley, it is another thing to do it, and then turn those people right back into human beings after a log entry! While the premise of the episode was certainly interesting, the ending was beyond bad.

To be fair, Voyager was getting better in season 2, but it was still amateur night compare to DS9.

The Packaging stinks and the series isn't much better
Voyager looses Gene Roddenberry's respect in it's disregard for life in this season. Janeway has characters doing things Gene Roddenberry would never have allowed- A man with a homicidal temper murders a crewman (inspite of Piccard's statement that the seeds of criminal behavior have been rooted out of human society) Torres Murders a sentient robot she helped bring to life, and Janeway lets a Q commit suicide because he suffers from a sorching case of boredom. Of all the reasons for doing evil, boredom is absolutely the stupidest.

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