Before the Legend...Before the Icon...He was a teenager growing up in Smallville. Season 1 chronicles the life of the boy who would be Superman in a 6-disc collector's set with super bonus features. Season 2 includes all 2... more »3 second-season episodes plus bonus materials worthy of a hero. Among the episode highlights: Clark grapples with his true calling. Is he on Earth to serve humanity or perhaps destroy it? Season 3 is marked by Clark's inability to overpower destiny and its pressing call for his return home. Clark, who has left Smallville for Metropolis, returns to Smallville to help his parents, and is happily surprised to find that Lex Luthor has survived a deadly jet crash. Season 4 is Clark Kent's senior year! The 22 episodes include the quest for 3 Kryptonian crystals and Clark's bold attempt to keep those mysterious stones from destroying Earth. Lois Lane smart, opinionated and entirely annoying to Clark comes to Smallville. The calling awaits Clark an awakening to a destiny that only he can accept and fulfill.« less
Solid family (around teen) entertainment. It's a really shame about the Chloe character though, which cast a dark shadow on the side...
Movie Reviews
The legend continues...
The Wickerman | Austin, TX | 09/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Since I'm much too lazy to attempt to review every season individually, I'm going to make a clumsy attempt to review the entire show at once. I have recently become absolutely obsessed with this show. For a long time, I just caught a stray episode here and there, and didn't really watch it religiously, but through the generous nature of a good friend, and the magic of DVD's, I was able to get ahold of and watch all of the first three seasons. After that, the decision to buy this set was easy.
"Smallville" is basically the next incarnation of the Superman mythology, but rather than just being another iteration of the same old thing, it manages to be a fresh and hip new spin on the concept. It centers on Clark Kent growing up in Smallville, and discovering his super powers and origins, all while trying to lead a normal life as a teenager. One of the best things about the show is how it brings so many more levels of emotional depth to the character. This was the beauty of Spiderman, for example, that he was also a kid in addition to having these amazing powers, which made him more relatable and more real to a young audience, and Gough and Millar have successfully brought that same quality to Superman. He's always been previously depicted as a nearly perfect character, and this is the first time we see him as a human with his own problems and inner conflicts, and I think that makes him that much more of an interesting and sympathetic character. Plus, it's great to see more of his relationship with his parents, and how they helped to shape him into the man he'll one day be.
Also, what they've done with Lex Luthor on this show is just remarkable. Rather than just having him as the quintessential super-villian, he starts out as a good guy, who befriends Clark, and becomes sort of a big brother/role model character for him. However, we see from the start that evil runs deep in the family, with his tyrannical, crime-lord father Lionel. Throughout the show, we see hints that Lex will eventually follow the same path, and that he's always trying to resist becoming his dad, even though we know that somehow he eventually will. When you put this, and his friendship with Clark into context with what kind of person he eventually becomes, it adds so much more to the concept than just the simple "Hero vs. Villian" thing. Also, Michael Rosenbaum is a remarkably talented young actor, who brings so many more dimensions to the character than ever before.
The show begins relatively simple, setting up for everything that will happen later on. The basic idea that we have to begin with is that the kryptonite from the meteor shower has infected a large number of the townspeople, and given them super powers. This provides Clark with a wide supply of foes to battle, to sharpen his skills as a superhero. And once again, we have a human quality here, that we've never seen in any past incarnations of "Superman". The villians are seemingly normal people, usually kids, with no costumes or anything. It adds a greater sense of realism, and I really like that.
Gradually, with each season, the plotlines have gotten more complex, with Clark slowly learning more and more about his abilities, and where he comes from, eventually leading up to the more "Superman"-like adventures we'll be seeing in season 5. Each season has been better than the last, and everything is really falling into place nicely. The pace of the show has been great, and the writers have done a great job of staying true to the mythology, while simultaneously taking it into new and interesting directions.
Technically speaking, the show is fantastic as well. The actors all have great chemistry, and all bring something special to their characters. Tom Welling is easily the best Superman since Christopher Reeve, so good in fact that I've almost forgotten how bad Dean Cain was. It's also great to see veteran actors like John Schneider, John Glover, and Annette O'Toole in there with the younger actors, as well as guest appearances from past "Superman" stars, like Margot Kidder, Terence Stamp, and even Mr. Reeve himself. There is also a great deal of subtlety and detail in the show, as far as lighting and camera angles (watch the commentary to get an idea), and the subtle use of color to create just the right atmospheres for the scene. Also, the special effects are among the best I've seen on a television show. These guys really put a great deal of time and effort into putting everything together.
I really can't say enough about this show. Everything about it is just so wonderfully engaging, and masterfully executed. Those who deride it and compare it to "Dawson's Creek" just because it's on the WB are being far too superficial, and aren't giving it nearly a fair enough chance. "Smallville" is easily one of the best incarnations of Superman yet."
A super collection for fans, new and old.
Nelson Aspen | Los Angeles & NYC, USA | 02/13/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have reviewed each of the four season sets individually, so you may read my specific comments and criticisms. But, overall, as a 4 box set, this is a great collection for new and old SMALLVILLE fans...of all ages (well, it def should get a PG rating).
The special features are pretty much negligible, aside from some interesting commentary tracks. But the deleted scenes prove that they were justifiably cut and the "Chloe Chronicles" are downright awful.
This is a great set to own just for the episodes...the way you would want to own a complete collection of comic books. Not every issue is as valuable as another, but you wouldn't want to have an incomplete set!"
Truly a Class Act!!
S. Weis | Western Montana | 02/27/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"At 50 years old, I'm probably one of the older fans of Smallville and I just love it! But I also have the somewhat unique experience of having read DC Comics -- Superman, Superboy, Legion of Super Heros, etc. -- on a regular basis as a kid. What impresses me about Smallville, as much as all the other outstanding qualities of the show such as those very well stated in some of the other reviews, is how true the show is to the original comic book story, so much more so than any previous incarnation of the story of Superman, whether it's the orignal TV series starring George Reeves or the series of movies starring Christopher Reeve. I'm sure that most of Smallville's younger fans don't even realize that they're "getting an education" on the real "story of Superman" as first read in DC Comics decades ago.
Smallville is extremely well done by any measure and is truly a class act. I'm delighted to be able to own the first four seasons in one collection."
Smallville...Please step your game up!!!
MD-4-Christ | 05/23/2007
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I know everyone's jumping on the bandwagon with how great this show is. Not alot of critique. Hmmm...maybe because of pretty boy Tom and princess Lana. This show could be so much better. It has its good episodes but in only half of all 4 seasons!! This is more like me pleading than me scorning. Come on, quit the 'I luv Lana,' 'I need Lana in my life' crap and get to some action, drama, thriller type Pre-Superman brawling. Even at the end of the sixth season he doesn't learn to fly. Why is it that the only time Clarke flies is when he is taken over by Jor-El, when he wears that retarded red ring or when he is cloned by that stupid phantom (season six)??? Enough with Lana. I wanted her to stay dead instead of Clark's dad. She's annoying and holding Clarke back from really moving on. Cloey's my choice. Clark never has a good fight.They should stage him in some good fist throwing action with some alien brawlers. It's simple...I WANNA SEE SOME ACTION!!!"
Amazing!!!
Way2MuchFreeTime | 11/23/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is the best show on the WB for sure. All the season premieres and finales are amazing. Admittedly it is flawed such as how they "solve" the mystery of how the Freak of the week got his powers. But that is completely unimportant. First of all the character's relationships are done extremely well. You understand why Clark decides to be good rather than evil because of his parents. You see how they help him and he doesnt abuse his powers. Season 3 is the best for sure. Seasons 2 and 4 are tied at second. An last is season 1. It's not a bad season its actually VERY good. HOwever the "freak of the week" format gets a bit repeatitive ( well if you finish season 1 in 4 days like me). The frist four episodes transit really well. The show flows and you just dont want it to end. The season finale "Tempest" was unbelievable. And the followup "Vortex" and "Duplicity" made season 2's begining connect really well to season 1. It only gets better. Some of the episodes are COMPLETELY RANDOM and a FEW are bad. But over 95% are mind boggling. A must buy for anyone who likes Superman or good action/fantasy show. I hated superman the movie and the cartoon. However i LOVE smallville and i look at superman with a new perspective. It is masterfully done. 5 stars w.o a doubt. I recomend you you watch like 2-3 episodes so you get an idea. You either love it or hate it. Hope this review helped."