Search - The Simpsons: The Complete First Season on DVD

MPAA Rating: NR Movie Release: 2001 DVD Release: 09/25/2001 Format: DVD Edition: Special Collection,Television Audio Tracks: English Subtitles: English, Spanish SwapaDVD Credits: 3 Number of Discs: 3 Run Time: 6 hrs 34 mins Studio: 20th Century Fox Total Copies: 53

Anyone who follows the adventures of America's leading dysfunctional family will be happier than Barney Gumble with a case of Duff Extra Cold after checking out this three-DVD set. Like the title says, this collects all 13 episodes from the first season of The Simpsons, and if some of the material isn't up to the standards the show would set a few years later, every episode is clever, funny, and closer to the truth of the average American family than most more "realistic" television series. And the presentation is everything a fan could hope for; the full-frame mastering is sharp and clear, and each episode includes witty and revealing commentary tracks from creator Matt Groening and a revolving panel of the show's writers, directors, and producers. The audio has been remixed for both Dolby Digital 5.1 and Dolby Digital Surround, and there are also alternate French-language tracks in Dolby Digital Surround. And there's a bevy of bonus material, including the original scripts for four episodes ("Bart the Genius," "Bart the General," "Moaning Lisa," and "Some Enchanted Evening"), outtakes of Albert Brooks ad-libbing his way through the recording of his dialogue for "Life in the Fast Lane," several minutes of disastrous rejected footage from the animators' first try at "Some Enchanted Evening," original character sketches for the show, early Simpsons shorts from The Tracy Ullman Show, a British television documentary about the phenomenon of The Simpsons, and even a few Easter Eggs (hint: try clicking on the T-Shirt!). Without question, this is the best presentation of The Simpsons on home video to date, and one can only hope the DVD sets of the show's subsequent seasons will live up to this high standard. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide