If you’re like the rest of us rabid Simpsons fans out
there, you’ve probably got just one thing to say about the release of
Season Four on DVD; it’s about bloody time! South Park
started releasing seasons on DVD in 2002 and their fourth season is about to
arrive. The Simpsons, on the other hand, started coming out
in 2001 and we’re just seeing the fourth season now. With fifteen plus
seasons to put out, the minds behind these releases are on a path to ensure
that fans from the very beginning won’t have a complete set until we’re
old and gray. Thankfully the wait time is often worth it, as The Simpsons
releases are chock-full of special features that manage to be both enjoyable
and interesting.
For many fans, season four of The Simpsons is where the series
finally kicked into high gear. Many of the episodes are considered classics
and two of them are the first to feature writing credits from Conan O’Brien
(New Kid on the Block and Marge vs. the Monorail), who would go on to pen some
of the funniest episodes from the show’s peak years. There’s very
little that can be said of this season; it’s hilarious and the first true
must-own of The Simpsons releases for fanatics and casual fans
alike. The video and audio transfer is adequate, though the quality is assuredly
far better than any of those old video compilations (home-made or store-bought)
or downloaded episodes you may have lying around.
In addition to the best episodes ever made at this point in the show’s
history, the little touches also help make this new release stand out from the
former sets. The menus are all colorful and animated, with little flourishes
popping up here and there. Every single episode is equipped with a commentary
track from various players involved with each episode (including Conan for the
two episodes he penned). The first disc features an introduction from Matt Groening
(pronounced “graining” for the uninitiated), which serves as a preview
for the set with clips from different episodes and extra features. A number
of the episodes feature an “animation showcase” which includes illustrated
commentaries, animatics, and storyboards. In a cool twist, there are also original
commercials for The Simpsons and for products endorsed by The
Simpsons included on disc two. Among the other features are:
-The Cajun Controversy. This is an interesting little doc detailing the controversy
around a song about New Orleans written for the “A Streetcar Named Marge”
episode. The song did not portray the Big Easy in a favorable light and caused
quite a stir among local officials.
-Special Language Feature: Kamp Krusty. This feature, which seems to have become
a staple for Simpsons releases, allows the viewer to watch the Kamp Krusty episode
with Brazilian Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, or Castilian Spanish language
tracks.
-Bush vs. Simpson. This a documentary narrated by James Brooks regarding a shot
taken at The Simpsons by Barbara Bush in a 1990 magazine interview and the resulting
exchange between the two families. This is quite an amusing feature, especially
since most people have probably forgotten that this whole affair ever happened.
-Promotional Stuff. One may expect a feature entitled “promotional stuff”
to have scans of posters and accessories and such, but that is not the case.
This is actually an interview with Matt Groening about the mindset of the different
members of the family, interspersed with episode footage. Another great addition
to a great set.
-Deleted Scenes(!). Oh yeah. You read it here first (or maybe not). Actual deleted
footage from actual episodes. Two to be exact… Homer’s Triple Bypass
and The Front. There’s nothing that’s going to knock you off your
feet (each “scene” is little more than a one-liner joke), but they’re
deleted scenes for cryin’ out loud! From The Simpsons!
That about covers it. The verdict? Run, don’t walk, to your nearest
store and buy this set post-haste. They may take their time putting these out,
but we’re finally getting some REAL Simpsons classics
to laugh about.
DVD Season 4 Score: A+
DVD Special Features Score: A+
Overall Score: A+
This
page is maintained by Lisa Zlotnick. For questions,
comments, sponsorship opportunities, publicity, or other inquiries, please
send an e-mail to: contact@dvdfanatic.com
