Review of Simpsons, The: The Simpsons.com

Introduction

The UK has already had the first five Classic DVDs on their shelves (The Simpsons Go To Hollywood, Bart Wars: The Simpsons Strike Back, The Simpsons: Too Hot For TV, The Dark Secrets of The Simpsons, and The Simpsons Greatest Hits). This volume is one of the remaining `previously released on VHS` classics.

It`s a testament to the popularity of this endless running series that it has such a devoted fan-base, and I`m guessing that this volume will go down a treat with the hardcore. With Season 4 recently released, these almost random episode samplers provide some solace to the serious collector (awaiting the remaining 12 seasons to hit the racks) as well as providing a fun taster for anyone else.

As one of the many `anyone elses` who laugh aloud every time I see an episode, but who has yet to feel the need to add any seasons to my collection (it`s rarely off-air after all), I found this 4 episode disc a real treat.

When you analyse the appeal of the `The Simpsons`, it`s difficult to understand how this anarchic cartoon series, full of hypocritical, dumb ass yellow folk can be such a universal source of pleasure. It`s essentially a cynical view of a hollow world - filled with transparently self-serving manipulative people who constantly beat up on the little man (Homer). Of course Homer is a self-centred, self-serving fool in his own right, but as the underdog he wins us over every episode. But without falling in to the dreary trap of penning a post-Freudian critique (of the `comedy`s a serious business` variety), I suppose its main appeal is that it`s funny. Damn funny! It`s funny to children who love its zany and anarchic humour and it`s funny to grown-ups who appreciate its dry and sardonic wit. It`s one of the few series that I find myself laughing aloud to.

So what does this particular disc offer up? Well, exactly the same as the VHS version with the same title which has done the rounds for a while. It also offers the opportunity to view the episodes in any one of half a dozen languages and I`ve got to say (yes - I tried it!) that the French Homer is brilliant. A dead ringer but in the francais. Needless to say it offers all the other advantages of the DVD format over the VHS too so now these are out there`s no contest.

The episodes on offer here are mostly worthy of the `classic` tag - with one bizarre and notable exception, `Treehouse Of Horror X` which is three mini-episodes in one. It`s disjointed, inconclusive and lacking in belly-laughs. The first of the three sees Marge running over the next-door neighbour who`s out on a `fog walk` (Ok - that bits funny), though he later turns out to be a werewolf anyway. The next clip sees Bart obtain super stretch powers via an X-ray machine, joining up with sister Lisa to form super-duo, Stretchman and Clobber. Not that amusing sadly. And finally a Y2K meltdown which could have been funnier than it was.

But the other three episodes more than compensate for the opening disappointment. `Homer Goes To College` is a wonderful episode that sees Homer back at College (after single-handedly causing a nuclear meltdown) to brush up on his `nuclear industry` skills for work. It`s a rapid-fire laugh a minute treat.
`Das Bus` show Bart and friends on a school trip that sees their bus plunge from a bridge to waters below, only to be washed up on a desert island.
Finally `Itchy And Scratchy Land` which is direct hit at Disney. This shows the family on holiday at a Disney style theme park that seems to celebrate violence. Robots in the park go berserk and start attacking the humans though Homer saves the day. The funniest moment in this episode is where the park attendant says `If this is what`s happening here, I`d hate to see what`s happening at our Euro resort`. At that point we cut to an empty Euro-park with tumbleweeds blowing through it. Cruel but probably accurate at the time of release!

Video

Well, peculiarly - not as good as you might expect. The picture`s a little soft at the edges which is strange for this style of cell-animation. My guess is that this has been transferred from the US NTSC Masters. Shame. But probably a whole bunch better than the VHS versions of the same.

Audio

Perfectly good Dolby 2.0 Stereo. Every bang, every wallop, every mumbled aside is crystal clear - and sound is consistent throughout the episode set.

Features

Not much, other than a host of other language options which are hilarious in their own right. The language may differ but the voice remains the same…remarkable. There`s also a (very) brief featurette entitled `Think Frink` which gathers together a number of snippets featuring the knowledgeable nerd. They`re a little disconnected to be of much merriment, and only amount to about 2 minutes worth of `bonus material` - so not really much of a bonus.

Conclusion

This disc is a DVD version of a popularly available (and much bought) VHS from a couple of years back. The `classics` title creates a high level of expectation - and three of the four episodes on this disc deliver the goods. (`Treehouse Of Horror X` being the exception with it`s three tales in one approach that doesn`t quite lift-off). But overall, there are laughs aplenty here for converted and non-converted alike, and a couple of the episodes have been shown very rarely on the endless re-run trail too. Of course, the complete seasons box sets (often spotted for around £17 a set) have only just got around to Season 4, with another 12 seasons to go - so this disc, along with the others in the classics range, will go a long way to filling the void during the long wait for completion. It`s astonishing how the series continues to be both fresh and funny some 300 episodes in, though it`s been blessed with quite a team of writers (see technical details at the front of this review for the full-listing). This is a worthwhile disc with three out of the four episodes deserving the `classics` mantle. If you`re just going to buy one in the series though, opt for the four out of four `On your marks get set doh!` set instead.