The Monkees: Season 1
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Movie Reviews of The Monkees: Season 1
Movie Review: Monkees 'a La Mode - 32 classic episodes and great songs
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a very cute box - exactly as the Amazon photo. Downside is that it is a big cute box, 7cm x 15cm x 15cm, and mine got damaged a little in the post and required re-gluing. The actual DVD's are all in their own little cardboard miniature `Record' sleeves, great little facsimiles of the Monkees LP covers, fitted into a removable little `record deck' outer cardboard case that slots into the portable `record player' box. So a lot of the DVD box is air and the odd spring. All the episodes 1 to 32 from the first series are here, first aired from Sept 1996 to April 1967, and they are spread over 6 DVDs. The final DVD also has a few extras, like the Kellogs commercials, discography, play songs only, Monkees commentaries, interview with songwriter Bobby Hart, and a Monkees memorabilia gallery. The set also has little booklet of the chapter indexes and a short `behind the scenes' written piece that's quite interesting (I didn't realise Mickey and Davy were only 20 when picked or that the Monkees concept wasn't nicked from the Beatles film `Hard Days Night' - one of the creators, Bob Rafelson, had toured with a struggling young band in 1962 and got the idea then). See tvtome for the actual episode list. We find the picture/sound fine, particularly on our small bedroom TVs. There is also a similar `record player' DVD set for season two.
This first season DVD set is great fun, if a little repetitive naturally being nearly 16h of episodes. My daughter (12) likes the Monkees and has watched most of the episodes - but not as much as her original 4 episode DVD `The Monkees our favourite episodes' - NTSC as well - so perhaps she has suffered from Monkees overload fatigue (and she has since fallen under the spell of the Charmed ones). She also has the CD set `The definitive Monkees - limited edition' which she really likes. She became a fan after singing 'I'm a believer' in the school Choir. She really likes the Monkees humour (and also the similarly zany British series 'The Goodies at last' and '2nd helping' DVD sets - if you can find them in the US). My son (10) also loves this Monkees set, although he tends to watch The Goodies a bit more. So a pretty good value DVD set in a fun package - we got it particularly cheaply via Amazon resellers.
Movie Review: Daydream Believers
Summary: 5 Stars
I have been a fan of The Monkees since I originally saw them on Nick @ Nite. I prayed and wished until they finally came out on DVD. This is an amazing for any Monkee fan.
First Season Episodes: Royal Flush, Monkee See, Monkee Die, Your Friendly Neighborhood Kidnappers, The Spy Who Came In From The Cool, Success Story, Monkees In A Ghost Town, Don't Look A Gift Horse In The Mouth, The Chaperone, Here Come The Monkees, Monkees A La Carte, I've Got A Little Song Here, One Man Shy, Dance, Monkee, Dance, Too Many Girls, Son Of A Gypsy, The Case Of The Missing Monkey, I Was A Teenage Monster, The Audition, Monkees In The Ring, The Prince And The Pauper, Monkees At The Circus, Captain Crocodile, Monkees A La Mode, Alias Micky Dolenz, Monkee Chow Mein, Monkee Mother, Monkees On The Line, Monkees Get Out More Dirt, Monkees In Manhattan, Monkees At The Movies, & Monkees On Tour.
All episodes come on 6 disks. Each has a special extra's section with a trivia game, behind the scene's information, and sometimes commentary. Also on certain episodes they have interviews by The Monkees and old commercial ad's. You also have easy to navigate menu's and you can play all of the episodes if you wish on one click.
All episodes are uncut. The package is really clever. It comes as you can see in the picture a little square record box and is neatly packaged and easy to use and store.
Again for any Monkee fan new or old this is a must for your collection!
Movie Review: Funny, charming, zany, cool.
Summary: 5 Stars
I knew going into this that there would be problems. First, the transfer could use serious improvement (look what they've done with Pride & Prejudice). This classic deserves a new Blue-Ray transfer, color correction, and soundtrack cleanup. The packaging may have been promotionally 'cute' when it came out; but with DVD storage space at a premium, a new release would be better served by a more modern package. Could have used Woodstock's 'scratches in fine leather' quote. And, while I found both seasons, mint, at a reasonable price, I would not hesitate to purchase an additional, improved, set should it be made available (Are You Listening Rhino?).
That having been said, I have absolutely loved being able to watch this series from my childhood. All the jokes and gags, all the audience laughter, and the wonderful music; took me back like no other show from my childhood. A cartoon with live actors (Like Red Green). Funny, charming, zany, cool. Davey, Peter, Mike and Mickey were both comic actors and musicians. While they became a serious band in their later days, this show had deep roots in comedy. It was a simpler time, which is well reflected by the series. Ah, those were the days. The Monkees lead me to my very first guitar, a Sears Silvertone (Just like Glenn Campbell & Jimi Hendrix). If you were a big fan of the show, and need a trip down Memory Lane. If you have to have them all, now, this is the way to go!
Movie Review: The Monkees are better than ever!!
Summary: 5 Stars
This collection was even better than I thought it would be!! The more standard sitcom-like (and, in my opinion, funnier) of the series' two seasons, this collection has (almost) everything. Great packaging (it should win an award), complete, uncut(as far as I could tell) episodes and original songs. FYI-"older" songs were substituted in later TV airings with "newer" songs (some syndicated episodes reflected this). An example: I was surprised to hear 'The Girl I knew Somewhere' in 'Monkees on Tour' during Micky's skating scene (It had always been Steam Engine in my memory). Bonus stuff is also very cool (look for producers comment sheets on auditioned actors on the last disc-It's hidden in the 'Collection'. I'd never seen some of this stuff before!)! Great vintage commercials and informative commentary tracks. The 16mm Pilot is also interesting to watch! Complaints: 1.Commentary should have been on ALL episodes, 2. Where's Micky? He is noticably absent from the comment tracks and 3. the 5.1 audio is not that great (it sounds like it's being played thru the P.A. at the beginning of Head). All in all, A GREAT Collection! A Must Have!! Bring on Season Two (with 33 1/3 & the "Hey Hey, We're the Monkees" Documentary included!!)!!Movie Review: A real treat for fans
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been wanting the Monkees television show for years on video or DVD so I was thrilled when I heard season one was out on DVD. They did it just right. The DVD's are packaged in a box that looks like a record player and the sleeves look like the covers of old 45's. If that weren't enough of a treat in itself they also included some great extras like the original Kellogg's commercials the Monkees did in the 60's, the original version of the pilot and commentary on some of the episodes. I really enjoyed the commentary by the Monkees themselves which unfortunately is only on a few episodes. Micky Dolenz did not do a commentary on any which is a minor drawback. There is also trivia about every episode and a feature that allows you to watch just the music romps themselves. I was used to the reruns of the show so it was also a real joy to see them with their original season one opening credits and their original songs restored to them. This show is clean, fast paced and fun so it's great for kids. My ten year old son and I love watching these together. Well, worth the price. I will definitely buy season two if they bring it out.