The Simpsons – The Complete Thirteenth Season (2001 – 2002/Fox Blu-ray)
Picture: B- Sound: B+ Extras: B Episodes: B+
If you
are thinking of buying The Simpsons –
Season Thirteen chances are this is not your first time indulging in the
comedic genius of this dysfunctional family.
So discussing the ins and outs of The
Simpsons after thirteen seasons is essentially useless. The series is now astonishingly on its 22nd Season and shows no
signs of slowing down. The Simpsons have
become part of television royalty, solidifying themselves as pop culture icons
that will always be remembered for their unique brand of comedy that paved the
way for so many others… whether Seth
McFarlane wants to admit it or not.
This
2001-2002 Season has many shining moments and whereas many people (including
myself at times) like to point to Seasons
5-10 as their best, The Simpsons continue
to amaze audiences with brilliant satire and comedy gold. My favorite episode this season is Tree House of Horrors XII that not only
perfectly spoofs Harry Potter, but does homage to 2001 A Space Odyssey when the Simpsons house is taken over by
Pierce Bronson…I mean a robot VOICED by Bronson.
If
anything I would have to say I have simply become too dismissive of The Simpsons over the years; taking it
for granted and merely expecting it to always be there. For some odd reason I think The Simpsons will still be on in 13
more years. With young writers and
artists growing up with The Simpsons there
is always a fresh voice to step in to add insight and creativity to a series
that has seemingly done it all. I have
noticed that the satire has become more blatantly based on current events as
the seasons progressed, but never the less it remains memorable and
hilarious. The Simpsons are solid gold and whereas over the years my attention
may have shifted to new ingenious animated series like Family Guy, Futurama and Venture
Bros, The Simpsons will always
hold a place in my heart and on my DVR.
So
besides the fact of saying we own every season, why do we continue to buy the
box sets. I would like to say it is for
the improved picture and sound quality (now that the series is on Blu-ray), but
that is simply not the case. The picture
is presented in 1080p 1.33 X 1 AVC @ 27 MBPS full screen frame that GREATLY
varies in quality. The colors are great
one moment and then bouncing around the next, like a strobe light of flickering
color. The episodes have grain and
source noise throughout that can be distracting and indeed this feels like an
upconverted transfer and nothing more.
Whereas the picture certainly suffers from old animation and the
upcoversion, the audio in its 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio sounds nice. The dialogue is crisp, clean and clear from
the front while the surrounds are utilized for ambient noise and solid panning
effects. The audio doesn’t make up for
the picture, but it helps.
The
extras on Season 20 were sadly lacking (the Blu-ray was a bit of a rush job),
but Season 13’s extras are certainly
well done. The set contains a 24 page
book that summarizes all the episodes and in full color. The other extras include Audio Commentaries
on each episode (making up for Season
20’s zero!) that are insightful, fun and hilarious. Also included are An Intro from Matt
Groening, Deleted Scenes, Animation Showcase, Ralphisms (hilarious!), The
People Ball, The 13th Crewman Blame it on the Monkeys, The Sweet
Life of Ralph, Commercials and Sketch Gallery.
One of the most fun features is ‘The Games’ which gives a quick synopsis
of all the video games that were inspired by The Simpsons over the years.
Nice set
to own for all fans, even if not perfect.
- Michael P. Dougherty II
