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"Smallville: The Complete Series"
DVD Box Set Review
Warner Bros. Home Video recently provided the Superman Super Site with a review copy of "Smallville: The Complete Series" DVD box set which debuted at all major retailers on Tuesday, November 29, 2011.
The box set is presented in highly collectable new packaging consisting of two lay-flat picture books that hold 62 DVD's with over 192 hours of content - including all 218 episodes - as well as five hours of brand new special features including a 90-minute retrospective, "Secret Origin: The American Story of DC Comics" documentary, "A Decade of Comic Con," the 2006 "Aquaman" and rare 1961 "Adventures of Superboy" pilots, a celebration of the 100th episode (via three featurettes), and a 2004 Paley Fest documentary.
Also included is an exclusive Daily Planet newspaper, written by DC Comics, that highlights the important storylines developed during the 10-year run of the show and an episode guide with never-before-seen production art (storyboards/sketches) & behind-the-scenes photos. A collectible Smallville light-up icecube was also thrown in as an exclusive to those receiving review copies of the set.
Commentary from such cast members such as Tom Welling, Allison Mack and Michael Rosenbaum is also featured on multiple discs of the series in which the actors offer their own insights about various episodes of the ground-breaking series.
The 90-minute retrospective easily tops the list of bonus features contained in the box set and features new interviews with all the cast members from Smallville, past and present, discussing such topics as their favorite episodes, time on the set and working with various special guests & co-stars.
When Smallville first debuted on the WB Network on October 16, 2001, no one could have ever predicted that the series would develop such a huge following and continue to air for 10 years.
A series based on the Superman mythology had not been done since the days of "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" but, as soon as those meteors swept across the screen in the pilot episode and took Smallville by storm, fans everywhere quickly realized that they were in store for one heck of a series.
Throughout it's 10 seasons and 218 episodes, Smallville has had it's ups and downs with some truly incredible, iconic, and amazing episodes as well as some not-so memorable moments that featured awful, embarrassing, and plot stalling episodes.
While the first season of the show focused primarily on creating the basis of Clark Kent's life, the majority of his conflicts are with "Meteor Freaks" (aka "Freak of the Week"), people who have been physically affected by the green meteor rocks that rained down on Smallville in the 1989 meteor shower. Little did anyone know that these green rocks were actually Kryptonite, radioactive pieces of the dead planet Krypton. The first season may start off a bit slow, but it is very clear that the show runners wanted to set Clark Kent and all the supporting characters in a more reality-based series by making it more of a high school drama.
It is not until season 2, when Clark meets famous astrologist Virgil Swann (special Superman guest star Christopher Reeve) that Clark actually learns of his true origins: That he is Kal-El, the last son of Krypton. That he was sent to Earth by his biological father, Jor-El, to save his life. This is where the show really begins to take off, dive into more Kryptonian-based storylines and focus more on the mythology established in the comic books.
As the series progresses, Clark is faced with several trials and choices. Some are presented to him through the voice and memory of Jor-El and some are forced upon him by the enemies he fights. Through it all, Clark has doubts and often fights the future he is destined to have. This made the show all the more appealing as it grounded the character in a certain reality. So often, in the movies and comics, Superman/Clark Kent is portrayed as the blue boy scout who always does the right thing because he knows it's the right thing to do. However, in "Smallville" we see that Clark learns how to make the right decisions through the guidance of his earth parents, but more importantly, through the mistakes that he makes. Clark so badly wants to have a life of his own and to be happy that he tries to be more normal than anyone else. When he fights his destiny, it often leads to the hurting and sometimes deaths of the people he cares about most.
It is in season 5 and on where the series hits its true stride. With the formation of the Fortress of Solitude, "Smallville" brings in even more Superman and DC Comics lore. From season 5 to season 10, we see Clark fight famous villains such as Zod, Brainiac, Bizarro, Metallo, Doomsday, Parasite, and countless others. In season 4, Clark meets Bart Allen, a member of The Flash Family. In season 5, he meets Arthur Curry/Aquaman and Victor Stone/Cyborg. In season 6, we get a series regular in Oliver Queen/Green Arrow (Justin Hartley) and we're given our first look at what will become the future Justice League of America.
Perhaps one of the most appealing parts of the show in the last 3 years was the contribution of fan favorite comic scribe, DC Comics legend Geoff Johns. In season 8, Johns introduced Clark to the "Legion of Superheroes" from the 31'st century in "Legion". In season 9, Clark and his super friends teamed up with the first superhero team to ever appear in comics, the "Justice Society of America", namely the characters Hawkman, Doctor Fate, and Stargirl in "Absolute Justice". "Absolute Justice" was also the first 2-hour movie event for the series. Johns' last episode was in season 10, where Clark met the glory grabbing showboat from the 25th Century, Booster Gold and witnessed the birth of a new hero in the form of Blue Beetle in "Booster".
The tenth season wraps up the series quite well, bringing back veteran "Smallville" actors in meaningful roles and giving Clark his biggest challenges ever in Darkseid and his minions. Guest stars are John Schneider, John Glover, Michael Rosenbaum, Annette O'Toole, James Marsters, Christine Willes, and Lucas Grabeel, among many others.
The last few minutes of the final episode (appropriately "Finale") are an absolute thrill to witness as Clark officially becomes the Man of Steel and the addition of the classic John Williams' "Superman: The Movie" score is a perfect exclamation point to cap 10 years of memories.
Smallville is definitely a series that will go down in history as not only reinventing the origins of Superman for a new millenium, but also re-establishing the character in the hearts and minds of a new generation.
It's an absolute thrill to witness all the Smallville cast members gradually settle into their respective roles and make each character their own. From a young unknown actor in the form of Tom Welling starring as an awkward teenager in the halls of Smallville High to Michael Rosenbaum portraying Clark Kent's best friend, Lex Luthor; each actor's character underwent major transformations during the series' decade long run and, looking back, one can tell that they enjoyed every last minute of it.
Video:
Warner Home Video decided to release "Smallville: The Complete Series" box set in a strictly DVD format as opposed to Blu-ray as well due to the early seasons of the series not being shot in HD.
That being said, the standard definition this collection provides still looks pretty sharp. There are a few noticable flaws such as dark scenes being a bit muddy but all-in-all, the edges of objects & people hold their lines and colors look true while providing a great sense of clarity.
To preserve the aspect ratio of its original television broadcast, the series is presented in a matted-widescreen format which has been "enhanced" for widescreen TV's.
Audio:
Audio quality improves season by season as technology also improved over the series' decade long run. English Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo is featured on seasons 1-3, English Dolby Surround on seasons 4 & 5 and English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround on the show's final five seasons. Viewers also have the option of listening to Season-1 in French.
With the exception of Season-5, subtitles are available in English, French and Spanish in all episodes, bonus material, and trailers.
Like the video, it´s pretty decent for an SD release. There´s enough boom and bluster during the action scenes to have weight and bring everything to menacing life.
Verdict:
All-in-all, the "Smallville: The Complete Series" DVD box set offers a wonderful look back over the past decade of this ground-breaking series and offers enough bonus content and special features to keep any fan entertained for hours.
Whether you are a die-hard Smallville fan or just the occassional episode wather, this is one box set you will absolutely want to add to your movie/tv series collection.
