Don't Bother
Victoria | Arlington, VA | 10/01/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"If you've already purchased the show's three seasons separately, don't bother with the boxed set, as it's a complete waste of money.
In addition to the strangely altered image of Vincent on the box, the "bonus" disc is insulting to long-time fans. "Newly Reconstructed Love Letters" is read by God-knows-who ... certainly not Ron Perlman. Ridiculous. If you bought the VHS tapes way back when, you already have the original love letters, which also appear on the bonus disc.
Besides the love letters, the only other two features are episodic promos for some first season episodes - and "Vincent's Quest" - an interactive trivia game. No interviews, no deleted scenes, no behind-the-scenes footage ... nothing to warrant spending $70 if you've already purchased all three seasons individually.
What a disappointment."
What It Is Not, and What It Should Be
Natalie W. Josef | 10/02/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"As a huge fan of the show, I am truly disappointed. I gave my DVD sets to another fan in anticipation of the full series set, but it just wasn't worth it.
The interactive trivia feature is fun for about ten minutes. The questions were ultimately pretty easy and could have been written by some disinterested intern who just skimmed over episodes. It was kind of bumpy and not very engaging.
The original love letters are nothing new, but I too was shocked when some strange man started reading the new love letters. I mean, what were they thinking? No fan of the show wants to hear some random guy reading Vincent's words. I immediately pressed Stop and have no interest in checking out the rest.
The experience reached an all-new low when I started reading the love letters and noticed two typos in one letter. I am an editor and look for these things, but I am pretty sure any person with a brain knows that solace is spelled with an "a" and not solice, like they spelled it. And "breath" instead of "breathe"? Come on! Again, who put this together?
It's obvious that Ron and Linda (or anybody close to the show) had nothing to do with this box set, which is disappointing. No love was put into this at all - the abominable picture of Vincent on the cover symbolizes all that is wrong with this box set. When I think of the features on other DVD sets, I feel ripped off and let down. Why can't we see deleted scenes, interviews, and other cool bonus features?
The fans of this show are really connected to it - the mailing lists, conferences, fan fiction, etc. are still going strong twenty-one years later and this box set is just a slap in the face. If you don't have all the seasons, get this because it's cheaper than buying them separately. But if you already have the seasons, don't bother with this. It will only disappoint you."
Protonflipper@socal.rr.com
Randolph E. Hinners | Stevenson Ranch, California USA | 09/28/2008
(3 out of 5 stars)
"As an aging, white, heteosexual, incurably romamtic male who has been watching TV since the late 1950s, I think BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was the best show ever - with a caveat of the first two seasons only. For all you "BEASTIES" out there, the logical cover would have been the painting at the end of WHEN THE BLUE BIRD SINGS from season two. (By the way - does anyone know where I can get a print of that painting?)If you folks remember when we could only get Season # 1 on VHS, some of them had Vincent's lost Love Letters to Catherine. I suspect they put those in. Despite being read by Ron Pearlman, they were tripe. The CD was wonderful."
MUTIPLE DEFECTIVE DISCS IN THIS SET !
Lyle J. Glidden | Vermont | 03/18/2009
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I am going on my third boxed set of Beauty and The Beast The Complete Series !
Each set has multiple discs which are seriously defective ! The picture breaks up into digital pixels and slows the DVD player to a near stop, losing the audio in the process ! When you try to fast forward the disc completely locks the player !
Apparently, there is a huge quality control issue with this series !
If I could get a perfect copy of the series...I'd give the set a 5 star rating ! The series is even more magical on disc without commercials ...I'm so glad it is finally available...Now if I can only get a set of 16 perfect DVDs !!!"