Friends Are Forever on DVD! Remember forever how the #1 Comedy in America ends with this "Limited Exclusive Edition" DVD. Releasing only 5 days after the series finale airs, the broadcast version of the 2-part episode w... more »ill only be available on this DVD. This DVD will also include the Series pilot and the DVD version of the finale with additional never before seen footage, along with several other bonus features.« less
Ryan H. from BROOKFIELD, CT Reviewed on 10/4/2009...
Great DVD! It includes the Extended DVD Cut, which is available here and on the season 10 set, but it ALSO includes the original NBC Version, which was cut and sequenced differently than in the Extended Cut. The NBC Version is somewhat rare, because this DVD is the only place you can see it in its entirety and uncut, seeing as scenes are cut in syndication. It's a great DVD to have.
Movie Reviews
The End and the Beginning
Mark Baker | Santa Clarita, CA United States | 05/17/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"So, after 10 years, it comes down to this. Chandler and Monica are at the hospital waiting for the birth of their baby on the day before they move to their new house. But they might just have a surprise waiting for them. Meanwhile, Joey has a housewarming present for them, Chick Jr. and Duck Jr. Phoebe wants to turn the day into a musical. But the finale wouldn't be complete without another chapter in the Ross/Rachel soap opera we've been following for 10 years. Rachel's leaving for Paris, and Ross needs to decide if he wants to try to stop her by telling her how he feels. And with this gang of six involved, you can be sure there will be plenty of laughs.I've been a fan for a few years now, catching up on the show thanks to constant reruns. And while the show did loose something in the last couple of seasons, I kept watching. This finale was exactly what this Friends fan was hoping for - plenty of laughs as the gang of six faced some changes in their lives. It really did feel like starting a new chapter and not a harsh goodbye at all, even if the last couple of scenes were very bitter sweet. It was especially nice to see a few nods to classic moments from the show, with appearances by Gunther and Mike, Joey's present, and the infamous "We were on a break!" line.With the quick release and low price of this DVD, I wasn't expecting much in the way of extras. Since my expectations were low, I wasn't disappointed. The DVD features the broadcast version and an extended version of the finale as well as an extended version of the pilot. Boy have styles changed in 10 years! Both episodes feature great sound and clear picture. It also features the music video for the classic theme and 10 of the opening credits. As any Friends fan knows, they usually changed them half way through the season, so we're only getting about half here. But we do get a couple special ones, like the London opening and the Arquette joke.Since I'm sure it won't be long before season 10 hits selves in a complete set, it's really up to you to decide if you want to get this now or wait for the set later. I loved the finale so much I just had to go out and get it.Now everyone sing with me. "So no one told you life was gonna be this way.....""
Not what I expected
05/23/2004
(2 out of 5 stars)
"I am a huge Friends fan. I pre-order all of the DVDs and I pretty much know all the episodes by heart (it's sad I know). I actually thought that the finale was perfect. Everything ended how it should, BUT I was EXTREMELY disappointed with the finale DVD. I thought that it would have the hour long segment that was aired on TV before the finale but it didn't, and that was very disappointing. I had also hoped that there would be way more special features, but to be honest with you there was absolutely nothing special about the features that were on the DVD. I was also very upset because I had hoped that they would show the cast coming out to take their final bow and they didn't. Which honestly just sucks. So all and all the Finale was great but the DVD really sucks."
An Honest Review of Friends and this DVD
A. Christian | Dallas, TX USA | 05/11/2004
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I think there are two different reviews here, one for the show and one for this DVD. As far as the DVD is concerned, it is "good". It isn't great, but it is good. The DVD does have: 1. A nice extended version.The DVD does not have: 1. Interviews with each cast member.
2. Interviews with the writers.
3. Behind the Scenes footage.
4. Outtakes and Bloopers.
5. Alternate endings.I think that if the DVD had these things then I would have given it a perfect 5-Star rating. As far as the show is concerned, the ending is "okay". It is rushed. It is only 1 hour, instead of the expected (and deserved) two hours. You will not see Rachel and Ross get married, even though we deserved to see it after following the show for 10 years. There are a number of pieces missing from the ending. You literally get the sense that they put a major rush job on the ending just to get it out the door and over with. It is very sad to see the show end, but even sadder to not feel like you received the ending you deserved after 10 long years of faithful watching. I do think that, at the ever least, Rachel and Ross should have gotten married or even just a proposal in the finale but it didn't happen. So, yes, you will want to buy the DVD if you are a fan of Friends, a collector, or just want to see what you missed. It is worth having. But you may be sad and disappointed if you expected a packed DVD with a lot of features and the ending you really wanted to see."
There are pros and cons
Carlos | My home, Chile | 03/02/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Cons:
Both episodes appear in season packages, and the main reason you would have to buy this DVD is because you want to watch the extended version of the finale. Besides, it's just a waste of time to watch the intro videos of the 10 seasons...like 7 minutes of the same, and the music video "I'll Be There For You" just sucks!.
Pros:
However, I own this DVD because the 10th season still hasn't been released in my country, and the extended edition of the finale has lots of really funny parts that don't appear in the broadcasted edition, and it's very funny. Plus, you can watch also the 1st Friends episode ever, which is so, so funny, I think it's one of my favorites so far (I already own 4 complete seasons).
Now, to end with this:
WHY SOULD I BUY THIS?: Because you want to see the ending and you don't own the 10th season. Because you want to watch the extended version of the finale, which has about 3 minutes with extra scenes (they're so funny). Because you want to watch the first episode, which is very good. Because you're just a collector who owns every single "Friends" item there is.
WHY SOULDN'T I BUY THIS: Because you own the 1st and 10th season. Because you don't care about the 3 extra minutes in the extended version of the finale. Because the 3 episodes it includes don't worth the money. Because it's boring to watch the intro videos and the music video.
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I really like this DVD and I gave it 4 stars because of the extended finale and the first episode. I didn't give it 5 stars because it doesn't include almost any interesting bonus features.
Now I just told you the pros and cons I could find, you make the decision. Bye."
Don't blame the DVD for the way the show ended
Mark Baker | 05/14/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I wouldn't call it bare bones, but almost, considering it was a Friends DVD. The real problem with this DVD is that the season sets of Friends have set the bar so high I was expecting more, such as the whole 2 hour broadcast including the look back over the years, the Katie Couric interview with cast, and their appearance on Jay Leno show. (Pssst, to Warner Brothers, and whoever else is in charge, can you do whatever you can to get those onto the 10th season DVD set, pretty please? Maybe even the cast's appearances, first and last year, on the Oprah Winfrey show.) Still, it's not a total waste of money, especially if you don't feel like waiting for the 10th season set to come out. I've spent more money on things I've enjoyed less, such as dinner.As for the ending, I was actually expecting Ross & Rachel to go off to Paris together because of something Marta Kaufmann said. In response to a question about whether the writers would have to tailor Friends ending to keep it line with the "Joey" spinoff; she said "...if we send them [Joey & Rachel] off to Paris it's their problem to get him back." So when Rachel said she was offered the job in Paris, I said, hmmmmm, off to Paris for Ross & Rachel. Maybe they just didn't want everyone to say they were ripping off Sex and the City's ending. But I really wanted to hear Rachel say, "Hey forget the copy girl, we were on a break." That's the line I've been waiting for for 8 years, but you don't see my name in the writing credits so that's not what happened. Marta Kaufman said there would be no reunion shows, but I think we fans deserve one for a Ross & Rachel wedding. Hell, we earned it after spending 2 years waiting for Chandler & Monica's wedding after they almost got married in Vegas.Last of all, I don't understand why people who never liked the show were so busy watching it and hating it. For example, I never liked the "X-Files", therefore I didn't bother to watch it or trash the DVD's because of that. I really enjoyed this show, and even though I almost thought it should have ended a few years ago, at the actual end I felt a little like I did when a longtime co-worker moved on to another company far away.Goodbye "Friends"
Break a leg, "Joey""