The Simpsons Season 12: DVD Review

The Simpsons Season 12: DVD Review

Simpsons Season 12
Cast: Erm, Homer, Maggie, Bart, Lisa, Marge, the cast of Springfield
Rating: M
Roadshow Entertainment
What can you say about the Simpsons?
It's been going for 2 decades now - and many feel the episodes starting to hit a bit of a creative rot somewhere around Season 6.
But these semi regular complete season releases are far from rot.
Lavishly put together, this latest release with Comic Book Guy glaring from the cover, sees the Springfield gang for yet another year's worth of gags, stupidity and general mirth.
The Twelfth Season has packed in 21 episodes - all of which have commentary on them (a rare feat for a season release - after all it's a lot of viewing at 22 minutes a time) which renders each episode a multi layered gem - not only do you get to see the Simpsons in action, the insights give you a chance to enjoy the episode again.
This year sees some classic moments - such as HOMR, wherein the lovable dolt Homer finds out the cause of his stupidity over the years has been due to a crayon lodged in his brain. He consequently has it removed and bonds with his daughter Lisa but starts to doubt his own happiness - truly Homer's never been doused in so much pathos.
Then at the other end of the spectrum, Homer ends up dishing celebrity gossip on his computer while masquerading as Mr X - only once he realizes his exposes have only gone so deep, he begins to make it up (a cautionary tale to all who use the web methinks)
Trilogy of Error sees the Simpsons approach one day from 3 different perspectives; dolphins take over the world in Treehouse of Horror XI, Comic Book guy suffers a heart attack in Worst Episode Ever; the creativeness of the writers is endless in Season 12.
But if the episodes never quite reach the pinnacle of a gag a minute, then the same can't be said of The Simpsons The Twelfth Season set itself.
Gorgeously packaged in the style of a comic book, this set oozes quality for fans of the genre - from the opening animated menus which see the characters waiting to get autographs at a convention run by Comic Book Guy (hence why he's on the cover), it's clear those behind the release have pulled out all the stops for the fans once again.
The wealth of extras guarantees something for every fan of America's favourite family - for fans of the animation, you get behind the scenes access to the drawings which form the episodes, the opportunity to see sketch galleries and how they translated to the screen; it's truly a collector's dream.
Perhaps the nicest extra is the Global Fanfest which sees the writers quizzed on their own show (they don't get everything right) and you can also watch a live orchestra playing the music of certain scenes from the show.
It's the plethora of extras which make this set essential for the true dyed in the wool Simpsons fan - while the family can enjoy the 21 episodes, the true fanatic can delve into a world beyond the TV show and once again revel in the creativity and depth of extras that the Simpsons has to offer.
The only minor gripe is the inner packaging makes it difficult to get the DVDs out without destroying the spines of the beautiful folds - but it's a fan complaint more than anything.
Just make sure you have plenty of time to spare - because you'll be immersed in this set before you realize where the time has gone.
Extras (Too many to list here) - includes Special introduction from Matt Groening, Commentaries on every Episode with actors, writers and directors, Deleted scenes, The commercials, Original sketches, and Comic Book Guy - Best. Moments.Ever

Rating: 9/10