The Love Boat is far more fun than I remembered or had ever given it credit for.
Video:
"The Love Boat: Season One-Volume One" is presented in its original format with a 1:33.1 aspect ratio, and it looks better than I remember. Which is probably due to my not having to adjust the rabbit ears to see Ted Lange give the thumbs up.
Audio:
The Dolby Digital mono track mirrors the set´s decent video transfer. I may be wrong, but it almost sounds like they lowered the volume of the laugh track down from the abrasive tones I remember, which does nothing but help sustain repeated viewing of the episodes. But for future releases I suggest offering a laugh-trackless audio track. I´ve only ever seen one TV show do this with a DVD release ("Get a Life"), but it made the show significantly more enjoyable.
Extras:
The folks at Paramount attempt to pass off the "Episodic Promos" as a special feature, but these bits are simply seconds long and add little to the episodes the viewer is about to watch. It´s nice of the disc´s producers to include them, but without anything else to back them up, their inclusion is insulting. Where the hell is the show´s original made-for-TV movie? And in this day and age, when putting out a TV series on DVD, a "Play All" selection on the main menu should be a requirement.
Film Value:
"The Love Boat" is fun for anyone old enough to remember who Bonnie Franklin and Sherman Hemsley are, but it may seem a bit corny for the younger crowd weaned on the teat of MTV. Still, for the rest of us the set of twelve episodes is an enjoyable escape from today´s offering of over-the-top dramatic shows like "CSI" or horrid attempts at comedy such as "Two and a Half Men." To ensure future interest in upcoming "Love Boat" DVDs, Paramount has to put out full, season-length sets with some sort of watchable special features. They should include the TV movies, commentary, or where-are-they-now updates…. Or something! Otherwise, how can Paramount expect anyone to pay for the eventual Ted (I am the harbinger of cancellation) McGinley episodes?
"The Love Boat: Season One-Volume One" is presented in its original format with a 1:33.1 aspect ratio, and it looks better than I remember. Which is probably due to my not having to adjust the rabbit ears to see Ted Lange give the thumbs up.
Audio:
The Dolby Digital mono track mirrors the set´s decent video transfer. I may be wrong, but it almost sounds like they lowered the volume of the laugh track down from the abrasive tones I remember, which does nothing but help sustain repeated viewing of the episodes. But for future releases I suggest offering a laugh-trackless audio track. I´ve only ever seen one TV show do this with a DVD release ("Get a Life"), but it made the show significantly more enjoyable.
Extras:
The folks at Paramount attempt to pass off the "Episodic Promos" as a special feature, but these bits are simply seconds long and add little to the episodes the viewer is about to watch. It´s nice of the disc´s producers to include them, but without anything else to back them up, their inclusion is insulting. Where the hell is the show´s original made-for-TV movie? And in this day and age, when putting out a TV series on DVD, a "Play All" selection on the main menu should be a requirement.
Film Value:
"The Love Boat" is fun for anyone old enough to remember who Bonnie Franklin and Sherman Hemsley are, but it may seem a bit corny for the younger crowd weaned on the teat of MTV. Still, for the rest of us the set of twelve episodes is an enjoyable escape from today´s offering of over-the-top dramatic shows like "CSI" or horrid attempts at comedy such as "Two and a Half Men." To ensure future interest in upcoming "Love Boat" DVDs, Paramount has to put out full, season-length sets with some sort of watchable special features. They should include the TV movies, commentary, or where-are-they-now updates…. Or something! Otherwise, how can Paramount expect anyone to pay for the eventual Ted (I am the harbinger of cancellation) McGinley episodes?
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