...Welling still manages to project a very wholesome idealization of what a young Clark Kent ought to be.
On the other hand, the season does have some very memorable moments. Consider the opening episode "Crusade" which boasts a wonderful display of Kal-El´s powers as he soars off into the air for the first (and only) time in the series. This goes against the "no tights, no flights" rule set up by the creators but is done with such flair and style it creates one of the most visceral experiences in television. Margot Kidder also makes an appearance and shares a scene with Annette O´Toole that is on par with the Christopher Reeve and Tom Welling scenes from seasons past. Another highlight, and arguably one of the best episodes of the series, is "Run", which features the show´s take on the Flash from the DC universe. It´s a great episode that explores the notion of other super powered beings existing in the world other than Clark, and those affected by meteor rock. Other highlights include "Onyx", "Blank" and "Transference", which is Smallville´s riff on "Face/Off" with Clark and Lionel switching bodies. Also worth checking out is the return of Alicia Baker (as played by Sarah Carter in "Unsafe" and "Pariah"), who was once obsessed with Clark, as a viable love interest for the young hero.
Spread across six discs are the following episodes: Disc 1: "Crusade", "Gone", "Façade", "Devoted", Disc 2: "Run", "Transference", "Jinx", "Spell", Disc 3: "Bound", "Scare", "Unsafe", "Pariah", Disc 4: "Recruit", "Krypto", "Sacred", "Lucy", Disc 5: "Onyx", Spirit", "Blank", Disc 6: "Ageless", "Forever", "Commencement"
Video:
The DVD transfers pops off the screen. Colors are bright and rich, which makes great use of the primary color palette used in the show (blue, yellow, green, and red). The episodes are presented in a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. Still, there is some noticeable pixilation in the darker areas and colors. Overall, this is a solid transfer. French, Spanish and English subtitles are also included.
Audio:
Audio is presented in a crisp sounding Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track. It´s a good mix of the soundtrack but could have been much better as a 5.1 considering all of the action and superhero effects employed in the show. Music is clear and strong through out as well. There is no distortion in any of the audio or sound effects. No other audio options are included on the DVDs.
Extras:
With all of the supplements included in DVDs nowadays it´s very disappointing that the Smallville box sets are very sparse when it comes to their extras. Season Four is no different. Included here are three fun and informative commentaries that give some good insight into various aspects of the making of the specific episodes. Also included is a ten minute mini documentary called "Being Lois Lane" which features brief interviews with every actress who has played Lois Lane, with the exception of Terri Hatcher. The featurette barely even scratches the surface of what could have been a very insightful exploration of the character. Rounding out the extras is another ten minute featurette, "Behind Closed Doors – Inside the Writer´s Room", which is a brief look at how the "Smallville" creative team breaks a story. With such rich material to draw from it would have been nice to see a more thorough look at the making of the show.
Film Value:
"Smallville: The Complete Fourth Season" is a mixed bag of fun episodes coupled with a decidedly weak overarching through line. It has some great moments even though the core of the show seems to be waning a bit. The actors and crew have hit their stride but the show´s producers need to invest more time in drawing inspiration from the source material. Episodes centering on the stronger aspects of the Superman mythos give the show its strength; such as the family dynamic and Clark´s relationship with Chloe, Lex, Lois and Lana. Even episodes that open up exploration of the DC universe ("Run" and "Jinx") give the show a needed breath of fresh air. While nowhere near as strong a series as some more popular shows, "Smallville" does manage to hold its own. Now entering its fifth season the series promises to be a solid lead in to Bryan Singer´s upcoming "Superman Returns."
Spread across six discs are the following episodes: Disc 1: "Crusade", "Gone", "Façade", "Devoted", Disc 2: "Run", "Transference", "Jinx", "Spell", Disc 3: "Bound", "Scare", "Unsafe", "Pariah", Disc 4: "Recruit", "Krypto", "Sacred", "Lucy", Disc 5: "Onyx", Spirit", "Blank", Disc 6: "Ageless", "Forever", "Commencement"
Video:
The DVD transfers pops off the screen. Colors are bright and rich, which makes great use of the primary color palette used in the show (blue, yellow, green, and red). The episodes are presented in a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. Still, there is some noticeable pixilation in the darker areas and colors. Overall, this is a solid transfer. French, Spanish and English subtitles are also included.
Audio:
Audio is presented in a crisp sounding Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track. It´s a good mix of the soundtrack but could have been much better as a 5.1 considering all of the action and superhero effects employed in the show. Music is clear and strong through out as well. There is no distortion in any of the audio or sound effects. No other audio options are included on the DVDs.
Extras:
With all of the supplements included in DVDs nowadays it´s very disappointing that the Smallville box sets are very sparse when it comes to their extras. Season Four is no different. Included here are three fun and informative commentaries that give some good insight into various aspects of the making of the specific episodes. Also included is a ten minute mini documentary called "Being Lois Lane" which features brief interviews with every actress who has played Lois Lane, with the exception of Terri Hatcher. The featurette barely even scratches the surface of what could have been a very insightful exploration of the character. Rounding out the extras is another ten minute featurette, "Behind Closed Doors – Inside the Writer´s Room", which is a brief look at how the "Smallville" creative team breaks a story. With such rich material to draw from it would have been nice to see a more thorough look at the making of the show.
Film Value:
"Smallville: The Complete Fourth Season" is a mixed bag of fun episodes coupled with a decidedly weak overarching through line. It has some great moments even though the core of the show seems to be waning a bit. The actors and crew have hit their stride but the show´s producers need to invest more time in drawing inspiration from the source material. Episodes centering on the stronger aspects of the Superman mythos give the show its strength; such as the family dynamic and Clark´s relationship with Chloe, Lex, Lois and Lana. Even episodes that open up exploration of the DC universe ("Run" and "Jinx") give the show a needed breath of fresh air. While nowhere near as strong a series as some more popular shows, "Smallville" does manage to hold its own. Now entering its fifth season the series promises to be a solid lead in to Bryan Singer´s upcoming "Superman Returns."
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[release]16292[/release]