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The Simpsons: The Complete Twentieth Season |  | Actors: Dan Castellaneta, Nancy Cartwright, Julie Kavner, Yeardley Smith
Studio: 20th Century Fox
Category: DVD
List Price: $49.98
Buy New: $19.99
as of 3/14/2010 16:53 CDT details
You Save: $29.99 (60%)
New (46) from $18.95
Seller: Amazon.com
Rating:  70 reviews
Sales Rank: 439
Format: AC-3, Animated, Box set, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Unknown), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled), French (Dubbed), Spanish (Dubbed)
Rating: Unrated
Region: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Number Of Discs: 4
Running Time: 456 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.6 x 0.9
MPN: 024543638957
UPC: 024543638957
EAN: 0024543638957
ASIN: B001L1S1PI
Release Date: January 12, 2010
Shipping: Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
SIMPSONS SEASON 20 (DVD/20 YEARS/4 DISC/SAC/WS-1.7
Amazon.com
In South Park's 86th episode, Butters, a.k.a. Professor Chaos, concocts various schemes to wreak havoc but abandons each when he learns that ""The Simpsons already did it."" By the end of its historic 20th season, The Simpsons comprised more than 440 episodes, so imagine the challenge for the writers to come up with something they haven't already done or resist the temptation to make every episode a clip show. So it's heartening to see that after two decades, The Simpsons still draws inspiration from such highbrow sources as Stanley Donen's 1967 sophisticated romantic comedy Two for the Road (the episode ""Dangerous Curves""), Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures (""Lisa the Drama Queen""), and Ayn Rand and Shakespeare (""Four Great Women and a Manicure""). The flashback episode ""Take My Life, Please,"" marks the show's switch to high definition and the debut of a spectacular new opening with some of the best couch gags ever (except for one that Comic Book Guy inevitably declares to be the worst). Episodes such as ""Sex, Pies and Idiot Scrapes"" (Homer and Ned become bounty hunters), ""Lost Verizon"" (the family chases Bart to Machu Picchu), and ""Waverly Hills 9-0-2-1-D'Oh"" (Alaska Nebraska???) are good; they're just not Simpsons good. But those who claim that the show has lost its heart are directed to the touching ""Dangerous Curves"" and ""Eeny Teeny Maya, Moe,"" in which Moe falls in love with a little person. The voice work by the core ensemble is as inspired as ever. Dan Castellaneta won an Emmy for ""Father Knows Worst."" Notable guest stars this season include Denis Leary as himself, Emily Blunt as Lisa's partner in fantasy in ""Lisa the Drama Queen,"" Anne Hathaway as a goodhearted older girl who captures Bart's affections, and Jodie Foster as the rebellious voice of Maggie in ""Four Great Women and a Manicure."" Two separate episodes feature rousing renditions of the show's theme performed by Fall Out Boy and by a cappella group Canvas, respectively. It makes good business sense to release The Complete 20th Season in advance of seasons 13 to 19. When an animated series ties (and has now surpassed) Gunsmoke as prime time's longest running show, attention must be paid (and exploited). But unlike previous sets, there are none of the extras Simpsonites have come to expect save for a less-than-4-minute ""sneak peek"" at Morgan Spurlock's excellent 20th-anniversary special. In trying to come up with just the right clever thing to say about that, one must look, as with everything in life, to an episode of The Simpsons, the one in which Bart discards a Where's Waldo book that eschews the usual crowd scenes for a single life-size illustration of Waldo. ""Man,"" Bart remarks, ""He's not even trying anymore."" --Donald Liebenson
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| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 25
Shortsighted Release March 14, 2010
John W. Allen (Ohio, USA)
I consider myself to be a dedicated fan of The Simpsons. I have watched it since it's first airing more than 20 years ago. Suffice to say, when the 20th Anniversary Edition was being released, I was excited. I knew they were doing this particularly for the switch to HD, but I was also excited about having a new season in my hot little hands. Unfortunately, the release was shortsighted and poorly executed. Firstly, the packaging is terrible, just as Seasons 12 and 13. It is difficult to retrieve discs from the cardboard slots, and I swear every time I remove the disc I'm afraid it's going to get scratched. Along with this, the outer packaging is annoying. You have the white sleeve, which is easy enough to remove, but then the cardboard case is closed on both sides. You have to open the flap, remove the accordion DVD holder inside, and then fight with the tight cardboard sleeves to remove the disc itself. It seems as if the creators almost want to keep me from watching their later seasons. It may not be so, but it does feel that way.
Secondly, the features are non-existent. I knew this when purchasing the DVD set, but I didn't know that "No commentaries" also meant absolutely nothing at all but a sneak peak trailer of a TV event I watched before the set was released. What kind of thinking is this? Even if it's rushed, they can't put anything else on the DVD to let the fans know they still care? Honestly, if they could put a sneak peak trailer on the set, why not a few text bios? How long could it possibly take to add a handful of text bios, even about just the main characters? This lack of foresight has cost them some of my good will. I love The Simpsons, but I don't tolerate being cheated or taken for granted.
Now, onto the series itself.
I love The Simpsons, I do. They have been a constant in my life since I was a child, and they still make me laugh. Yes, the quality has slid somewhat, but to me, a "bad" Simpsons episode is still better than most "good" sitcoms. I think the problem lies in the fact that we've seen it all before. We know what's going to happen, so the best thing is to just take pleasure in the characters themselves. Unfortunately for some, myself included, the characters have been given the bum's rush as well. Homer went from a deeply flawed but caring father and husband to an apathetic shadow of his former self. He went from "bumbling, good natured oaf" to sadistic, selfish egotist. Why did that have to happen? The great thing about cartoons is that they don't age, that they don't need to face the realities we do every day. I love The Simpsons because they could take an unpleasant reality and turn it on it's head. Homer having a heart attack shouldn't be a topic found to be funny in most sitcoms, but on The Simpsons, the execution was so well done that I couldn't help but laugh at the situation. That is excellent writing. It's the mark of a truly great production. I haven't seen that kind of heart from The Simpsons for years, including the 20th season (this set). However, that does seem to be changing now, and I look forward to a rejuvenated Simpsons.
To summarize:
* Fair to middling episode quality (for the Simpsons)
* Terrible Packaging
* No extra features whatsoever
Is it worth $19.99 (pricing at the time of this review)? I think so.
Final Rating:
2 out of 5 stars.
John, Dedicated Simpsons fan
 Good season but it needs more March 11, 2010
ABC Snoopy (New Jersey)
Even after 20 years the show is still good and funny. I just wish this DVD came with some more special features. I am still glad to have it because it is still a very funny show. I'm sure it will get re release in the future but for now this will have to do. Also the packaging is not that good but I guess it could be worst. I think 4 out of 5 is fair and I hope it still sells OK. Enjoy!
 This set is nearly justified! March 4, 2010
R. Goetz (Chicago, IL)
At first, I was a bit turned off by the lack of special features and deleted scenes. Be that as it may, this set is entirely justified. That is...if you count the drastic improvement in video quality.
If you look closely into the amount of disk space being used for each episode, they've used as much as possible to guarantee an affordable 'hi-def' experience to the DVD buyers.
So, take what you can get. Either that, or wait seven years or so for it to come out on DVD. Chances are it'll end up being the same.
no extras--wait seven years for the real release March 4, 2010
Harold Lohner
i've stopped watching the broadcasts regularly, so it was good to get all the season 20 eps on dvd. but my favorite part of the previous seasons' releases is missing altogether: no extras, no commentary, just an ad for the lukewarm 20th anniversary special. plus that kind of crummy packaging that scratches the disks. worst. season. dvd. ever.
Lacking March 3, 2010
Ashleigh B. Dalton
No commentaries or extras features. So it was disappointing that they were not added. Wish that this season was not rushed since its a milestone and would have been great if there was MORE extras than the normal dvds. Like 'Simpson 20+ years in the making' documentary.
I did by this knowing that there was no extra content but fearful that this will no be released again so picked it up anyways. I'm am not sure if its just my copy but it skips. Fresh from the box and a DVD player that cause no issues with other movies I play. All the disk does this, free of dust and scratches so I cannot enjoy watching this and am not sure if I could return it do bad disk.
2 stars, since no extras but I usually only watch them once anyways.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 25
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