James Marsters

DVD Review: SMALLVILLE: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON

Going into the sixth season, the show about the early years of Superman delivers a hell of a DVD for fans and non-fans alike. GRADE:

STARS: Tom Welling, Kristin Kreuk, Michael Rosenbaum, Erica Durance, Allison Mack, John Schneider, Annette O’Toole WRITER: Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, Joe Shuster DIRECTOR: James Marshall, Rick Rosenthal, Paul Shapiro

RATING: NR DISTRIBUTOR: Warner Brothers Home Entertainment Published: 10/5/2006

The sixth season of (now) The CW’s SMALLVILLE begins after a summer filled with hype regarding the much touted SUPERMAN RETURNS from Bryan Singer. While outside of the SMALLVILLE universe, one can only imagine what will be some of the stories generated from the film, if it all.

In the meantime, SMALLVILLE: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON is now out on DVD with the theme of betrayal and loyalty and consequences of Clark’s actions involving both. As Clark, Lana and Chloe enter college a whole new set of challenges faces them including BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER’s James Marsters who joins the cast as a college professor who also just happens to be Brainiac.

While this season is openly known as “the dark season” the downright soap opera moments really take away from this characterization especially when you consider the whole Lana/Lex relationship. True to the comic and the myth of Superman this would obviously never work, but given it is a show on The CW (formerly The WB) it makes sense pandering to the 90 percent of the audience just watching because it has good looking men and women. But dark? I think not. Check out the six season of BUFFY for a truly dark season of a cult show where nothing was really what is appeared to be and unexpected offerings were a common occurrence.

However, given the fluff from the initial four seasons of SMALLVILLE, just taking it in a different course with “Reckoning” and “Mercy” it certainly is a great step in the right direction. Let’s hope that Lana won’t be diving in to rescue Clark after he’s hit with Kryptonite and falls into the ocean anytime soon.

The digital transfer from widescreen television programming to anamorphic enhanced display is tremendous losing nothing but gaining that fine high resolution quality we have come to expect. The images are sharp and crisp, colors are strong and characters look fresh and clean - just the way a modern day television show should appear on DVD. Sound is good to with a transfer to Dolby digital 5.1 surround sound from the Dolby 2.0 channel during the show’s production. This cranks up the volume quite a bit and allows for more full representation of the action sequences when they occur.

A good dose of special features are included among the 22 episodes from the fifth season of SMALLVILLE. There are two audio commentaries on “Thirst” and “Splinter” episodes and a handful of deleted scenes on most of the episodes. While nothing spectacular, those dying for more from the show will be pleased with what you get.

The “Smallville’s 100th Episode: The Making of a Milestone” is an approximately 30 minute look back at the century episode and why they made it special and all that normal craptacular back-patting you always get with these episodes. The other featurette, “Look, Up In the Sky: The Amazing Story of Superman,” gives a look an upcoming documentary on the Man of Steel from his humble beginnings in black and white until the current movie, SUPERMAN RETURNS, and, of course, SMALLVILLE.

Other features include a gallery of production stills and the promo Webisodes, “Vengeance Chronicles.”

SMALLVILLE: THE COMPLETE FIFTH SEASON is offered in widescreen only in 5.1 Dolby digital surround sound in English language with Spanish and French subtitles.