Customer Reviews

Gilligan's Island - Two on a Raft & Home Sweet Hut (TV Premiere)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I bought this item at the same time I purchased the complete three seasons of Gilligan's Island. I opened this product first, and then the box set. I found out that these two episodes are included in the Season 1 DVD package. If you are getting this DVD to see if you want to get the whole season, then I'd say it's not such a waste of money (but heed the prior poster's comments warning about the cheap packaging). This product was released AFTER the Season 1 box set, so there should have been some notation that these two episodes were also included in the Season 1 box set. I was under the impression that these two episodes were separate from the box set. As I have opened the product now (but haven't watched it), I'm stuck with it, unless I can sell it or perhaps donate it to some charity. If you intend to buy either Season 1 or entire three-season collection of Gilligan's Island, don't bother with this DVD, unless you're getting it for the sake of being a collector. I don't think it's worth it.

This is not a review of this specific title, but rather of Warner Brothers' "TV Premiere DVD" series as a whole. I would like to make you aware of my issues with features that are apparently prevalent in ALL of the titles in this series, based upon my purchase of one of these titles ("The Flintstones - The Flintstone Flyer").

Although the list of issues below was written specifically for The Flintstones DVD, I highly suspect that most (if not all) of it applies to this and all of the other titles in the "TV Premiere DVD" series. Be sure to check out The Flintstones page to see the photos that I uploaded which better illustrate the packaging and disc printing issues mentioned below.

-- The disc does not come in a plastic case, but rather in a cardboard sleeve which opens on the side. I've purchased $1 public domain DVDs from no-name companies that came in plastic slim cases, so it's appalling that a $6 DVD from a big-name company would be done so cheaply. Also, the sleeve has a hole at the top in the center where the peg would go for it to be hung on a rack like an action figure or toy. The hole has been edited out of the promo photos that Warner Bros. gave Amazon to display for the DVDs.

-- The text on the disc is very faint and hard to read - another way Warner Bros. skimped on production costs.

-- The cheapness doesn't stop at the packaging. The DVD does not contain a menu, not even a plain one. Because of this, there's an interesting glitch that happens if you let the DVD play past the episode. You see, after the episode plays, it goes to a FBI Warning on title 3, which then goes to the non-existent menu, so the player just hangs on a black screen.

-- They were even cheap in the placement of the chapters marks, which are placed every ten minutes (0:00, 10:00, and 20:00) no matter if it makes sense in the episode content for one to be there or not.

-- From what I've read, most (if not all) of the titles in the "TV Premiere DVD" series were originally released on VHS and/or laserdisc, with these DVDs being done from the VHS and laserdisc masters. The quality of The Flintstones DVD definitely appears to be better than VHS, so either it came from a laserdisc master, or not all of the titles were done from old home video masters.

Although at first I didn't mind paying $6 for one 26 minute Flintstones episode, that was before I knew that the DVD didn't even come in a plastic case. Now that six dollars really seems like a rip-off.

Warner Bros. "TV Premiere DVD" Series (10 titles)
* The Flintstones - The Flintstone Flyer
* The Jetsons - Microchip Chump
* ER - Pilot
* Babylon 5 - The Gathering
* Taboo - Tattoo
* Gilligan's Island - Two on a Raft & Home Sweet Hut
* The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest - Escape to Questworld
* Gilmore Girls - Pilot
* The Waltons - The Foundling
* Kung Fu - Pilot

I brought this DVD so i would see if i wanted the Season 1 Dvd! I loved it and right now im been lent the Season 1 Dvd so im watching it! This Dvd however is so great! This show is SO Funny! Bob Denver plays Gilligan Great! Skipper is indeed the big teady bear everyone says he his! And Ginger is the kind of women who would be discribed as 'Magically Charming' probely because of the music that accomponies her apperance's with Gilligan! 'Two on a raft' is a great pilot, It really shows you what to expect in later episodes! and as for 'Home sweet hut'...well its good too! But not as good as 'Two on a raft'! Its all laughts 'here on Gilligans Island!'