Customer Reviews

The Monkees - Our Favorite Episodes

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This disc was Rhino's first attempt to package Monkee episodes in the then-new DVD format. Clips of each of the Monkees from their 1997 documentary are used to introduce their favorite episodes.

It has already been noted that the episode that Davy mentions is really "Royal Flush" ("Hitting the High Seas" is shown instead as his favorite). "Royal Flush" would have been a better choice because it would've balanced the DVD better to have 2 episodes from the first season and 2 from the second, instead of having 3 from the second and only 1 from the first.

The film quality was a bit of a disappointment, especially during parts of "Fairy Tale". The quality is much better on Rhino's second Monkee DVD (Monkees Volume 1 & 2) although there are some good moments on this disc. Some of the episodes have the original end credits with Kellogg's products. It's fun on both discs to pause the picture and use the "step" button on your DVD remote to discover things that have never been noticed before on VHS copies.

The chapter breaks are much better than on Rhino's second Monkee DVD and there are actually breaks for all of the songs in each episode; even the Kellogg's commercial shown during Mijacogeo has a chapter break.

Since the DVD format was still young when Rhino released this, it has no extras, not even closed-captioning. It's too bad that the Monkees couldn't have recorded audio commentary in addition to introducing the episodes. A photo gallery and some more Kellogg's commercials wouldn't been a nice extra also.

Fans desparate for any Monkee episodes on DVD will want to pick this up but keep in mind that the VHS edition is packaged better in a retro-style metal Monkee lunchbox with a mini-ceral box and puzzle. This DVD will have to do as a "stand in" until Rhino gets around to issuing the entire series on DVD.

A nice concept by Rhino, having the four Monkees select and discuss their favorite episodes. The dvd shows the episodes in their entirity with bonus features including commercials featuring the Monkees and interviews with the band. Three of the four episodes are excellent, but the Davy Jones entry (Out to Sea) is a little weak. Since no other Monkees TV episodes are currently available on dvd, this disc is a must for any Monkees fan who wants to see the shows on a digital format. It also makes for a nice introduction to the group's shows for the new or casual fan.

The metal lunchbox is probably the best thing about this set for "serious" Monkees fans, but the video is a pleasant diversion for anyone. Davy's chosen episode is extremely weak. However, Peter's episode is a classic 'traditional' Monkees episode (the story of how they foil the plans of a greedy toy company owner). Micky's entry is the one that he directed, and Mike's is the Monkees' spoof of fairy tales, featuring Mike playing Princess Gwen. The interviews between the episodes are not very long, so don't expect too much more than the episodes themselves. A good bet for casual fans of the series, or those wanting a video to brighten a rainy afternoon.

Just this four shows brought back a lot of memories of my youth.It was priceless to see the old ceral commercials that were smartly installed in the shows. I would like to see more of dvds with special shows because the box sets can be rather costly and it was nice to see the favorite shows of the funny four.I was able to see the Monkees on their 20th anniversary tour and if you would have told me when I was young I would have ever seen them in person I would not have believed it. That makes seeing these shows even more precious to my memories because I loved these guys so much I had all their records and as an adult have converted my collection to include all of their cds. I will eventually be able to add more of their dvds to my collections when I can. This is a nice sneak peak into my past loves lives. Thanks

Rhino really screwed up when they tried to figure out which episode Davy liked the best. They included "Hitting the High Seas" on the disk, but Davy was actually refering to the first televised episode, "Royal Flush".

Davy said he liked the one with him fencing. He also mentioned that the episode won an Emmy award. Well, "Royal Flush" has Davy fencing, *and* it won an Emmy. "Hitting the High Seas" has some sword-play, but it didn't win any awards. (Davy also spoke of "fencing on a table" which is unique to "Royal Flush".)

If Rhino included "Royal Flush", then this disk would have featured the first (televised) episode, the last episode, and it would have been a much better presentation.

I am a first-generation Monkee fan and really enjoy escaping back to the funny stories and music of that time. I had a VHS tape that I taped from their run on television (like MTV), but this is trully a collector's item. I loved seeing the guys and hearing their comments on the stories. My favorite was "Fairy Tale". Mike really did a great job as Gwen.

This was all I had to look forward to on DVD, and now the whole show is coming out by seasons. It took long enough! It's still a collector's item with each episode starting off with a Monkee interview.

It's difficult to tell when you're ordering this video, but there are four episodes of the original Monkees tv show. I had recently seen a made-for-tv movie about the monkees, so my husband surprised me by getting this for me for my birthday. I've thoroughly enjoyed it! If you enjoyed watching the tv show, you'll love it. In between episodes there are modern day interviews with each "Monkee".

GREAT DVD! it's funny, and worth seeing. the music is still good too. I've watched it a dozen times, and it's still hilarious.

I love the Monkees! So I'm not here to rain on anyone's lunch(box), but let's quickly review this collection for a minute. Each and every Monkee presents and discusses their favorite episode. Now if you're saying to yourself, "Sounds great! I really CARE about the episodes THEY think are hillarious, and I can't believe I get a lunchbox to boot?". Well, you may have a winner here. But if you're saying to yourself, "I'd really like to see some of them old episodes again...oh, yeah, and the comments would be entertaining", (e.g., 99% of the rest of us), then understand just why its being offered with a lunchbox. Read on...

Looking at the individual episodes: "Fairy Tale," "The Frodis Caper," and "Hitting The High Seas," we have less laughs than Martha Stewart pressing parsley. Now maybe the Monkees themselves thought these particular episodes were hillarious, but you and I weren't offered the luxery of eating hash brownies while tuning in to Sgt Pepper between takes on the set. I mean, ANYTHING would have probably seemed funny at the time. Now granted, the episode "Monkees vs. Machine", (Tork's favorite), was classic, BUT it still won't make up for the other weaker episodes. Here's a brief synopsis of what you're getting into:

"Hitting the High Seas" (Davy's favorite), has them joining up as seamen only to find out their captain is going to hijack the Queen Elizabeth.

Note: no laugh track.

Problem: one is definitely needed to remind us that it is supposed to be funny.

"Frodis Caper" (Mickey's favorite), hey remember that episode with the big pulsing eye that froze people to their TV sets and it was really psychadelic and it was...oh never mind

Note: directed by Dolenz (...and you were wondering why it was Mickey's favorite?)

Problem: directed by Dolenz

"Fairy Tale" (Mike's favorite), to be honest here, this was a cute episode, but certainly not classic Monkees material

Note: I can't remember how many takes they had to do during the filming of this particular episode, you might want to begin by multiplying

Problem: remember me mentioning the hash-brownies?

Anyway, for most of us, the Monkees episodes were full of sun, fun, and great little bubble-gum pop songs done to such visuals as the boys running (or riding a dune-buggy), across the sunny beaches of CA, riding bareback near the ocean, being chased by villians, girls chasing Davy, Davy chasing girls, etc. If anyone of those scenes embodies the Monkees for you. Then you'd do well to look elsewhere for some of the better material.