Customer Reviews

The Simpsons - Christmas 2

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

For my part, I'm a little puzzled at the people who rail against Fox for releasing this kind of themed compilation. Speaking as both a die-hard Simpsons fan and the father of two small kids, I'm pleased as punch that these compilations are out there, because I flat out don't have the money to buy all the complete season box-sets. Rather than accusing Fox of being greedy (let's grow up people, they're a for-profit business whose purpose it to make money), I think they actually deserve some credit for realising that there are customers looking for smaller portions to feed our habit and hopefully get some of our favorite episodes. And, hey, if I don't like the episodes they put on a particular set, the wonderful thing is that I have the choice to say, no I'm not going to buy this. Maybe it is the greatest TV show ever, but it is still just a TV show, and a little perspective never hurt anyone (except maybe that Tron-like computer-ish perspective Homer got in that one Treehouse of Horror segment, that is).

I sure hope they change the name of the disc, because 'Christmas 2' just doesn't sound interesting.
Anyway, once again, this is FOX's attempt to suck more money from Simpsons fans while they're waiting for the box sets to release. Also, only two of the four episodes on the set are Christmas episode. So with that, this set's stars deplete. But, these episodes aren't as bad as the ones picked for "Simpsons Gone Wild," so, I'll cut it some slack and give it two stars. The episodes? Well, break it down:

Homer vs. Dignity (Season 12):
Kwik Synopsis: In money troubles, once again, Homer becomes Mr. Burns' "prank monkey" to get some extra cash.
This episode is pretty bad. The plot alone is pretty farfetched and, while Burns provides a few laughs, wasn't that funny. There was a "sub-plot" about Smithers acting in a Malibu Stacey-themed musical. THAT would have been great to see more than a one-minute scene of. But instead, we have Homer get raped by a panda. You heard me. A panda has his way with him. I wish I was making this up, but I'm not. I guess this episode was picked because the Thanksgiving Day parade at the end had the Santa float, in which Burns throws fish guts at everyone. But still, "Marge Be Not Proud" was an amazing Xmas episode. Why isn't that on this disc?

Skinner's Sense of Snow (Season 12)
Kwik Synopsis: The kids are snowed in the school right before winter break, and they turn on Skinner.
Probably the best episode of the disc. There's a lot of good jokes in this episode, although it takes a hit when Homer comes in. He takes a hunk out of Ned's roof to make a snow plow. The two drive to rescue the kids, but hit an fire hydrant, and the water freezes up instantly, and Homer hallucinates about exotic dancers and... it was all just really weird. But it was still a good Xmas episode. Good work everyone.

'Tis the Fifteenth Season (Season 15)
Kwik Synopsis: Homer tries to do good this Xmas, and ends up competing with Flanders as the nice guy.
A nice Xmas episode. There is a lot of funny stuff in this episode, but it's sort of pointless, as you know Homer will go back to being his lazy selfish self in the next episode.

Dude, Where's My Ranch? (Season 14)
Kwik Synopsis: The family goes to a dude ranch to escape a song Homer wrote that was playing ad nauseum on the radio. There, Lisa falls in love with a teenager.
Atrocious. The first act was alright. But once they got to the ranch, the humor crashlanded. Lisa is in love with someone 5 years older than her, then ends up endangering his sister's life thinking she's his girlfriend. Have we forgotten that she's 8? Out-of-character, much? Yes! And Homer and Bart try to stop some beavers from building a dam, I dunno. Completely unusual and crazy and bad episode. And what exactly does this have to do with Christmas?

This will most likely have a featurette, but I don't know what character it'll be on.

All and all, you've got two good episode, an OK episode, and a bad episode. So altogether, you have an average set of episodes, roughly a 2 1/2 stars. But you can't do halves, but it wouldn't matter, because it loses it with the complete pointlessness of this set's production. Only for an completist Simpsons fan.

The vidoe is great the Simpsons rock Christmas 2 what more is there to ay if you love the Simpsons you have to have the DVD.

Good collection of episodes for the price. My family members are big Simpson fans, so we like collecting both the seasons and the specials. Funny, funny stuff.

The Simpsons--Christmas 2 has four Christmastime episodes despite the fact that not all of these four episodes focuses on Christmas. However, the episodes are well thought out and funny with the exception of "Dude, Where's My Ranch" which has cute moments in the latter (and longer) part of the episode only after the real laughs are over. The quality of the print is very good and the sound is fine, too. The plots move along very well and they will entertain fans of The Simpsons as well as newcomers. You don't need to know too much background information about the characters to enjoy these four episodes; and that's a definite plus. The characters are nicely developed in an incredibly short period of time for the maximum amount of humor and action.

Here is an outline of the four episodes; and no, I won't spoil it for you!

"Homer vs. Dignity:" The Simpsons become financially destitute--to the point where a financial counselor tells them they may have to declare bankruptcy--several times. Desperate to raise much needed cash (he even sold the back seat of the car for money), Homer takes advantage of Smithers' vacation time to do increasingly humiliating acts for the money he and his family have to have. How far will Homer go to satisfy Mr. Burns? Will Homer ever draw the line or does something else happen that makes Homer's stunts for Mr. Burns go bad? And, how does this story line tie into Christmas? Watch and find out!

"Skinner's Sense of Snow:" Watch for a hilarious spoof of Cirque de Soleil when it comes to Springfield! It's not soon after that an incredible blizzard snows the kids into Springfield Elementary. How do Skinner and the kids get along--or will there be a tug-of-war between them? Homer and Ned Flanders set out to rescue the kids, but their car is stuck in the snow and ice so it looks hopeless. What happens to Nibbles the hamster? This episode has practically nothing to do with Christmas except for the very end where Lisa wishes the audience a Merry Christmas--what gives? It's good; but not tied into the holiday theme here.

"Dude, Where's My Ranch:" When The Simpsons go Christmas caroling, things don't exactly go as planned. However, Homer writes a new Christmas carol--and it gets noticed! However, what happens when the song gets produced? The answer may surprise you. When the family later on goes to a dude ranch, Lisa falls in love with young Luke Stetson. Will he return her love? What happens when Lisa overhears the boy talking on the phone with Clara--could there be a rival for the boy's affections? The laughs come mostly before Homer and his family gets to the ranch and it's not a bad episode; but it's also not much of a Christmas episode. Sigh. Watch and find out!

"`Tis the Fifteenth Season:" We see The Simpsons hanging out their holiday lights; and then the holiday season gets underway for real when Mr. Burns' nuclear power plant has "secret Santa." Homer gets a bad reputation fast for being selfish and spending his $500 bonus on a fancy present for himself--but what happens when he watches "Mr. McGrew's Christmas Carol?" Homer gets remarkably generous and kind--will he be able to keep it up? Will Flanders be pushed out of the spotlight and what might happen if Flanders IS outdone by Homer? There's plenty more action to this one; so watch and find out!

There's also a bonus feature complete with storyboards from "`Tis The Fifteenth Season." It's good for people who want to have a taste test of how these animated episodes are produced.

Overall, The Simpsons--Christmas 2 is very good; but I can't give it five stars because these four episodes don't always tie very well into the Christmas holiday. While I still recommend this for newcomers to The Simpsons and Simpsons fans who don't already have these episodes, please remember that not all of this material is as holiday oriented as the title would have you believe.

I love this dvd. The reason why I gave it a 4 is because in tis the 15th season, right at the end of act 2 my dvd skips to the end credits. Has any one else seen this problem?

My answer to this question is: a no; a no. . . . a yeeessssssss!
This episode compilation is something to "ball at".

I find my self repeating esp. "Homer Versus Dignity". Love the store clerk at Costington's Department Store.

See for yourself

Don't get me wrong. These are great episodes to be sure, but why did they put them in a compilation of Christmas episodes. Two of them have virtually nothing to do with Christmas at all. Just because you set a scene in the winter time does not make it a Christmas episode! The other two mention Christmas only as the jumping off point of their story, but never return to Christmas at all as a topic. No tree, no presents, no Christmas like fiascos. Once again, wonderful episodes, but they don't belong here.

This is the DVD's other TV shows should release. Some of us love the Christmas episodes of our favorite TV shows & to be able to put in a DVD & see most or all of them is so much better than going thru a box set & changing disc's for every episode.

Our hats off to FOX. This is a great DVD and we're waiting for the first one to arrive.

I am really exited for this DVD of "The Simpsons!" All of the episodes are pure gold! "Homer vs. Dignity" is a good episode, but probably the worst of the four episodes on the DVD. In, "Skinner's Sense of Snow", A group of kids get trapped in the school the last day before winter break, Homer and Ned set off to recue them. " 'Tis the Fifetenth Season" is probably the second best epidoe on the DVD. In it, Homer becomes caring and loving, and becomes the new "Ned Flanders" of the town. This of course really irks Ned. Finally, it includes my favorite episode, "Dude, Where's my Ranch?" where Homer writes a hate-carol to Ned. The carol becomes a huge hit. Despritly wanting to escape it, the family goes to the "Lazy-Eye-Ranch", where Homer starts a war with the beavers who live at a near by lake, and Lisa falls for a 13-year old boy.

In conclusion, this DVD is a must own for any fan of "The Simpsons".