Customer Reviews

Smallville: The Complete First Season

5 star:		(268)
4 star:		(61)
3 star:		(16)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Before battling the forces of evil, Clark Kent faced his greatest challenge: high school. The WB's engaging hit drama has finally arrived on DVD. A devastating meteor shower strikes the peaceful town of Smallville. For most of the townsfolk, the event brought great losses and unexplainable results, but for the caring Kent Family (John Schneider & Annette O'Toole), it blessed them with an amazing gift: a son who will become Earth's greatest champion. Producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar have developed an original and appealing twist to the Superman myth. "Smallville" is the popular live-action comic book series that follows the young Clark Kent (Tom Welling) adapting to his superhuman powers, his friendship with future arch nemesis Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) and the developing relationship with sweetheart Lana Lang (Kristen Kreuk). The series is a surprising mix of coming-of-age drama and comic-book fantasy. "Smallville" also features a top-notch cast and stunning visual effects. The first season of "Smallville" definitely keeps viewers entertained but too many "Villain of the Week" episodes give the show a repetitive nature.

Fans of the WB drama will be satisfied with "Smallville: The Complete First Season". All 21 episodes of the first season are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen format. Its picture quality is quite bright and reasonably sharp. The Dolby Digital 2.0 sound is satisfactory with decent surround effects. The box set includes two commentary tracks by series creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar, several deleted scenes from the pilot and second episode, "Storyboard to Screen" featurette, an interactive tour of Smallville, some promotional material and DVD-ROM extras. Overall, "Smallville: The Complte First Season" scores a "B".

Ever since the pilot episode of "Smallville" came on, I was instantly hooked. And also ever since then, I've been watching the show every Tuesday night and have not missed an episode. "Smallville" is the story of the teenage Clark Kent (Tom Welling), living in the town of Smallville, Kansas, who will one day be known to the world as "Superman". In the first season, we learn that Clark is an alien with super powers. He has amazing abilities such as super-strength, can run as fast as the speed of light, and has X-ray vision. But all Clark wants is to be able to fit in with the rest of his peers. He is also trying to win over the affection of the beautiful Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk), who is dating their high school's football star, Whitney Fordman (Eric Johnson). Clark lives with his human adoptive parents, Martha Kent and Jonathan Kent (Annette O'Toole and John Schneider) on the Kent Farm, and befriends the rich Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum), after he saves Lex from a car accident. Clark also has two other friends, Pete Ross (Sam Jones III) and Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack), who help him out.

The plots in every episode keep getting better and better. The storyline is amazing and every actor is superb in their roles. The special effects are great, too. I really hope they bring "Smallville" to complete season DVDs because it really is one of the best shows out there right now. Even beats out "Alias", though "Alias" is a good show, too.

I highly recommend "Smallville".

Score:
100/100
A+

NOTE: This review was actually written about a Canadian DVD release of the first two episodes of the series which were edited into a feature-length movie.

I was mighty skeptical when I first heard about Smallville. Mainly, I was disappointed that Warner Bros. Television decided to go with this instead of the proposed Bruce Wayne series about his world travels before returning to Gotham to become Batman. Aside from that, it looked like (as one of my friends dubbed it) "Dawson's Krypton." To further complicate things, I discovered that Lex Luthor was to be one of the main characters. Basically, it seemed like it would never work. Boy, was I wrong.

I began watching the series in the summer, right after the season finale, when WB started rerunning episodes. I was immediately hooked. (I preordered the Canadian import DVD of the first two episodes right after it was announced.) What struck me immediately about the series was its attention to character development. While the series is mainly episodic, there are usually several subplots that continue from week to week that advances the characters' relationships to one another. The ongoing story of Clark and Lana is especially poignant and heartbreaking due to the fact those who are familiar with Superman lore understand that, even if the two of them get together, their romance won't last. (Thankfully, Tom Welling and Kristen Kreuk have wonderful chemistry and are fully capable actors.)

The main plots are the show's weakest points. I would imagine it's difficult to come up with a way for Clark Kent to be a superhero from week to week, thus they gave themselves an equivalent to Buffy's hellmouth, the kryptonite rocks. The villains can get fairly ridiculous, such as the bugboy in the second episode (included on the DVD). Fortunately, the writers understand how to turn this into a strength. Rather than focusing entirely on the villain, we get to see how the villain or the situation he/she/it causes affects the characters. (A good example comes later in the series when Clark's powers transfer to another boy and he gets to live a normal life for a short period of time.)

As to my iffiness about the inclusion of Luthor, once again, my initial reaction was completely off-base. The makers of the show have managed to make Lex Luthor the most interesting character in the series, thanks in no small part to the outstanding performance of Michael Rosenbaum. I've never seen the character given such depth in a non-comics medium and it is absolutely a breath of fresh air. Watching his transition from hero to anti-hero [to villain?] will be fascinating (providing it happens in the course of the series).

Of course this review wouldn't be complete without mentioning the terrific work of John Schneider and Annette O'Toole as Clark's adoptive parents. It is important to understand why Clark decides to use his powers to help those in need. The Kents are honest, hard-working people who have instilled Clark with a strong sense of right and wrong, and Schneider and O'Toole pull it off brilliantly.

As the title of my review suggests, I only have one major misgiving about the show, and that's the use of Remy Zero's "Save Me" as the theme song. I normally like watching the opening credits of shows, but since I don't care for the song, I usually fast forward through this one. It's a shame, since Mark Snow composed a great theme for it. (It can be found on the DVD's menu screen and during the end credits.)

I hope WBHV decides to start releasing entire seasons on DVD here in the U.S. soon. I'm certain this is a series that will get better over time. (The addition of Jeph Loeb to the writing staff points to this. To those unfamiliar with the name, check out his and Tim Sale's Superman For All Seasons.)

I normally watch television in spurts. I sit down when I have time, turn it on, and watch whatever is on. I have Never found a show that got me so addicted that I would actually HAVE to plan my week AROUND watching the new episodes. That is until Smallville!

After having watched almost the entire Season 1 (but having missed a few episodes), I am dieing for the DVD release of Smallville. The series is amazing, showing the early life of Clark Kent and his adolescent adventures as he makes his way to becoming superman. I especially love the romance (or lack of romance :) between him and Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk). I think she is the most beautiful girl I have ever seen.

If you haven't watched smallville, you definately need to! I can sit here babbling on about how great it is for hours, but if you REALLY want to fully enjoy smallville, wait for this DVD release so you can start from the beginning! Everything makes a whole lot more sense that way.

The funny thing is I didn't know that it was filmed in my home city Vancouver until after getting addicted to it. That just made me want to watch it even more!

Maybe it is that Superman is truly indestructible or that the Man of Steel, who was picked this year as one of the Top 10 American pop culture icons, is so respected that not even Hollywood would dare tug on his cape, because "Smallville" is another successful small screen version of the strange visitor from another planet. Of course, the great irony is that this time around there is no cape to tug on because this television series is about Clark Kent, years before he put on the suit with the big red "S," when he was still in high school, his powers were just starting to kick in, and the girl in his life with the double L name was Lana Lang.

Keep in mind that when Joe Shuster and Jerry Siegel created the Man of Steel in 1939 there was no Superboy until 1949, when he began part of the futuristic Legion of Super-Heroes. All we knew about the early days is that just before the doomed planet Krypton exploded to fragments, a scientist placed his infant son within an experimental rocket ship, launching it toward earth. When the vessel reached our planet, the child was found by an elderly couple, the Kents. They adopted the super tyke and with love and guidance shaped the boy's future. As he grew older Clark Kent learned to hurdle skyscrapers, leap an eighth of a mile, raise tremendous weights, run faster than a streamline train, and that nothing less than a bursting shell could penetrate his skin. When his foster parents passed away, Clark decided he must turn his titanic strength into channels that would benefit mankind.

The key part of "Smallville" is that creators Alfred Gough and Miles Millar go back to the simple beginning, with young Clark (Tom Welling) growing up on the Kent farm with Martha (Annette O'Toole) and Jonathan (John Schneider). From the "Superboy" comic books the series borrows the characters of girl next-door Lana Lang (Kristin Kreuk) and best buddy Pete Ross (Sam Jones III). But in addition to covering the basics, Gough and Millar come up with a key triad of additions to the original Smallville mythos.

First, they add young Lex Luthor (Michael Rosenbaum) to the mix, knowing that he and Superman are fated to be (im)mortal enemies, but that for the present he and Clark are friends (after Clark saves Lex's life in a car accident that should have killed them both). The key thing is that they truly are friends and that "Smallville" is as much about how Lex would become a super villain as it is about how Clark would become a super hero. Throw into the mix Daddy Dearest in the form of Lionel Luthor (John Glover), and Lex would have already pulled all of his hair out if it were not for what happened that fateful day in Smallville.

Second, is the brilliant reconceptualization of Superman's arrival on earth where the small spacecraft shows up in the middle of a shower of glowing green meteors that are all that remains of the planet Krypton. As much as the little boy in that spaceship, those meteors change Smallville forever, turning a little girl into an orphans and a young boy bald, and the small Kansas town into the self proclaimed meteor capital of the world. More importantly, those little green rocks will have continue to have an impact as they cause a series of mutations with which young Clark will have to contend. This also accounts for the great in-joke that Clark always becomes a bumbling idiot around Lana because she wears a locket made of kryptonite.

Third, there is the multi-purpose character of Chloe Sullivan (Allison Mack). The driving force of the Smallville High School student newspaper her "Wall of the Weird" documents all the strange things that have happened around Smallville since the meteor shower, making her the show's resident mistress of exposition. But she is also the tragic figure who longs for Clark the way he casts puppy dog glances at Lana, creating a nice example of teenage love triangle pathos.

Overall, Miller and Gough had created an extremely solid premise for their series, which creates multi-dynamics for all of the plotlines. The first season (2001) is book ended by some great special effects, with the devastating arrival of the meteors in the pilot and the three twisters becoming one in the thrilling cliffhanger finale. My only serious complaint is that Schneider's Jonathan Kent has too much of an angry edge, which takes away from his font of parental wisdom. Martha really needs to mellow him out so that he cuts Clark some slack. I understand that Jonathan is motivated by fears and concerns about his son, but I always liked the gentle influence personified by Glenn Ford in the first Christopher Reeve "Superman" film. Turning adolescent traumas into mutant monsters of the week is a hit and miss proposition, but that was true of the first season of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" as well, and look at how well that series turned out.

Yes, we can also throw into the mix that Clark and Lana are played by a couple of cute young actors. Welling is not too serious as the kid who is going to grow up to be the hero who stands for truth, justice, and the American way, and I was going to say Kruek was the WB's new Katie Holmes except after her soft-core Lana scene in the school swimming pool goes way beyond the world's biggest collection of midriff revealing tops. But the bottom line here is that either the Clark-Lana or the Clark-Lex would be enough to make this a good show and "Smallville" has both of them and a lot more, including the brilliant metaphor of the scarecrow immortalized in the DVD collection's cover shot.

Smallville is the best shows on TV. It tells the story of a young Clark Kent before he makes his way to Metropolis and becomes superman.
Clark(Tom Welling)has the same problems that other teenagers do and is also trying to deal with his developing powers. He is desperatly trying to win the heart of Lana Lang(Kristin Kruek..who is the most gorgeous girl in the world).
He also befriends a young Lex Luthor(Michael Rosenbaum) before he goes evil and wants to dominate the world. The two's developing friendship is great and so ironic.
The first season of Smallville is outstanding. It's a great addition to the superman story. It's clean, family oriented, and is fun for the whole family. I'm 19 years old, and it's not to often that my 3 brothers, 2 sisters, and mom and dad can agree on one show. Smallville is one of the shows and I'm sure you'll enjoy it too, if you'll watch it. Don't miss out on the DVD.

Smallville. Excellent portrayal of a young Clark Kent (a.k.a. Kal-El, Superman) and his life on a Kansas farm with his Earthly parents Martha and Johnathan Kent. Everything you could imagine and all the characters you remember that made Superman one of the first and greatest superheroes to grace the planet. Look into Clark's detailed relationship with his closest friend, trusted ally, and one day -- enemy, Lex Luthor. Lana Lang takes on the object of his desires and hopes for the basis of a normal life. Pete Ross stays close by his side through thick and thin. And, Chloe makes even Lois Lane seem like a ghost from the past when you watch this show prequel into the life and adolescence of earth's greatest superhero taking shape.
Comprised of 22 episodes, you'll be absolutely hooked from the first glimpse of a Kryptonian spaceship flaming it's way towards Earth's orbit, right into the "Hell on Earth" rain of the infamous meteor shower that sets up the beginnings of a legend.

Remember though, season 1 is only the beginning of this action-packed, special effects, WB blockbuster series. Get hooked and take up your red cape!! Smallville pleases with AWESOME powers and a PERFECT cast of characters. If you like Superman, this is for you. If you don't like Superman (raised eyebrow) you have no clue what you're missing out on. Bring on the DVD's!!

Surprise, surprise. Blithely ignoring the protests of fanboys and the head-shaking of nay-sayers, the WB's Superman series "Smallville" turns out to be quite watchable. More than that; even GOOD. Interesting characters, top-notch acting and some lucky breaks for the network as far as casting goes made the series a smash that continues to garner impressive ratings. In the first "Smallville" DVD we are presented with the Pilot episode in wonderful widescreen, along with some commentary from the producers and director.

The Pilot episode, rather blandly titled "Premeire", sets up the story for us nicely, if not particularly excitingly. Typical peaceful and idylic middle-America town Smallville is the corn capital of the US, until one fateful day when the sky suddenly starts raining meteors. Water-towers fall, cars are blown sky-high and many people are killed, including the parents of sweet four year old Lana Lang. Lionel Luthor, head of LuthorCorp, is visting his Smallville plant with his son when the meteors hit; his son survives a close call, although his hair unfortunately does not. And we must not forget the goodhearted Kents, who discover something unexpected in a still-smoldering cornfield.

The action then fast forwards ten or so years later; and we get to know the people of Smallville. The Kents have named their discovery Clark (Tom Welling) and raised him as their own, although initially he does not know the truth about his origins. Clark is hopelessly in love with the orphaned Lana Lang, played by the radient Kristen Kreuk. Problems for Clark arrive in the form of the scattered meteor rocks, which make Clark extremely sick whenever they are in his vicinity. The adult Lex Luthor also lives in Smallville, and he and Clark strike up a tentative friendship.

The strength of the show is definitely the casting, which is uniformly first-rate. Tom Welling as the young Clark Kent is solid, managing to convey the slight awkwardness that plagues Clark while giving him a strong moral balance. Kristin Kreuk as his love interest is lovely and exudes a wistful kindness. Allison Mack as Clark's friend Chloe is spunky and funny, and acclaimed actor John Glover is fittingly slimy as Lionel Luthor.

And then there is Michael Rosenbaum. He is without a doubt the series' Ace. Rosenbaum plays Lex Luthor in the same spirit most actors play Hamlet; shrewd yet tortured, strong yet vulnerable, longing to let the good in him shine through while simultaneously fearing it a weakness. All that Rosenbaum requires is a few strong plot lines and he will make Lex the most complex and interesting character on TV today.

Which brings us to the writing, the show's weak point. Not exactly bad, and sometimes actually quite good, most of the time it is lackluster. Uninteresting villians and frequent implausibilty put a damper on a great concept. The show survives on the appeal of the clean-cut Welling and the amazingly sexy Rosenbaum , but better writing could guarantee this show a gigantic following. Let's hope.

All in all, a decent start to a show that is getting slowly better episode by episode. You'll catch this one from the begining if you're smart; it's going places.

Smallville season one lays out a decent groundwork for the creators' version of the Superman mythos. Many of the other reviewers here note the first season's heavy use of the "freak of the week" device, which is definitely the show's weakest aspect.

However, there are still plenty of enjoyable moments in the first season that make it worthwhile. Anyone who knows anything about Superman will catch the cute (if somewat cheesy) references to future events in Clark Kent's life sprinkled throughout the characters' dialogue. And the scene with Jonathan Kent driving down the road and singing the "Dukes of Hazzard" theme song is hilarious.

Although the first season isn't the best one, I find the repetitious weekly plots forgiveable because each episode *does* advance a character or overall plot point, and you have to keep in mind as well that many shows' actors are in the ongoing process of finding their characters during the first season - and this season of Smallville gave its actors that chance, as well as laying out the framework for the plotlines that come up in future seasons.

"Smallville" is the teen drama that puts a new spin on the Superman mythology, following the adventures of a teenage Clark Kent as he discovers his roots and learns to hone his powers. Lois Lane, the Daily Planet, and Metropolis are still off in the future for the budding Superman, but one-day nemesis Lex Luthor becomes a part of Clark's life early on when Clark saves him in the pilot episode and, in an interesting twist, the two become friends. Although not yet a criminal mastermind, Lex's darker tendencies do surface from time to time, showing us the gradual progression toward his destiny. Also along for the ride is Lana Lang, Clark's high school crush, and parents Jonathan and Martha Kent (John Schneider of "The Dukes of Hazzard" and Annette O' Toole, who played a grown-up Lana in "Superman III").

The pilot episode dazzles with a look at Clark's arrival on Earth in the midst of a meteor shower. (The meteors, of course, are laden with Kryptonite, which can not only hurt Clark but also have some unexpected results on the people of Smallville.) After the pilot, though, the show is hit-and-miss for most of season one with a lot of episodes taking on an "X-Files" vein, featuring a different Kryptonite-produced "freak" every weak with little emphasis on developing Clark's story (a mistake that wasn't repeated so grievously in season two). Still, "Smallville" happily marries sci-fi, teen angst, and a comic book legend in a clever show that often packs an emotional wallop and mixes in hip new music in a way that isn't contrived but, instead, adds to the experience.

In short, it's a show that's definitely worth checking out. If you do purchase the season one DVD set and are a little disappointed by some of the episodes, take comfort in the knowledge that the show really doesn't find its footing until season two.