The Kid (2 Disc Special Edition) (1921)

The Bad: Chaplin re-released many of these films in the '60s and '70s and the Chaplin family obviously considers these as the final word since they've included them here. I'm assuming this is a good thing because it would allow MK2 to work from newer prints rather than the old film masters from the '20s and '30s. Unfortunately, Chaplin also added new music in many cases and made some minor scene deletions. I haven't seen the earliest versions to be able to compare musical scores. And the scores used here worked fine for me. Still, it would've been nice if they included the original film instead of tacking the brief deleted scenes on separately. This was done perfectly with "The Gold Rush" set in the first Chaplin DVD collection which includes the original film and the reworked modern version with Chaplin's narration. There are several spelling mistakes on the packaging of "The Kid" - the title has dropped out somewhere along the line in its production - an error which should've been caught, considering all the care they've put into this package. There are also some isolated spelling mistakes in the title cards during "The Chaplin Revue" shorts they could've easily caught. The "Woman" disc lists that it includes movie posters on the box's contents - however, they've forgot to include them here. The box is also rather flimsy paperboard. I recently bought the Monty Python boxed set which comes in a hard cardboard box. This is another minor point but it would've been nice to get a solid housing considering the cost of this set and care put into the materials. In addition, the FBI warnings on all the movies and documentaries appear for about five minutes in several languages - which is fine - but unfortunately, you can't fast forward through any of them. The only thing you can do is stop the DVD and reboot to get back to the main menu or wait the warnings out until the menu comes back. This inconvenience could've been corrected as well.

The Ugly: In their haste to put this thing out, possibly to coincide with the current Jeffrey Vance coffee table book "Chaplin - Genius of the Cinema," they've made a few glaring errors. In the case of the A King in New York / A Woman of Paris two disc set, both discs work properly - but they've been mislabelled. (Disc One is actually Disc Two and vice versa.) I purchased this set in Canada at HMV so this is not strictly an issue with the sets Amazon are selling. What's worse is they've also made the same mistake with "The Chaplin Revue" two disc set. Again, both discs play fine but are mislabelled. These sloppy errors will probably be corrected in future print runs. But it's such a bonehead mistake - particularly making them twice in one collection - they really should've caught them.

But all in all, even these minor points still can't obscure the fact this is a really phenomenal DVD set with all the prime, sublime glory of Chaplin. You just wish they hadn't been asleep at the switch with all these careless little errors.

The film is a roller-coaster ride of emotions, from hysterics to dispair to hope to joy, and as the ride comes to an end, you'll be left with a moment that will remain with you for the rest of your life. I first saw this film when I was 24. I am 50 now, and just picturing the last image of this film in my mind as I am writing this, is sending tears streaming down my cheeks. Sorry, I can't help it.

Likewise, "THE KID", one of Chaplin's earlier masterpieces, is filled with gushing sentimentality, as were most of the great silent films of the time, but in Chaplin's hands, IT WORKS. His anger, dispair, triumph, and playfulness are go genuinely emoted that you forget your watching an 80+ -year-old black-and-white movie with no dialogue. And 6-year-old Jackie Coogan, who grew up to be TV's Uncle Fester, matches Chaplin's range of emotion like a seasoned verteran. He is the most amazing child actor I have ever seen, possibly with the exception of "I Am Sam"'s Dakota Fanning.

DO NOT PASS UP THESE FILMS. "American Pie" is funny, but anyone can fart on-screen and get a laugh. Chaplin makes you laugh, cry, hold your breath and howl, all at the same time. These are ageless, timeless masterworks.