Episodes:
Anne, Dead Man’s Party, Faith Hope And Trick, Beauty And The Beasts,
Homecoming, Band Candy, Revelations, Lover’s Walk, The Wish, Amends,
Gingerbread, Helpless, The Zeppo, Bad Girls, Consequences, Doppelgangland,
Enemies, Earshot, Choices, The Prom, Graduation Part 1, Graduation Part 2
Stars:
Sarah Michelle Gellar, Nicholas Brendon, Alyson Hannigan, Charisma Carpenter,
David Boreanaz, Anthony Stewart Head, James Marsters, Kristine Sutherland, Armin
Shimerman, Seth Green, Eliza Dushku, and Emma Caulfield
Writers:
Joss Whedon, Marti Noxon, David Greenwalt, Jane Espenson, Douglas Petrie, David
Vebber, Jane Espenson, Thania St. John, and David Fury,
Created
By: Joss Whedon
Directors:
Joss Whedon, James Whitmore, Jr., James A. Contner, David Greenwalt, Michael
Lange, David Semel, Michael Gershman, David Grossman, Regis B. Kimble, and David
Solomon
Producer:
Gareth Davies
Co-Producers:
Marti Noxon, David Solomon, and Kelly Manners
Executive
Producers: Sandy Gallin, Gail Berman, Fran Rubel Kuzui, David Greenwalt, and
Joss Whedon
Approximate
Episode Length: 45 Minutes Each
Extras:
Scripts, Interviews, and Featurettes
Languages:
English, French, and Spanish Language Dolby Surround Sound
Subtitles:
English Captions and Closed Captions and Spanish Language Subtitles
Packaging:
Digipack Within A Slipcase
Chapter
Stops: 15 Each
Sound:
Dolby Surround Sound
Year
of Television Broadcast: 1998 - 1999/DVD Release: 2003
Home
Video Distributor: Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment
MPAA
Rating: Not Rated
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
The
summer has past since Buffy left Sunnydale after sending Angel to hell. The
“Scooby Gang” has been trying their hand quite ineptly at vampire slaying
while hoping somehow Buffy will return. In Los Angeles Buffy undergoes a trial
of sorts setting a free a group of young people from slavery under
inter-dimensional demons that eventually leads her back home where she discovers
a new villain and the return of an old friend as graduation day approaches.
The
third season of “Buffy The Vampire Slayer” is when the series was in its
prime with the usual clever dialogue, mix of demons, otherworldly monsters, and
vampires as well as the sultry and sexy Eliza Dushku as the slayer gone bad
“Faith.” As with previous seasons released by Twentieth Century Fox Home
Entertainment, all 22 episodes are presented in their original (1.33:1)
broadcast aspect ratio. The picture quality on all of the episodes is superior
to the previous season releases with excellent color saturation, higher detail,
and no compression grain. The textures are so clear one can almost feel like
they could reach in and touch the tweed of Giles’ vest or the cotton of
Willow’s sweater. In short, the episodes look great.
A
good English Dolby Surround Soundtrack is included but unfortunately there is no
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack option. Now granted Fox has not released
any television series that I am aware with a full 5.1 Surround Soundtrack, but
with other studios and independents alike releasing various television programs,
some of which are a lot older that “Buffy The Vampire Slayer,” I think there
should not be any reason why a new English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Soundtrack
cannot be provided especially for a series as popular as “Buffy The Vampire
Slayer.” A French and a Spanish Language Dolby Surround Soundtrack is also
encoded along with English Captions and Closed Captions for the hearing impaired
and Spanish Language Subtitles onto each disc as options.
Among
the extra features are the complete scripts that can be read on screen in a
still gallery like form for episodes like “Faith
Hope And Trick,” a videotaped interview with Joss Whedon for “Graduation Day
Parts 1 & 2” regarding the changes that occurred in season three while
wrapping up various storylines and opening up new ones, and featurettes covering
wardrobe, weapons, and special effects. There is also an interview with Monster
Maker Jon Vulich with some detailed looks at the various monster makeup, molds,
and anecdotes on the creation of certain practical effects like the tootsie role
scarab legs made for the Mayer to chew on as he prepares for his ascension into
becoming a full demon.
The
main menus for each disc feature animated transitions to standard interactive
still frames that are easy to navigate. “Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The
Complete Third Season On DVD” is available now at retailers on and offline
from Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment.
©
Copyright 2003 By Mark A. Rivera
All
Rights Reserved.