Recent conversation I had with a friend -
Me: It really was the best show ever. Sadly, I haven't been able to bring myself to watch the rest of that DVD I got of the first season. I was so angry that they had put the edited version of the first episode on the DVD. I mean sheesh! I have the unedited version on the original video release. What were they thinking of? Don't they think that people who buy the show do so because they actually want to see it as it was?
Friend: What the hell? Why do they edit all the shows on DVDs these days? ... Way to promote illegal distribution by driving people to P2P networks for the original versions.
I love this show, I really do. I was on the list to be informed when it came out on DVD, and the minute Amazon e-mailed re: its availability I placed my order. I was so excited when it came. The minute it arrived I popped it in and watched the two-part pilot episode.
I haven't touched it since. I was so disheartened at the cuts that had been made (the entire opening chase sequence and assorted gags and dialogue throughout), I didn't have the heart to go back to it and be disappointed again.
I don't know *why* the cuts were made. I doubt it was to tone down any cartoon violence as other equally "violent" moments were left in. I suspect these were edits that were made when the show was actually still on the air, edits made due to time considerations and for more commercial space. However, the full footage should have been restored and included when Disney decided to release the show on DVD.
I don't want to be negative. I wouldn't have reviewed except that, looking at what people have written, I see that no one has mentioned the edits. Younger viewers, people who didn't see the show when it first came out or who didn't watch it on video, many not even be aware. Still, fans should know that the show has been tampered with before they buy it.
5 stars for the original television show, but 3 stars for the DVD release.