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South Park: Volume 2
review by Zach B.
Studio: Warner/Rhino
Running Time: 100 Minutes
Retail Price: $19.99
Features: Comedy Central Trailer, Trey Parker and Matt
Stone Intros
Specs: 1:33:1 Standard, English Dolby Digial Surround
Stereo
No one could account what kind of phenom "South Park"
would be when it debuted during August 1997. I must admit, I
was one of the watchers who tuned into the first broadcast,
and after it ended, I was hooked to the show. I thought it
was hilarious, really original too. I taped the episode, and
from episodes then and on, and have seen them tons and tons
of times. Of course, the show spawned a hit movie and a ton
of catchphrases "They killed Kenny!", "Respect my
authori-tah!" etc.) I consider myself a fan from the start,
and was happy that Warner and Rhino were releasing episodes
every year on DVD. Now I could finally replace my worn out
tapes. (Please note, I'm using the same intro for every
volume. I don't know what more I can say for each volume, so
if you don't like it, sue me.)
The second DVD volume of South Park features episodes
five, six, seven and eight. Episode five, "An Elephant Makes
Love To A Pig", has the boys trying to win their class
science fair. So, they attempt to breed a hybrid
pig/elephant using Kyle's elephant and Cartman's pig,
Fluffy. However, things go wrong when the town's evil
scientist, Mephisto, creates a clone of Stan and the clone
runs amok.
The sixth episode, and end of the first batch of episodes
on TV, is "Death", where we meet Stan's suicidial
grandfather. The parents of South Park go out to protest the
dirty TV show "Terrance and Phillip", and while that
happens, Death himself comes to South Park.
The first Halloween special and fan favorite, "Pinkeye"
is included on this volume, and was the seventh episode
aired. The town of South Park slowly turns into zombies, and
fun chaos breaks loose which ruins the boys'
trick-or-treating and annual costume contest.
Finally, the first episode of the second half of the
first season, "Damien" is on this disc. It was the eighth
one aired, and we learn Cartman is having a big birthday
bash. A new kid, Damien, the son of Satan, comes to South
Park, and is taunted for being different and is not invited
to Cartman's birthday. Meanwhile, Jesus enters a boxing
battle with Satan.
Though these episodes are enjoyed by fans, except for the
Halloween episode, they haven't really gone on to symbolize
South Park or feature any new catchphrases and such. Still,
they're on this disc, and will please anyone who buys them.
Volume two of South Park is presented in its original
aspect ratio for television, which was 1.33:1, the standard.
Like the other discs, it is a nice transfer. Detail is
really good, and things do look pretty vibrant.
The audio is decent. You may recall that some of the
first pressings had a "popping noise". The sound, though it
says it's Dolby Surround Stereo, just sounded like stereo. I
find the sound to be a tad bit low, but dialogue was clear
and sound effects and music never overpower.
It'd be great if Trey and Matt, the creators, were
willing to do some commentaries for each episodes, but we
have to settle for some introductions. They are good for a
little laugh, but when you come down to it, they try to hard
to be funny. A comedy central preview trailer adveritisng
their other, less sucessful shows is also included on the
disc.
It's all up to you. If you enjoyed these episodes and are
a South Park fan, you've already probably picked them up.
The price is right, despite the subpar extras.
 (3.5/5 (average of all
four episodes), NOT included in final score)
 (4/5)
 (3/5)
 (.5/5)
(3/5,
NOT an average)
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