DVD : Adventures of Superman - The Complete Second Season

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- Corny but Great Fun!
I can remember as a child racing home from school every afternoon to turn on the old black and white television set in order to catch up with the latest adventure of my one and only hero - Superman. I remember the excitement of seeing him fly through the air, or burst through a wall, see the bullets bounce off his chest or bend steel in his bare hands.

I also remember getting worried when he was weakened by kryptonite or fearing that his identity might soon be discovered by Lois Lane. Aaah..those were the days.

Fast forward about 50 years. As with Season One, I couldn't wait to race home from work, turn on the HD TV and pop in the Season Two DVD to relive those exciting adventures of my one and only hero - Superman! Seen through adult eyes, the episodes appear hokey, cheap and corny. But they are still great entertainment and probably better entertainment than some of the shows that are produced today. Not a swear word or naked body in sight.

So, if you want to relive your childhood or want to see what all the fuss was about, then do yourself a favour. Get this DVD set (along with Season One) and enjoy some of the great moments from the golden age of television. Laugh along at the corniness of it if you want, but that's part of the entertainment value of these old shows. I just love 'em.

Rating:

- Super series
The second season of THE ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN tones down the violence, the noir plots, softens the Lois Lane character, and aims at children. The music is different as well, not as sharp as the first season but still effective. The biggest difference is that Lois is not played as a professional competitor to Clark Kent (as Phyllis Coates played her) but rather as a gal pal for Jimmy Olsen (as Noel Neill played her). In the first season, Coates had top billing in the final credits with George Reeves; Neill did not in the second season. Neill is a fine actress and puts her own mark on the character. I have watched the second season as much as I have the first season, and recommend both highly. Jack Larson really comes into his own this year in the series. My favorite episode is "The Man Who Could Read Minds," where Jimmy impersonates an Argentine playboy in order to infiltrate a "foolproof" theft ring at the Tip Top Cafe. Several other episodes are also tops. The "Stamp Day" bonus episode (which runs about 17 minutes) is no more than a curiosity. The bonus tribute to Neill is better.

Rating:

- Swell! But not eureka!
Season two contains some of my favorite episodes including "A Ghost for Scotland Yard," "The Man in the Lead Mask," and "Shot in the Dark." But, it also contained one of my least favorite episodes "Around the World with Superman." That's life. With two exceptions, quality met and exceeded my expectations. "Semi-Private Eye" locked up throughout the episode. Outch! And- READ THIS BEFORE YOU SKIN OFF THE CELLOPHANE- the fastener holding disk one is defective and the disk will fall smack on the floor when you open the set, if you are not careful. As it is, it will thrash around inside the box probably damaging itself. Yes, Phyllis Coates was great, but Noel Neil is also great, albeit a different kind of great. A wonderful set, with the quality exceptions, which I would have otherwises given a five star plus.

Rating:

- Great series!
TAOS was a great series and these DVD's were done wonderfully. I'm looking forward to the 3rd/4th Seasons. I'd also like to see the Adam West/Burt Ward Batman series out now!!! I'd also would like to see the cartoons named the New Adventures of Superman and the Batman/Superman Hour from 1968 as well as the Justice League of America from 1967!

Rating:

- Superman my hero
It brings back fond memories. I still find it entertaining, even though I've gotten much older. He is still my hero. In a silly way I feel like a kid again watching Superman in action.

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