Twin Peaks - The Definitive Gold Box Edition (The Complete Series)

(aka 'Twin Peaks - The Definitive Gold Box Edition (The Complete Series)')

Directed by David Lynch
USA 1990

Twin Peaks is an American Emmy Award-nominated, Peabody- and Golden Globe-winning television serial drama created by David Lynch and Mark Frost, first broadcast on April 8, 1990 and last broadcast on June 10, 1991. Although created by Lynch and Frost, most of the 30 episodes are by different writers and directors. The show is set in the fictional town of Twin Peaks, Washington. The primary filming took place in Snoqualmie and North Bend, Washington.

The central plotline is the story of FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) and his investigation of the murder of Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee), a popular, local student and homecoming queen whose plastic-wrapped body is found on a river bank.

Initially, the ABC Network broadcast Twin Peaks, and, in its first season, it was one of the most successful television programs on ABC; in the second season, low viewer ratings led to cancellation. Despite this, it became a pop culture touchstone, and inspired a film prequel, Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (1992). The series also later influenced several television series, including Northern Exposure, Picket Fences, Wild Palms, American Gothic, The X-Files, Carnivàle, Lost, Desperate Housewives, Wolf Lake, Eerie, Indiana, and Night and Day. Many of these were said to be "the next Twin Peaks" due to their examination of the human condition and the dark side of American suburban life.

Because of its success, in the mid-to-late 1990s, Bravo re-aired Twin Peaks in the U.S. from 2003-2004. Currently, NBC Universal's horror-themed cable channel Chiller, which launched on March 1, 2007, is airing the series. Twin Peaks was ranked on TV Guide' magazine's "Top 25 cult shows" at No. 20, and one of the "Top 50 Television Programs of All Time" by the same guide at No. 45. In 2007, Channel 4 (UK) ranked Twin Peaks #9 on their list of the "50 Greatest TV Dramas". Also that year, Time included the show on their list of the "100 Best TV Shows of All-Time".

Excerpt from Wikipedia located HERE.

Poster

Theatrical Release: April 8th, 1990

Reviews DVD Reviews

DVD Review: Paramount - Region 1, 4 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover		CLICK to order from:
Distribution	Paramount Home Video - Region 1, 4 - NTSC
Runtime	47 minutes x 29 episodes (plus pilot - 1 1/2 hours, extras)
Video	1.33:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.71 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Sample Bitrate:
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 5.1), English (Dolby Digital 2.0), DUBs: Spanish (Dolby Digital 2.0), Portuguese (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Subtitles	English, Spanish, Portuguese, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Paramount Home Video Aspect Ratio: Original Aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • International Pilot • Deleted Scenes • Featurettes • Music Video • SNL skits • Log Lady Intros • Interactive Map • Stills Galleries DVD Release Date: October 30th, 2007 Custom Case Chapters: various

Comments:

This Paramount ' Definitive Gold Box Edition' represents 10 dual-layered discs containing some 29 episodes and supplements from the 'anti-Mayberry' - dark and brooding Twin Peaks. The discs are coded for regions 1 and 4 in the NTSC standard ready for sale in South American as well with Spanish and Portuguese subs and DUBs offered as options. It is housed in a custom case with stacked clear -plastic holders that open in a book-style format.

The image looks tremendous - almost as exceptional as high-definition. It has a dark appearance with excellent color balance, contrast , black levels and detail. It shows some very minor digital noise but overall some of the best looking TV on SD DVD I have ever seen. When the 5.1 track is called upon - it is up to the task - dialogue is always clear and audible with subtitle options available. Outstanding transfers.

Fans will be quite pleased with the inclusion of not only the pilot episode but also the 'international' version of the pilot. On the last disc we have some featurettes - Running about 30 minutes is A Slice of Lynch it offers talking head comments from David Lynch, Kyle MacLachlan, Madchen Amick, and the sound editor John Wentworth. There is a humorous look at Twin Peaks fan festivals and a most enjoyable - Secrets From Another Place. This has more interviews (cast and crew) and a fair amount on production and development - quite worthwhile. Two Saturday Night Live pieces are included - satire stuff with Kyle MacLachlan plus filler in the form of a music video, TV spots, an interactive 'map' of the town, some stills galleries etc. . There are also four deleted scenes on the previous disc (#9) but I can't say they held any viable interest for me.

NOTE: They are supplements from the two stand-alone boxes (Season 1 and 2) that are not included in this Gold Edition set - namely the commentaries from the first season box set and the interviews from the second season (plus a few other tidbits).

Fans who don't own one of the two previously releases Season boxsets will want to pick this up for sure. For those that already own Season 1 and 2 - it will be a decision based on how much you adore the show. The extras, pilot and image quality may be enough to swing over many for double-dipping. This is a very impressive collection.

NOTE: Artisan's release "Twin Peaks: Season 1” is frequently criticized for its over-saturated image. Although Lynch and company used red filters while shooting the series, Artisan's release conveys orange skin tones and inaccurate color schemes.

Gary W. Tooze

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