Review: Joan of Arcadia: The Complete Series DVD

Jun 092017
 

Joan of Arcadia was a short-lived but well acted drama-fantasy highlighted by Amber Tamblyn in what could’ve been a star-making role, alongside Joe Mantegna and Mary Steenburgen. At times it might not have been greatly compelling but it there were entertaining episodes spanning the two seasons.

 

 

“Joan of Arcadia”
— The Complete Series —
(2003-05)

Genre(s): Drama, Fantasy
Paramount | NR – 1996 min. – $36.98 | June 6, 2017

Date Published: 06/09/2017 | Author: The Movieman

 
SERIES INFO:
Directed by: Various
Writer(s): Barbara Hall (created by)
Cast: Joe Mantegna, Mary Steenburgen, Amber Tamblyn, Jason Ritter, Michael Welch, Kris Lemche
DISC INFO:
Features: Episode Commentaries, Featurettes, Deleted Scenes
Digital Copy: No
Formats Included: DVD
Number of Discs: 12
Audio: English (Dolby Digital 2.0)
Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78
Subtitles: None
Region(s): 1

 

THE SERIES
Just an average teenager going through the typical trials and tribulations of adolescence, Joan (AMBER TAMBLYN) and her family (JOE MANTEGNA, MARY STEENBURGEN, JASON RITTER, MICHAEL WELCH) move to Arcadia, where things get complicated as she struggles to find meaning in her ongoing surprise encounters with one important visitor: God.

 

SPECIAL FEATURES – 4.5/5

This 12-disc set is contained in an exta-extra large clear DVD case matching other complete series sets from Paramount and has a title-embossed slip cover. These are the same discs from the two seasons so all features are carried over.

SEASON 1
Audio Commentaries

  • Pilot – Creator Barbara Hall & Producer/Director James Hayman
  • Jump – Hall, Hayman & Consulting Producer/Director Hart Hanson
  • Recreation – Actors Amber Tamblyn, Mary Steenburgen, Michael Welch, Jason Ritter and Joe Mantegna
  • The Gift – Producer/Director Tom Garrigus, Writer David Grae, Co-Producer/Writer Joy Gregory & Producer/Writer Stephen Nathan
  • Silence – Hall & Hayman

Deleted Scenes – Pilot, The Fire and the Wood, The Boat, Just Say No, The Devil Made Me Do It, St. Joan, The Uncertainty Principle, Jump, Double Dutch, No Bad Guy, Vanity, Thy Name is Human, Silence

Featurettes:

  • The Creation of Joan of Arcadia (9:00)
  • Joan of Arcadia: A Look at Season One (18:10)
  • God Gallery are a series of mini-featurettes as portrayed by six different actors.

SEASON 2
Audio Commentaries

  • Only Connect – Hall & Hayman
  • Friday Night – Nathan & Hayman
  • Common Thread – Hall & Hayman
  • Something Wicked This Way Comes – Hall & Hayman

Featurettes:

  • Joan of Arcadia: A Look at Season Two (15:32)
  • The Making of Queen of the Zombies (11:18)
  • A Tour of Joan’s High School (9:29)
  • Common Thread: A Table Read (24:02)

 

VIDEO – 3.75/5, AUDIO – 3.0/5
Joan of Arcadia is presented with a 16×9 enhanced widescreen aspect ratio and each episode is given a standard but effective enough Dolby Digital Stereo track.

OVERALL – 3.5/5
Overall, Joan of Arcadia was a short-lived but well acted drama-fantasy highlighted by Amber Tamblyn in what could’ve been a star-making role, alongside Joe Mantegna and Mary Steenburgen. At times it might not have been greatly compelling but it there were entertaining episodes spanning the two seasons. This complete series set offers some great featurettes and numerous commentary tracks.
 06/09/2017  DVD Reviews, Quick Hit Reviews Tagged with: , , , , , ,

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