Mad Men: The Complete Collection [Region 1]

Product Information

This is a comprehensive set, with so many extras it will take you just as long to get through them as it will to watch the entire series.

Mad Men: The Complete Collection [Blu-ray] [23 Discs] Mad Men: The Complete Collection [Blu-ray] [23 Discs]

There are two main dramatic thrusts at work in ‘Mad Men’ (at least at this point, in season two): One, will Don Draper ever get his shit together, stop cheating on his wife, and open up about his mysterious past? (Spoiler alert: his real name is not Don Draper.) Two, how will our characters and their lives buttress and collide with the tumultuous historical events swirling around this period. The two complement each others in certain ways, and the show always walks a fine line in terms of what it’s telling us (about history, about the characters) and what it’s keeping from us. And joining Hamm in his seminal role as Draper is a stellar cast of endearing actors and actresses, featuring Elisabeth Moss as Peggy Olson, Vincent Kartheiser as Pete Campbell, January Jones as Betty Francis, and so many more names you will become closely attached to over the course of this encapsulating 92-episode epic. Part of what makes ‘Mad Men’ such a fun watch is the period detail. Here, with the set’s sublime MPEG-4 AVC 1080p transfer (aspect ratio: a cinematic 1.78:1), this detail has never looked better. Birth of An Independent Woman (HD, 43:09) This is, bar none, the highlight of the entire set, special features-wise. It’s a really wonderful, two-part documentary examining the roles of women in the world, before and during the period that ‘Mad Men’ is set. Occasionally they try to shoehorn the show into conversation in weird ways (“You wanted to be called Mrs. Draper,” one feminist theorist says), but man, this is a snappily edited, intellectually stimulating, and 100 percent engaging documentary, drawing from a number of leading feminist organizers, professors and theorists. If you don’t think that ‘Mad Men’ is one of the most smartly feminist shows on television (it has one of the most female-heavy writing staffs on television), then this should clear that right up. Essential. From the first episode through the final credits of the season, ‘Mad Men’s colors are naturally saturated, contrast is comfortable and strong, and shadows are deep and well-delineated. The series’ warm palette holds up exceedingly well in spite of a variety of interior and exterior lighting schemes, allowing the characters’ yellow-hued homes to look every bit as good as the firm’s brightly lit offices. Detail has also been painstakingly preserved, imbuing the picture with crisp edges, clean patterns, and sharp textures. I continually marveled at the depth of the image and found myself entranced by everything from the creases in the firm’s leather chairs to the stitches and pinstripes in Draper’s suit coats. While a few random shots look a tad soft compared to the majority of scenes in the show, Lionsgate’s BD transfer really highlights the series’ critically acclaimed research, set design, and period accuracy.Audio Commentaries - There are seven audio commentaries, all with Matthew Weiner and another cast or crew member, including Jon Hamm. All of these commentaries are a must-listen if you're a fan of the show. Weiner and crew discuss most of the information, ranging from the characters, to the storylines, to bringing the show to a close. It's fantastic.

Mad Men: Season Two Blu-ray Review | High Def Digest Mad Men: Season Two Blu-ray Review | High Def Digest

Mad Men has garnered intense critical acclaim, becoming a multi-award-winning series and sustaining a massive 7 seasons across its time on air. With its impressive collection of Emmys and Golden Globes, this incredible show has cemented its place as one of the all-time greats of the late 2000s, alongside such hits as Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead - a bold but supported claim.Everything in ‘Mad Men’ has an almost three-dimensional level of texture, from the different fabrics (and metals and plastics) used in both the costumes (particularly Joan’s outrageous getups) and the set design, to the way everyone’s hair is so expertly coiffed. This texture is wonderfully strong here. Skin tones look amazing. Colors vibrantly pop. Shadows are deep and inky. Everything looks divine. Earth Day 1970 (HD, 3 Mins.) - This focuses on the start of the movement that wanted to make the planet better, ecologically. Is ‘Mad Men’s’ second season as compelling as its first? Well, no. It’s a little too oppressively dark, and the final story arc, which sees Don attempt spiritual rebirth in the sunny state of California, is unnecessarily baggy, self-indulgent and overcooked. Also, the kind of fizzy, ratatat energy that was so key to the first season’s establishment of time and place, has flattened out somewhat. Everyone still looks fabulous, drinking and smoking and wearing thin ties, but without the bubbly electricity. Establishing Mad Men (HD, 62 minutes) -- If eighteen hours of commentaries aren’t enough to satiate your supplemental appetite, then cast your eyes upon this meticulous, high-def look behind-the-scenes. Covering the writing of the first episode through the careful design of each set and costume. Plenty of interviews are included and the cameras are granted a rather revealing glimpse of the production team pulling together each episode of the show. This is a must watch for any ‘Mad Men’ fan and should probably be viewed before breeching the show’s commentaries.