The Simpsons - The Simpsons.com (DVD)

...Das Bus from season 10. The theme of these four Simpsons episodes is to do with computers going haywire or being used wrongly. The best of these episodes is the brilliant Itchy and Scratchy Land and also the very funny Homer Goes to College, which contain a number of bellyaching laughs. The other two episodes are not quite as funny, but still watchable, particularly the Homer scenes in Das Bus.

In 'Treehouse of Horror X', we are again ...
...the Simpsons are driving along a lonely stretch of road when Marge accidentally runs over Ned Flanders, killing him. After the family trick Maude into thinking that Ned died of a heart attack, they think they have gotten away with murder, until they find the message 'I know what you did' written on their walls. After fleeing from their homes, a figure in an ominous black hood catches up with them, who is revealed to be someone very familiar. In the ... more

Another classic Simpsons DVD containing another four classic episodes, including Treehouse of Horror X from season 11, Homer Goes to College from season 5, Itchy and Scratchy Land from season 6 and Das Bus from season 10. The theme of these four Simpsons episodes is to do with computers going haywire or being used wrongly. The best of these episodes is the brilliant Itchy and Scratchy Land and also the very funny Homer Goes to College, which contain a number of bellyaching laughs. The other two episodes are not quite as funny, but still watchable, particularly the Homer scenes in Das Bus.

In 'Treehouse of Horror X', we are again treated to three different scary tales. In the first tale, the Simpsons are driving along a lonely stretch of road when Marge accidentally runs over Ned Flanders, killing him. After the family trick Maude into thinking that Ned died of a heart attack, they think they have gotten away with murder, until they find the message 'I know what you did' written on their walls. After fleeing from their homes, a figure in an ominous black hood catches up with them, who is revealed to be someone very familiar. In the second tale, Bart and Lisa are transformed into superheroes after using an X-ray machine, and in the third tale, everyone must leave the Earth after the nuclear power plant computer goes haywire on the 1st January 2000, causing every other computer in the world to malfunction as well. Although this isn't the best Treehouse of Horror, the three tales, particularly the last one, are still entertaining. I particularly enjoyed watching Bart and Lisa become superheroes and battle against the evil Comic Book Guy.

In 'Das Bus', the schoolbus, with all the kids on it, careers off a bridge and end up in the sea. Thankfully the kids manage to get to safety on a deserted island, where they must find food and water to survive. While on the island, conflicts arise after Milhouse is accused of stealing all the food, so the group of kids split themselves into two groups. Meanwhile, Homer is trying to set up his own website, and has a chance meeting with multi billionaire Bill Gates. The story ends with the kids being mysteriously saved by Moe Syslak and Homer having his computer destroyed for being in breach of copyright. For me this story doesn't work very well and is actually not that interesting. The jokes on the island are actually quite thin on the ground, although their are some bits, such as the trial, that are quite funny. The story involving Homer trying and failing to set up his own website is actually funnier, but this plays second fiddle to the main story.

In what I consider to be the best episode on the DVD; 'Itchy and Scratchy' land, the Simpsons visit what is considered to be the scariest and bloodiest theme park in the world. While at the theme park, both Bart and Homer are sent to a detention centre for assualting the park's employees, and, after being let out, find the park deserted. Unbeknown to them, the park robots have malfunctioned and are intent on killing them. This episode is the ufnniest of the lot, containing truly laugh out loud moments. My particular favourites include Homer being duped into buying thousands of pounds of useless Itchy and Scratchy money, Bart repeatedly assualting the theme park employees and Marge's embarrassment on learning that both her son and her 'balder fatter son' have been detained for park violations. The writing on this episode is both sharp and witty, and there's never a moment where it gets boring. A truly great episode.

In the last episode on the DVD, 'Homer Goes to College', another very funny episode, Homer has to re-enrol at college after his inepitude at the Nuclear Power Plant is exposed. While at college, Homer meets three very nerdy characters who he befriends to help him pass the end of year test. In return for their help, Homer decides to teach them to have fun, including a number of college pranks which go seriously wrong. After a very stupid prank involving a pig, the three nerds are expelled from college, and move into the Simpsons home. After causing a nuisance at the Simpsons house, Homer manages to get the nerds back into college, and then has to sit his exam, which he fails miserably. After changing his grade to an 'A', Homer, after a talk with his family, realises that he must re-take the test, and thanks the nerds for their help.

I enjoyed these episodes a lot, but think that the name of the DVD, Simpsons.com, is used rather liberally. This is still classic Simpsons though, particularly the two earlier episodes, and defianately one to consider renting, if not to buy.  

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