SMALLVILLE (TV SERIES) - DVD review

Superman is, without a doubt, the most iconic superhero in the world. Even non-fans know the basic mythology of an alien child rocketed to Earth from outer-space, who becomes the Earth's champion. Some sixty plus years after his creation by Siegel and Shuster, Superman has etched his way into American mythology. He has seen incarnations in almost every popular entertainment medium there is, with the most recent being "Smallville" from executive producers Alfred Gough and Miles Millar. "Smallville: The Complete Fourth Season" DVD set offers twenty-two episodes of teenage Clark Kent's evolution into becoming the man of steel. While not always a hit, the show has enough charm and whimsical fun to make it worthy of the Superman mythos.

"Smallville" follows the adventures of a young Clark Kent (Tom Welling), the epitome of all American boy next door wholesomeness. Over the course of the series Clark struggles with everyday teenage angst and deals with his emerging superpowers and battles the strange things that have plagued his home of Smallville, Kansas since the meteor shower that brought him to Earth. Season four delves deeper into Clark's connection with his Kryptonian heritage and Jor-El's (as voiced by Terrance Stamp) bigger plans of Clark/Kal-El ruling over the planet and bringing new life to the Kryptonian civilization. The season begins with Clark being discovered in a burning field by Lois Lane (Erica Durance), who has been investigating the death of her cousin Chloe (Allison Mack). Clark has been reprogrammed by Kryptonian forces to carry out Jor-El's wishes. Meanwhile, in Paris, Lana (Kristin Kreuk) is possessed by an entity that has ties to a series of crystals meant for Clark.

While this may all seem silly (it is) but it's also a lot of fun. "Smallville" fully embraces its comic book roots, and to this end, never really takes itself too seriously. Superman is a boy scout; he is the optimistic reflection of the greatness that humanity is capable of. This is spirit that "Smallville" keeps alive. While the show takes certain liberties in reinventing the Superman mythology, the basic aspects of the hero's lore is kept intact. Smallville, Kansas, Ma and Pa Kent, Lana Lang, Lex Luthor it's all here but fashioned under a new light. One of the twists of the show is the friendship between Clark and Lex Luthor (Michael Rossenbaum), it's one of the things about the series that seems like it wouldn't work but it does and is an important driving force behind the show. This season really puts their friendship to the test. The straining friendship between Clark and Lex comes to a head as Lex slowly descends further into becoming the man of steel's arch-nemesis.

Season four sees the loss of Pete Ross (Sam Jones III) but adds Lois Lane into the mix for thirteen episodes. The show's dark turn in season three is lightened up in season four with Lois' introduction. As played by Erica Durance, Lois is a quick-witted beauty very much in the vein of Margot Kidder and Teri Hatcher. Sparks fly between Lois and Clark but in a way that's more akin to the biting, banter filled relationship the two teenagers will one day have as Metropolis' ace reporters. Durance is a great addition to the cast and even though the chemistry between her and Welling isn't quite as memorable as Kidder and Christopher Reeve it still shines. Welling, too, has come into his own as Clark. While he doesn't poses the same kind strength and charm as Reeve, Welling still manages to project a very wholesome idealization of what a young Clark Kent ought to be.

The family dynamic of the series elevates the show from being a run of the mill teen angst drama, granted the superpower sci-fi, fantasy elements do too, but indifferent ways. Ma and Pa Kent are models of parenting excellence that can be sappy at times but this works in the context of the show. John Schneider lends Jonathan Kent a certain good ol' boy charm (pun intended) that is equally stubborn and wise. Annette O'Toole lends her role as Martha Kent a vulnerable strength that is very much in line with the spirit of her character (not to mention there is something very cool about the film series' Lana Lang now playing Clark's mother).

Season four takes a few risks, some of which bring the show a much needed boost of energy and others that don't fare so well. In trying to add an air of mysticism to the Kryptonian mythology, the series adds a dimension of magic and witchcraft that doesn't quite work. Tying these mystical elements to Clark's heritage and Lana (who is possessed by an evil witch seeking Kryptonian artifacts), it appears too convenient and contrived (even for this show). The great threat of the season, as embodied by Lana, never quite feels that threatening. Many of the season's episodes are centered on stand alone stories that incorporate elements of Lana's plight. Some of these work, but in the overarching season structure they do not. To this end, the series introduces Genevieve Teague (Jane Seymour) and her son Jason (Jensen Ackles), who acts as a love interest for Lana. Genevieve has orchestrated her son meeting Lana in Paris, which involves a greater villainous scheme involving the Kryptonian artifacts. Seymour does the best she can with the role she is given, essentially a toned down version of Lionel Luthor (John Glover). The character does little else than plot and scheme and never reaches the level of villainy intended for the character.

On the other hand, the season does have some very memorable moments. Consider the opening episode "Crusade" which boasts a wonderful display of Kal-El's powers as he soars off into the air for the first (and only) time in the series. This goes against the "no tights, no flights" rule set up by the creators but is done with such flair and style it creates one of the most visceral experiences in television. Margot Kidder also makes an appearance and shares a scene with Annette O'Toole that is on par with the Christopher Reeve and Tom Welling scenes from seasons past. Another highlight, and arguably one of the best episodes of the series, is "Run", which features the show's take on the Flash from the DC universe. It's a great episode that explores the notion of other super powered beings existing in the world other than Clark, and those affected by meteor rock. Other highlights include "Onyx", "Blank" and "Transference", which is Smallville's riff on "Face/Off" with Clark and Lionel switching bodies. Also worth checking out is the return of Alicia Baker (as played by Sarah Carter in "Unsafe" and "Pariah"), who was once obsessed with Clark, as a viable love interest for the young hero.

Spread across six discs are the following episodes: Disc 1: "Crusade", "Gone", "Façade", "Devoted", Disc 2: "Run", "Transference", "Jinx", "Spell", Disc 3: "Bound", "Scare", "Unsafe", "Pariah", Disc 4: "Recruit", "Krypto", "Sacred", "Lucy", Disc 5: "Onyx", Spirit", "Blank", Disc 6: "Ageless", "Forever", "Commencement"

Video:
The DVD transfers pops off the screen. Colors are bright and rich, which makes great use of the primary color palette used in the show (blue, yellow, green, and red). The episodes are presented in a 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. Still, there is some noticeable pixilation in the darker areas and colors. Overall, this is a solid transfer. French, Spanish and English subtitles are also included.

Audio:
Audio is presented in a crisp sounding Dolby Digital 2.0 audio track. It's a good mix of the soundtrack but could have been much better as a 5.1 considering all of the action and superhero effects employed in the show. Music is clear and strong through out as well. There is no distortion in any of the audio or sound effects. No other audio options are included on the DVDs.

Extras:
With all of the supplements included in DVDs nowadays it's very disappointing that the Smallville box sets are very sparse when it comes to their extras. Season Four is no different. Included here are three fun and informative commentaries that give some good insight into various aspects of the making of the specific episodes. Also included is a ten minute mini documentary called "Being Lois Lane" which features brief interviews with every actress who has played Lois Lane, with the exception of Terri Hatcher. The featurette barely even scratches the surface of what could have been a very insightful exploration of the character. Rounding out the extras is another ten minute featurette, "Behind Closed Doors – Inside the Writer's Room", which is a brief look at how the "Smallville" creative team breaks a story. With such rich material to draw from it would have been nice to see a more thorough look at the making of the show.

Film Value:
"Smallville: The Complete Fourth Season" is a mixed bag of fun episodes coupled with a decidedly weak overarching through line. It has some great moments even though the core of the show seems to be waning a bit. The actors and crew have hit their stride but the show's producers need to invest more time in drawing inspiration from the source material. Episodes centering on the stronger aspects of the Superman mythos give the show its strength; such as the family dynamic and Clark's relationship with Chloe, Lex, Lois and Lana. Even episodes that open up exploration of the DC universe ("Run" and "Jinx") give the show a needed breath of fresh air. While nowhere near as strong a series as some more popular shows, "Smallville" does manage to hold its own. Now entering its fifth season the series promises to be a solid lead in to Bryan Singer's upcoming "Superman Returns."