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Each of the characters in FRIENDS have their own little quirks, but I've always found Pheobe to be my favourite character.  Her kookiness, bubbly personality, and plain ditziness have made for some great storylines (and in a complete turnaround, she really flew with Season 6 "The One that could have been episode" playing the cut throat stock broker).  She And Joey also seem to be the kindest of the all 6, and I wouldn't be suprised if season 8 sees these 2 getting together. Anyhoo

For the DVD release Warner have done something rather interesting and are offering now only 4 episodes per double Sided DVD, instead of 8, AND on the flip side are extended versions of each episode.  (Quite honestly it seems like a pointless exercise by including both TV versions AND extended version on the same disc when there's only a few minutes of addtional footage.  (I guess it's a been counters money making scheme to essentially double the number of discs consumers now have to buy to complete the season 7 set.)

Season 7, Disc 2 contains the following episodes

• The One With all the Candy
• The One with the Holiday Armadillo
• The One with all the Cheesecake
• The One Where they're up all night

Season 7 was first released in 2000.

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VIDEO
Continuing with the improved picture qualty over Season 6 is Season 7's Disc 3, and so 1.33:1 Transfer shows marginal improvements in overall Picture quality.

There is clear improvements in image detail with far less of that nasty haziness and the picture has a smoother cleaner look as a result.
Colour Saturation is looking good are a little more natural, with this consistency carrying throughout each episode. 

The TV versions are on Side A of the DVD with the Extended version on Side B.  Each "extended" episode contains 1 to 2 minutes of additinal footage. 

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AUDIO
Again, Here's where i really gotta wonder why Warner even bothered with the TV versions when the Extended versions were on offer.

Side A (TV Versions) contain a Dolby 2.0 soundmix, WHEREAS Side B (Extended Versions) are ALL IN DOLBY 5.0!!!! See what i mean!

Granted, the 5.0 mixes don't show drastic improvements over the 2.0 mixes, given it's only a TV series, but the added ambience to the surrounds as well as the slightly wider front soundstage do count for something. 

Dialogue is clean and intellegable on both versions with my prefernece leaning toward the 5.0 mix with its slightly more forward centre channel information.

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EXTRAS
The Only Extra also included on this DVD is the PC Friendly Web Interface with some Web Links.


Season 7 Disc 3 contains a great episode with Pheobe and her new pink bike, the rather amusing Cheesecake episode (with a very appropratie ending), though Episode 12 came across as the weakest of the lost, if not the whole series to me
The improved picture quality is far more pleasing than previous efforts, but with really only 4 episodes per disc, your paying double the price....ouch!

Review Equipment
TV: Pioneer SD-T50W1 (16:9 RPTV)
DVD: Pioneer DV717  (using RGB outputs)
Receiver : Denon AVC-A1SE THX Ultra (Dolby Surround EX, DTS-ES Discrete)
Speakers:-
     Mains: Quadral Amun
     Centre: B&W CDMC-SE
     Surrounds Left/Right: M&K SS500 (Dipole)
     Surrounds Back : Polk RT/fx (Diplole)
     Subby: M&K V125 

- Review Posted 30th October 2001

*  jpeg files for internet promotion use only. Copyright© exists on all aspects of these files by Warner Home Video