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Touched By An Angel: The Fourth Season – Volume 2 (TV)
R1 - America - Paramount Home Entertainment Review written by and copyright: Rob Fields (7th January 2008). |
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The Show
 What do you think of when you hear about angels? Some would say that angels are the servants of God who carry out God's work. Some would add that they've learned about them in Sunday school. I have a cousin who took a college course on angels. She once told me that each and every person on this planet has angels who watch over them. It doesn't matter who you are or what you've done. I'm sure there's a passage in the Holy Bible somewhere where God says, "Behold, I have sent thee angels." I'm not sure which version(s) of the Bible that the passage came from. As I understand it, angels are here to keep people from doing harm to themselves and to others. You might say they are here to help each and every one of us find our way if we get lost. Some say that it may be being lost from the way of God. Others may say that it may be being lost from yourself and who you are. All of what I've touched on here are just some of the things that I've heard. Still, when you've had close calls in your life, and everybody has, it's a wonder if people have ever stopped to ask themselves if maybe angels might have been responsible. I have heard from a few people who were in ministry that such a thing could possibly be the case. Each person has his or her own story in regards to this topic. When it comes to the series for review here, I know that "Touched by An Angel" (1994-2003) was a part of the Friday night line-up on CBS. I never watched it, but I know that it's lasted for quite a few seasons. Nine to be exact. Perhaps watching a story or two here can remind you of one (or more) of your own life experiences. Speaking of stories, "Touched by An Angel: The Fourth Season : Volume 2" continues the story of three angels who were sent down from heaven with a continuing mission: to inspire and provide solace to those dealing with the tribulations of life, they do so by providing spiritual guidance. There's Monica (Roma Downey), the angel who continues to grow and acclimate herself with each and every mission. Tess (Della Reese) is her supervisor. Though she seems rugged and stern, she has nothing but the best intentions : not just for Monica, but for all whom she crosses paths with. Rounding out this threesome is Andrew (John Dye), the Angel of Death and a caseworker with a compassionate and caring manner. And once in a while, they even get a little help from Rafael (Alexis Cruz). The angels will always integrate the love of God into everything they do. Although they may not be able to solve every problem, they always bring a message of hope and the love of God. When it comes to this portion of the series, I feel that the target audience is people who are churchgoers and believe in the words of the Holy Bible. As for those who follow a different path:a different faith:there could still be some lessons to be learned from the episodes. I once watched a series called "Joan of Arcadia" (2003-2005). To compare the two, I found "Joan of Arcadia" more to my liking. Even though it was a series about God, it had a neutral take, as in not focusing on any one religion or strictly to the Holy Bible. "Touched by An Angel" seems to focus on the Holy Bible. That's the one aspect I didn't like, because when it comes to God I feel there is more than one point of view. I know there are others who believe in the same manner. Still, I'm not knocking the series. No, when it comes to "Touched by An Angel", my recommendation is not to watch this series as lessons from the Holy Bible, but to watch it from the heart. As I stated earlier, you may be reminded of your own life experiences. You may even feel the true nature of God here. While there are references to the Bible (not necessarily chapter and verse) made by the angels themselves, this doesn't mean that the messages of each episode are for those who believe in specifically. I think the message here is that God loves each and every one of us, regardless of who we are or what we've done. At times, God will do what God can in order to give people a helping hand. This set includes all 14 volume 2 episodes of the fourth season: - "Deconstructing Harry" (46:11) Harry Applegate is forgiven after Monica and Tess bring his wife and his mistress together shortly after his death. The angels help them find it in their hearts to allow God to repair their pain and move on. - "The Trigger" (46:59) A woman, in denial of her husband's physical abuse, is in dire need of Tess and Monica's help. Through the angels' faith and support, she finally takes the necessary actions to save her sister's future and her own. - "Doodlebugs" (46:38) When a widowed minister of a small town loses his faith, he rediscovers it when a series of mysterious phone calls lead to the entire town regaining hope. - "Redeeming Love" (45:42) Monica comes to the aid of a seriously troubled crack addict. Through God, they save her baby and help her find the path to recovery. - "Flights of Angels" (46:34) Richard is a terminally ill artist with a special wish. Andrew helps him fulfill his desire to leave his family one last piece of himself. - "Breaking Bread" (46:50) When hate crimes plague a town, Monica and Tess arrive to inspire a timid baker to take a stand against the perpetrators. With their help, he will face his own prejudice and maybe conquer the devil himself. - "God and Country" (46:25) Rafael guides a young soldier to forgive his father, Colonel Victor Walls, for a decision that changes their family forever. Monica helps Victor see that, although he has served his country, he needs to serve God and be honest with his family. - "How Do You Spell Faith" (45:37) A mother and son's already troubled relationship is further put to the test when tragedy strikes the family. The angels help them pick up the pieces to foster a relationship with God and each other. - "Seek and Ye Shall Find" (46:23) Monica suffers amnesia and meets the bitter Dr. Crayton while he's on his way to watch the execution of his wife's murderer. Later she shows him that forgiveness and faith is the only way he will achieve peace. - "Cry, and You Cry Alone" (45:14) When the retired comic duo of Salt and Pepper are inducted into the Comedy Hall of Fame, the duo reunites to give it one more try. When their reunion opens old wounds, Monica and Tess are called upon to help them realize the error of their ways before it is too late. - "Perfect Little Angel" (45:38) A young woman with financial problems and a deep secret enters a beauty pageant in hopes of winning the prize money. The angels help her see that trust in people and faith in God is what she needs to repair her life. - "Elijah" (46:22) A bitter slumlord, sentenced to two weeks living in his own tenement, pays a very high price for being so unkind to his tenants. Ultimately he listens to Monica, and follows his pious father's example. - "Last Dance" (46:22) Greg and Jill, a teenage couple, are torn apart by their disapproving mothers : until Jill discovers a secret from her mother's past, and the angels guide them to resolve their differences and make peace. - "The Spirits of Liberty Moon" (Parts 1 & 2) (1:30:02) As an employee for a toy company, Tess helps Chinese refugee Jean go back to her country to find her missing daughter, Piao Yue. While in China, Jean speaks out against the lies that insinuate that she and her husband are criminals. Monica protects her until tragedy strikes. Piao Yue is given a new life in faith, and America.
Video
Each episode is presented in its originally aired full screen format (1.33:1). The fine print on the back states "Some episodes may be edited from their original network versions." I've never seen the original episodes when they aired on CBS, so I'm not going to know what was cut (if anything). The video looks great, with bright colors. Even the scenes in the dark don't show any grain. I don't see any dirt or pixels, either. I think the fact that there only episodes and no extras could also be a factor, besides the actual transfers themselves. You have the option to play the episodes individually or as a continuous marathon with the 'Play All' option.
Audio
Each episode is accompanied by an English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo soundtrack, available in your choice of original English or dubbed Spanish. There are optional English subtitles available. I normally don't have to turn my surround sound down, but for this set the audio sounded like it was cranked way up. Without having looked at my surround sound receiver, my first guess would have been that these episodes had DTS surround sound. But of course, the decoder is only showing the front two speakers. You can definitely hear the background noise and the dialogue clearly. No complaints in this regard. I didn't see any fine print (like I've been finding on most CBS DVD releases), so I'm guessing that the original music was left intact.
Extras
Extras: This set is totally barren when it comes to extras. Not even a single preview trailer.
Packaging
"Touched by An Angel: The Fourth Season : Volume 2" is a 4-DVD set with each disc all placed into a single clear Amaray keep case. The episode titles, summaries and air dates are printed on the inside of the cover art.
Overall
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