Since Futurama and The Simpsons were both created by cartoonist Matt Groening and share his frequently absurdist, often acerbic sense of humor, comparisons between the two series were inevitable, and while Futurama was often funnier than The Simpsons in the first two seasons it was on the air, it consistently lacked the emotional resonance of the earlier series -- it never seemed to engage the mind the same way it massaged the funny bone. Similarly, the second multi-DVD Futurama box set -- this one collecting the 19 episodes from the show's second season -- seems to be modeled on the superb packages Fox Home Entertainment created for the first two episodes of The Simpsons, but the results aren't quite as impressive. The material included on Futurama, Vol. 2 has been transferred to disc in its original full-frame aspect ratio of 1.33:1, the audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Surround, and all the episodes look and sound terrific, with the images pin-sharp throughout and the sound crisp and cleanly defined. Along with the original English-language audio tracks, the discs include alternate dubbed versions in Spanish and French (also in Dolby Digital Surround), as well as optional subtitles in English, Spanish, and French. Like the Simpsons collections, Futurama, Vol. 2 is loaded with bonus material, but ironically this is where the set disappoints. Each episode here has an alternate commentary track, featuring Groening along with members of the show's writing staff, production team, and voice cast, but surprisingly often they don't have anything especially enlightening to say about the show, often getting bogged down in cryptic sci-fi references and inside jokes, and while fans might get a chuckle out of hearing them, their novelty wears out rather quickly. Deleted gags from most of the episodes are also included, though they tend to be brief and appear to have been scrapped for a good reason, and while the "animatic" for "Why Must I Be A Crustacean In Love?" is instructive for those interested in the show's production methods, it isn't especially entertaining on its own merits. Also, while the "international clips" are amusing enough, no one seems to have realized that while the versions in Italian and Portuguese are a novelty, the French and Spanish clips are redundant, since all 19 episodes can be viewed in those languages anyway. Also included is a gallery of production artwork and a key to the show's "alien alphabet," both of which are more interesting and useful than many of the set's more elaborate features. Fans of Futurama will certainly appreciate the care and technical skill that's gone into putting the show's second season on disc, but the additional bells and whistles ultimately don't add much value to the package.

The vengeful Bride returns to cross a few more names off of her rapidly shortening list in Miramax Home Entertainment's release of Kill Bill Vol. 2, and though it feels like only a precursor to the inevitable feature-packed release that will follow soon after, this release does offer a few choice gems in addition to a solid presentation of the feature attraction. Presented in 2.35:1 anamorphic widescreen, the image offers even skin tones, solid blacks, and vivid colors. Though the occasional intrusion of edge-enhancement may prove somewhat distracting to some viewers, the overall commendable visual presentation is generally solid. Audiophiles will be happy to note the inclusion of both an English-language Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 track, both of which are accompanied by closed captioning and provide a rich, full-bodied listening experience without any notable distortion or hiss. In addition to an alternate French-language audio track, Miramax has also seen fit to include optional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Spanish subtitles. Of course, fans of both Kill Bill films are no doubt aware of Miramax's plans to release them at first separately and then with a super deluxe combo package following at some point in the near future, and though the extra materials provided on this disc are indeed satisfying, they do seem more like an appetizer than a hearty meal. A three-and-a-half-minute deleted scene in which Bill faces off against a vengeful gang of thugs whose boss he previously killed finds Tarantino's Shaw Brothers fanaticism in full effect. A 25-minute behind-the-scenes segment offers interviews with Tarantino, Uma Thurman, Daryl Hannah, and David Carradine in which they discuss the appeal of the characters and the manner in which Kill Bill Vol. 1 and Kill Bill Vol. 2 compliment one another. Though those looking for in-depth details regarding the production may walk away with a slight pang of disappointment, viewers simply looking for a little fun will surely enjoy the featurette. Rounding things out is a solid performance by Chingon at the Kill Bill Vol. 2 premiere, in which the band (featuring director Robert Rodriguez on guitar) strums one of the tunes from the film's soundtrack.

One of the most influential and popular films of the 1990's finally gets the DVD treatment it deserves on this fantastic two-disc set from Miramax. Video and audio quality are both stellar: the new anamorphically-enhanced widescreen transfer shows off the cinematography in all its colorful, kitschy glory and the stereo soundtracks (DTS and Dolby Digital 5.1) dish up a punchy, crystal-clear soundtrack that is guaranteed to give the stereo speakers a workout. Pulp Fiction also offers a staggering array of extras guaranteed to keep film fans occupied for hours on end. First up is a subtitle trivia track that replaces the usual commentary track. Some fans might be disappointed that they don't get to hear Tarantino's enthusiastic musings in audio form but this exhaustive trivia track makes up for this by supplying every bit of minutiae that a fan could want to know: it covers everything from the film's inspirations to on-the-set stories to explanations of the many symbols and references used in the film. There is also a fantastic new documentary that uses interviews old and new and a variety of background footage to create a slickly-edited and fast-paced portrait of the history and influence of Pulp Fiction. Fans will be pleased by the inclusion of deleted scenes that are set up with on-screen intros from Tarantino, video clips of Tarantino directing a pair of the film's scenes and the inclusion of the infamous Palme D'Or acceptance speech that features the director having to fend off a zealous heckler as he makes his remarks. Elsewhere, this special edition represents the critical response to Pulp Fiction with an episode of Siskel and Ebert devoted to the Tarantino phenomenon and a gallery of text articles that analyze the film. The package is rounded out with a great episode of the Charlie Rose Show that features Rose interviewing Tarantino at length, a production design featurette and a barrage of trailers and publicity material. In short, Miramax's special edition of Pulp Fiction is both the definitive edition of this film and a thorough primer on its enduring influence on the world of filmmaking.

This edgy animated sitcom proved so popular after cancellation that it was subsequently resurrected and brought back to prime time. Family Guy arrives on DVD with some hilarious extras thanks to 20th Century Fox Home Video. Presented as originally aired in 1.33:1 full-frame, this release offers audio rendered in closed-captioned English Dolby Digital Surround in addition to alternate Spanish Dolby Digital Surround and French Dolby Digital Stereo. Optional English and Spanish subtitles are available as well. For those who can't get enough of the irreverent series, there are also audio commentaries on select episodes, featuring creator Seth MacFarlane, executive producer David Zuckerman, and various writers and cast members. A behind-the-scenes featurette provides a look at the making of Family Guy and internet promo spots show off some web-savvy marketing.