A&E Home Video presents

Dog the Bounty Hunter: The Best of Season 2 (2005)

"This is Dog Chapman. We've got a prisoner at the back door."- Duane "Dog" Chapman

Stars: Duane "Dog" Chapman
Other Stars: Beth Smith, Leland Chapman, Tim Chapman, Justin Bihag, Duane Lee Chapman
Director: various

MPAA Rating: Not Rated for (adult situations, violence)
Run Time: 02h:56m:00s
Release Date: 2006-03-28
Genre: television

Style Grade	Substance Grade	Image Transfer Grade	Audio Transfer Grade	Extras Grade
A-	A	B-	C+	D+

 

DVD Review

With reality TV still at its height of popularity, Dog: The Bounty Hunter, which premiered on A&E, isn't the kind of fare we're used to from the genre, chronicles a once-troubled soul who uses his newfound purpose in life to do a job that few people can, or will.

Duane "Dog" Chapman is one-of-a-kind; a hulk of a man who could easily be mistaken for a WWE star. Dog has the unique job of tracking down criminals who are skipping out on their bail. His techniques are far from gentle, as Chapman and his team use any means necessary to capture low-lifes and get them to pay their dues. When it comes to his extremely extended family (Dog has a virtual litter of children), this big guy has a huge heart. Dog doesn't shy away from putting his kids in the line of fire, but aside from his often risky notion that everyone should help in the family business, this man truly appears to adore his children and everyone else that is close to him.

Dog's cohorts are a motley crew, beginning with his wife, Beth Smith. This woman is as tough (and nearly as big) as Dog, often coming across as intimidating than her husband. He's also assisted by his son, Leland, his "blood-brother" Tim, and his nephew Justin Bihag. Dog is the true star of the show, but his comrades have their moments as well. As they search through houses for these fugitives, the show becomes surprisingly suspenseful. One feels pretty sure that neither Dog nor any member of his family will be harmed during these fox hunts, but the intense situations get viewers' hearts racing nonetheless.

The Best of Season 2 begins with a touching reunion in Baby's Back in Town, as Dog's ninth child (yikes!), "Baby" Lisa, comes to visit her dad and soon goes out on a job. Drugs are the focus of Surprise! Surprise, No Ice in Paradise, and Son of Dog, the last of which features the newest bounty hunter, Dog's oldest son, Duane Lee. The next two shows are typical to the series as the crew goes after an abusive husband in Brother's Keeper, and try to get a mother to divulge the location of her son in Mama's Boys. Finishing up this collection is the hour-long This Dog Can Hunt, where Dog and company travel to Colorado to capture a very elusive criminal.

This is one of those series that grabs you by the throat from the first minute and doesn't let go. The people in the show aren't exactly the type you would bring home to Mom, making them all the more compelling. But Dog's attitude towards his family is genuinely good-natured, as he would obviously put nothing before them, not even his beloved job. Forget about its rough exterior, Dog: The Bounty Hunter is one of the more family-friendly programs on the air.

Rating for Style: A-
Rating for Substance: A

 

Image Transfer

	One
Aspect Ratio	1.33:1 - Full Frame
Original Aspect Ratio	yes
Anamorphic	no

Image Transfer Review: These full-frame presentations are nice, but nothing spectacular. Shot on video, the images are always nicely detailed and sharp. The colors are rendered well with accurate flesh tones, and there isn't any dirt or grain to distract from the programs.

Image Transfer Grade: B-
 

Audio Transfer

	Language	Remote Access
DS 2.0	English	no

Audio Transfer Review: The Dolby Digital 2.0 audio is all about dialogue, and the mix doesn't disappoint. Speech is always crisp and easy to understand, blending in well with the various types of background music. Ozzy Osbourne handles the theme music, which sounds great and sets the mood for the show.

Audio Transfer Grade: C+ 

Disc Extras

Full Motion menu with music
Scene Access with 38 cues and remote access
Cast and Crew Biographies
Packaging: Keep Case
Picture Disc
1 Disc
1-Sided disc(s)
Layers: dual

Extra Extras:

1. Test Your Bounty Hunting Skills - Pop Quiz

Extras Review: There are a pair of extras, including Test Your Bounty Hunting Skills, a pop quiz featuring clips from the show. During each of the eight clips a bounty hunting question appears at the bottom of the screen, followed by the correct answer. The other is a collection of biographies on the principal "characters."

Extras Grade: D+
 

Final Comments

Add another show to your DVR's program list, as Dog: The Bounty Hunter is addicting television. Seven episodes from the second season are compiled on A&E Home Video's DVD. While it's great to have these episodes available at all, having complete seasons of the show would be better. The audio and video are on par with the original broadcast quality, but only a pair of throwaway extras are offered.

Chuck Aliaga 2006-04-10