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420 of 432 found the following review helpful:
 The EDITED bits of Mr. BeanApr 30, 2003
By a
This DVD set which proclaims itself to be the "whole" Bean isn't quite what it appears to be. While it does contain, in essence, all 14 episodes of the classic series, many of the episodes are slightly or even significantly EDITED. Two glaring examples are: in "Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean," the scene of Mr. Bean winning the turkey by guessing it's weight, then throwing it in the back of his car has been CUT. It is NOT here. In "Do-it-Yourself, Mr. Bean," the entire 4-5 minute scene of Bean inside Harrod's trying to take the sale chair away from the old people who get there first has also been CUT. He goes inside... and comes back out with the chair. There is NO scene inside. I would hardly call this the WHOLE Bean. Many other minor segments of him driving have also been cut. All in all, each episode now runs 24-25 minutes instead of the general 27 to 30 minutes. It's a real shame that this set couldn't have been done right, even if it took a fourth disc to do it. I will miss those little moments that are now apparently lost forever. However, what we are left with, edited or not, is still a nice collection... thus, I have to at least give it 3 stars despite my disappointment at it not being truly COMPLETE. I really doubt we will ever see a special "uncut" release, so go ahead and add this set to your collection. The picture's better than ever and the special features are nice but a wee bit minimal. Enough complaining, it's still the best show around... even with his bits and pieces removed.
217 of 225 found the following review helpful:
Should be called "The Missing Pieces of Mr. Bean"May 11, 2003
By David S. Burgess
When I heard that all the classic Mr. Bean episodes were going to be released on DVD finally, I was excited. However, after receiving it, I noticed, as did many others here who have submitted reviews, that certain key scenes were missing from some of the episodes.Two glaring omissions on disc 2 include the "Turkey Weigh-In" scene from "Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean", and, the "Chair Sabotage" scene from "Do It Yourself, Mr. Bean". Discs 1 and 3 appear to have no missing scenes that I have noticed.Fortunately I still have my VHS "Box of Bean" collection, which I will keep, in order to preserve the episodes in their original entirety.The bonus features are wonderful, and am glad to see their inclusion. However, I was a bit dismayed by the omission of the live Boston performances of the classic "In The Church" sketch.I support the other reviewer's sentiments in the hope that a COMPLETE Whole Bean will become available some time in the future. I also hope the live Boston performance will become available on DVD as well. I would have otherwise rated this a 5-star collection, had everything been intact
98 of 104 found the following review helpful:
 Refried BeanMay 09, 2003
By James Oberacker
Unfortunately, the producers of this DVD set decided to refry (edit) classic television in order to save a few pennies - to keep this set down to three DVDs, rather than four. Yet, they included a promo for the animated series? Shameless. For this reason, I can give the set no more than four stars. Curiously, I must also mention that the labeling on the DVDs is incorrect. The last episode listed on the back of the case for Disc 1 is actually the first episode on Disc 2. Also, what the case says should be Disc 2's first episode is actually Disc 1's last. Shoddy production work - but not necessarily worth a rating reduction. But, that said, Mr. Bean is still wonderfully funny, and I have found the DVDs to be wildly entertaining. My six year old daughter is now a big fan, and I was amazed at how much my three year old enjoyed Rowan Atkinson's physical comedy. Mr. Bean is good, clean "G" rated fun that the whole family can enjoy. This set is a far better alternative to the single disc "highlights" DVD that had been available before. Having watched the entire set, I do feel satisfied with my purchase. However, I would have been very willing to pay more for a fourth DVD in the set, so that ALL of Mr. Bean's priceless routines could be enjoyed in their original state.
39 of 41 found the following review helpful:
 The Whole Bean (as Rowan Atkinson originally wrote it)Aug 26, 2006
By Red Azalea
I think I've found the reason why some of you believe there are scenes missing. As I understand it, when the series was shown on PBS, the episodes were too short to fill the required half hour, since in the UK, it was shown WITH commercials (hence the shorter length of the episodes). PBS apparently asked them to ADD scenes to fill the time. These "fillers" were seen as "throw away" scenes by the producers, and not what Mr. Atkinson originally envisioned for the series. Therefore, when the dvd came out, the "filler scenes" were cut. Only those who originally saw it on PBS will notice the difference. But rest assured, you ARE seeing the episodes as Rowan Atkinson originally intended, in all it's brilliantly zany splendor!
31 of 32 found the following review helpful:
Not EditedDec 28, 2005
By J. Whyte
These are NOT edited..let me explain. The only fans who will notice bits missing are USA fans because the MR BEANS when shown in the USA were done on a tv station without commercials, opposed to in the UK where they were shown with ad breaks. Because of this the USA tv station requested extra material to be put in to pad them out to the required length. The production company obliged, put in little bits n bobs to stretch them and so when this release came out, comprising of the official versions..shown everywhere else in the world they thought they were edited. Essentially although slightly different to the USA broadcast versions, these ARE the way Rowan Atkinson intended them to be viewed, the oddments which were added to the USA episodes as a necessity were considered surplus to requiremenrs, inferior in many cases and left on the cutting room floor. OK, so perhaps these scenes could have been included as extras..outtakes for example..or even the extended episodes used for this release BUT I dont think its any major crime, Rowan Atkinson decided these were what he wanted broadcast in the UK/Europe etc and thats good enough for me. Basically only USA fans will notice any change, and even then just slight changes...all in all this is a great set, cheap and VERY funny.
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