the X-FILES
BLACK OIL

MYTHOLOGY COLLECTION

Release Date: July 26th 2005

MSRP Price: $39.98 (estimated price)
Amazon Price: $27.48
Costco Price: 28.99
Sam's Club: $27.99

15 Episodes - Season 3, 4, & 5
Format: full-fram & anamorphic widescreen
Length: 42 minutes each
Studio: 20th Century Fox 
Run Time: 669 minutes
Number of Discs:  4
Sound: Dolby Digital Surround 5.1

Mythology Collection Rating: "B" 

Video: B 
Audio: B
Acting: A
Content: A
Packaging: B
Extras: C

STARS: David Duchovny, Gillian Anderson, Robert Patrick, Annabeth Gish, Mitch Pileggi & Wiliam B Davis

For years, this series was all the Fox had. It went from a struggling television series to a cult favorite mixing way out stories, dark setting and some great writing. Duchovny and Anderson fought hard to get out of the series after nine seasons to pursue lucrative movie deals. Neither has done squat since leaving the show, but fans have never forgotten the show that pulled them in and kept them riveted to the small screen for one hour per week. 

Fans have the complete series available to them on DVD and for those who can't afford the entire series Fox has moved on to creating unique DVD boxed set call their Mythology Collections. The latest is titled Black Oil. 15 excellent episode in one packaged the will entertain for hours. 

I was never really drawn in to the series during its run or when it landed on DVD. There just isn't anything with the series that pulled me in. I have watch a crap load of the episodes and enjoyed most all of them and the X-Files is a quality series. 

The Black Oil collection contains what I thought was one of the best series storylines that Chris Carter would create. Many believe this was one of the shows best. 

For some reason most season boxed sets are still in the $100 price range keeping fans from purchasing the series, but this $40 boxed set containing 15 of the shows best episodes will be a television fanatics favorite boxed set. 

PACKAGING 
The packaging is basic, yet eye catching. That's good considering that a giant eyeball is the main image on the boxed sets cover. A plain white cardboard slip case using dull brown images does capture the eye in a nice design overall. The four discs are in two slim case two disc clamshells. The inserts uses different images set with the same theme design. The insert interior images are darkened images taken from the boxed set episodes create a dark setting that matches many of the shows storylines. It's a well designed and put together package that fans will like. 

VIDEO: 
The series premiered in 1993, so the series masters are in good shape already. Having been done to DVD already the burn for Fox as pretty easy with a quick dust off and slapping the master into the burner.  The video looks very good, but is not spectacular. Blemishes and dirt are minimal and the colors are accurate, the blacks dark. It's a very good transfer. 

AUDIO: 
The audio is remastered to Dolby Digital up to 5.1. The X-Files sounds good through the system. Not much use of those rear speakers so the 5.1 transfer is wasted as it is with most of the other series. The voices are clear, as are the special effects. The background music thrums pretty good too. 

BONUS FEATURES: 
The bonus materials are limited but include some things fans will enjoy. 

• - Audio Commentary on Selected Episodes.

• - New "Threads of Mythology" documentary: Black Oil

• - Mythology Collectible Timeline

SUMMARY: 
This is an awesome special edition boxed set for The X-Files. Black Oil is the second mythology set, but likely the best so far. Black Oil is many fans favorite storyline and takes the franchise through 3 seasons. Price at $40 it's a set that fans can't go wrong with. $100 seasonal boxed sets have kept the fans at bay since its release to dvd. These two mythology boxed sets allow fans to have the best of what the X-Files was. 

X-Files: Black Oil Overall Rating:  B

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