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Description: Although these all-stars may be familiar with the show’s premise, a few things have been changed for the show’s eighth season in order to offer some change into the mix. Players were divided into three tribes named Chapera, Saboga and Mogo Mogo, and marooned on separate beaches off the Panama coast where they cope with the most unpredictable weather yet. Promising to be the most manipulative season yet, SURVIVOR: ALL-STARS would not be complete without a little conflict between the players, and this time around, there is plenty of that to go around.. Commentaries on 10 episodes by (variously) Rob Cesternino, Jenna Morasca, Rudy Boesch, Tina Wesson, Lex Van Den Berghe, Alicia Calaway, Kathy Vavrick-O’Brien, Shii Ann Huang, Rupert Boneham, Jenna Lewis, Amber Brkich and Rob Mariano Amazon.com: Billed as "the greatest Survivor ever" when it launched following the Super Bowl in January 2004, Survivor All-Stars broke new ground for the hit reality series by bringing back 18 of its most famous (and infamous) characters from the previous seven installments to battle it out in a quest for affirmation or redemption (and, of course, the million-dollar prize). Half the fun was seeing who was picked to return, and there were many tasty selections: original winner Richard (natch) from Borneo; Colby, Jerri, and Tina from the Australian Outback; Ethan, Lex, and Big Tom from Africa; and the newest alumnus, Rupert from the just-completed Pearl Islands. (There were, of course, many omissions, such as Mike Skupin, who deserved a second chance after falling into the fire in Australia.) Right from the beginning, it was clear that this Survivor was going to be different. Because people now knew each other (from sharing a previous game, watching on TV, or mixing at Survivor-related functions), some of the schemers were quickly sniffed out and snuffed out, and players were more aggressive about creating alliances (which sometimes overlapped, but hey, it's only a problem if you get caught). In addition, because no one wanted to see someone win a second million dollars, previous champions found that they had targets on their backs. As a result, there was an entirely new wave of power players. Along the way there were some surprising and very emotional developments (which had the unfortunate side effect of killing some of the show's action) and the first on-screen Survivor romance. In the end, Survivor All-Stars didn't live up to its billing as the best ever (that title would remain with season 2 in the Australian Outback), but it did bring a new twist and some genuinely memorable moments to a long-running series. The DVD set adds significant value to the season, including some welcome behind-the-scenes info on the series as a whole. The bonus footage consists of much longer versions of each member's "confessional" after being voted out, and 57 minutes of scenes that are edited and scored like the regular episodes. Among those scenes are a tribal council that was never seen on TV and Rob Cesternino's dead-on impression of host Jeff Probst at a mock tribal council, which was seen during the season as new footage in the midseason "recap" episode. That episode is the only one not included in the set, but with the above-mentioned moment preserved, only the most hardcore fan would object to the loss of this dead spot in every season. Three different quartets of cast members recorded commentary tracks on a total of 10 episodes, including the final four on the last episode and the first reunion (the second is also included). They provide a lot of insight and fun stories, though there's a bit too much yelling over each other. There are also featurettes that should appeal to all fans of the show: how the challenges are created and tested, the casting process, behind the scenes at the final show, and TV promos for the previous seven seasons. The individual profiles of all 16 All-Stars consist of footage of their original appearances, which may help remind you why they were picked to return, and interviews before the the season started. --David Horiuchi Customer Reviews: Rating: 
Date: 2008-07-02
Survivor at its best
Survivor is a reality show original. One of the first, and also one of the best. Out of the umpteen seasons that they've had, this one stands out by far as the absolute. It brings back some of the most memorable and successful "survivors" from the first seasons and pits them against each other. If you are a reality show fan, this should be at the top of your list. If your a survivor fan, you've seen it already, but it's time to watch it again. Fun and light viewing. Rating:
Date: 2008-04-15
All-Stars: A Must Have!
When I first heard that they were going to do an All-Star version of Survivor, I was ecstatic. Just the thought of seeing previous players from different season play against each other was a dream come true for me.
(May contain SPOILERS!)
Nothing stopped me from reading spoilers from the infamous ChillOne before the show began airing. I wanted to know a little information before the season started. Yet when the show aired, my excitement did not wane. I tuned obediently to every episode. I was very active on message board(s) for the show. I played the Ancient Voices theme over and over.
Despite other people's dislike for the outcome as each episode progressed, my opinion did not change. I was a fan of AMBER when she was in AUSTRALIA. To see her get far and do well in the game was amazing. I always felt she was underestimated; and it helped her in the game as she was not viewed as a threat.
BOSTON ROB was one of the characters I did not like in MARQUESAS. But I will admit that he impressed me with his (more) aggressive strategy for ALL-STARS. Arguably, he played like what the other ALL-STAR SURVIVOR should've played like.
This season had it all: challenges that exhausted the contestants, amazing rewards (two cars), backstabbing, tribal swap, fights (e.g., Rob Vs. Lex, Jerri Vs. Rupert), dramatic exit (Jenna Morasca), unusual quit (Sue), name-callings, tears, a very emotional final tribal council, a very angry jury, a very tense reunion, and the very first Survivor romance.
This DVD boxed set was ordered here from Amazon and sent to me by a friend. It's very nice to rewatch the episodes in clear quality. I still get excited just by watching the first episode alone (one of the best in Survivor history) even if I have seen it so many times before.
There are cast commentaries for more than 5 episodes. The first group of commentators led by Rob Cesternino are good. The bonus footage are really great as well. The set has extra footage for the challenges, casting, post-show interviews, and even clips that were not aired on TV.
The recap episode that aired on TV is not present here. But the favorite clip from that episode in which Chapera mocked Saboga's first tribal council is included in longer form as a bonus feature.
It's a must-own DVD. Many people have cited All-Stars as one of the truly great seasons before the show arguably became a parody of itself. It's a great season that will leave you with lots of memories. Rating:
Date: 2007-12-28
Great
This is graet, I got it for my wife for Christmas and she loves it, Thanks. Rating: 
Date: 2007-11-21
Pretty good season, EVERYONE was affaid to play the game!!
It was a pretty good season, but everyone was affaid to make moves in the game. They made alliances on day 2 and stuck with them even though it made them come in 4th, 5th place. The people that wouldn't be affaid of making moves were voted off early or couldn't because players would not budge. It had some great moments in the season too. Like Rich "rubbing" Sue, Sue's break down and then ripping Jeff a new one, Jenna's mom, the godfather move that Boston Rob did to Lex, Boston Robb calling Big Tom son dumb and the Jury meltdown. Also the cast commentaries was great. You could clearly hear that these people have not gotten over it. A fight happen between Shi-ann and Alicia in the commentaries. Also Lex hates Robb so much that he saw some kids with a Boston Redsocks hat and wanted to hurt them. Now that it's under 30 dollars it differnly worth the purchase if your a survivor fan. Rating: 
Date: 2007-10-31
"Not Just a Game"
After giving Survivor Allstars a 5 star review, I had to rethink my position as I finished watching disc 6. In fact, I'm sure EVERYONE will disagree with what I'm about to say and if I could be 'booed off stage like Jerri was, I'm sure I would be.
I'm not sure how many times the word "Game" was used throughout the DVD but it must have been several hundred times. It's just a game. It's just a game. It's just a game - was used like some reality show mantra. But was it? On further review - 'the game' was anything but. In fact, it is a display of the worse of human nature. Deception, deceit, dishonesty, greed and selfishness. It's a game that someone 'wins' by employing the most ruthless of tactics and I truly believe what Kathy and Lex told Rob at the last tribal council. That its not a game and it that it is, in fact, a true test of personal character and how you want to represent yourself to the world.
I was even more amazed when Jerri spoke up telling the audience that Survivor was NOT just a game and that everything that had happened to the participants took something out of them personally, emotionally and physically and then was booed by the audience to the point she felt she had to leave the show. Of course the audience would not agree with her because that would implicate THEM in that greed, dishonesty and deceit which is an integral part of the show "Survivor". It is the Christians and the Lions all over again. A spectacle of broken relationships, friendships and lives for the spectacle of us - the blood thirsty masses.
And then Jeff (the narrator's) response basically telling Jerri that if she didn't like it she could leave at any time. What an AH. But what else would you expect from the moderator of the show. Mean-spirited throughout. THAT is the basis of Survivor.
So as long as we as a country continue to endorse shows like this - shows that not only condone 'greed at any cost' - but shows that endorse the "Winner" rather than what the group has to offer as a whole (and all for the sake of money) - we will continue to promote self-centeredness, selfishness and the WORST of human character defects that are, in my opinion, anything but "Entertainment".
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