Mad Men: Season Three |  | Director: Matthew Weiner
Actors: Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss, Vincent Kartheiser, January Jones, Christina Hendricks
Studio: Lionsgate Home Entertainment
Category: DVD
List Price: $49.98
Buy New: $22.00
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Rating:  103 reviews
Sales Rank: 68
Format: AC-3, Box set, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Unrated
Region: 1
Discs: 4
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Running Time: 611 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 6 x 1.3
MPN: 031398114420
UPC: 031398114420
EAN: 0031398114420
ASIN: B002LITH76
Release Date: March 23, 2010
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Studio: Lions Gate Home Ent. Release Date: 03/23/2010 Run time: 611 minutes Rating: Nr
Amazon.com
Everything about Mad Men is stylish, even when it's all falling apart. And in season 3 of this Emmy-winning drama, many things fall apart--marriages, childhood, even the ad agency itself--but the unspoolings play out delicately and tragically, making for utterly compelling television. Don Draper (Jon Hamm) appears to dedicate himself to being a devoted family man, with the impending birth of his third child with Betty (January Jones), but the premiere episode, "Out of Town," has him right back to his philandering ways. While the Drapers do enjoy a romantic interlude during a business trip to Italy that makes you wish those darn kids could just work it out, the writing's on the wall that this marriage is sputtering out. Adding to the complication is Betty's discovery of Don's identity-switching past, her own dalliance with a politician, and their oldest child Sally's growing petulance as she observes her world crumbling around her (9-year-old Kiernan Shipka is a revelation). Meanwhile, the Brits infiltrate Sterling Cooper after a merger, leaving Pete (Vincent Kartheiser) and Ken (Aaron Staton) competing for the same job; Conrad Hilton (Chelcie Ross) brings in his business and his idiosyncrasies; the closeted Sal (Bryan Batt) nearly gets pushed out of the closet by some compromising situations; Peggy (Elisabeth Moss) asserts herself in the workplace and experiments with loosening her collar (this includes a surprising fling); and Joan (Christina Hendricks, arguably the sexiest woman on television) finally leaves the agency to be a housewife, only to find herself looking for work when her doctor husband comes up short in the promotion department. As usual, the comic relief lies in the reliable hands of the razor-sharp John Slattery as agency partner Roger Sterling, whose marriage to the much-younger former secretary of Don's drives tension between the once-chummy colleagues. At the end of the season, JFK's assassination provides a tragic backdrop for people preoccupied with their own troubles. The top-drawer writing and staging feels very much like a play, especially in the way it merges Don Draper's past with his present. Each episode also includes commentary by creator Matthew Weiner, various writers and directors, and pretty much all cast members (some are entertaining, some pretty superfluous). Also included are featurettes on the history of cigarette advertising and civil-rights documentaries on Medgar Evers and the "I Have a Dream" speech. The latter features, while substantial and well made, feel curiously out of place next to the materialistic and ethically challenged characters on Madison Avenue. Although not as consistent as the first two seasons, Mad Men's third season has enough power to keep it the best series of 2009. --Ellen A. Kim
Stills from Mad Men: Season 3 (Click for larger image)
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 103
 From A Man Who's Mad About This Show November 10, 2009
Highland Rob (Highland, IN)
51 out of 59 found this review helpful
From day one, this show has not disappointed. It has some of the best writing and acting that Hollywood has produced for a television show in a long time and it has the awards to prove it. It's a highly stylized look at a Madison Avenue advertising agency and the people who work there and has been extremely enjoyable. Season 3 has had the best writing and acting and the last 3 episodes have been the best out of all 39 episodes produced to date. You cannot truly appreciate season 3 without watching seasons 1 and 2 so if you are new to the series, please do yourself a favor and watch them before consuming season 3, you will not be disappointed.
Oh, Don! November 14, 2009
J. A Bowen (Millersville, MD)
37 out of 45 found this review helpful
*Spoilers ahead. Just warning you!*
For all the fans and true "Mad Men" addicts out there, Season 3 was much-anticipated. At the end of Season 2, we had reason to believe that Don Draper (Jon Hamm), the charismatic creative director of Sterling-Cooper, had come to his place of reckoning and was ready to turn a new leaf (sorry for all the cliches) in his marriage, if not his career. His gorgeous, emotionally stunted wife Betty (January Jones) just found out she was pregnant, and they apparently decide to mend their marriage and try to make a go of it. Presumably, women didn't have many choices back in the '60's. Also, Betty just might be that kind of woman - she needs a man to complete her.
But right from the beginning of Season 3, the viewer can see that not much has changed at all, and Don is off being the bad boy again. Betty seems in a world of her own with her pregnancy, and then her father's decline in health and the subsequent decisions that have to made give her all she can apparently cope with. I found myself growing angry at her numerous times because of her cold, unfeeling treatment of her adorable children. Even with all his immaturity, Don seems to be the far more caring parent, at least while face-to-face with his children. Sally Draper, their little girl, had some of the best acting of the season, and I think she will mature into a terrific actress.
So much happens on the career front, it would be a mistake to give it all away in a review. I heard complaints from various people that Season 3 was too slow -- but remember that this is a show about character development and nuance, above all. The last two episodes, about the Kennedy assassination and the Season finale, are as action-packed as any plot lover could want. They are magnificently written and acted, and left this viewer, at least, panting for Season 4. What more can a series offer?
Another Winning Season and Set March 29, 2010
Michelle R (Minnesota)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
Mad Men remains a show that rewards careful viewing. How much you'll like it depends on how important it is to you that there are explosions and car chases. Me, I zone out during action sequences in movies -- it's the weirdest thing. Sports too. What interests me and what Mad Men provides is good story-telling centered around characters. The more you pay attention, the more you'll be rewarded in a greater understanding that will make you confused when someone tells you that nothing happens. This is the type of show that rewards people who take a geeky pleasure in noticing themes and motifs. Matthew Weiner, the creator, allows some things to remain ambiguous as well.
There are so few shows that you can watch more than once and find something new and few shows you can analyze. It's just as fun to discuss it afterwards as it is to watch it. If this sounds too much like high school English -- and not in a good way -- then you'd be better off taking a pass. However, if this is the type of show you seek out, then enjoy. If you haven't seen the previous seasons, start there and enjoy it from the beginning. I'll envy you your opportunity to enjoy three seasons in a row!
In season three, we continue to deal with the Draper marriage -- a union strained to nearly the breaking point in season 2. There was some really beautiful writing and acting here. One of the beauties of this show is how in the course of a scene a viewer's sympathies can change or be torn between characters. The marriage between Pete and Trudy shows some terrific growth and depth that could not have been predicted in season 1. Don Draper also meets a mogul who is probably rolling in his grave over the second most famous thing the family name now evokes. Sal, played by Bryan Batt, has several wonderful scenes, starting with the first episode of the season. Kiernan Shipka, who plays Sally Draper, is turning out to be a talented young actress, as highlighted in an episode called The Arrangements, as well as in the season finale. Frankly, I could just continue mentioning members of this terrific cast, as they all are a pleasure.
The Kennedy assassination is featured and handled in a way never seen before, I think, and it's one character's reaction to it and events surrounding it that causes him/her/it to make a truly huge decision.
On to the Bluray: I had to return the first copy as defective -- no matter what I hit, it wanted to rewind. Fortunately, the next copy was perfect, and Amazon has always handled returns well. Because this is a show that caters to people who want to really enjoy the writing and acting and to even study it a little, this set carries on in the tradition of previous seasons in offering tons of commentary -- most episodes have two commentaries. As always, some people really do a better job that others. The creator, Matthew Weiner, always has good insights. Kiernan Shipka, I'm not kidding, seemed to really be in touch with her character in a way that many adults can only envy. Other extras are a mixed bag, although I enjoyed the 2 part doc on cigarette advertising.
Love this show!
Unbearably Good April 5, 2010
Cary B. Barad (Baltimore, MD)
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
An extremely creative and well-fleshed out portrayal of advertising executives, their co-workers and their families in the 1960's. Gives the same or better dramatic quality and acting as "The Sopranos" and "Deadwood". You may find some minor things to quibble about, but the overall product is pleasurable and enjoyable beyond expectations. In fact it surpasses Season 2 given the minimal use of surreal fantasy and flashback which can be irrelevant and distracting to viewers.
The Saga Continues March 20, 2010
Amos Lassen (Little Rock, Arkansas)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
"Mad Men: Season 3:
The Saga Continues
Amos Lassen
I must admit that I love "Mad Men" and the show has never let me down. The writing is excellent and the acting is some of the best on the screen. Granted it may be stylized but that doesn't stop it from being enjoyable.
At the end of season 2, we left Don Draper as he had come to a place in his life that he could deal with himself and was ready to begin a new chapter. His wife is pregnant and they seem to have decided to mend their marriage but we see that not much has really changed. Betty, Don's wife, is still cold and Don comes through as the more caring person.
There are 13 new episodes and each is a gem. I found myself wanting to go back to the previous seasons because of the hints that were there and I am glad that I own the first two seasons so it was easy to do so. Now with season three, I feel somewhat complete but then there is season four coming.
This is the best thing to come along on TV in a long time (except for "True Blood", my other weakness). There is a lot in season 3---the assassination of JFK, the summer of love of the 1960's, and the world of Don Draper goes haywire. If you have never seen "Mad Men" you have really missed something and it is never too late. You owe it to yourself to see what really good television is all about.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 103
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