ULTRAMAN SERIES 1 VOLUME 1 DVD REVIEW

ULTRAMAN SERIES 1 VOLUME 1 (1960’S) TV: DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from BCI-Eclipse about Ultraman Series 1 Volume 1: Ultraman comes to DVD for the first time. This three DVD set includes the first 20 episodes of the first series, uncut and remastered, of the original Tsuburaya Productions television series created by Eiji Tsuburaya, the special effects genius who created one of the greatest film monsters of all time, GODZILLA.

Ultraman was the show I would watch every weekday mornings on summer break at 8 am on Channel 44 in Tampa Florida in the mid to late 1970’s! I am a huge fan of the Godzilla monster movies and this show showed them in almost every episode! They were dubbed in English and were fun to watch. This set consists of the first 20 episodes. Each episode can be watched in either the original Japanese version or the American dubbed version. Since these episodes are uncut for the first time, the American version was shortened for our TV market and when the full version is shown it sometimes is in Japanese but subtitled in English to link the missing US dubbing, which is great to finally watch the whole episode how it was supposed to be shown. This show spawned several sequels series such as Ultraman Tiga,Ultra 7 and Ultraman 80 to name a few. The special features in this set are an interview with the original American dub team who were the same group that did the Speed Racer series. Also there is the US Version of the opening theme song. Since they show the opening, which is longer than the American version, they don’t have ending music or credits. But that’s ok, considering the episodes are uncut and remastered!

VIDEO

The video quality is absolutely fantastic! Remastered from the original negatives. Episodes are uncut. It’s very nice to watch these compared to the bad film prints they use to have in syndication. There is also a Play All feature.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Audio is in Mono but very clear!


Disc 1-
1. “Ultra Operation # 1”
2. “Shoot The Invader”
3. “Charge Forth, Science Patrol”
4. “Five Seconds Before the Explosion”
5. “Secret of Miroganda”
6. “Coast Guard Orders”

Disc 2-
1. “The Blue Stone of Baraj”
2. ”Monster Lawless Zone”
3. “Operation Electric Stone Fire”
4. “The Mysterious Dinosaur Base”
5. “The Rambunctious One From Space”
6. “Cry of the Mummy”
7. “Oil SOS”

Disc 3-
1. “Pearl Oyster Defense Order”
2. “The Space Ray Of Terror”
3. “Science Patrol to Space”
4. “Passport To Infinity”
5. “The Brother From Another Planet”
6. “The Demons Once More”
7. “Terror On Route 87”


Extras

Disc 1: Interviews with English Dub team of Peter Fernandez, Corrine Orr and the late Earl Hammond-the team that voiced the original Speed Racer
Kajiu (Monster) encyclopedia
US Opening Credits
8 Page Booklet on the series


Verdict

If you are a fan of the Ultraman series or Japanese rubber suit monster movies, then you will like this! Defiantly the set to get.



Rating: ****!

SATURDAY MORNING MEMORIES: SPACE ACADEMY

A short blurb from BCI-Eclipse-Entertainment Rights about Space Academy: The Complete Series:” Class was never this much fun at your school…the students at Space Academy major in adventure! Under the guidance of their instructor Commander Gampu (played by Jonathan Harris) the young cadets attending Space Academy in the year 3732 include Captain Chris Gentry, his telepathic sister Laura Gentry, action-oriented Tee Gar Soom, brainy Lt. Paul Jerome, and the pretty young Adrian Pryce-Jones. Joining the Blue Team for learning and adventure are the robot Peepo and the blue-haired mysterious space orphan Loki.”
Finally! Space Academy is available on DVD! This was one of my all time favorite Saturday morning shows ever!! BCI Eclipse-Entertainment Rights have done a fantastic job with this set! They really care what the consumer wants especially for the older baby boomer kids like me! The show ran in 1977 for 15 episodes and spawned another series, Jason of Star Command that is also coming to DVD soon! The Special effects were done by some of the same people that worked on the first Star Wars Film. This set is packed full of extras including audio commentaries on two episodes an over a half-hour documentary with 3 people from the original cast reminiscing about the show. Lots of promo photos and behind the scenes photos with interview clips, Easter Eggs, and people with DVD players can access all the scripts from the series and Series bible in pdf format! I can’t say enough about this set!

VIDEO

The video quality is fantastic! Digitally remastered from the original negatives. The picture quality is crystal clear and the episodes are uncut. There is also a Play All feature on each disc.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. The audio is also Mono here but is very clear.

Disc 1- 1. “The Survivors of Zalon”
2. “Castaways in Time & Space”
3. “Hide & Seek”
4. “Countdown”

Disc 2- 1. “There’s No Place Like Home”
2. “The Rocks Of Janus”
3. “Monkey Business”
4. “The Phantom Planet”

Disc 3- 1. “Planet Of Fire”
2. “Life Begins at 300”
3. “The Cheat”
4. “My Favorite Marcia”

Disc 4-1. “Space Hookey”
2. “Star Legend”
3. “Johnny Sunseed”


Extras

Disc 1: Audio Commentary on the episode-“Countdown”

Disc 2: Audio Commentary on the episode-The Phantom Planet”

Disc 3: None

Disc 4: Back To School with Space Academy Documentary (34:09)
Commercial Bumpers Versions 1 & 2 (0:30)
Promotional Gallery (42 Pictures)
Behind the scenes photos (22 pictures)
Cast reunion photos (5 pictures)
Memorabilia Photos (9 pictures)
Easter Eggs
DVD-Rom Feature-All 15 scripts Complete in pdf format.
Series Bible


Verdict

If you’re a fan of the show or remember it back when, go and buy this set! The picture and audio quality are superb. The extras are more than enough for you to enjoy and not to disappoint!

Rating; *****!

TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED SET 1 REVIEW

A short blurb from Acorn Media about Tales of the Unexpected Set 1:” Like his children’s books, Roald Dahl’s adult stories never fail to surprise, though they take more chilling flights of fancy. Darkly humorous and playfully macabre, each standalone episode in this acclaimed series is a brilliantly acted little gem of creepy delight. This DVD set includes all 25 episodes from the first two seasons, available uncut for the first time.”
Tales of the Unexpected started in 1978 as a British version of Alfred Hitchcock presents with a little Twilight Zone thrown in. It had a cavalcade of British and American actors in these interesting 25-minute episodes. An American version of the series tried to stay on the air in 1979 but only lasted a few episodes. These are the original British versions with the writer Roald Dahl introducing the episodes for at least the first 3 seasons. I believe that John Houseman introduced the American Syndicated episodes. If you are an Anglophile (Love of all things British) you will love these shows. Acorn Media did a wonderful job with the packaging and the interactive menus. A total of 112 episodes were produced.


VIDEO

The video quality is superb! Most of the episodes were done on videotape but they were done also on videotape for indoor and film for outdoors and a few shows that were completely done on film. Videotape episodes are sharp and clear and filmed one had little to no dirt or specks. No word that they are remastered in anyway but they are from good prints and video. All discs have a Play All feature.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Also here in mono but very clear!

Disc 1- 1. “Man from the South”-with Jose Ferrer and Pamela Stephenson
2. “Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat”-with Julie Harris and Richard Greene
3. “William and Mary”-with Elaine Stritch and Marius Goring
4. “Lamb To The Slaughter”-with Susan George and Brian Blessed
5. “The Landlady”
6. “Neck”-with Joan Collins, Sir John Gielgud and Peter Bowles
7. “Edward the Conqueror”-with Joseph Cotton

Disc 2- 1. “A Dip In The Pool”-with Jack Weston and Michael Troughton
2. “The Way Up To Heaven”-with Julie Harris
3. “Royal Jelly”-with Susan George and Timothy West
4. “Skin”-with Derek Jacobi and Donald Pickering
5. “Galloping Foxley”-with Sir John Mills
6. “The Hitch-Hiker”-with Rod Taylor


Disc 3- 1. “Poison”-with Judy Geeson
2. “Fat Chance”-with Miriam Margolyes and Geoffrey Bayldon
3. “Taste”-with Ron Moody
4. “My Lady Love, My Dove”-with Shane Rimmer and Elaine Stritch
5. “Georgy Porgey”-with Joan Collins
6. “Depart In Peace”-with Joseph Cotton, Maureen O’Brien and John Bennett

Disc 4-1. “The Umbrella Man”-with Sir John Mills, Michael Sheard
2. “Genesis and Catastrophe”
3. “ Mr. Botibol’s First Love”-with Jack Weston
4. “ Back For Christmas”-with Richard Johnson
5. “The Orderly World Of Mr. Appleby”
6. “The Man At The Top”-with Peter Firth and Michael Ripper

Extras

Disc 1: Production notes from the series- (Text Only)
Roald Dahl’s Biography- (Text Only)
Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)

Disc 2: Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)

Disc 3: Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)

Disc 4: Cast Filmographies- (Text Only)


Verdict

I would highly recommend buying this set! The picture and audio quality are wonderful. The extras are interesting enough with text about the show with information that was not presently known about the series.


Rating; ****!

KNIGHT RIDER SEASON 1 TV DVD REVIEW

KNIGHT RIDER SEASON 1 TV: DVD REVIEW
A short blurb from Universal about Knight Rider Season 1:” Gear up for action with superstar David Hasselhoff and his supercar, K.I.T.T. as they throttle crime in every high-octane episode from the first season of Knight Rider, finally available to own for the first time on DVD.
In 1982 Glen A Larson had a great idea, Knight Rider! The creator of Battlestar Galactica made a show about a talking car that can drive by itself and protect its owner, Michael Knight. The show ran for a very successful 4-year run and 90 episodes. I had the opportunity of going to Universal Studios in California in 1985 when Knight Rider was still in production and sat in a talking KITT car that answered questions just like the car on the show. I’m glad that the show is finally on DVD.

VIDEO

The video quality is good. These episodes are not remastered but for the most part taken from good prints with little specks or dirt.
Episodes are uncut with the tag for tonight’s episode on before the theme music.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Audio quality is good to very good.


Disc 1- Side A
1. “Knight of the Phoenix” (2 Hr)
2. “Deadly Maneuvers”
3. “A Good Day at White Rock”
Side B
1. “Slammin’ Sammy’s Stunt Show Spectacular”
2. “Just My Bill”
3. “Not A Drop To Drink”
4. “No Big Thing”


Disc 2-Side A
1. “Trust Doesn’t Rust”
2. “Inside Out”
3. “The Final Verdict”
4. “A Plush Ride”
Side B
1. “Forget Me Not”
2. “Heart Of Stone”
3. “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death”
4. “The Topaz Connection”

Disc 3-Side A
1. “A Nice Indecent Little Town”
2. “Chariot Of Gold”
3. “White Bird”
4. “Knight Moves”
Side B
1. “Nobody Does It Better”
2. “Short Notice”

Disc 4-1. “Knight Rider 2000” Reunion Movie


Extras

Disc 1: Audio Commentary on Knight Of The Phoenix with David Hasselhoff and Glen Larson

Disc 2: None

Disc 3: Knight Moves-Stunt Work on the series (06:06)
Knight Sounds-The Music Of Knight Rider (06:35)

Disc 4: Knight Under the Hood-The Making Of Knight Rider (15:47)
Photo Gallery-Moving Picture Gallery (03:00)
Blueprint Gallery-Moving Picture Gallery (03:06)
Kitt’s Owner Manual (Interactive Control Panel)


Verdict

I would buy this set and remaining sets only for the reason that it was a fun show to watch and now have. The extras are not all that much but better than some of the other Universal shows that are now on DVD except for the good work they did for Battlestar Galactica.



Rating: ***

FAWLTY TOWERS TV DVD REVIEW

What can I say about Fawlty Towers! A Masterpiece! I first watched Fawlty Towers in the early to mid 1980’s on our local PBS channel in Tampa, Florida. I loved Monty Python’s Flying Circus and heard that this show had John Cleese in it, I had to watch it. I even got my mother to watch too which was unusual because my mom doesn’t normally like this kind of humor. I watched my mom literally fall off the couch laughing and I couldn’t stop laughing myself. The Complete Fawlty Towers collection is chalked full of extras as well as all 12 episodes digitally remastered!
There are interviews with John Cleese, Prunella Scales and Andrew Sachs. There is also a director’s audio commentary on every episode with directors John Howard Davies and Bob Spiers and a few more surprises!


VIDEO

The video quality is wonderful! Digitally remastered and restored for the first time on DVD.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Is also in Mono but very clear!

Disc 1- 1. “A Touch Of Class”
2. “The Builders”
3. “The Wedding Party”
4. “Hotel Inspectors”

Disc 2- 1. “Gourmet Night”
2. “The Germans”
3. “Communication Problems”
4. “The Psychiatrist”

Disc 3- 1. “Waldorf Salad”
2. “The Kipper and the Corpse”
3. “The Anniversary”
4. “Basil The Rat”

Extras

Disc 1: Audio Commentaries on all four episodes by John Howard Davies
Interview with John Cleese Pt 1 (16:10)
A Visit To Torquay: Home of the Real Fawlty Towers (11:30)
Customer Service Tips: Scenes from Fawlty Towers (10:30)
A Look what the real Fawlty Towers looks like today (02:25)
Helpful Staff-Cast Biographies-Text with pictures
Guest Registry-Guest stars that have stayed in the Hotel
Trailers: French & Saunders
Father Ted
The League Of Gentlemen
Wallace & Gromit
BBC America

Disc 2: Audio Commentaries on Gourmet Night and The Germans by Director John Howard Davies
Audio Commentaries on Communication Problems and The Psychiatrist by Director Bob Spiers
Interview with John Cleese Pt 2 (18:21)
Interview with Andrew Sachs (25:03)
How To Manage Your Staff: Scenes from Fawlty Towers (08:38)
Helpful Staff-Cast Biographies from Season 2 (Text with Photos)
Guest Registry-Guest stars that have stayed in the hotel
Trailers: Same as Disc 1

Disc 3: Audio Commentaries on all Episodes by Director Bob Spiers
Interview with John Cleese Pt 3 (18:06)
Interview with Prunella Scales (07:55)
Tip for a successful Marriage: Scenes from the Show (08:37)
Blooper Reel (Approx 4 minutes)
Trailers: Same as Discs 1 and 2

Verdict

If you love British comedy, you’ve got to get this set! The picture and audio quality are fantastic! The extras are full of interviews, outtakes, audio commentaries and information about the show.


Rating; *****!

STAR TREK ANIMATED DVD REVIEW

STAR TREK: THE ANIMATED SERIES (1970’S) TV: DVD REVIEW

One of my favorite Saturday morning animated shows finally has arrived on DVD! Star Trek: The Animated Series came out in 1973 and was the best thing out there mainly because of the writing of the show. They were written by people from the original series as well as known sci-fi writers. Paramount has done a wonderful job with this set! All 22 episodes are here remastered and with 5.1 Surround sound! There are text and audio commentaries on selected episodes and a making of the Animated show. The best thing about the series was that the original actors from the 60’s series voiced all of the characters. Personally, I couldn’t as for a better set.

VIDEO

The video quality is absolutely fantastic! Remastered from the original negatives. Episodes are uncut.

Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. Audio quality is wonderful in 5.1 surround sound!


Disc 1-
1. “Beyond the Farthest Star”
2. “Yesteryear” *
3. “One Of Our Planets Is Missing”
4. “The Lorelei Signal”
5. “More Tribbles, More Troubles” **
6. “The Survivor”

Disc 2-
1. “The Infinite Vulcan” ***
2. ”The Magicks Of Megas-Tu”
3. “Once Upon A Planet”
4. “Mudd’s Passion”
5. “The Terratin Incident”
6. “The Time Trap”

Disc 3-
1. “The Ambergris Element”
2. “The Slaver Weapon”
3. “The Eye Of The Beholder” *
4. “The Jihad”
5. “The Pirates Of Orion”



Disc 4-
1. “Bem” **
2. “The Practical Joker”
3. “Albatross”
4. “How Sharper Than A Serpent’s Tooth” **
5. “The Counter-Clock Incident” *


Extras

Disc 1: Text Commentary on “Yesteryear” *
Audio Commentary on “More Tribbles, More Troubles” by David Gerrold **

Disc 2: Storyboard Gallery on “The Infinite Vulcan” ***

Disc 3: Text Commentary on “The Eye Of The Beholder” *

Disc 4: Audio Commentary on “Bem” by David Gerrold **
Audio Commentary on “How Sharper Than A Serpent’s Tooth” by David Wise
Text Commentary on “The Counter-Clock Incident” **
Drawn to the Final Frontier: The Making of Star Trek The Animated Series
What’s The Star Trek Connection-Comparisons to the other series
Show History-Text Only


Verdict

I would by all means pick up this set! It is well worth the money especially if you are a true Star Trek Fan! It has been said that Gene Roddenberry wanted the Animated Series to be de-canonized. I strongly disagree! It has the same writers and actors from the original series. It should be part of the history. I’m off my soapbox now.



Rating: *****!

BLACKADDER DVD REVIEW

I first saw Blackadder on A& E years ago that was heavily edited and at that time thought “This is a very funny show!”. Once I watched the Complete Blackadder Series unedited its even funnier. It also boasts of a couple of very well known faces now. Rowan Atkinson is superb in the ever-changing roles of Blackadder who was in “Never Say Never Again” and the “Mr. Bean” series as well as the “Thin Blue Line”. Hugh Laurie who went onto “Stuart Little” movies and to the TV Show “House”. Other people in the cast are Stephen Fry and Miranda Richardson along with Tim Mcinnerny and of course, Tony Robinson as Baldrick. This DVD set is one of the best sets for a British TV show that Warner Home Video has done apart from Doctor Who. I know that Blackadder as well as Doctor Who are from the BBC and Warner really has nothing to do with them other than converting them to NTSC but they did not edit or leave anything out from the British release.


VIDEO

The video quality is great! The series was done on videotape but there were no dropouts of picture at all. Excellent quality.


Audio

Was originally recorded in Mono. It is also Mono on this set.

Disc 1- 1. “The Foretelling” with Peter Cook
2. “Born To Be King”
3. “The Archbishop”
4. “The Queen Of Spain’s Beard” with Jim Broadbent
5. “Witchsmellers Pursuivant”
6. “The Black Seal” with Patrick Allen

Disc 2- 1. “Bells” with Rik Mayall
2. “Head”
3. “Potato” with Tom Baker
4. “Money”
5. “Beer” with Miriam Margolyes
6. “Chains”

Disc 3- 1. “Dish and Dishonesty”
2. “Ink and Incapability ” with Robbie Coltrane
3. “Nob and Nobility”
4. “Sense and Senility” with Kenneth Conner
5. “Amy and Amiability”
6. “Duel and Duality” with Stephen Fry




Disc 4-1. “Captain Cook”
2. “Corporal Punishment”
3. “Major Star”
4. “Private Plane” with Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson
5. “General Hospital” with Miranda Richardson
6. “Goodbyeee” with Geoffrey Palmer

Disc 5- “Blackadder Back & Forth (33 Mins)


Extras

Disc 1: Who’s Who in Blackadder-(Text with Photos)
Footnotes To History- (Text Only)
Blackadder Sing-A-Long (1:10)
Trailers-French and Sanders
Father Ted
BBC America

Disc 2: Who’s Who in Blackadder-(Text with Photos)
Footnotes To History- (Text Only)
Blackadder: The Cavalier Years (15 Mins)
Trailers-French and Sanders
Father Ted
BBC America


Disc 3: Who’s Who in Blackadder-(Text with Photos)
Footnotes To History- (Text Only)
Blackadder: A Christmas Carol (43 Mins)
Trailers-French and Sanders
Father Ted
BBC America


Disc 4: Who’s Who in Blackadder-(Text with Photos)
Footnotes To History- (Text Only)
Richard Curtis Interview (24 Mins)
Trailers-French and Sanders
Father Ted
BBC America

Disc 5: Who’s Who in Blackadder-(Text with Photos)
Footnotes To History- (Text Only)
Baldrick’s Diary:The Making Of Back & Forth
Trailers-French and Sanders
Father Ted
BBC America



Verdict

I would defiantly recommend buying this set! The picture and audio quality are great! The extras are adequate. The Who’s Who in Blackadder and Footnotes To History on each disc pertain to that time in history.


Rating; ****!