TIMESLIP: THE COMPLETE SERIES TV DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from A & E Home Video about Timeslip: The Complete Series:” Have you ever had the feeling you’ve been here before? Or you know what will happen next? Perhaps you’re experiencing a TIMESLIP, where past and future are just a blink of an eye away.”

In the early 1970’s, it was a good time for British children’s television. At the same time you had Dr Who on the BBC, The Freewheelers on Southern Television and Timeslip on ATV. This series was a well thought out premise and well written for children. The story was about 2 fifteen year old children while on vacation, discover a invisible time barrier on a farm that they go through that first takes them to World War II, then traveling to Antarctica in the 1990s, a tropical jungle that happens to be in England and then to a research facility in the 1960s. When the show premiered in 1970, the show was already ahead of its time dealing with topics such as anti-aging drugs, global warming and cloning. All 26 episodes are available for the first time on DVD. The show was originally made in color and on videotape but due to the mass purging of TV show from different studios at that time, that all remains in color is episode 6 of the story The Time of the Ice Box. The rest of the episodes of the series are in black and white and on film. I found this show to be quite entertaining and thought provoking. There is also an interesting documentary called “Beyond the Time Barrier” and there is an interactive map of where the time barrier is.

VIDEO

The video quality is very good! All the episodes but one are on film. Film quality is quite good with little to no dirt or specks All discs have a Play All feature.

AUDIO

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

Disc 1- 1. “The Wrong End Of Time” (6 Episodes)

Disc 2- 1. “The Time Of The Ice Box” (6 Episodes)-with John Barron

Disc 3- 1. “The Year Of The Burn Up” (8 Episodes)-with David Graham

Disc 4-1. “The Day Of The Clones” (6 Episodes)

Extras

Disc 1: None

Disc 2: None

Disc 3: None

Disc 4: “Beyond The Time Barrier” Documentary (17:55)
Timeslip Introduction- (Text Only)
Selected Biographies- (Text Only)
Interactive Map



Verdict

Storytelling at its best! I recommend this set! A neat addition of children’s fantasy television.


Rating; ****!

THRILLER (BRIAN CLEMENS) SEASON 1 DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from A & E Home Video about Thriller Season 1” An international cult phenomenon from television genius Brian Clemens (The Avengers, Danger Man) now on DVD for the first time, all ten spine-tingling movies from the first season of THRILLER available for your viewing terror.

I remember watching these movies first on cable from WOR in New York and then on WGN in Chicago in the early to mid 1980’s early in the morning. They were thrillers mainly in the psychological/mystery vein with a mix of British and American stars. Each movie is anywhere from 67 to 70 minutes long. The American version of the movies had different opening credits with different music as well. A company in New York called Dolphin Productions did the opening credits. A total of 43 movies were produced from 1973 to 1976. They were sold to the US for the ABC network. This set has a feature that you can play that introduces each movie by the creator and writer Brian Clemens with some trivia about the movie. There are also interviews on the filming, directing, and creating the THRILLER series. I am glad that finally this series is being put on DVD.

VIDEO

The video quality is very good! Apart from outside shooting the movies were shot on videotape. As far as I know the movies have not been remastered but are in great shape! Movies are uncut and are in parts.

AUDIO

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

Disc 1- 1. “Lady Killer” with Robert Powell, Barbara Feldon and Linda Thorson
2. “Possession”-with John Carson
3. “Someone At The Top Of The Stairs”-with Judy Carne and Donna Mills

Disc 2- 1. “A Echo Of Theresa”-with Paul Burke, Polly Bergen and Dinsdale Linden
2. “The Colour Of Blood”
3. “Murder In Mind”-with Richard Johnson and Ronald Radd

Disc 3- 1. “A Place To Die”
2. “File It Under Fear”-with Maureen Lipman and John Le Mesurier
3. “The Eyes Have It”-with Peter Vaughan and Dennis Waterman

Disc 4-1. “Spell Of Evil”-with Edward De Souza and Diane Cilento

Extras

Disc 1: Movie Introductions by Brian Clemens

Disc 2: Movie Introductions by Brian Clemens

Disc 3: Movie Introductions by Brian Clemens

Disc 4: Movie Introduction by Brian Clemens
Creating THRILLER with Brian Clemens (11:58) Directing THRILLER with Shaun O’Riordan (04:12)
Filming THRILLER with John Cooper (09:25)

Verdict

What a great set to have! Nicely put together and good packaging. I would buy this set for sure.


Rating; ****!

THE SECRET SERVICE TV DVD REVIEW

A Short blurb from A & E Home Video about The Secret Service: The Complete Series- Farther Unwin appears to be a typical parish priest, but he owns a unique device that can shrink people to a fraction of their normal size. When the government learns of the “minimizer” they recruit Unwin to their secret B.I.S.H.O.P. program and assign a top-notch agent, Matthew Harding, as his assistant. Together, they use the minimizer to perform a series of dangerous missions.

Gerry Anderson’s final series done in Supermarionation was “The Secret Service”. It was the first time that live action was mixed with marionettes and gave an interesting twist to the typical marionette shows. The show was about a priest at a country church that works for the government and has a device that can shrink people down from their normal size. Father Unwin works for an organization called B.I.S.H.O.P that stood for British Intelligence Service Headquarters Operation Priest. He also has an assistant called Matthew Harding that normally is shrunk to go on dangerous missions for the BISHOP. A very well done series that lasted 13 half-hour episodes. The show has been digitally remastered. The show was never aired here in the states, which makes it a rare find and great addition for any Gerry Anderson collection.

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 Case For The Bishop”
2. “A Question Of Miracles”
3. “To Catch A Rat”
4. “The Feathered Spies”
5. “Last Train To Bufflers Halt
6. “Hole In One”

Disc 2- 1. “Recall To Service”
2. “Errand Of Mercy”
3. “The Deadly Whisper”
4. “The Cure”
5. “School For Spies”
6. “May-Day, May-Day!”
7. “More Haste, Less Speed”

Extras

Disc 1: Audio Commentary with Producer David Lane on the Pilot Episode “A Case For The Bishop”
Secret Confessions with Special Agent Matthew Harding (Audio Only)

Disc 2: Gerry Anderson Biography (Text Only)


Verdict

To complete your collection of Supermarionation series, defiantly pick up this set. You wont be disappointed!


Rating: ****!

SAPPHIRE AND STEEL TV DVD REVIEW

A blurb from A & E Home Video about Sapphire & Steel: The Complete Series: The spiritual precursor to The X-Files, SAPPHIRE AND STEEL is one of the most atmospheric, mysterious, and compelling television programs ever made. Joanna Lumley (Absolutely Fabulous, Cold Comfort Farm) and David McCallum (The Man From U.N.C.L.E.) star as alien investigators sent to Earth to monitor and police ruptures in time.

In 1979 ITC with ATV Television embarked on a series that was like no other that show called Sapphire & Steel. Less than 10 years before the X-Files there were alien investigators that were sent to earth to monitor and police rifts and ruptures in the fabric of time. The two stars of the series were Joanna Lumley and David McCallum. In six distinctive stories that pits the duo against time anomalies in a cellar of a old house, spirits who die prematurely, a couple from the future trapped in the past, a creature that can travel through time via photographs and trap people inside them, people that are covering up time and a trap set for Sapphire & Steel. There are 34 half-hour episodes of various lengths that complete the series. Also in the cast is Silver played by David Collings. In this complete series there are audio commentaries on selected episodes, original voice narration by producer and director Shaun O’Riordan, press clippings, a photo gallery and a promotional brochure. This show is extremely rare and has not been shown in the states that I know of. It had been shown in Canada in the 1980’s.

VIDEO

The video quality is great! Episodes are also uncut.

Audio

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


Disc 1-1. “Escape Through A Crack In Time” (6 Parts) *

Disc 2- 1. “The Railway Station” (8 Parts) *

Disc 3- 1. “The Creature’s Revenge” (6 Parts)

Disc 4- 1. “The Man Without A Face” (4 parts)

Disc 5-1. “Dr. McDee Must Die” (6 Parts)

Disc 6-1. “The Trap” (4 Parts)


Extras

Disc 1: Audio Commentary with Creator and Writer P.J. Hammond on Part 1

Disc 2: Audio Commentary with Producer and Director Shaun O’Riordan on Part 1

Disc 3: Audio introduction from PJ Hammond and Shaun O’Riordan for this story

Disc 4: Audio introduction from PJ Hammond and Shaun O’Riordan for this story

Disc 5: Audio introduction from PJ Hammond and Shaun O’Riordan for this story

Disc 6: Audio introduction from PJ Hammond and Shaun O’Riordan for this story
Original Voiceover Narration by Shaun O’Riordan
Joanna Lumley and David McCallum Biographies
Photo Gallery of PJ Hammond’s Personal SAPPHIRE AND STEEL Press Clippings
Photo Gallery of PJ Hammond’s Personal Promotional Brochure from ITC


Verdict

If you are a fan of The X-Files and shows that deal with time travel, this series is for you!

A & E Home Video has done a wonderful job with this set! I would highly recommend it!



Rating: *****!

THE TOMORROW PEOPLE SET 1 DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from A & E Home Video about Tomorrow People Set 1:” Welcome to the next stage of human evolution. Not your everyday Homo sapiens, the Tomorrow People are Homo superiors, children with amazing powers-here in our world TODAY. Thought provoking, action packed, and creatively produced, this first set of THE TOMORROW PEOPLE contains all twenty-six episodes from the series’ first two seasons on DVD for the first time.

I can remember watching this show in the early 1980’s on Nickelodeon and thought that it was a very well done series considering the budget. A very good children’s Sci-Fi Fantasy series premiered in 1973 for Thames Television to compete with Doctor Who on the BBC. It is about children and young adults who have powers of moving solid objects with their minds, reading minds and teleportation. Sort of an early version of X-Men. They battle people from outer space and crazed leaders from other countries and times in history. This from the brain of Roger Price, later to create the very popular-You Can’t Do That On Television. The show lasted for eight seasons with a total of 68 half hour episodes. A new series of The Tomorrow People were produced in the early 1990’s with a different cast. The cast of the original series have come back to do a few of the Big Finish audio series of The Tomorrow People. This set has the first 26 half-hour episodes over four discs. The show has not been shown here in the states since the 1980’s so this is a real treat. There is also an audio commentary on the first story “The Slaves Of Jedikiah" done with three of the original cast members.

VIDEO

The video quality is quite crisp and clear! The episodes were shot on videotape and the outside footage was done on film. No word that they are remastered in anyway but the video is in very good shape. All discs have a Play All feature.

Audio

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

Disc 1- 1. “The Slaves Of Jedikiah” (5 Episodes)

Disc 2- 1. “The Medusa Strain” (4 Episodes) with David Prowse (Darth Vader)
2. “The Vanishing Earth” (4 Episodes) with Kevin Stoney and John Woodnutt

Disc 3- 1. “The Blue And The Green” (5 Episodes)

Disc 4-1. “A Rift In Time” (4 Episodes)
2. “The Doomsday Men” (4 Episodes)




Extras

Disc 1: Audio Commentary for “The Slaves Of Jedikiah” with Nicolas Young, Peter Vaughn-Clarke and Phillip Gilbert
The Origins Of The Tomorrow People- (Text Only)
Cast Biographies- (Text Only)

Verdict

This is really great that The Tomorrow People is finally on DVD here in the states! Very well done series and defiantly worth to be part of your collection!


Rating; ****!

THE OMEGA FACTOR DVD REVIEW

A blurb about Koch Vision set of The Omega Factor-The Complete Series: Department 7 is the top-secret branch of the British government mandated to investigate the supernatural and explore the unexplained. Led by Roy Martindale and Dr. Anne Reynolds with the help of Tom Crane, a journalist with developed psychic abilities-the team confronts bizarre and terrifying situations to fulfill their mission…the discovery of The Omega Factor. One of the BBC’s most powerful and controversial science fiction series, The Omega Factor was a primary influence behind some of the most popular series that followed.
I came across this series from a friend years ago that said I would like this but it is a different kind of series. He was right! The Omega Factor was a very rare series to find. It only played once in England and one time at a PBS station in Houston, Texas back in the early 1980’s. It hasn’t been seen since. When you did find a copy to watch it was many generations down and almost unwatchable. Now for the first time they can be watched a lot clearer!
The show was filmed entirely in Scotland and all on videotape except for the opening credits. The music is quite haunting. The show co-star a companion from the BBC Doctor Who series, Leela played by Louise Jameson. In this she plays Dr Anne Reynolds. The controversial part of the series was that the show was shown in prime time and the show dealt with some adult matters with demons of the mind, people catching on fire and mind control that upset Mary Whitehouse who was at that time a crusader for family television. The series lasted 10 episodes but never went to a second series. The episodes have been kept safely in the BBC Vaults and were not purged during the 70’s like so many other of the BBC shows ended up.

VIDEO

The video quality is very good! The original videotapes were in great enough shape that restoration was not necessary. They are of quality that the BBC had at the time.

Audio

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

Disc 1- 1. “The Undiscovered Country”
2. “Visitations”
3. “Night Games”
4. “After-Image”

Disc 2- 1. “Power Of Darkness”*
2. “Child’s Play”
3. “St. Anthony’s Fire”

Disc 3- 1. “Out Of Body, Out Of Mind”
2. “Double Vision”
3. “Illusions”
Extras

Disc 1: None

Disc 2: Audio Commentary on Power Of Darkness

Disc 3: Inside the Omega Factor-Documentary (24:10)
Photo Gallery-Moving pictures with theme music (0:41)

Verdict

A thinking person’s show. Well acted. Very creepy and different! Absolutely worth the buy to get this rare BBC series.


Rating; ****!

ULTRAMAN SERIES 1 VOLUME 2 DVD REVIEW

ULTRAMAN SERIES 1 VOLUME 2 (1960’S) TV: DVD REVIEW

A short blurb from BCI-Eclipse about Ultraman Series 1 Volume 2: Ultraman comes to DVD for the first time. This three DVD set includes the final 19 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.

On the box it shows Series 1, which I hope that means that BCI Eclipse has the rights for the other Ultraman series! That would be the first time that the series of shows would have a proper US outlet. Time will tell.

VIDEO

The video quality has not changed from the first set, still great! Remastered from the original negatives. Episodes are uncut. This set like volume 1 has a Play All feature.

Audio

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

Disc 1-
1. “Break Through The Smoke”
2. “Underground Destruction Work”
3. “My Home Is Earth”
4. “The Underwater Science Base”
5. “Mystery Comet Tsuiphon”
6. “The Monster Prince, Part 1”
7. “The Monster Prince, Part 2”

Disc 2-
1. “Human Specimens 5 & 6”
2. ”Challenge Of The Underworld”
3. “The Phantom Snow Mountain”
4. “Who Has Arrived?”
5. “The Endless Counterattack”
6. “The Forbidden World”

Disc 3-
1. “Present From The Sky”
2. “The Monster Graveyard”
3. “Don’t Shoot, Arash!”
4. “The Small Hero”
5. “Spaceship Rescue Order”
6. “Farewell, Ultraman”
Extras

Disc 3: Kajiu (Monster) encyclopedia
Two Collectible cards featuring Ultraman’s foes
8 Page Booklet on the series


Verdict

As I said in my first review, 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: ****!