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DVD Space 1999, Set 6
Fans of Space: 1999 (and there are many of them) are lavish in their praise for British producer Gerry Anderson's mid-'70s sci-fi series. They rhapsodize about provocative, seriously scientific story lines, expensive production values, the presence of star (and future Oscar® winner) Martin Landau, and more. But there are others who look at the series' glacial pace, loopy costumes and makeup, cheesy sets, primitive special effects, stilted dialogue, and self-serious tone and wonder what planet those rabid fans are from.
Set 6 of the digitally remastered series, containing six episodes (numbers 31 to 36) on two discs, offers plenty of evidence to support both arguments. On the one hand, there are some intriguing ideas, weighty themes, and good writing here, as in "New Adam, New Eve" (episode 34), in which Koenig (Landau) and company confront the very existence of God himself, or "The Rules of Luton" (episode 31), in which Koenig and Maya (Catherine Schell) find themselves in deep trouble on a planet where plants are the dominant life form. But too often those virtues are hamstrung by poor execution, as in "Luton," where our heroes must battle three absurd-looking and -acting aliens. Smart sensibility, silly look and feel: this is the Space: 1999 paradox. And the truth is that nowadays, when advanced film technology is making even the early Star Wars films look dated, many of these episodes seem positively quaint.
DVD bonus features include a three-minute "making of" featurette (on the first disc), a gallery of production stills (on both discs), and interactive menus. Some material that was not seen in the original U.S. broadcasts has been restored. --Sam Graham
Space 1999 was a combination of exceptionally great and particularly awful sci-fi. This compilation falls into the latter category:
1) "The Mark of Archanon" has what is still the poorest death scene ever acted. "I'm dying.... argghhhh... no wait, I'm not dead yet, here take my kid.... ok now I'm dying..."
2) A space-disco theme song wasn't enough so "Brian the Brain" starred a robot with a strobe-light for a head. Even in the far-flung reaches of space, computers still crack bad jokes.
3) In "The Rules of Luton" we learn World War III happened (and racism ended) back in 1987; and don't get me started on the killer trees. Not to mention "Luton" was a ...of the Star Trek episode where Kirk battles the green lizard. Was anyone else waiting for Koenig to build a cannon out of a tree stump?
4) In "New Adam New Eve" we learn that even God can fall for the old 'hide the branches and leaves over a pit" trick.
5) "A.B. Chrysalis" stars a bunch of chlorine breathing aliens who would've destroyed Moonbase Alpha, except that Tony is such a hunk! Too bad all that chlorine gas didn't blow that long hair out of the way. And what happens when you run out of goofy looking rubber creature outfits? Easy. Create an "evil" Martin Landau.
6) "Catacombs of the Moon", errr... what was the point of that whole 'nothing can shake the power of faith' thing anyway? Did faith have anything to do with how they got into or out of their predicament? Dig the artificial heart - - a lightbulb with wires!
Of course you know nothing I said really matters because a true Space 1999 fan is going to buy this set anyway. Just be sure to pop in one of the other sets when company comes over - - unless you're going for laughs.
silly, but fun TV
Space 1999 set 6 contains many of my favorite episodes: Rules Of Luton involves talking trees and some weird looking aliens, Brian The Brain features a "cute" robot who turns out to be a nasty mutha, and New Adam, New Evil is a fun episode guest starring God, ape people, giant lizards, and a really awful looking mutant! Loved this set!
highly enjoyable
Im a big fan of both the first and second series of Space 1999. I remembered it being an unusual mix of 2001 and Saturday Matinee/Flash Gordon styled Sci Fi and that perspective really helped me to enjoy the show on DVD. Some of it is brilliant and some of it is just entertainingly wacky and that's what I love about it! Many of the episodes in the second series were aimed at the show's kid audience, but I watched those episodes accepting them for what they are and had a blast! The Rules of Luton is just too much fun! I think that both seriese were entertaining and all of the Space 1999 DVD sets make for highly enjoyable viewing.
I remember, as a kid, the second series was cool because of all the neat creatures the character of Maya would change into; boy, was I so easy to entertain back then? Now, looking at series two, I wince at the changes Anderson made to the series. Gone was Barry Morse, who added a very human element to the experience of Moonbase Alpha. Gone was the dark, command center. Gone was the tension even trying to survive against uncertain odds in space. What replaced all this? Gaucho skirts, more make-up and more action violence in the series. Adding Catherine Schell and skirting all the females was an obvious attempt to sex up the series. Good stories were now sacrificed for gratuitous fisticuffs. Now Moonbase Alpha has become a love boat of joking and good vibrations, not to mention cheesier set... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Peter Medak - Bob Kellett - Lee H. Katzin - Ray Austin - Bob Brooks (III) DVD Release Date: Released the 25 June 2002 Special Order
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If you're gonna quibble over which season is best, then Shatner's right - GET A LIFE!
I also saw this great series as a kid - in the 70s, before Star Wars, all we had was this, reruns of Trek, the Avengers & the Prisoner. Notice how most sci-fi needs at least 1 Brit (or at least a European) to give it some class - just a side thought...
As a kid, I liked the 2nd season - as an adult I like them both. The 1st season is a little darker in tone but I don't agree it was more 'adult' - just darker and less action-packed. As an adult, I see that it was more existential in tone, usually pitting Koenig against his crew. As a kid, this was a bit disturbing seeing how easily his crew turned against him, but as an adult, this does make the 1st season seem more realistic.... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Peter Medak - Bob Kellett - Lee H. Katzin - Ray Austin - Bob Brooks (III) DVD Release Date: Released the 25 June 2002 Usually ships in 24 hours
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Fans of Space: 1999 (and there are many of them) are lavish in their praise for British producer Gerry Anderson's mid-'70s sci-fi series. They rhapsodize about provocative, seriously scientific story lines, expensive production values, the presence of star (and future Oscar® winner) Martin Landau, and more. But there are others who look at the series' glacial pace, loopy costumes and makeup, cheesy sets, primitive special effects, stilted dialogue, and self-serious tone and wonder what planet those rabid fans are from.
This two-disc set includes the first six episodes of the show's second season. Episode 25, "Metamorph," introduces Maya (Catherine Schell), a shape-changer and scientific wiz who, after witnessing her nutty dad's dastardly deeds, defects to join our Moonbase... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Peter Medak - Bob Kellett - Lee H. Katzin - Ray Austin - Bob Brooks (III) DVD Release Date: Released the 26 February 2002 Usually ships within 24 hours
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Isaac Asimov reportedly described Space: 1999 as "scientifically preposterous." That hasn't stopped Thunderbirds creators Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's 1975 British series from gaining a devoted cult following. Still, after watching the six episodes included on this two-disc set, one has to concede that (entertaining though they are) Isaac may have been on to something. In "The Troubled Spirit" Moonbase Alpha Commander John Koenig (Martin Landau) resorts to a little "bell, book, and candle" to exorcise a crew member's destructive spirit. "Space Brain"--or, as it is known to series aficionados, the one with all the foam--finds the Alphans desperately seeking a way to communicate with a cosmic intelligence. As Professor Bergman (Barry Morse) observes, "This is either a practical... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Peter Medak - Bob Kellett - Kevin Connor - Lee H. Katzin - Val Guest DVD Release Date: Released the 31 July 2001 Usually ships within 24 hours
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Set 3 of Space: 1999 contains six more first-season episodes from Thunderbirds creators Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's 1975 British series. The castaways on Moonbase Alpha, led by Commander John Koenig (Martin Landau), continue their drift through the universe, where they encounter fantastic planets, oddball races, and cataclysmic perils. In "Collision Course," Koenig must rely on "a thing called faith" when the moon seems headed for a too-close encounter with a massive planet. Unfortunately, the faith of his crew, including Chief Medical Officer Dr. Helena Russell (Landau's Mission: Impossible costar and then wife Barbara Bain) and Professor Victor Bergman (Barry Morse, who relentlessly pursued David Janssen on The Fugitive) is lacking, and they mutiny. In... More Info about this DVD Director(s): Peter Medak - Bob Kellett - Kevin Connor - Lee H. Katzin - Val Guest DVD Release Date: Released the 31 July 2001 Usually ships within 24 hours
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