Rating: 
Summary: Defending the earth in miniskirts and go-go boots!!
Review: The time is 1980, a scant ten years from the show's inception. Technology has leapfrogged. There is now a base on the moon. It's unclear from the show whose base it is, since the commander of all the SHADO forces is American, yet all the personnel are British. Maybe it's a joint effort. Space travel is relatively effortless--people trek from the earth to the moon the same way they go out to the store for groceries, or at least the military types do. The head of SHADO is a crusty chain-smoking military type named Eddie Straker, though we are not sure exactly which government he works for. Maybe he's an Independent Contractor. Anyway, Eddie has never smiled in his entire life. He always seems to have the world (or maybe the whole universe) on his shoulders. Eddie has so many personality disorders that it's amazing he's trusted with billions of dollars of equipment that can destroy the world. I mean, don't high-ranking military types have to pass some sort of psychological test before they let them play with H-bombs? One thing's for sure: Eddie sure has a lot of toys at his disposal: there's Skydiver, which is a submarine fitted with an airplane that blasts off. Considering Newton's Second Law, I don't know how the rocket doesn't blow the submarine backwards into the continental shelf, but somehow it doesn't. (Maybe the sub has good brakes.) I also don't know how the heck it links back up again after it's finished flying--they never show you that. But back to Ed's toys: he has three interceptors that hunt for UFOs on the moon. Each interceptor is equipped with exactly *one* missile. I know the Carter Administration cut back the military in the 70s, but this is ridiculous! The aliens are always considerate, however, and rarely send more than three ships at a time, so as not to overwhelm the human defenses. They wouldn't be unsporting and send, maybe, 500 UFOs and wipe us out. Finally in the artillary collection there are the "mobiles," which are giant trucks with radar and lots of flashing lights. All the action is monitored by SID, a forerunner of HAL, a giant orbiting observatory that apparently has Sir Ian McKellen locked inside. ("Eeeuu-eff-ooh heading for earth at four-decimal-threee...") You expect SID to launch into a soliloquy from Hamlet, but he never does.Now, the world at large doesn't know earth is being attacked by aliens, who want to, alternately, steal our organs, cohabitate with us, or make us breathe green liquid, it's hard to say. The world thinks Ed Straker is a movie producer (!!) who goes to work in a studio in London every morning in his cool aerodynamic car. Actually he does, and then he locks himself in his office, announces his name, and *the whole office* lowers itself underground, to his secret SHADO base. Once he forgot his lunch, and his secretary had to go to the empty elevator shaft and throw it down to him, but it's still not clear if she knows he's leading a double life. His ex-wife certainly didn't know. She thought he was spending too much time at the office and divorced him. In reality he may have been spending too much time with the chicks with the purple hair. They're based on the moon, and Eddie is always finding excuses to visit, because, as I said, this is about as easy as running to the store for a quart of milk. It seems living on the moon for long periods makes one's hair turn purple if one is female. There's been speculation about this over the years--was the hair-bit a code for lesbianism? Just some oh-so-mod 60s fashion thing? Producer Gerry Anderson and his fashion-designer wife Sylvia insist there's no hidding meaning, but that hasn't stopped suspicion, even though the women don't have colored handkerchiefs sticking out of their back pockets. At any rate, the sole purpose of the four chicks on the moon seems to be to walk about in silver go-go boots and micro-minis while the camera lingers at thigh-level. I'm surprised they aren't shown dancing in cages. Judging from the costumes all the women wear and the fact that all female personnel are young and babe-like (and wear more mascara than a hooker at the Nevada Hilton), one would conclude the attitude around SHADO was extremely sexist, and would not be tolerated in these more enlightened times of skin-tight jeans and cropped baby tees. The tone of the show is pretty heavy. By that I mean everyone stands around looking at each other grimly saying things like, "The aliens are evading our defenses." "Yes. That must mean they're getting through." "Yes." "And if they're getting through, they must want to come here pretty badly." "Yes." "But why? What do they want?" "I don't know." "Well, d---it! You're supposed to know! Go lock yourself in your office with a miniskirted go-go girl and don't come out until you have an answer for me, Colonel!" Robert Towne it isn't. Some have said the special effects are cheesy. I think they are actually quite respectable considering the budget, and the fact that this was only a few years after Star Trek (talk about cheesy effects). What's perhaps most effective about the whole show, that I've never seen commented on, is that there are often long sequences where no words are spoken, where the viewer has to put things together or divine the aliens' intentions. I wonder how much of a Kubrick 2001 influence there was when it comes to this, but some of the most memorable bits are when there is no dialogue at all, and it usually involves something the aliens are up to. We never do conclusively find out what they want with us. Maybe they're being driven to conquer earth by a crusty chain-smoking commander on their planet who says, "Why are they wearing go-go boots on the MOON? I want answers, d---it!"
Rating: 
Summary: Fantastic Quality!
Review: The video & audio quality on this release is excellent, as the whole series was recently digitally remastered from the original elements. There is another comment here about poor sound quality and varying sound levels, but I have noticed no such thing -- instead, I blown away by the clarity of the sound, as the series has never sounded this good before! Unfortunately, the extras come up a little short when compared to the UK release, which had HUNDREDS of behind-the-scenes photos and script excerpts from deleted scenes, none of which appear here. (the advertised "production photos" is actually false advertising, as they've really just used episode frame captures). However, A&E has included what I think are the most important extras from the UK set -- the Gerry Anderson commentary and the expanded/deleted scenes from IDENTIFIED and EXPOSED. And it even includes an extra not found on the UK set -- studio session recordings for SID's voice! There is also a negative comment here about the episode order. The DVD episode order is actually quite close to the production order, and is MUCH better than the original broadcast order, which was downright confusing (and probably help lead to the show's cancellation). I thought the packaging was a bit too cheap as well, with a poorly designed plastic case and minimal printed materials. However, in spite of the above flaws, this set succeeds where it counts the most, presenting the original episodes uncut and with stunning video and audio quality! A&E states that UFO Set 2 is coming out "sometime in 2003".
Rating:
Summary: '60s Sci-Fi Space Chic
Review: There should be a sub-genre in sci-fi, of "60s Space Chic" - you know, the 1960s Mod Look/Era rendition of 1950s Robert Heinlein space operas, where all high-tech gadgets and craft are spotlessly clean, Earth is a semi-utopia of Nietzschean supermen, the dialogue is unbelievably cheesy, the science is ill thought-out (if thought-out at all), and all women (especially if they are physics Ph.D.'s) are Playboy centerfolds in miniskirts or catsuits, flip or cobra-cut hairdos, and eye makeup from ancient Egypt. Gerry and Sylvia Anderson's UFO would top that genre's list. Organ-harvesting aliens from God-knows-where, in flying saucers, are abducting Earth's population. Earth defense force SHADO - Supreme Headquarters Alien Defense Organization - combats them in secret, with the general public kept unaware. SHADO's primary bases are beneath Earth's oceans and on its Moon, where recycled aircraft and gizmos (from the Andersons' preceding successful kid's puppet shows) are launched, to carry out this secret mission. SHADO's personnel are beefcake-handsome heroes whose most intelligent dialogue consists of "After them!" and curvaceously sexy space femmes who respond with "Interceptors dispatched, sir!" You know you can't give too much serious thought to a series whose invading alien menace suffers from "inherited sterility." (Which, if you're like me, already has you rolling in hysterics on the floor and in dire need of an ambulance.) However, you honestly can't have more FUN than this show, if you don't mind just giving your brain a little vacation for a few hours. As sheer eye-candy, it just can't be beat - Gabrielle Drake, alone, as Lt. Ellis, may very well win the Sexiest Space Babe Of All Time award - yet it all remains G-rated enough that your kids and your grandparents can sit and enjoy it together. Prognosis: hardly stellar, but imminently watch-worthy.
Rating: 
Summary: TREKKIES BE DAMNED!! THIS WAS THE SCI-FI SHOW TO WATCH
Review: this cult classic sci-fi series is entertaing from begining to end. in the opener you are treated to some stock footage from previous epidsodes accompanied with the cool intro theme. as for the series in general, i feel it's much more innovate and entertaining than STAR TREK. probably because of it's surrealism. UFO is a cross between the invaders,war of the worlds and the 007 james bond franchise, with it's high tech gadgetry (which some of it actually exist today. i.e. cordless phones,text messaging,videocom etc.)and not to mention sexy women with purple wigs and go-go boots. (0:<
the plots/storylines vary almost within each epidsode they range from somewhat dull (dalotek affair,conflict) bizarre (the sqaure triangle..the ending/credits was spooky.the cat with ten lives)
to very contraversial (final epidsodes;the long sleep and mindbender because of it's drug use and an attempted rape scene)
but when all is said and done it was an excellent series and unfortunetly very short lived. why the ANDERSONS would scrap this for the miserably produced SPACE 1999 is beyond belief.
i loved the vehicle designs (intercepters,ski diver1,SHADO mobiles etc.)courtesy of the late DEREK MEDDINGS (BATMAN,JAMES BOND MOVIES) the audio commentary and bonus scenes/outakes are icing for this cake. i would love to see an updated version of this series, especially since there is going to be a live action movie based on anderson's other hit series THUNDERBIRDS. (What, no captain scarlett???) i reccomend the entire box set which i am a proud owner of. THANKS A&E!!
Rating:
Summary: TREKKIES BE DAMNED!! THIS WAS THE SCI-FI SHOW TO WATCH
Review: this cult classic sci-fi series is entertaing from begining to end. in the opener you are treated to some stock footage from previous epidsodes accompanied with the cool intro theme. as for the series in general, i feel it's much more innovate and entertaining than STAR TREK. probably because of it's surrealism. UFO is a cross between the invaders,war of the worlds and the 007 james bond franchise, with it's high tech gadgetry (which some of it actually exist today. i.e. cordless phones,text messaging,videocom etc.)and not to mention sexy women with purple wigs and go-go boots. (0:<
the plots/storylines vary almost within each epidsode they range from somewhat dull (dalotek affair,conflict) bizarre (the sqaure triangle..the ending/credits was spooky.the cat with ten lives)
to very contraversial (final epidsodes;the long sleep and mindbender because of it's drug use and an attempted rape scene)
but when all is said and done it was an excellent series and unfortunetly very short lived. why the ANDERSONS would scrap this for the miserably produced SPACE 1999 is beyond belief.
i loved the vehicle designs (intercepters,ski diver1,SHADO mobiles etc.)courtesy of the late DEREK MEDDINGS (BATMAN,JAMES BOND MOVIES) the audio commentary and bonus scenes/outakes are icing for this cake. i would love to see an updated version of this series, especially since there is going to be a live action movie based on anderson's other hit series THUNDERBIRDS. (What, no captain scarlett???) i reccomend the entire box set which i am a proud owner of. THANKS A&E!!
Rating:
Summary: UFO Set 1
Review: This DVD set is great, I normally do not write reviews but for this one I will. As a kid I remember the Saturday late afternoon line up UFO, Star Trek then Space 1999. When I received it I had to watch them all the first night, watching this DVD set reminded me of younger years with my friends alternating houses to watch it together. GREAT SET!!! I highly recommend it to any Sci-Fi buff.
Rating:
Summary: make it a Movie!!!
Review: This great tv show would be a great movie if it was made
today. I hope one day someone makes this tv show into a movie
with all the new techonlogy this would be a great movie. but wait
who would play the commander?
Rating:
Summary: Looking forward to Vol 2
Review: This is a great series and well worth the wait.
The sound & quality of these shows are fantastic!!
The DVDs are lovely....... but what the "heck" happened with the packaging? Here is why this 5 star show gets a 4 star rating.
The "Box" (or case) is difficlt to open/close;
It's oversized (videos might even make a better fit);
Removal of the DVDs themselves is tricky (seems to require three hands- one for the case and 2 for DVD removal;
Liner notes and photos (inside of box label) have to be pulled up & out of the box for viewing (opague case). Oh well, this won't stop me from buying Vol 2,
but this wonderful DVD set deserves better!!
Rating:
Summary: Order is fine...
Review: This set shines as an example of how brilliantly filmmakers used color in the 60's. UFO is resplendant in its pastel glory. While certain episodes are slow going, the acting, music and SFX are still first rate. The series picks up the pace in the latter half. This set is putting the series in production order, rather than airdate. Since the airdates differed radically in the US and the UK, there would be no agreeing on which is the "correct" order. Production order is the popular way to release shows these days unless they are like Babylon 5 where aired order is extremely important to follow the story. A great set, no matter how the episodes are arranged!
Rating:
Summary: Best is Yet to Come
Review: UFO really didn't start to hit stride until its second half, i.e. episodes yet to come in Region 1. It was with the episode, "E.S.P.", that the series started to do unabashed, trippy science fiction and the result was a succession of imaginative and/or esoteric stories such as the aforementioned "E.S.P.", "Kill Straker", "Sound of Silence", "Cat With Ten Lives", "Destruction", "The Psychobombs", "Mindbender" (it doesn't get any weirder than this), and "Timelash", plus such "sleeper" classics as "Reflections in the Water" and "The Long Sleep". It was in these episodes that the aliens are given mind-over-matter and mind-altering and time-affecting metaphysical powers. Conversely, the first half of the series preoccupies itself with the nuts and bolts of SHADO operation and human rather than alien threats to SHADO security, yielding a rather mundane set of adventures that aren't poor television in themselves but which don't grasp the imagination quite as much and are hampered by slow, unengaging exposition and some dubious plot contrivances, e.g. the standard Gerry Anderson dream episode or the episode in which much effort is undertaken to do something constructive (like acquiring photographs of the aliens' home world) that ultimately proves useless and a wasted episode in terms of stortelling and story arc development. While some of these episodes are necessary to establish SHADO set-up and give some much-needed characterization (the two Straker episodes, "Confetti Check A-O.K." and "A Question of Priorities" are excellent in this regard), there are simply too many of them to keep the viewer desirous of more elaborate science fiction entertained until the later episodes come along. Even in the episodes where alien machinations are responsible for the problem of the week, they just don't seem particularly interesting (e.g. a radio interference device placed on the Moon in "Dalotek Affair", or a limpet device attaching itself to passing spacecraft in "Conflict"). This is likely why ITC jumbled the episode order for broadcast, mixing some of the later episodes with the early ones. The same thing was done for Season 1 of Space: 1999 that had the same kind of dichotomy in its
earlier and later episodes. That said, some of the highlights of the first 13 episodes are "Exposed" which introduces the Paul Foster character, the two Straker episodes above mentioned, and although now a hackneyed staple of the science fiction genre, the "Court Martial" episode. "Survival" is an intriguing though painfully slow-moving "Enemy Mine" scenario between Foster and an alien on the Lunar surface, while "The Square Triangle" prolongs its storyline needlessly over the exposition of a plot of a woman and her lover to murder her husband into which an alien intrudes much too late in the episode to keep it from boring the viewer. However, if the viewer can stay with the series over this lengthy development period, the pay-off is more than worth it in the later episodes, episodes by which an evolution into the wildly bizarre Space: 1999 can be saliently traced. And no, even at its best, UFO couldn't blow Space: 1999 away as it was Earthbound while Space: 1999 had no limits to its deep space adventures.
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