Rating: 
Summary: The definitive collection
Review: I was worried when this was released that the quality would be awful, or it wouldn't contain absolutely every piece of Black adder history. Not a bit of it!The quality of the transfer is excellent. Viewing it on a US TV to me is like seeing it again in all its UK PAL 625 line glory! It looks perfect. Also, everything is here. Series 1,2,3,4 and the one-off Black adder 5 movie, the Christmas special (in itself a brilliant episode) and even the Red Nose day special "Black adder: The Cavalier years". Now, if they can only do the same thing for "Red Dwarf"...
Rating: 
Summary: Transfer could have been better
Review: I ordered this and the Ab Fab Collectors Set. Ab Fab was perfect! The transfer and compression left nothing to be desired. Unfortunately I can not say the same for Black Adder, although sound is exceptional, the disc displayed visual artifacts from either the source media they used, or the compression level. It may be that TAPE was used to create Black Adder, and Ab Fab was shot on FILM, but still I was let down. If you are fan you will enjoy the details presented on the characters and actors. The Fifth Series as mentioned before was a special for TV and not a whole series of episodes as the previous four were. The Cavalier Years is a delight to see (I had read the script years ago), but again, the quality was not up to my expectations of a DVD. Compare the image of Black Adder Back and Forth, (This looks like the only one shot on FILM to me) to the rest of the series. For under ... you get all of Black Adder on a convenient format. Is it worth it? Yes.
Rating:
Summary: Fantastic Collection!
Review: I bought this set on VHS several years ago and loved it. I could not wait for it to be on DVD and it was worth the wait! Having all of the episodes including the Christmas episode in one set is fantastic. I also really enjoy the special features added including "What's What". This is a must have for anyone that enjoys some good old bawdy British humor!
Rating:
Summary: Bring me something bright and shiny!!!
Review: Like this set on DVD. Thanks to the fine folks at PBS and their stores I had some of my favorite episodes of this cunningly funny series on VHS. Now I can sit back and spin the entire series on my bright and shiny DVDs. Much has been said about how well written, well acted and well produced the series is, so I won't go over all that again. (Although it is all true) Instead I'll wax rhapsodic over some of the supplements and suprises that await we hysterical history buffs. Though unmentioned until just before the collection's release, ... The Black Adder Chrismas Carol is included in this series. I would daresay that not tossing it in would be a great disservice to the fans of the show. Here we see Edmund in two of the four familiar historical periods and as two new characters. (Three if you count the two versions of the future.) Also making appearances are Queen Vic and her German Sausage of a hubby and Robby Coltraine as the Ghost of Christmas Spirit. I'm pretty sure that this role was a major factor in his getting the part of Hagrid in the Harry Potter Films. This is one of the funniest of all the episodes and required Holiday viewing. We also get two other specials; The Cavalier Years where Edmund and Baldrick are loyalists to a deposed and soon to be executed king and Back and Forth, a hilarious jaunt through history reminiscant of the aforementioned Christmas Carol. Following Michaelangelo's plans Baldrick manages to create a working time machine. This accomplishment causes Edmund to observe that Baldrick is "One of the worlds greatest geniuses." The fact that he forgot to add any sort of gauge to allow them to set the controls to return home is "a stunning return to form." On this trip our heroes run into Shakespeare, Robin Hood and a large T-Rex. We also get a plethora of slightly skewed historical data, some trailers for other British series and an interview with Richard Curtis. Fans of the show will love all of the additional specials and features. People not fans of this show will be by the time they get through this set.
Rating:
Summary: The best collector's set ever
Review: Wow! What a set, innovative tri-fold box, interactive menus, biographies with voice narration and bonus episodes makes this a must have collection. Over 24 hours of English humor included with the four seasons of Blackadder plus a reunion episode. I especially liked the narration on various aspects of British history and culture. As an American, this helped to understand and enjoy the regional jokes better. The picture and sound were excellent although at times the canned laughter obscured the dialogue. This was mainly a problem in the first season. As can be expected, some seasons are better than others, but the high production standards of this collector's set makes this a incredible value.
Rating:
Summary: Practically perfect in every way.
Review: I can only echo the comments of a previous reviewer that this is perhaps the best DVD set I have ever owned, not just in terms of content but also in presentation. I will skip over the virtues of the Blackadder series, because I can't imagine your wanting this set if you are not a fan (and if you aren't a fan, you don't know what you are missing!) They are simply the best historical parodies ever to appear on the small screen, easily the equal of such classic historical comedy films as "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Monty Python and the Holy Grail," or "Start the Revolution Without Me." This DVD set has everything a Blackadder addict could want. Pristine copies of all of the six episodes of each of the four series, each series on an individual disc. In addition, you get the minor Blackadder items, "Blackadder's Christmas Carol," a 45-minute takeoff on you-know-what, "Blackadder in the Cavalier Years," a 15-minute sketch in which Blackadder, a cavalier lord in the English Civil War, makes a bungled attempt to rescue King Charles the First from the block and the half-hour special "Blackadder Back and Forth" a 1999 reunion of the cast for the ultimate Blackadder adventure. If this weren't enough, each disc has biographical information on the major cast members and historical tidbits related to the episodes, narrated by none other than "Baldrick" himself, Tony Robinson. (Did you know that Rowan Atkinson is an electrical engineer or that Brian Blessed has tried to climb Mt. Everest three times?) Finally, there is an interview with series creator Richard Curtis and a "making of" featurette on the production of "Blackadder Back and Forth." Finally, the DVD case is a work of art. Although there are 5 DVDs in the set, it has a brilliant design that folds out and takes up no more shelf space than used by 2 normal DVD cases. The DVD "pockets" are decorated with full-color photos from the appropriate series and the folds of the case are embossed with lists of all the series episodes with plot synopses. Buy this DVD set yourself and you will be as happy as I am, happy as a man who thought a cat had done his business on his pie, but it turned out to be an extra-big blueberry!
Rating:
Summary: An outstanding set!
Review: Finally! My VHS tapes of Black Adder are all worn out. I never thought they would release the show on DVD, much less a complete set! :) I'm very happy with this set. You can choose to watch each series 6 episodes in a continuous order. Each volume is contained on a separate disc. Even included is Black Adder's A Christmas Carol! My favorites are volumes 4, 2, and 3 in that order. Volume 1 is a little... unfunny; the last episode is the best. The Back and Forth special isn't that funny either, but is still a treat for hardcore Adder fans. A must have set!! I also recommend checking out the Blackadder screenplay book. It looks great sitting beside this huge DVD case :)
Rating:
Summary: Rowan Atkinson - BlackAdder at its Best
Review: We BlackAdder fans have waited for this collection for a long time. If you have ever seen BlackAdder or a casual fan of the show You must have this. This set included all the BlackAdder shows along with a who's who of BlackAdder info on the cast members who have appeared in the show. Also the collection has the Christmas carol and Cavaliers Years episodes. The most intriguing item about this collection is a historical feature of the characters or items that pertain to a black adder episode. Once again THIS is must for any BlackAdder fan. Buy this today.
Rating: 
Summary: Not Flossy!
Review: If you only know Rowan Atkinson as the mime-like Mr. Bean, then you've got a genuine shock in store. Most of his comedy is of the more bawdy variety and Black Adder is the centerpiece of his career. Each of the five series of a dozen or so episodes is set in a different period of British history as Atkinson portrays successive members of a lineage of lords known as The Black Adder. Each is abusive and sarcastic to his manservant Baldric and fellow lord Percy, and the show often contains little moments of great pathos to accompany the often somber atmosphere that contains the lunacy. Two of the most hilarious words ever uttered in comedy are "Not Flossy!" Pick these up and find out why.
Rating:
Summary: Brilliant!
Review: I need not add comment about the brillance of this set. The classic series stands the test of time for humor and feel (the latter largely due thanks to the historical settings). Many Blackadder fans deride the supposed "Blackadder V" film. That is where my comments might be most helpful to the potential buyer: I understand why people think this is a dud compared to the rest of the Blackadder legacy. It isn't particularly remarkable. It isn't even as good as any of the series episodes of Blackadder (though it is better than the Christmas Carol special). However, by the average standard for comedy, this is still enjoyable. It's cute. Admittedly, Blackadder was never good because of being "cute," but it works here. I suppose I liked it for the most part for the nostalgia value - 10 years after the last official episode, we see my favorite British comedians reunited (worth the price alone): Rowan Atkinson, Rik Mayall, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie... and all the rest. There are some great gags, and (for fans of British comedy) some great cameo appearances. It's no "Bells" or "Dish or Dishonesty," but it makes me smile. And that's the important thing. This set is ideal! I only wish Rowan or Ben had also contributed directly to the project.
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