V - The Complete Series

Rating:
Summary: the final episode, The Return
Review: In the final episode, there are too many mini-plots for one hour, and makes it seem like 5 hours. Maybe some will enjoy that, I didn't.

But I'm a V fan, so I got all 3 dvd's and I hope they make a new movie.

Rating:
Summary: V What happened?
Review: It is about time that they FINALLY came out with the V Series.


I was about 11 or 12 at the time that they had a miniseries called V that rocked the pants off of NBC executives. Then they brought out V: The Final Battle.

Then they came out with a TV series called V.

The problem is that what you could do with a mini series was harder and more expensive to do with a WEEKLY TV Series.

Therefore, main characters were written off in unexplained plots.

NBC moved the series around so much that when the TV Series Finale came about a lot of NBC affiliates didn't even air it.


V: The Original MiniSeries A+
V: The Final Battle A+++
V: The TV Series C+



Rating:
Summary: Betrayed by poor editing and reuse of scenes
Review: The original "V" miniseries was one of those classic TV shows I loved as a kid. It still rocks today. However when the network went into a series mode they messed it up. Watch for poor editing cuts and reused scenes from the miniseries, especially the effects sequences. The sequences in the miniseries, which were top notch for their day, took time and money to do right, so instead of doing more for a series with more time and budget pressure, they reused footage, cut it around, and even seemed to be writing the series around whatever old clips they could write in, which might have handcuffed them a bit. Watch as Marc Singer rides a horse, waving a .38 revolver around (It was easier, I guess, to show earth guns instead of captured alien weapons, which needed beams drawn on the film when they fired) cut to stock scene of him riding a horse with the Alien pistol, then back to whatever. People switched guns several times a scene, and there were other noticeable editing cuts and differences in continuity, and seeing the same scenes over and over did things in.... a pity, because the acting was decent, especially from MICHAEL IRONSIDE, Marc Singer, and the dude that played Ironside's sidekick merc. It is also fun for 80s movie buffs to see Robert Englund showing up as a good guy alien, handsome minus his "Freddy Krueger" makeup. Though in some of the hand to hand scenes that "Freddy" glove could have been useful.... The series also featured noticeably skimpier "Armor" for the female aliens compared to the miniseries, most notably June Chadwick. I guess that was another ratings thing. I don't know why they seemed to keep going with brit gals as the nasty alien chicks but it worked. I guess it was a forerunner to Hollywood making English actors the villains in just about every 1990s era movie (Silence of the Lambs, The Patriot, Braveheart, Soldier, etc.) There might also be a subtle 1980s antifeminist message in all the primary effective (in battle) good guys being men and all the nastiest enemies being women with good offices and bad attitudes. Or maybe it was an Alien girl power thing. Two stars because of the potential, but it would be more were it not for all the reused effects. The acting was also decent, though writing was spotty over the course of the series. Ironside is great as an edgy good guy. The funny thing about the miniseries was that Donavan was sort of this West Coast reporter and this good guy and always clashed with Ironside's mercenary character. The screenwriters were always on Donovan's side, but all the kids I knew were like "WORD! WORD!" whenever Ironside's character was talking. Also, it was the only place on TV where you saw people (aliens) chowing on live rats in the middle of conversations, at least until "Fear Factor."

Rating:
Summary: V - The Complete Series
Review: V - The Complete Series DVD ~ Marc Singer was and is an amazing tv series that I remember watching as a child back in the early 80's. The storyline was very well written the special effects were good for being done at the time of the show. Marc Singer plays his part quite well and is not as horrible as he usually is. On the whole, this is an awesome sci fi series that should not be missed.

Rating:
Summary: one of my favorite shows of all time
Review: V the Series is on DVD and it's about time!
The Series never had the budget of the two mini series and it definitely shows. The lower budget adds to the fun and charm of the episodes though. I even liked the fact that they killed major characters on the show from time to time since that kept it exciting. I just wish the show had lasted longer or that it was followed by another mini series. WE NEED MORE V!