Rating: Summary: Moonbase Under Siege Review: For the first time, "The Bringers of Wonder", Space: 1999's only 2-part episode, comes to home video in its original form, not as the cobbled together TV movie, Destination Moonbase Alpha. It's a glorious episode with an epic feel due to its large guest cast and a juxtaposition of illusion and reality. Commander Koenig's command is undermined when only he sees the hideous invading aliens for what they are whilst his entire crew believe that friends & relatives from Earth have come to their rescue. A fascinating and gripping episode that does tend to drag a bit in part 2 in scenes on the Moon's sueface. Still, fanciful entertainment with an edge. Other episodes on these DVDs are also exciting and provocative. The "evil doppelganger" concept is given an added twist as a mirror image in "Seed of Destruction", "The Beta Cloud" has the Alphans in combat for possession of their life-support system against a seemingly unstoppable invader, "A Matter of Balance" concerns the fascinating premise of an anti-matter world in which evolutionary time goes backwards, and "Space Warp" concerns metamorph Maya's destructive loss of control over her powers (not as interesting as the other episodes but still an enjoyable romp). Special effects excellent throughout. Don't let the mindless dissing (by first year fans) of the second year of Space: 1999 deter you. These are futuristic action spectacles from a more innocent time.
Rating: Summary: fantastic fun Review: I just watched this set with some friends and had a blast! The monsters are cheesy, but oddly enough there's fine acting in the episodes and some really engaging moments along with all the cheese. The one consistent factor is that this is a very entertaining set of discs.
Rating: Summary: The Best Set Of Season Two, But That Isn't Saying Much Review: 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 designs, poorer film quality, and awful awful awful costumes! Space Warp is complete garbage, while the Bringers of Wonder was no excuse for a two-part episode, let alone one. A Matter of Balance is an anti-matter episode that was done much better in the first season with A Matter of Life and Death. Beta Cloud is imbicilic, but that would be nothing compared to Brian the Brain, (which you can find on another set)! Is this series worth watching? Yeah, but abandon all expectation ye who go there.
Rating: Summary: Man, what a comedown! Review: 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 designs, poorer film quality, and awful awful awful costumes! Space Warp is complete garbage, while the Bringers of Wonder was no excuse for a two-part episode, let alone one. A Matter of Balance is an anti-matter episode that was done much better in the first season with A Matter of Life and Death. Beta Cloud is imbicilic, but that would be nothing compared to Brian the Brain, (which you can find on another set)! Is this series worth watching? Yeah, but abandon all expectation ye who go there.
Rating: Summary: THE BEST EVER Review: In my opinion, the second season of SPACE:1999 was the very best and in Set 7 it contains more action then ever before. No more just talking about dangers as in Season 1 just plain action and the characters are more comfortable with each other. They are all there to fight a common goal. The second season also contains humor as well reminds me of the orginal Star Trek cast with the Kirk-Spock and Spock-McCoy duo.I recommend this to everyone that enjoys a good science fiction story with a moral to it.
Rating: Summary: The Beta Cloud ,what a great episode! Review: My favorate episode then and now. Maya saves the day . After Alpha is threatened by a huge monster bent on stealing the life support , its up to Maya to stop it. This is such a fun episode, particularly the chase scenes. Seed of Destruction and Space Warp are fun too. The Bringers of Wonder can finaly be seen after all these years. We can forget about that horrible patched together movie version. I almost bought the Columbia House videos , but when I heard that they were coming out on dvd, i waited for over a year. The wait was worth it. Not only is the quality better than videos, you get all the bonuses videos lack. Set 7 has a huge gallery of behind the scenes photos and artwork. Its fun, fun, fun to watch the behind the scenes trailer. I hear there is an effort to revive this classic show... Lets have a season 3...
Rating: Summary: Season 2 (Series 2) Lives! Review: Okay, for an old Space:1999 fan that isn't the best news I've ever heard (Series 2 Lives!), but it is the best news since I heard that Series 1 was out. For those of you wondering, Space:1999 lasted for two seasons in the mid to late 1970's. Each season was a distinctly different approach to the same series, with many characters returning for Series 2, but new faces abound. And despite the fact that writing did not abound in Series 2, the quality of the acting by stars like Martin Landau make me wish that somehow, there was a Series 3 waiting for release somewhere. But, alas, this is it. The show was cancelled when it failed to sell well enough in American syndication. Just watch Landau in 'The Rules of Luton,' arguably the worst 1999 episode and you'll see what a pro he is!. Don't expect much in the way of extras here (there are some, but nothing exceptional), but the video remastering is very good, worthy of a DVD in and of itself. And, with the eight DVD box sets released since last year, you get all of Series 1 and Series 2! Not a bad deal! And, heck, Series 2 may be "Space:1999 Lite," but the elements that made this a high quality, underated, landmark television series are still present. Lastly, you might be impressed with the quality of the sets, costumes, special effects and music if you keep it in mind that this is a 1976 production!
Rating: Summary: The Best Set Of Season Two, But That Isn't Saying Much Review: Set 7 of Space: 1999 is probably the best set of the second season, but that isn't saying much. These episodes have all the cheesiness of a fast food meal at McDonalds, which makes me think that the season two credits should have read "Space: 1999 -- A Fred FRIEDBURGER Production. Set 7 opens with the episode "Seed Of Destruction" (1 Star) -- Commander Koenig and Alan land on an asteroid with a cave containing a funhouse hall of mirrors. A mirror image of commander Koenig emerges and tries to destroy Moonbase Alpha. The way that those on Alpha can tell the imposter from the real Koenig is that his hair is parted the wrong way. "The Beta Cloud" (1 Star) -- Maya and Tony are chased by a monster all over Moonbase Alpha, and fire a laser gun at a yellow cloud in space. "A Matter Of Balance" (1 Star) -- Why is it that there are so many episodes of Space: 1999 where one group of desperate aliens are trying to assimilate the crew of Moonbase Alpha that have nothing? The premise of this episode is really not all that different from the first season episode titled "Alpha Child", which was much better. "Space Warp" (2 Stars) -- This episode probably has the most expensive and detailed special effects in the entire second season. With Moonbase Alpha being sucked into a space warp, or a wormhole as they call it in Star Trek: The Next Generation, Tony and Commander Koenig are left stranded near an abandoned spaceship. Maya becomes deliriously ill and goes on a rampage as several different monsters, including an incarnation of her dead father. Maya attempts to take off in an Eagle spaceship but crashes it into the other Eagles in the hanger on the moonbase. Tony and Commander Koenig make it back, and the predictable and stupid comic relief ends this episode. "Bringers Of Wonder Parts 1 and 2" (2 Stars) -- The only two part story of this two season show. I wonder why they named the first episode "Bringers Of Wonder Part 1", when they knew that they wanted this first part to end as a cliffhanger -- ST: TNG never did this with their 2 part episodes. The best way to end a two part cliffhanger episode is to not let the audience know that there is second part by announcing the first episode as part 1. I also wonder how 603 days passed between episodes 1 and 2. Listen to Dr. Russell's opening narration of both episodes, and you'll see what I mean. The people of Moonbase Alpha think that a Superswift spacecraft from Earth has come to rescue them, but it is actually monsters that look like Chicken Chow Mein, who want their nuclear waste. Although this episode seems to be loaded with character development and backstory, it is too little too late. After 6 more episodes, this show was cancelled.
Rating: Summary: The Second To Last Of The Sets...Space:1999! Review: SPACE 1999: Set Number 7 is the second to last in a series of the episodes for the second season. I must admit these episodes are interesting but the overall acting needs a little to be desired. Catherine Schell and Tony Anholt really are trying, but with all the fake monster outfits and bad one-liners - its almost funny. Technically again the show looks good. The costumes got colorful and they try and shoot lasers almost every episode. Its is interesting how the try to FORCE the humor in the show and it doesn't come naturally with the characters. The comlocks, eagles and Stun Guns are still cool. See my reviews of the other 6 sets and the one to follow. I really did love the first season - and fell out of love in the second. You decide.
Rating: Summary: THE BEST OF SPACE 1999! Review: The best of Space 1999 is finaly out! Towards the end of season 2 there was a dramatic improvement in story and script quality. And the dvd quality has also improved with double the amount of bonuses of previouse volumes. Seed of Destruction: Commander Koenig is held prisoner on an asteroid made of crystal while his doppleganger orders Alpha to use a giant laser to destroy the asteroid. In order to do this all power from Alpha will be drained. The Beta Cloud: I have waited 22 years to see this great episode again, it was worth the wait! The Beta Cloud is like being on a rollercoaster ride its so fast paced.An alien creature tries to steal the life support system for power. Nothing can stop it,lasers,chloroform,electricity, even lack of air. Its unstoppable! Its Darth Vader! Before relocating to a farther away galaxy, David Prowse made a brief visit to Moonbasealpha. This episode seems to be everyones favorate, I have to agree. The sets are amazing and the film techniques make this episode resemble Dario Argentoes' classic film Suspiria. From the primary and secondary hues that seem to bleed off the screen to the camera angles, this is a homage to the "Italien Hitchcock". A Matter of Balance: An alien race, hoping to escape de-evolution, try to enter our dimension. The only problem is that they need people to exchange with. Space Warp: A space warp causes Maya to become ill and to lose control of her shape-shifting powers.Changing from one life-form to the next, each is more hostile than the one before. At one point she morphs into a really cool Psychon warrior in gold armor. You also get to see more of the underground hangers beneath the launch pad. A very elaborate set with great explosions that are very realistic, loads of hardware. The Bringers of Wonder: The only 2 part episode. Evil aliens arrive on Alpha and use mind control so that the Alphans think they are being rescued.The alphans are living in a world of virtual reality and Koenig is the only one to see through the deception. Back in the 70's virtual reality was a very new idea ,long before the Matrix came along. And now the bonuses! We get to finally see pre-production artwork. Tons of blue prints for sets and space ships. Drawings for Maya and other aliens. There are 2 theater trailers for the 2 movies they made from the episodes, War Games and Breakaway, and The Bringers of Wonder. There is a photo gallery with behind the scenes photos, not stills from the episodes. Then there is the BBC Behind the Scenes of Space 1999. You get to see the setting up and filming of an eagle coming up from the launch pad. Brian Johnson is shown setting up the Moonbasealpha model. This is the dvd to own this summer, don't leave Earth without it!
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