Black Adder - The Complete Collector's Set

Rating:
Summary: Excellent collection
Review: I won't bore you with the details -- you either know everything about the Blackadder series already, or you've read some of the other customer reviews which contain a detailed list.

The point is that this is a must-have for any aficionado of the series. I'd been able to catch many of the episodes, now and again, on PBS, but the generally spotty coverage made it difficult to see all of them. And don't get me started on BBC America.

Here, finally, are all the seasons put together, plus a few specials. The Blackadder Christmas Carol is relatively easy to find on TV, but I had never seen Blackadder Back and Forth -- a Doctor Who-esque parody of Blackadder, if such a thing is even possible. Plus there's even a "Making Of" for it!

If you're a fan, get this collection. If you're not a fan yet, watch a few episodes on PBS first (if you can find it). Blackadder isn't for everyone, but this DVD collection is for every Blackadder fan.

Rating:
Summary: "Or Else I'll Cut off Your Head..."
Review: I have for many years been a fan of British television comedy. Among one of my favorites is the hilarious historical series, featuring the Black Adder. I don't think there has ever been on television such a cunningly nasty, yet funny character, as the Black Adder. The series, created by Richard Curtis, (director and writer of Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral, etc.) has concieved a brilliant concept of taking one main character and showing us his family tree in a variety of historical lifetimes.This character is brought to life by Rowan Atkinson ("Mr.Bean", "The Thin Blue Line") probably one of the funniest comedians in all of British televison.I don't think there has ever been a character on TV, who is so cunningly clever and nasty, yet so gut breakingly funny.In the four incarnations of the series, we see various Black Adders, as a cowardly Duke in the Dark Ages, a Lord trying to curry favor in the court of Queen Bess, a butler during the Regency era and finally as a career soldier during WWI. In each series, Atkinson gives the Adder his nefarious qualities, yet changes him slightly pesonality wise, to make him somewhat different from the previous ancestor.Atkinson is backed up in all the series's titles by a variety of superb, actors (who have also made thier mark in other films and TV) such as Tony Robinson, Miranda Richardson, Hugh Laurie, Tim McInnerny and Stephen Fry. These actors bring to life a group of nutty characters who are constantly bedeviling the Black Adder by either driving him crazy or putting him in some sort of hilarious, life threatening situation. My favorites include Tony Robinson's brain dead, Baldrick ("I have a cunning plan...") and also Miranda Richardson's maniaclly insane, Queen Bess ("I'll cut off your head..").These four series, plus a 1999 movie ("Black Adder Back & Forth"), have now been put together in a five DVD box set entitled, "Black Adder - The Complete Collector's Set". It also includes a variety of special features including, extra episodes not part of the original series ("Black Adder's Christmas Carol") plus interviews, silly sing-a-longs and character information. If you are a Black Adder addict or aficionado, then this box set is well worth the expense and will give you hours of fun, as you re-experience this luney history lesson.

Rating:
Summary: THIS IS A MOST EXCELLENT SET
Review: I used to live in the uk and i saw black adder on the telly and went out and got a set of tapes. I got them all but the first set. THis is very funny .I was VERY dissapointed when I was told i couldn't bring them back to america but here they are!

Rating:
Summary: A cunning plan.
Review: That's what you'll need if you should be as lucky as I was! My dear sweet bro Ben gave me this set for my birthday, and I definitely needed a cunning plan to be able to watch it all and still go to work and all the other mundane chores of living. If you are a Black Adder fan - as I am certain you must be if you are even reading this - believe me when I say "Huzzah!". This is the best thing since hygiene and a darn sight funnier. Be prepared to schedule your real life around this and remember if you aren't good you'll reincarnate over and over again - just like Edmund Black Adder.

Rating:
Summary: Great Set!
Review: If you love the series, it is great. Even if you don't like Atkinson as Mr. Bean, this is a different side of him, so you still might enjoy it. I happen to love both. This is great british sarcasm, and if you like dry sarcasm, you will love this. I don't watch this as much as I watch Fawlty Towers, but I still which them often, and I'm glad that I bought it. If you have never heard of Rowan Atkinson, then I would suggest you take a look at your TV guide, since the Black Adder series usually airs on public television, and you can preview it that way first. Again, if you like dry sarcasm, buy it, you will like it, if not, look for it on channel 13 or WLIW (a New York station). Great british comedy.

Rating:
Summary: I have a cunning DVD set...
Review: This is definitely a must for any lover of British comedy: all 24 episodes, and all 3 one-off specials of "BlackAdder." Now, I know I'm part of a vast minority here, I still say the first series is far and away the best. Maybe it's because it's vaguely similar to "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" (probably the funniest movie ever made) what with its medieval setting, grandiose feel, and abondonment of human element in favor of sheer, utter silliness. The fact that it's the only series Rowan Atkinson co-wrote may have something to do with it as well. It was technically a sitcom, but it didn't feel like one at all. It was more like one of those Monty Python show'length sketches (e.g. 'The Cycling Tour,' 'Michael Ellis,' etc.) And I like the approach to the character of Edmund in this series: he's just as much a conniving, power-hungry scoundrel here as he was in the subsequent series, but the twist is that he's also a timid little dimwit (in fact, ironically, Baldrick is arguably the smartest of the trio in this initial series). I don't understand why so many fans (not to mention Atkinson and Curtis themselves) virtually disown this series.

The second series was a passing of the torch from Atkinson being secondary writer to Ben Elton. With Elton, the whole show was reinvented -- BlackAdder became the most intelligent of the characters and spouts off endless wacky (though sometimes labored) insults to everyone around him (especially Baldrick -- who gets stupider with every series). In fact, under Elton, the whole show became more sitcom-y in its feel (this can be considered a good thing or a bad thing). This is probably the weakest of the four series (well, I can't decide between this one or the fourth one -- that one at least has powerful commentary on war to boot); it doesn't really get going until halfway through, and with the characters of Queenie and Nursie aboard, things get a little too cutesy for my tastes at times, but the writing and comedy is so good one tends to forgive easily. Besides, 'Beer' is one of the show's all-time best episodes. The Cavalier Years special is very sharply written and performed in just its given 15 minutes, and is probably better in its 15 minutes than some of the overall show's weaker episodes.

With the third series, the Curtis/Elton team really began to hit their stride and develop a definite niche for every character on the screen (and there are fewer obvious jokes as well). But to keep growing, the character of Percy is dropped (mostly because Tim McInnerny was afraid of typecast) in favor of George (Hugh Laurie) as the last link in the shows central trio. This is easily the best of the 3 Curtis/Elton series. 'BlackAdder's Christmas Carol' is a unique twist on the Dickens classic, and is now a must-watch for me around every holiday season (Notice the absence of Percy in the Elizabethan flashback and the lack of acknowledgement of the first series).

In the fourth season, the most ambitious satire-wise, the Curtis/Elton formula established in the second series begins to show signs of wear, but that doesn't stop the duo's humor well-oiled humor machine. McInnery is re-introduced as a new character: Darling, someone finally on to BlackAdder's scheming ways. Lampooing war abounds, and the series' finale is quite powerful. I don't think there was any way you could've followed this series up, given the ending.

The recent 'Back and Forth' episode is essentially a reunion special of all 6 primary cast members. It's not the best effort of Curtis' and Elton's behalf, but, all the same, it's fun to see 'em back for one more bash. (The episode's companion special is interesting, but it's too bad many of the cast members are reduced to talking about things that we the viewers had already figured out for ourselves. Oh well.)

All this said, buy this set today, and you'll own one of the all-time best sitcoms written in the English language.

Rating:
Summary: Classic series!
Review: Firstly let me reiterate what someone said below, if you live in the UK, do not buy our discs, buy this collection. The extras aren't fantastic (but then the UK discs don't have ANY), but, crucially for most fans, this collection includes The Christmas Carol special, and the 15 minute special The Cavalier Years. Who knows when and if these will be released in the UK?

For those of you who don't know what Blackadder is (what's wrong with you?) it's a sitcom that traces the Blackadder family line, starting off in the 1400s, then proceeding through the 1500s, the 1700s, WWI, and finally to the turn of the millenium, by way of the 4 seasons and final 'Back and Forth' special. To be honest, the first season is only just above average as sitcoms go, as is the Back and Forth special, however seasons 2, 3 and 4 are absolutely classic TV. The first season suffers from Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) merely being a idiot with aspirations of higher things, whereas in the following seasons, Blackadder becomes a supremely cunning, sarcastic, evil little man. His insults are unforgettable in their inventiveness and convolutedness ("Baldrick, you wouldn't know a subtle plan if one painted itself purple and danced naked on top of a harpsicord singing 'Subtle Plans are Here Again'"). Blackadder is trailed through history by his dogsbody, Baldrick, the stupidest and smelliest man in all history, who believes his first name to be 'Sod Off' as that was what all the kids 'called' him, and more intermittantly by Lord Percy Percy, later Darling, only marginally more intelligent than Baldrick. Other semi-regulars include Stephen Fry, Peter Laurie, and Miranda Richardson, with Peter Laurie's performance as the "mini-brained" Prince Regent in season 3 being my favourite performance outside of Blackadder himself. For those of you with a dislike of history, don't worry, this show is not attempting to be educational, just funny, and the historical settings contribute greatly to that - where would Blackadder 2 be without Queen Bes chopping off her subjects heads' at a moments notice?

The two specials I mentioned above are set in the 1600s for the Cavalier Years and the 1900s for the Christmas Carol. The Cavalier Years are serviceable, but the Christmas Carol is brilliant, as the supremely nice Victorian Blackadder gets changed by the spirit of Christmas into exactly the foul little man his ancestors where.

In terms of this DVD edition, the transfer is as good as can be expected for this now rather aged show, the sound is good, extras like biographies are serviceable, although the specials are the real jewel. The packaging is also very nice, with these 5 discs only taking up as much room as two regular DVD cases (or one VHS tape).

If you like Blackadder, get this.

Rating:
Summary: Too funny for some Americans...
Review: If you like American style sitcoms, mass-produced and all alike, then you'll hate this series. It original, based on a historical background, and full of deep sarcasm, black humor, historical references, and cunning plots too hillarious for the average American TV viewer to appreciate.

But if you've got a big brain, a great sense of humor, and an appreciation of Rowan Atkinson - one of the finest comedians of our era - then you will be sure to love this set!

Rating:
Summary: You could put a tale on it and call it a weasle.
Review: I have been a long time fan of the Black Vegitable er... Adder, and was thrilled to no end when I saw that the entire run was to be available on DVD. I was not dissapointed. Not only do you get all four seasons, The Black Adder Back and Fourth, the BlackAdder's Christmas Carol, and the one shot Black Adder the Cavalier Years, You also get a guide to the stars of each season, as well as little historical tidbits(escpecially helpful for the ignorant American) for each era. But wait there's more! Baldric's guide to the making of Black Adder Back and Fourth, and an interview with Richard Curtis.

Wow! it gets Five out of Five just for content alone. So if you know the Black Adder, and are still deciding on purchasing this set, do yourself a favor, and get it.

Now, for those of you who may not know of the Black Adder, picture history, maybe not as it happened, nor even nessecarily as you were taught it, but how you remember it from books and television shows, all mixed up, and the facts not quite right. Now throw into the mix a sniveling, coniving snake named Edmund, who is after the only thing worthwile in his eyes: Power! (oh and gobs of cash) And you have the Black Adder Series.

The first season takes place in England's dark ages, and pokes much fun at the work of William Shakespear. "Now 'tis the summer of our sweet content." Funny stuff! Rowan Atkinson plays Edmond the second son to the King(Played with incredible humor and energy by Brian Blessed) who never calls him by the right name, or even remembers he exisits. Edmund(with his companions Baldric(Tony Robbinson) and Lord Percy(Tim McInnerny)) constantly plots to gain power for himself and lesson the possition of his brother Prince Harry. From being engaged to the hideous and overly amourous Spanish Queen, to becoming the Archbishop of Cantebury(after his father killed the last one) in an incredibly scathing look at the Catholic church of the time, to defending himself from an accusation of witchcraft by the Witch Smeller Pursuivant("What do you feed you cat, M'Lord?", "Milk.", "Milk?", "Yes Milk! Milk! Bloody Milk!", "He feeds his cat bloody milk! A witch!" Paraphasing, but you get the jist.) And Rowan Atkinson plays a weasle to a tee, with puckered face, and gurglely laughs, and a pronounced lisp.

The second season takes place in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and features a much more swauve, debonare, and Machevellian Black Adder. Highlights include being named Head Exicutioner by the queen, and getting in a jam when he cuts the head of a man earlier in the week than scheduled(to get the middle of the week off) and the queen gives the man a last minute pardon(not knowing he is already dead). Getting into a drinking contest the same evening he is trying to con his puritanical aunt and uncle(Lord andy Lady White Adder)out of a sizable inheritance. Percy has a great line in which after being told of Lord White Adder's vow of silence by Lady White Adder, Percy turns to Lord White Adder and says, "A vow of silence. How very interesting. Tell me about it."

The third season finds Black Adder serving as butler to the Prince Regent George durring colonial times. The interplay between the prince's stupidity, and the Black Adder's guile makes this season one of the best. Baldric is still around, but Percy is absent, Prince George(Hugh Laurie) more than fills his roll of idiot number one. The show goes after politics(with a nod to an old Python election skit), the Theatre, Writers, the Scarlet Pimpernel, Romance, and the old Prince and Butler Switcheroo plot cliche. With Black Adder more than once being foiled in his plots by the Prince's sheer stupidity.

The fourth season takes place in the trenches of World War One, With Black Adder as a Captain in the English Army doing everything he can to avoid "Going over the Top". While I apreciate the mesages the cast and crew put fourth of the idiocy and horrors of war, I still found this to be the weakest of the four seasons. A lot of one-time characters get reused from the second and third series, and the responses of all of the characters has become rote and predictable. There is still the occasional gem of humor but they are few and far between. The only thing that redeems the fourth series is the final episode, with it's poiniant ending. It will tug at your heart.

With all of that, and all of the extra material, these DVDs will keep you entertained for quite along time. AND you can watch them over and over again, memorize the lines, and get strange questioning looks from your friends as you blurt them out at parties and gatherings. But other BA fans will be there and they will laugh and recite with you, and you will gain a whole new set of friends!

HuZah!

Rating:
Summary: Finally on DVD
Review: Finally this great BBC production has come to North America on DVD. Each season comes on a seperate disc, and the collection also includes the barely seen "cavalier years" and the recent time-travel episode "back and forth". A good way to collect the entire series!