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Rating: 
Summary: Review addition!
Review: Clarification: After reviewing the set and then receiving the set...I Must applaud A&E for the brilliant 20 minute BEHIND-THE-SCENES special on the 5th disc! Finally...the puppeteers get to talk about their work and you actually get to see inside the puppet's heads! Also on DISC 5, they did include the lost footage from the 40th Episode! BRAVO!
Rating:
Summary: Review addition!
Review: Clarification: After reviewing the set and then receiving the set...I Must applaud A&E for the brilliant 20 minute BEHIND-THE-SCENES special on the 5th disc! Finally...the puppeteers get to talk about their work and you actually get to see inside the puppet's heads! Also on DISC 5, they did include the lost footage from the 40th Episode! BRAVO!
Rating:
Summary: Takes nostalgia lovers to a "Nivannic" state!
Review: I grew up on Stingray so I would preface by saying that I am
marginally bias to this release. This is the one I've been waiting for and it has finally arrived.
Having experienced the adventures of Troy Tempest as an eager child hungry for thrills, chills and spills, this is the ticket. What truly astounds is the timeless nature of Gerry Anderson's work. Being 40 years of age and fired up about Stingray is a beautiful thing. And sharing it simultaneously with your kids is beyond words! Going further, I would hint at this being a unique and unforgettable experience that the whole family can enjoy. Bottom line: Go for the gold and shell out the clams! For those tired of the same old same old, rediscover the magic of "Supermarionation" as only Gerry Anderson can provide. This truly is marvelous and genius, all wrapped up into one. It is highly unlikely you will be disappointed with your purchase. Enjoy.
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST Gerry Anderson Series!
Review: I love all the GERRY ANDERSON 'SUPERMARIONATION' series BUT this is my favorite! Why? Distinct and complete character development! While THUNDERBIRDS and CAPTAIN SCARLET focus more on the ships and gadgets....STINGRAY focuses more on TROY TEMPEST, ATLANTA, MARINA, PHONES, COMANDER SHORE, TITAN, X2-0, etc. I have the BRITISH version of the set and it does have many more extras that I wish they would release in the states...Guest appearances on BRITISH TV Shows, Bumper cards, Memorabillia, Commercials...not sure why they just can't add this stuff on the A&E releases??? This is a GREAT series and the prints look EXCELLENT! Rick Goldschmidt RANKIN/BASS Historian
Rating:
Summary: THE BEST Gerry Anderson Series!
Review: I love all the GERRY ANDERSON 'SUPERMARIONATION' series BUT this is my favorite! Why? Distinct and complete character development! While THUNDERBIRDS and CAPTAIN SCARLET focus more on the ships and gadgets....STINGRAY focuses more on TROY TEMPEST, ATLANTA, MARINA, PHONES, COMANDER SHORE, TITAN, X2-0, etc. I have the BRITISH version of the set and it does have many more extras that I wish they would release in the states...Guest appearances on BRITISH TV Shows, Bumper cards, Memorabillia, Commercials...not sure why they just can't add this stuff on the A&E releases??? This is a GREAT series and the prints look EXCELLENT! Rick Goldschmidt RANKIN/BASS Historian
Rating:
Summary: Stand by for action!!
Review: I recently became enamoured of the works of Gerry Anderson, the first being his live action projects (UFO & Space: 1999) and I never thought that I would actually find myself buying any of his puppet projects, but low and behold I found myself acquiring both Captain Scarlet and Stingray. And I haven't regretted that decision since. Stingray is a marvelous show, yes it is a puppet show, and it's hard to take the show seriously considering that these are marionettes taken in dangerous situations, but it doesn't matter. it's just a fun show to watch regardless, because the production value is very high and very exceptional with the action sequences. When I watch Stingray, I feel like a kid again. I love the characters, Troy Tempest, Phones, Commander Shore, Atlanta and of course the beautifully silent Marina. What would've been interesting was if Marina could actually speak, who would've provided the voice? But I think on the other hand, she works well as a silent character, because her actions speak a lot louder than mere words.
I especially like the opening sequence with the announcement of 'Stand by for action!' and given the present climate of global terrorism, when you hear Commander Shore's proclamation that 'Anything can happen in the next half-hour' you can't help but feel some chills. It's action packed, with some very excellent characters and humour that makes you feel good inside. Definitely a must have for any SuperMarionation fan.
Rating:
Summary: Stand by for action!!
Review: I recently became enamoured of the works of Gerry Anderson, the first being his live action projects (UFO & Space: 1999) and I never thought that I would actually find myself buying any of his puppet projects, but low and behold I found myself acquiring both Captain Scarlet and Stingray. And I haven't regretted that decision since. Stingray is a marvelous show, yes it is a puppet show, and it's hard to take the show seriously considering that these are marionettes taken in dangerous situations, but it doesn't matter. it's just a fun show to watch regardless, because the production value is very high and very exceptional with the action sequences. When I watch Stingray, I feel like a kid again. I love the characters, Troy Tempest, Phones, Commander Shore, Atlanta and of course the beautifully silent Marina. What would've been interesting was if Marina could actually speak, who would've provided the voice? But I think on the other hand, she works well as a silent character, because her actions speak a lot louder than mere words.
I especially like the opening sequence with the announcement of 'Stand by for action!' and given the present climate of global terrorism, when you hear Commander Shore's proclamation that 'Anything can happen in the next half-hour' you can't help but feel some chills. It's action packed, with some very excellent characters and humour that makes you feel good inside. Definitely a must have for any SuperMarionation fan.
Rating:
Summary: Great fun
Review: Stingray is part three in the Gerry Anderson five part development (and eventual perfection) of marionette based shows. 'Supercar" was crude and campy good 1960 kidshow fun. "Fireball XL5" had significant improvements in technique. "Stingray" was in color and was a dramatic leap ahead in set design, marionette action, scripting, and special effects. "Thunderbirds" remains the best of the lot with hour long scripts, "gee whiz!" special effects, some funny character development (such as the humourously irritable dialogue of the pyramid explorers in "The Uninvited"), and action scenes. Stingray is famous for its underwater special effects which were advanced for 1963-64. No one had seen anything like it up until then. Stingray has the best fully developed characters with Troy, Phones, Atlanta, and Marina. Stingray is enjoyable and highly nostalgic.
Rating:
Summary: Still good TV for kids after 40 years
Review: These are 60's programs restored for DVD. The picture is very good considering the source, and the sound is good. There is an occasional skip in sound at the start of some episodes, but I haven't had any problems during the episode itself. Stingray is a nuclear powered super-submarine capable of 600 knots while submerged. The plot of each episode either involves conflict with the evil Titan, leader of an underwater race, or daring ocean rescues. Kids will enjoy the simple plots while adults will be amused at the inconsistencies of the plot devices. In the first episode, Stingray investigates the destruction of a drone submarine and is attacked by Titan's forces. This is "first contact" between "Terrarians" and oceanic people. In subsequent episodes, Stingray meets numerous other oceanic cultures, some friendly and others belligerent. All technologically advanced. There's no explanation of why some cultures hate humans, nor why friendly cultures hadn't made any sort of contact prior to Titan's attack. Of course, it's immaterial to the seven-year olds that the series is aimed at. We bought the DVD's to provide entertaining TV to our kids without the sex, violence and coarseness that is endemic to modern television. There is mild violence in Stingray, but it is of the simple "good versus evil" variety, and generally abstract in nature. You might see one of Titan's submarines hit by a torpedo, but you won't see one of Titan's soldiers being killed. Gun battles are usually resolved by something heavy landing on the bad guys with enough force to stun them but no more. Good guys and bad guys are awful shots when aiming at each other, but the good guys are super accurate when they have to aim at an inanimate object. Being 60's television, and British to boot, smoking and drinking are shown as normal activities by our heroes. The lead heroes are white males, but there are two strong female characters and the head of the unit is disabled. I think the design for his hovering "wheelchair" was lifted for a Star Trek episode a decade later. All in all, good entertainment for today's kids and a fun stroll down memory lane for those old enough to remember "anything can happen in the next half hour" in front of a tiny black and white television. (The DVD is in color though).
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