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Blackadder: Complete Series 4 (Blackadder Goes Forth)
RRP: £19.99
Our Price: £6.83 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
The final Blackadder series, which first appeared in 1990, was the most highly evolved of all of the Richard Curtis/Ben Elton-scripted excursions. Having contrived to attain the Crown at the end of the third series, Rowan Atkinson's Edmund Blackadder is now reduced to a mere Captaincy in the trenches during World War I, with these episodes finding him shooting messenger pigeons, grumbling about Charlie Chaplin and unscrupulously evading his patriotic duty to pile over the top and be slaughtered pointlessly. Hugh Laurie plays the upper class silly arse to the hilt while Baldrick, who has grown progressively more stupid throughout the four series, can barely muster the intelligence to move from the spot. Blackadder Goes Forth stoutly refused to the end to abandon its relish for broad, puerile scatological puns: "Captain Darling will pump you thoroughly in the debriefing room," growls Stephen Fry's General Melchett. However, Blackadder's cynicism is laced with genuine despair at the recent madness of World War I. The closing moments of the final episode, as Blackadder and co. finally receive their orders, are handled with sober poignancy and became a frequent fixture in Remembrance Day TV scheduling. --David Stubbs
Blackadder in the Great War
Review date: 2008-06-18 Rating: 10 out of 10
Blackadder has always been one of the funniest and best written British Sitcoms around and this forth and last series is one of the best from the shows run. The six episodes of the series all show-off the great script and the brilliant performances by both the main cast and the guest stars. All the cast seem to be thoroughly enjoying themselves throughout the series but alongside Rowan Atkinson and Tony Robinson, my favourite has to be Stephen Fry for his brilliant portrayal of General Melchett.
Each episode never ceases to be funny and the last episode of the series is still surprisingly touching despite the number of times that I have watched it. The one slight problem with the series is the laughter track that can be somewhat intrusive at times but this is a flaw that most comedies of this era suffer from and doesn't distract too much from the overall enjoyment. Blackadder Goes Forth use to be my favourite Blackadder series and although Blackadder Three has now superseded it for my favour, it is still a very close second.
Similar Products
- Blackadder: Complete Series 3 (Blackadder III) [1987]
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Reviews
Four stars removed for canned laughter
Review date: 2008-03-27 Rating: 2 out of 10
Right, five stars out of five for the series itself, but four stars removed for the canned laughter, which is too loud and spoils all the jokes.
Any chance of a DVD with the canned laughter removed? Given that earlier series of Blackadder didn't have this pollutive noise, it's only fair.
Long Lost Comedy
Review date: 2008-03-12 Rating: 10 out of 10
Blacker than the Adder's heart and slicker than Baldrick's stage shows moustache, every episode of this final series of Blackadder?s history is a joy to behold. The writing by Curtis and Elton is exquisite comedy filled with sorrow, as you know that most of what was shown was actually going on. Performances by Atkinson, and Robinson are as worthy as they should be although my personal favourite has to be Hugh Laurie as the dim witted, gung ho, Eton batting Lieutenant George. Side performances by the ever-loveable Rick Mayall as Flasheart and Geoffery Palmer as Field Marshall ?Dougie? Haig, amongst many others, are by far the best. The BBC yet again uses the license payer?s money wisely adding to their vast comedy store from the past 50+ years. One watching will never be enough. I feel the War Poets would be proud.
Great War Greater Comedy
Review date: 2008-01-26 Rating: 10 out of 10
After `Blackadder the Third' I was expecting `Blackadder Goes Forth' to be a huge disappointment, I thought the Great War to close to have any real `costume comedy' appeal and the action set in a trench was bound to be limiting. That I could underestimate such a talented team of individuals I cannot explain.
Blackadder's explanation to Baldrick about the deterrent theory of war or the role of professional soldiers are amongst the greatest satire to ever get viewed on prime time on the BBC. The episodes set in the cottage hospital and the air force gave all previous members of the cast the opportunity to give absolutely faultless cameo performances with the central cast also giving the usual fantastic performances.
The writing is faultless with each episode a joy in its own write but again, as was the trend with Blackadder, the final episode stealing the show not only with comedy but also with drama and tragedy. The final episode not only entertains but shows us the full depth of the fruitfulness of war with all the resonance of Sassoon's poems.
'Blackadder goes forth' is the best comedy ever
Review date: 2007-12-10 Rating: 10 out of 10
This is quite simply not just the best Black Adder series, but the best comedy series i have ever seen. My daughter and i know these episodes word for word and although it's only 3 hours (six episodes) every second is priceless. Just one quote from my favourite ever episode on here -
'Corporal Punishment'
Blackadder is in prison and in the morning he faces the firing squad.-
Perkins (The Jailer): "Oh, your lawyer now, yes sir. Don't you think that might be a bit of a waste of money,sir."
Edmund: "Not when he's the finest mind in English legal history. Ever heard of Bob Mattingburg?"
Perkins: "Oh, yes indeed, sir! A most gifted gentleman!"
Edmund: "I remember Mattingburg's most famous case, the case of the bloody knife. A man was found next to a murdured body, he had the knife in his hand, thirteen witnesses that seen him stab the victim, when the police arrived he said, "I'm glad I killed the bastard." Mattingburg not
only got him off, but he got him knighted in the New Year's Honors list, and the relatives of the victim had to pay to have the blood washed out of his jacket."
This is just one of hundreds of quotes that you'll be telling your friends after you've watched this. Absolutely Fantastic stuff. 11/10! Baaaa!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Tim McInnerny
Tony Robinson
Rowan Atkinson
Hugh Laurie
Stephen Fry
Recording label: 2 Entertain Video
Manufacturer: 2 Entertain Video
EAN: 5014503106928
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: Full Screen, PAL,
Release date: 2001-10-22
Number of discs: 1
Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 174 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1989-09-28
Language: Dutch (Subtitled)
Language: English (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)