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Captain Scarlet - Series 1
RRP: £29.99
Our Price: £13.80 (subject to change)
SIG- Scarlet Is Great
Review date: 2008-01-15 Rating: 10 out of 10
The New Captain Scarlet is a really excellent bit of re-imagining. OK the pilot episodes look a bit like FMV from a computer game but the rest (when they changed production companies) is little short of amazing.
Visuals are stunning, scripts engaging and intelligent and the action sequences are genuinely thrilling. It's hard to believe that each episode is only 22 minutes - you feel like you are watching a Hollywood blockbuster.
Similar Products
- Captain Scarlet Series 2
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Reviews
Stunning 21st century series - far better than the puppet original for todays kids & their dads,
Review date: 2006-09-04 Rating: 10 out of 10
I never really completely enjoyed 'Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons' as a kid (I was 11 when it first aired in Sept 1967). I think it was a bit too dark and often the episodes never resolved with a happy ending, plus the break neck action often exposed the limitations of the model/puppet special effects of the time. However the new series animation is first rate, Angels really do look like they could fly, spectrum pursuit vechcles do just that, and the charactor's are naturally more fluid and far less wooden. This leads to an even darker storyline and fantastic action sequences, although perhaps for the very young the body count is a bit high - leading to that 12 rating in series two. This four DVD set has all thirteen episodes (and there's another 13 to come in series two). I think any preteen boy over 6 would love this series - my 10 year year son certainly does. Despite Destiny Angel putting in a strong show for the ladies, my daughter has shown no interest, prefering the likes of Worst Witch and My parents are aliens. If your kids (and probably their dads) like this, try the similar Dan Dare DVD set and possibly the film 'Captain Skypilot and the world of tomorrow'. Www.tvtome.com probably says it all when they write "Gerry Anderson's classic cult 1960s TV series, `Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons' is getting a 21st centry make over in the most impressive animated series to hit kids' TV this century". Recommended to buy or rent.
A fan in the USA says this series totally rocks!
Review date: 2006-07-03 Rating: 10 out of 10
Being a fan of the original Captain Scarlet series before, I had a few qualms about how Gerry Anderson would update this into computer-generated format. I didn't know whether the general story would stay the same, etc.
After being able to see it, I'm convinced this went far beyond the original series. No more puppet strings are needed! The characters are free to move about and have facial expressions.
One thing I was happy to see in this updated version was an increase in the number of women in some powerful positions (such as Lieutenants Green and Silver and Captain Ochre). I'm glad to notice the color codes not restricted to just men anymore.
Diehard Captain Scarlet fans, you may want to give this series a chance, believe me!
Wow, this series rocks!
Review date: 2006-01-11 Rating: 8 out of 10
When I first heard they were remaking captain scarlet I was naturally dubious, remakes in my opinion tending to go wrong with only a few exceptions. I was never a devoted fan of the original simply because some of the episodes were a bit cheesy. The mythology ones where they actually went to mars etc were great, but stopping a truck from blowing up big Ben, turning dummies in to Mysteron agents or a violinist with a bomb in the violin case just got a bit silly sometimes. Anyway, along came the new series, and I went to a friends to watch it, then bought the DVD. Oh wow! Its just so cool. Its full of action, incredibly loud sounds that'll likely have your next door neighbours banging and screaming on the wall, but most of all it feels more realistic and up to date than the original. Ok there are some incredibly cheesy moments and I do feel the poor angels, in fact no, all the women are scripted very badly, but otherwise its very good. Fans of the original maybe a bit upset they've renamed most of the vehicles, for example the spv's are now called rhino's, but you really don't notice it when your watching.
Each story is fairly separate in its own right, though I suspect we may be getting a few doubles in later seasons. Most are well paced and for a 20 minute show do a good job of distracting you. I think the one thing that struck me most about this remake was just how scary it was. I for one never found the Mysterons that worrying in the original, they just sort of popped up, some one would die, they'd give a very droll monologue and that was about it. This time around they kill people in some pretty nasty ways and that only gets worse in season 2. The voice is now incredibly scary whilst maintaining enough of the original not to annoy any one, but what comes across most is just how very evil and devious they are. You really do get the sense that if they wanted too they could wipe the earth out in a second. Also a very interesting addition has been the inclusion of a rival Mysteron faction. Whilst their only touched upon at the end of season 1, I think its something that's likely to develop and it definitely adds character to them. I do have one major objection though, captain black in this series is just wrong. He doesn't sound menacing at all and most of the time scarlet is trying to get the old black back. You do however get the impression he's quite evil, just perhaps not so threatening in the same way as the old one. Perhaps its because some one isn't perched above him in the studio yanking wires and twiddling knobs any more. Ahh well, beggars can't be choosers I guess.
All in all a very fun and worthwhile watch. Jerry Anderson fans are likely to buy it and once you get over the whole lack of strings, you can sit back and enjoy the ride. I'd say it was good for children though it is a bit less universal than the original in my opinion, then again that could be because I'm an adult and realise how worrying some of the concepts are. The only reason it doesn't get 5 stars is because of captain black and some bad scripting of symphony angel.
Spectrum is Green!
Review date: 2005-11-16 Rating: 10 out of 10
Right, let's get a few things out of the way beforehand.
First, remember Thunderbirds? Even the film version of recent years? Right, now forget it.
Second, anyone who has ever met Starship Trooper Chronicles, also by Ron Thornton, please forget that, too.
Finally, if you haven't seen Captain Scarlet, the origianl series, don't panic - this is simply superb. Fans of the original will be really pleased with how close it remains to the original strings and puppet ideal, but with the use of state of the art CGI; and SOTA it is! The level of detail is stunning - whereas Starship Troopers suffered from the odd touch of neglect or simply bad production values, you can TELL this is something Gerry Anderson's hand has touched - it oozes quality. I mean it - I can freeze frame the DVD at any moment and either count pores on the face of a character, or figureout the stitching pattern on a character's clothing! Quality, Quality, Quality.
This is true, not only in the quality of the visuals, but also in the story - this DVD is PG, and it actually earns it, not through stupidly obvious ways, but through what is simply a gritty and enjoyable yarn, spun from episode to episode. Sure, there's the odd bright and fluffy moment, but it's the sort that'll have you grinning from ear to ear (the involvement of a Lancaster Bomber in one of the episodes is delightful, including Colonel White's closing comment about "prangs"!).
Captain Scarlet could have been horribly updated, but you can identify with principle characters very quickly - and while existing strong relationships from the 1960s original have been kept, others have received welcome make-overs - the Angels are still all-female, but White's XO, Lieutenant Green is now female (and seems to work much better that way). Black's history with Destiny, the fact that Destiny is now one of the three principle characters. The story always seems to rattle on at breakneck speed, which does much to avoid any potential "look, we're Spectrum Agents and we're trying to look tough" moments.
What I'm saying is, I can't fault this DVD. Apart from the fact I want ANOTHER 13 episodes, RIGHT NOW!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Captain Scarlet
Creators:
Captain Scarlet (Primary Contributor)
Recording label: ITV DVD
Manufacturer: ITV DVD
EAN: 5037115201836
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 4
Format: Box set, PAL,
Release date: 2005-10-17
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Parental Guidance
Region code: 2
Running time: 286 minutes
Language: English (Original Language)