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The Quatermass Experiment [2005]


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Interesting period piece from 2005
Review date: 2008-11-23 Rating: 6 out of 10

I was quite impressed with this, having not seen it in nearly 4 years. As a piece of atmospheric television and an exercise in the television of ideas, where we're not shown everything, it was pretty good.

Jason Flemyng's take on Quatermass is not going to be everyone's cup of tea, but I think he makes the part his own. Andrew Tiernan is fantastic as the alien-possessed Victor Caroon. The show is an ensemble piece like the original show and everyone pulls their weight, considering the pressure of recording it live.

The ending may be a little underwhelming but I think it is closer in spirit to the 1950s show than the 1979 Euston Films Quatermass.

Not a patch on Quatermass and The Pit or even Quatermass II (BBC Versions) but worth a look.

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Reviews


Well, it's nice that they tried...
Review date: 2008-09-09 Rating: 4 out of 10

I'm giving this a couple of stars for effort...but in terms of attainment (or even entertainment) it's pretty woeful. After a promising start, the whole thing starts to fizzle out.

Don't get me wrong, I hugely applaud the BBC for doing a "live" drama. But it fails to recapture the tension that the original series episodes generates even looking at them half a century later.

Maybe we're more forgiving of things made long ago and horribly unforgiving of contemporary television. But then again it's hard to forgive a script that takes liberties with a classic piece of writing.

The longer the new show went on, the more pointless it felt to be re-inventing this classic story. And the new ending is pretty feeble.

Useful But Not Essential.
Review date: 2007-07-17 Rating: 6 out of 10

I am not a lover of classic television programmes being remade for the modern audience, they are never as good as the originals and more often than not the original drama's reputation suffers. Take for instance the remake of A For Andromeda, it isn't a patch on the single episode and the extracts that exist from the 1962 version starring Peter Halliday and Julie Christie. This remake of The Quatermass Experiment on the other hand is generally OK, the reason is probably because this edition allows us to see a fully complete version based on what Nigel Kneale originally wanted at last, the TV original of course sees only the first two episodes survive and the less said about the Brian Donlevy film version the better. The fact that this allows us to see that full version does not automatically mean that it is any good however as per the previously mentioned remake of A For Andromeda, it all comes down to the actors ability to reenact old material in a convincing way and to present that material as new and fresh, this is almost impossible as no matter how good a remake is or how brilliant the acting the spectre of the original production always rears it's head. I challenge anyone to come up with a remake of a film or a TV series that is as good or better than first one, I honestly cannot think of any.

This Quatermass Experiment is a polished production that is well acted and well directed and will allow fans to achive a sense of what the story was all about, but if the truth be told even though I like the production I would rather watch the two episodes that starred the great Reginald Tate and read the script of episodes 3-6. This version will only really be used by myself when I feel lazy and don't want to read scripts. At the end of the day this remake is an inferior cousin to a lost classic and will be used as a substitute for the fans that are secretly wishing that, nice though it is they would rather a remake wasn't needed. It is useful but by no means essential even to huge Quatermass fans like myself.

Quatermass Returns
Review date: 2007-01-05 Rating: 10 out of 10

Hmm, not sure about Mr Wombey's review. How on earth are we supposed to not bother with this version, and watch the original when only 2 episodes are in exsistence? Me I will settle for this very well put together update. So there is no monster at the end, big deal, what it loses in the 'Rubber Glove' department it makes up for in spades with performance and atmospherics. This is pre- 'Doctor Who' David Tennant at his best (The 'Doctor' playing a Doctor?). I adore the original 'Quatermass' serials and films, but like one reviewer has already said, this is a worthy addition to those stories.

Oh Dear!
Review date: 2006-12-20 Rating: 2 out of 10

*Contains Spoilers*

A pointless remake of a classic TV series, with none of the dramatic impact of the original. Coming over like a listless episode of Dr Who, it was difficult to believe in the main characters (with the honorable exception of Andrew Tiernan as Carroon) - Jason Flemyng at no point gave the impression of a driven, talented scientist.

The fact that it went out live was no excuse for the lack of tension and poor realisation of the script - after all, the 50's original was also a live broadcast and used comparatively primitive resources to produce a show that kept the viewing public glued to their sets for weeks. Little hope of that reaction with this version. The laughable resolution was just the dog dirt on top of the cake - I can only assume that the "let's all hold hands and make the nasty monster go away" ending was chosen because it was easier than having a proper special effect. Nigel Kneale's wiggly rubber glove may have been cheap but at least it was effective.

Bluntly, if you've seen the original don't bother with this.

Product Details/Specifications


Actor(s):
Gordon Jackson
Adrian Dunbar
Jason Flemyng
Indira Varma
Sam Miller

Creators:
Jason Flemyng (Primary Contributor)
Adrian Dunbar (Primary Contributor)

Director(s):

Recording label: Simply Media
Manufacturer: Simply Media
EAN: 5019322220985
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 1
Format: PAL,
Release date: 2005-10-31
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 146 minutes
Theatrical release date: 2005-04-02
Language: English (Original Language)

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