TotalTelly.co.uk
Devoted to Popular, Cult and Retro TV
The A-Team - Series 3
RRP: £34.99
Our Price: £12.97 (subject to change)
Possibly the greatest mix of action with comedy ever
Review date: 2007-06-27 Rating: 10 out of 10
The A-Team is a programme that would be a complete and utter waste of even just thinking of remaking, no matter how talented a person was or how hard they tried it would never and I mean never match this, because everything about it feels as though it is how it was meant to be, that and the fact that it is one of the best pieces of television ever that successfully mixes action with comedy and does it so brilliantly. Now I have got that out of the way I will briefly, if you have never seen it that is, tell you a little of what all the fuss is about. To explain it as simply as possible it is about a group of soldiers who are on the run from the military for a crime that they did not commit. That in itself is rather tricky. But at the same time as all this, they help people (any people, it could be you, me or somebody you know, although you have to find them first) with problems for example whether it be somebody has been kidnapped or being forced to pay someone protection money to avoid there restaurant being vandalised etc. or just generally being bullied. Whatever the problem is they have all got one thing in common, and that is in the end The A-Team will defeat the bad guys (usually deadly serious and smug, which make it all the more satisfying and amusing that they get what they deserve in the end) responsible, but in the process hurt them as little as possible. So by the end of each episode, the innocent victims involved can get on with their tedious lives and The A-Team can get on with helping another poor soul, although sometimes they have to escape from the military before they can move on. Below is a little information on the members of The A-Team.
Hannibal (my personal favourite) - In charge of the team (and rightly so given is age and experience) and loves it when plans come together, adores his cigars, looks for acting roles in between missions and is very witty, especially love it when he's on the jazz and uses his acting talents to disguise himself as various made up characters. George Peppard played this role with such coolness.
Face - Ladies man and likes to do as little manual work as possible, tries to fight as little as possible (although he can fight) and uses his conman skills to get various things, for example if they ever need a helicopter Face is your man, if the team need to get Murdock out of the nuthouse Face is your man, in general if The A-Team need anything for a mission, then it is no problem for the Faceman. I particularly find it funny the way he comes across as a bit of a snob and secretly looks down at the others.
Murdock - Completely mad but extremely funny (overall the funniest character), winds B.A. up all the time and his pilot skills are essential to the team. Hides out in a nuthouse and I'm still not 100% sure if he really is or really isn't.
B.A. - The gold chain wearing hardman of the team, loves his van and if some kind of weapon needs to be made, then he can make them unbelievably(still entertaining) out of almost anything. Arguably the most caring team member, hates flying. Love the way he fools the team into thinking he's about to do something really bad to them after they put him to sleep to get him on a plane.
This season 3 is the longest of all with 25 episodes to enjoy although one of which is a two part episode, but even if you count this as one and make it 24 episodes, this is still the longest season. Anyway I hope this helps anybody that is interested to know what kind of programme this is, like I said, it is possibly the greatest mix of action with comedy ever.
Similar Products
- The A-Team - Series 4
- The A-Team - Series 2
- The A-Team - Series 5
- The A-Team - Series 1
- Knight Rider - Season 3 [1983]
Reviews
Pure essence of Action TV
Review date: 2006-12-03 Rating: 10 out of 10
Any fans who saw Justin Lee Collins'programe "Bring Back The A Team" on Channel 4 this year, would no doubt have found it pretty damn interesting to hear how personalities clashed on the set of this classic series - namely George Peppard (Hannibal) and his alledged ego problems with other cast members. However, it's great to see that none of the off camera disbutes showed through at all in the programe. You really do believe that these guys are a solid team who can pretty much handle anything! THe A Team is just top banana - for several reasons. Firstly, unlike many shows that were on TV at the time, it doesn't really follow any particular fashion trend. And this makes it almost timeless. Look at others of the same genre now - Knight Rider, Airwolf etc - and unfortunately, you spend more time giggling at the outragous hair styles and dodgey leather jackets than actually enjoying the show. THe A Team is a bit different though - sometimes you could almost be convinced that it was filmed in the nineties or even more recently. Often the only giveaway is the massive hair styles and mandatory 80's make-up of the damsels in distress who hire the team.
Secondly, the show is essentially based around four brilliantly developed characters. Hannibal, BA, Face and Murdock are simply impossible to replace in their roles, and some of the writing is wickedly humourous (particularly many of Face and Murdocks scenes together). Episodes like "Cup a Joe" and "The Big Squeeze" are fine examples of the team at their best - fistfights like only the A Team could carry off, gunplay that demolishes everything in sight plus sureal comedic performances mainly from Murdock. I think to make a movie of the A Team would be a sad mistake. These guys ARE the A Team!
Most importantly, one big improvement on this seasons boxed set, compared to the previous two, is the re-insertion of the pre-opening title teaser sequences. You know, where you get thirty seconds of a person in trouble, a meaningfull line from Hannibal, a crazy few words from Murdock mixed with a couple of punches and finished off with a big explosion and another quick line from one of the team. I particularly enjoyed Face's "They don't make the bad guys like they used to, do they?" line at the beginning of "skins". I was hugely disappointed to find these sequences missing on seasons one and two. But here, the package is complete. I was about 13 when these episodes first appeared and even I find it quite incredible that they hold together so well, more than twenty years on. Shows like this just do not exist nowadays, so enjoy. Close certain parts of your brain down to avoid plot holes, and unrealisic situations or outcomes, and just enjoy. The makers of this series must surely have loved it when a plan came together.
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Dwight Schultz
Dirk Benedict
Mr T
Melinda Culea
George Peppard
Recording label: Playback
Manufacturer: Playback
EAN: 5050582386967
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 6
Format: Box set, PAL,
Release date: 2006-05-22
Audience rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
Region code: 2
Language: English (Original Language)