Slack Bladder! (Blackadder - The Complete Collection (DVD))

Member Name: unnameable

Product:	Blackadder - The Complete Collection (DVD)
Date:	03/02/04 (900 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Classic British comedy, Hilarious

Disadvantages: lack of extras

For my next trick, I would like to convince you all to go out and buy the Blackadder DVD box set.

Christmas 2003, oh so many weeks ago now?.

Unwrapping the smaller pressie from my mum, I discovered that she?d bought us the Complete Blackadder DVD! Slightly shocked, as I truly was not expecting the whole kaboodle, I proceeded to try my best to watch all 4 DVD?s back to back. I only managed to watch series 1, and half of series 2 in the first sitting, but that didn?t stop me! Next day, I sat through the rest, laughing til my sides hurt (and was very close to a nosebleed!) as I always do when watching this touch of genius.

Originally the brainchild of Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis (later to team up on Mr Bean), Blackadder consisted of four series? as well as three specials ( Blackadder: The Cavalier Years, Blackadder?s Christmas Carol, & Blackadder: Back and Forth). This DVD does not include the specials however, which is a bit of a shame.


~The Black Adder~

Written by Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson

Cast:

Rowan Atkinson ? Prince Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh (AKA The Black Adder)
Brian Blessed ? King Richard IV of England
Robert East ? Harry, Prince of Wales
Elspet Gray ? The Queen
Tim McInnerny ? Lord Percy
Tony Robinson ? Baldrick

Episodes:

1. The Foretelling
2. Born to Be King
3. The Archbishop
4. The Queen of Spain's Beard
5. Witchsmeller Pursuivant
6. The Black Seal

Plot summary:

After unwittingly killing his uncle, King Richard III, during the battle of Bosworth Field, Edmund manages to save the life of Henry Tudor, leader of opposing army!

Now his father is King, Edmund feels that he needs to be taken more seriously. Deciding on the alias 'The Black Adder' after toying with 'The Black Vegetable', he goes about reworking his entire image. Cue a bowl haircut, pointy shoes, and frilly p
antaloons.

Edmund's new found son-of-the-king status goes straight to his somewhat empty head, and so he strives to gain more power, failing every time. Be it as the Archbishop of Canterbury, or marriage to the Queen of Spain's Daughter (what a looker), every attempt is hilariously entertaining.

My thoughts:

This series is the weaker of the four, and I feel this is because it is lacking the writing genius of Ben Elton. The characters seem a little one dimensional throughout, and Baldrick just isn't grimy and smelly enough!

I'm not saying it isn't enjoyable, in fact it is still one of the better BBC comedy shows. I just feel it is not quite on par with the excellent follow-ups.

Rowan Atkinson is enjoyable snivelling and fits right in to the role, and Brian Blessed is the same as he always is...bearded and loud.


~Blackadder II~

Written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton

Cast:

Rowan Atkinson ? Lord Edmund Blackadder
Tim McInnerny ? Lord Percy Percy (yes, it is his surname too!)
Tony Robinson ? Baldrick
Miranda Richardson ? Queen Elizabeth I
Stephen Fry ? Lord Melchett
Patsy Byrne ? Nursie

Episodes:

1. Bells
2. Head
3. Potato
4. Money
5. Beer
6. Chains

Plot summary:

Zoom to Elizabethan England 1558. Lord Blackadder is one of Queen Elizabeth I's favourite fogies.

Thankfully Edmund is given a thread of intelligence, a fair wedge of devious cunning, and a wit sharper than a sharp thing.

Forever trying to keep his head (literally), the series follows his exploits of trying to keep in Queenie's good books, and also to make a few quid on the side. Ranging from trying to take it easy as an executioner, and failing miserably, to trying to upstage Sir Walter Raleigh after his miraculous discovery of the potato. He even manages to avoid the baby eating Bishop of Bath and
Wells somehow when he turns up looking for money owed!

Throughout the series, Blackadder is constantly throwing sarcastic comments at the dim-witted Lord Percy, and making full use of the dogsbody charms of Baldrick (who is thankfully smelly and really quite rotten!).

My thoughts:

Easily my favourite of the Blackadder series'. The one-liners flow thick and fast, and the change of personality of Blackadder makes for much more entertaining viewing.

The welcome addition of Ben Elton really gives this the edge over the original series, in so much as the characters are very well developed, and his own wit shines through.

Rowan Atkinson seems to relish playing this cunning character, and so is hugely enjoyable to watch. Tim McInnerny plays a very convincing fool, and Stephen Fry is hilarious as the brown-nosing Lord Melchett.


~Blackadder the Third~

Written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton

Cast:

Rowan Atkinson ? Edmund Blackadder, Butler to the Prince Regent
Tony Robinson ? Baldrick
Hugh Laurie ? George, Prince of Wales & Prince Regent

Episodes:

1. Dish and Dishonesty
2. Ink and Incapability
3. Nob and Nobility
4. Sense and Senility
5. Amy and Amiability
6. Dual and Duality

Plot summary:

A slight downturn in fortunes sees this incarnation of Edmund as butler to the thick-as-mud Prince Regent. In fact, without Blackadder to back him up and look after him, I'm sure The Prince would have died while trying put on those lovely trousers!

As before, the series is full of Edmund's scheming and cunning plans to make a little on the side, and to rise up to where he feels he belongs. Aided by the ever faithful and diseased Baldrick, Blackadder manages to support himself, as well as the Prince, all the while taking as much as he possibly can from every situation.

At one point Edmund manages to save the
Prince from being made bankrupt (spent all his money on socks you see). Strangely it involves rigging a local election, and making Baldrick an MP so that he can influence the vote!

The exploits range from rewriting the dictionary after accidentally burning it, to rescuing a French Diplomat for a bet, and even to taking up highway robbery. Hilarious all the way through, and an equal to the fantastic second series.

My thoughts:

Hugh Laurie is excellent as the moron Prince Regent, maybe even a little too good at it!

Even more scope for witty one-liners and cunning plans in this series (as well as a giant turnip). You can definitely see that Blackadder believes he should be the one being waited on, by way of the sarcasm and sense of everything being said through gritted teeth!

Sad to see that Tim McInnerny only had a cameo role in this series, as I feel he was an excellent part of the previous ones. There seems to be a dramatic reduction in characters here, but each and every one is massively developed, and you even begin to feel a little sorry for Edmund and his predicament.


~Blackadder Goes Forth~

Written by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton

Cast:

Rowan Atkinson ? Captain Edmund Blackadder
Tony Robinson ? Private S Baldrick
Stephen Fry ? General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett
Hugh Laurie ? Lieutenant the Honourable George Colhurst St. Barleigh
Tim McInnerny ? Captain Kevin Darling

Episodes:

1. Captain Cook
2. Corporal Punishment
3. Major Star
4. Private Plane
5. General Hospital
6. Goodbyeee

Plot summary:

In this incarnation Blackadder finds himself in the WW1 bunkers somewhere between no-man's land and a hard place. His willing and (not quite) able men are the happy, but thick, George, and the ever faithful Baldrick.

Forever trying to find a way of getting out of the 'big push' and bac
k to Blighty, Blackadder is up to the usual scheming and plotting. Usually he is thwarted by the weasely Captain Darling (General Melchetts dogsbody), but still manages to come out unscathed.

At one point he tries, and succeeds briefly, to get out of the trenches by putting on a variety show to raise the morale of the troops back home. This involves George in a dress, who becomes the subject of General Melchett's moustachioed lust, and Baldrick's impression of Charlie Chaplin involving a dead slug.

Another scheme is to join the flying squadron 'the 20 minuters', after being inspired by Lord Flasheart (the excellent Rik Mayall). I don't think they counted on being captured by the Red Baron!

Best of all though is Edmund's attempt at feigning insanity. You have to see it to believe it, as I would give away too much by saying any more!

My thoughts:

Another outstanding series, and a fitting end to the Blackadder dynasty. Chock full of the usual witty remarks, sarcasm, and long-winded similes, this is equally as hilarious as the previous two series'.

Rowan Atkinson, again, completely makes the role his own. He truly enjoys being the scheming, witty, somewhat moral-less Blackadder here.

Tony Robinson is great as Baldrick. Definitely at his grimiest here, and his portrayal is hilarious. Who'd have thought this man would be presenting something like Time Team a few years later?!

Glad to see Tim McInnerny back, although I think his character could have been a little more involved. Still funny as ever though.

Stephen Fry is wonderfully bizarre as General Melchett, a complete and utter fruitcake. His strange noises and expressions raise a smile long after they've appeared on the screen.


Extras:

Sadly the only extras (if you can call them that), are the graphical menu and scene selection.

It's really quite frustrating, as the U
SA region 1 DVD set released by Warner has all manner of extras including the specials, commentaries, karaoke (?!), and making of feature. I really wish the BBC would pull their finger out with this!


Overall:

A great addition to anyone?s DVD collection (and a bargain at Amazon for £34.99). If you are a fan of good old British comedy, then this is for you. Every single episode is a classic, and will have you laughing as hard as ever, even after the 30th viewing.


Definitely a favourite of mine, and always will be. I blame my Dad for that though, after introducing me to his sense of humour so early on, through repeated watchings of this, and Monty Python!

Picture quality is not brilliant, but it is watchable. I suppose I can't really fault the BBC for that, as it is a TV show from the 1980's. Sound is good enough, and not a crackle or echo to be heard.

Also available direct from the BBC for a rather scary £59.99, and for under £50 from HMV.



Many thanks for reading,

Marc

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