Review of Space 1999: Volume 2

Introduction

September 13th 1999 and the nuclear waste dumps on the far side of the moon explode, sending Moonbase Alpha (and the rest of the moon!) hurtling off into deep space. Ok, it didn`t really happen, but I remember thinking it should have...

Space 1999 was a series I grew up with in the 70`s and early 80`s and one I have very fond memories of.

Created by Gerry Anderson and shot through the mid and late 1970`s, the series has aged pretty well for a sci-fi show (scary flares and hairsuts aside) and is still entertaining today.

Where Gerry`s influence shows is in the set design and the fantastic models - the Eagle is probably the best designed spacecraft of all time, the clever modular design allowing one ship to fulfill almost any task.

Video

Video is excellent quality, considering the age of the show and is (naturally) full frame. Colour is good and space is nicely black.

There are no obvious digital artefacts knocking around and only a small amount of dust - not enough to intrude.

The dvd menu has a nicely animated Eagle flying around with the theme tune in the background whilst selected scenes from the
episodes on the disc roll in one corner just like the "this episode" stuff as the main titles roll.....

Audio

Audio is presented in Dolby Digital Mono and is perfectly servicable. All dialogue is clear and there`s a goodly amount of background beeps and whistles to keep things feeling nice and "Sci-Fi".

The theme tune is still one of my all time favourties, very funky and seventies yet dramatic.

Features

These discs aren`t overly stuffed with special features, the esigners have instead littered a few bits and pieces on each disc so as to build into a nice collection as you go along (in a similar vein to other Carlton releases and collections like Farscape).

Conclusion

By this disc the acting has settled down and the directors have realised that humans act in a different manner from puppets on a string. The plots remain good (for pulp sci-fi) and it`s definately better than Star Trek The Next Generation and related US efforts.

If you`ve recently been watching the repeats of Blake`s 7 on UK Gold (perfect Sunday morning hangover cure whilst the bacon sandwiches are frying) and enjoyde their 1970`s tackiness but have never seen Space 1999, you won`t be disappointed.