Amazon.com

Fans of Space: 1999 (and there are many of them) are lavish in their praise for British producer Gerry Anderson's mid-'70s sci-fi series. They rhapsodize about provocative, seriously scientific story lines, expensive production values, the presence of star (and future Oscar^® winner) Martin Landau, and more. But there are others who look at the series' glacial pace, loopy costumes and makeup, cheesy sets, primitive special effects, stilted dialogue, and self-serious tone and wonder what planet those rabid fans are from.

Set 6 of the digitally remastered series, containing six episodes (numbers 31 to 36) on two discs, offers plenty of evidence to support both arguments. On the one hand, there are some intriguing ideas, weighty themes, and good writing here, as in "New Adam, New Eve" (episode 34), in which Koenig (Landau) and company confront the very existence of God himself, or "The Rules of Luton" (episode 31), in which Koenig and Maya (Catherine Schell) find themselves in deep trouble on a planet where plants are the dominant life form. But too often those virtues are hamstrung by poor execution, as in "Luton," where our heroes must battle three absurd-looking and -acting aliens. Smart sensibility, silly look and feel: this is the Space: 1999 paradox. And the truth is that nowadays, when advanced film technology is making even the early Star Wars films look dated, many of these episodes seem positively quaint.

DVD bonus features include a three-minute "making of" featurette (on the first disc), a gallery of production stills (on both discs), and interactive menus. Some material that was not seen in the original U.S. broadcasts has been restored. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Description

David Suchet returns in an all-new original Poirot Movie! An archaeologist's beautiful but unpopular wife is murdered while the couple is on the Middle East excavating a historical site. At the request of local authorities, a vacationing Hercule Poirot takes on the case in one of Agatha Christie'sbest-known tales. ... Read more

Reviews (9)

In The Land of Two Rivers
Thank GOD for George W. Bush for standing up to the Butcher of Baghdad, Saddam Hussein. Yes, intelligence for going into Iraq was flawed but Bush had it in his heart that he wanted Hussein GONE, he wanted the people of Iraq to be FREE. No more torture chambers and mass graves. The nation will remain in chaos for some time but maybe hopefully the status of the nation will become that of a decent, upstanding, democratic and free nation the way it was when this movie, Murder in Mesopotamia, took place. Hussein was the real criminal madman, Bush is not. Anyone who thinks differenty must have their head checked. Iraq will be restored to prominence in the Middle East, a place where archeological expeditions can take place, where great stories can be written such as this one by Agatha Christie. Under Hussein the nation was at a dead end. Thanks to Bush we can look forward to great things in Iraq. I recommend this movie.

Whodunnit? The Writers, That's Who
Although they take some liberties with Poirot and his eternal sidekick Capt. Hastings, both David Suchet and Hugh Fraiser do justice to the characters. But purists have a point when they complain about unnecessary fiddling with Agatha Christie's plots. It's hard to improve on perfection, and this BBC adaptation of MURDER IN MESOPOTAMIA, one of Christie's most fiendishly cunning constructions, proves the point.

Capt. Hastings does not appear in the Christie novel, which presents us with the tale of a seemingly impossible murder at an archeological dig in Iraq. In order to accommodate his presence, one character has been eliminated and another has been significantly reduced. With careful scripting, direction, and acting, the change might have been pulled off--but sad to say, no such thing occurs.

The script is unexpectedly weak, and to add insult to injury the writers have also "tweaked" the plot in a failed effort to cover the problems they have created by fiddling with the story in the first place. The direction lacks focus, and most of the actors seem miscast and extremely unhappy about it. When all is said and done, MURDER IN MESOPOTAMIA is little short of a mess.

Even so, Suchet and Fraiser manage enough charm to carry the project; they are always entertaining to watch, and I give the film three stars largely on that basis. But if you've already read the book, you'll be disappointed--and if you haven't read the book, you should, and immediately.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Mesopotamia Murdered
Long before that criminal madman George W. Bush, there was a second American invasion of Iraq: not by jingoistic soldiers seeking non-existent weapons of mass destruction, but archaeologists who care far too much for the past of a country where human civilisation arose to let the museums be ransacked. That archaeological expedition was the subject of Agatha Christie's MURDER IN MESOPOTAMIA (1936), a detective story that, although presenting several interesting characters, a splendidly drawn archaeological dig, and a tense atmosphere, suffered from a solution matched in sheer improbability only by John Dickson Carr's IT WALKS BY NIGHT (1930).

The latest Suchet adaptation, however, is barely faithful to the book. Instead of two murders ingeniously committed and equally ingeniously solved, the viewer is presented with a series of ridiculous sub-plots: to wit, Poirot's infatuation with the Countess Rossakoff (cheap love interest to satisfy the Mills & Boon / Harlequin public); and a completely irrelevant murder not found in the original book. Instead of a problem rationally set out for the reader to solve, there is precious little detection, but a great deal of fluff: simpering performances, hysterical fits, and a plethora of cliches. This sort of thing is embarrassing; and certainly not up to the level of the L.W.T. productions.

Archaeology with a Twist
Both my sister and my mother have read almost every mystery that Agatha Christie ever wrote, but I never thought to start. Then I sat down one evening to watch television with them, and I was at once enchanted. It was an episode of Agatha Christie's Poirot on A&E. The David Suchet Poirot films (both full length movies and short films) come from this series. I enjoyed that first show so much that I watched the series religiously until it went off the air.

I started reading some of Agatha Christie's mysteries this year, and I firmly believe that David Suchet is the best portrayal of Hercule Poirot that ever was. I have seen other notorious actors, such as Peter Ustinov and Tony Randall, play the part, but they do not achieve the full embodiment of the persona (both physical and psychological) that David Suchet does.

MURDER IN MESOPOTAMIA has an interesting plot that centers around something very in tune with the interests of the time in which it is set. Then the western world was fascinated by the archaeological digs occurring in Africa, Egypt, and the Middle East, and this story helps to show that fascination with a little mystery twist. However, the twist isn't so little, so Hercule Poirot comes to the rescue. Quite in tune with his character, Poirot merely wants to catch the murderer; he searches for cold, hard facts, but finally, he must work the little gray cells until they reveal the true answer. I think that David Suchet portrays Poirot in the desert quite well; he acts exactly as I suspect Poirot would when visiting the great outdoors. Additionally, Captain Hastings visits us again and serves as a nice, comedic foil for the great Poirot.

I highly recommend any of the David Suchet Poirot films to anyone searching for an interesting, exciting mystery to watch.

Unearthing the Truth at an Archaeological Dig
Before the Murder on the Orient Express, there was the Murder in Mesopotamia. As a team of archaeologists labors away at an ancient Tell, the leader's wife has her head smashed in a room which no one else could have entered or left. Poirot, who has come to the dig for a visit with his old friend, Capt. Hastings, becomes entangled in the investigation. During the course of the investigation suspicion falls on every single member of the team. The solution is both logical and satisfying, and it accounts for all the loose ends quite nicely. Poirot's identification of the murderer followed a precise and inexorable chain of deduction leading unerringly to the murderer. His reconstruction of the modus operandi was also a tour de force of logic. Given the facts he had to work with, his solution provided the only way they would all fit together.

Christie spins an entertaining yarn, and she may have been very knowledgeable on the subject of murder, but she betrays absolutely no understanding of the mechanics of perpetrating real-life murders. When I first read the novel, found the killer's modus operandi to be so complex, so dependent upon others unwittingly doing just exactly as expected, and so likely to miscarry even if everyone followed the script, that no intelligent murderer would attempt it. Watching the murderer carry out the plot on the TV screen confirmed my assessment. Only a lunatic would have attempted such a murder.

This BBC TV production starring David Suchet is excellent. It follows Christie's plot faithfully, changing only three particulars of the plot. 1. In the movie, Suchet is in the Middle East chasing after the love of his life, the beautiful but corrupt Countess Rosakoff. In the book he was simply on vacation. 2. In the movie, his friendship to Capt. Hastings brings him to the archaeological dig. In the book, Hastings does not appear. 3. In the book, when Poirot announces his solution, he prefaces his remarks by saying that he doesn't have a shred of evidence to back it up. The killer then obligingly confesses. Not really likely. In the movie, he simply announces his solution without highlighting its highly speculative nature, and the killer confesses. ... Read more

Description

3 Great Movies on 1 DVD.Star Power, Exciting Genre with Extras on each DVD. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

1 good movie & 2 fair ones
The Sell Out is the best of these 3. Good acting by Richard Widmark. For the other two movies, Inside man would be second best and kept my interest well enough. Hangmen though is a different story. Too much gunplay & people getting killed. I only sat through it for the Sandra Bullock parts since this was her very first movie. She was good & the rest of the picture was so so.

Expect the picture quality to be slightly soft (like VHS) due to the compression needed to put 3 movies on one DVD. The sound on all 3 is mono plus the movies are all full screen format. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Fans of Space: 1999 (and there are many of them) are lavish in their praise for British producer Gerry Anderson's mid-'70s sci-fi series. They rhapsodize about provocative, seriously scientific story lines, expensive production values, the presence of star (and future Oscar® winner) Martin Landau, and more. But there are others who look at the series' glacial pace, loopy costumes and makeup, cheesy sets, primitive special effects, stilted dialogue, and self-serious tone and wonder what planet those rabid fans are from.

This two-disc set includes the first six episodes of the show's second season.Episode 25, "Metamorph," introduces Maya (Catherine Schell), a shape-changer and scientific wiz who, after witnessing her nutty dad's dastardly deeds, defects to join our Moonbase Alpha heroes. "Journey to Where" (Episode 29) finds Koenig (Landau) and Helena (costar Barbara Bain) returning to Earth--specifically, and bizarrely, 14th-century Scotland--while "One Moment of Humanity" (Episode 27) sees the evil Zamara (Billie Whitelaw) and her android cronies trying to learn the violent ways of humans. Intriguing ideas, occasionally rather lame execution. In other words, there's plenty here to justify the points of view of the show's adherents and its detractors.

DVD bonus features include production stills, TV promotional spots, and interactive menus. All episodes have been digitally remastered, and some material that was not seen in the original U.S. broadcasts has been restored. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (20)

YEAR 2-BETTER THAN YEAR 1!!!!!!!
Season two of Space 1999 has finaly arrived and it looks better than ever! I have never seen a year two episode that wasnt worn out and scratchy, the pristine quality makes you think your seeing these episodes for the first time. There are more bonuses than the previouse disks but still no "making of" documentary. A and E has again done a great job, making the wait worth it ...
Lets hope A and E puts out more bonuses and the special "MESSAGE" episode!
Season two begins with the addition of Maya, in the episode The Metamorph. After escaping her evil father she goes to live on Moonbase Alpha. Maya has the power of molecular transformation-she can change into any lifeform in the blink of an eye. Space 1999 was one of the first-maybe THE FIRST-television series to have a morphing character, and this was way before computer animation! Her changes were feats of camera work, who can forget her eye! The Exiles is about an alien Bonny and Clyde who hold Alpha hostage. Maya does a really cool midair transformation into a panther. One moment of humanity is about robots who want to learn to kill so they can eliminate their human masters. This episode sizzles with sex! Tony and Helena are pitted against each other and end up almost killing each other. Journey to Where is about time travel going amok. This episode has much in common with many first season episodes and even ends on a grim philosophical note. The minatures of Earths' future cities are very well done and realistic. The Taybor is about a trader who will stop at nothing to get Maya- and who can blame him!
If you want the best of weird and cool sci-fi Space 1999 season two is it.

good escapist TV
I've always thought that the start of both seasons of Space 1999 weren't as much fun as the episodes that came after them. Set 5 has some good episodes and some good moments, but sets 6,7, and 8 are much more fun. As the start of season two, this set has both it's share of draw-backs and it's fun moments.

I wont waste space reviewing every episode, but I will say that The Metamorph is one of my faves! Catherine Schell is introduced as Maya in this one. New theme music, cast members, costumes, and sets are introduced as well. Dr Bergman is gone, and the main control center has now been moved underground. Maya helps to fill the void left by Bergman, and after episodes like War Games the new location of the control center makes good sense. Smart move Koenig.

Space 1999 sets 2,3,4,6,7,8 are my favorites, but 1 and 5 are important to the show and to finish your collection. There are some good epsodes in both so check them out. While you are at it, try the Space 1999 novel The Forsaken by John Muir. It sheds more light on just what happened between the program's two seasons and is an excellent read.

Some fun episodes, but poor sound too
Some of the episodes in this set have inferior sound. It's not unlistenable, but it is sub par. Fortunatley, I don't find it too distracting, but it's too bad they didn't make the sound as wonderful as the picture quality. Apart from the sound problems, I enjoyed this set.
This set contains shows from the second season of Space 1999 which was a more ridiculous season, but there are many guilty pleasure episodes here. My favorites include:
"The Metamorph" which is the first episode of the second season and introduces the new theme music and show opening. I like it. We also get a new command center, some new costumes, and the introduction of Tony and Maya. Tony brings some great humor to the show and he keeps trying to make beer. You have to admire a guy who tries to make beer and maintains a sense of humor while the moon is hurling through space. Catherine Schell is lovely as Maya the Psychlon and Maya can turn into all kinds of living creatures which is fun. She's also the sexiest woman with side-burns ever! Brian Blessed plays Mayas dad Mentor.
"The Exiles" has some very suspenseful moments as 50 missiles suddenly begin to orbit the moon and the intercepting of one of them for further study is pretty tense. There's a great sense of mystery for the first half of this episode, but then it turns silly, but I like silly. "Journey to Where" is a bit of Time Tunnel like adventure with a good performance by Freddie Jones, and "The Taybor" is extremely goofy and features some scantly clad female Alphans, and Maya turning into Mr Hyde. I wont comment on the disco dancing horny android epsiode, or the episode with the living rocks. These aren't the most realistic or brainy TV episodes ever, and Set 5 is the low point of the Space 1999 DVD sets, but there are plenty of fun moments in this one and let us never forget that Catherine Schell is the sexiest woman with side-burns ever.

loved season 2
Season two of Space 1999 is a great deal of fun if you understand exactly what to expect. Expect CHEESE with your Space 1999 and plenty of it. I think season one was great, but no matter how many times you watch a train roll down a track there's just something more compelling about a train wreck. Season 2 is a weird combination of quality elements and wacky cheesy elements that makes for entertaining viewing.

very fun stuff
It would be easy to rip this show to pieces and there are plenty of reviews here that do just that, but I have a blast watching these episodes with friends. It's a wonderful mix of cool stuff, decent acting and writing, dubious acting and writing, and just plain silly stuff that both amuses and brings back the fun of being a kid and watching this sort of monster/space adventure show. My friends and I never saw the show when it was on tv, but it's the kind of thing that the kid in us adore and it's very funny when it isn't fantastic stuff. These episodes are all over the map, but they never fail to entertain. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The MOONRAKER of the Sharpe movie series
It give me no pleasure to write this review. After years of thoroughly enjoying Cornwell's Richard Sharpe novels I finally caved in and picked up one of the films. SHARPE'S GOLD is one of my favorite of the novels so I figured I'd chosen well.
I was wrong.
This movie is to the novel as MOONRAKER was to Ian Flemming's work.
Sharpe is indeed in the movie, and I think the word "gold" is uttered once or twice, but that's where the similarity ends.

Highly disappointing.
The only reason I gave it two stars is Sean Bean - who really does fullfil my image of Richard Sharpe.

Read the book. Don't waste time or money on this movie.

"Sharpe's Gold"
I have literally just finished watching "Sharpe's Gold" on DVD, I don't have the words to describe my disappointment. It's story line was in such poor taste I had to immediately submit a review.

My recent purchase of the Sharpes's series 1-6 has been shadowed by this absolutely horrible interpretation of the excellent book "Sharpe's Gold" by Bernard Cornwell. "Sharpe's Gold" the film would have made a much better "Doctor Who" episode. I consided myself a collector of the Sharpe series and have read the entire collection. I find it hard to believe that Bernard Cornwell actually allowed them to completely trash his book for his film.

I will continue to collect the rest of this series, however my copy of "Sharpe's Gold" will be collected by the garbage men next Tuesday.

Start with this one and you'll end with it
Had the first of the Sharpe's episodes I viewed been this one, it would have been my last. Most of the series rises above the the genre of pulp escapist adventure-- this one sinks below it.

The screenplay is the culprit here, filled with laughably improbable plot devices and threadbare cliches. It seems a band of Spanish Freedom Fighters are actually a secret religious cult, practising human sacrifice based on Aztec rituals (mysterously imported into Spain hundreds of years before the 1813 setting). This band of merry men has captured some English deserters, and wants to exchange them for modern rifles. Sharpe is chosen for the mission, but upon discovering their true nature is so horrified, he slays them all and dynamites their mountain base.

If you're not bothered by his company routing a far larger number of well-armed and experienced men in a strongly fortified position (all without taking any casualties), then you certainly won't shrug at Lord Wellington's teenage niece coming along for the ride. This lovely, well-bred young lass needed only an intense glance from Sharpe, before she's ready to be plowed by him (Lt. Ayres' words, not mine) whenever and wherever, even next to a pile of freshly sacrificed corpses. Oh, she's also a crack shot ("I only hunted rabbits before Sir!") and assists in the military victories also. That is, before she is captured, given mind-altering drugs, and prepared for sacrifice by having her perky young breasts painted with Aztec symbols. Will Sharpe arrive in time to save her? Such drama!

If you consider your collection incomplete without the entire series, buy this episode. But take my advise-- leave the shrinkwrap intact.

Bit of a disappointment
I really like this series. I've seen several episodes and have also read some of the books. So far I've found this to be the weakest. First, the story is nothing like the book. It contains a completely contrived romance and an unconvincing story about retrieving deserters. Second, Aztecs in Spain in 1813? Where does this come from? Third, the relationship between Sharpe and the Provost Lt. Ayres is quite bizarre. Why does Ayres persist in baiting Sharpe? Does he enjoy being beaten?

Still, I give it three stars for the acting by Sean Bean and Daragh O'Malley (sp?) as well as the action sequences. Also, because it is a Sharpe story. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Decent B movie
An uknown nuclear submarine conceals iteself in protected waters, Sweden's government along with the United Status must find the enemy. Just when the solution is at hand, a top secret laser designed by Sweden's military is stolen and the lab is destroyed. Now everyone is under suspicion including the Swedish government, the laser inventors, as well as the terrorists. Dennis Hopper is Miller, a United States official assigned to find the laser and get it back - before it's technology falls into the wrong hands. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Decent B movie
An uknown nuclear submarine conceals iteself in protected waters, Sweden's government along with the United Status must find the enemy. Just when the solution is at hand, a top secret laser designed by Sweden's military is stolen and the lab is destroyed. Now everyone is under suspicion including the Swedish government, the laser inventors, as well as the terrorists. Dennis Hopper is Miller, a United States official assigned to find the laser and get it back - before it's technology falls into the wrong hands. ... Read more