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I am very happy with my purchase and the speed of the delivery. Thank you very much for you wonderful service. I would buy from you again without reservations and recommend you to everybody.
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This Megaset was a gift to my husband, who grew up watching the show and remains an avid fan. I never heard of Space 1999 prior to meeting him, so the program is entirely new to me. The following is based solely on the production aspect, not a critique of the show or a rehashing of the plot.
Many of the reviewers were disappointed by the quality of the DVD's. Since the show is so much a part of my husband's notalgia tour, I wanted the best possible edition. Considering this, and at the suggestion of some of the reviewers, I looked into the UK edition. Here's what I found:
1) Although Amazon US is as helpful as possible, staff cannot answer questions specific to UK products. There are no toll-free numbers to Amazon UK. Unless you can call overseas without paying extra, you'll have a big bill.
2) Prices are in British pounds. Amazon US is very helpful in determining the conversion for that day, but the rates fluctuate daily. You'll have to be ready to buy.
3) No free shipping deal outside of the UK.
4) Returns can be made only to Amazon UK.
You also need a multi-region DVD player. We have one, but you may not and that's an extra expense.
Here is the summation of the US version:
1) My husband is 100% satisfied. His family had a black-and-white set. Until the Megaset arrived, he had never seen it in color. This was like a trip to Disneyland for him.
2) My training was in production. The show, to me, appeared to be a straight transfer from the original. No enhancements, no digitalization, nothing fancy. It had the look and feel of the '70's. My husband tells me that's the beauty of it. He expects to 'return' to that time. Upgrades that make the Star Trek shows pop now, he insists, would change the whole ambience. Not all sci-fi should be assertive.
His advice is to enjoy it for what it is--a classic tv show from a more innocent, hopeful time.
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A truly great series. It could even happen in our future with the population explosion and because of global warming.It even talked about a planet beyond Pluto and other planets beyond our solar system. Thats whats happening now. This show was way ahead of its time. A definite must have for any collection.
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This is a great set for all the fans of Space 1999 I used to watch this show when I was a kid and thanks to this set I can see all the episodes again uncut, complete with interviews to the cast and the creators of the special effects is a great set for all the fans of Space 1999.
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People sure like to complain. Having read several disparaging reviews of this collection's quality, I was concerned that these DVDs might be a bad purchase. I am glad that I bought them anyway. Yes, I have seen older TV shows restored to better picture and sound quality, but the picture is acceptable (much as it would have appeared on our low-tech televisions during its original run). The sound is also pretty good. My only real gripe is the lack of closed captioning or subtitles.
Frankly, I am grateful that this series is on DVD at all. The current era of science fiction is all about computer graphics and sex-appeal as exemplified by shows such as "Battlestar Galactica" and the big budget remount of "V". I am afraid that there isn't much room for creaky old shows like "Space 1999". which is essentially a British show that was shown in the U.S. in syndication.
Releasing old television shows onto DVD is expensive, and companies that publish them are in it to make money. Re-mastering, adding subtitles and inserting "value-added" material such as production notes and documentaries is expensive. How much money is there really to be made in the U.S. off of "Space 1999"? A better, more polished release for region 1 is fairly unlikely.
Sure, the "Doctor Who" stories from the 1960s, '70s and 80s have been made into some fantastic DVDs, but "Doctor Who" has a HUGE worldwide following and a team of very dedication restoration experts. As much as I love "Space 1999", I have to be honest and say that the show's appeal is probably limited to fans who saw it on television growing up, or to science fiction aficionados with imagination and an open mind. "Space 1999" was made in the mid 1970s and is very much a product of its time.
In closing, rather than complain, I will cherish this extremely economical (17 discs containing 48 episodes) and fun collection. I am delighted to have these stories to enjoy over and over again. I would rather save my criticisms for companies that own the rights to vintage shows such as "Blake's 7" but won't release a region 1 iteration of the series for DVD. Oh, and while we are at it, how about a DVD release of the campy classic "Batman" television series?
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