Series IV DVD Review
Well, here it is.
It arrived through my door yesterday when I was at college, and I managed to watch half of it before going to work. And today, I had to go to bloody London, and I've only just got back. So, I did pretty well! As this is the Region 1 version, not everything is reviewed. The UK-specific things will be dealt with in a seperate article, when it's released.
Oh, and full marks to Cappsy for getting his review up before mine. Bastard.
Comments
Mavellous stuff, that man. I;m shocked at how lightly you let Life in Lame get off though...
Posted by Cappsy at February 5, 2004 11:09 PM
What sort of similarities can we find between the paired series of Dwarf to merit their matching in DVD style? Here are the ones I can think of:
series 1 & 2: sets almost identical though not quite; uniforms identical; Holly the same actor; Rimmer's 'H' is silver and quite thick; Kryten is not a regular
series 3 & 4: Rimmer's 'H' becomes one of those hologram moving image things and is flat against his head, though with a similar font to series 1 & 2; Kryten's head is much the same in appearance for 3 as 4
series 5 & 6: Rimmer's 'H' becomes brown and a different font; Kryten's head becomes more effectively sculpted
series 7 & 8: Not many similarities but why the fuck does Kryten's head have those lines on the corners for series 7? Kochanski becomes a regular, what the fuck else?
Actually I'm bored with this now so go and play with somebody else please.
Posted by jesley carrion at February 5, 2004 11:16 PM
Great review, although there seems to be a reluctance to be directly uncritical of things that you're clearly not keen on, which is a bit annoying.
I'm looking forward to the DVD though - the documentary, deleted scenes and music section sound quite tantalising (although what's this I hear about them dubbing stuff off the episodes again? Grr).
The molestation of the out-takes though is unforgiveable, and further proof that they're obsessed with targeting the bloody 12-year-olds. The 'obscuring their mouths' thing is just an insult, frankly. I don't buy a DVD to be patronised.
Posted by Darrell Jones at February 5, 2004 11:48 PM
Yes, great review again....
The face blurring bit does seem a tad over the top. But following all the fuss in the states over Michael (Or was it Janets) Nipple recently it must be hard to know how to handle the market.
Cant wait.
Posted by Cpt-D at February 5, 2004 11:58 PM
Actually, all the Red Dwarf cast were told even then to blur their own mouths whenever they swore. People who saw the recordings live can testify to this if necessary. The additional blurrings done in the outtakes were done for continuity - no point having some blurred and others not if one can help it.
Posted by jesley carrion at February 6, 2004 12:09 AM
Darrell - I know what I am and aren't keen on, thanks.
Posted by Ian Symes at February 6, 2004 12:15 AM
Also, the censorship thing isn't targetting 12-year-olds. They want to certificate to be as low as possible, so they don't lose potential sales. It's the BBFC that are being silly about this.
Posted by Ian Symes at February 6, 2004 12:36 AM
It's not the BBFC being silly - they'd happily let it through as a 15, they just think all the visible "fuck"-ing is too strong for a 12-14 year-old audience. It's somebody's blinkered insistence on sweetening the whole package to buggery so little Stevie can have it for his birthday alongside his microscooter and Manchester United away kit.
Is there really that much of a market for young-looking 12-14 year-olds with overly-conservative parents buying the disc on their own from a high-street shop? It proves my point about the discs being produced with the kiddie audience stupidly prelevant in mind. Smeg Ups and Smeg Outs sold well as 15-rated titles, didn't they?
"Darrell - I know what I am and aren't keen on, thanks."
Bah, I didn't mean this. I was just saying that sometimes I think your criticisms are a bit bland and detached, overly 'safe' (if you know what I mean). It only annoys me because you're a fantastic writer, and stuff like "overall, perhaps not the most compelling of features (if you've seen the full episodes, it's pretty pointless), but certainly not as bad as many people feared", takes the oomph out of your writing, making you seem oddly dispassionate about the whole thing and just extracting the edge off completely. It doesn't sound much, but it really can make the difference between someone enthusiastically writing about something he absolutely loves, and someone writing some words about something or other. Apologies for this, but it gives the impression that you're deliberately avoiding making any acute criticisms of anything that could become uneasy territory to attack. You just end up coming across as a bit of a terminal apologist.
Sincere apologies for any offence taken - I can honestly say that none is intended and that nothing's meant personally. It's just the 'taking the middle ground' stance often does you no good, and tars your otherwise superb (and suitably passionate) writing.
Again, it's not meant as an attack, just as a bit of constructive criticism. I'm going, because I'm turning into an English teacher.
Posted by Darrell Jones at February 6, 2004 01:51 AM
"You just end up coming across as a bit of a terminal apologist.
Sincere apologies for any offence taken"
*hoots like a swan*
Posted by jesley carrion at February 6, 2004 09:38 AM
"This time, the booklet is only has one major error; "The Aigburth Arms" is misspelled as "The Aigbeth Arms". Oh, and a closed bracket is missing from the first paragraph of page three, for which Ellard should be fired, really."
Wow, Ian you really go to town on these reviews don't ya?! It's great to see though :)
Great Review, I know know which Easter Egg I want to mish, as I've heard it a million times on the Six of the Best CD
Posted by Paul (TRD) at February 6, 2004 05:42 PM
Never the less it's a brillaint idea. That box set's been deleted for ages, not many people have the chance to hear the interview CD.
I'm going to email Craig and ask for his licked egg piece.
Posted by Cappsy at February 6, 2004 05:47 PM
His what?
Posted by Paul (TRD) at February 6, 2004 05:58 PM
I keep on meaning to e-mail him the full list of things the Polymorph turns into.
Posted by Ian Symes at February 6, 2004 06:06 PM
Criticising the very people who will see the DVD is as lame as one of Mr Charle's jokes.
Incidentally, have been thinking about this for a while...Considering every one's thoughts on the Remastered episodes, how would people feel if Grant Naylor remastered Series 7 and 8 (with model shots in place of the CGI) for the DVD?
I guess I'm just thinking of the continuity...There's that horrible change between "Nanarchy" and the "Back in the Red" recap of "Nanarchy".
Perhaps they could also add some funny dialogue to Series 8. I'm sure some more "bing bongs" from Holly would be appreciated.
Posted by Pete Martin at February 6, 2004 06:32 PM
Interesting thought. The main reason for the fierce backlash against Re-Mastered was the classic status of I-III. Generally speaking, people don't hold VII and VIII with the same high regard, so the opposition wouldn't be so fierce. However, I'd still be against it; a series is a document of the time in which it was made. It should be released with all its triumphs and faults intact.
Posted by Ian Symes at February 6, 2004 07:13 PM
In my opinion VII and VIII are unsalvagable in their current form. Somebody could, however, create a watchable 2 hr special from the two series, dispensing of various plotlines, jokes and facial expressions, taking it down to the important story-arc (possibly writing and shooting a better resolution to the series VI cliffhanger, followed by the loss of Rimmer, the bringing on of Kochanski, the discovery of Red Dwarf, Holly and its crew, attempted escapes and then a decent ending to it all, perhaps also rewritten and newly shot) and including peripheral storylines if appropriate, here and there. That would be a decent Remastered.
Or I can just go on believing there never was a conclusion to the series VI cliffhanger besides the one featured on the Smeg-Ups video.
Posted by jesley carrion at February 7, 2004 11:27 AM
Actually, could somebody out there create an "alternative" Out of Time specifically so that I can ignore VII and VIII completely? It's just the simplest editing, I'm sure, for people who know what to do. A good idea that. And the result could be shoved up on some file-share system.
Anyone see a problem with Out of Time Extended featuring on the series VI DVD, come to think of it?
Posted by jesley carrion at February 7, 2004 11:30 AM
I'm happy to ignore the existence of series VII and VIII completely. As far as I'm concerned TEH SEMG ended at the end of series VI and I'm perfectly satisfied with the way it ended.
I feel the same way about Only Fools and Horses - I've stopped being upset about the idiotic 2001-03 'specials' because I just pretend they don't exist. Del Boy walked off into the sunset with his cash, and is still there. Hurrah.
Posted by Simon at February 7, 2004 11:36 AM
How are you satisfied with the way it "ended" if that ending is the text "to be continued"? Just interested, because that isn't a resolution for me, hence my keenness for somebody to stick on that Smeg Ups alternative ending some day.
Posted by jesley carrion at February 7, 2004 05:39 PM
It's obviously not a perfect resolution to the series, but the alternative - having to acknowledge that those excruciating final two series are a legitimate part of the narrative - is worse.
Posted by Simon at February 7, 2004 06:20 PM
I'm asking whether you consider the ending of series VI the "to be continued" text or the (deleted) scene of them sitting around drinking urine.
Posted by jesley carrion at February 7, 2004 06:29 PM
The broadcast version. I prefer to think they just got blown up by their future selves. Admittedly this is paradoxical but then very little in Red Dwarf actually makes scientific sense anyway.
Posted by Simon at February 7, 2004 06:55 PM
If I was *really* in denial, I could imagine that 'to be continued' meant the continuation of Red Dwarf in other media (books, possible film, etc).
Posted by Simon at February 7, 2004 06:56 PM
Interesting. That doesn't satisfy me, to be honest. Infinitely more satisfying than going along with the series VII and VIII people are pretending exist, but I prefer the tacking-on of the urine-recyc scene as the Red Dwarf conclusion. Also because it gives value to the mentioning of urine-recyc earlier in the series (episode?). But I do like the idea that "to be continued" means other media.
Meanwhile, of course, the only time that time travel has *ever* made sense in RD is in the episode Future Echoes.
Posted by jesley carrion at February 7, 2004 07:32 PM
series four is (i think) a turning point for red dwarf, also has anyone got any clue to when series 5 is being released or even the colour of it - thanks :)
great site
Posted by Tim at March 12, 2004 01:35 PM
November 2004, aqua.
Posted by Ian Symes at March 12, 2004 01:46 PM
I still haven't got this, you know.
I'm so utterly skint at present. I'm even having to *gasp* leave the internet shortly.
Posted by Darrell Jones at March 12, 2004 03:54 PM
:-o
Posted by Ian Symes at March 12, 2004 08:08 PM
There is a review of the "Red Dwarf IV" DVD at:
http://www.dvd.net.au/news.cgi?id=4223
Posted by Jessica Malcolm at March 20, 2004 12:25 PM
That's quite a good review. Although I think this tops it.
Posted by John Hoare at May 10, 2004 12:59 AM
BLOODY SMEGIN' LISHUS!
My new catchphrase there.
Posted by Darrell Jones at May 10, 2004 10:37 AM
This chap advocates copyright theft. KILL HIM.
Posted by Ian Symes at May 10, 2004 10:40 AM
BLOODY SMEGIN' LISHUS!
I can't stop saying it. This time next year, it'll be on T-shirts and everything.
Posted by Darrell Jones at May 10, 2004 02:06 PM
It's coz of all that Slush Puppies!!!!!11
Posted by ffffffffffff at May 10, 2004 04:42 PM
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