Space 1999: Megaset [DVD]

Space: 1999 was a futuristic science fiction series, produced in the 1970s, after Star Trek, and still had a basic hopefulness for the progress of science and the future of the world that such science fiction would strive to have during the height of the Cold War. Space: 1999 is in many ways more in the style of 2001: A Space Odyssey than Star Trek in several respects, not the least of which is that it was set in the very near future -- going from simple orbits to moonlandings in a decade made some people optimistic about the pace of science, space science in particular. It is in some ways sad that we are no closer to building a moon base or sending people to Jupiter than we were twenty years ago.It is hard to imagine that there was a time when we thought 1999 was so far off that it had to be something futuristic and incredible. The design of the outfits was 70s-style future (just as the Star Trek outfits were 60s-style future, mini-skirts and all). The furniture of the future could have been described as Danish Post-Modern; everything is plastic and steel, everything gleams. Computers are a bit more realistic in Space: 1999, although it is fascinating what did advance beyond.However, Space: 1999 wasn't about the gadgets. It was a cosmic voyage of discovery. Being a fairly low-budget television production, the producers had to be very creative with special effects and mood setting scenes; actual science took a back seat to the kinds of planets and situations the crew of Moon Base Alpha would face. These ideas were innovative -- from various peoples who were predecessors of earth civilisations to outside civilisations and cosmic forces that combined mystical and psychological elements well.There are two seasons, rather loosely related. The first season had Moon Base Alpha on the surface of the moon -- the first episode has the moon blast out of orbit due to a nuclear waste-storage accident. Martin Landau and Barbara Bain are the main characters as the commander of the base and the chief medical officer; Barry Morse stars as science officer in season 1, but one of the changes for season 2 is that he disappears, which is unfortunate, given the stability his character lent to the show. Nick Tate was the Australian pilot (there was a fleet of Eagle spacecraft on Moon Base Alpha); season 2 added Catherine Schell as a shape-shifting alien orphaned on the moon base (Brian Blessed, in one of his myriad of b-roles, played her father for one episode). Her love interest (season 1 was all about the science and the journey of discovery; season 2 was all about love affairs) was the dashing Tony Verdeschi, played by British actor Anthony Anholt (rather unknown to American audiences, but frequently on British programming). Meanwhile, Commander Koenig and Dr. Russell (Landau and Bain, married in real life) were also falling in love, and the base was relocated for unexplained reasons underground, with a complete redesign even of the uniforms (rather dramatic changes for a resource-strapped moon base).There were 48 episodes in all, 24 for each season, and like many a good series, it ended without resolution -- our moon base travellers are still hurtling through space, hoping to find a home.The ideas were often ahead of their time, and it is interesting to see the character developments over time, also. It was perhaps a blessing that the show ended after two seasons, as the directions for the series were beginning to be limited (Battlestar Galactica, several years later, would encounter the same problem). The acting was mostly solid, but sometimes cheesy - Joan Collins playing an elitist doomed to mate with the barbarian she might at another time have had to synthesise as food; Christopher Lee playing himself (as usual) in an interesting role (the same is true for Peter Cushing and Leo McKern).There is a certain style about Space:1999 that still is pleasing and future-oriented despite its now-dated title. The plots are inventive if not always entirely original, and the central characters carry the show well through the episodes. The moon-base minatures and space-craft effects are well done; the general sets, particularly for the first year, are very well done, from central command to the underground tube transport system.Take the journey! This remains one of the best science fiction series ever produced.

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.

Space 1999 had implanted only one strong memory in my head from childhood. It was that of a woman with odd braided eyebrows and how she transformed into a bird and became trapped in a cage. beyond that I knew I watched the show here and there and even had some toys although most of my association with the show became buried under decades of Star Wars and Star Trek.Until now this information had only been known by my onboard HAL 9000 computer. Now that we are in Jupiter space, it can be told to you...I used to watch Land of the Lost regularly and that became the quintessential show representing my early, early childhood. After watching many episodes of Space 1999 I realize that the two shows shared some bizarre bugged out sensibilities. While I am sure the shows took themselves quite seriously in the day, today they have moved into the realm of what is capable in a garage nowadays.Don't get me wrong, I love the show and wish I was exposed to it more as a kid. It is so fun to watch and has interesting plots, crazy aliens, and great set designs. The overacting is fun too. I wish someone would revisit this as a new film and do some sort of Grindhouse homage to the old campy styles that make this show great.I plan on watching every episode, all the extras and just when my wife is ready to kill me and head for the moon i will probably watch it again. I can not get enough of this. I wish there were many many seasons. Shows like this seem to get better with age.

LIVRER EN BONNE ÉTAT MAIS SURPRISE ARRIVER AU BUREAU DE POSTE ,J'AI DU PAYER QUELQUE CHOSE COMME UNE 60$C ENVIRON DE FRAIS DE TRANSPORT.

J'ai aimé le produit.

Was soll man noch dazu sagen. Einfach spitze. Kindheits-TV-Erinnerungen kommen wieder alle zum Vorschein! Wenn man die erste Box hat, braucht man natürlich gleich di zweite mit Maya!!Aufgepasst auf die UK DVD Region!

Es una reedición mejorada (formado 16:9) de la TF1 (Cadena de TV Francesa) de 2018. Está solo en Francés e Inglés, no hay más idiomas. Yo recordaba esta serie en blanco y negro y poder verla ahora en color despues de 46 años x 30€ merece mucho la pena si eres fan de la SciFi. Son las dos temporadas completas. Tenia miedo de como se iba a ver, ya que tengo una TV de 55", pero mi reproductor de BluRay hace un escalado progresivo para que se puedan ver los BR y DVD en TV de Alta defición. Con los BR funcionaba perfecto y con estos DVD se nota que no es como los BR pero la calidad es muy aceptable.

Da vecchio fan della serie ero incuriosito da questa cosiddetta special edition, considerato l'ottimo lavoro fatto con i blu ray network. È stata una enorme delusione. L'effetto 3D non è minimamente apprezzabile, inoltre manca l'audio originale in inglese, nonostante sia segnalato come presente sulla confezione.