Customer Reviews

Black Adder III

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Black Adder stars Rowan Atkinson, an absolute comic genius who is also the star of Mr. Bean. The screenplays were written by Richard Curtis (Mr. Bean, Not the nine o'clock news) and Ben Elton - possibly one of the funniest modern writers.

In the third series, Rowan Atkinson plays a bitter, frustrated butler to the stupidest man in England - which is saying a lot since Baldrick is still around.

The six episodes in the series are:

1. Dish and Dishonesty - Edmund proves that politicians don't have to rely on issues when the lone voter can tragically cut his head off while shaving

2. Ink and Incapability - Black Adder is forced to re author the first English dictionary over the week end to avoid being skewered by a man whose sword is as mighty as his pen

3. Nob and Nobility - the French revolution is on and Mrs Miggins is busy serving suspiciously shaped sausages

4. Sense and Senility - the Prince Regent decides to be an actor, but Edmund pulls the curtain on his plans

5. Aim and Amiability - in order to keep his master, and thereby himself, in the lifestyle to which they have been born, Black Adder tries to secure his boorish boss a new, wealthy bride.

6. Duel and Duality - after a brief tryst with the Duke of Wellington's daughters, the prince regent may have finally gone too far

Series II and III are definitely the best of Black Adder. The others are funny, but these truly shine

When I watch BlackAdder I, I say this is the Best of the BA series. Then I watch BlackAdder II, and I say this is the Best of the BA series!

So I once again say, this is the best of the BA series! And I REALLY mean that! I think III is just a cut above the rest, because not only is Rowan Atkinson at his best, Hugh Laurie as the Prince Regent is an equal match so you have the two of them pushing each other.

In Dish and Dishonesty - Edmund see his chance to make the move from Prince's Butler to a MP by staging the elections. The episode is sidesplitting.

Ink and Incapability - Edmund wants to become a writer, but runs afoul of the first English dictionary

Nob and Nobility - The French are revolting - no they ARE really revolting and it sets the Stage for of lot of master of disguises

Sense and Senility - The Prince regent becomes enthralled of acting and pulls the whole household into it, having Edmund to recruit two actors to be the Prince's coach.

Aim and Amiability - the Prince Regent has over spent again, so Edmund must play matchmaker to find the prince a rich bride, only both sides are hiding things

Duel and Duality - The Price makes a mistake of romancing the Duke of Wellington's daughter and now it's 20 paces at dawn...unless Edmund can think of something to stop it.

Baldrick is back and Edmund's dogsbody and manage to steal the scenes! Look out for the Turnip!

Is EASILY the funniest run of the BA series! Atkinson's handling of the role as a resentful, scheming butler serving an idiotic Prince regent and dealing with all the vain, odd characters of 18th century England is a wonder to behold! The episodes come off like well done period comedy plays, perhaps written by the likes of Jonathan Swift or Washington Irving. There is definitely a very theatrical look and "feel" to the episodes, and I am put in mind of the field trips to Princeton's McCarter Theatre back in the 60s, where we saw "Faust", "Uncle Vanya" and "Candida". B-II had some of this feel as well, but in B-III, for some reason, it is more pronounced.

"Sense & Senility" is probably the funniest ep. here, with Edmund hiring two actors that have caught the fancy of the dim Prince, played by Hugh Laurie. The actors are the very soul and image of foolish, rococo vanity and pomposity, with over-rouged cheeks and reddened lips, ridiculous powdered wigs and the manners of rich old dowagers. Edmund teases them by endelssly repeating the name of the play "Macbeth", which is anathema to the superstitious, foppish men. A series of events seals their doom as they lead Baldrick to believe that they are plotting to kill him and the Prince. Edmund, who hates them, has them wrapped up as traitors.

Another great ep. is "Amy & Amiability", in which a financially overextended Prince has to marry wealth to be solvent again. Miranda Richardson joins the cast again for this episode as the apparently sweet and innocent intended young lady, who holds an incredible secret. A few scenes involving squirrels and the girl's overprotective father will have you on the floor laughing.

"Nob & Nobility" is probably the weakest ep. here as Edmund and Baldrick get involved with the French Revolution and the Scarlet Pimpernel. "Red Dwarf's" Chris Barrie and B-II and IV's Tim McInnerny make guest appearances in this one, but it doesn't help a fairly gagless story that has a lot of people faking VERY bad French accents.

The rest of the episodes are excellent and make this arc stand out as the high watermark for the series, edging out B-II only by a HAIR...

Buy this and B-II and prepare to laugh yourself silly!

I have only seen episodes from this and the first Black Adder series. I must say that I think this is much funnier and more light-hearted than the first series. The first series (1983) does have it's moments but suffers from unfunny serious moments and an ultimately unlikeable and annoyingly voiced Black Adder (Rowan Atkinson). It does grow on you though, especially if you love British humor. You may want to own the entire series; if not for the consistent laughs, then for the originality. Anyway, this, the third series (1987), set in England (1768-1815) finds Edmund Black Adder as the butler of George, the Prince Regent. Baldrick again plays servant to Black Adder. This series, like the other three, consists of 6 episodes. The episodes you get here are "Dish & Dishonesty", "Ink and Incapability", "Nob & Nobility", "Sense & Senility", "Amy & Amiability", and "Duel & Duality". DVD is the best way to own this collection (but you already knew that, right?). The set of 4 DVDs can be bought individually or as part of a 5 DVD set including a special, "Black Adder: Back & Forth" (aired in 2000), interviews, and other goodies. I am not sure if "Black Adder's Christmas Carol" (1987) is included on this DVD, but it is in the boxed set. One of my favorite episodes in this volume is "Ink & Incapability" where the Prince decides to "partonize" Dr. Johnson's dictionary, which took him 10 years to complete. Baldrick accidentally uses it as kindling and Black Adder feels he must try to rewrite it all in one night. One of the best aspects of this series is the witty dialogue. This is from the aforementioned episode:

Black Adder: "Baldrick, believe me, eternity in the company of Beezlebub and all his instruments of death will be a picnic compared to five minutes with me - and this pencil..."

One of the funniest things I have ever seen on the screen. Taking place in a more recent historical context and having been a history major helped me "get" some of the jokes that only those in the UK might have appreciated in the earlier series'. Much better than Blackadder 1 and the equal of Blackadder II in that Rowan Atkinson's wit is honed to a razor sharp edge throughout all the episodes. I leant this to a friend of mine and she literally threw up laughing. It's too bad most American still think British humor ended with Monty Python and quote it ad nauseum when Blackadder lurks in the corridors.
"Look behind you, Mr. Caesar!!!"

Black Adder the Third was probably the series peak. The last series was good but this is so perfect that it is a hard act to follow. Edmund Blackadder is the butler of George, the thick Prince Regent (Hugh Laurie). Balrick is back as Blackadder's dogsbody and has hit the depths of filth but not stupidity (though he's pretty darn stupid). All six episodes are great with my personal favourite being the first episode about the by-election. Stephen Fry guests as the Duke of Wellington, Miranda Richardson in a dual role, Nigel Planer and Tim Mcinnerny as the Scarlet Pimpernel, Chris Barrie as a Revolutionary. Mrs Miggins, previously only mentioned finally appears as a regular played by KYTV's Helen Atkinson Wood. This really is worth it!!! This gets my lowest rating, 10 thumbs up

I positively LOVE British comedy... Benny Hill, Fawlty Towers, `Allo `Allo, Mr. Bean, Monty Python, Mind Your Language etc. The best of these is Black Adder.

Black Adder turns history upside down on its head. Forget whatever you learnt of the Tudors because you will have to re-learn it when you watch the "real history" of Black Adder.

For those who are unfamiliar with this series, it may take you a while to understand the nuances and "read between the lines". But this ability to understand the humor will increase as you watch the series. A general underlying truth is that each episode gets funnier as you move forward in this series.

Rowan Atkinson is positively brilliant! Honestly speaking, I think that his performance in this series is just head and shoulders above his comedy in Mr. Bean.

Man I loved Blackadder since I was 6 or 7. I'm 28 now and I have never tired of it, especially series 3. Blackadder is more cunning and sarcastic than ever and Hugh Laurie is brilliant as the idiotic Prince Regent. So many great lines throughout. It's just hysterical. I can't say much more. Added bonus on this dvd is the inclusion of Blackadder's Christmas Carol, another hilarious episode. Whereas some of the recent Blackadder specials have been dismal, this one was filmed just after series 3 when the writers were at the peak of their powers. Set in Victorian times, the twist here is that Blackadder's descendant has become kind and caring but after being visited by the Christmas ghosts, he becomes the Blackadder we know and love. My favourite line is the put down of his screeching niece "I don't expect you to understand blessed as you are with a head that is emptier than a hermit's address book" and telling Baldrick the only way he's going to get a wet kiss at Christmas is to make a pass at a water closet. They don't write them like that anymore! 10/10

My AP European History teacher put on the first episode of BA's third season. As the weeks went on, she let us watch a lot more of the episodes. Never laughed harder in my life; this is perhaps the funniest show I've seen. I haven't seen the other seasons yet, but I've been told the third season is the best. From what I've seen, it is definitely drop-dead hilarious. Great for current fans of 'House' to see the now-disgruntled doctor put on a flamboyent wig, powdered make-up, and not know how to dress himself.

If you've never seen Black Adder, then you must buy this. In fact, I'd recommend buying the complete collection. I think they are the funniest movies/sketches in the English language. They're extremely clever and we've watched them many times and have never tired of them.