Customer Reviews

Space 1999, Set 1

5 star:		(32)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

No other series in television history has been as much maligned and misunderstood as Space: 1999. From the outset, a series which had little in common with Star Trek beyond the very basic premise of space travel nevertheless found itself critiqued against its more famous and beloved predecessor-and almost always unfavorably-rather than reviewed on its own considerable merits. The negative reaction to the series was no doubt due in part to the brash and rather obnoxious marketing blitz waged by the American distributing arm of its British financiers. Touting it as "the ultimate space adventure series" left it wide open to damning commentary and probably deservedly so. The series was set up as the greatest thing committed to film in entertainment history, and while the show had considerable merits that's an expectation that was impossible to meet. Adding insult to injury, the first few critical episodes following the impressive pilot-in particular "Ring Around the Moon" and "Matter of Life and Death"-were so godawful they only served to validate the series' harshest critics as fodder for the claims levied against the show. Sadly, few legitimate critics stuck around long enough to see the show truly hit its stride with episodes that deserve to be considered television classics.

The faults attributed to the series were almost always erroneous, grossly exaggerated or merely fabricated by the critics. Space: 1999's scientific flaws were completely inflated by its detractors, and it is easy to see in hindsight that some critics merely lifted chapter and verse from other reviews, thereby perpetuating the misinformation. Admittedly the series' premise-that the moon is torn out of earth's orbit by a massive explosion-while fascinating and highly original, is preposterous. But it was done so utterly convincingly you almost believed it was possible. In fact, it was the series' unparalleled realism that set it apart from anything that came before, or indeed after. Cinematically, the series has never been equalled. Its stunning visual design, feature-film style cinematography and edgy editing techniques put it in a class by itself. To its credit, the show took risks-something very few series have ever done. The show was widely uneven because of this; sometimes the risks paid off, sometimes not-but even the worst episodes were riveting if for nothing more than the sheer creativity and ingenuity that went into putting them together.

In its day, the show was heavily panned for the performances of its two top-billed stars, Martin Landau and Barbara Bain. Bain in particular bore the brunt of the criticism, labeled "wooden," "stiff," and even "zombie" like. In hindsight, the economical and measured performances of the two stars were perfect for the cool, clinical, unemotional tone of the series. Someone like William Shatner, with his scenery-chewing soliloquies would have been completely out of place. Indeed, the scripts for the show deliberately subordinated character for content and the stoic attitude of the main protagonists was intentional. But alas, at the time nobody saw it as such. It was just so much bad acting and lousy scripts.

Throughout the first season, there was a pervading atmosphere of predetermination and some higher force guiding the journey...a sense of a higher purpose to their uncharted odyssey into the deepest reaches of space and it was a fascinating dramatic angle to perpetuate. But that too was seen as so much metaphysical garbage in the eyes of the critics. Pity, because it really did lend a philosophical bent to the series that played out over the course of its first twenty four episodes in wonderful narrative style.

Unfortunately, much of what made Space: 1999's first season so promising was lost when wholesale changes were instituted for the show's second season in an attempt to make it more appealing to American audiences. The result was something closer to Lost In Space than to its debut season. It isn't that the second season is without its merits. It's just that instead of improving upon an already well-crafted show, the producers opted to trash what was and in essence start from scratch. Throwing out the baby with the bath water, so to speak. The show lost its trademark visual identity-due mostly to the fact that sets were greatly scaled down under the presumption a smaller set would foster more "intimacy" and "greater dramatic tension." When in reality what they did was stagnate the camera work by forcing most scenes to be shot in textbook "head-on" fashion. Occasionally a particularly promising director like Peter Medak would work like hell to break out of that rut, but for the most part the second season in shot in typical format television style. Head on. Medium close-up. Nothingt edgy or innovative. The show also lost the meticulous attention to detail that characterized the first season. As the second season wore on, it became unbelievably sloppy. Helmets open up on the surface of the moon with nary an injury, passenger pods on Eagles change back and forth from one type to the next between scenes in a single episode. And science was almost entirely abandoned in favor of technobabble. One has only to watch an episode like "A Matter of Balance" to see that science-indeed reason in general-has been thrown out the door. And the man-in-a-rubber-suit monsters that frequented the second season don't even deserve commentary. What makes the series' second season so difficult to watch is not really what it was, but what it could have been. What opportunities were wasted. Because there was still a great deal of talent working on this show, and a number of episodes held great promise. It's just that their execution was so sloppy and amateurish. The aforementioned "A Matter of Balance" is a fascinating story...that a cataclysmic event has somehow caused a whole civilization to move backwards through evolution rather than forward. Unfortunately, it ends up being a showcase of some truly horrific acting by the late Lynne Frederick and boasts a silly-looking alien running around in what is essentially a cape and a pair of yellow diapers.

By the end of its second season, the show had lost much of its original following and failed to gain the new supporters it had hoped and it quietly and uneventfully died after 48 episodes of widely varying quality. Ironically, the elements for which the show was so heavily criticized in its day-the pervasive "mysterious unknown force" that permeated most episodes, the open-ended epilogues and meanings open to interpretation, the cool, detached performances of its stars and the uneven character of the show as a whole-are the very things for which a show like the X-Files is so lauded for today. Perhaps if the series had been set farther into the future and debuted some twenty or so years later it might have received the serious recognition it deserved.

Space: 1999 was a television series produced in England in the early/mid 70's. It features Martin Landau as the commander of Moon Base Alpha, and Barbara Bain as the base's chief medical officer It features superb acting, compeling stories, astoundingly good Star Wars style special effects and a powerful musical score. This is the best amongst the Science Fiction on film that most fans of the genre have never heard of. Anyone who likes the Star Trek series will find much to like in Space: 1999, though the show has somewhat of a feel and theme like 2001 - a Space Odessy. Some episodes were of course better than others, but even the worst are still quite enjoyable. The best episodes: Dragon's Domain, War Games, Another Time/Another Place, and so forth are amongst the best television ever made.

Previously, Space: 1999 has only been made available on a few video tape releases and only a few thousand laser discs were ever made. Today, the laser discs routinely sell for up to several hundred dollars each.

Space: 1999 failed to become a smashing success in the United States in the 70's in large part because the big three national networks refused to set aside a time slot for it. However, the show has remained extremely popular in Europe. The primary critisim leveled at the show was so-called "wooden acting" but this reputation is entirely undeserved. Rather the acting is simple understated for the most part, and is really far less wooden than the acting found in the newer Star Trek series.

In short, DON'T miss this opportunity to have copies of this long forgotten gem of a series. If nothing else, the special effects alone will absolutely dazzle the viewer.

Contrary to other reviews on this site, I was less than impressed by the picture quality of these discs. To qualify my statements, let me first say that I am a professional broadcast engineer specialising in film transfers and I have experience in mastering film and video specifically for DVD. My department is currently mastering other ITC DVD titles for Carlton in the UK.

The major problem with the discs is that they are sourced from an NTSC composite video master. This is unforgiveable - DVD is a component video format and the master should have been a component video transfer from the 35mm films. The fact that it isn't component also suggest that the masters are some years old. By using a composite master, detail levels are not as good as they could be and worst of all there is the characteristic coloured noise around areas of high detail - step through frame by frame and these become even more apparent.

There is a lot of aliasing visible on horizontal details - look at the grilles in the Eagle passenger hold in 'Breakaway' for instance. This also comes and goes alarmingly with slight movements, a sure sign that too much digital noise reduction has been applied.

There's also sporadic film damage apparent throughout - dirt, scuffs and other damage which could easily be painted out frame by frame during mastering.

If you are in region 2, then you would be advised to wait and see what the forthcoming r2 releases are like. Although we have had no involvement in 'Space:1999' (it was mastered at 4MC in London), we are currently mastering other titles for Carlton DVD and their delivery requirements are very high indeed - not even pinprick damage makes it through their review process. I suspect that the UK discs will blow A&E's out of the water...

Space: 1999, the Sci-Fi TV series that nobody remembers, or at least a few remember. As a boy growing up watching this, Space: 1999 was MY Star Trek. I loved everything about it until I grew up and recently purchased Set 1. Watching it again has been a lot of fun, but as an adult, i can see why it never really caught on. Besides the program looking great, it seems a little empty. The pace of the show is extremely pedestrian, dialogue that is sometimes appallingly awful to uncreative. But, the first series has a very isolated feel to it, almost giving it a desperate, chilling and eerie approach. The soundtrack is also very effective & spooky. Great special effects still stand the test of time.
Another complaint: bad continuity. I know writers never want to get bogged down with keeping up with continuity, as it hampers creative output, but some sort of continuity police should have been instituted in the production crew as to keep discontinuity to minimum. Still if you don't think too hard, a lot of fun is to be had.

But is there anything cooler than an Eagle?

What a tragedy that this series has been so missunderstood by critics and brutalised upon its premiere all those years ago. What a blessing that so many of us first saw it through the non-judgemental eyes of childhood and can see past the stupidity of critics.
The supposedly wooden acting, lifeless or sterile atmosphere, etc, are actually essential to what makes the series SO GOOD. The whole thing feels utterly real, a cold, isolated and distant-feeling future environment in which to be trapped, with cautious, thoughtful, emotionally-controlled but intelligent heroes who treat every thing they encounter with the tredidation and curiosity of real scientists and space explorers.
Martin Landau is simply brilliant as Commander John Koenig, a man whose dogged and passionate dedication to the space program has him appointed to Moonbase Alpha by a self serving politician (whom he despises!) to get a troubled space probe project underway. But Koening's greatest consideration is the well being of the people he's responsible for and devotes himself to investing a series of mysterious deaths. When the Moon is hurled into deep space, he always consistently refuses to be sold on any option for his people unless he has absolute proof it is right. Joining him is the fatherly mentor of Professor Bergman, whom Koening confides in, and Helena Russell, his love interest, who is utterly real in her work as the base doctor, long before Dayna Scully.
This feels like real SF, cool headed and serious in the face of the total unknown. There's a major question which draws the most ruthless critical attacks, however: why does the Moon get blown from its orbit and manage to travel across the Universe to encounter endless alien planets?
Again, the fact that this flies in the face of science is actually the point. Several episodes suggest this apparently impossible journey has been planned and orchestrated in some way by some cosmic intelligence, and it is the Alphan's hinted destiny to colonise the cosmos and spread man's lineage to the stars. The series in this way has a central absurdity which its cool and realistic scientists are attemting to understand and rationalise.
Breakaway sets the Moon on its way into space.
Earthbound rids Alpha of the corrupt politician.
Black Sun, should be watched next as it shows how a trip through a Black Hole, and out a white Hole, it seems, (apparently aided by an enigmatic intelligence!) sends the Moon a million light years accross the cosmos. Much character development occurs here, too!
Episodes that also demand attention include Dragon's Domain, which fill us in further as to why Koenig is so passionate about the space program and show us some back story to the series situation. And it has a cool monster!
Another Time, Another Place is genuinely disturbing SF.
Force of Life, End of Eternity and The Troubled Spirit all feature sinister atmosphere and tense, edgey plots.
Wargames and The Last Enemy boast stunning space FX and action and deal with the theme of war and peace.
Finally, Collision Course and Testament of Arkadia confront the Alphans with their destiny and hint at the intelligent purpose behind their seemingly inexplicable space journey.
The series is really a cold, hard, intelligent and thoughtful work of high concept Science Fiction which has realistic scientists becoming the crew of a latter day Noah's Ark, their destiny in the hands of God, and attempt to understand and cope with it in a realistic scientific and rationally-minded manner. It should be noted that the proposed final ever episode, written by Johnny Byrne but never produced, despite Gerry Anderson saying it was the best thing he'd ever read, was called Children of the Gods and featured the Alphans meeting their distant descendants in the far future, in a colony on a planet where they are remembered as Gods.
Despite the massive missunderstandings of critics (one book even named it as the worst SF Series of all time!)Space: 1999 is really an example of TV SF at its brilliant best, in many ways far superior to anything else there's ever been on the small screen.

Let me start out by saying that I'm a rare breed in SF TV fandom: I'm A Star Trek Fan ( have been since I was 3 years old in '66...you do the math ), and I don't hate Space:1999! In fact I adore it. I have been a fan since it premiered in the states in '75, and remained a fan even through the strange changes it went through in it's second year. In fact I get more excited about finding some new bit of info or collectible about this show than my beloved Star Trek anymore, since there has been such an overkill of Trek related merchandise over the past decade.

Also I would like to say that I am aware ( painfully, sometimes ) of the shortcomings of either season of the series, but that does not diminish my enjoyment of it. I too would like to add my voice to those who have said 'Enough with the year one/ year two debate!' Both seasons have their detractors, but both have their staunch fans as well.

I much prefer the look, style, and tone of year one, but still enjoy year two for what it is, and will be thrilled if A&E/New Video make s good on their promise to release the complete series.

I'm very happy overall with the DVDs, although I have found a few nitpicky technical flaws with a few episodes ( The print of "Alpha Child" in particular, appears to have been put together from two different prints, and it is especially noticable as the color and sharpness change in the middle of one scene ). I also have the american laserdiscs and can say that there is a great improvement in picture quality. But flaws aside, I'm delighted to have this show available on DVD, when I was beginning to despair of ever getting a complete uncut run in ANY format.

I was very pleased to see the release of Space:1999 on DVD since this show was my favorite show for most of my childhood. When I saw the release announcement, I knew that I had to get these DVD's. I still remember waiting for 7:00 P.M., Saturday night, so that I could tune (by hand) the TV to WUAB-43 (Cleveland, Ohio) to catch the latest episode of my favorite show. I now understand how my father feels about the Flash Gordon serials of the 1930's and 1940's.

While watching the first episode, Breakaway, after a hiatus of almost twenty years, I was struck by how well the minatures were modeled, especially the Eagle spaceships. The interior sets were also quite detailed (one of my favorite scenes is watching the interior airlocks of the Eagle close in succession). There is no doubt that FX has advanced amazingly in the past twenty-five years; however, the FX allow the story to be told and evoke memories of a time when life seemed simpler.

Within moments, I was engrossed in the story. For their time (when very little new sci-fi was on TV), the stories were quite ambitious. I was surprised to see the Koenig/Russell relationship (played by then husband and wife Landau and Bain) actually evolve as the series advanced as opposed to other series with little or no character development. This was something I missed as a child (caught up in all of the wild aliens and special effects). I can see the roots of ideas that became shows like "Farscape" in this show.

The transfer to DVD from the original 35mm prints is competent. There are some signs of age-related damage to the prints (most noticeable during the main credits for Martin Landau). The sound is listed as 2-channel Dolby mono and is decent. I did notice some audio flaws and uneven sound levels; however, nothing that detracted from the total experience.

The highest compliment that I can pay to these DVD's is that I was entranced in front of the TV for almost three hours, something that almost never happens. I look forward to the release of the rest of the series, including the maligned second season. Highly recommended.

This is a dream come true for fans of this series as well as science fiction in general: Space:1999 in chronological order on DVD at last! The first year in particular was groundbreaking and undoubtedly had the most intense opening credit sequence of any TV series in history. I've never been this excited by a series release on DVD before, and will be eagerly awaiting the rest! I've already run into many fans in stores buzzing about this collection...man, it's as if 1974 were just yesterday to me...all these episodes are just as entertaining now as then. So glad I held onto the soundtrack album and my giant Mattel Eagle spaceship! NOTE to Star Trek fans: yes, the phrase "Resistance is futile" was first introduced in Space: 1999 in the episode "The Dorcons," not from the Borgs of Star Trek! (So there!)

Year 1 was definitely the best. This was not just a TV show, it was cinematic in every aspect, with great attention to detail in the sets and spaceship models. Even the costumes were of great influence to later Star Trek films and TV series spinoffs. While some viewers may complain of the "sterile" mood and acting, I actually find it to be realistic in how serious-minded folks on a moonbase would behave in order to maintain focus on their situation. Even the downbeat endings to episodes (like those of the series UFO) gave SPACE: 1999 a distinctive edge instead of pampering viewers with fluffy happy endings (like endings of the more cartoony second year shows).

Ignore Isaac Asimov's trashing of this series.... why do you think they call it science FICTION? Just sit back and enjoy the ride!

I maintain a great deal of awe and respect for the originality and production values of this series. I have never before, or since, viewed a series that so effectively captures the awe, the grandure and the mystery of being in space. If you are looking for bubblegum Sci-Fi this is not it. Space:1999 is as intelligent as it is artistic as it is original. At last a format (DVD) deserving of this spectacular series.

I loved this series. I was the only series of the 70's that I loved as much as Star Trek.

Now they have finally released the entire series. First and Scond season.

I prefer the first season to the second becuase most of the stories were better and in the second season they tried to force the effects, comedy and changed the sets.

Professor Bergman and Paul Marrow were my favorite characters (Again lost in the second season.) I loved Main Mission (taken out in the second season) and the Eagles were very cool space ships. The control and monitors were imaginative and the action exciting!

I even had the toy Stun Gun and Comlock and Eagles as a kid. Also, the score is by Barry Grey and it is fantastic in the first season. Derrick Wadsworth did the second season theme - I liked that one too.

If you haven't seen it, you should get the first 3 sets. It's fun, fantastic and great Special Effects for the mid 70's.

Martin Landau and Barbara Bain were the best (and husband and wife at the time)! Get this series....Go Eagle One!