Customer Reviews

Stingray (The Complete Series)

5 star:		(47)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As advertised the 5 disc contains all 24 episode including the 2 part pilot version. I was very apprehensive about the quality as they would have to use a great deal of compression to fit that much video on to 5 discs. But I was very pleased, as I checked each disc the quality is much better than I expected! Yes there is a small amount of artifacting but very little, they did a very good compression job for 5 eps. per disc.
The color looks good and accurate, the print or source material is totally clean and the picture is nice and sharp and clear.
The sound is in true stereo!!! Has most of the original music is intact -All the songs are the original up till the last 2 episodes of season one, from then on, most original songs (NOT the theme or background effect music they are all original and intact) were replaced with new dubbed material , they did in my opinion a good job, and it seemed to fit nicely with the episodes - they might have had licensing problems - which might have delayed the series from being released
The only problem I have encountered is there are some problems with motion. It has a look of a PAL disc converted to NTSC - the motion at times seem unnatural and not fluid - this may be a result of the rendering or capturing process that was not done correctly.
When you load each disc there is a disclaimer That anomalies may be present due to source material.
I wouldn't be too concerned about the motion problem, it is slight and you notice it mostly when the camera is panning a moving shot, or when people are walking in the scene.
If you liked the show you will not be disappointed with the set and it is a very good quality product.
Yes it could have been slightly better, but it could have been much, much worse. Im very Happy with the DVD set - and it's great to see the show again with a nice clean picture - and stereo sound!
Go ahead and order it - Im very picky about my reviews and this set is thumbs up!

I got my copy of the DVD set and was delighted to have all 24 episodes. VEI has even gone so far as to include the 30 second promos (with Mike Post music) that began most of the episodes. Some of the footage looks a tiny bit aged, but that ageing is surely due to the original medium in which the episodes were stored. Good job, VEI!

However, there are no bonus materials and it turns out that VEI was provided with an edited down version of the 2 hour pilot episode. Like many shows, Stingray was launched with a 2 hour premier. Later, when the series was renewed for a second season, the 2 hour pilot was edited down to make it into a two-part episode of 45 minutes each. In order to make room for a review of what happened in the "previous episode," editors cut scenes from the original 2 hour pilot. It is this latter, edited version that is included on the DVD set. Thus, for example, there was a scene in the pilot episode where Ray does Tai Chi while he researches his planned identity as a businessman from Fort Worth. There was another brief scene where he was on a completely different case and returns a kidnapped child. These scenes are not in the two-part episode version and are not on the DVD.

I e-mailed the staff at Stephen J. Cannell's website about the issue (Cannell is the guy who wrote the show) and received a very polite reply indicating that "The pilot was separated into 2 episodes for syndication. The show was remastered for syndication and that is what was given to VEI for release on DVD. The original pilot was never remastered and could not be used."

I obviously cannot review the actual DVD set as yet ( at this date, it is delayed until later in 2008).

But the series deserves some PR...

"Someday I'll see you again, and I'll ask you to for a favor, and whatever it is... you must do it" -- `Ray's stated terms for his assistance.


STINGRAY, as portrayed by Nick Mancuso, was a former American Intelligence Operative who chose to become an enigmatic loner, helping ordinary people with their problems when they contacted him through a newspaper ad: "Stingray. For Barter Only."
Ray would tackle anything from suspicious death to drug-running to blackmail and his price was always simply ; "a favor", which could be any thing, any time, and would be asked in order to help Ray help someone else later on (a gimmick, incidentally, that resurfaced years later on The Equalizer and Vengeance Unlimited) A nice continuity touch was that previous clients did in fact, resurface during the series as Ray would call upon them to help others. Ray was computer savvy at a time well before the proliferation of personal computers, and kept his Stingray Client List, complete with occupations and locations of past clients on a PC which he consulted from time-to-time.

One of many nice touches was that whenever anyone attempted to run Ray's fingerprints, the match would come back either as someone he clearly was not, or as "Classified" by the D.O.D. When his car license plate was run, it would come back as registered to the White House Motor Pool or to the Governor of the State. The man was A CYPHER from start to finish of each episode, with only a few glimpses into his past and his life as the series progressed.

Ray was an extremely competent investigator, adopting disguises that went beyond simple make-up. He could assume a complete personna instantly, complete with appropriate dialect, accent and mannerisms whether he was posing as an effete European hair stylist or a poor, illiterate laborer. Ray was highly skilled in several martial arts and multiple weapons use.

Although he never called himself "Stingray", the name `Ray` was apparently derived from his car, a classic black 1965 Corvette Stingray. Ray tended to favor black in his wardrobe as well.

The short-lived series had smooth class and a cinematic style. A marvelous job was done matching background theme music with the action. Nick Mancuso made a slick action/adventure hero and the plots were gripping -- if at times a bit far-fetched. The show ran for 25 episodes, and to the best of my knowledge, would have continued had Mancuso not become a "problem" for the production company -- supposedly because he couldn't hack the pressure of a weekly series. Too bad.


Overall, an excellent series, ahead of it`s time, which still stands up as some great entertainment.

Can`t wait for the dvds !

Would add my favorable review to the others here. The audio/visual quality is good. The liner notes are okay although a little more detail would have been nice. The plastic case is adequate.

The show itself? The interesting thing is that it's an anthology: Ray is the only main character, so you've got an almost anonymous character who can easily be slotted into any number of stories. During the course of the series they did Amerindian supernatural ("The Ninewah"), a technology breakdown ("Playback"), a viral outbreak ("Less Than the Eye Can See"), serial killers, street gangs ("Blood Money"), Bond-style villains (an unnamed villain in "Abnormal Psych" who sadly didn't return), psychodramas, political intrigue ("Sometimes You Got To Sing the Blues"), and comedies. The comedies are among the best: check out "Caper" (a near-perfect parody of "Mission: Impossible"), "Autumn" (a parody of "Murder She Wrote"), and "Cry Wolf" with a hilariously over-the-top Jeff Conaway as an actor who ropes Ray into a showdown with the Mafia and the Yakuza.

As suits an anthology, Nick Mancuso plays many different roles within the role, able to take on the persona of a surgeon or a revival preacher at the drop of a hat. While good with a gun and martial arts, he's just as capable of getting through to a brainwashed killer just by being persuasive ("Abnormal Psych"). He also displays a photographic memory and the ability to temporarily stop his heart.

The musical scores are good, and each show ends with shots of the production crew taken during the episode.

Overall, highly recommended. Comes across as a bit dated with the 80s clothing styles and computer tech, but as noted elsewhere, it's really a pretty timeless kind of show. Wonder when someone will do a remake in these years of remake-heavy TV revival shows?

The 1980's action TV to me was Wiseguy, The A Team and Stingray. Stingray, Created by Stephen J Cannell, was an adventure series, like the A Team. A man who takes a case who the deal that he will ask a favor. His identity was unknown to anyone. The pilot hinted a vietname vet and a P.O.W

The action adventure is nonstop. Think the Lone Ranger with a Stingay auto instead of a horse. Nick Mancuso takes the lead and makes the mysterious Ray an enigma to keep watching.

NBC were idiots in 1986, they moved this show from time slot to time slot instead of giving this show a chance to grow. It lasted only two seasons (25 episodes), but enough for this show to have a cult following

This Mill Creek product has the clearest master recording for 1986 shows. This 10 hours of this show will make you wanting for more.

The powers that be in Hollywood been remaking shows like the Bionic Woman, Knight Rider, Hawaii Five O and Charlie's Angels, I wish someone would be smart to remake this one. Until then you will enjoy this show on DVD

Bennet Pomerantz
AUDIOWORLD

I loved this series in the 1980s and I love the DVD series. If you were a fan you should order the DVDs. I was sad when I had watched all of them. I wish the series had lasted longer. I'm very pleased to be able to watch the episodes again. Nick Mancuso's character, Stingray, or Ray, is deep and complicated- a tortured hero/ an ordinary human being trying to pay life back for what he had taken. He shows ingenuity and courage in the face of evil and greed.

I don't write reviews very often and others have already given helpful comments, so I will try to distill what it is that made this show my favorite of all time. Ever.

To me, this series combines great acting, good music, interesting story plots, a 1965 Corvette, martial arts action, and just the right touch of poignancy as our mysterious hero, Ray, helps others without payment except for his client's promise to grant a favor in return. Often experiencing romantic feelings in the process, Ray ends up having to leave each adventure behind as he moves on to help someone else, driven by whatever pushes him on in his private quest to be the modern day Robin Hood. That quality keeps his character from being arrogant or overly macho. We marvel at what he can accomplish, but feel his self-imposed loneliness. This makes him just sympathetic enough that while we celebrate his victories, we also admire him in the process.

This show was filmed in 1986, only 15 years after the close of the Vietnam war. The creators of the show did a good job of tapping into the tragic past of that war and Ray's mysterious connection to it. As a result of whatever the character experienced in 'Nam, it continues to drive him onward to rescue and help people out of jams. The result is always a generous helping of action and suspense.

I remember getting hooked on this show when it came out. By then, a few episodes had run, but I figured it would last forever, so I taped some episodes and then taped over them with something else. To my horror, I realized when the show stopped that I had nothing to re-watch. For an all too short time, our local TV station ran rebroadcasts in the wee hours of the morning in 1991 after late night updates on the Gulf War. I would set my VCR to try to catch some of those; I ended up with a few complete episodes and a few half-episodes, hanging on to them like a starving man, wating and waiting for someone to finally release the series.

Now, after 22 years, it has finally happened. The complete set is here and life is good.

If you know this show, you, like me, probably already have your copy. If you don't know this show - this would be one worth buying. It will not disappoint. Bear in mind that when the show was made, we were just getting into computers, so their use will appear a little dated. Otherwise, the show is timeless and even better than I remember it.

Stephen J. Cannell's "Stingray" finally comes to DVD. This fine series, cultured with profound scripts with deft direction, provides viewers of all with stories of the mysterious man known only as Stingray. "Ray's" character is portrayed by Nick Mancuso, an actor who seems to have been born for the role with his unique good looks and distinct voice. "Ray" was a cool blend as a master of the martial arts and a man of many faces, very much like "M.I."'s "Roland Hand".

This series was far ahead of its time, incorporating that wonderful 1980's beat with composer Mike Post leading the way with a fast paced intro score.

Outside of that great 80's music, this 22 year-old show seems more contemporary than ever. Kind of makes you want to check the want ads for: "'65 Black Stingray. For Barter Only."

Neatly packaged in a standard size clear-plastic keep-case for minimal storage.

10.01.10 Rest In Peace Stephen J. Cannell; you will be missed...

i recieved the dvds and got all of it and was very nice and no problem but one. i am deaf and have no way of knowing what is said as it not close caption or have subtitiles so i am unable to enjoy it. it broke my heart because i so wanted it and when it was on t.v i work nights then and did not have a way to recored it.
oh... it sadden me that they will not do dvds with close captions or subtitles.nor do they show if it is close caption or subtitles, so i spend when not knowing if it is or not. sorry to be a pain but that is sad

It sounds like an exaggeration but it's true...I've been waiting nearly 20 years to see this series again!

I caught a few episodes on TV as a kid in the 80s and was amazed by it...so different to what else was on TV at the time - yeah, it was an action/adventure/detective kind of series but it was actually intelligent and thoughtful. Unfortunately, because of the TV timeslot, I missed most of the episodes and was desperate to see the repeats - but they never came.

The series just seemed to vanish as mysteriously as it first appeared...very appropriate for Stingray as you'll know if you watch it.

Now, expecting to be let down (as you usually are when re-experiencing childhood memories), I'm finally watching these episodes again and I'm amazed at how good they are.

And, looking back, I see that the unique idea of a hero who deals only in trading favours is one that has influenced me quite a bit over the years as I've grown up.

Nick Mancuso's interpretation of action hero "Ray" is full of warmth and humanity, and is surprisingly believable. Reminds me a bit of the depth that Harrison Ford gave to the character of Indiana Jones as compared to the wooden, cardboard-cutout "heroes" that came before Raiders of The Lost Ark.

Stingray is not your ordinary throwaway TV series by any means. Look past all the 80's styles/clothing/music and there's a timeless archetypal quality to it all.

If you like Knight Rider, A-Team, Airwolf etc. then here's a series that has all the appeal of those without requiring you to leave your brain at the door.