Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Like Herc & Xena, but better...if that's possible., December 27, 2004
With the release of Herc and Xena to DVD, I am gladly collecting them. Xena seems like a little more serious and darker show than Herc, so I like it more, despite the fact that I'm a guy. But anyway, so I sit there and watch Herc or Xena and I remember that there's this other show that's somewhat similar in nature (no pun intended) to both Herc and Xena...and that's Beastmaster.
Beastmaster...I remember just checking out this series from time to time when it originally aired. Saw it on the episode guide of DISH Network and would tune in just to see if I could get into it. Unfortunately I couldn't. I found Tao to be bit annoying and quite frankly silly. So I never watched. But like I said, after watching my Herc and Xena DVDs, I decided that I wanted more and decided to give this Beastmaster a try on DVD. I can say happily that it was NOT a mistake. This series is great (when seen from the beginning). I guess my problem was just seeing a few scenes from Season 3 I think.
What makes this series great is that there are season-long story arcs with numerous re-occuring characters that really contribute to some great continuity between episodes. Now this isn't continuity as you would find on Deep Space Nine or Farscape, but continuity more in the way of Stargate SG-1 continuity. Events or character development (mostly with the re-occuring characters) that would occur in previous episodes would be relevant in future episodes. You didn't get this with Xena or Herc. In fact, I really didn't see this with DS9.
For example, Season 1 here basically has one story arc dealing with Dar's long lost love, Kyra, who has been imprisoned by King Zad and his Terrons of which of course leads to Dar's quest to free her. Of course there's your filler episodes in between, but even still they contribute in someway to the over-all arc.
The acting is better than average than your ordinary TV show of this genre. Steven Grives who plays King Zad is excellently cast. One of the better TV villains in quite a while. The excellent casting among the guest stars is also a plus with this series.
A note to Herc or Xena fans, this series is actually more serious than those two. The fight scenes are a bit more graphic and realistic looking, despite the occasional wire-fu moves. And as others have said here, the use of the animals and other guest stars at times do get emotional. I even teared up a time or two.
Special effects are decent. CGI use is pretty realistic as compared to the goofy shots in Xena and Herc.
These DVD sets come in those 6-disc amarray cases which I don't really care for actually, but I guess they're better than those multi-disc digipacks. Technical specs are 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen which is very nice. Image quality is top notch with the occasional grainy dark shot. Sound however is just DD 2.0 which is a shame as this series would benefit greatly with a 5.1 track. But even with that the 2.0 track is quite adequate with ambient sounds coming from the rear channels.
So in summary, if you like Xena and Herc, and want more of the same fantasy genre...don't hesitate to dive into Beastmaster. But shop around for the best price. ;)
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful series. Trekkies: Try this out, November 20, 2003
I was very sceptical when I bought the first series thinking I would hate a series based on a muscle bound Tarzan like man. I am an avid Trekkie and have watched every Star Trek episode made, up to and including the 2nd season of Enterprise. What could I possibly see in a Jungle based series with no scientific implements or space exploration.
The very first episode blew my mind with it fabulous cinematography and excellent sound effects. Once I got into the series it started to look very similar to the original Star trek. With Dar replacing Captain Kirk and Tao as his right hand man the thinker (Spok without the Vulcan ears). They are out to explore the world and right its wrongs. Amusingly the sourcerers even have their own version of the "Prime Directive" which prohibits them from interfering in human affairs.
The special effects are great, the costumes are wonderful and the setting absolutely spectacular.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
In a time of myth and legend, September 21, 2003
I thought the show was too simple when it first premiered, but later I realized that its simplicity is its greatest strength. You have a guy with a bone staff (the beastmaster) who communicates with animals and a guy with a jade ring (Tao) who seeks knowledge. They live in some "sanctuary" under some tree where civilization is sparse and often venture out to explore the wonders of the ancient world on their own terms unrestricted by all the unnecessary complexity forced upon us today by our societies. They are also fond of being a pain in the neck to a certain King Zed, a fascinating villain who takes great pleasure in his life while doing absolutely anything in his power to preserve his rule. He is evil, motivated only by power, but intelligent, and even fascinates a certain Sorceress who is a student of a certain Ancient who supposedly knows the secrets of the universe but keeps them away from his student. Anyway, season one is the best, so get it now. (Season Two is good too, while Season Three kind of sucks, in my opinion). The DVD quality is very good and everything is in 16:9 widescreen. Special features are few, but the excellent presentation of the episodes themselves makes up for that.
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