Plot: What’s it about?
On September 13, 1999, the fate of the men & women inside Moonbase Alpha was changed forever, as an explosion knocks the moon off the orbit around Earth. So now instead of heading home after a while, those inside Moonbase Alpha must survive on this moon, which is hurtling through space. As various rifts and warps are hit by this moon, the path is sent in all sorts of directions, which provides more than enough excitement for these folks inside Moonbase Alpha. Unable to return home, the crew had no choice but to face whatever new worlds they encounter. The great unknown is enough to inspire fear, but this journey will have them brave all sorts of alien life forms and strange worlds. The hope is to survive, but can they use their travels to promote good will and scientific discovery? Will they ever return home and if even they could, would they want to?
I think most people would think of Thunderbirds or another marionette show when Gerry Anderson’s name is mentioned, but he was also the creative force behind Space: 1999. This offbeat science-fiction series lacked originality, but I still like it a lot and can watch the episodes with glee, even now. The cast is headed by Martin Landau and Barbara Bain, but don’t expect much classical talent here, as the acting is usually on the bad side of the moon, if you read me. From the outrageous plot lines to the cheese laden special effects to those awful costumes, Space: 1999 has all the elements of a cult classic television show, so A&E should be praised for bringing the episodes onto DVD, for all of us to watch and savor.This 30th Anniversary Edition packs in all 48 episodes of the show, plus a host of bonus materials. I think fans of sci/fi will find a lot to like here and while it is campish, Space: 1999 is also a lot of fun to watch, even multiple times over. So if you’re even a casual sci/fi fan, you should check out this show and with this massive collection, you can grab the entire series in one swoop.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes of Space: 1999 are shown full frame, which is how they were shown on television, so all is well here. I was pretty surprised here, as the transfers look very sharp and clean, impressive for a 1970s television series. The prints used look very good and show little wear signs, although some nicks and grain do appear at times. The colors come off well here, with pretty bright hues and natural, warm flesh tones. No flaws with the contrast either, shadows look well layered and no visible detail loss is evident. I am sure some problems do exist here, but in the end, I commend A&E for giving this series such a nice treatment here.
Audio: How does it sound?
As you can imagine, the included stereo audio doesn’t allow the science-fiction soundtrack much in terms of power, but as far as this material goes, this is an adequate track. The sound effects are clean enough and sound distinct, but at times, do seems a little restrained here. But then again, this is a stereo mix from a 1970s television show, so some slack must be given. So the speakers won’t be given much of a workout here, but the dialogue and basic elements are solid enough, so no hard feelings in the end.
Supplements: What are the extras?
As if sixteen discs of content weren’t enough, we also have a seventeenth disc devoted to bonus features. There’s an original featurette that lets us inside the production of the second season, a BBC behind the scenes piece, and a third featurette that focuses on the show’s special effects. None are in depth, but all have worthwhile information that fans will be delighted to discover. In terms of promotional stuff, we have the entire trailer gallery for the first season, original promotional spots, original theatrical trailers, and a gallery of pre-production artwork. If you want interviews, this release has vintage ones with season two set designer Keith Wilson, as well as a compiliation of cast & crew in a second interview set. Three episodes also feature audio commentary, which load in even more insight about the show. The last of the extras are some alternate sequences from select episodes, a fan created series ending, and the rare Blackpool Scene segment, all sure to please fans to no end.
