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When I found a good eBay deal on the SPACE: 1999 DVD MEGASET, I absolutely HAD to bid on it! This show is a beloved memory from my teenage years. It aired on our local UHF Channel (remember those?) in Cleveland every Saturday immediately following the weekly STAR TREK episode. I just recently rented a few discs from this series via Netflix and was instantly transported back to my childhood. What a thrill it was to see this series in this uncut and pristine form! For those not familiar with the series, SPACE: 1999 follows the adventures of the crew of Moonbase Alpha. Due to a massive nuclear explosion on the Moon's surface, it is torn out of Earth orbit and hurtled into the outer reaches of space (via a time warp or two along the way). Each week, the survivors of this tragedy face new challenges out amongst the stars. Personally I much prefer the first season of the series as it dealt with things more philosophically. It was almost a meditation on man's place in the universe - a la its obvious inspiration, 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY. In the second season, a new producer was broght onboard - Fred Freiberger - the same guy who had pretty much mucked up the original STAR TREK during its third and final season! He took everything that was great about SPACE: 1999 and chucked it out the window. Whereas we once had thoughtful scripts dealing with what it would be like to be adrift in the vast emptiness of space - 'aliens' wherever you go - NOW we have the men and women of Moonbase Alpha acting like they're Star Trek heroes; now the Alphans constantly meddle in whatever alien cultures they encounter - basically acting as the 'ugly Americans' of outer space. Fortunately, the second season isn't ENTIRELY without merit. One particular aspect that was neat about it was the addition of a resident alien aboard Alpha, the lovely Maya. She had the powers of a metamorph - she was able to change her form into that of pretty much any other living creature. While this could have just degenerated into so many Saturday morning cartoon-level hijinks, actress Catherine Schell really imbued the character with some nice touches. And, admittedly, some of these more action-packed episodes build some nice suspense throughout. The Megaset includes every single episode of the series - as well as some nice extras. Of particular interest is a bonus disc that includes the much-sought-after "Message From Moonbase Alpha" fan film. This short piece - featuring actress Zenia Merton in her role as Sandra Benes - serves as a bit of 'closure' for fans of the series. It's not to be missed! Make sure the Megaset you're bidding on includes this bonus disc! The picture and sound are very nice throughout the Megaset - and I'm sure that I'm seeing a lot of scenes now that were cut back in the day! (Unforunately this was a common practice with syndicated series.) It's great to see this beloved cult show again. I recommend it highly to all sci-fi fans!Read full review
What is this all about? On Sep. 13, 1999, a massive explosion at a lunar nuclear waste dump sends the Moon out of Earth orbit. Without warning--and with return to Earth impossible--the 311 men and women of Moonbase Alpha find themselves on a perilous journey to the far reaches of space... SPACE: 1999 features thought-provoking stories, exceptional special effects by Oscar® winner Brian Johnson (Alien, The Empire Strikes Back) and a remarkable cast. This complete DVD set includes all 48 original episodes, digitally remastered from the original 35mm film elements, along with a cool bonus features, extra footage and more! This box set indeed has 17 DVDs and not 16. The 17th Bonus Disk is tucked at the far right after DVD 16 in a plain white sleeve. Episodes are not in airing sequence [which is usually the logical one] but in production number sequence. It helps to get an episode list like for example from www.epquides.com and then jump around in the correct order. While the overall tone is one of seriousness, these episodes still come off as quite silly for today standards. Since being a first, SPACE: 1999 has some of the worst actors and dialogue ever featured in a sci-fi series, with some fairly ridiculous special effects and costumes to boot. Any person today who watches this probably snicker. However, SPACE: 1999 is still a real hoot to watch. The special effects, when not laughably bad, can be quite impressive (for 1976, anyway) and are suitably groovy. There is no shame in enjoying a show like this PRECISELY for its kitsch value. Also, if you are a big fan of the STAR WARS movies, you may be able to spot where George Lucas got some of his production ideas! If you are into Sci-Fi, it is alot of fun to see how SPACE: 1999 bridged the gap between STAR TREK and STAR WARS. When Space 1999 came out in the early 70's George Lucas claimed he would not have been able to make Star Wars without it. Even today the show feels very modern with its blend of gothic horror, the paranormal and science fiction. Many episodes are filmed in a neo-surrealistic style akin to Luis Bunel and Hitchcock. This mega set is the way to go. In the long run, it is cheaper to buy this set over the individual sets. Have FUN.Read full review
Space 1999 was one of the best sci fi TV shows of it's time. The idea that 300 scientists could be stranded on the moon as it hurled through space made for great subject matter. The special effects and costumes are terrific, acting is pretty good, and overall it's good entertainment. Of course all alien life forms encountered by the scientists speak perfect English and are more often than not HOSTILE! I have always enjoyed science fiction and came up on Saturday morning shows like "Creature Feature" which was usually two or three sci fi and horror flicks back to back......black and white B movies all the way. Space 1999 aired in the evenings and I can remember watching it while mom prepared dinner. It was in color, the spacecraft perform as true spacecraft should perform, there was drama, and it was cool! As a science fiction fan I give Space 1999 a rating of Excellent for a couple of reasons: First I feel that the premise of the show is clever and original, and second the actors portrayal of their individual characters is outstanding. I've seen worse acting on the silver screen. The DVD Megaset has plenty to offer, not only are all of the episodes represented here in perfect order, but each DVD contains a photo gallery of episodes plus commentary and interviews with creators, crew, and cast members. It is very well done. If you've got a sci fi fan in the family and are looking for gift ideas, the Space 1999 Megaset DVD collection is a great gift. Fun for the whole family.Read full review
I loved this show as a kid and watched it every time it was on. The only thing was that it seemed to be preempted a lot for other things.I don't know if this was a widespread problem or only limited to my local t.v. channels; if so , this probably was one of the factors that led to its demise. The special effects were great for the time and the stories were intriguing. Looking at it now with adult eyes, I see that some of the acting seems wooden and overdramaticized. Yet this doesn't bother me one bit and only adds to the pleasure of seeing this for the first time in many years.If you are an original fan, I'm sure it won't bother you either.It's an excellent collection to have if you ever liked this show.
I have always been a fan of Space: 1999, even moreso than of Star Trek. The concept of a permanent base on the moon was always an interesting one for me and then having the moon blown out of earth's orbit and sent hurtling through space due to a nuclear waste chain reaction explosion was also facinating. The thing I have always liked most about the series is the Eagle spacecraft. Of all spacecraft I have ever seen this design is my favorite. The laser gun that they use as well as their commlink are both unique to the show and quite different than anything I have ever seen in any other science fiction series. The space suits and space suit helmet are also unique in their design. The series also has great theme music for its intro (on par with the great S.W.A.T. TV show theme--another great TV show of the 1970s). I would wholeheartedly recommend this set to anyone who is a Space: 1999 fan or just a science fiction fan in general.Read full review
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