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From Amazon.co.uk
It seemed a good idea at the time: to celebrate the end of the millennium by resurrecting Edmund Blackadder for a one-off special Blackadder: Back and Fourth. Unfortunately, those responsible for Back and Forth got the cart before the horse. The Blackadder television series worked by recasting the same characters in different times, thereby reinforcing the dynamic between Blackadder and the buffoons who ran his life (World War One generals, various idiot royalty) and the troglodytes whose lives he ran (Baldrick). Given that most of us feel most of the time like the people we work for are useless and the people that work for us are even more useless, Blackadder's concept had a huge appeal.
A special feature looking at Blackadders through the ages might, therefore, have been a worthwhile enterprise. In Back and Forth, however, the character--a modern-day descendant of the Blackadder line--is merely briefly imposed on a variety of historical circumstances; he is no longer the victim of circumstances but the creator of them, and far less appealing for it. The script is lame and formulaic, and the conclusion unbelievably lazy. Okay, so it's a comedy, but if he really had returned to an England which had been conquered by France at the battle of Waterloo, shouldn't everyone there have been speaking French?
On the DVD: There are three sound options Dolby 2.0 and 5.1, and DTS 5.1. The main feature has an easily negotiable scene selector, and there are two extra features; including a behind-the-scenes footage of the making of Back and Forth featuring interviews with co-writer Richard Curtis and the biggest gem on the whole DVD, a lost episode set in the time of Cromwell, far funnier than the dismal Back and Forth, especially for Stephen Fry's delightful blurring of the doomed Charles I and the future Charles III. --Andrew Mueller
Product Description
It is Millennium Eve, 1999, and Lord Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) has gathered his closest friends - Lady Elizabeth (Miranda Richardson), Archdeacon Darling (Tim McInnerny), Viscount George Bufton-Tufton (Hugh Laurie) and Bishop Flavius Melchett (Stephen Fry) - to demonstrate his time machine, built by Blackadder's odious manservant Baldrick (Tony Robinson) to the original specifications of Leonardo Da Vinci. When his guests scoff, Blackadder wagers them each £10,000 that he can travel to any period in Earth's past, offering to bring back a selection of historical objects in order to convince them. It is, of course, a cunning plan on Blackadder's part; the artefacts are ready and waiting to be produced from within the machine. So imagine Edmund's surprise when Baldrick's construction actually turns out to be a working model, transporting the duo back to - amongst other periods in history - the court of Elizabeth II, Sherwood Forest, and the Battle of Waterloo... Watch out for guest appearances by Rik Mayall as Robin Hood and Colin Firth as William Shakespeare. Originally conceived as the highlight of the Millennium Dome, the one-off film is featured here alongside 'The Cavalier Years', a Comic Relief special and 'Baldrick's Video Diary - A Blackadder in the Making'. The DVD extras make this a 15 certificate, the original VHS version is a PG.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
12 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
This one-off creation of the Blackadder team was made for the turn of the millennium and includes all those people who have had recurring appearances in other Blackadder series including Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Miranda Richardson. The plot is basic with Blackadder and Baldrick building a fake time machine so they can win a bet, only to find that it actually works. It is unfortunate but you just get the feel from this film that the team were not at there best when they made it, some of the jokes fall a bit flat and some of the performances are ropey at best. There are some good jokes scattered throughout the piece but I just couldn't get of the feeling that this was an opportunity wasted. The disc also includes a comic relief sketch set during the Civil War period and Baldrick's Video Diary both of which are reasonably good to watch. Although Back and forth isn't the Worst in the Blackadder series by a long way I still wouldn't give it more than 3 ½ stars.
11 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:VHS Tape
Most people were very happy to hear of this one-off episode to complete(probably) the Blackadder saga. However, while this is very funny, it doesn't really gel with the other episodes. The whole thing(which is far too short by the way) just doesn't feel right. There is no laugh track, it sometimes seems forced and unnatural, and suffers from the worked-on-the-big-screen-but-seems-too-small-on-television bug. The other thing is that the idea of a contemporray Blackadder is somewhat self-contradictory. The video also contains classic clips and interviews with the cast and crew. This further aggravates the viewer by completely omitting the first series, and the character of Lord Percy. All in all, the jokes are very funny, but the whole tone and feel of the thing leaves one baffled.
14 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By Henry Ireton
VINE™ VOICE
Format:DVD
This misses all the sparkle and sarcasm of Blackadder at its best. Instead it relies on slapstick and unfunny humour which loses its point very quickly, it feels like something rammed together quickly instead of a labour of love, it misses the verve of the earlier series. The Cromwell episode is poor as well largely because the writers aren't confident with the period as they are with the regency and with the first world war. This looks lazy and the work of people who have moved on and not neccessarily to better things. Its worth a one star review not neccessarily because it is one star quality, but because it is such a disappointment after the rest of Blackadder.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellence
Very funny, very very funny, ever-so, every-so funny, witty, extremely well-written, brilliantly performed. How many superlatives do you need? Read more
Published 3 months ago by Freddy Freeloader
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not as funny as I remember it
One or two good jokes, with some mildly entertaining ideas, but they were not developed very well. It passed the time on a cold evening, but I wouldn't bother to watch it again.
Published 3 months ago by Dr. Mark W. Tebbit
5.0 out of 5 stars
Blackadder and Baldrick at their best
Some witty touches, such as having Stephen Fry address his troops in classical Latin. Echoes of previous Blackadder series, and all the better for that.
Published 5 months ago by rosy
5.0 out of 5 stars
A right, rolliking tale
Its very good to see the cast together again. The adventure is top notch, with delightful wit that only a blackadder could deliver. I thoroughly recommend this.
Published 12 months ago by Stu Brand Manager
4.0 out of 5 stars
In Parts Very Good
This DVD is pretty much a direct copy of the 1999 VHS release. It is clearly presented on DVD and the actual feature length episode is well directed and although having less... Read more
Published on 15 May 2011 by DJ Snap
4.0 out of 5 stars
Black Adder
Black Adder enough said, although as usual specials never live up to the original series, still excellent veiwing
Published on 7 Oct 2010 by Mr. P. Haddon-baker
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not up to Blackadder's high standard
When you get blackadder you expect to be great. So this is a bit of a let down from its very high standards. Read more
Published on 1 May 2010 by Ben Nicholson
3.0 out of 5 stars
A few things you should know about 'Blackadder: Back and Forth'
As the title implies, this special (sometimes referred to as 'Blackadder 5') involves a great deal of time travel, as a contemporary Edmund tries to impress his friends by building... Read more
Published on 27 Feb 2010
1.0 out of 5 stars
Horrible
This is so far below everything else in the Blackadder series it's laughable. The jokes fail miserably, the characters seem outdated in the setting and are badly written, the whole... Read more
Published on 8 Sep 2009 by Michael Cater
4.0 out of 5 stars
good follow up
Yes, it's not as good as the series, but it's still excellent. The idea of blackadder going back in time, visiting various places (including those he was part of), baldrick killing... Read more
Published on 14 July 2009 by Larewen Evenstar
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