- Actors: Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond (II), James May (II)
- Directors: Chris Donovan, Brian Klein
- Format: PAL
- Language English
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: Exempt
- Studio: 2 Entertain Video
- DVD Release Date: 27 Oct 2003
- Run Time: 60 minutes
- Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B0000BZNJ1
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
16,997 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
- #53 in Film & TV > Documentary > Transport
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Reviews
Amazon.co.uk Review
Having ceased to take itself seriously, Top Gear has now become the definitive weekly fantasy fix for petrol-heads everywhere. This compilation from the first and second series of the revamped show is mainly a chunk of four-wheeled fun that descends, more than occasionally, into downright silliness. Who would have it any other way? Unusually though, the cars are very nearly upstaged by the string of surprisingly good celebs who are wheeled on to fill the guest slot. We get Jay Kay, Harry Enfield, Jodie Kidd, Anne Robinson and many other luminaries. Several make genuinely funny contributions to the show, such as Jamie Oliver (who sends himself up something rotten while trying to prepare a salad in the back of a VW camper van as it careers around a test track), Patrick Stewart (Clarkson: "You're the most famous guest we've had on". Stewart: "This must be a terrible show, then.") and Boris Johnson, who admits to once having used a mobile phone while riding a bicycle. In the midst of all this, the programme still somehow gets around to beating seven colours of brake fluid out of assorted Jags, Lambos, Astons and so on.
There are some show-stealing stunts-cum-sight gags, too, such as the reversal of Eddie Kidd's classic bus-jumping bike stunt that sees a bus being "jumped" over the same number of bikes. Buses, of course, stay in the air the way bricks don't. The caravan-towing speed record attempt is almost serious, except Hammond checks the small print and sees there's no restriction on what you can use to move the caravan. He chooses gravity and drops it from a crane.
On the DVD: The Best of Top Gear also includes a fact file that gives the spec of each vehicle and a rather unexciting photo gallery. --Roger Thomas
DVD Description
A ‘90s special containing all the best bits from the brand new first and second series of the nation’s favourite motoring show presented by outspoken pundit Jeremy Clarkson. Includes guest appearances by Harry Enfield, Jonathan Ross, Jay Kay, Steve Coogan, Anne Robinson and Tara Palmer-Tompkinson.
Highlights include reviews of Aston Martin Vanquish, DB7, Pagani Zonda, Lotus Elise and Esprit plus ‘Doughnut Grannies’, ‘Plane vs. Car’ and ‘Bus Jumping Over Motorbike’.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
48 of 50 people found the following review helpful
There is absolutely no doubt that Top Gear is one of the greatest shows on television. There are so many reasons for this that it would be impossible for me to write them all here, so I'll sum them up.
Firstly, this show is beautiful. As a camera operator, I can say that Top Gear has been a real inspiration to my work since the new style of the show started. The articles on the show are always visually stunning, with fantastic soundtracks. This is a creative producer's dream.
Secondly, the show is hilarious. The producers knew that they had to get a wide audience without losing the 'boys toys' element of the programme, which is why so much silliness happens. But it's great, because every responsible driver on the road needs to let their hair down, and to see Richard Hammond destroy a caravan with gravity is a light-hearted stunt to make even the most stiff-upper-lipped driver chuckle.
Thirdly, the guests are great. Even if they're not particularly famous, the viewer warms to them instantly with the simple "Star In A Reasonably Priced Car" section. Seeing a famous person in a tight helmet driving a Liana round a track is humbling, even to Patrick Stewart (who was excellent). Jeremy Clarkson, whether you love him or hate him, is great with the guests and always gets a laugh.
And, my final point (for now), the combination of Clarkson, Hammond and May on a show dedicated to honouring great cars and laughing at bad ones is spot on. A show that brings together great presenters, interesting cars and tremendous production is a hard thing to achieve, but Top Gear does is perfectly.
Buy this DVD and immortalise this pristine show on your shelf; it's worth every penny.
Firstly, this show is beautiful. As a camera operator, I can say that Top Gear has been a real inspiration to my work since the new style of the show started. The articles on the show are always visually stunning, with fantastic soundtracks. This is a creative producer's dream.
Secondly, the show is hilarious. The producers knew that they had to get a wide audience without losing the 'boys toys' element of the programme, which is why so much silliness happens. But it's great, because every responsible driver on the road needs to let their hair down, and to see Richard Hammond destroy a caravan with gravity is a light-hearted stunt to make even the most stiff-upper-lipped driver chuckle.
Thirdly, the guests are great. Even if they're not particularly famous, the viewer warms to them instantly with the simple "Star In A Reasonably Priced Car" section. Seeing a famous person in a tight helmet driving a Liana round a track is humbling, even to Patrick Stewart (who was excellent). Jeremy Clarkson, whether you love him or hate him, is great with the guests and always gets a laugh.
And, my final point (for now), the combination of Clarkson, Hammond and May on a show dedicated to honouring great cars and laughing at bad ones is spot on. A show that brings together great presenters, interesting cars and tremendous production is a hard thing to achieve, but Top Gear does is perfectly.
Buy this DVD and immortalise this pristine show on your shelf; it's worth every penny.
26 of 30 people found the following review helpful
We don't get Top Gear in Australia, so I was lucky enough to be sent this DVD for Christmas and it really is good stuff. Not like your usual car crap, these guys really have fun throwing fast, high priced cars around on the track coupled with that trademark British dry wit.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
I'm not sure what I was expecting here, as it's been so long since I saw any episodes from the first two series of Top Gear! One thing to remember is that the show has evolved into the 'three funny blokes do blokey stuff with cars' show that I love today, but it wasn't always like that, even after the revival of the series.
This DVD focusses on JC's car reviews primarily, with some excellent edited highlights of his star interviews. There are a few features featuring Richard Hammond, too, but James May (who joined the team for series two) only features once, and the bloke he replaced (Jason Dawe) only shows up in a couple of studio shots, and doesn't say anything!
So, a decent enough DVD, but not necessarily a true reflection of the diverse features that were in the TV show, and it's certainly not going to be what you expect if you've watched Top Gear for the past three years or so but weren't a viewer back in 2002.
This DVD focusses on JC's car reviews primarily, with some excellent edited highlights of his star interviews. There are a few features featuring Richard Hammond, too, but James May (who joined the team for series two) only features once, and the bloke he replaced (Jason Dawe) only shows up in a couple of studio shots, and doesn't say anything!
So, a decent enough DVD, but not necessarily a true reflection of the diverse features that were in the TV show, and it's certainly not going to be what you expect if you've watched Top Gear for the past three years or so but weren't a viewer back in 2002.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
top gear vids
I have rather a large collection of Top gear vids and they all follow the general manner of Topgear. Read more
Published 5 months ago by ian
Top Gear
As a Top Gear Fan this is not one of the best of the dvds they have out. Mostly showing cars on the track with their timings, and which cars are the best. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Ms. S. Ali
Abbreviated hilarity at its best!
This combines the best "clips" from series 1 & 2. These are not the full segments, just snippets from, sometimes in random order. Read more
Published 24 months ago by Michael Goos
Not what I had hoped for.
When the BBC made this DVD they should have called it The Jeremy Clarkson Car Review Show. This is because the majority of the DVD focuses on Clarkson's car reviews with a few of... Read more
Published on 6 Mar 2010 by D. Meakin
Hammond
I don't think I have ever seen this particular DVD but have the best intentions on seeing. I think it would be brilliant though based on the fact that Richard Hammond is... Read more
Published on 19 Feb 2007 by T. Norval
Not enough
I dont know about you but i dont think that this DVD should include any of the celebrity interviews. I have a recording of each of the top gear shows that i put on DVD. Read more
Published on 19 Oct 2003 by C. Coney
Cars Mania!!!!
This is fabulaous footage of Top Gear. The presenters (especially Jeremy Clarkson) are very entertaining and all have good things to say. Read more
Published on 11 Oct 2003
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