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Amazon.co.uk Review
Science fiction fans viewing British television in the 1980s had much to contend with. Limited budgets and unconvincing special effects often required a leap of faith of such size as to put people off. But, in the midst of this, emerged The Tripods, a fondly-remembered sci-fi hit of the time, of which both series are present on this DVD set.
Adapted from the books by John Christopher, The Tripods is set late in the 21st century, with humanity living in peaceful servitude, albeit under the eye of huge alien machines. These machines--The Tripods--fit the young with special headgear that will ensure future humans are similarly subservient to the alien invaders, and it’s when two teenagers, Will and Henry, look to evade such treatment that the adventure begins.
Hearing stories of other ‘uncapped’ humans in the south, they set off on a journey to find them, while being pursued by The Tripods, who naturally aren’t best happy.
There are many pleasant surprises to The Tripods, even rewatching it today, and the programme has stood up really very well to the rigours of time. The limited budget means that the deployment of the Tripods themselves is kept for carefully chosen moments, and they’re convincing, at time intimidating invaders. But it’s the storytelling that’s key here, and it’s that which should ensure this DVD release earns The Tripods a new collection of fans. Well worth picking up. --Jon Foster
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2.4 DVD: LANGUAGES: English ( Dolby Digital 2.0 ), English ( Dolby Digital Stereo ), English ( Subtitles ), SPECIAL FEATURES: Booklet, Box Set, Documentary, Interactive Menu, Multi-DVD Set, Photo Gallery, Scene Access, SYNOPSIS: The year is 2089. An alien race stalks the land in towering machines known as Tripods. They have taken over the earth and enslaved mankind with a mind-controlling device, ceremoniously implanted at the age of fourteen. Will Parker anxiously awaits this ritual but hears of a place where a group of people is organising a resistance movement. Together with his cousin they leave their village, hoping to join them. They have not left unnoticed however, and the giant alien machines are in pursuit. Based on the novels by John Christopher, The Tripods was one of the most expensive productions ever undertaken by the BBC, using a huge cast and many new special effects. Originally aired in the Saturday afternoon slot previously occupied by Doctor Who, The Tripods is another classic sci-fi serial from the BBC. Includes the whole of series 1 and 2. ...The Tripods - Series 1 & 2 - 4-DVD Set ( The Tripods - Series One & Two )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I watched some of this series on BBC in the 1980s. In the 1990s, I saw some episodes of the series on German, Swiss and Hong Kong television but I have never seen the entire series (one and two that is).
I have now watched both series on this DVD-set and I must say what a great story.
Earth is occupied by the Tripods with humanity existing in middle-age-type farming communities. Nobody rebels against this because humanity is mind-controlled via a cap which becomes compulsory from the age of 16. Will and his cousin Henry are not so keen on being capped and run away to the White Mountains to join the free people. On the way, they are joined by a French chap called Beanpole. The first series deals with the three friends making their way to the White Mountains to join the uncapped (and free) people.
In Series Two, Will via a process which is not dissimilar from the Olympic Games is picked to enter the Tripod City. Serving his Tripod master in his free time he discovers a lot about the Tripod's plans for Earth. Will manages to kill his Master - although in a court of law he could probably claim self-defence - and with the help of another infiltrator manages to leave the Tripod City. He then meets Beanpole and they make their way back to the White Mountains, where they find that the Tripods have destroyed the free men's camp. This is where Series Two ends.
As I said earlier, it is a marvellous story and I really enjoyed watching it. What I find annoying is that Series Two ends in the middle of nowhere. In the last sequence, Will says: "has it all been for nothing" and I wondered if that is indeed the case. With the `beancounters' in the BBC refusing to produce the third series the whole project has been decapitated. The Producer quoted in the `The Cult of the Tripods - a BBC Four Documentary' - one of the extras on this DVD - gives you a good idea what he thought about what happened to Series Three. Whether a movie will be made in 2012 as is indicated on IMdB we will have to wait and see.
So here it is. Series One and Two is a solid 5 stars (and the BBC is a solid zero).
I have now watched both series on this DVD-set and I must say what a great story.
Earth is occupied by the Tripods with humanity existing in middle-age-type farming communities. Nobody rebels against this because humanity is mind-controlled via a cap which becomes compulsory from the age of 16. Will and his cousin Henry are not so keen on being capped and run away to the White Mountains to join the free people. On the way, they are joined by a French chap called Beanpole. The first series deals with the three friends making their way to the White Mountains to join the uncapped (and free) people.
In Series Two, Will via a process which is not dissimilar from the Olympic Games is picked to enter the Tripod City. Serving his Tripod master in his free time he discovers a lot about the Tripod's plans for Earth. Will manages to kill his Master - although in a court of law he could probably claim self-defence - and with the help of another infiltrator manages to leave the Tripod City. He then meets Beanpole and they make their way back to the White Mountains, where they find that the Tripods have destroyed the free men's camp. This is where Series Two ends.
As I said earlier, it is a marvellous story and I really enjoyed watching it. What I find annoying is that Series Two ends in the middle of nowhere. In the last sequence, Will says: "has it all been for nothing" and I wondered if that is indeed the case. With the `beancounters' in the BBC refusing to produce the third series the whole project has been decapitated. The Producer quoted in the `The Cult of the Tripods - a BBC Four Documentary' - one of the extras on this DVD - gives you a good idea what he thought about what happened to Series Three. Whether a movie will be made in 2012 as is indicated on IMdB we will have to wait and see.
So here it is. Series One and Two is a solid 5 stars (and the BBC is a solid zero).
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I've never read the books that this series is based on, and I came to it with no idea of what to expect. All I can say is I was blown away!!! Dispite it's badly ages special effects, this series is a deep and thought-provking story that makes me wonder why such an incredible example of television was allowed to be cancelled and the third & final installment never made.
VIDEO:
The BBC video release team have done there usual excellent job here. Considering the age and the atempts to reduce cost of it's production at the time (use of cheap videotape and such like)the video transfer is very good and definatley stands the test of time. Watching it Up-scaled did make some of badly done effects look pretty bad, but other than that it is a wonderful tranfer of a 26 year old television series.
AUDIO:
As one would expect, the audio has been treated just as well as the video and we're left with an excellent stereo mix. No complaints from me as the 80's synth soundtrack booms out of my surround system.
BONUS MATERIAL:
As well as the usual retrospectives that the beeb have gotten used to putting on their better DVD releases, we also get treated to a special audio presentation which represents what the soundtrack for the cancelled third series "pool of fire" would have sounded like. it just seems a shame that nothing of the series was made to go with it.
SUMMARY:
This series ended the year I was born so I missed out of the first run. This DVD series is an excellent presentation of a sci-fi series that deserves alot more attention than it gets.
A must buy for classic sci-fi fans!!!
VIDEO:
The BBC video release team have done there usual excellent job here. Considering the age and the atempts to reduce cost of it's production at the time (use of cheap videotape and such like)the video transfer is very good and definatley stands the test of time. Watching it Up-scaled did make some of badly done effects look pretty bad, but other than that it is a wonderful tranfer of a 26 year old television series.
AUDIO:
As one would expect, the audio has been treated just as well as the video and we're left with an excellent stereo mix. No complaints from me as the 80's synth soundtrack booms out of my surround system.
BONUS MATERIAL:
As well as the usual retrospectives that the beeb have gotten used to putting on their better DVD releases, we also get treated to a special audio presentation which represents what the soundtrack for the cancelled third series "pool of fire" would have sounded like. it just seems a shame that nothing of the series was made to go with it.
SUMMARY:
This series ended the year I was born so I missed out of the first run. This DVD series is an excellent presentation of a sci-fi series that deserves alot more attention than it gets.
A must buy for classic sci-fi fans!!!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
When I saw this box set on Amazon I jumped at the chance to relive some of my childhood. As a child I loved the BBC series, which I found really scary, right from the opening title sequence to the closing credits.
I was somewhat apprehensive that this might turn out to be one of those things that was best left as a childhood memory, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Yes, the special effects are now badly dated and the acting is a bit wooden, especially in series one. That said I've just finished a weekend marathon of series 1&2 and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I particularly enjoyed series 2 which had much less filler, was more menacing and had better acting. I wasn't intending to watch them all in one go, but it drew me in.
As a Welshman I was amused by the 'Alps', or Snowdonia as we Welsh like to call them!
I doubt that a child of today would enjoy the TV series, as modern special effects and production standards are much higher, but I'm sure they would enjoy the books just as much as I did. That's if you can get hold of them.
I was somewhat apprehensive that this might turn out to be one of those things that was best left as a childhood memory, but I was pleasantly surprised.
Yes, the special effects are now badly dated and the acting is a bit wooden, especially in series one. That said I've just finished a weekend marathon of series 1&2 and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I particularly enjoyed series 2 which had much less filler, was more menacing and had better acting. I wasn't intending to watch them all in one go, but it drew me in.
As a Welshman I was amused by the 'Alps', or Snowdonia as we Welsh like to call them!
I doubt that a child of today would enjoy the TV series, as modern special effects and production standards are much higher, but I'm sure they would enjoy the books just as much as I did. That's if you can get hold of them.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
The Tripods. BBC TV Series 1984 & 1985
As a kid back in the '80s I loved this show. Watched it every week religiously. I was really disappointed when they didn't make the third series. Read more
Published 5 months ago by Mr. Kiley Derek Spencer
Tripods
The item arrived on time and it was wonderful to see this amazing series again. It was also much better value than getting both series separately, well worth it! =)
Published 7 months ago by Pen Name
Fantastic!
I previously bought series 1 on DVD years ago when it was released and was a bit disappointed as my childhood memories were of the more exciting series 2 in the City of Gold. Read more
Published 12 months ago by M. Jende
Looks good for the 80's
I loved this show as a kid. It's aged well over the years and the effects were state of the art at the time. Read more
Published 14 months ago by greig mackenzie
Nostalgia isn't quite what it used to be
An ambitious attempt to render a trilogy of books to the small screen that ultimately ran out of steam. Read more
Published 14 months ago by J. Stockwell
The Tripods - Excellent but no 3rd Series
Tripods is an excellent adaptation of the John Christopher Books - The Tripods.
If you are in your late 30's and remember this first time round then going back
to it is... Read more
If you are in your late 30's and remember this first time round then going back
to it is... Read more
Published 16 months ago by colinio
Great to see season 2!
Really nice release. The booklet is interesting and talks of how the third series would have been made with reference to the events of the book and how these would be divided up... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Knelf
Tripods series 1 & 2
I had a bit of a problem with this DVD set as I sent for it during the Christmas rush and it hadn't arrived well after it should have so Amazon kindly sent me another and low and... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Peter Mayhew
COMPROMISED BBC "TRIPODS" DISCS
Amazon describe these four DVDs as "THE COMPLETE SERIES 1 & 2 ", but neglects to warn buyers that when the material on these discs runs out viewers are left high and dry wondering... Read more
Published 17 months ago by Malcolm Everett
Tripods
I remembered this series as terrifying and scary as a kid. Watching it now is very outdated, but then it was early 1980s so was well made for its day. Read more
Published 22 months ago by M. Merenda
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