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Tripods - The Complete Series 1 & 2 [DVD] [1984]
 
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Tripods - The Complete Series 1 & 2 [DVD] [1984]

John Shackley (Actor), Jim Baker (Actor), Graham Theakston (Director), Christopher Barry (Director) | Rated: Parental Guidance | Format: DVD
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
RRP: £29.99
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77% buy the item featured on this page:
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Product details

  • Actors: John Shackley, Jim Baker
  • Directors: Graham Theakston, Christopher Barry
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Number of discs: 4
  • Classification: PG
  • Studio: 2 Entertain Video
  • DVD Release Date: 23 Mar 2009
  • Run Time: 622 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000R21294
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 6,889 in DVD (See Top 100 in DVD)

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Reviews

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

Synopsis

First broadcast in 1984, post-apocalyptic adventure The Tripods remains one of the UK’s best-loved science-fiction series. This DVD set contains both series of The Tripods as well as fascinating extra material.

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 adolescence.

Will Parker, desperate to escape this ritual, leaves the village with his cousin, Henry and attempts to link up with the human resistance movement. On the run, their life is fraught with danger as they try to elude the giant machines and the Black Guard, the alien’s human servants. On a thrilling journey, their adventures take them to the ruins of Paris and on through Europe until, eventually, Will infiltrates Tripod City itself – a perilous world of Masters and Cognoscs…

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Customer Reviews

21 Reviews
5 star:
 (14)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:
 (3)
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (21 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Marvellous and annoying, 23 Jun 2009
By Thomas Koetzsch (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Tripods - The Complete Series 1 & 2 [DVD] [1984] (DVD)
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).
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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great to have it all in one beautiful box!, 21 July 2009
By Daniel Järnström (Pargas, Finland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
This review is from: Tripods - The Complete Series 1 & 2 [DVD] [1984] (DVD)
I never bought the original series 1 on DVD, I just had the old VHS tapes. Considering the fact that both series were now released in one box set, I'm glad I didn't.

The Tripods is my all-time favourite TV show. It's an excellent story combined with great special effects, considering it's mid-eighties sci-fi drama. Ofcourse the fact that the BBC pulled the plug on series 3 is a shame, but you will find the booklet (devoted to the unmade third series) being a big bonus.

The extras aren't that special, although having the "Cult of" show on DVD is pretty cool. The soundtrack by Ken Freeman for the unmade third series is also nice, although it could have been on a separate disc in CD format.

All in all it's definitely worth buying, for fans old and new!

We thank the Tripods!!
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Stodgy, but sometimes effective, 15 Dec 2009
By Richard Chestney (Peterborough, Cambs) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   
This review is from: Tripods - The Complete Series 1 & 2 [DVD] [1984] (DVD)
I've only recently seen the whole series...

The trouble with the series is that they added far too much filler material - plotlines absent from the books - and instead of making a really good single series, of perhaps 12 hour long episodes, they opted to make one series per book - and then had themselves cancelled before they could televise the rather crucial third book.

The first series has some excellent moments, but far too much filler material added, and acting (and/or scripting) is at times very wooden. The special effects are very good, considering budget, and are the saving grace of the whole series.

The second series seems to make far too much of the journey to and from the Tripods' city, introduces an irrelevant second tier of power in the city, while eliminating some of the feeling of hardship and brutality imposed on the human slaves, and then the series ends on a sour note, quite unnecessarily, since in the book, there is a happy and surprise ending.

There are some huge errors of judgement in the second series. The French language is lost altogether, whereas it is at least partially used in the first set of stories - they are in France after all! And then in the masters city, where we've established that by 2089 that peasant life is a simple affair, with country dancing, and no electricity - we have a blasted 1980's style Disco, with flashing lights, and pop music - good God, what possessed the idiot director to put that scene in there? How are the humans dancing, when the masters installed extra gravity, and wear their subjects into the ground?

Overall, I'd recommend reading the books (even as an adult), and forget the TV version. The books are well-written, and have a certain nobility and charm.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars 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 1 month ago by M. Merenda

5.0 out of 5 stars My mate loved it!
This was one of my friends favourite shows when we were kids so I bought it for him as a birthday present and he loved it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Steve

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
This TV series was befroe my time, but i watched it with my uncle from the age of 2 and i loved it ever since and to this day it still amazes me and i recommend this to anyone... Read more
Published 2 months ago by K. Tribble

5.0 out of 5 stars 80s childhood revisited
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... Read more
Published 7 months ago by David Powell

5.0 out of 5 stars Tripods
great to finally have both seasons, the guide to the unmade season 3 was a nice touch an helps round off the set. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Gordon A. Taylor

5.0 out of 5 stars Nostalgic
Superb, just as I remember it 20 odd years ago. A bit dissapointed that they never got to finish the trilogy but it may have encouraged viewers to go & get the books to find out... Read more
Published 13 months ago by D. J. Houlden

3.0 out of 5 stars Tripods series 1 and 2
This si the BBC series for children from 1984. The world has been pacified by what at first seems to be machines this is not the case however. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Happy Shopper

5.0 out of 5 stars Perfect Nostalgia
The Tripods is a series that will always hold a special significance to me. I never saw the original broadcast, but discovered the series 1 videos in my local library when I was... Read more
Published 16 months ago by T. Taylor

5.0 out of 5 stars tripods 1 and 2
this is purely brilliant, i have waited many years for the release of the second series and here it is in all its glory. Read more
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2.0 out of 5 stars Not as good as I remembered
Loved this as a kid but unlike some other revisists this one doesnt really hold up and I can see why it was cancelled. Read more
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