Black Adder - Complete Set

Buy This Item Black Adder - Complete Set by BBC Warner  Available from Amazon  $99.98  on 1-4-2009     Before <i>Mr. Bean</i>, Rowan Atkinson was Blackadder in hysterical sendups of the Middle Ages, the Elizabethan age, the Regency period, and World War I. Reader Reviews Black Adder stands out as one of the most brilliant, and hilarious, British comedy series of all time. I grew up watching this show, in fact, so was quite pleased to finally have the whole set available on DVD (with some added goodies to boot). Words cannot describe how great this series is... well written, well acted. And, you'll probably learn more about British history than you would in most high schools (at least, here in America anyway). So the premise? Rowan Atkinson plays Edmund Blackadder, in his various incarnations, a slimy, manipulative bastard. Throughout various eras in British history, his descendants (all played by Rowan Atkinson, of course, and all more or less the same) scheme and plot, accompanied by his faithful servant Baldric (played by Tony Robinson). Their (mis)adventures span from the Middle Ages to the Great War, and all are absolutely brilliant satires of just about every moment in British history. In fact, the first series contends that Henry Tudor in fact fabricated his victory at Bosworth Field and that Richard IV (played as a bloodthristy maniac by the talented Brian Blessed) in fact took the throne after Edmund accidentally killed Richard III! From there, his descendants go on to the court of Queen Elizabeth (humorously portrayed by Miranda Richardson) where he and Baldric are often thwarted by her pompous chamberlain Lord Melchett (Stephen Fry) or their own stupidity. Next up, Mr. Blackadder is a butler to Prince Regent George (Hugh Laurie, of House fame). And their final outing finds Captain Blackadder and company on the frontlines of the Great War, accompanied by the descendants of Baldric and George, and led by the mad General Melchett. As I said before, not only is the writing a brilliant and humorous look at British history, but the series also benefits from some great actors as well (many of whom are recurring characters) - Rowan Atkinson of course, but also Tony Robinson, Miranda Richardson, Tim McInnerny, Hugh Laurie (who is brilliant in comedy as well as drama), Stephen Fry, Robbie Coltrane, and even Tom Baker at one point! The special features to this DVD are no less impressive. Not only do we get some small blurbs about historical references on the show, but there are also three additional episodes - the Cavalier Years (short sketch set in the English Civil War, that ends with the Royalist Sir Blackadder killing Charles I), the Blackadder Christmas Carol (a Victorian story in which the good Blackadder winds up seeing his ancestors and turns evil to enjoy material benefits to his life), and finally Blackadder Back And Forth, a modern time travel adventure featuring a return of most of the cast, and some new sketches as well (like a Roman Blackadder!) If you want to experience one of the most hilarious and outrageous British comedy series, then buying this boxed set is the way to go wrong. It has pretty much all the Black Adder you could ever want, and then some!

Black Adder - Complete Set Available from Amazon Price: $99.98 Updated on 1-4-2009.

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