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| Blackadder: Complete Collection - BBC Series 1-4 & The Specials | 
 enlarge | Directors: Martin Shardlow, Mandie Fletcher, Richard Boden
Actors: Rowan Atkinson, Tony Robinson, Tim Mcinnerny, Brian Blessed, Stephen Fry
Studio: 2 Entertain Video
Category: DVD
List Price: £59.99
Buy New: £22.97
You Save: £37.02 (62%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from £19.49
Avg. Customer Rating:  (36 reviews)
Sales Rank: 55
Format: Box Set, Pal, Special Edition
Languages: English (Subtitles For The Hearing Impaired), English (Original Language)
Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
Media: DVD
Number Of Items: 6
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.8
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.7 x 1.5
EAN: 5014503174620
ASIN: B000ASALUQ
Release Date: October 3, 2005
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
One of the best comedy series ever to emerge from England, Black Adder traces the deeply cynical and self-serving lineage of various Edmund Blackadders from the muck of the Middle Ages to the frontline of World War I. In his pre-Mr Bean triumph, British comic actor Rowan Atkinson played all five versions of Edmund, beginning with the villainous and cowardly Duke of Edinburgh, whose scheming mind and awful haircut seem to stand him in good stead to become the next Archbishop of Canterbury -- a deadly occupation if ever there was one. Among tales of royal dethronings, Black Death, witch-smellers (who root out spell-makers with their noses), and ghosts, Edmund is a perennial survivor who never quite gets ahead in multiple episodes. Jump to the Elizabethan era and Atkinson picks up the saga as Lord Edmund, who is perpetually courting favour from mad Queen Bess (Miranda Richardson) and is always walking a tightrope from which he can either gain the world or lose his head. Subjected to bizarre services for her majesty (at one point, Edmund is asked to do for potatoes what Sir Walter Raleigh did for tobacco), Edmund -- like his ancestor -- can never quite fulfill his larger ambitions. The next incarnation we encounter is in late-18th-century Regency England. This time, Blackadder is a mere butler to the idiotic Prince Regent (Hugh Laurie in a brilliantly buffoonish performance) and is caught in various misadventures with Samuel Johnson, Shakespearean actors, the Scarlet Pimpernel, and William Pitt the younger. With a brief stop in Victorian London for a Christmas special, the series concludes with several episodes set during the Great War. The new Edmund is a career army officer, but a scoundrel all the same. Shirking his duties whenever possible and taking advantage of any opportunity for undeserved reward, this final, deeply sour, and very funny Blackadder negotiates survival among a cadre of fools and dimwits. No small mention can be made of Atkinson's supporting cast, easily among the finest comic performers of their generation: besides Laurie and Richardson, Stephen Fry, Tony Robinson, and Tim McInnerny. --Tom Keogh
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| Customer Reviews: Read 31 more reviews...
 Three seasons are EXCELLENT; one is disappointing September 11, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Though it's nice to have the entire Blackadder collection in one neat DVD-set, there's no comparison between Season One (1983) and the subsequent three seasons.
The 1983 series was directed by Rowan Atkinson (Blackadder) and Richard Curtis. Though Brian Blessed is a superb actor, the dialogue is mildly amusing at best. It simply can't hold a candle to the 1985, 1987 and 1989 seasons - all directed by Richard Curtis and Ben Elton. Season 2 is set in the first Elizabethan Era (late 16th century). Miranda Richardson is hilarious as Queen Elizabeth and it also features a young(ish) Stephen Fry as Lord Melchett. Season 3 is probably my favourite; it's set in the Regency period (early 19th century) where Hugh Laurie excels as Prince George. In one classic episode called "Ink and Incapability" Dr. Samuel Johnson is convincingly played by the talented Robbie Coltrane. Sheer quality! Season 4 is set in trenches of World War I. It's in that series that Stephen Fry really comes of age as the outlandish and eccentric "General Melchett". There's also some once-off, bonus episodes. "The Cavalier Years" is entertaining enough. It's set during the English Civil War, with Fry as King Charles I (though he sounds more like the current PRINCE Charles than King Charles of the 1640s!). "Black Adder Back & Forth" is disappointing. It's set on 31 December 1999 and is only marginally more amusing than the 1983 Series.
Blackadder doesn't light everyone's candle. But if you're into mid-80s Ben Elton satire as I am, this boxed-set is well worth owning.
 Great Value DVD, worth every penny July 27, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Blacckadder is one of the Britains finest ever comedies. The comic genius that is Rowan Atikinson as Edmund Blackadder, outstandingly supported throughout by the brilliant Tony Robinson (before his "Time Team" days) as his ever suffering side kick Baldrick, and by Tim McInnery, Steven Fry and Hugh Laurie, among others.
The first series is set in the 1490s when, apparently, the history books were incorrectly written and Richard III wasn't defeated at the battle of Bosworth Field by Henry Tudor, but was succeeded on the throne of England by his brother Richard IV (Brian Blessed) after being beheaded at the battle of Bosworth Field by his clutz of a nephew, Prince Edmund Pentagonist, who later (after briefly considering calling himself "The Black Vegetable") re-names himself "The Black Adder". A legend is born.
Series 2 - move forward 80 years or so to Elizabethan times and the great grandson of Edmund Pentagonist - it's in the lyrics of the closing song on the episode "Head", for anyone who hadn't noticed it already "His great grandfather was a king, although for only 30 seconds". Now demoted to Lord rather than a Prince of the relm, Blackadder is the much more sharp, cunning and altogether nasty character we came to love. Baldrick is now the stupid one and that's the way it ought to be and, in deed, stayed.
Series 3 - Now in the late 1700s to early 1800s in the time of the Prince Regent, Edmund is demoted again to being the butler to Prince George (brilliantly played by Hugh Laurie). Baldrick is still his ever sufferong dogsbody, whose immortal words "I have a cunning plan" are the bain of Blackadders life.
Series 4 - It's now world war one and Blackadder is demoted still further to a captain in the army trenches, with Baldrick and George as his comrades and Melchet as his barmey General.
The series just got better and better as it went on and the ending was perfect when they went over the top. At the end of last episode, as the final scene is shown, there's no theme tune or credits, it simply cuts to a picture of poppy fields. The way this is done is so moving, and a perfect ending to a brilliant series.
The full four series, along with all the specials, like "Blackadders Christmas Carol" and sketches that were done for Comic Relief, make one brilliant collection. If you don't already own any of the Blackadder series, then this is definitely the one to buy and well worth every penny.
Simply excellent. June 20, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I'll keep this short- this is a boxset of every Blackadder episode ever released, including the specials, entirely (to my knowledge) unedited and uncut. What Blackadder fan could ask for more?
I've read some reviews criticising the sound and picture quality of the DVDs. Sure, it's hardly High Definition, and even through 1080p upscaling the picture isn't great... but neither was the picture of the original broadcasts. Personally, I don't find it a big problem.
The box has some nice artwork with classic Blackadder quotes, the DVDs are arranged in order by series and personally I would say the packaging is generally flawless.
You may be expecting bonus material for the price you are paying- don't get your hopes up. Apart from some hastily added "making-of" scenes on the final disc, bonus material is unheard of. It's a shame- most of the actors are still alive and in their right mind today- some audio commentaries wouldn't have gone amiss.
That said, I couldn't ask for a better boxset. If you are any self-respecting Blackadder fan, you will need this gem.
EDIT: On another note, it is really very interesting to watch how the series has progressed over time. Series One doesn't have Mr Blackadder- it has Mr Bean. Watching Rowan Atkinson slowly change into the cynical, sarcastic, sour-faced witty individual he forms into in the last series, is worth the 37.99 alone! Series One, although not a quarter as funny as Series Two and onwards, is intriguing to watch, as Blackadder is still finding his feet!
You don't just have a comedy golden nugget in this box, but a piece of British history too!
The best of all comedies May 28, 2008
When I think of my favourite comedies of all time Blackadder, alongside Red Dwarf come top.
What makes Blackadder one of the great is its variety of different comedy which is mixed well. Perhaps most famous for its sarcastic wit, of which is does like no other show, it also uses other humour to good extend and thus has something for everyone.
All the characters are well written and acted meticulously. Each actor brings his or her own special quality to the show, yet it can never be said any upstage the other, they compliment each other.
This will have you laughing long and hard and something you will want to go back to time after time.
A must for anybodies collection.
Get the best of all comedies for a great price.
Wonderful stuff May 28, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is one of the finest TV shows ever, with lines as funny as watching Celine Dion being tarred and feathered by music lovers and acted better than Olivier. Buy this.
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