...well it's all about pants
Blackadder is the generic name of a historical sitcom by the BBC that ran for four series. Each series is set in a completely different era from the Tudors to World War One, yet each follow the fortunes and misfortunes of Edmond Blackadder, played by Rowan Atkinson ... Read review
It seemed a good idea at the time: to celebrate the end of the millennium by resurrecting ... more
Edmund Blackadder for a one-off specialBlackadder: Back and Fourth. Unfortunately, those responsible forBack and Forthgot the cart before the horse. TheBlackadder...
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It seemed a good idea at the time: to celebrate the end of the millennium by resurrecting ... more
Edmund Blackadder for a one-off specialBlackadder: Back and Fourth. Unfortunately, those responsible forBack and Forthgot the cart before the horse. TheBlackadder...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Back And Forth: It's New Year's Eve 1999 and Lord Edmund Blackadder and friends are ... more
gathered to celebrate the Millennium. Blackadder discloses he has built a time machine - and to prove it works he proposes a wager of '‚£10 000 to anyone who cares...
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Back And ForthIt's New Year 1999 and Lord Edmund Blackadder and friends are gathered to ... more
celebrate the Millennium. As conversation turns to the future, Blackadder discloses that he has built a time machine and proposes a wager of ?10,000 to anyone who n...
Production Year: 2004 - Comedy - Director: John Hay - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Jimi Mistry, Kate Miles, Dougray Scott
Comedy - Director: Richard Boden, Mandie Fletcher, Martin Shardlow - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Hugh Laurie, Miranda Richardson, Stephen Fry, Brian Blessed, Tim McInnerny, Tony Robinson, Rowan Atkinson
Comedy - Original Language: English - Classification: 12 years and over - Starring: Tessa Peake-Jones, Buster Merryfield, David Jason, Nicholas Lyndhurst
Production Year: 1992 - Comedy - Director: Tim Robbins - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Ray Wise, Alan Rickman, Giancarlo Esposito, Tim Robbins
Advantages: Baldrick (what else needs to be said) Disadvantages: This is the last Blackadder ever made
...about pants
Blackadder is the generic name of a historical sitcom by the BBC that ran for four series. Each series is set in a completely different era from the Tudors to World War One, yet each follow the fortunes and misfortunes of Edmond Blackadder, played by Rowan Atkinson and his sidekick though more often dogsbody Baldrick, played by Tony Robinson. The sitcom lasted for four series as well as quite a few specials of which two ... ...increase. Whatever the social standing Blackadder and Baldrick, still his sidekick, are in full form for the specials, ‘Back and Forth’ and ‘The Cavalier Years’.
The humour within both specials is a good mix of slapstick, word-puns and more subtle lines that make the show a real pleasure to watch. The word puns themselves are in my opinion some of the best that appear in any sitcom and are all cleverly constructed to make brilliant ... more
History is simply pants.........well it's all about pants
Blackadder is the generic name of a historical sitcom by the BBC that ran for four series. Each series is set in a completely different era from the Tudors to World War One, yet each follow the fortunes and misfortunes of Edmond Blackadder, played by Rowan Atkinson and his sidekick though more often dogsbody Baldrick, played by Tony Robinson. The sitcom lasted for four series as well as quite a few specials of which two are contained on this DVD.
Since the last series Blackadder’s social standing seems to have increased, which is odd because the common pattern for the series’ was for Blackadder’s social standing to reduce but his intellect and wit increase. Whatever the social standing Blackadder and Baldrick, still his sidekick, are in full form for the specials, ‘Back and Forth’ and ‘The Cavalier Years’.
The humour within both specials is a good mix of slapstick, word-puns and more subtle lines that make the show a real pleasure to watch. The word puns themselves are in my opinion some of the best that appear in any sitcom and are all cleverly constructed to make brilliant viewing. It must be noted however that a quantity of the humour within Blackadder does often come from moderate references to sex and nudity as well as occasional bad language. I personally however do not think that this is excessive within either of the specials and feel that it should cause no objections from the audience as long as the 15 certificate is adhered too.
The cast of the series all put in performances in the specials with the exception of Brian Blessed who appeared in Series 1. The quality of the acting on the whole is fantastic and all the cast seem to be extremely relaxed in their roles and really excel in them. Rowan Atkinson is truly tremendous as the cunning Blackadder and his dry wit, frequent ironic and satirical statements and general appearance makes him really endearing. Tony Robinson as Baldrick also plays an amazing part and is probably my favourite character in the series. He plays the daft servant down to a tee every single time and is just brilliant to watch on screen. The rest of the cast change roles frequently throughout the specials, especially in Back and Forth, were each one plays numerous different characters. Miranda Richardson every resurrects her Queen Elizabeth I.
Now I suppose it’s high time I told you what each of the specials was about and gave you a short opinion of them individually. Therefore that is exactly what you shall find below.
~~Back and Forth~~ Back and Forth is set on New Years Eve 1999 and sees Lord Edmund and his friends gathered to celebrate the coming of the Millennium. Still as cunning as ever Blackadder has constructed a plan to fool all his friends and decided to trick them into believing that he has travelled into the future. He also says he can prove it and wagers £10,000 to anyone who wishes to name an object from history for him to bring back. His plan however is simply to have Baldrick collect the items from a large prop storage he has made. Little to his knowledge however Baldrick has actually managed to build a working time machine and it is touch and go as to whether he and Blackadder will actually return to see in the 2000 and if they do the world they find might not be what they expect.
This special is fantastic in so many ways and really highlights everything that we love about Blackadder. The constantly changing era and the famous faces popping up at every opportunity make the whole thing a delight to watch. The jokes are also thick and fast although at the same time well thought out and cleverly placed to achieve maximum effect. Better still the content of the special isn’t always what you expect and the ending just as clever as any you’ve seen before.
~~The Cavalier Years~~ It is 1649 and King Charles is fleeing the wrath of Oliver Cromwell. In the whole of England there are only two men that have remained faithful. One a descendent of a great historical family – Sir Edmund Blackadder and the second a man whose name history has quite rightly forgotten. The events that occur when he in his hour of need turns to them are quite frankly somewhat absurd, but that is in reality what we love about Blackadder.
I must admit that this special didn’t entertain me as much as ‘Back and Forth’ but it was still an enjoyable watch and to see Blackadder in yet another historical period was, as it should be, a real treat. The jokes in this special are as cunning and intriguing as in any of the series’ and the ultimate outcome of events neither predictable nor completely off the wall.
Now on top of these two specials the DVD also contains a small documentary on the making of Blackadder. The extra is entitled ‘Baldrick’s Video Diary’ and is therefore as you might imagine told through Baldrick’s eyes. This adds a bit of comedy to the proceedings but to be completely honest doesn’t really make the thing very memorable or even that interesting. Ultimately however the specials contained on the disc are enough to keep us for sparing at the lack of decent DVD extras.
All in all I can’t really complain about this disc although it would have been nice to have some good special features to watch too. The specials themselves are however brilliant on all fronts and really worth watching. Back and Forth is certainly one that remains quite memorable yet always refreshing no matter how many times you watch it.
MI9to5 21.09.2009
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Review of Blackadder - Back And Forth / The Cavalier Years / Baldrick's Diary (DVD)
Advantages: the Blackadder is back Disadvantages: There is nothing bad i can say about it
Blackadder Back and Forth was a one off special, that was made in 1999 and shown on Sky one on Millennium Eve.
Lord Edmund Blackadder has brought his friends together to celebrate the coming of the new Millennium with a dinner party. (Oh the rich know how to party on down dont they) As they dine on the finest fair Baldrick can produce and serve while showing his bum. Blackadder anounces that he has a time machine and bets his friends £10,000 that ... ...15 minute short film called Blackadder The Cavalier Years. Where Sir Edmund Blackadder remains the last faithfull Royalist trying to stop good King Charles (played in a delightfully Prince Charles like manner by Stephen Fry) from being captured by Cromwell.
The final part of this DVD is Baldricks Video Diary. This is taken up by behind the scenes footage of the making of Back and Forth. As well as some scenes that had to be cut from the program ...
ian4552 21.05.2005
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Blackadder - Back And Forth / The Cavalier Years / Baldrick's Diary (DVD)
It's New Year's Eve, 1999, and Blackadder and friends meet to celebrate the Millennium. He has built a time machine and offers a bet of ten thousand pounds to anyone who will name an object for him to collect as he journeys through time - will he and Baldrick make it back in time to see in the new Millennium?...
Release details
DVD Region
DVD
Studio(s)
CINEMA CLUB; SONY DADC
Release date
15/09/2003
No of Discs
1
Catalogue No
CCD 9800
Barcode
5014138298005
Languages
Main Language
English
Subtitle Language
None
Technical information
Aspect Ratio
Full Screen, Wide Screen
Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround, DTS 5.1 Surround, Dolby Digital 2.0
Dubbing Sound
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround English DTS 5.1 Surround English Dolby Digital 2.0 English
DVD Description
After 12 years away from the small screen, the Blackadder cast are reunited to see out the 20th century. Lord Blackadder and his faithful companion Baldrick continue their historic warping of all that is sacred in Great Britain, But whilst the legendary Blackadder series were each confined to a particular era, this feature-length special allows them to fumble through history courtesy of a time machine. Also includes the behind-the-scenes featurette, "Baldrick's Diary."
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