Oh, the memories! Coming back after school, settling down at my friend Duncan's house to watch yet another episode of the Tripods. It was weird, it was wonderful, and at the tender age of about 8 it was actually quite frightening.
For those who are unfamiliar, the premise is this:
Will is coming of age in a strange, almost medieval world. A world ruled by the tripods, giant metallic creatures who stride across the land towering above people, plants and buildings alike. His older brother is about to be "capped", in a ceremony that Will must himself undergo in a year's time. When his brother comes back with the wire 'cap' woven into his skull, he realises that things have irrevocably changed. His brother is no longer interested in exploring, and playing games - nor in what lies beyond the confines of their small village. As the seeds of doubt grow in Will's mind, a stranger arrives in town, a Vagrant. Will's life is about to change beyond all imagining . . . I won't tell any more for fear of spoiling it for those who haven't come across it.
Fond memories were re-awoken recently when a friend bought me the DVD for a Christmas present. But the pleasure of watching and the nostalgia were somewhat tempered by a familiar frustration. The series was based on a trilogy of books, and our beloved BBC filmed the first two books, and then canned the whole thing before making the last series! And as if to taunt us further, they release the first series on DVD . . . and then can the plans to bring out the second series on DVD! It's like putting a boot a man's face when's he's down. In fact, it is like putting a boot in a man's face when he is down from when you punched him out ten years ago!
But leaving that aside for the moment, the actual product is pretty good. The only complaint is the inevitable fact that this doesn't look as good or come across anywhere near as well as it did at the time. The reasons are numerous and obvious - the effects look dated and clunky, the things that scared us when we were children don't have quite the same power these days, the acting is not especially good (something you don't tend to notice as a child).
But overall, the story is strong enough to carry it, and it is still a good watch. My flatmates, who did not see it first time round still think it's pretty good, so that is testament to its lastability. But they and I are all agreed on one thing: the books are by far superior. If you get a chance, pick those books up - from a charity shop or something, they are out of print now. They are fairly short, so they won't take you long, but they are one of the masterpieces of children's literature - as with anything that you can read with as much enjoyment as an adult as you did when you were young.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Production Year: 2007 - Science Fiction - Director: Francis Lawrence - Original Language: English - Classification: 15 years and over - Starring: Alice Braga, Charlie Tahan, Dash Mihok, Will Smith, Salli Richardson, Willow Smith
lol never heard of it but im a young one.however i did ask my bro and he loved it and said youre op brought back a few memories for him...great op :) charlene x
hepialid 22.02.2003 12:52
Takes me back to my childhood, watching the tripods on BBC. Andy.
Advantages: great tv series Disadvantages: Not what you may expect
seagulls-lost-horizon 20.07.2002 (20.07.2002)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Tripods - Series 1 (DVD)
Advantages: great tv series Disadvantages: Not what you may expect
seagulls-lost-horizon 20.07.2002 (20.07.2002)
·
Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Tripods - Series 1 (DVD)
Are you the manufacturer / provider of The Tripods - Series 1 (DVD)? Click here
very helpful by (58%):
helpful by (42%):
