The Avengers - The Complete Emma Peel Megaset (2006 Collector's Edition)
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DVD Cover Information
Actor: Diana Rigg, Patrick MacNeeBrand: A&E
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo; English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo
Format: Black & White, Collector's Edition, Color, DVD, Full Screen, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
Running Time: 2913 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2006-02-28
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: A&E Home Video
Movie Reviews of The Avengers - The Complete Emma Peel Megaset (2006 Collector's Edition)
Movie Review: The essential seasons of the series (sorry Cathy Gale and Tara King) with extras
Summary: 5 Stars
Previously released by A&E on DVD, "The Avengers Emma Peel Megaset" brings the episodes featuring Diana Rigg and Patrick MacNee as John Steed altogether in one complete smaller set with extras. You get all the episodes that Diana Rigg appeared in packed into 16 discs with 3 or 4 episodes per DVD. The DVDs are packaged in slimline cases making it a bit easier for storage purposes particularly if you have a lot of DVDs.
The big attraction for fans is the disc of "Lost Episodes" featuring 2 and 1/2 of the earliest episodes when the show first aired. Featuring Dr. Keel (Ian Hendry "Journey to the Far Side of the Sun") and John Steed fighting the bad guys. Hendry becomes involved with Steed and becomes an "Avenger" when his fiance is murdered. Unfortunately the rest of the first season episodes have vanished and these 2 1/2 episodes are all that remain of the first season. The first season tone is more serious than later ones. It would take another season before the show would finally hit its stride with the introduction of Dr Cathy Gale (Honor Blackman-Pussy Galore from "Goldfinger"). As mentioned elsewhere this 17th disc is available separately so don't feel compelled to purchase the whole set again if you bought it in 2001.
Image quality is extremely good throughout. There is quite a bit of analog speckles and spots on some episodes but the blacks are rock solid and the colors despite a bit of fading looks extremely good as well on the later episodes. The image quality is a bit softer in the color episodes when compared to the earlier black and white episodes. Sound is solid throughout the set.
We also get "Avenging The Avengers" a short doucmentary on the series featuring Macnee, Honor Blackman and Diana Rigg. "The Strange Case of the Missing Corpse" is a promotional short made to promote the show's move from black and white to color. We also get the alternate version of the opening of the show shot for America where the characters are on a chessboard. Finally we get The New Avengers "episode K is for the Kill: The Tiger Awakes". The reason we get it is a cameo by Diana Rigg. It's actually a scene from the 1967 season intercut with footage of Patrick Macnee speaking with Mrs. Peel on the phone. It's a bizarre and contrived cameo that came about when Diana Rigg turned down a request to appear on an episode of the show.
I was never a fan of "The New Avengers" the show just didn't have the wit of the previous one and was far more predictable. We only get the first half of this two part episode which is kind of a problem if you're interested in how it ends and don't want to go out and buy the set it's a part of.
While the earlier episodes are fine they can't match the later ones with Rigg for me simply because I grew up watching them and the writing on the show hit its stride. Mrs. Peel passes the mantel to Tara King in the last episode of the 16th disc. Linda Thorson did an admirable job in her role as Tara. Brian Clemens notes that he feels the writing was best in the last season of the show featuring Tara and Steed. While I would disagree the last season held it's own with the Rigg and Blackman years.
The image quality is to notch with occasional bits of flecking but is free of dirt. The episodes look terrific overall (although there is the occasional bit of damage to the original prints, etc. that crop up). The blacks look rock solid. The color episodes also look quite good although not quite as sharp. The colors pop (and have the dayglo look of pop art).
By the way other retailers are selling this set for significantly less than amazon.com so shop around. Costco has the set for $99.99 a big savings in the US!
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Summary of The Avengers - The Complete Emma Peel Megaset (2006 Collector's Edition)
She is the perfect balance of sexiness and sophistication, wit and whimsy. The object of many prepubescent lads? desires, Mrs. Emma Peel dazzled television screens on both sides of the Atlantic from 1965-1967. Starring Dame Diana Rigg as Peel and Patrick Macnee as John Steed, the Emma Peel era of THE AVENGERS was the high-water-mark of the groundbreaking series, with adventures more fantastic than ever. A one-stop haven for DVD collectors, this special 17-disc Collector?s Edition features all 51 digitally remastered Emma Peel episodes plus a new bonus disc containing three "lost" episodes from the debut season of THE AVENGERS, a ?making-of? documentary film, a classic Emma Peel cameo episode from THE NEW AVENGERS ?77, and more.Similar DVD Movies
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