The Champions - Set One
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Movie Reviews of The Champions - Set One
Movie Review: Excellent Series, 5 Stars
This short lived yet popular series is still hyped up about in many countries. Stuart Damon, Alexandra Bastedo and William Gaunt are 3 agents of a Swiss based think tank "Nemesis". When their plane coming back from their mission in China (in the opening episode) is shot down, they are left for dead in Tibet, until they are taken by a mysterious old man to a strange room and are miraculously cured. That's really an understatement, they are also endowed with physical and mental powers beyond comprehension for 1968 (when it aired). Told to keep their powers and the existence of the old man a secret, they take care of the enemy agents and get back to home base, mission successful and go on from there, much to the chagrin of their supervisor played by Anthony Nicholls. Originally an ITC product in England, when released here, it only aired as a summer replacement series in 1968 and aired only 10 episodes of the 30 made. Then in 1983, 2 episodes (which we never saw, 1 of which being the first) were sandwiched together into a feature length story called Legend of The Champions to try to again offer it to our continent (a tad late). Since then it has never been around until 2004 when this set was released by A&E video here and another company there, but their company released both halves and a complete set which you can still get from "Marketplace Clients" on Amazon UK. However in July of last year, another manufacturer in England reissued a more complete set which includes the 30 episodes, behind the scenes goodies and "Legend" as well. I have just purchased a dvd player that can player overseas discs through this Amazon and my copy of the Complete Champions just shipped today. My advice, get a multi region capable player and this recent vintage (the one on Amazon UK that is) set. As of when mine shipped, I paid roughly $53 after currency conversion (including shipping) which is what you will probably pay for this set (shown above) here. Get the complete deal and enjoy it.Movie Review: Ambitious quasi sci-fi/spy series offers the goods....
Summary: 5 Stars
Yet another fine series from Britain's ITC stable, "The Champions," despite the comic book premise, was an imaginative and fairly well done series extolling the exploits of three superhuman agents who received their extraordinary physical and mental powers from a lost tribe of people in Tibet. 30 episodes were made in all and the series made its debut in the USA in 1968.
The Champions, thematically, is in the same sci-fi/spy vein as 'The Avengers," but taken a little more seriously than the Emma Peel episodes produced around the same time(also available in a "Megaset"), by the three leads: Stuart Damon, William Gaunt, and Alexandra Bastedo.
While this set thru A&E is decent, I recommend purchasing the Network DVD set available via AmazonUK and in Region 2 encoding. This is the set to buy replete with director and actor interviews, PDFs of publicity materials, a feature film, commentaries, trailers, and the actors' screentest footage, among several other outstanding extras.
Movie Review: "We're different... We're very different."
Summary: 5 Stars
And they were "very different", yet very much "the same". As in, the same consistent quality, the same creative genius, and the same colorful "FAB"-ness as two other ITC series in production at the same time, (the great season of '68), "The Avengers" and "The Prisoner"! And each one of these short-lived T.V. series from that long gone period in space and time, and all the cast and crew members involved in their production, and the basic premise behind them, individually and as a whole, were "very different" and very special indeed. So, this set was a very special treat for me to discover and then experience for the very first time! Especially after my having endured several painful months of the B.C.S.W.'s, ("British Cult Series Withdrawals"), whilst I was left hopelessly jonesin' for one more fix! However, I feel all right now, as "The Champions" managed to hit the spot. And for all of this plus so much more, I thank you ITC! Cheery-bye. - S->Movie Review: Felt cheated by U.S. version
Summary: 5 Stars
The U.S. version, brought to us by A&E, has only 15 episodes on it. Thanks to another reviewer, I found the Special Edition on the British Amazon site, and purchased it as well, and have been enjoying all the episodes, the special "movie" with two episodes blended together, and a reunion among the three main stars of the series, Stuart Damon, Alexandra Bastedo and William Gaunt--the first time in decades.
If you aren't sure of your DVD player's capabilities of playing a Region 2 DVD, though, you might want to stick with the American version. On your computer, however, most DVD programs will allow you to change the region code up to 4 times, and that is how I've been watching mine, although I do have a region-free player as well. The difference in price is nominal (about $15) and there are so many more perks with the Special Edition.
Movie Review: My childhood revisited!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have loved the Champions since... 1969!!! I was a little kid falling madly in love with science and science fiction: watching the Moon landings live with my parents, "Star Trek" (the original of course) and yes, "The Champions"!!! They were so cool, had these amazing powers, and had been to the Himalayas (I wanted to go there sooo bad!!!) where a secret civilization gave them their special, incredible powers! Richard was my favourite.
I'd looked for Region 1 dvd's of "The Champions" for years, and finally, I now own them. Well, the first set anyways. The second set MUST come out as soon as possible, PLEASE.
Anyway, my purchase went very well, and again the arrival of this purchase was very quick I'm happy to say. All went perfectly well, no glitches.
I'm once again very pleased with Amazon!
Fini.