Farscape: Starburst Edition Season 1: Collection 1 - Kung-Fu Cinema
- Kung-Fu Cinema
- Mark Pollard
- 11/29/04
- click here
Farscape: Season 1, Collection 1 [Starburst Edition] (1999)
Genre: TV
Origin: Australia, USA
Director: Various
Starring: Ben Browder, Claudia Black, Virginia Hey, Anthony Simcoe
Rated: NR - moderate violence
ADV's DVD reissue of the first half of season one on this award-winning science fiction series brings together seven episodes and a nice suite of bonus material on a reasonably-priced two-disc set.
With few exceptions, it seems that television programming has really sunk low in the last decade as far as quality genre entertainment goes. The Star Trek franchise has written itself into its own antiseptic worm hole, Babylon 5 with its convoluted plots and gaudy production design screams video game cut scene, and other series like Andromeda and Lexx are strictly for certain cultivated tastes. Enter the Jim Henson Company, who had been developing a more adult-oriented television series for years to draw together all of their talents. The fruit of their labor is Farscape, a science fiction series originally aired on Sci-Fi Channel that combines fast-moving adventure, state-of-the-art creature and digital effects, a highly eclectic cast of characters, and sharp writing that effectively balances drama and sci-fi geekiness with a down-to-earth sense of humor.
Similar to the premise of Buck Rogers, a modern day astronaut pilot named John Crichton (Ben Browder) has his ship thrust into strange circumstances. But rather than racing into the future, a worm hole flings John into a distant part of the universe that's heavily populated by alien life. He's quickly picked up by a living prison ship named Moya that has just been commandeered by several escaped prisoners. Joined by one of their captors who is branded a traitor, they all go on the run from the Peacekeepers, a militaristic race who dominate the galaxy under the false guise of maintaining law and order.
As the first half of season one shows, Farscape is definitely a cut above from your standard series. The production values alone are outstanding with an excellent and original mix of slick CGI, elaborate set design, makeup effects, and puppetry. Two of the leading characters, Moya's 'Pilot' and a three-foot, helium-farting deposed emperor are puppets, but possess all of the personality of their human counterparts. Amid a colorful and quirky set of regular and guest characters thrust into bizarre scenarios is Ben Browder as the everyman hero representing humanity who keeps the show grounded in reality with this natural frankness and charm. He can often be found making pop culture references to the likes of John Wayne and Star Wars, much to the confusion of his alien companions. For the male audience, it doesn't hurt that the cast includes several attractive ladies including Virginia Hey as a resourceful blue-skinned priestess, Claudia Black as a former peacekeeper who hides a sensitive side under her hard and frosty exterior, and the minx-like Gigi Edgley who is all animal sex appeal, but sadly isn't introduced in the first seven episodes.
Each episode isn't exactly original, but they are kept lively and highly entertaining thanks to the creativity that's shown on all levels. The series plays great on DVD and by catching each episode in order, it's easy to get sucked into it. Sadly, Sci-Fi Channel axed the show, its best original series, in its fourth season. This was followed by the Peacekeeper Wars miniseries.
For anyone new to Farscape or who may have neglected to pick up ADV's original DVD releases, this 'Starburst Edition' is the perfect release to start with. While the rest of the series is available in previously released and pricy two-episode packs, it's advisable to wait for ADV to release more seven-episode reissues, hopefully with even more extras.
DVD Notes (ADV): This set is packed with extras. Each episode includes audio commentaries by cast and/or crew. The second side of disc two contains five featurettes, image galleries and trailers. 'In the beginning: A Look Back with Brian Henson' (38 min) is a producer's overview of the series from it's creative birth in the early '90s through to its 4th season. 'Making of a Space Opera' (22 min) is a behind-the-scenes documentary with cast and crew interviews and set footage. 'From the Archives' (12 min) contains early makeup tests with alternate 'Zhaan' makeup. 'Video Profile: Ben Browder' (10 min) is an interview, some of which appears in the Making Of featurette. 'Video Profile: Claudia Black' is another interview.
Format: Region 1, NTSC
Time: 350 min
Video: Full Screen (1.33:1) , Color
Audio: English (DD 5.1, DD 2.0)
Subtitles: English (CC)
Posted on Monday, November 29, 2004 (Archive on Wednesday, December 29, 2004)