My Blakes 7 odyssey is over,ending with the apocalyptic shootout on Gauda Prime.I thought it was brilliant,a real tragedy with Avon compelled to kill Blake,who couldn't get his explanation out fast enough.The final image of Avon surrounded by Federation goons is memorable to say the least.But was it all an elaborate hoax involving the Blake clone?I think not,but PVS and DXB seemed to disagree in the chat room recently,any thoughts?.(Ive just read that book set afterwards this afternoon too,which was absolute BOLLOCKS)
I hadn't seen an episode since they were originally broadcast 20 odd years ago,but a lot of it is still powerful today.I think a lot of heart was lost with Gan,and there are some dubious later episodes(like the one with the vampire sand)but on the whole Blakes 7 is a remarkable achievement,and budgetary restraints included,it is one of the great ship based sci fi series.Its certainly better than Enterprise,one episode of which is probably as expensive as 2 dozen Blakes 7s.
Bring the DVDs on,I'll be having them allright.
Of course, series 1 is out now on DVD. It's got a making of feature - anyone know if its any good?
well, as this board is now sci-fi,odd program listings uk
kewl
btw - did you see that chin in dredd vs aliens, wow, chin stuff.... jeeze , look at that chin
It's not out yet. It was supposed to be but the release date was put back to March 31st. By all accounts the making of is going to be excellent. There's also commentaries, easter eggs, outtakes and a bit from Blue Peter years ago where they showed you how to make a Liberator teleport bracelet.
>a bit from Blue Peter years ago where they showed you how to make a Liberator teleport bracelet.
Ahh that brings back memories
"First you'll need a squash bottle"
One of the best, although quality dipped a lot in the last series the final episode is storming...
There's a distant star, in a distant sky,
past the edge of space, way past gemini,
peace is there, only beauty the eye,
Oh let's sail for there,
just you and I....
We'll make a solar trail and we'll fly past mars,
We'll catch a comets tail, and we'll sail to the stars....
At one point they were going to overhaul the end credits for series 4 and feature Tarrant singing a country and western style song over the theme tune.
Off hand I can't remember Vere Lorrimars lyrics but those above are pretty close.
And, yes, Blake died on Guada prime.
Avon we didn't see.
Vila faked his death.
Orac was hidden outside.
But could those three have escaped? We may never know...
Best SF Country and Western Song ever...
Benson Arizona...
OMG - It's finally coming out on DVD! Fan-bloody-tastic and about time to! Can't wait to see it again. It's definitely being added to my 'must buy' list.
HiEx
the date is set, the credit card is ready. this is a must have.
the blue peter bit as well.
.what a great job that must be.what shall we include. the blue peter how to make transporter band.
such insights into the minds of sad sci-fi fan boys,you just know they would fit in here.
Y'know, I also seem to remember an episode of Blue Peter where they showed how to make those oddly shaped Blakes 7 handguns, the ones that connected to the belt with coiled cables,
HiEx
Didn't they use a 2.5" Jack Plug to connect to the power source? Oh those were the days.
It's a great series and a shame the BBC don't bother anymore.
According to the Outpost Gallifrey website, the release date has been put back yet again, this time to 2nd June.
As usual, the BBC just don't know what they're doing.
Well, that's Angela's birthday present sorted out then! : )
Link: andydiggle.com
yes i cannot wait for this
"Benson Arizona..."
Dark Star?
Nigel
Yeah! I have it on an Italian vinyl soundtrack which is taken directly from the movie itself. I'm sure these days you can get some sort of funky proper soundtrack CD.
Hmmm... I have a Blakes Seven Audio I haven't listened to yet, might wait till I really feel desperate for some federation fighting thrills as the first one was a bit daft.
"I'm sure these days you can get some sort of funky proper soundtrack CD."
In theory, yes, but in practice it's been out of print (or the musical equivalent) for a long while. 'Benson Arizona' was a John Carpenter composition (talented guy that) meant to be a humorous idea of what C/W songs might sound like in the future. I love Dark Star. You can see so much of Carpenter's and O'Bannon's future careers in it.
Nigel
I seem to meet a lot of people who don't like Dark Star, but I saw it when I was about 12 and thought it was fantastic. I still do! Still can't think of many movies since that have summed up what people in space would be like.
I felt a lot of that came through in Alien, especially with Parker and Brett, no idea if that was O'Bannon's influence of course.
Hey guy's how can it have been alive if it was just filled with gas?
It's funny that, because out of all my friends I seem to be the only one who likes Dark Star. Is there some universal rule that states that one one person out of every group is allowed to like it?
"Still can't think of many movies since that have summed up what people in space would be like."
I love the sheer mundanity of their existence. That "it's only a job" vibe which stands in direct contrast to the prevailing "Gee willikers - I'm on Mars!" attitude that it's peers had. O'Bannon carried that through to Alien with the characters (and he wrote it, so I'm giving him the credit!) but also with the set design. Spaceships won't be gleaming chrome sports cars in space, they'll be dirty great nuclear tramp steamers.
Luvverly stuff...
Nigel