Gaumont Television Corporation
8 DVD’s
22 Episodes
All 22 Season One episodes re-mastered from studio-quality digital video.
5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound and Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo.
Slate Button: To access newly created on-camera commentary from Executive Producer Bill Panzer offering insights and meanings on the making of each episode.
Watcher Chronicles Button: Opens biographical and historical information on each episode’s mortals, Immortals, weaponry and the Watchers themselves.
Flashback Buttons: Activate each episode’s flashback scenes.
Q Button: Takes you straight to the Quickening.
Blooper Reel: Highlander classic featuring gaffs and screw-ups by all the stars.
Behind-the-Scenes Reel: Features the original series promo created to launch Highlander’s premier season.
CD-ROM of Season One Scripts: Presents the complete collection of Season One’s scripts chronicled in Final Draft form.
None that I have found…
As much as it pains me to do this, I only have about 3 good things to say about this collection: It’s Highlander, it’s on DVD and…..ok, so it’s only two good things, but those two are reason enough to own it….assuming you can get it in your hands. Read on….
First let’s get down to it: This collection of Season One is absolutely fabulous! It’s a fucking miracle that they made it onto DVD, so treasure it simply for that. All the episodes are presented in their original fullscreen format and the picture quality looks slightly better than when it was aired on TV, or I could just be drunk. Along with a drunken stupor, I did notice the newly remixed Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo sound….and, although I have not the insane amount of money it takes to do it, the episodes are also done in 5.1 surround sound.
Flashback:
Even missing out on one of the finer points of the collection, with only 2.0 stereo, it’s still nice to go back and watch such amazing embarrassments as Richard Moll’s “Slan Quin”, Peter DeLuis’ “Clinch” and Marc Singer’s(BeastMaster) “Caleb”. All of the characters weren’t bad though: Dustin Nguyen, Joan Jett and Vanity all did a pretty decent job as their respective villains. Those that particularly stand out, even to this day, have to be Roland Gifts' “Xavier St.Cloud” and Roger Daltry’s “Fitz”, while others like Joe Pantoliano’s “Doctor Wilder” are simply forgettable.
A cut below:
Each DVD contains three episodes, a sort-of interactive menu and three to four special features(depending on the episode). The special features range from pretty sad to outright enraging. The worst of the lot has to be the “Watcher’s Chronicle”. This single handedly will completely ruin ANY fucking chance you EVER have of being surprised in the later seasons. A MAJOR plot development is completely and blatantly given away in the Watcher’s Chronicle of the VERY FIRST EPISODE. If you have not watched all six seasons of Highlander it is extremely recommended that you DO NOT view the Watcher’s Chronicles. The wonderfully inane other specials include a “Quickening” button that can be used to go straight to the Quickening(and I’m not fucking with you, it goes STRAIGHT to the Quickening, not the fight). The “Flashback” button takes you to the flashback segments of the episode, which could be good for the hardcore fan trying to draw out Duncan’s lifeline, but most viewers are going to find it pretty worthless when they could just watch the entire episode. Finally there are Bill Panzer’s comments on the making of each episode. Other than his knack for pointing out the obvious, at times, he will actually give you small bits of behind the scenes info about the episode. I should also mention that a CD-Rom is included with the entire seasons scripts on it(yawn). On the last DVD, there is also a bloopers reel as well as the original TV special they used to promote the show; not bad stuff at all. Though fun as the bloopers reel is, all in all, as a whole, it's very disappointing…
You may remember that as just a line from Sea Witch, but I swear you will be screaming that last part in an effort to actually acquire this set. Alright, before I finish this review up, it’s time for a rant. If you have small children, not only should you put them to bed, but I would recommend knocking them out with a croquet mallet and stuffing their ears with the best plugs that $1.49 can buy. Actually, you could just stuff their ears with plugs, and tape their eyes over and they should be fine…but where’ the fun in that?
Customer Service Endgame:
Where to even start? How about here: I ordered Season one on Dec. 17, it arrived on Jan 15: Already off to a great start. Now, let me warn you of the amazingly sadistic cases that your "good friends" at Panzer-Davis Productions chose to rape your soul with. Rather than going for the DVD friendly, two prong easily unlatched holder, they decided it would be better to fuck you over with a five prong plastic piece of Hell. Take a lesson from someone who’s ass is still dripping, Panzer-Davis Productions will fuck you…and fuck you hard with these cases. Just try getting one of your $129.99(and because they can’t live with the thought of anyone else fucking you for that much money, you HAVE to buy it from them) DVD’s out of it’s case…without cracking it. Oh, what a joyous day that was, when I tried to pull out disc three from it’s hateful lair…and cracked the disc. Yes, folks, just as you don’t care, neither does Panzer-Davis Productions. Remember it…
Also, in the event that you will need to contact the customer service department you will be greeted with a constant busy signal for about six and half hours straight. In the unlikely event you actually get someone to pick it up, you will treated to one of the following:
* An operator who will sigh after every request for assistance you make, as if they are above serving you. Just remember to say “My ass is tight”, as I guarantee you will actually HEAR their eyes light up on the other end as the help comes pouring from their salivating mouths. Ok, not really…nothing you, or even their employer could ever do could get them to want to help you.
* Constant accusations that you either don’t know what you’re talking about, are in the wrong for calling them with your problem or(and this is my personal favorite), and I quote, “Should get used to it”.
Yes folks, all this can be yours if you too have the have money, time, patience, liquor and a hearty taste for what Hell will indeed be like…call now, operators are waiting to slam you right now!