Rating: Not Rated
Starring:
Rowan Atkinson as Edmund, Duke of Edinburgh
Elspet Gray as The Queen
Tim McInnerny as Percy
Patrick Allen as Narrator
Robert East as Harry, Prince of Wales
Brian Blessed as King Richard IV
Tony Robinson as Baldrick
Rowan Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder
Tim McInnerny as Lord Percy
Tony Robinson as Baldrick
Miranda Richardson as Queen Elizabeth I
Stephen Fry as Lord Melchett
Patsy Byrne as Nursie
Tony Aitken as Minstrel
Rowan Atkinson as Edmund Blackadder
Tony Robinson as Baldrick
Hugh Laurie as The Prince Regent
Helen Atkinson-Wood as Mrs. Miggins
Rowan Atkinson as Captain Edmund Blackadder
Tony Robinson as Private Baldrick
Stephen Fry as General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett
Hugh Laurie as Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Barleigh
Tim McInnerny as Captain Darling
Rowan Atkinson as Ebenezer Blackadder / Lord Edmund Blackadder / Edmund Blackadder, Esq. / Cmdr. Edmund Blackadder
Tony Robinson as Baldrick
Miranda Richardson as Queen Elizabeth I / Asphyxia XIX
Stephen Fry as Lord Melchett / Lord Frondo
Hugh Laurie as George, the Prince Regent / Lord Pigmot
Robbie Coltrane as Spirit of Christmas
Miriam Margolyes as Queen Victoria
Jim Broadbent as Prince Albert
Rowan Atkinson as Lord Edmund Blackadder / King Edmund III / Blackaddercus
Tony Robinson as Sod-Off Baldrick / Baldrickus
Miranda Richardson as Lady Elizabeth / Queen Elizabeth
Tim McInnerny as Archdeacon Darling / Duc de Darling / Duke of Darling
Hugh Laurie as Viscount George Bufton-Tufton / Georgius
Stephen Fry as Bishop Flavius Melchett / Melchett / General Melchecus / Wellington
Rik Mayall as Robin Hood
Colin Firth as William Shakespeare
Kate Moss as Maid Marian / Queen Marian
Special Features:
Brand New Audio Commentaries With:
– Rowan Atkinson & John Lloyd
– Stephen Fry
– Ben Elton & Richard Curtis
– Tony Robinson & Tim McInnerny
Blackadder Rides Again:
– Special 60-minute documentary to mark the 25th Anniversary, shot on location in Northumberland, Cheltenham, Uganda and Los Angeles
Exclusive Extended Interviews With:
– Hugh Laurie
– Rowan Atkinson
– Richard Curtis & Ben Elton
– Tony Robinson
– Stephen Fry
Costumes Revisited With:
– Miranda Richardson
– Patsy Byrne
– Tony Robinson
– Tim McInnerny
Other Info:
Widescreen (1.85:1) and Fullscreen (1.33:1)
Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound
Running Time: 895 Minutes
The Details:
The following is the official description of the film:
“Rowan Atkinson is deliciously twisted as the comic villain, Edmund Blackadder, in the enormously popular comedy series. Follow Blackadder in hysterical send-ups of the Middle Ages, the Elizabethan age, the Regency period, and World War I. This special edition contains new exclusive interviews and audio commentaries, making it a must have for all Blackadder fans.”
“Blackadder: Remastered – The Ultimate Edition” is not rated.
Mini-Review:
I have to admit that I knew almost nothing about “Blackadder” before seeing this DVD. I knew it was a BBC show, I knew it starred Rowan Atkinson, and I had seen it set in WWI before. That was about it. So I was a bit surprised to learn that “Blackadder” has had several mini-series, and each of them was set in a different era. The first one was in medieval times, the second in the Renaissance, and so on. This was pretty cool because it always kept the series fresh and gave them new material for the comedy. It featured fun sets and great costumes. Then, of course, there was the great British humor. It was great and edgy and something you wouldn’t see on American TV. I doubt you’d ever see a decapitated king on prime time television in 1983.
Rowan Atkinson was excellent as Edmund Blackadder in all his various incarnations. He manages to make the character different each time while still keeping him the same idiot. He’s supported by the hapless Baldrick played by Tony Robinson. There have been few sidekicks as abused as Baldrick. I was amazed at how many familiar faces I saw in the various series. Brian Blessed appears as King Richard IV. Miranda Richardson appears as Queen Elizabeth I. Stephen Fry appears as Melchett. Also appearing are Robbie Coltrane, Jim Broadbent, Colin Firth, and Kate Moss. Then fans of “House” will want to check out Hugh Laurie in a variety of roles such as Lieutenant The Honourable George Colthurst St. Barleigh, The Prince Regent, Lord Pigmot, and Viscount George Bufton-Tufton. It’s amazing to see him in a comedic role after seeing him in “House” for so long.
If you’re bored with US television and you love British comedy, “Blackadder: Remastered – The Ultimate Edition” is a required addition to your collection. I think this is a perfect show to start viewing when all the re-runs start hitting. It may be catching up 26 years late, but better late than never!
As comprehensive as this collection is, the bonus features are fairly standard. Fortunately, it’s a case of quality over quantity. You get to see interviews with all the main actors including Laurie and Atkinson. In fact, Rowan Atkinson is interviewed while driving his car. Not the best audio, but what he says is interesting in regards to the origins of the show. There are also a few featurettes on the costumes from the show. There’s also a 60 minute documentary on the show and some new commentaries.
