Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea Season Three Volume One DVD with Richard Basehart, David Hedison, Robert Dowdell (NR) +Movie Reviews

NOT THE BEST BUT THE BEST

SEVEN 7 | NYC | 04/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Something funny happened to VTTBOTS during the fall of 1966. Season 3 happened! This season was far inferior as compared to seasons 1 and 2 in terms of storylines, production and overall direction, in other words due to budget cuts it fell off drastically. However, as ironic as it may sound this was the season that had to happen. Season 3 in so many ways turned out to be the defining moment for the series. Without a doubt this is perhaps one of the biggest transformations in terms of changing the entire format of a show that had so convincingly started out dealing with serious up to the date issues in the not so distant future such as cold war politics, and underwater science gone awry with the occasional spin on science fiction thrown in for entertainment value. That said, season 3 is always the main topic of conversation among VTTBOTS fans due to its elevated and unrelenting action from its VTTBOTS IN COLOR intro to the action packed art work detailed during the closing credits. The writers on staff during this year walked to the edge, seemingly jumped and delivered such episodes as THE WAX MEN, THE SHADOWMAN, and DOOMSDAY ISLAND, not to mention the werewolf and mummy episodes. The series had turned the corner, grabbed the torch and ran WILD! Seasons 1 and 2 were quality shows with great everything but this season is remembered for it's over the top monsters, it's colorful special effects and most notably the non stop action that prevailed during every episode. Richard Basehart and David Hedison did their best acting this season because they continued to play it straight and convincing even though it had to be killing them. Know matter how far fetched some of the episodes were (THE TERRIBLE TOYS, DEADLY CLOUD, etc.) they played it straight and to the point unlike the buffoonery of BATMAN and LOST IN SPACE. In reality, VOYAGE had become a live-action cartoon that figured all that mattered was to produce on the edge of your seat entertainment each and every week. Irwin Allen took the seaview and her crew where no one had gone before and boy did he deliver. Season 4, although produced on a higher production scale and somewhat better, continued the same trend. Sadly to say it is a shame that VOYAGE wasn't renewed for a 5th season. It would have been fun to see what they would have given us. However, be that as it may, this show, from episode 1 to episode 110 delivered some of the best action-adventure ever produced, that's why so many years after it's last original episode in 1968 we still can talk so fondly about a CLASSIC series!!!!!!"

Now the Fun Really Begins!

Scott Mcintyre | Long Island, NY | 03/28/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"After two seasons of mostly serious and plausible adventure, the show takes a hard right turn into monsters and fantasy. Guest stars become less frequent, sometimes only the four main characters appear. One episodes only has three characters. TOTAL! And the monsters! The aliens! The walking toys and killer clowns! The show went wild and anything really goes in this season.

The actors treat it all seriously and even Richard Basehart seems a little bored at time. But a bored Basehart is a lot more entertaining than an alert George Clooney any day.

Is it art? No chance, but it sure is fun!"

Warning: Shark Ahead!

Albert F Cooke | Norwalk, CT United States | 05/09/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Great review from Seven "7" above.
I'll only add that if the whole of season three didn't make the show jump the shark, then the episode "The Shadowman" certainly did. But I kept on watching right to the very end of the series. Bought and paid for. Hooked for life. If anybody cares, my favorite episode of all time was "The Death Clock" from season four. The wildest, crazyist episode of the entire series.
"

More fun than barrel of octopi

B. Z. Kirkland | Auckland NZ | 04/20/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, I'll admit it, by any objective measure, this is the weakest season of a fantastic series, but it's also the season I enjoy the most. Why? It's completely over the top... on a low budget. Nothing makes much sense, but who cares. Loads of color and fun and some of he episodes are genuinely great. "The Death Watch" and "Day of Evil" are as good as the series ever produced. So sit back and enjoy the cheese."

'S'more than just the "monster-of-the-week"

Reginald D. Garrard | Camilla, GA USA | 09/19/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Irwin Allen's sci-fi classic has received its share of both praise and condemnation. While the show showcased impressive 60's special effects, along with the stellar performances of stars Richard Basehart ("Admiral Nelson") and David Hedison (Captain Crane), it was often criticized for its over-the-top monsters and occasionally absurd situations.

However, when viewed as a reflection of its time, the show carefully blended all its elements into an entertaining and adventurous hour. The thirteen episodes on this compilation feature some of the series' strongest episodes, along with a couple that fall flat. But, even those that aren't up to par are still fascinating enough to hold the viewer's interest and can be overlooked for their scientific and/or logical "liberties."

The episodes appear in their correct airing order, and, with that arrangement, viewers can take a nostalgic trip back in time to days of less "politically correct" and more innocent times.

This reviewer feels that the show's third season should have started with "The Day the World Ended," a taut and thrilling episode featuring former child actor Skip Homeier as a U.S. Senator that's not all he's cracked up to be. Unfortunately, the season began with "Monster from the Inferno," a not-so-bad installment about an alien entity (voiced by "Lost in Space's" Dick Trufeld) that attempts to take over the Seaview with the aide of scientist Arthur Hill.

"Death Watch" is basically a three-man piece showcasing the two principal characters, along with Chief Sharkey (Terry Becker).

"The Thing from Inner Space," though not that good, does give significant screen time to cast member Paul Trinka as "Crewman Patterson." Perennial fan favorite Del Monroe ("Kowalski") continues to play a significant role on the show and gets highlighted on "Deadly Waters," with Don Gordon featured as his brother.

Richard Bull continues in his role as the unnamed but much-needed "Doc."

Even radio operator "Sparks" (Arch Whiting) has more than five lines in a given installment.

Upon back-to-back viewing, one discovers that crewman "Ron" (Ron Stein) was an early version of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's" Morn; that is, a character that is voiceless but appears frequently in the background.

"Ron" even gets addressed in one installment!

"The Lost Bomb" is a throwback to the first season in that it deals with an undersea conflict with an enemy submarine intent on capturing a submerged bomb.

Basehart gets to assay two roles in the entertaining "The Haunted Submarine" while "The Terrible Toys" features veteran Paul Fix as a sailor with a malevolent cargo.

The infamous and often-lambasted "The Plant Man" starts strong but loses steam when the plant mutates into plant "men" walking the corridors of the Seaview.

But it is still better than the remaining two.

Henry Jones, who would later appear as "Mr. Pem" in two installments, guests on the lackluster "Night of Terror" while Charles Aidman bears his fangs in "Werewolf," two of the weakest in the show's entire four-year run.

Rounding out the set are interviews with David Hedison, still galleries, and a FULL issue of the now-defunct Gold Key comic version of the show.

Memories abound as baby boomers and future fans can take another "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea."
"

Search - Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea - Season Three, Volume One on DVD

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