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Fireball Xl-5
 
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Fireball Xl-5

Paul Maxwell (Actor), Sylvia Anderson (Actor) | Rated: NR (Not Rated) | Format: DVD
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

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From Amazon.com

Producer Gerry Anderson is something of a legend in his native England, based primarily on the popular TV series Thunderbirds, its various spinoffs, and this, its 1962-'63 predecessor. All were produced in "Supermarionation"; i.e., they're puppet shows--not especially sophisticated ones (to say the least), but ones that many viewers seemed to adore. This five-disc boxed set contains all 39 episodes of Fireball XL5, totaling nearly 17 hours (plus extras).

The stories concern the efforts of captain-hero Steve Zodiac and his crew (including Steve's love interest and a talkative robot, voiced respectively by Anderson's then-wife Sylvia and Anderson himself; the pair were also cowriters) to protect "Sector 25" of the solar system from alien invasion. They battle killer rays and alien criminals, visit mysterious planets, and escape from all manner of perilous circumstances... they use ray guns and fly around with "thrust packs" and on "jetmobiles" (reducing the need for walking, which puppets don't do so well)... in other words, typical sci-fi fare. But while the animation is laughable (little attempt was made to disguise the strings that hold up puppets and props alike) and the effects primitive, there's no denying the show's campy charm (indeed, people who study such things consider it to be an important influence on the sci-fi genre in general). Is it a bit too much of a good thing? Probably not for anyone willing to make the investment. DVD extras include photos, a couple of featurettes, and audio commentary on two episodes (voice actor David Graham on "The Doomed Planet" and director Alan Pattillo on "Space City Special"). --Sam Graham

Video Details

In the year 2063, the World Space Fleet is extending mankind's reach beyond the solar system. Leading the charge is the incredible spaceship Fireball XL5, commanded by the dashing and daring Colonel Steve Zodiac. With his steadfast crew--the brilliant professor Matt Matic, the lovely space doctor Venus and Robert the Robot--Steve patrols the vast reaches of Sector 25, where strange races inhabit distant planets.

In 1962, legendary producer Gerry Anderson (Space: 1999, UFO) turned his attention to space for the first time. The result was FIREBALL XL5, a rarely-seen gem that paved the way for later supermarionation masterpieces like Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet & the Mysterons. This definitive collection includes all 39 black and white episodes of FIREBALL XL5, digitally restored and presented in their original production order.

Return to Galactic Sector 25 as FIREBALL XL5 flies again in this DVD set.

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Customer Reviews

14 Reviews
5 star:
 (8)
4 star:
 (4)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (14 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars "I wish I was a Spaceman...", July 17 2004
By 
Sleeping Lion Guy "Fred" (New Jersey, United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Fireball Xl-5 (DVD)
Those words at the closing credits bring back so many childhood memories. Written by Barry Gray and sung by Don Spencer, an Olympic hopeful from Down Under (did you know he's also Russell Crowe's Father-In-Law?!!), he'd released the song in the UK as a single in 1962 (called "Fireball"), complete with an extra verse at the end that was edited out (it takes away from the theme for the show). In the early part of 1963, he even performed the song LIVE (in concert) on an LP (One Night Stand on Columbia) which also featured John Leyton, Mike Berry, and Mike Sarne.

Out of all the Gerry Anderson SupermarionatioN puppet epics, this is my favorite. Though the characters my have outgrown this aging 50-year-old, I know I'll still enjoy the nostalgia of it all. I've picked up a couple of second rate videos of the Show in the past, but this should outdo them by far (I just ordered the Set). And to have ALL the episodes in one place!! Who could ask for more...?

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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Reunited after 40 years, Feb 14 2003
By A Customer
This review is from: Fireball Xl-5 (DVD)
What a delight it was when the mailman dropped off this box set today, I dropped work at once to sit down and watch it. It's hard to believe that it has been 40 years since a young boy sat in front of his parents old Zenith to watch this delightful show, my favorite Anderson production after "Supercar".

The first thing I noticed was how the resolution and sharpness of the DVD format revealed exactly how cheesy an affair this show was. Every wire, scratch, scuffmark and dirt spot on the puppets and props shows up in crystal clarity. Before the DVD I never noticed the string that pulled Fireball down the launch rail, and I did not recall that Venus's eyes were just painted on her face. Of course, that only makes the whole thing more endearing in my book.

After the great Stingray box, the extras in the package seem skimpy. There are only two commentary tracks, director Alan Patillo, who speaks very quickly in a Scottish accent, and voice artist David Graham. There is also a not very interesting 17 min. feature on the guy who drew the Fireball comic art for the old TV21 magazine. There are also some production stills on each of the five disks. Also, note that the individual disc sleeves have some confusing discrepancies as far as what episodes are contained on which disc.

Still, it's great to be reunited with this show on something besides a poorly dubbed VHS bootleg. Thanks, A&E Video. Now, come up with Supercar and I can die a happy man.

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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful for Young & Old, July 13 2004
By 
Lisa Kim Kelley "Kim Kelley" (Barling, Arkansas United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Fireball Xl-5 (DVD)
I am now 50. I watched this show faithfully when I was little. In 1962, I was 8, and never missed it. Like Superman, it was standard for me to be sitting in front of the tube, watching it in black & white.

I totally recommend this series highly. It has everything that anyone could want in what I believe was a true pioneering area of TV.

Love it, Love it!!!

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