If you’re unfamiliar with Blackadder, it’s a historical comedy staring Rowan Atkinson (also the star of the BBC series, Mr. Bean) that appeared on the BBC in 4 series from 1982 to 1989.  Each series surrounds Atkinson’s character Edmund Blackadder and his dogsbody Baldrick, played by Tony Robinson.  Each series changes timelines, but all follow an Edmund Blackadder, increasing in both intelligence and station through the series, and in each time period, Edmund is served by a Baldrick, who seems more dirty and dimwitted through each series.  With each time period Edmund is saddled with some aristocrat less intelligent than himself that Blackadder has to put up, and sometimes uses as a patsy to serve his own schemes (when Baldrick won’t do).  In the first two series, this aristocrat is played by Tim McInnerny and in the second two by Hugh Laurie, although McInnerny makes appearances.  There are regular appearances in most of the series by Miranda Richardson (who plays Queen Elizabeth in series 2) and Stephen Fry (who plays a variety of roles through the whole series).

There’s some interesting new features to each season on this edition as well.  On each series disc, you can flip to the special features and get a short history lesson from Tony Robinson on the time period from the series.  If you’re not really up on history, this is a great way to figure out what would’ve been happening during that time period, or to find out more about the real life characters.  Robinson has done a lot of history or informative specials (think: Discovery Channel) so it’s not a surprise to find him narrating little items like this, he’s got a nice voice for it.

My personal favorite season (even upon rewatchings) is Series two, set during Queen Elizabeth’s reign.  Elizabeth Tudor (played by Miranda Richardson) is portrayed as a bloodthirsty prankster through out the six episodes of the series, and she and her Nursie (Patsy Burne) and Lord Melchett (Stephen Fry) are constantly harrassing Lord Blackadder, great grand-son of the Blackadder from series one.

This Ultimate Edition also includes Blackadder the Cavalier Years (a comic relief sketch for Red Nose Day in 1988) a fifteen minute episode that takes place during the Civil War.  Blackadder Back and Forth, a great movie about a modern day (2000) Blackadder having several guests over for a New Years/Millennium celebration.  Blackadder has created a time machine as a con to bet his friends with, but it ends up taking Blackadder and Baldrick back in time. And, Blackadder’s Christmas Carol where Blackadder is portrayed as a kind and lovely Ebeneezer Blackadder, contrary to all the Blackadders before him, but in true Blackadder fashion, this story turns the time period (and the traditional Christmas Carol) on it’s head.  Blackadder’s Christmas Carol has been one of the only Christmas type movies (aside from Scrooged with Bill Murray) that I’ve been able to enjoy on a yearly basis.

Below is the list of all the great things you’re going to get in this edition of Blackadder.  If  you’re a Blackadder fan, I highly recommend picking this up, it’s got everything you need for your Blackadder watching pleasure and then some. You can grab the Blackadder Ultimate Edition tomorrow from the BBCAmerica store and Amazon.

• All-New Digital Restoration from the original program masters
• All-new commentary with Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry, Richard Curtis, Ben Elton, Tony Robinson, and Tim McInnerny
• All-new interviews with Rowan Atkinson, Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Richard Curtis, Ben Elton, and Tony Robinson
• Blackadder Back and Forth
• Blackadder The Cavalier Years (Comic Relief sketch)
• Blackadder’s Christmas Carol

P.S.  If you’re a fan of Stephen Fry or Hugh Laurie this is definitely worth a watch.  They’ve got great comedic timing, and if you’re only familiar with Hugh Laurie as House, his time in series three of Blackadder as the dim-witted Prince Regent, Prince George might surprise you.

Review product was provided by WB, and does not affect the outcome of this review.

Release Date: 01/04/2009
Audio tracks: English 5.1, English 2.0
Languages: English
Genre: Family, Kids
Director: John Henderson
Runtime: 90.0 mins

“Tales of the Riverbank” (based on the TV series) is purely a movie for the smaller cherubs. Your little ones are taken to the riverbank and told the story of 3 animals, their friends and how they blew away their enemies. Literally.

The story is narrated by an Owl (voiced by Stephen Fry) and tells us how the riverbanks inhabitants got caught in the middle of a rainstorm that turned into a flood. This flood sends the animals on a cruise (of sorts) that saw the bonding of a naive hamster (Hammy, voiced by Ardal O’Hanlon), an eccentric guinea pig (GP, voiced by Jim Broadbent) and a streetwise rat (Roderick, voiced by Steve Coogan).

They try to determine the whereabouts of their homes by journeying down the river, increasing their numbers by making more friends along the way (a grouchy rabbit named Miss Much, a self-proclaimed psychic hamster named Betty, and a singing mouse named Sonia).

Sonia becomes smitten with Roderick – and likewise. The only problem is that Sonia has been hired to entertain some fat cats – or rather THE Fat Cats – at the WMD (Waffle, Marmalade and Doughnut) Factory. They make sure they are getting their monies worth by flying in on their helicopter to return her to the factory when she tries to make a break for it.

When the group begin to gather their intelligence, they discover that not only have they kidnapped Sonia but the WMD is polluting the countryside with dangerous emissions! Will they save Sonia and the Riverbank?

Special features include:

• “Making of” – History and process behind the making of the film.
• Tales of the Riverbank trailer
• Other trailers for Madman’s children’s releases

Again, this is one for the smaller kids – however, older kids and parents can also watch it but they may get bored. If you have seen the TV series though, this movie may just add to your view on it. It’s cute and innocent fun which lets your children explore their imagination. I would recommend hiring it first though if you are unsure.

(c) 2008 RIVERBANK THE MOVIE LTD. All rights reserved.