TBJCSKCNRRQTreviews
As nice as it is to see a reunion of the entire cast of the Blackadder franchise, this is only so-so entertainment(and poor Byrne, getting such forgettable lines). It's interesting to see this as produced as something other than a sit-com, with well-done cinematography, special effects and editing. The plot isn't bad, and the concept allows for the writers to mock time periods that they hadn't before, and while this freedom puts the pressure on them to utilize it, they do so most of the time. The story does drive this one so much that little room is left for laughs, unfortunately. Pacing is solid. The production values are quite high. Everything looks great and we believe that we are where and when we are told to be visiting. Acting is all good. The "guests" are magnificent. Atkinson is marvelous as always as the cynical, greedy and self-righteous Edmund. The comedy is fair. Too much reliance on sight gags, and silly, occasionally violent, humor(even some of the gross-out material of the latest season, what gives?), though, and so little(though there is still a note-worthy amount) of the verbal comedy that we know and love this series for. As we are by now used to from these, the shortcomings throughout history is poked fun at through matter-of-factly stating in a satirical manner. This has some of the clever wit of previous productions, but not as much as we're used to. On the plus side, the excellent theme song returns, with a new, fitting text. The DVD comes with the Cavalier Years and Baldrick's Video Diary, that expands into a making-of featurette with behind-the-scenes footage, interviews(with every performer, very cool) and deleted scenes. It's fairly informative. A final goodbye to those that we've come to know and love, but could have been rather a bit better. I recommend this to all fans of the title character. Just don't expect the greatness as we've become used to from his side. 7/10
Mightyzebra
Unlike quite a few people on this website I enjoyed this a great deal. I found it hilarious, exciting and surprising (including the dinosaur bit and the squashed Wellington bit). Great fun all the way and well worth watching, if I do say so myself.This is a single episode of Blackadder, set in 1999 + many other times in history! The day before the millennium, Blackadder plays a prank on his companions, he shows a time machine and says he will bring back anything from the past for each person. Baldrick and Blackadder, with various "promised" items and find themselves really and truly travelling back in time! Hilarious happenings await...The cast:The cynical, intelligent Blackadder: Rowan Atkinson. The stupid, adorable Baldrick: Tony Robinson. + Various actors playing different parts such as Stephen Fry and Miranda Richardson.I recommend this to people who love the theme of time travelling + Blackadder and for people who like fun, mixed humour. Enjoy! :-)
Edwardcole
I was fortunate enough to have visited London in 2000, and was able to appreciate this special in its original context, namely in a theater just outside the Millennium Dome with a bunch of primary school children talking all the way through it and giggling for nearly two minutes at the sight of Tony Robinson's buttocks. It took a few years for it to come out on DVD, but it was worth the wait. DVD extras include a documentary on the making of the special, which includes several deleted scenes, and a Tony Robinson-narrated profile on several of the historical figures mentioned. I would highly recommend that anyone watch the other four Blackadder series prior to watching this, or a lot of the jokes will be missed. It also helps to appreciate the characters in their proper context. For example, Rik Mayall completely overacts as Robin Hood, but in the context of the series, he is supposed to overact. If you had not seen his performances as Lord Flasheart, you would think he was too over the top, but having seen it, it makes his performance here even funnier. Just like any other Rowan Atkinson project, if you give him a good script and top-notch characters to work with, he will do a brilliant job and make the program memorable. All of the characters did a solid job, although Kate Moss seemed a bit out of place, possibly because she was a bit out of place. She was never in any of the previous series. And the ending, while I won't give anything away, provided one of the biggest laughs I ever had with anything Blackadder, and that is really saying something.
general-melchett
Blackadder was one of the greatest comedies of the 80s - and this superb special one-off episode does not let it down. The episode looks a heck of a lot more modern than the old Blackadder series - and the idea to have Blackadder and Baldrick sailing through time in a newly-built time machine in order to win a bet is one that is original and fits well with Blackadder's historical background.Blackadder brings modern life into the Elizabethan era in an extremely funny way (he shows a Tesco Cashcard to Queen Elizabeth I - absolutely hilarious), beats up William Shakespeare, kills the Duke of Wellington and Baldrick's pants wipe out the dinosaurs. All of these outrageous moments are successfully incorporated into the plot rather than them just being there for humorous effect - and that is what makes this episode great, as Blackadder sets off on his adventures. More hilarious one-liners and situations do not let down the original Blackadder legacy, and though Blackadder Back & Forth lacks the cruel wit and sarcasm of its predecessors, its big budget and hilarious script ensure it is one to be reckoned with.Absolutely hilarious! 10/10