- When police scientist Barry Allen is struck by lightning and doused with chemicals, he discovers that he has become the fastest man alive, able to move at nearly the speed of sound. The complete 1990-1991 tv series is contained in this 6 DVD box set. Format: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION Rating: NR Age: 012569716513 UPC: 012569716513 Manufacturer No: 71651
Movie DVDOne of the more exciting and atmospheric TV adaptations of a popular comic book series, The Flash benefited from terrific special effects, but lasted only a single year on its network in 1990. The series stuck to the Scarlet Speedster’s origins: police scientist Barry Allen (John Wesley Shipp) is struck by lightning during an experiment, and chemicals splashed on him during the accident give him the ability to move at incredible speeds (note: hardcore comic fans know that this is the origin for the ’60s version of the Flash, not his WWII-era identity). The series partnered him with an attractive fellow scientist (Amanda Pays) who assists Barry in his crime-fighting pursuits. Where the show deviated from its source material was its choice of combatants for the Flash–episodes focused on decidedly human villains, like corrupt officials (“Watching the Detectives”) and mobsters (Michael Nader played ex-cop turned hood Nicholas Pike in two episodes, including the pilot), and didn’t pull in the comic’s excellent “rogues’ gallery” until the end of the season, when the Trickster (Mark Hamill, who appears in two episodes), Captain Cold (Michael Champion), Mirror Master (David Cassidy!), and a sort-of Reverse-Flash (in the episode “Twin Streaks”) made appearances. Sadly, these appearances were too little, too late for the series, which struggled with a high per-episode price tag and a fluctuating time slot (as well as frequent breaking coverage of the Gulf War). But for the Flash faithful, the six-disc set compiles its entire 21-episode run, including the 90-minute pilot. Unfortunately, no extras are included. –Paul Gaita
Buy “The Flash – The Complete Series” For Only $16.39
March 5, 2010
#1
I’ve loved the Flash since the 1967 cartoon Justice League of America. I grew up with the Silver Age comic books. I was TOTALLY disappointed when I saw the show when it came out in 1990. The only consistencies with the comic book was the alter-ego was Barry Allen and lived in Central City. That’s IT!!! I think it was patterned more after the Wally West Flash from the mid to late 1980′s comics down to the hair color and costume! The villains were done terribly!!! The costumes and outfits were ridiculous!!! Can you picture the Flash of the silver-age comics opening a door and then running??!!! Get real!!! With computer graphics…get real! It could have been done a WHOLE LOT better!!! Maybe the producers and directors should have pulled some of the comic books and looked at the pictures. To talk about the high budget…maybe if they got regular actors who looked more like Barry Allen, Len Snart (Captain Cold), Sam Scudder (Mirror Master) and James Jesse (Trickster) instead of David Cassidy and Mark Hamill they would’ve had cheaper expenses and a more realistic series for us Flash diehards!!! Let’s NOT forget the smutty women and the poor excuse for Iris…the obnoxious bimbo! Flash Fans…if you’re expecting the Silver Age Flash and the details of the comics from the 1960′s-70′s, save your money!!! I don’t want you to be disappointed like I was.
March 5, 2010
#2
Okay where do I start? The series is too dark (not the characters, the lighting.), It all feels rushed and too influenced by the previous year’s Batman success. The Flash is a good, bright character, nothing at all like Batman. And yet this series was clearly trying to be similar to Burton’s original. Even Danny Elfman’s theme tune sounds like a rehash of the Batman score. It does have it’s moments, however. The feature length pilot is reasonably worth watching and Mark Hammil’s guest appearences are hilarious. (Think cockknocker without the giant fist) But it mostly sucks. The costume is too padded, Wesley Shipp is miscast, his sidekicks are just annoying, I could go on and on.
And with not one extra feature this boxset is for hardcore fans and collectors only. On the plus side, it only lasted one season.
March 5, 2010
#3
Now that I know this is finally coming out on DVD……I’ll stop watching the bootleged one I just got.
March 5, 2010
#4
Wow! I remember being so excited at the sight of the TV promos for this show back in the day but thought the show was just okay went it actually aired in 1990. Boy, was I wrong. It was awful!!! The creators/producers wanted the show to be faster than a speeding bullet but it’s duller than a rubber knife and dumber than a bag of rocks (and I’ve met some pretty dumb rocks). Coming off the heels of the 1989 blockbuster BATMAN, I see what they were going for…and certainly the score (by Elfman himself) and the overall look ofthe show hold up. However, the dialogue is cliche at best and the performances are painfully overwrought or just plain flat. Scenes that should be heartfelt are corny. Jokes that want to be funny are corny. Villains that are supposed to be manacing are…you guessed it…corny. Add in zero extras and this just isn’t worth it. Trust me and save your receipt. Unless you still think programs like Knight Rider and The A-Team are great TV, you’ll be taking this DVD set back to the store in a flash!
March 5, 2010
#5
Remember that this series is over 15 years old now. Dated, and 1990 wasn’t exactly “The Nineties” either, so this is basically a late 80′s concocted Stab-In-The-Dark tv comic series. Think back, what did you see?
Trust me, watching this now is not like watching it in 1990. The dated-ness feel, and cheesy 80′s style character arcs are just unbearable for me. Granted, many STILL like it, so maybe this is just the other half talking.
I love sci-fi, especially the comic book variety (GenX), and I think this just basically sucks. sorry fans..