Those of you who have tolerated my insufferable rants about the Lost in Space DVDs are probably dreading the idea of me reviewing the second Irwin Allen series to hit DVD. LIS is the worst set of transfers I've ever seen from a big studio and another set of bad Irwin Allen transfers might result in me being permanently wrapped in a straight-jacket.

The "story" was that THE TIME TUNNEL DVDs would be properly mastered and the image quality would be greatly improved. Heck, it couldn't have been worse than the previous Fox effort. So I hit the video store first thing this morning. Much to my surprise, I found a set of The Time Tunnel discs.

I rushed home and fired up the big HDTV...something I rarely do during the day. I wanted to do the best possible review. Let me state right now that this is a video quality review. I didn't check out the extras and I can't account for every scene in every episode. I did the most thorough examination that I could do in 90 minutes.

The Time Tunnel set consists of four, double-sided discs. I checked out various chapters from about 10 episodes. I checked at least one episode on every disc.

So here is my verdict:

THE TIME TUNNEL is among the very best set of transfers I have ever seen for a TV show. It may be THE best set of transfers from the era.

The dramatic improvement over LIS was evident literally from the first moment of viewing. Scan line type video artifacts that dogged LIS are nowhere to be seen in THE TIME TUNNEL. Colors are deeply saturated and flesh tones are perfect. The image is very sharp while displaying no artificial edge enhancment. The picture is very clean with the unavoidable exception of the process shots and stock footage which can be grainy (and was certainly grainy when the show was brand new).

The episodes I checked all clocked at about 51 minutes which indicates that they are uncut (though, as I mentioned, I'm not in a position to account for every scene in every episode).

I'm happy to say that I can honestly recommend this set.

Of all of the Irwin Allen series, this one I don't care about. I have seen episodes on Encore's Action Channel, and VHS, and I just don't care for it.

But their is hope that Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, will be a good DVD release.

TUNNEL is one of my earliest tv memories, specifically the pilot, which I also had on Viewmaster. I am by no means a fan of the series, but I do love the pilot, especially Rennie and all the set-up shots of the tunnel complex (sucker for those looking down 800 floors kinds of shots done with excellent miniaturework.) Guess I'm gonna have to rent at least the first disc to see TickTock in all its glory!

I am by no means a fan of the series, but I do love the pilot, especially Rennie and all the set-up shots of the tunnel complex (sucker for those looking down 800 floors kinds of shots done with excellent miniaturework.)

Me too.

With regard to the Tick-Tock complex, Allen and his art directors shamelessly ripped off the Krel furnace (particularly the establishing matte of the tunnel itself), but it's a wonderful effect nonetheless. Pity the series itself is so painfully juvenile.

i had wondered about that shot of the complex .
hb

I for one am very excited about this DVD. I watched a couple of episodes last night. EXCELLENT!!!I am really looking forward to Voyage to The Bottom Of The Sea! Hopefully fox will rerelease Lost In Space in Pristine Condition!!!!!

I have read reports that the dvd pilot had skipping problems with some players. Anyone here experience that?

I have read reports that the dvd pilot had skipping problems with some players. Anyone here experience that?. Nope. My DVD Played fine.

Just watched the complete pilot and it played fine on my Pioneer.

Hopefully fox will rerelease Lost In Space in Pristine Condition!!!!!

Under normal circumstances, I'd say the ship has sailed on that possibility and there would be zero chance of getting remastered Lost in Space.

But there is a caveat that offers a ray of hope. Both Time Tunnel and VTTBOTS are said to have been remastered in high def. Assuming that's true, the HD transfers can be used for future Blu-ray or HD-DVD release. Lost in Space, however, was mastered from 25 year old analog videotape. That makes LIS the odd man out in this trio.

If FOX plans to offer these shows in a high definition format (as suggested by the new HD masters) then they will have to remaster LIS. Either that, or they will only offer TT and VTTBOTS in high def...which seems somewhat unlikely as Lost in Space probably has the highest profile of all the Irwin Allen shows.

So there is SOME hope for LIS remastering...not anytime soon...but when one of the HD formats becomes established and Fox has to bring LIS up to standard (there is NO way the old masters will be released in a future format).

I've watched check discs for the first set of "Voyage" and it looks to me like the transfers are every bit as good, both on the B&W episodes and the color pilot. It's just a blast to watch those Sixties vivid colors done this crisply. It IS a tragedy about LIS though--that's definitely one I'd want to see done as well.

My opinion:
Over the weekend I viewed both sides of disk 1 of the Time Tunnnel DVD set, and had forgotten how much I enjoyed this show! Good acting, taught scripts, a lot of "running and jumping", impressive sets & special effects; an all-around high-quaility show, which I'll also be the first to admit had holes as big as jet airliners in every script, but was never "dull".
The quality of this DVD is excellent, every bit as good as all the digitally remastered and enhanced films available.
I can hardly wait for Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea to arrive.
As for Lost In Space, I disagree that "the ship has sailed" on getting that series re-mastered; there will always be future releases.
I also hope to see the complete Land Of The Giants series released within the next few years.
In short, I'm a happy camper! :wave:

My opinion:
Over the weekend I viewed both sides of disk 1 of the Time Tunnnel DVD set, and had forgotten how much I enjoyed this show! Good acting, taught scripts, a lot of "running and jumping", impressive sets & special effects; an all-around high-quaility show, which I'll also be the first to admit had holes as big as jet airliners in every script, but was never "dull".
The quality of this DVD is excellent, every bit as good as all the digitally remastered and enhanced films available.
I can hardly wait for Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea to arrive.
As for Lost In Space, I disagree that "the ship has sailed" on getting that series re-mastered; there will always be future releases.
I also hope to see the complete Land Of The Giants series released within the next few years.
In short, I'm a happy camper! :wave:AMEN BROTHER!!!!!I CAN'T WAIT FOR VOYAGE!!!! BRING ON Land Of The Giants!!!!

I have to agree with "Seaview", I watched both discs over the weekend and was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I haven't really seen the show since it was first released so had forgotten most of it. It is dopey but not any more so than anyother Irwin Allen TV series. Thumbs up from me.

If was fun to see the parade of TOS "Star Trek" allumni, some episodes featuring many at once. Carroll O'Connor is in it too! Good fun.

:thumbsup: Got mine yesterday & watched 4 eps. already !!! :thumbsup: