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- you will NEED this! it's stunning!

if you are a fan of gerry anderson like me, you will NEED this! the old carlton box set was nice at the time, but in comparison to this excellent network release, it simply pales. its so nice and pleasing to have a company like network, who actually care about the products it puts out. they know they are producing the dvds for the fans and the care and attention to detail is always very welcome. indeed, all their box sets are worth checking out. this box set comes in a very hard cover and the two dvd sections are each in their own hardcovers too and are made up to resemble fireball XL5 annuals from the 1960s. they look (and feel) great! the actual info booklet is made up to look like a TV21 magazine and it is beautifully reproduced, well researched and very informative. not only are we treated to all 39 digitally remastered and restored episodes (thankfully in full screen and not cropped or compressed and in full dynamic mono), theres also a brand new and utterly stunning colourised version of one of the episodes on the bonus disc. it will knock your socks off! ive never seen a colourisation look like this EVER before! it certainly sets the standards for the future. the episode actually looks as if it was originally made in colour, not like the poor colourisations we are used to (if you dont believe me, on the network homepage there is a clip). whetever, this boxset is well worth the money and i can only recommend it with the highest of praise. well done network on another brilliant release!

- A Classic Show Gets A Fresh And Bold Look

I LOVED this show as a kid growing up in the States (it ran here on NBC on Saturday mornings), where I would sit mesmerized by the program. A few years ago, the series was released on Carlton in the UK and A&E in the US. While I was happy to have the cherished episodes of my childhood finally available, the video and audio quality were as good as they could be at that time.

Now, Network DVD (that WONDERFUL company that brought such fantastic remasters of The Prisoner and Space 1999 Series One and The Champions) has done it again. These DVDs are SPECTACULAR. For a show in B&W to look THIS good with a crystal clear soundtrack (mono) is mind boggling. Not only can I have fun and relive a part of my childhood, but I'm sharing this with my 8 year old daughter who loves it. Network ALWAYS delivers on high quality products with vastly superior remastering than most DVD manufacturers could even dream of. The new Fireball XL5 does not disappoint, and the original episodes look brand new having been remastered from the original film elements.

To top it all off, a bonus disc contains not only great documentaries about the program and classic photos and promo material...but a COLORIZED episode of the original show that has to be seen to be believed. STUNNING isn't the word for it. What a FANTASTIC job!

If you have the earlier discs...sell them, give them away, and buy these. There is no comparison. A great show has been made to look like it was meant to look...perfect picture and sound. I cannot recommend this release strongly enough.

- Fantastic - worth getting!

This is another superb set from Network. Along with all 39 restored episodes is a fabulous bonus DVD featuring a colourised version of "A Day In The Life Of A Space General" plus two excellent documentaries "A Wonderland Of Stardust" which is a behind the scenes look at how Fireball XL5 was made. Narrated by Shane Rimmer there are contributions from both Gerry & Sylvia Anderson, David Elliot, Alan Pattillo, Brian Johnson, David Graham, Mary Turner & Judith Shutt. The other documentary is called "Drawn In Supermarionation" which if you are a fan of TV comics is a look at the comic strip adaptations of the early AP films series and features contributions from director of merchandising Keith Shackleton and artists Bill Mevin, Mike Noble & Colin Page. Other extras include a home movie about Supercar, original Zoom ice lolly adverts, image galleries & PDF material. In time this will no doubt become quite sought after so buy it now while this classic set is available! Hopefully sometime in the future Network will bring out a set of all the Fireball episodes in colour! Fingers crossed!

- Intergalatic Adventures with Colonel Zodiac and Crew!

This DVD box set is in the words of Steve Zodiac `real boss'. Consisting of six discs all 39 episodes of Fireball XL5 are included, with the sixth disc devoted to the extra features including a colourised version of the episode `A Day in The Life of A Space General'. The set also includes a 74 minute documentary 'A Wonderland of Stardust' and home movie footage of the Supercar puppet set. The quality of the actual prints themselves is excellent due to a digital restoration.

The purchase of this DVD was my first experience of Fireball XL5 (having grown up on Thunderbirds, Stingray and Captain Scarlet) and I must say that I loved it. The adventures of Colonel Zodiac and his crew will keep you hooked for hours. The escapades of Zero and his assistant Ninety can be very funny at times. An extra feature at the beginning of each disc is redubbed footage from the series provided by David Graham in the voices of the characters he portrayed.

My only quibble with the set would be the lack of subtitles, but as this seems to be a issue on many of Network DVD's release I am willing to overlook this.The B/W picture might be off putting to some people looking at this DVD but don't let it put you off-I found it quite easy to watch even being used to colour TV. In conclusion, I cannot recommend this DVD set enough, with restored picture and sound, a positive treasure trove of extras and a colourised episode, this is not to be missed!

- Brilliant 60's nostalgia

Chances are that if you are reading this, you are male and in your 50's. Fireball XL5 was required viewing for schoolboys in the 60's and this brilliant new collection shows the series in the best possible light. The quality of the 35mm images in outstanding. The bonus CD if full of interesing extras and the colourised episode is a real treat. The booklet which accompanies the DVDs is great - full of intersting stuff.
The only regret I have is that the model work has not stood the test of time and the effects are all very clunky, but I suppose that this was all part of its charm. It is incredible how far advanced the model work became just 2 years later with Thunderbirds.

Buy with confidence and relive a part of your childhood.