DVD Reviews

Incoming opinions of Series III's massive DVD release.

19 December, 2003

The results are in - and the good news is that Red Dwarf III has fast become our most successful DVD release so far, both commercially and critically. Over 100,000 copies were snapped up in the first four weeks of UK release, placing it high in the official top 20 chart for November, and numbers are rapidly rising. Meanwhile Antipodean sales have been similarly impressive - over 17,000 in the first two weeks alone!

But what of the reviews? As with Series I and II, Grant Naylor are paying close attention to all the feedback in the hopes of making each release an improvement on the last.

DVD Review were hugely positive: "Just as the episodes are great though, so are the stacks of extras crammed onto the second disc. Full-length commentaries for all six episodes from the whole cast and an 80-minute documentary covering the entire series might be considered enough, but as with the previous efforts (and the upcoming series four, we expect), this is a DVD for the fans... once again the BBC has done Red Dwarf proud - let's hope [they] can keep it up for another five series."

Sci-Fi-London were equally positive about the series itself: "Within five minutes of the opening of the series it's already hit the pinnacle of its existence and it doesn't come down for the rest of the series. Red Dwarf III is, quite simply, the finest set of episodes that this group of writers, mummers and techies ever managed to put together."

There was also praise for the bonus gubbins: "This two-disc DVD sees BBC Worldwide and Grant Naylor Productions building on the already impressive job done with the Series I and II DVDs. Celebrating and revisiting their finest and not-so-finest moments in revealing, but none-to-serious, commentary and interview material."

Hotdog magazine also revelled in the extras, stating that "the reason to buy this two-disc set is the bonus material... Smegging brilliant." DVDAnswers.com let loose on our "very well done" menus, the accompanying booklet ("well thought out with lots of useful information inside"), describing the overall package as "a must have for fans". Starburst agreed, announcing "It's hard to imagine how this disc could be improved upon", which SFX echoed with "a superb package."

Mark Walker at Amazon.co.uk gave the double-disc pack an unqualified thumbs-up for both episodes - "mind-bending hilarity... the ensemble working at its best" - and extras: "Maintains the high standard of presentation and wealth of extra material established by its predecessors."

But lest we forget the grass-roots fans, 'Captain Darling' had plenty to say in his review on our webboard: "The cover is well designed... The booklet is superb and very well written... The 'Cast Commentary' and 'All Change' offer a great insight into the making of Dwarf... All this is riveting and responsible for a few late nights this week as I try to cram it all in."

And: "It makes you wonder what we'll get by the Series VIII release with all these improvements. The production, graphics and, above all, content, I feel, are un-equalled in DVD terms. It is without doubt the best pair of shiny round things I have ever laid my hands on, and that includes an incident in St Tropez with a bottle of baby oil..."

Let's leave the final summing up to fan site Ganymede & Titan: "There's nine hours' worth of entertainment in this release, which is quite phenomenal for a 14-year-old sit-com. The amount of care and effort put into this release is breath-taking. Just as the series stepped up a gear after Series II, so too has the DVD."

You can pick up the Series III DVD right now from the Red Dwarf Shop.