DVD REVIEW: NEW CAPTAIN SCARLET Season 1 and 2

Shane | 5 October 2016 | Reply

DVD REVIEW: NEW CAPTAIN SCARLET Season 1 and 2
Shock Entertainment
August 2016
Reviewed by Shane Pinnegar
7/10

Fans of Gerry Anderson’s ‘60s supermarionation programs Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet will revel in this 2005 reboot of the latter – even if the computer animation techniques used (coined ‘hypermarionation’ as a nod to their original puppetry) with the aid of motion capture tech eliminates the kitsch charm and awkward geeky glory of their original puppet counterparts.

The last show presided over by Anderson before his death, New Captain Scarlet updates the original show with better tech, more female characters and more complex interpersonal plot lines, as well as taking full advantage of the non-marionette imagery to create exciting and far-more-physical fight scenes than were possible with ‘60s tech. There’s also some genuine intrigue in the storylines as Captain Scarlet and company battle against the hell-bent-on-conquering-the-world Mysterons.

Virtually buried with a half-arsed Saturday morning release in the U.K., and to our knowledge never received a home entertainment release outside of the U.K. – until now.

Packaged with due respect and looking great on the big screen, New Captain Scarlet will thrill adventure-seeking kids as well as adults with a hunger for nostalgia… even if it doesn’t have exposed puppetry wires in most scenes!