Official Synopsis:
The year is 2476 and Earth has become a biological wasteland. Roaming the scorched land aboard the futuristic vehicle Ark II are three young scientists and their extraordinary companion Jonah, the handsome leader who lies into action with his Jet Jumper backpack; Ruth, the beautiful medic; Samuel, the young technological genius; and Adam, the hyper-intelligent talking chimpanzee! Using the advanced technology aboard the Ark II and smaller Ark Roamer, their mission is to bring the hope of a new future to mankind! Debuting on CBS in September 1976, Ark II was a revolutionary live-action science fiction series that not only entertained viewers, but also taught them important lessons about ecology and social justice. Although only 15 episodes were produced, Ark II aired through 1979 -- and in syndication in the 1980s -- driving its way firmly into pop culture history! With guest appearances by Jonathan Harris, Robby the Robot, and even a young Helen Hunt, Ark II is presented in its entirety in this four-disc beautifully-remastered DVD set, packed with futuristic extras. Get ready for the awesome launch of... ...Ark II -- The Complete Series!
Our Take:
I love watching old TV and movies that take place in the future; there's nothing quite like seeing what people thought the future would be like decades in the past. Ark II is a show just like that that I had never even heard of until the DVD release. It's a fun little series set in a post-apocalyptic world (something I'm a complete sucker for). It has a distinct cheese factor, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing; this is clearly the kind of show that will appeal to a niche audience.
As always, BCI Eclipse has done a great job with the DVD collection. It amazes me how they can produce some great extra features for an obscure TV show from the mid-70's while some companies can't even slap together a few extras for major hit shows.
* The Launch of Ark II (30 minutes) - A nice documentary feature with interviews from the show's creators.
* Commentaries - Two episodes feature commentary tracks by producers, a director, a writer, and actress Jean Marie Hon-Trager.
* Photo & Art Galleries - A collection of promotional and behind-the-scenes photos, plus an art gallery for a proposed Ark II Animated Series.
* DVD-ROM Scripts - Read the scripts for all 15 episodes.
Ark II won't wow anyone with its technological prowess or special effects, but fans of good-natured cheese will get a kick out of it.
Overall Picture:
Show: C+
DVD: B+
- Mike Spring
Editor
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