Blackadder: Back & Forth (1999)

Wonderful Movie

Very very predictable, including the post credit scene !!!

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

I'm sorry. I just couldn't like this. It's not that I disliked it, I just didn't like it. Blackadder's humour is gone in this. The characters are not like in the series, most notably Queen Elizabeth, who was much more harsh and unhappy than in the series. It was nice to see the characters, though. And it's odd seeing them all older than in the series, because now I recognise them for different roles. Most prominently, Atkinson reminds me of Mr. Bean here, not Edmund Blackadder, Stephen Fry reminds me of QI, not his many roles in Blackadder, and Laurie reminds me of Gregory House here, not of his two roles in Blackadder.This episode just came off as a big disappointment. I honestly thought I'd like it for one reason or another, but it felt like a completely different show. Usually I'd be ecstatic at the return of a show, but this really should have been left alone. They even removed the much needed laugh track. The spark is just not in this episode. However, it is good as a stand alone episode and if it wasn't Blackadder I'd still think it was alright. It's just not the quality I was hoping for; much, much less. Least favourite episode.

As nice as it is to see a reunion of the entire cast of the Blackadder franchise, this is only so-so entertainment(and poor Byrne, getting such forgettable lines). It's interesting to see this as produced as something other than a sit-com, with well-done cinematography, special effects and editing. The plot isn't bad, and the concept allows for the writers to mock time periods that they hadn't before, and while this freedom puts the pressure on them to utilize it, they do so most of the time. The story does drive this one so much that little room is left for laughs, unfortunately. Pacing is solid. The production values are quite high. Everything looks great and we believe that we are where and when we are told to be visiting. Acting is all good. The "guests" are magnificent. Atkinson is marvelous as always as the cynical, greedy and self-righteous Edmund. The comedy is fair. Too much reliance on sight gags, and silly, occasionally violent, humor(even some of the gross-out material of the latest season, what gives?), though, and so little(though there is still a note-worthy amount) of the verbal comedy that we know and love this series for. As we are by now used to from these, the shortcomings throughout history is poked fun at through matter-of-factly stating in a satirical manner. This has some of the clever wit of previous productions, but not as much as we're used to. On the plus side, the excellent theme song returns, with a new, fitting text. The DVD comes with the Cavalier Years and Baldrick's Video Diary, that expands into a making-of featurette with behind-the-scenes footage, interviews(with every performer, very cool) and deleted scenes. It's fairly informative. A final goodbye to those that we've come to know and love, but could have been rather a bit better. I recommend this to all fans of the title character. Just don't expect the greatness as we've become used to from his side. 7/10

SPOILERS To celebrate the millennium, people did some very stupid things. One of the most noteworthy however was the Government spending huge amounts of money to create a large exhibition to celebrate it. Spanning the whole of 2000, the exhibition, housed in the hideous Millennium Dome, included one potential thrill, the return of Edmund Blackadder. Released long after on video and DVD, "Blackaddr Back and Forth" probably felt like a great way to reunite, but ultimately it has little going for it and should never have been made.To celebrate the turn of the century, Lord Edmund Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson) invited his closest friends to join him for a meal. Using a copy of Leonardo Di Vinci's actual blueprints of a time machine, Blackadder has servant Baldrick (Tony Robinson) build a copy for a prank. To his surprise though, Baldrick does such a good job, the machine actually works. Travelling through time, Blackadder attempts to get home only to learn that time travel has potential consequences.Written by Tony Curtis and Ben Elton, this half an hour long episode probably seemed like a good idea originally. Unfortunately however, this reunion of original staff might have been fun to make, but it's not particularly good to watch.Firstly, ignoring the issue of a Blackadder being witty and intelligent any time before the pathetic wimpy Edmund of the first series, the short scene at Hadrians Wall is incredibly mediocre. As Blackaddercus and Baldrickus, Atkinson and Robinson are not too bad. The problem emerges with the awful lines given to Hugh Laurie as Georgius and Stephen Fry as General Melchecus. Given a short skirt for cheap laughs, Stephen Fry recites a large amount of Latin before then making a traditional Melchett sound afterwards. This scene remains benign of humour and is completely pointless.Next, to attempt to bring back an old classic, and personally a massive favourite, the two writers probably thought it would be an idea to reintroduce the character of Queen Elizabeth. Whilst a nice idea, the scene is done so badly, that it actually puts you off the story before it's properly started. As Elizabeth, Miranda Richardson reprises the role which she did so well, but whilst thirteen years ago the character had a natural feel of childlike nature and humour, now it feels awkward and forced. This is sadly partly due to the performance of Richardson who doesn't look as comfortable in the role as she once did.The inclusion of Kate Moss as the love interest is also a huge error in judgement. Whilst there's little denial that Moss is a beautiful woman, she is pointless as Maid Marion of Sherwood, albeit not quite as much so as Rik Mayall as Robin Hood. With the notable exception of Bob, there is no woman that has really been good enough for Blackadder, and by adding Kate Moss to the mix, it just doesn't feel right.To try and say something nice about this woeful mistake, the appearance of Colin Firth as William Shakespeare is a definite plus. Only on team for a short time, he doesn't necessarily need to put in the greatest of performances, but the way in which Blackadder insults the great bard and pokes fun at Kenneth Branagh is definitely a highlight.Sadly, apart from the short scene involving Shakespeare, there is little else positive to say about "Back and Forth". Given a random name which does little except to confuse it with "Blackadder Goes Forth", it is a programme which never should have been made. It lowers the overall picture of Blackadder and it should be ignored whenever possible.Written specifically for the opening of the Millennium Dome, the idea of a reunion was probably a really appealing idea for cast and writers of the "Blackadder" series. Unfortunately though, the end product was a calamitous mistake. Mediocre in story and humour, the episode was also given a dire title. We can forgive the cast and writers for wanting to meet up again and have a laugh, but we can't forgive them for making such a mess of the final version. A dire mistake.

I just wanted to add a little comment: This film was actually originally made to be shown in The Millennium Dome in London. This is the reason that the film is based around the millennium fever that hit much of the population of the western world around the end of the last century!! It is not much of a valuable addition to any Blackadder collection, except that it is a part of history, in it's own little way.I watched it in the Millennium Dome, and for that reason was impressed with it, whilst being greatly disappointed at the same time.