DVD : Adventures of Captain Marvel

In association with Amazon.com

Rating:

- Classic old-style entertainment!
This is not only one of the best cliffhanger serials ever made but it also stands up well today as great escapist entertainment. The flying effects are still impressive and the fight scenes and action setpieces are well handled. The acting is nothing to write home about, but Tom Tyler makes for an impressive looking Captain Marvel. He's also terrific in the fight scenes.

It's worth noting that this has not been completely remastered for DVD, despite the claims in other reviews. The picture looks fine but the audio is slightly distorted. There is no difference between this release and the video version released by Republic about 10 years ago. I have added this to the review because there may be people who are expecting pristine video and audio quality due to the remastering claims made here. Don't let my comments put you off though...what is on offer here is perfectly acceptable considering the age of the source material.

If you're a fan of super-heroes or just a lover of old fashioned Hollywood knockabout action flicks, this will have you grinning ear to ear. It's even better if you watch one episode a week, preferably on Saturday mornings!

Rating:

- "SHAZAM" the 1st Serial Hero, 12 Chapters now on DVD!
1942 and Republic Pictures releases the first action hero on the Silver Screen in 12 exciting chapters. Now for the first time this original serial program has been digitally restored both picture & sound to provide us with an OUTSTANDING feature experience. This Standard Format, Black/White serial has a 216 minute run time. 12 cliff hanging Chapters to enjoy!!

"The Adventures of Captain Marvel" is considered by many to be the finest serial ever made! This adventure exploits "The World's Mightiest Mortal" against "The Scorpion", a hooded villian intent on obtaining 6 optical lenses that when aligned properly, turn ordinary stones to gold or provide the user ultimate destructive capability! Also, we learn of the origin of Captain Marvel, his superpowers and his assigned duties.

Republic Pictures has ace special effects in Marvels flying sequences. This serial was the first serial to introduce comic book super hereos to the silver screen. These 12 chapters have yet to be equalled for excitement and entertainment. Thank you Artisan Entertainment for distributing a valuable 1940's cinema matinee experience. A must for your DVD library. Enjoy.

Rating:

- A pristine DVD of one of the best movie serials
The serials were an artform unto themselves -- shot very quickly on a miniscule budget, they are of only nostalgic or historic interest to the Star Wars generation, but we loved them, and this is one of the best. You have to make allowences -- (spoilers follow). We see a character walk through an ordindary door, and suddenly he is inside an elevator. A car with no-one at the wheel still follows the curves in the road -- until it goes off a cliff. The villain escapes from a sinking ship with nothing but the clothes he is wearing -- and somehow manages to hide a huge metal scorpion three feet long from the other survivors. What bothered me most, even as a kid: one of the clues as to who IS NOT the arch villian is that the villian has a wounded right hand. We see a character sign his name with his right hand -- can't be the villian, right? But he is the villain. No explanation. And why do they put an end to Captain Marvel at the end of the story, when the kids watching the serial were reading about Captain Marvel's continuing adventures in the comics every month? Having said all that, Captain Marvel flying is, well, a marvel. Even if the script doesn't make any sense, the serial looks great. Watch it one chapter per night, not all at once.

Rating:

- Holy Moley!
This is one of the finest serials ever made. A fine cast, thrilling action, fantastic cliff-hangers, great pacing, and a nice print make this an extremely entertaining DVD.

Rating:

- The DVD shines
Yes, this is one of the better serials. But this DVD is also the best transfer I have yet seen of any serial. Don't be fooled by the low price. The picture and sound on the DVD version are marvelous.

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