Dom Robinson reviews

Distributed by
PT Video

Cert:

Cat.no: PTDVD 8119

Running time: 106 minutes

Year: 1986

Pressing: 2001

Region(s): 0, PAL

Chapters: 10

Sound: Mono

Languages: English

Subtitles: None

Fullscreen: 4:3

16:9-Enhanced: No

Macrovision: Yes

Disc Format: DVD 5

Price: £9.99

Extras: None

Directors:

Stan Woodward and John Darnell

Producer:

Stan Woodward and Charles Warren

Written by:

Ian Allen

Theme Song by

Sandra Dickinson and Peter Davison

Narrator:

Robin Parkinson

If that doesn't bring memories flooding back of another children's and student's favourite then nothing will as we join Mr Spoon, his wife Mrs Spoon and daughter Tina Teaspoon zooming off in their spaceship made mostly out of a baked bean can to visit Button Moon, set high in Blanket Sky which looks down on Junk Planet, where the Spoon family live. Each day Mr Spoon flies up to the aforementioned moon to look out through his telescope to see what he can see.

This first DVD contains ten episodes although, while the main content of the programme is complete, what is rather annoying is that they're not completely as broadcast originally. On some episodes the closing credits have been chopped and the end music faded out, while on others the music plays to the end but is accompanied only by the moon appearing to disappear into the corner of the sky by being downscaled in size, with a collection of the overall credits stuck at the end of the DVD. Would it be so difficult to see them left alone completely for the next DVD release? Please?

Of the ten episodes here, they include :

• The Three Pigs: The very first episode which begins with Mr Spoon being put together and building his spaceship. Upon arrival at Button Moon he is greeted by Vacuum Cleaner and uses his telescope to view the story about this particular nursery rhyme.
• The Fox and the Hen: An aeroplane is flying, Tina's kite is flying, so Mr Spoon gets a hankering to fly off in his spaceship (now there's a surprise!). On the moon a wardrobe is opened to reveal two football boots having a kickabout and a school dress and satchel heading off to said establishment. When Mr Spoon looks through his telescope he sees the story of a fox kidnapping a hen, but while he's asleep the hen escapes and replaces herself with a stone of equal size and weight, thus deluding the supposedly cunning fox.
• Planet Doughnut: Probably Homer Simpson's favourite episode, Mr Spoon and Tina look down on Brew the Witch chasing her bat-clock round the house and Thunder the Dragon who's so well organised he's the only one who's remembered it's wash day down the laundrette. On their way home, fog forces them to stop off at Planet Doughnut where a hungry pedal bin eats rotten food. Work that one out(!)

The episodes presented here are :

1. The Three Pigs 2. Billy Goat's Gruff 3. The Fox and the Hen 4. Scruffy and the Bone 5. The Hare and the Tortoise

6. Hose on Charlie's Nose 7. Planet Doughnut 8. Rag Doll has a Cold 9. Mrs Spoon's Jumble Sale 10. Bobbing Bottle

On any other day that might not seem normal.

The picture is as sharp and colourful as you would expect with zero defects and is presented in 4:3 fullscreen as filmed. The sound is mono but clear enough.

There are no extras, no subtitles and just one chapter per episode. The main menu contains the closing music from the show and subtle animation stating the titles of each episode. Selecting one sends the rocket off into the sky.

FILM CONTENT PICTURE QUALITY SOUND QUALITY EXTRAS	0
OVERALL

Review copyright © Dominic Robinson, 2001.

The following is a list of all the PT Video, Freemantle Home Entertainment and Telstar Video Children's DVDs reviewed online to date :