Bottom-Series 3 (1995)

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General		Extras
Category	Comedy	Outtakes-Bottom Fluff Main Menu Audio
Rating
Year Of Production	1995
Running Time	174:30 (Case: 185)
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	2,4	Directed By	Jon Plowman Bob Spiers Ed Bye
Studio Distributor	Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Adrian Edmondson Rik Mayall
Case	Amaray-Transparent-Secure Clip
RPI	$19.95	Music	The Bum Notes

The depravity continues as Rik Mayall and Adrian Edmondson, the masters of mayhem and the sadistic return to the violent bliss of Bottom for a final season. All six episodes of this season appear uncut on this DVD release although not in the original broadcast order: The episodes originally aired in the UK in January and February 1995.

• Hole – Eddie and Richie go to the fairground for a night out with only three pounds to spend. The most worthy ride is Western Europe’s tallest and oldest Ferris wheel – otherwise known as an “illegal death trap.” Unbeknownst to our foolish heroes the wheel is to be demolished in a few hours and they have been abandoned in the top compartment. Episode 1 - First broadcast in the UK on 6th Jan 1995.

• Terror – Eddie arrives home beaten and bruised as he was attacked by some trick or treaters. Richie, realising the financial potential of Halloween, then plans to go out, and with the use of an electric cattle prod, terrorise Hammersmith residents. Episode 2 - First broadcast in the UK on 13th Jan 1995.

• Break – Eddie and Richie plan to go on a holiday to Dorchester which only costs four thousand pounds. Being the bachelors they are they realise the holiday is a chance to meet members of the opposite sex. Richie decides he has to lose some weight in 12 hours in order to fit in a thong while Eddie has to sew his legs back on. Episode 5 - First broadcast in the UK on 3rd Feb 1995.

• Dough – Eddie has mysteriously locked himself in his room for a week leaving Richie lonely and bored. Richie, in an attempt to pass the time, sets himself on fire. Eddie eventually lets Richie in on the secret; Eddie has been counterfeiting indecent money in the hope the shopkeeper will be so distracted by the indecency they won't refuse the counterfeit money. Their plan, surprisingly, works at The Lamb and Flag until the bar owner Dick Head (Lee Cornes) tells Skull Crusher Henderson ‘The Master Counterfeiter of Old London Town’ (Nick Scott) of the new competition. Episode 3 - First broadcast in the UK on 20th Jan 1995.

• Finger – Richie and Eddie seek revenge on Cannonball Taffy O’Jones for ill treatment at a cricket match. The plan is to steal Taffy’s car keys; they then find Taffy’s honeymoon tickets. The two decide to take the tickets and pose as Mr and Mrs O’ Jones for three days to work up a bill, leaving Eddie to disturbingly be the latter.Episode 4 - First broadcast in the UK on 27th Jan 1995.

• Carnival – It’s the annual Hammersmith riots and Richie and Eddie have the best seats as they look upon the injured and volatile below their flat. The two decide to steal a BBC film camera and create an “accidental” comical home video in hope of a financial reward from a Funniest Home Video Show. After many rehearsals it takes a year for Eddie to set up one of the stolen VCRs. When they can finally view the final product it turns out the VHS has compromising footage of the Prime Minister. Richie decides to blackmail the Government. Episode 6 - First broadcast in the UK on 10th Feb 1995.

Video

All the episodes are presented in Full Frame 1.33:1 on a dual layered single sided DVD. Overall the picture quality is commendable. While there are minor incidents of grain and one incident of blooming in the source material the transfer features no incidents of Film-To-Video Artefacts. The colour scheme itself is dull with muted browns and yellows but this is an artistic choice. Skin tones remain natural and black levels are average. There is a single English subtitle soundtrack which is presented in a clear white Arial font. There are 6 chapter selections for each episode.

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

The single English Dolby Digital 2.0 (192Kb/s) soundtrack is adequate for the dialogue driven situation comedy. There are no audio synchronisation problems and the audio remains clear and audible. Other than the dialogue the show features exaggerated sound effects and segments of the main theme during the episodes which is performed by 'The Bum Notes'.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Main Menu Audio

A still image with a practical menu featuring a play all feature, episode and chapter selection and subtitle options.

Outtakes

Entitled “Bumfluff” this is a montage of outtakes from the show. It runs to a length of 13:17. This is recommended viewing. This feature can be viewed with subtitles.

There are currently three box sets of this series available:

• R1: Bottom - Not Another Half-Arsed DVD Set (3 DVDs)
• R4/R2: Bottom – The Complete Series (3 DVDs)

R1 is missing nothing in comparison with the R2/R4.

R2/R4 is missing the following extras:

• "Boom Boom...Out Go the Lights" Rik Mayall 1980s variety program
• "The Dangerous Brothers" as seen on "Boom Boom" in 1981

Also in R2 there is a yet to be released The Big Bottom Box (7 DVDs).
Please note this boxset does not include the television series. Rather it is focused on the 'spin-off's' of the television show:

• Bottom Live –The Stage Show (1993) (filmed in Southampton)
• Bottom – The Big Number Two Tour (1995) (filmed in Oxford)
• Bottom 3 – Hooligan’s Island (1997) (filmed in Bristol)
• Bottom Live 2001 –An A*** Oddity (2001) (filmed in Nottingham)
• Bottom Live 2003 – Weapons Grade Y-Fronts Tour (2003) (filmed in Southend)
• Best of Bottom Live
• Guest House Paradiso (1999)

All releases are complete and uncut. It is disappointing that the R4 is missing two interesting extras from the R1 box set which demonstrate the first phase of the characters of Richard Richard and Edward Elizabeth Hitler. Depending on whether the purchaser wants the complete series of R1 or individual releases of R2 and R4 or discounted box sets of R2 and R4 there are a number of options to suit the purchaser’s budget. A best-of DVD is also available in R2 and R4 which features five uncut episodes and a photo gallery.

The final series is released in commendable fashion

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall