Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2062 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-11-03
• Rating: Suitable for 12 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English, Esperanto
• Number of discs: 2
• Running time: 161 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The third series of Red Dwarf introduced some radical changes--all of them for the better--but the scripts remained as sharp and character-focussed as ever, making this a firm candidate for the show's best year. Gone were the dull metallic grey sets and costumes, gone too was Norman Lovett's lugubrious Holly, replaced now by comedienne Hattie Hayridge, who had previously played Hilly in the Series 2 episode "Parallel Universe". New this year were custom-made costumes, more elaborate sets, the zippy pea-green Starbug, bigger special effects and the wholly admirable Robert Llewellyn as Kryten.

The benefits of the show's changes are apparent from the outset, with the mind-bending hilarity of "Backwards", in which Kryten and Rimmer establish themselves as a forwards-talking double-act on a reverse Earth. After a modest two-hander that sees Rimmer and Lister "Marooned", comes one of the Dwarf's most beloved episodes, "Polymorph". Here is the ensemble working at its best, as each character unwittingly has their strongest emotion sucked out of them. Lister loses his fear; Cat his vanity; Kryten his reserve; and Rimmer his anger ("Chameleonic Life-Forms. No Thanks"). "Body Swap" sees Lister and Rimmer involved in a bizarre attempt to prevent the ship from self-destructing. "Timeslides" delves deep into Rimmer's psyche as the boys journey haphazardly through history. Finally, "The Last Day" shows how completely Kryten has been adopted as a crewmember, when his replacement Hudzen unexpectedly shows up.

On the DVD: Red Dwarf, Series 3 two-disc set maintains the high standard of presentation and wealth of extra material established by its predecessors. Among other delights there are the usual "Smeg Ups" and deleted scenes, plus another fun commentary with the cast. There's a lengthy documentary, "All Change", specifically about Series 3, a tribute to costume designer Mel Bibby, Hattie Hayridge's convention video diary, and--most fascinating--the opportunity to watch "Backwards" played forwards, so you can finally understand what Arthur Smith's backwards-talking pub manager actually says to Rimmer and Kryten in the dressing room. --Mark Walker

DVD Description
The Red Dwarf crew stumble further into deep space, facing an emotion-sucking polymorph, a psychotic mechanoid and a version of Earth where time runs backwards. Sdaehgems.

Episodes:

• 1. Backwards
  
• 2. Marooned
  
• 3. Polymorph
  
• 4. Bodyswap
  
• 5. Timeslides
  
• 6. The Last Day

Special Features

• Cast commentary
  
• All Change - original documentary
  
• Deleted scenes
  
• Smeg ups
  
• Hattie’s DJ Diary
  
• Tribute to Mel Bibby
  
• Food featurette
  
• Backwards – Forwards
  
• Trailers
  
• Raw FX footage
  
• Isolated music cues
  
• Talking Book chapters
  
• Photo Gallery
  
• Web link
  
• Easter Eggs
  
• Collector’s booklet

DVD Technical Information:

• Subtitles: English SDH
  
• Audio: Dolby Digital Stereo
  
• Region Code: 2,4
  
• PAL
  
• Disc Format: DVD-9 x 2
  
• Aspect Ratio: 4:3
  
• Total Running Time: 161 minutes approx.

Customer Reviews

Fan-smegging-tastic.
Need I say more? OK then!

Series three is where the show stopped being "OK" and instead became one of the best UK sitcoms ever made. Usually in a TV series you get strong episodes and weak ones, but of these six, not one of them sucks. I could watch them all again, and again, and again until the DVD melts.

The series debut "Backwards" launches you straight into gems like Kryten's driving test, the reversing tandem and an unforgettable barroom-tidy. "Marooned" has Lister and Rimmer crashed on an ice planet with just a few burnable items, a bag of soggy smoky bacon crisps, a pot noodle and a tin of dog food to keep him alive. "Polymorph" is a true classic involving a genetic mutant, killer shami kebabs, shrinking boxer shorts, terror and alphabetti spaghetti. "Timeslides" features shenanigans with causality, the Tension Sheet, a suspicious briefcase and special guest appearances from Koo Stark, Ruby Wax and Adolf Hitler. "Body Swap" includes a new approach to losing weight, the most hilarious kidnapping ever attempted, liberal amounts of Domestos and a heap of mashed potato. And in "The Last Day" Kryten's lease has expired, and he's on his way to Silicon Heaven, to join all the calculators - but there's still one last party before his replacement arrives...

This is Dwarf at its strongest; cheeky, fast and fun, and this two disc set pulls out all the stops. There's a good set of extras: "Backwards" run backwards for a whole episode, a good documentary with the cast and crew from series three, smeg-ups, deleted scenes and even some original BBC trailers, rescued by dedicated Dwarfers and included on this DVD. As Extras discs go, this one is very junk-free.

All in all this is an excellent DVD set. The price is low, the content is excellent, the extras are good and the picture and sound quality is admirable. Excellent value! So get yourself a curry, get out a six-pack of lager and stick this DVD in your machine. Final verdict: Five Stars. You must own this!

Big? It's like two Badly Parked Volkswagens!
Red Dwarf peeked with Series 3, while 2 was wonderful and 6 in particular in later years were superb, this is where the show hit the heights. There are many changes, the crew have moved into the newly decontaminated officers quarters, Kryten has been rescued and rebuilt and Holly has changed himself into a woman.

The episodes simply sparkle, Backwards includes one of the alltime great comedy moments when Cat disappears 'into the bushes' and the legendary bar room 'tidy'. Marooned contains the alltime best one liner when Lister polishes off the SECOND to last item of food on Starbug. Polymorph is brilliant with the introduction of 'sharmy kebab diablo' served with Lister's classy new dinner set. Timeslides is fantastic, featuring the confrontation with 'Mr October' from one of Rimmer's magazines, and it continues with Bodyswap, as Rimmer models the new 'hernia prevention belt', much to Liser's disgust before the series climaxes with The Last Day, where Kryten comes of age thanks to a little help from his friends, and Petersen's spoils from planet leave on Miranda.

All in all, this eries is 3 hours of non stop laughs and features the show at its best. Start with 1 and 2 of course, but this was the mad world of Grant Naylor at its finest!

Do You Think Wilma's Sexy?
When Red Dwarf officially closed its production doors after eight series, it was the end of a legendary sci-fi comedy. Thankfully, Grant Naylor productions has been bringing out the entire back catalogue of Red Dwarf along with fascinating extras. If Series One introduced it and Series Two refurbished it, then Series Three without a doubt gave it a whole new makeover.

As stated in linear notes 'Red Dwarf III established how the show was meant to look - a benchmark for production values..'. Rob Grant and Doug Naylor officially became in control of Red Dwarf by Three, and two people were brought in to improve the looks and dynamics of the show. Mel Bibby (whose paid tribute to on the bonus disc) would design the sets and Howard Burden designed the clothes.

Aside from production, Series Three saw the exit of Norman Lovett as Holly and Hattie Hayridge replacing him as the same character. Robert Llewellyn would also mark his debut as the adorable android Kryten. Whilst Hattie and Robert were fitting in, Craig Charles, Chris Barrie and Danny John-Jules had fitted into their characters like it was second nature.

Episode-wise, Series Three has some of the most memorable moments ever. Not just in Red Dwarf history but in British comedy altogether. Featuring all time classic episodes like Backwards, Marooned and Polymorph (Chameleonic life-forms no thanks). Hearing the cast commentary is a must for any Red Dwarf fan.

The bonus features is brilliant. Featuring a seventy-five minute documentary on the series appropriately titled 'All Change'. There is also thirty minutes of deleted scenes, Hattie Hayridge's diary of the 'Dimension Jump' convention in 2003, and Backwards Forwards. Along with the smeg-ups, isolated music cues and a "Food" featurette this is a great bonus disc.

Series Three remains possibly my top series and with episodes like what they have and the bonus features here, its very hard for me to disagree. Buy it now!!!