Stars:
Brian Downey, Xenia Seeberg, Michael McManus, Jeffrey Hirschfield, and Nigel
Bennett
Writers:
Paul Donovan and Lex Gigeroff
Director:
Chris Bould and Paul Donavan
Executive
Producers: Paul Donovan and Wolfram Tichy
Feature
length: 144 minutes
Extras:
Featurette, Interview, Storyboards, Production Sketches, and Trivia Game
Languages:
English and French Stereo
Subtitles:
N/A
Packaging:
Keep Case
Chapter
Stops: 15
Sound:
Stereo Sound
Year
of DVD Release: 2002
Home
Video Distributor: Acorn Media
MPAA
Rating: N/A
Reviewer:
Mark A. Rivera
The
third season of “LEXX” comes to a close on DVD-Video this fall courtesy of
Acorn Media. As I have stated in previous DVD reviews of the third season of “LEXX,”
it appears this is when the offbeat series hit its creative zenith with an
intriguing metaphysical storyline, new interesting characters, and higher
production values. The final three episodes work together as a continuous
storyline that becomes the surprise prologue for the climactic fourth season,
which takes place on Earth.
One
thing I have always liked about “LEXX” is that they are the most fallible
cast of characters I have ever seen in a sci-fi series, which makes them all the
more easy to relate to if only that they are more human as a result. Searching
for Xev, Stan finds himself held captive in “Girltown,” a sort of “Alice
In Wonderland” nightmare where the men toil endlessly building balloons from
their Queen and the women are caught up in absurd and endless speeches involving
legalities. Kai springs the men free only to find they are a little too happy
for his help. Finding Xev in the city, our hapless crew soon find themselves in
another jam when Kai and Stan fall out of the moth and impact on the surface of
Water. Stan drowns and finds himself at the mercy of Prince who sentences Stan
to a constant cycle of toil and death for all eternity on Fire. Kai travels
through the great light at the center of Water and discovers the truth behind
what Fire and Water really are. Now they must bring Stan back to life if they
ever hope to free him, but Prince has a few more surprises in store for are
visitors from a parallel universe.
Singer
Jimmy Somerville has a cameo in “Girltown” while Ellen Dubin appears as the
Queen of “Girltown.” The storyline in “Girltown” is a bit annoying, but
it does payoff in that it reveals the last aspect of the various cities that
makeup the world of Fire. “The Beach” features a lot of flashbacks from
Seasons One and Two as well as previous Season Three episodes, but this serves
more as the overture to the third season finale, which basically gives Nigel
Bennett all the room to play up and prove exactly why he is truly the
“Prince” for all time.
The
fourth segment of the behind-the-scenes look at the making of “LEXX: Series
3”shows some on location footage in Namibia, Africa and an interview with
“LEXX” Visual Effects Producer Alex Busby wrap up the featurettes for the
third season of “LEXX.” A storyboard to completed scene comparison for the
opening of the episode entitled “The Beach” and a gallery of production
sketches and location photos coupled with the usual episode specific trivia wrap
up the extra features included on this volume.
The
image is presented in a full-framed (1.33:1) aspect ratio that preserves the way
in which the episodes were broadcast on Sci-Fi. Unfortunately there is a visible
amount of grain throughout most of all three episodes though I think this was
from the source materials used and not the mastering of the disc itself. A clear
English and French Language Stereo Soundtrack are included, but there are no
captions or subtitles encoded on this DVD. The menus are well rendered in
keeping with the theme of the episodes included on this volume and feature
animated transitions. All are easy to navigate.
Unfortunately
there was no preview trailer for “LEXX: Season 4” on the DVD, which
surprised me since the final volume of “LEXX: Season 2” did feature a
trailer for Series 3. I hope Acorn Media will distribute Season 4 of “LEXX”
on DVD too. “LEXX: Series 3: Video Set 4” will debut on DVD-Video from Acorn
Media on Tuesday, September 24, 2002.
©
Copyright 2002 By Mark A. Rivera
All Rights Reserved.