ridiculous rating

It isn't all that great, actually. Really cheesy and very predicable of how certain scenes are gonna turn play out. However, I guess that's the charm of it all, because I would consider this one of my guilty pleasures.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

Great example of an old-fashioned, pure-at-heart escapist event movie that doesn't pretend to be anything that it's not and has boat loads of fun being its own ludicrous self.

A good start to a great show.Set during the War of the Roses, and featuring scenes that may be familiar to readers or watchers of Shakespeare's Richard III, the story of a minor nobleman (and I use the word "noble" very broadly) in Richard III's court. Prince Edmund, aka The Black Adder.Hilariously funny, with some iconic skits. Rowan Atkinson as Black Adder brings his full range of snarky wit to bear. Ably supported by Tony Robinson as Baldrick, Brian Blessed as King Richard IV and Tim McInnerny as Percy. Peter Cook appears as Richard III.Seasons 2-4 were better but this is where it all started.

The first and essential element is the set of actors and first of all Rowan Atkinson. That is pure English comedy based on totally anachronistic and crazy situations, on witty puns that nearly or most of the time have to do with what is generally under the belt of most people but that is floating on top of the mind of these comedians. It is supposed to make you laugh and nothing else and it ridicules all historical characters and situations: Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria, Georges VI or some other Prince of Wales, the First World War, Robin Hood and I guess they avoided Peter Pan because he might only be marginally historical, though Pitt Junior is a real hit, definitely under the belt at the level of the comforter, if you see what I mean. It even turns upside down the famous Christmas Carol. As for the Time Machine it is completely twisted around in all directions, back and forth for sure, to make a sort of self-centered social climbing, politically opportunistic remake of Back to the Future more than the Time Machine, but the principle is the same. So Sir Edmund Blackadder finishing King Edmund I is at least hilarious. H.G. Wells is betrayed since for him you cannot change the past and Zemeckis is betrayed just the same since you are not supposed to use your time travelling to recuperate some personal advantage from it. I must say though this type of comedy is light maybe slightly too light, but it is good indeed.Dr Jacques COULARDEAU, University Paris 1 Pantheon Sorbonne, University Paris 8 Saint Denis, University Paris 12 Créteil, CEGID

In my opinion, this first part of Blackadder is pretty much neck and neck with the second series. Yes, Blackadder may be more Mr. Bean-like, there are rather muxed-ip plots and surprisingly dark humour, but I still like this series. Probably the best thing about this first part of Blackadder is the into and the credits, which are surprisingly fun - the credits have an entertaining song in it (and a different song and credit roll in the last episode) and both have Blackadder boldly riding a black horse. Funnily enough you never see this black horse again in the other series and I think he is one of the best parts.This series is a comedy running for 6 episodes. The star is Edmund Blackadder, played by Rowan Atkinson. His companions are Baldrick, played by Tony Robinson and Percy, played by Tim McInnerny.I recommend this first part to anyone who likes Mr. Bean in some way or another, who likes comedy historical series (just after Richard III) and for people who want a good introduction to Blackadder. Enjoy! :-)

Forget your O Level and GCSE History exams and throw away those misleading and biased history books, for Richard Curtis and Rowan Atkinson are here to show you exactly how things really happened and how a scheming, greedy, self-centred, morally defunct bad boy named Edmund Blackadder and a brainless, smelly, pre-evolved dogsbody named Baldrick have consistently left their greasy, dirty and bloody paw prints upon the true annuls of British History.The first series of this classic historical Comedy saga takes place in the years 1485- 1498 and introduces us to the now immortal Blackadder character, and the first true history lesson it teaches us is that Henry VII did not succeed Richard III to the throne after the Battle of Bosworth.This high honour was in fact awarded to Richard IV, formally one half of the 'fabled' Princes in the Tower, who now fully grown has a taste for war, wine and women (in that order) and is built like a brick s***house! It also tells us that Richard III did not perish in battle at the hands of the would be usurper Tudor, but slain in the act of horse stealing by his slimy nephew Edmund, later to become our hero (of sorts).Edmund is the new kings seconds son, and as a result he is despised by his father (who most of the time cannot remember his name) patronised by his mother (who constantly treats him as if he was still ten years old)and overshadowed by his Brother who constantly delegates to Edmund the rotten jobs usually most befitting a castle servant) Now second in line to the throne, the already ambitious Edmund is set upon the road to power and becomes obsessed with removing his Father and Brother from the equation so he can at last fulfil a prophecy made by three wizened old witches that he will one day be King of all England.However in direct contrast to his ambitions Edmund has all the cunning intellect of a dried pea, the courage of a dead hedgehog and the charisma of a blank wall. For Edmund to put his plans into action it is clear he is going to need a bit of help.Enter Baldrick one of the castles dung gatherers, who unlike his future descendants seems to be a rather bright and cunning chap. Edmund or rather 'The Black Adder' as he now wishes to be called, plucks the clever s*** shoveller from obscurity, presumably gives him a thorough wash and promotes him to the dizzy position of royal squire so he can always be on hand to provide the best cunning advice any given situation may require.Also in tow is the remarkably stupid Lord Percy Percy the Duke of Northumberland who is so pathetically dim-witted I'm sure Edmund only keeps him around to make him look intelligent.Yet both Baldrick and Percy are devoted to their new Lord and throughout all six chapters of this historic alternative, they work tirelessly to help bring about The Black Adder's dream of becoming King Edmund I of England.On our journey we see Edmund's power and lands stripped and sold off week by week, we see him promoted to Archbishop of Canterbury in the Kings effort to bring the Church under his control, we see him diplomatically engaged to a Spanish princess who's great size is only dwarfed by her dangerous sexual appetite. We see Edmund put on trial for Witchcraft, barely escaping with his life, all of which lead him to finally take action in the last episode and launch his long awaited bid for absolute power.However for those who know what the next 500 years hold for the Blackadders and the Baldricks, it is worthwhile mentioning that this series should be viewed on its own merits and not part of the great historic saga that was to follow as it differs so much from future productions. The main difference being the two main characters themselves.Future incarnations of the Blackadder dynasty will see the character become far less slimy and far more cunning as his social position slips further from the throne with each generation. In much the same vein...only in reverse, the Baldrick dynasty seems to shed brain cells with each passing century becoming less astute and more unhygienic with each series.With Ben Elton replacing Rowan Atkinson as writer, a scaled down more studio based production and a cast list consisting of five or six ensemble players it was clear that Blackadder was going to go on to bigger and better things.......at least as far as the TV show was concerned.Rowan Atkinson's Edmund, Tony Robinson's Baldrick and Tim McInnerny's Percy are all a joy to watch but Brian Blessed's King Richard IV is the real treasure throughout. Very funny indeed.The best History lesson I have ever had. If only old Mr Insley (my History teacher at school) taught me this stuff. I probably wouldn't have bunked off so many lectures.