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Primeval : Series 1 [2007] | ![Primeval : Series 1 [2007]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51C6Y%2BJghhL._SL160_.jpg)
 enlarge | Actors: Douglas Henshall, James Murray, Andrew Lee Potts, Lucy Brown, Hannah Spearritt
Studio: 2 Entertain Video
Category: DVD
List Price: £19.99
Buy New: £3.99
You Save: £16.00 (80%)
New (15) Used (7) from £3.58
Rating:  32 reviews
Format: Anamorphic, Pal
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Parental Guidance
Region: 2
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Number Of Discs: 2
Running Time: 277 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
EAN: 5014138600877
ASIN: B000GY8Z2A
Theatrical Release Date: June 21, 2007
Release Date: March 19, 2007
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand new and still sealed. In stock, ready to send with quick despatch from the UK.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.co.uk Review
The ITV chequebook was waved very firmly in the direction of Primeval, a big-budget prime-time Saturday rival to the success of the BBC's Doctor Who. But unlike some efforts to buy big ratings, there's actually a lot of entertainment throughout the episodes here that make up the complete first series.The crux of the programme surrounds a series of strange creatures from both the future and the past who appear to be roaming around in the present day. So what's going on? And what can be done about the dinosaur-esque creatures, big insects and assorted parasitic lifeforms that are suddenly roaming the Earth? That's where Nick Cutter and his team come in, and the fun really begins. A surprisingly human action-drama, Primeval clearly draws influence from the BBC's megahit, and while it never really threatens to rival it, it is nonetheless a good show in its own right. The special effects are suitably smart, but there's also, more importantly, a half-decent script at the heart of things, and that really does help lift the show. Already commissioned for a second series, these maiden adventures for the Primeval team offer some rollicking entertainment and plenty of rewatch value. And with that in mind, this complete first season is a smart buy. --Jon Foster
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| Customer Reviews:
Does exactly what it says on the tin March 15, 2007
K. Bond (UK)
27 out of 29 found this review helpful
I didn't expect a great deal from Primeval which is perhaps one of the reasons why I now find myself pleasantly surprised by it. The casting is excellent and storylines, although sometimes far-fetched, are enjoyable. For those who are keen to compare it to Doctor Who and Torchwood, I must say I personally don't think it's similar to either of them. At the end of the day, Primeval was never going to be groundbreaking - and, to its credit, I don't think it sets out to be anything of the sort - but it is a great piece of telly fluff that'll certainly keep me tuned for series two.
 Excellent saturday night TV for the family March 6, 2007
Smiler
26 out of 28 found this review helpful
I have just preordered Primeval and can't wait for it to arrive. Of the 4 episodes that I have seen so far it has been really great TV. A fab cast (with Dougie Henshall - one for the ladies, and Hannah from S Club for the kids), excellent special effects and a really good story. It's the perfect thing to watch with all the family, the kids love it! I can't believe it is only 6 episodes long - what a shame. Good to see that the DVD includes a behind the scenes feature which I look forward to seeing.
I think Primeval is great. If you or your kids liked Prehistoric Park you'll love this, it's just as good but with a better story.
Bring on series 2!
Primeval March 14, 2007
Haggar (Scotland)
25 out of 26 found this review helpful
I am surprised at how much I have enjoyed the first season of Primeval. I expected to see another TV series that relies solely on special effects and nothing else. Primeval is not like that. You get to know the characters very quickly, each having a distinct personality that grows as the episodes progress. The story lines are simple but not that simple that you get bored and lose interest. I would be happy to recommend this series to anyone and look forward to the adventures ahead.
Great Saturday night viewing March 19, 2007
Dacron
15 out of 18 found this review helpful
It's interesting to read some of the reviews below. Yes there are comparisons to be made with Dr Who and Torchwood - as there are between just about any sci-fi series and others of a similar ilk. Just remember that both the other series attract "fans" who will be tremendously blinkered in their opinions in a manner similar to which they might view competing similar rock/pop acts. If you can get beyond your prejudices, then here we have a well made, well scripted and effectively acted piece of British sci-fi. It was a little slow to start with but gradually the characters begin to compete with the special effects and the story arc begins to deepen. Since seeing the final episode of the series last night, my family (children 10 and 13 plus mum and dad)have been in virtually endless debate about what happened at the end and possible clues that have been sewn along the way. So much so that we will certainly be placing an order for the DVD simply to see if we can put two and two together before an eagerly awaited series 2.
The series occupies a neat middle-ground position between Dr Who and Torchwood and is firmly aimed at the teen/thinking (but not too deeply) adult market rather than Dr Who's child/family/sci-fi soap market or Torchwoods 17-30 market (those who think that "adult" means sex and bad language and believe the world can be saved by just four people living underground in Cardiff docks).
The quality of the cgi effects steadily improves (but don't expect cinema quality in a TV series) and produce some genuinely scary moments. The fact that these cgi creations actually inter-act with the live actors quite effectively is a real bonus.We loved the dodo's antics and the future creatures in the final episode really made us jump (and were quite gruesome so not recommended for younger viewers who might be safe with Dr Who). This series is also not afraid to kill off some of the prominent supporting actors along the way (not just the usual sci-fi single episode cannon fodder). This adds to the tension and means that even the major characters can appear genuinely threatened by the predicaments that they find themselves in.
In Helen, they have produced a feisty and ambiguous "villainess" who appears happy to use people in any way that she sees fit to achieve her ends (whatever they may be!). Cutter is stoic and straightforward in a slightly hipper Quatermass type way. Ben Miller is sometimes a little light weight as the man from the ministry but he does add humour and is a nice counterpoint to the seriousness of Cutter. The younger actors also add a good balance to the piece and the CGI little flying dinosaur is actually quite cute!
The situations are also fairly grounded in reality with a much more "populated" feel than similar shows - when there is a combat situation then they send in the troops, they fire their guns and people actually die. Production values are significantly higher than either of the two rival series. It is both shot and edited on film which again adds to the quality feeling of the piece.
On the whole the production team have struck the right balance - it isn't trying to be as dark and serious as say the X-files or as soap opera-y as the last series of Dr Who yet contains elements of both . Yes there are plot holes and a degree of convenience but this is TV not real life.
We have had great fun watching this and can only say that if you have missed it either due to the slowish early episodes or some misplaced "loyalty" to other shows then get this DVD and catch up now! Whilst our youngest child still really enjoys Dr Who -it has now become eminently missable for both of us parents and even our eldest child now regards it as a "kids" show. This, on the other hand, has been great for all of us (but we record it and watch it earlier in the day to avoid nightmares for our youngest!)
Highly recommended.
 Flawed and a bit copycat but still a welcome addition to Saturday nights. March 18, 2007
russell clarke (halifax, west yorks)
14 out of 25 found this review helpful
Time travel in TV drama is becoming a prevalent as hospitals and the police force . Following the success of "Dr Who"( time travel and a Dr , though obviously not a medical one )and "Life On Mars"( which cleverly mixes time travel with the police ) commercial TV decided it was having some of that and promptly commissioned Primeval which it placed in a mainstream slot on a Saturday night hoping for a ratings success .
Primeval see's a team of scientists of the distinctly-with one exception-non nerdy variety seconded into a Home Office unit investigating a series of anomalies through which creatures from the past are infiltrating the present and behaving in a most anti-social manner -eating people or failing that infecting them with brain frazzling parasites . In fact their behaviour is so anti -social you would think they would fit right in modern Britain.
Led by Nick Cutter(A rather dour Douglas Henshall) the scientists constantly clash with the civil servants led by slimy and acerbic James Lester(Ben Miller who gets some choice sarcastic asides )though there is a certain amorous frisson between Cutter and Lesters deputy Claudia Brown (Lucy Brown).Things are complicated further by the fact that Cutters wife Helen( Juliet Aubrey) had disappeared several years earlier but has now conveniently chosen to return after living in the past, and wants Cutter to join her in "Holding the key to time". More romantic frippery is provided by Cutters colleagues -Abby Maitland ( Hannah Spearritt) fancies all action Stephen Hart( James Murray) and in turn is lusted after by the eccentric nerd of the group Connor Temple( Andrew Lee Potts)who dresses like Tom Baker era Doctor Who which is presumably the main reason she doesn't reciprocate . Abby spends puzzling but welcome never the less amounts of screen time wandering around in a pair of very flimsy briefs. Temple does however illicit the best laugh of the series for when he hears Helen is still alive and back after her seven year sojourn enquires "How are we going to explain "Celebrity Love Island " to her?".
All this romantic nonsense gets in the way of the other nonsense but at least the other nonsense is entertaining and pacy . No attempt is made to imbibe the plot or scripts with any serious intelligence or resonance. Questions are left unanswered like Jade Goody on Mastermind and the scientist's , supposedly meant to provide answers always end up tear arsing around like everyone else .Every episode is a breathless hyperventilating rush till they miraculously return the creatures -huge insects, nasty aquatic predators , dinosaurs , flying dinosaurs to their correct time line.A promising diversion from this is provided by a monster from the future which maybe will contaminate the time line.The series is let down somewhat by the acting , which is efficient at best and lamentable at worst, and the effects which considering how well CGI can integrate( "Lord Of the Rings ", "Starship Troopers") are distinctly average.
Effectively ITV is taking the idea of their previous time travel /prehistoric theme "Prehistoric Park" and making a proper drama out of it. Though for a series about dangerous carnivorous beasts being suddenly plunged into the middle of suburbia ( though the anomalies always manifest themselves in secluded areas) Primeval is terrified of offending the audience offering only glimpses of the carnage perpetrated by the flesh chomping beasties and very little blood. You get the feeling this material would work more effectively in a later slot with a darker thematic hub and lashings of gore but ITV clearly wanted a prime slice of prime time /time travel action so the end result has become compromised. This series patently wanted to tap into the same light entertainment/drama market as the good Doctor but hasn't achieved the same magical balance so what we have been left with is a flawed if spuriously enjoyable copycat .It,s all be been set up quite intriguingly for a second series which I sincerely hope does come to pass for Primeval is way preferable to yet another celebrity singing dancing thing .Now if they could make a series where similar unpleasant monsters accosted celebrities as they twirled on ice or whatever and then whisked their disremembered corpses back a few million years they might just end up with a real ratings monster.
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