In the cynical, postmodern mindset that dictates that all reviewers must be more hip and self-aware than the material they review, it is altogether way too easy to laugh at the past. Especially in the case of so-called "classics", in which said material is so beloved that it's very easy to (1) over-praise it in light of its revered status, or (2) make a turn to the extreme opposite, deconstructing "classic" material to demonstrate the self-appointed erudition of "revisionism", what four out of five dentists refer to as the "I Know Something You Don't" Syndrome.

It all smacks of hooey. Tastes change, social morays change, even Darrens on Bewitched change, but any piece of entertainment that lasts and charms throughout the decades does so because it taps into a primal emotion, delight, fear, or imagination that speaks volumes about either the sheer complexities or the utter simplicities of the human condition.

This has everything to do with my total surprise and delight with reviewing Fireball XL5, the 1960s "Supermarionation" kids show created by the gargantuan talent and imagination of one Gerry Anderson. I was more than fully prepared to approach the material with a patronizing, "isn't it sweet but damn it's corny" smugness. Indeed, this is pure late 50s/early 60s sci-fi kitsch. And they're puppets! Puppets are scary – the "Lonely Goatherd" sequence from The Sound of Music gave me nightmares for months.

So imagine my surprise when, the more I watched, the more I anticipated each and every episode. Fireball XL5 might be kitschy, might be chock full of scientific inaccuracies and glaring anachronisms that was par-for-the-course for cheesy sci-fi of the time, and even might have a few clunker episodes in the mix. But the care, innovation, and sheer imagination in each episode are positively infectious. Anderson – who went on to create Stingray, Thunderbirds, UFO, and Space: 1999 – produced a television series that, forty years after its creation, still entertains on too many levels.

For those of you new to the series, Fireball XL5 is the story of the crew of the spaceship Fireball XL5 (ship's commander Colonel Steve Zodiac, Space Doctor Venus, Professor Matt Matic, and Robert the Robot) as they patrol Sector 25 on behalf of the World Space Fleet in the year 2063. That description in a nutshell tells you pretty much everything you need to know about the series. Fireball XL5 is simple, clean, clearly delineated fun. If the characters are caricatures – and make no mistake, they are – it is only because they fit so seamlessly into Anderson's kid-show milieu. But the sheer amount of detail, imagination, and special effects work is remarkable, especially considering the fact that the show was produced in 1962.

So yes – I loved it. And I was ready to rip it a new one. So sue me. And please pass the ketchup for my foot, thank you.

A&E has released the entire Fireball XL5 series in a five DVD box-set, and it is quite the treat. The thirty-nine episodes provide for nearly 17 hours of running time, which means you'll get all the Fireball XL5 you can handle in one nifty package. But what make the set even more attractive are the extras: commentaries, featurettes, photo galleries, and more. The Fireball XL5 set was assembled with care and devotion to the series, and it shows on each DVD in the set.

The DVD

The Video:
Created for television and shot in black-and-white, Fireball XL5 is presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The series has been digitally restored for its DVD release, and the resulting video looks absolutely wonderful. Contrasts are sharp and well defined, with deep blacks, bright whites, and a solid range of grayscales. The overall image displays remarkable clarity; the series often features numerous nighttime, fire, and smoke effects without any telltale compression artifacts. There are shimmering and haloing effects at times, as well as some minor dirt and wear at times visible on the transfer. These, of course, are nitpicks, especially for forty-year old video. The overall transfer is so clean that the marionette strings on each character are more visible than ever!

The Audio:
You are not going to get a huge depth of fidelity and immersion out of Fireball XL5, but that's to be expected. What you do get is a solid Dolby Digital 2.0 track that provides for a clean reproduction of the show's soundtrack. Dialog is clean and bright, without any discernable hiss or distortion. The orchestral score and sound effects are adequately presented, although there is a slightly hollow, "boxed-in" effect that naturally can be attributed to the age of the material.

Extras:

Each disc contains a Photo Gallery containing still shots taken from episodes of the show, as well as DVD Credits that showcase the fine people who made this set a reality.

Disc One:
The Fireball XL5 set comes with some nice extras that fans will definitely appreciate. First off is an extremely enjoyable audio commentary by voice artist David Graham on the "Doomed Planet" episode, and it's one of the best commentaries I've heard in a while. Graham provided the voice for Professor Matt Matic, as well as Lieutenant 90 and some other minor characters. Graham obviously has a great deal of affection for the series and the imagination of Gerry Anderson, and discusses in lively detail his voice work in many of Anderson's shows. I think the highlight is probably him singing the show's closing theme – in character!

Disc Two:
The Gerry Anderson Biography is a series of text pages that goes over the biography of the man whose vivid imagination brought Fireball XL5, Thunderbirds, and Space: 1999 (among other shows) to life.

Disc Five:
Director Alan Patillo provides an audio commentary for the episode "Space City Special." Patillo shares his thoughts on the series, working with Gerry Anderson, and like David Graham is a lively and entertaining presence. His commentary is more screen-specific and technically oriented, as he discusses how he approached filming puppets as actors. For those looking for more "behind-the-scenes" information about the series, this is your commentary track

The Noble Art of Fireball XL5 is a short but enjoyable featurette about the comic-strip version of the show that was featured in the magazine TV 21. Made by and for comics fans, the featurette focuses upon the work of illustrator Mike Noble, who is seen as the definitive Fireball XL5 artist. Noble discusses his beginning as an illustrator and his work on the Fireball XL5 comic, going into great detail about the process of comic illustration.

Final Thoughts

Seventeen hours is a long time to spend with a DVD set, but when the subject matter is as enjoyable at Fireball XL5, it's an absolutely joy. This is the perfect type of children's entertainment: it doesn't talk down to its audience, it doesn't bog down the characters with a faux sophistication or glib hipness, and it has enough dazzle, charm, and imagination to make the show enjoyable and entertaining for adults. Although not everything is pitch-perfect about the show (Characters popping "Oxygen pills" to survive the rigors of outer space? *gigglesnort*) there's so much going for it that it's easy to overlook some of Fireball XL5's minor flaws.

A&E's Fireball XL5 DVD box-set is a winner. The quality of the audio/video presentation is excellent, especially in light of the age of the material. The included extras will make fans of the series as well as Fireball newbies happy. There is a lot to enjoy here, especially if you have a love and appreciation of Silver Age-era sci-fi.

As an aside, if they ever make a live-action movie out of Fireball XL5 (with Bill Paxton's involvement with a Thunderbirds live-action adaptation, this could happen!), only one man could play Professor Matt Matic: Dana Carvey. I am convinced more than ever that Carvey must have based his "Grumpy Old Man" character on Professor Matic, at least on some subconscious level. They not only look similar to each other, with the glasses, bushy eyebrows, squinty eyes and pouty bottom lip, but they are such spot-on sound-alikes it's positively uncanny. If anybody reading this review has an option on the property, just consider the possibilities…