Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #83877 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-11-11
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Box set, Color, Dolby, DVD, Limited Edition, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 5
• Running time: 60 minutes

Customer Reviews

Flawed release
There is nothing wrong with the video or sound quality of the episodes themselves (although I don't have a high-end audio/video setup, so you may have a different experience). The quality of the DVD menus is not very good. The graphics have an outdated 3D video game look to them, and on the episode menu, the type is blurry and of a style that makes it difficult to read. Since there are only 3 choices (play episode/chapter selection/main menu) it isn't much of an issue. Still, it could have been much better.

None of the episodes are in the order in which they were aired, with 1st and 2nd season mixed up on the same disk. Surpisingly, the premiere episode is not included. For the price, the flaws in the menus didn't bother me as much as the random episode order did.

Relic Hunter was a frequently silly show, and anyone expecting historical accuracy is in for a disappointment. The fight scenes are generally good, Tia Carrere is cool, and Christien Anholt can be funny and charming. It was a campy, fun show that had moments of true awfulness. Thankfully, I didn't see any of the episodes that made me cringe and change the channel on this collection. If you enjoyed the show while it was on the air, I think it's worth it to buy the set.

Here is a list of the episodes included on the disk:

Disk 1: Legend of the Lost, Last of the Mohicas, Fertile Ground, Gypsy Jigsaw, Three Rivers to Cross

Disk 2: Lost Contact, Cross of Voodoo, Roman Holiday, Diamond in the Rough, The Reel Thing

Disk 3: The Book of Love, Out of the Past, Eyes of Toklamanee, Etched in Stone, Run Sydney Run

Disk 4: M.I.A., Love Letter, A Good Year, Nothing But the Truth, The Last Knight

Disk 5: Possessed, Memories of Montmarte, Bonus Material (Interviews with Tia Carrere & Christien Anholt, 'Making of', photo gallery & trailers)

Proper Episode Order
For those of you who care, here are the episodes in order and seperated by season as well as which discs they are on. Cheers! Jose'

RELIC HUNTER EPISODES IN PROPER ORDER

SEASON ONE

DIAMOND IN THE ROUGH-DISC TWO
ETCHED IN STONE-DISC THREE
THE BOOK OF LOVE-DISC THREE
A GOOD YEAR-DISC FOUR
THE LAST KNIGHT-DISC FOUR
LOVE LETTER-DISC FOUR
POSSESSED-DISC FIVE
NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH-DISC FOUR
MEMORIES OF MONTMARTE-DISC FIVE

SEASON TWO

LAST OF THE MOHICAS-DISC ONE
THE LEGEND OF THE LOST-DISC ONE
FERTILE GROUND-DISC ONE
GYPSY JIGSAW-DISC ONE
THREE RIVERS TO CROSS-DISC ONE
ROMAN HOLIDAY-DISC TWO
CROSS OF VOODOO-DISC TWO
LOST CONTACT-DISC TWO
THE REEL THING-DISC TWO
M.I.A.-DISC FOUR
OUT OF THE PAST-DISC THREE
EYES OF THE TOKLAMANEE-DISC THREE
RUN SYDNEY RUN-DISC THREE

Ancient Studies . . .
In production for three seasons from 1999 through 2002, the syndicated television program Relic Hunter features Tia Carrere as Sydney Fox, an archeology professor with a big appetite for adventure. The college instructor, along with her intrepid assistant Nigel Bailey (Christien Anholt), boldly traverse the globe, uncovering mysteries and seeking lost artifacts. This "best of" compilation of contains a selection of 22 episodes from the 44 produced during the first two seasons.

Relic Hunter is light-hearted adventure, that doesn't take things too seriously. Do not expect rigid scientific or historical accuracy. Often just a thread of historical fact is taken, and woven into a modern day adventure. Once the quest has begun, each episode unfolds in mostly formulaic fashion, taking twists and turns that while not always logical, are frequently exciting, often humorous, and just plain fun. Lots of action, and in the end usually nobody gets hurt too badly.

Tia Carrere has the charisma and presence to make her credible as a female Indiana Jones. She's athletic, intelligent and sexy. Trained in martial arts, she takes on physically demanding tasks with enthusiasm, and looks damn good doing so.

The complementary relationship between the two leads helps makes this drama a success. While Ms. Fox is definitely a woman of action, Nigel Bailey is more demure. The show's producers were looking for a "Hugh Grant" type, and with Mr. Anholt they got exactly that. His character, while far from physically commanding, has other strengths, and is a hardy and loyal companion. Clearly recognizing his limitations, he leaves the bulk of the fighting to Sydney, but when it comes to translating some obscure language, Nigel is definitely your man. Together they make an unusual team that is a blast to tag along with. Providing support from their academic home base, is Lindy Booth who plays Claudia, Professor Fox's perky and quirky secretary.

The presentation is fullscreen, and picture quality is average for a television production, with a lot of grain and distortion at times. The five disc set, has five episodes per disc, except for the fifth, which only has just two, plus some bonus material. The extras include interviews with stars Tia Carrere and Christien Anholt, a making of featurette, and a photo gallery. Not outstanding, but still better than nothing. For reasons of character development, and continuity of appearance, it might have been better to present the episodes in chronological order, rather than the grouping chosen.

Though a bit formulamatic, the PG13 rated exploits of Professor Fox and Nigel are very entertaining for what they are. Full of excitement and adventure, set in a variety of exotic locations, featuring some pretty decent sets, these programs hold up well to repeated viewings. For TV action and adventure fans, this set deserves your consideration.