MacGyver: The TV Movies – DVD Review

DVD Reviews, Reviews



No longer are MacGyver fans that bought single season sets forced to plot obtaining the bonus disc from MacGyver: The Complete Series boxset using a coat hanger, their first born and a credit card. After nearly three years of grousing, the disc can finally be bought separately as MacGyver: The TV Movies. Two years after the series ended its seven season run, Richard Dean Anderson returned to the role in MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis and MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday. The TV movies were made as a response to how well the series was doing in syndication around the globe. MacGyver-mania was in full bloom so they brought him back quickly without waiting decades for a creaky reunion film with an elderly MacGyver giving us one more go around. These two movies give us the high octane MacGyver instead of an early bird special.

MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis is a rip roaring adventure in the Indiana Jones sense. MacGyver and Brian Blessed are deep in a temple looking for a clue to the sunken city of Atlantis. It opens with the classic switcheroo to free an ancient coin. Blessed thinks he’s got proof however his explorers society think he’s a loon. The only way he can restore his reputation is to find it. He needs the best man to bring along since part of the path goes through a country at war. He teams back up with McGuyver for a rip roaring adventure. The movie was shot in England. The Battersea Power Station makes a cameo. You might recognize it from the cover of Pink Floyd’s Animals.

MacGyver: Trail to Doomsday is a high-tech adventure. MacGuyver thinks it’ll be an easy night at a pal’s birthday party. Along with the usual folks on the guest list arrives a group of terrorists. They kill the birthday boy and his daughter. MacGuyver wants revenge. Things get complicated when a nuclear bomb gets mingled in with the terrorists’ big plot. MacGyver ultimately has to save the world.

MacGyver: The TV Movies revives the character while we can still believe his body can handle the intense action. They aren’t caking on the make up to make Richard Dean Anderson look like he’s under 60. MacGyver: Lost Treasure of Atlantis is the more fun of the two with the action quest angle. Ultimately these are two movies that must be viewed as part of the MacGyver canon.

The video is 1.33:1 full frame. The transfers are fine with plenty of detail to dazzle us with MacGyver’s hair. The audio is Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo. You’ll hear the ticking clock as MacGyver cuts it close.

None.

MacGyver: The TV Movies is a relief to fans who bought the single season boxsets. No longer will they be teased by the Complete Series collection. Now they can enjoy the last two major MacGyver adventures. Both films are worthy of being part of the series with their focus on the action and the adventure. Neither film gets as stupid as MacGruber.


CBS DVD presents MacGyver: The TV Movies. Starring: Richard Dean Anderson, Brian Blessed and Peter Egan. Boxset Contents: 2 films on 1 DVD. Released on DVD: June 15, 2010. Available at Amazon.com.

Joe Corey is the writer and director of "Danger! Health Films" currently streaming on Night Flight and Amazon Prime. He's the author of "The Seven Secrets of Great Walmart People Greeters." This is the last how to get a job book you'll ever need. He was Associate Producer of the documentary "Moving Midway." He's worked as local crew on several reality shows including Candid Camera, American's Most Wanted, Extreme Makeover Home Edition and ESPN's Gaters. He's been featured on The Today Show and CBS's 48 Hours. Dom DeLuise once said, "Joe, you look like an axe murderer." He was in charge of research and programming at the Moving Image Archive.