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List Price: $19.98 | | Label: New Line Home Entertainment
Salesrank: 22851
Released: September 7, 2004 |
| Our Price: $14.25 |
| Used Price: $9.88 |
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MPAA Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Modernized version of the classic TV series includes 43 episodes featuring high-profile guest stars.
Description of The Twilight Zone - The Complete Series (Season One):
The younger you are, the more you'll enjoy UPN's short-lived revival of The Twilight Zone. Front-loaded with young actors (or marginal celebrities, like Jessica Simpson) and a bone-jarring theme by Korn's Jonathan Davis, the show panders to a teen demographic, which original-series creator Rod Serling would never have tolerated. It's a pale copy of Serling's original, and even the 1985 TZ revival was marginally better, but there are some memorable exceptions in this 43-episode, six-disc set. Not surprisingly, the best episodes are straight remakes of (or sequels to) classic Serling originals, including "The Monsters on Maple Street," "It's Still a Good Life" (with former child actor Bill Mumy reprising his creepiest role, and featuring a series-best performance by Cloris Leachman), and "Eye of the Beholder." Of the originals to this series, highlights include the pilot episode with Jeremy Piven; Jason Alexander in "One Night at Mercy," Amber Tamblyn in "Evergreen"; Lukas Haas in "Harsh Mistress"; Lou Diamond Phillips in "The Pool Guy"; ER's Eriq La Salle as writer, director, and star of "Memphis"; and a few others that capture the eerie quality of "another dimension of sight, sound, and mind."
Woefully miscast as the series' host, Forest Whitaker delivers facile introductions devoid of Serling's literary finesse. More often than not, the writing relies on forgettable characters and thinly-disguised variations on original-series themes; at its worst, the series demonstrates a staggering lack of originality, and the youthful casting frequently results in one-dimensional performances, with a few notable exceptions. It's hit-or-miss at best, but shooting locations in Vancouver, British Columbia, lend the series a visually stimulating variety of settings and atmosphere; production values are consistently high (as they were in the Canadian seasons of X-Files), and Rick Maguire deserves praise for his cinematography on virtually every episode. If you can forget Serling altogether (a difficult challenge for his devoted fans), you'll be able to overlook the flaws and enjoy some occasionally clever trips into The Twilight Zone as it was meant to be. --Jeff Shannon
The Twilight Zone - The Complete Series (Season One) Reviews:
Dedicated fan, but .... 
2009-12-20 - In an effort to be more modern the opening sequence tries too hard. The music is so glaring I push the mute button on and the visual effects more resemble the Outer Limits. Also although I think Forrest Whitaker is a fine actor (and in this case producer) he seems miscast. In the 80's version you only had a narrator and this series would have done well to follow suite-no one can take Rod Serling's place. As for the episodes themselves, some are pretty good and others so-so. Being a fan I still bought the set knowing all of the aforementioned from watching some of the shows when they first aired. This may well be the last attempt to revive this otherwise outstanding series which is likely the most beloved sci-fi gem. Maybe we'll all luck out and an unlikely network like AMC will take it on in the same quality format as they did w/ their hit show Mad Men.
Fantastic Show 
2009-12-02 - This is one of my favorite TV shows. It has 6 discs, all with great episodes.
A for Effort? 
2009-10-03 - I was hesitant to buy the latest installation of The Twilight Zone after reading all of the extremely negative reviews, but I'm glad that I did. Before some internet browsing, I wasn't even aware of this most recent failed attempt.
Firstly, there will never be another Rod Serling, or any other Twilight Zone reenactment that fully captures the essence of the original. That said, I think there are quite a few episodes from the first installation that fall flat and are weak or nonsensical. It never was perfection, although it was close.
This series did what it could. Personally, I was intrigued to see how the aspects of current culture would play out. At times it is fairly interesting; at others, cheesy. Similarly, the music is horrible. Try to tune it out. Additionally, the 2002 version doesn't quite seem to "get" the essence of the original Twilight Zone, although it certainly tries. The Twilight Zone is mysterious, it is chilling, it is at the very core of each and every one of us. Here, the Twilight Zone is something to be played at, and fallen into briefly. What I liked about the original is that it made you think. The same applies here, but the answers seem to come more easily. Perhaps that is the adaption to modernity- ouch.
Also, what were they thinking in casting Forrest Whitaker as narrator? This man falls flat when it comes to conveying the chilling and perplexing conundrums found within the Twilight Zone. He is far too happy, peppy, and all over the place strange- which, for the most part, isn't what the Twilight Zone is about. I'm sure they could have found someone much more captivating. Maybe this new upbeat attempt at narration was another modern, "fresh" spin that just didn't work.
For serious Twilight Zone fans, I would probably recommend skipping the two remakes. "The Monsters are Due on Maple Street" is my all time favorite episode, and I literally cringed when watching it. The acting is so laughingly shameful and annoyingly grating. The new premise (terrorism) is thought-provoking, but far less inciting than the original. The usage of aliens just wasn't so obvious in what they represented politically. Also, the acting found in "Eye of the Beholder" by Molly Sims doesn't even begin to compare to Maxine Stuart or Donna Douglas. I appreciated the attempt, but I really don't feel it was needed.
I guess what is to be learned is that no one will ever be fully satisfied with the remakes. However, there are some good moments- it's not a total waste. It is still captivating, but in a smaller way. If another attempt is ever created, however, I can only hope that no episode is "revamped" and predictably slaughtered, and that Forrest Whitaker stays far, far away.
The Twilight Zone (2000's) DVD Set
2009-08-04 - Item was priced very decent for being brand new, and there was no issue or problems with the transaction or delivery of the product.
Not tat ad of a bargain
2009-03-11 - I got a used copy for $10. It's a bargain. i am almost thru dsk one and believe it's better than some give it credit for. But it's far from perfect. I respect Forest whitaker but he is the biggest weakenss! He doesn't 'sell' the Twilight Zone. Some of his deliveries ar like he's practicing. I alsways like antholgy shows. Hardly anybody ca ike every eisde of an anthogy. But veriety is the game. Since the shows are about 20 minutes long, a lame episode is not that unbearable. It's not as good as the original, but that has some klinkers and redundant stories too. Maybe the next Twilight Zone incarnation will be better, but I am kinda enjoying this.
