The Twilight Zone - Collection 5

Rating:
Summary: Now Entering...The Nostalgia Zone
Review: Having had a partial collection on video for many years now, I anxiously awaited the release on DVD. Finally! The complete series (156 episodes) has finally received the treatment it truly deserves. This series has held up well for 40+ years, and I have no doubt it will make it for at least another half century. Television writing was at its peak with this show, and the evolution of television filming (and videotaping) techniques is obvious over the course of this series. And the trademark twists at the end of each episode still take me by surprise!

Technically, the digital remastering to DVD has brought new life to Rod Serling's brainchild. The video presentation is crisp and well defined, bringing out the subtle details so well, that you will find yourself completely absorbed in the nuances of Serling's vision, and the outstanding production values for this early 60's series (just keep in mind that this is pre-Computer Generation era). The audio was clear, and blissfully noise free, but a bit low on the volume when compared to the title and menu audio tracks (both on the geyeballh version of the earlier disks, and the intro sequences on the later disks). The shows are presented in their original format, so no widescreen version is necessary. And television always translates well to...well, television. Although the extras include a Rod Serling bio, a brief synopsis of each of the 5 seasons that the series ran, and a Twilight Zone history, these features are identical on each disc. The true gem of the extra features is the episode synopsis and review. Each disc is unique in this respect, with a plot summary and some background "inside info". Although mostly taken from the book "The Twilight Zone Companion," I found this feature to be the most interesting.

Each collection has its ghitsh and gmissesh, but the series is, overall, a rewarding experience. The only "disappointments" that I found were the collection's lack of a subtitles option (which I really would have appreciated), and the fact that the episodes are not in order (which slightly detracts from observing the actual progression of growth within the series). That makes this more of a 4 1/2 star rating (but you can't do that, can you?). If you have ever enjoyed even one episode of this legendary series, you will not regret buying these collections. And if you've never seen it, give it a try...you'll be hooked.

Rating:
Summary: Twilight Zone - One Of My Favorite Shows
Review: If you buy one of these TZ Box Sets, you might as well buy the other four. Each set has nine volumes (sans the documentary Rod Serling - Submitted For Your Approval). My favorite episodes deal with Time Travel (No Time Like The Past, Back There, Walking Distance, Static, The Seventh Is Made Up Of Phantoms), Old Age (Kick The Can, Nothing In The Dark, The Trade-Ins, One For The Angels), The Civil War (The Passerby, An Occurrance At Owl Creek Bridge, Still Valley), and Paranoia (The Monsters Are Due On Maple Street, The Shelter, 4:00). My other favorites are the four by Jack Klugman (A Passage For Trumpet, A Game Of Pool, In Praise Of Pip, Death Ship) and Burgess Meredith (Time Enough At Last, Mr Dingle Mr Strong, The Obsolete Man, Printer's Devil). If you are new to the show, watch these episodes first. They are the creme de la creme of the show.

The series is excellent. However, it's deliberate attempts at humor are often misfires (The Whole Truth, The Bewitching Pool, I Dream Of Genie). The episode A Short Drink From A Certain Fountain is the "Spock's Brain" on the series, meaning it's the worst. The ending is bad; what were they thinking??? No wonder it didn't make the syndication package.

The Sound Quality varies from each DVD. Some have two channel mono while others have HIFI mono. Closed Captioned doesn't work for any of the DVD's. There's usually only 3 or 4 episodes per DVD, unlike other Box Sets that fit 8 per DVD, thus lowering the price. This is a minor beef, because the show is worth the money.

You will also notice that 3 episodes (Where Is Everybody, The Encounter, The Eye Of The Beholder) appear twice if you buy all five. Again, a minor beef since The Encounter is the only one of the three to be exactly the same on both separate DVD's.

These Box Sets are now a bargain compared to when each volume is sold separately. I never tire of watching the episodes and reading the notes. I also recommend Rod Serling's Submitted For Your Approval. It gives insight to Rod Serling and his creation as told by friends, relatives and co-workers.

Rating:
Summary: La creme de la creme
Review: This collection is in many respects similar to the other 4. But it contains more than its share of the very best episodes, as well as an interview of Rod Serling conducted by Mike Wallace just before TZ began its highly successful run. The interview frankly addresses the practical issues of using TV as a medium of serious expression. Even more disturbing, in my own view, is Serling's chain smoking as a manifestation of the stress inherent in being a creative artist in a society that neither understands nor warmly receives them.

In any case, this collection is excellent for TZ aficionados, for new fans sampling it, and for those on your gift lists who are hard to buy for. If you like, see also my reviews of the 4 previous collections.

Rating:
Summary: La creme de la creme
Review: This collection is in many respects similar to the other 4. But it contains more than its share of the very best episodes, as well as an interview of Rod Serling conducted by Mike Wallace just before TZ began its highly successful run. The interview frankly addresses the practical issues of using TV as a medium of serious expression. Even more disturbing, in my own view, is Serling's chain smoking as a manifestation of the stress inherent in being a creative artist in a society that neither understands nor warmly receives them.

In any case, this collection is excellent for TZ aficionados, for new fans sampling it, and for those on your gift lists who are hard to buy for. If you like, see also my reviews of the 4 previous collections.

Rating:
Summary: The best show, now on DVD
Review: This is hands-down my favorite television series, and now it's on DVD in superlative form. You can't go wrong with any of the five collections.

Rating:
Summary: Comment to "Manji" and readers.
Review: To readers:

Please do not confuse this collection with "SEASON 5" of the series.

This is NOT a collection of Season 5 episodes. It is all mixed episodes from Seasons 1-5.

BTW, these sets are great!