Rating: 
Summary: A weak start to the DVD series.
Review: Nostalgia is good. But as we all know, nothing is as good as we remember it.Whoever decided to select these three episodes to kick off the Twilight Zone DVD collection must have been relying on his memory of these three stinkers, because they certainly aren't worth seeing again. "Night of the Meek" is a simplistic morality tale shot on black and white VIDEO. Not only is it ugly to watch, it doesn't have enough of a story to hold the audience's interest. Art Carney does a respectable job as a down-and-out department store Santa, but it's tough to look good on video, even if you are a skilled actor like Carney. "The Invaders" at least looks decent, on film, since the Twilight Zone producers thankfully gave up their b/w video experiment after only a handful of episodes. David Duchovny has stated that this is one of his favorite episodes, and it's got a nice twist to it, but you can see it coming after the first few minutes. The acting and "special effects" are so hokey, however, that the one-note irony of the story is almost unbearable to sit through. I'm sure it's a fondly remembered episode, but it's better remembered, where it's compressed into it's best moments, than viewed, where it just drags for nearly 22 minutes. The final episode of this DVD, "Nothing in the Dark" is a sweet, supernatural story about fear. The most interesting aspect of the episode isn't the story, however, but the appearance of a young Robert Redford as a police officer. This is clearly the best episode of the three, but it's too melodramatic, too staged, to be anything but a didactic look at death. And it's certainly not outstanding enough to save this collection. Avoid this DVD. These episodes are best left where they belong. In the past. In your memory.
Rating: 
Summary: An uneven start to a superlative collection.
Review: The Twilight Zone was a truly great anthology series that perfected the ironic twist ending. You never knew if the episode was a joke or serious until that final zinger. Sometimes you could see them coming, but what the heck pobody's nerfect. The three episodes (only THREE?) on this first volume are beloved by many, loathed by few (I disagree 100% with the one star reviewer) but do not fit well together. I guess they were put together as a representation of The Zone at its most diverse. Night of the Meek: The only Christmas episode the series produced, but they got it close enough to right the first time so why tempt fate? The best thing about it is Art Carney's performance, which, if you only thought he could do Ed Norton, is a stunner. The Invaders: Agnes Moorehead (who speaks no dialogue) is terrorized by teeny alien invaders that have landed their flying saucer on her roof. Jerry Goldsmith's excellent, and legendary, music help lift this episode (which is both playful and scary as hell) up to one of the series all time greats. So what if the Little Spacemen look like wind up toys? Nothing in the Dark: Robert Redford plays an injured police officer that a woman hiding from Mr. Death reluctantly helps. This is far from my favorite Zone, but it does feature gruff character actor R.G. Armstrong in a small role as a man hired to tear the old lady's building down. All three (only THREE???) episodes are good in their own unique way, but they do not play well together. I wished that more thought had been given to place episodes with similiar themes together, making for a stronger viewing experience. Nonetheless this stuff is required viewing for sci-fi buffs.
Rating: 
Summary: You've Just Crossed Over Into....
Review: The Twilight Zone! If you're stepping into the Zone for thefirst time as a movie/television viewer used to flashy effects, massexplosions, and MTV-type editing, you need to understand a few thingsat the outset: When The Twilight Zone first aired, your televisionchoices were (all in black and white, mind you), Ozzie and Harriet,Leave it to Beaver, Gunsmoke, a couple of cop shows and a few varietyshows. The Twilight Zone came into living rooms in 1959 with unusual,ground-breaking shows that people talked about for days on end. Sinceit was an anthology show, every week viewers were presented with newstories and different actors. You really never knew exactly what toexpect. At its worst, the Twilight Zone was good TV. At its best,the show was challenging, stunning, and entertaining in a way that noother show of its time dared. I agree with most of the otherreviewers. This is an odd collection of episodes for the introductoryvolume of the series. "Night of the Meek" contains ArtCarney's touching performance of a department store Santa who drinks alittle too much in an attempt to escape the poverty of hisneighborhood. Then something strange and wonderfulhappens... "The Invaders" is one of the great episodes fromthe series. Remember, this episode aired in 1961...think"typical 1961 TV" as I mentioned before, and you won't bedisappointed. "Nothing in the Dark," while still a goodepisode, is the weakest of the three in which an old woman tries tokeep death from entering her home. Like others, I was verydisappointed to find only three episodes on this disk instead of four.Also a behind-the-scenes section would have been nice. The text-onlyextras are okay, but I would have liked to have seen more. (When youcheck out the extras, read fast!) The best behind-the-scenes storieson the show are found in a book "The Twilight ZoneCompanion" by Marc Scott Zicree, which I highly recommend.
Rating:
Summary: You've Just Crossed Over Into....
Review: The Twilight Zone! If you're stepping into the Zone for thefirst time as a movie/television viewer used to flashy effects, massexplosions, and MTV-type editing, you need to understand a few thingsat the outset: When The Twilight Zone first aired, your televisionchoices were (all in black and white, mind you), Ozzie and Harriet,Leave it to Beaver, Gunsmoke, a couple of cop shows and a few varietyshows. The Twilight Zone came into living rooms in 1959 with unusual,ground-breaking shows that people talked about for days on end. Sinceit was an anthology show, every week viewers were presented with newstories and different actors. You really never knew exactly what toexpect. At its worst, the Twilight Zone was good TV. At its best,the show was challenging, stunning, and entertaining in a way that noother show of its time dared. I agree with most of the otherreviewers. This is an odd collection of episodes for the introductoryvolume of the series. "Night of the Meek" contains ArtCarney's touching performance of a department store Santa who drinks alittle too much in an attempt to escape the poverty of hisneighborhood. Then something strange and wonderfulhappens... "The Invaders" is one of the great episodes fromthe series. Remember, this episode aired in 1961...think"typical 1961 TV" as I mentioned before, and you won't bedisappointed. "Nothing in the Dark," while still a goodepisode, is the weakest of the three in which an old woman tries tokeep death from entering her home. Like others, I was verydisappointed to find only three episodes on this disk instead of four.Also a behind-the-scenes section would have been nice. The text-onlyextras are okay, but I would have liked to have seen more. (When youcheck out the extras, read fast!) The best behind-the-scenes storieson the show are found in a book "The Twilight ZoneCompanion" by Marc Scott Zicree, which I highly recommend.
Rating: 
Summary: Essential Episodes for Volume 1
Review: These have to be three of the most televised episodes of the "Twilight Zone." They have been televised so many times through the years that I have often not paid much attention to them when they were on. Often we take things that are endearing to us for granted. So was the case with these three episodes. NOTHING IN THE DARK has been overshadowed by the stardom of Robert Redford. Watching it again, I found the story by George Clayton Johnson very moving and particularly well acted by Redford and Gladys Cooper. THE INVADERS is a classic episode and one of the backbones of the series. The writing by Richard Matheson, the performance by Agnes Moorehead, the production values and music all came together to make it one of the quintessential episodes of the series. NIGHT OF THE MEEK is pure Serling all the way. Rod Serling's yearning for those cherished days long gone or a part of ourselves that we think was lost is always evident in his best works. NIGHT OF THE MEEK is very uplifting and may bring a tear to those who cherish this episode. Art Carney showed us all a great dramatic side and depth which enhances this beyond the ordinary. The fact that this was one of the six episodes of the "Twilight Zone" that were recorded directly onto videotape instead of film gives it that 'live' appearance and helps add to its validity as an icon of the days of 'good television.' These are all good episodes and deserve a second look. The quality of the prints are excellent! Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Strong Episodes, but Short
Review: This short, first volume of collected Twilight Zone episodes features two strong episodes and a timid, undeveloped one. "The Invaders," with almost no dialogue, is an achievement in suspense with an amazing ending. "Nothing in the Dark," featuring Robert Redford, encounters deep questions (and fears) about death. The first episode, "Night of the Meek," with Art Carney as Santa Claus, had some potential as a good story, but lacked any serious conflict or drama. While "Invaders" and "Nothing in the Dark" are well worth the cost of this CD, there are better volumes in Collection One from which to choose.
Rating:
Summary: Superb performances from great actors in "The Twilight Zone"
Review: Volume 1 of "The Twilight Zone" presents a trio of classic episodes where the performances by the actors are as memorable as the stories with their infamous Twilight Zone twists. "The Invaders" is a tour de force performance by Agnes Moorhead in an episode written by Richard Matheson. Moorhead plays a woman living alone in a farmhouse who finds that a miniature flying saucer has landed on her roof. The woman has to fight against the strange tiny invaders with their advanced technology. But then remember, this is the Twilight Zone. "Night of the Meek," written by Rod Serling, finds poor Henry Corwin (Art Carney), a department store Santa who shows up drunk on Christmas Eve and is fired. Wandering the streets, he discovers a magic bag that can dispense any gift he asks for. Definitely a seasonal message from Serling and directed by Jack Smight, with John Fielder and Burt Mustin in the cast. "Nothing in the Dark," written by George Clayton Johnson, offers Gladys Cooper as Wanda Dunn as an old woman who has barricaded herself in her basement apartment for years, fearing that Mr. Death with kill her with a touch. Wanda knows that Death can take many disguises. But despite her fears, when Harold Beldon, a young policeman is shot outside her door, she drags him inside. Of course, the fact Beldon is played by Robert Redford might have something to do with her letting her guard down. This DVD includes "Inside The Twilight Zone", with information on Rod Serling, a history of the series, reviews of each episode, cast information and a season-by-season commentary. Not a bad first disc, but there is much better to come. However, you will not find a better trio of performances than you find here with Moorhead, Carney and Cooper.
Rating:
Summary: Superb performances from great actors in "The Twilight Zone"
Review: Volume 1 of "The Twilight Zone" presents a trio of classic episodes where the performances by the actors are as memorable as the stories with their infamous Twilight Zone twists. "The Invaders" is a tour de force performance by Agnes Moorhead in an episode written by Richard Matheson. Moorhead plays a woman living alone in a farmhouse who finds that a miniature flying saucer has landed on her roof. The woman has to fight against the strange tiny invaders with their advanced technology. But then remember, this is the Twilight Zone. "Night of the Meek," written by Rod Serling, finds poor Henry Corwin (Art Carney), a department store Santa who shows up drunk on Christmas Eve and is fired. Wandering the streets, he discovers a magic bag that can dispense any gift he asks for. Definitely a seasonal message from Serling and directed by Jack Smight, with John Fielder and Burt Mustin in the cast. "Nothing in the Dark," written by George Clayton Johnson, offers Gladys Cooper as Wanda Dunn as an old woman who has barricaded herself in her basement apartment for years, fearing that Mr. Death with kill her with a touch. Wanda knows that Death can take many disguises. But despite her fears, when Harold Beldon, a young policeman is shot outside her door, she drags him inside. Of course, the fact Beldon is played by Robert Redford might have something to do with her letting her guard down. This DVD includes "Inside The Twilight Zone", with information on Rod Serling, a history of the series, reviews of each episode, cast information and a season-by-season commentary. Not a bad first disc, but there is much better to come. However, you will not find a better trio of performances than you find here with Moorhead, Carney and Cooper.
Rating:
Summary: Superb performances from great actors in "The Twilight Zone"
Review: Volume 1 of "The Twilight Zone" presents a trio of classic episodes where the performances by the actors are as memorable as the stories with their infamous Twilight Zone twists. "The Invaders" is a tour de force performance by Agnes Moorhead in an episode written by Richard Matheson. Moorhead plays a woman living alone in a farmhouse who finds that a miniature flying saucer has landed on her roof. The woman has to fight against the strange tiny invaders with their advanced technology. But then remember, this is the Twilight Zone. "Night of the Meek," written by Rod Serling, finds poor Henry Corwin (Art Carney), a department store Santa who shows up drunk on Christmas Eve and is fired. Wandering the streets, he discovers a magic bag that can dispense any gift he asks for. Definitely a seasonal message from Serling and directed by Jack Smight, with John Fielder and Burt Mustin in the cast. "Nothing in the Dark," written by George Clayton Johnson, offers Gladys Cooper as Wanda Dunn as an old woman who has barricaded herself in her basement apartment for years, fearing that Mr. Death with kill her with a touch. Wanda knows that Death can take many disguises. But despite her fears, when Harold Beldon, a young policeman is shot outside her door, she drags him inside. Of course, the fact Beldon is played by Robert Redford might have something to do with her letting her guard down. This DVD includes "Inside The Twilight Zone", with information on Rod Serling, a history of the series, reviews of each episode, cast information and a season-by-season commentary. Not a bad first disc, but there is much better to come. However, you will not find a better trio of performances than you find here with Moorhead, Carney and Cooper.
Rating:
Summary: Awsome series!
Review: Wow, I just watched these episodes and I was impressed. Very entertaining. I'll do a review for each episode. Night of the Meek- This is a great Christmas episode, even though it was october when I saw it. (***) The Invaders- When I first saw this, it really creeped me out. I was even screaming! There was a wonderful twist at the end. (***) Nothing in the Dark- This is another one that gave me the creeps. Death comes walking up to your door. Probably the best one on the disk. (****)
|
