Twilight Zone (1983)

A highly anticipated release for fantasy fans in the summer of 1983, Twilight Zone: The Movie presents three adaptations of classic episodes (and one original story) from Rod Serling's anthology series by a quartet of the biggest directors in Hollywood. With Stephen Spielberg (also the film's co-producer), John Landis, George Miller (The Road Warrior, Happy Feet), and Joe Dante behind the camera for this portmanteau feature, one might expect Serling's episodes to positively gleam with star power, but the truth is that Twilight Zone: The Movie is a hit-and-miss affair. Landis opens with an amusing nod to the original series' pop-culture appeal with Dan Aykroyd and Albert Brooks riffing on their favorite episodes before a hair-raising shock finale; unfortunately, his second offering is a bland morality plan about racial tolerance that will forever be overshadowed by the accident that claimed the lives of star Vic Morrow and two child actors during shooting. Spielberg's take on George Clayton Johnson's "Kick the Can" looks lovely and is well performed by its cast (especially Scatman Crothers), but it struggles to bear up under the weight of treacley sentiment so common to the director's films at the time. Dante's version of Jerome Bixby's "It's A Good Life" (about a boy with monstrous powers) is rife with his trademark energy and black humor (and his cast of regular players, including Kevin McCarthy and William Schallert, strike the right balance of terror and comedy). But it's Miller's revamp of Richard Matheson's legendary "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" that delivers the biggest payoff, thanks to John Lithgow's super-charged turn as a nervous airline passenger who's convinced he's seen a monster tampering with the plane's wing. Burgess Meredith (himself a veteran of the original TZ) provides narration; the widescreen DVD features no extras save for the original trailer and a remastered digital transfer. --Paul Gaita Amazon.com

Good versus bad

The movie that was long overdue. It doesn't make the original series look better or worse. And in some cases, an improvement. The gremlin in "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" was far better than the one depicted on the TV version and John Lithgow starts at paranoid and rakes it up. He doesn't start calm and build. Very difficult to do and I admire that.

"It's a Good Life" has so many in-jokes it is not funny. Watch for star cameos, named of towns and references to the original show.

"Kick the Can" is superbly filmed. Spielberg took his time and did this one with love.

I also suggest you buy "The Twilight Zone: Unlocking the Door to a Television Classic" because the 800 plus page book is a P-E-R-F-E-C-T companion to the DVD. You'll learn about the behind-the-scenes filming and that means far more than casual vieweing. It requires multiple viewings. The behind-the-scenes stuff is fun. Both are available on Amazon. September 24, 2008

Makes you wonder....

I tip my hat to the following directors; John Landis, Stephen Speilberg, Joe Dante, George Miller. A FANTASIC AND STRANGE MOVIE! July 29, 2008

Still Hold Up As A Every Good Movie, Twilight Zone"The Movie"

The Twilight Zone"The Movie" is more than fun, it's a trip into a world of the mind & you'll see thing that will trick your thoughts.Four short stories into the otherside, the best one in the story of the older poeple,finding they never need to grow old & learn to keep their youth in their hearts. It's just one of four short stories. Another is about a man & his fear of flying & thing go mad in his mind or are they real. Well you just have to find out for yourself. So pick up the Twilight Zone"The Movie" & catch a mind ride to the otherside, It's fun trip'enjoy.Great movie fun. July 10, 2008

Underrated

I have read reviews saying that people are disappointed because there was no gore, or disappointed because the transfer wasn't to their standards.... GET OVER IT. Twilight Zone the movie is very underrated in my opinion. This movie pays great homage to the TV show produced by Rod Sterling. This film is a fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and I tend to believe that it is done in such a format that most ages can watch it. For a movie to be good it doesn't have to have gore. If a film can make you think differently about a situation then the writer director has accomplished a great job. The first story about the racist having to suffer the lives of those who he discriminated make you think outside the box about racism. The second is a light hearted tale where the elderly have a second chance at being young again, this segment is suitable for all ages. The third installment is just weird but exciting as cartoon elements are weaved into reality by a adolescent. The final tale, although it doesn't show a drop of blood is scary as hell. I recall watching this when I was a kid and I blame that darned gremlin ripping the plane apart to be my reason for hating to travel by aviation. Even to this day the gremlin and plane creep me out. I suggest, buy this, but do note there is not one drop of blood in this film, and although I am a gore hound, this collection is still worth the buy. May 27, 2008

Hard to recreate magic twice.

The Twilight Zone - The Movie was a film I liked as a little kid but watching it now on DVD, it feels like a disappointment. The four segments are not equally good, the only segment that stands out is the final one with John Lithgow. He is such a brilliant and intense actor, only he can pull off that classic William Shatner episode. Kick the Can and It's a Good Life are pretty outrageous and lame. Sorry to say this film doesn't stand the test of time, buy the t.v. show instead. April 24, 2008

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