Customer Reviews

Millenium:Pilot/Gehenna [VHS]

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was certainly sorry when Fox cancelled Millennium, but on the other hand, it's damn near miraculous that a show this intelligent, original, challenging and disturbing made it on to TV at all, let alone managed to survive for three seasons. I give this tape only four stars because although the series got off to an excellent start it didn't really hit its stride until the last third of the first season, when elements of the supernatural started creeping (and creep is definitely the operative word here) into it, and Millennium slowly transformed into the absolute best horror/fantasy/sf series ever. Although it was always just as much a drama, too. Forget TV, I can't even think of very many films in the genre that can touch this program for subtlty and smarts. For instance, in the brilliant episode "Powers, Principalities, Thrones and Dominions," it becomes fairly apparent that one character is an angel and another is a man posessed by a demon, but nothing is ever explicitly indicated. Now, in pretty much any other show or film they'd hit you over the head with it. They'd probably have the demon-guy's eyes glow red when no one's looking or just have him outright state something that makes his identity unmistakable. They'd probably have the angel-guy sprout wings at some point. But Millennium was almost unique in the extent to which it always demonstrated unusual faith in the intelligence of its audience. And I'd like to add my voice to the chorus clamoring here for the release of the series on DVD, just in case anyone from Fox happens by.

Millennium at it's best was a show that evoked fear, yet demonstrated the sometimes faint but always visible ray of hope. Exceptionally written and wonderfully acted, FOX dropped the ball with the show's cancelation. The dismal failure of Harsh Realm was gratifying to see, maybe FOX will now learn of the true gem it had in Millennium. Late night's, or anytime, I can't think of a better show to watch. Pilot\Gehenna is a wonderful introduction into the series, and worth the price. One of television's few true masterpieces.

Millennium was a fantastic TV show and terribly underrated. This video sets up the series perfectly, foreshadowing the depths of evil to come. As with The X Files, the production values were of a very high standard. I believe Fox made a mistake cancelling this series. I also (neilinoz!) dream of a day when we can get every episode on DVD.

"Millennium" was indeed a rare bird for American television: It was fresh, inventive, intelligent, frightening, eccentric, and uncompromising. For these reasons, it was cancelled. Too bad. Television may never be this strong again. Lance Henriksen starred as Frank Black, an ex-FBI agent who gets seriously burned out tracking insane killers; he retires when things start affecting his family, and he returns home to Seattle. His life takes an unexpected turn when another ex-FBI agent named Peter Watts (played by the excellent Terry O'Quinn) vies to recruit Black into the ranks of the enigmatic Millennium Group, a cabal intent on controlling (or stopping, we're never really sure which) the End Times. The reason? Black has the ability to "see", in his mind's eye, the intent and bizarre reasoning of the killer's actions; therefore, Frank's powers are attractive to Watts and the Group. In the first part, "Pilot," Frank helps the Seattle P.D. and the Group try to apprehend the Frenchman, a serial killer who feasts on strippers and assorted city drifters, and leaves clues in French. "Gehenna", the second part of the tape, pits Frank against one of the "Millennium" fandom's favorite arch-rivals, the sinister Gehenna devil, an evil incarnate force that Black will meet several times throughout the length of the show's life. I regret the shameful way Fox and Chris Carter treated this series, as if it were an also-ran to "The X-Files". The fact is, this series was in many ways superior to its more popular counterpart in the Carter sphere. The show was a bit hard to swallow and undoubtedly heavy-handed. But it was always thought-provoking and never, ever dull. The lame way Frank Black's quest was ended on an "X-Files" episode last season did little to dispel the evil that was so present in his world. I refuse to believe that the Millennium Group just disappeared into the mists of time after surviving many millennia of the themselves. I think a movie or two to clear up these loose ends is in order. My everlasting thanks to those spurned fans who thumbed their collective noses at "Millennium's" flaccid would-be follow-up, um, er...whatever the hell that show was that lasted one episode before going "Poof!" Alas, we may never see any new "Millennium" stuff, except as fan fiction on some websites (which in a lot of cases was better than anything seen on the show's third, and final, season). For those of you who know the show well, I am certain you feel the same as I. For those who haven't seen this show, find this tape and prepare to be amazed. Just don't rent or buy it if you're faint of heart.

Subtle, shocking, intelligent and exceptionally well crafted. Every character fits their role perfectly.

I dream of a future where every Millennium episode is available on DVD - but for now I encourage you to view this incredible show.

I have been a fan of this show since it was first shown on sky in the UK and can only say that Fox has done itself no favors for cancelling the show. That said if anyone is interested the whole first season is available on VHS in England and is well worth getting hold of.

I too was very disappointed when Fox cancelled Millennium. Lance Henriksen should have won a Emmy for his portrayal of Frank Black. The depth and variety of his emotions was astonishing. I would buy the VHS but I'm waiting for the entire series to be put on DVD and then I will buy it no matter what the cost. Since Mulder is being replaced on the X-Files I can only hope Frank/Lance makes frequent appearances. Carter could tie up a lot of loose ends. We already know that CSM was aware of Millennium archives as his telling cigarette butt was found on the floor in "The Time is Now" episode. I watch it over & over on FX and I have most all of it on tape. DVD with interviews, out-takes, background etc. would be a real bonus. ...

I have been noticing that many new and old (some very old) TV series are being released on DVD. BUT why oh why has my favorite TV series of all time- Millenium not been released?!?!? Especially when I see some rather dubious choices released recently! I only watched this series because of the X-files, but found myself liking it immensely better!! Please-to the powers that be- I implore you- produce Millennium on DVD!! There are certainly countless others that share these thoughts!!

Hi everyone.
Fisrtly let me say how fantatsic I thought thsi show was.
My wife and I are big fans of the Millennium tv series , and were were so pleased that the 1st series came out on VHS. I bought the whole series. From 'The Pilot" to "Paper Doves'. Imagine our heartbreak to find that no more videos were scheduled to be released here in the UK. SO!!! how do I get hold of series 2 and 3? ...

Millennium,in its first season,was considered to be a graphic depiction of pure evil in the world. But I guarantee in a few years it will be looked at as a revolutionary step in the right direction considering what that evil is. Pilot is a wonderful premiere by Chris Carter. The acting was just right and there was a sick but hilarious joke involving a past case that's so subtle you laugh in shock at first. Gehenna is another wonderful Carter episode that was a little less gory but twice as gruesome at times. This one had a cult in San Francisco that,like any normal teens,listened to Cyprus Hill,a natural thing for all sane people. It was another memorable and good first season entry. Britain is selling the first 22 episodes of this great three year and possibly longer series and I wish USA would sell them too.