Customer Reviews

The Outer Limits (The New Series) - Time Travel & Infinity

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This DVD has 6 "Outer Limits time travel stories" of the series. Maybe with a little luck, we will see the series put out on DVD by season.

1) A Stitch in Time - season 2 - Jamie Perrin of the FBI investigates the murder of 17 men that have been killed with the same gun over the last 50 years. The gun is traced to Dr. Theresa Givens who was 5 years old at the time of the 1st murder and to add to the mystery the gun had not yet been invented.

2) Tribunal - season 5 - At the Birkenau concentration camp Leon Zgierski watches Karl Rademacher shoot his wife and send his daughter to the gas chamber. A time traveler who grabs Radermacher's jacket sees the event.

3) Gettysburg - season 6 - Andy and Vince spend their weekends reacting battles from the Civil War. When their picture is taken with an old camera they find themselves on the eve of an 1863 battle.

4) Time to Time - season 7 - A daughter travels back in time to change her father's destiny.

5) Déjà vu - season 5 - Mark Crest builds a teleportation machine to transport some animals across the desert.

6) Patient Zero - season 7 - A man from the future arrives in the present to kill the carrier of a plague that could destroy humanity.

Time travel is a very difficult topic to have a story about, mostly because of the holes one can place in time and space. However, these in general were very good stories.

Easily, A Stitch in Time is the best episode.... and one of the best time travel stories I have experienced in a long time. They do a very good job of exploring these holes that are created. This is also the best Outer Limits episodes that I have seen so far.

Okay, I've got a soft spot when it comes to storied dealing with families. I really enjoyed Tribunal. Other than the fact that the main character would need to speak Yidish, English, and German fluently for this story to make sense... it really pulled at the ol' heart strings.

Gettysburg really turned me off. Maybe I was surprised to see Prentice again. Maybe it was because of what Prentice was trying to accomplish. It seemed like there were a million different ways to change what he was trying to prevent from happening, and he chose the most complicated way to do it.

I said, "What, Prentice again!!!" when Time to Time came on. The statement by Prenice's co-worker on what it takes to time travel would have been cute and funny if it didn't completely put a huge hole in the former two stories. It reminded me a bit of the movie, "Millennium."

Deja Vu reminded me of a Star Trek episode where Data went through the same thing that Kevin Nealon did and also Groundhog Day (one of the best movies EVER!!!). It was entertaining once, but I think it lacked the shock and awe that the writers were going for (none of their big surprises were big surprises).

And Patient Zero. Okay, a big hole is building a time machine to go into the past and stop something from happening because at this time you lose the incentive to build the time machine in the first place and sending that person back. So, the person shouldn't exist in the first place and the universe shoud blow up. This episode was predictable all the way and left me very disappointed.

Overall, I really liked the first two episodes and Deja Vu. The others I never really got in to. I know that time travel is a difficult subject (I still haven't found the perfect one yet, but A Stitch in Time came VERY close), but the three episodes I didn't like forced me to dock the movie two stars. Also, I would love it if the Outer Limits didn't do themes, but released it season by season. I might have liked these all more if I hadn't watched one story after another. I also have a feeling that they WILL release them season by season in the future and I'll regret these purchases. Of course, I'll need a time machine or just have to wait to find out if I'm correct.

Because of its complex plots and fantastic plot twists, not to mention that most episodes are family appropriate, the Outer Limits shines as an example of great television. However, like most great TV shows these days, I've only ever seen it on a non-network channel, which means it will never get the publicity it deserves (unlike annoying shows like Sinefeld and Friends).

The show is a lot like the Twilight Zone from back in the sixties (when the original 'Outer Limits' originally ran), but with more bizare plot twists and, more often than not, a great moral at the end. This DVD is not a collection of all episodes from a particular season, but is instead a set of episodes related by the fact that they all deal with time travel (although there was one season in which time travel was featured quite prominently, although I'm not sure which it was).

The highlights of this set would have to be Patient Zero and Time to Time (I haven't watched Deja vu yet, so I can't comment on it). Patient Zero is somewhat predictable, although watching the pieces fall into place is almost as entertaining as not knowing what will happen. Time to Time is probably my favorite episode of the show, and features some great cinamatography and a perfect ending, although I found it somewhat predictable. As I sat and saw the pieces fall into place, I smiled with a sort of evil glee to see where the story was going.

The only episode I didn't really care for was the Gettygsburg episode, because it didn't really have a great plot twist, interesting characters, or even that great of a plot.

If you're a fan of the show, or just interested in stories with involving plots and great twists, this set will not disapoint.

I really like the 'New Outer Limits' episodes and spend time taping them off of the Sci-Fi Channel because only two dvd's have been released of the new series. My favorite episode is "Patient Zero" - none of the other episodes have the humanity, dialogue or true sense to them that "Patient Zero" has. Michael Rooker has been criticized for being 'wooden'; however, his entire family was destroyed by a plague and he is sent to earth to kill an innocent woman. So I think it was somewhat realistic that he be a little flustered and tight-lipped about his mission and thought provoking communication with the doomed "Patient Zero" who is a pregnant woman who shows him compassion and they both share a love of music. Tanya Allen Patient Zero) is also in an episode called "Fear Itself" that was made a few years earlier than this episode.

It seems that the fewer reviews and critics I read about something, the more I enjoy it. But because you can't always agree with everyone's opinion, I decided to give my humble opinion.

I first watched The New Outer Limits series entirely by accident some years ago when it was broadcast arbitrarily at a channel late at night here in Greece. And boy was I hooked!

For me, the Outer Limits stands as a fine example of a serious and decent work from people who want not only to educate but make you think for so many different things. Are there a lot of TV shows out there that can claim that today?

And, ok, maybe some episodes aren't as good as others, but tell me of a TV show that's 100% perfect. The very fact that the Outer Limits were ever producted in the 90's with such a quality, speaks for itself. Compared with the average mindless garbage we see on TV today, it's halfway to perfect already.

Now on the DVD. The first three stories (A stitch in time, Tribunal, Gettysburg) left me speechless. Tight plots, smart twists, solid acting, you name it! How I really like the sobber and dark mood that the series creates in its stories! And the intro and conclusion voice overs that set the tone to the story!
All the stories are elevated even more by the fine performances of the cast. I really liked Meatlof. For me, he seemed perfect for the role, especially when he was going paranoid.In the end, Gettysburg left me really shocked. I don't know much about US history and I surely didn't know about the events of the battle of Gettysburg and that helped me enjoy the story as a big mystery.

And what can you say about Tribunal! Heartfelt, involving, clever. I really enjoyed how the story led the ex-Nazi to be executed by his younger self. And the touching finale gave such a humane and heartfelt morale. I really loved Prentis's character.He was slightly better than in Gettysburg but overall top notch.

As for the other three episodes (Time to Time, Deja Vu, Patient Zero) I was left with a feeling that something was missing. It's like having the perfect cooked meal but you lack the salt.I don't know, maybe those three stories didn't seem 'dark' enough for me. That didn't stop me from enjoying them, but when you watch the Outer Limits, you expect just that bit more! Averall solid stories, with first class performances (Michael Rooker gave just the perfect acting for the story), nice twists, but as I said, from the Outer Limits you have come to expect something more.

Maybe not all of the stories deserve 5 stars, but I give it anyway, simply because this series exists at all. A big thank you to the creative team involved, for bringing us something honest,sincere and mind-boggling. If I was an actor, the Outer Limits is a series I would want to be in.

P.S. I get really pissed-off with the lame politics of the companies that have the rights and don't invest some money on releasing some fine DVD boxsets. I know I can't change it but I want to say it anyway! Oh well, I guess the good things in life are hard to find also.

for someone who enjoys the concept of time travel what a wonderful diversion from everyday life. the series is great because depending what you like robots, androids time travel you can find it on one of these very affordable dvs. the storys are entertaing and have quite a cast of people i would highly recommed this dvd for anyone that enjoys shows like the twilightzone. the irony of tales from the crypy tales from the darkside and time travel sincerly christian john nielsen

The episodes featuring the time traveler Prentice would make a great TV series on their own!

The Outer Limits is a smart show but what may suprise people who aren't familiar with this version is that many episodes are very profound, well-crafted dramas.
Six 44 minute episodes about time travel are presented here from the series.
I know many fans want to see this series released like other series are: a whole season in a set. But I have to say I kind of like this format. I cringe at spending between fifty and a hundred dollars on a whole season of a t.v. show. Anyway, because this is an anthology series there's no harm in breaking it up. Each episode you're meant to visit someplace new. That's the appeal of the Outer Limits.
Being inexpensive isn't enough to recommend something though. It has to be good. And this is definately top-notch sci-fi drama.
Time travel is a great idea (hats off to H.G. Wells for inventing it). Isn't it interesting that in time travel stories characters run into the hand of fate again and again? I think that's part of their appeal. That and the idea of revisiting the past, places and times from before you were born, using knowledge to steer things your way, and all that. Like one of the producers says on this disc, it's a kind of wish fulfillment.
Some of the episodes here actually do have a recurring character. Apparently the Limits producers were trying to create a spin-off time travel series. The three episodes with that character work as stand alone stories too, but they set up an intriguing idea of these time meddlers opperating on the events of the past. I like the fact that they allow their sympathies to interfere in their choices more than you would see in other sci-fi shows (who would put rules ahead of personal sympathy). They DO need to get approval for their meddling and they do want to preserve the time line, but sometimes they act impulsively too. I mean, they ARE meddlers by definition.
Serious topics like the nazi holocaust, crime and punishment, the power of our choices and where they lead, and self-sacrifice to save others in the future are fully realized in these stories. (The holocaust isn't used lightly for that episode. It's serious drama and is done very well, as most of these episodes are.)
Most of these episodes are like mini-movies. The production values are as impressive as the writing. From the recreations of civil war battles, to the gritty concentration camp, to the cool effects shot of one time traveler embracing another and vanishing as a fire ball nearly envelopes them, the special effects are there to back up the great acting and storytelling.
In fact, I probably haven't said enough about the acting. It's very good throughout. Stories like these depend on us buying the characters as much as the effects and writing and they have a shorter time to make an impact than a regular series actor has.
Bottom line: The Outer Limits - Time Travel and Infinity is well worth the price. You may even watch it more than big sci-fi movies about time travel like the Terminator or Back to the Future.

i love all the new outer limits series after watching im always left pondering its possibilities even when dreaming

These stories are very entertaining, and actually have an intellectual content, in sharp contrast to much of the pablum that exists on television these days. Some of these stories are truly excellent.

"A Stitch in Time" is a superb episode that satisfactorily addresses the paradoxes inherent in time travel, and tells a compelling yarn to boot. "Patient Zero" is a suspensful and touching story that also deals with the paradox of time travel.

"Gettysburg" is a good story, but was too political for my taste. "Tribunal" was simply excellent.

This collection is several cuts above what one normally finds on television, and successfully upholds the reputation of "The Outer Limits" both the original series and this new series, in that regards. This DVD is a terrific entertainment value to which the discerning viewer will repeatedly return.