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25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
I review the shows, not nostalgia, December 17, 2003
--Episodes--Season 2--(I consider 3 and above good, 2 or below poor.) Soldier: 5/5 Off and running in Season 2. Despite how cheesy the outfit looks, this episode has a sort of undefined magic. Micheal Ansara should have won something for his portrayal of the soldier, I honestly believed he was a soldier from the future. Although, I never have understood the effect of "the enemy" being trapped, it looks odd even today. I often wished this script could have been reworked in which the Soldier never comes home with Kagen, I think it loses some of its believeability once he does. However, even here it has brightspots like Quarlo's interest in the cat Mcbeth, and the reason for the interest. Think-speak? Odd. Cold Hands, Warm Heart: 2.5/5 This ep. has elements that make it watchable, particularly, Shats insistance on the keeping warm. I think this is a decent ep. that could have been better, barring better effects. I always laugh at the term "Project Vulcan"... a precursor of things to come? This ep. is a great example of why Shat refers to himself as the Ham-o-saurus. Behold Eck!: 1/5 Despite Eck! being a memorable character, well outside the usual gloom and doom of sci-fi, I find the story to be proposterous (um, a spectacle), yes, even for sci-fi. The "building effect" on the news looked neat-o though:) A glaring problem with this ep. stems from Season One's "Galaxy Being", that is similar to this but much, much better. Just watch that instead. Expanding Human: 2.5/5 Not a bad ep. but considering the cast it should have probably been better. It's nice to see James Doohans suspicious wit and sarcasm formulating in this. I think this ep. was fair but not one I'd watch over and over, middle of the road. I wish James had a larger role, he is quite good. Cry of Silence: 3.5/5 I really like this one. It has a forboding quality to it that still is effective today. And oddly enough this ep. opens with city-boy Eddie Albert wanting to give it all up to become a farmer... sound familiar? His wife in this gives a fine performance as a frightened woman just wishing it would all end, convincing but not overdone. Demon With a Glass Hand: 3/5 I like Robert Culp in this quite a bit, unfortunately, the story, even though it's Ellison isn't very good. I am probably in the minority here, but I think this ep. is average at best. This always seems to come off like a "pilot" for a new series, similar to how Assignment Earth for Star Trek does, probably because Culp is so darn good. Tell it to the hand! Wolf 359: 4/5 Great Sci-fi. This is a finely balanced episode that is interesting and yet doesn't try too hard. The effects are of coarse primitive, but the point is made. I like the cast, they are also well balanced and believeable. The subject matter is interesting but this show loses a point for slow pacing. Looking through the scope at the created world was quite effective. I, Robot: 4/5 Even though I give this show a pretty high rating, I think the cast is primarily strained and wooden. The high rating is given in large part to the character Adam Link. The odd tone in his voice and the look of sentimentality may be all robot, but to me Adam is more human than most of the actors. Nimoy is fair in this, but nothing terribly memorable, a bit overzelous. The Invisible Enemy: 1/5 There are few Outer Limits with no redeeming qualities, IMO, this is close to being one of them. Typical, predictable, and stale are words that come to mind. Adam West heads a cast of astronaughts that refer to women as "dames and broads". The rocket effects appear to be 50's quality and even though there is some tension near the end, it's far too little, too late. The Inheritors 1&2: 5/5 I struggle with this dual episode despite the score. I think it is superbly acted, wonderfully directed, but what worries me is the conclusion one draws from the ending. Are we to understand that people can only truly be happy if they are "normal"? Even though I ponder the conclusion, I marvel at the great acting along the way, probably the best. Great story, also. MGM should have seen fit to put these on the same side of a disc however! Keeper of the Purple Twilight: 3.5/5 In terms of dialogue, there's quite a bit to like here. Some meaningful exchanges about the meaning of love and life seem heartfelt. The acting is more than adequate although I must say the rubber suit costumes are again, just not very good. Even in '65 they were probably barely passable, and now they seem silly and are a bit distracting. Certainly, not the worst ever, but the immobile eyes and mouth take away from the reality of fantasy greatly. Counterweight: 2/5 A show of this nature lives and dies depending on how well defined the individual characters are drawn up ( as in 5 Characters in Search of an Exit 5/5), in this case, it's a true failure. I think a redeeming factor is the soaring "vocal" score that gives it a dreamy essence, the odd ending of the reintroducing of characters, and a few other small factors, but this show just lacks any insight or punch. The Brain of Col. Barham: 1.5/5 Some of the Outer Limits fail because of one simple reason; they are attempting to perform concepts 40 years ago that couldn't even be attempted now, when that unravels, the jig is up. They should have at least draped the set in a futuristic aura in hopes of pulling this off. On top of that the actors never seem to deliver lines with any sort of spontenaity. The sets aren't even half bad, but the concept is ridiculous, and the characters are hollow and vague. The Premonition: 2.5/5 Ahhh... the obligatory "freeze frame" episode, which actually exceeds expectations in so far as the effect. Some really clever uses of the technique actually one ups the mighty TZ uses (not the picture stills though). However, having said that, this story has many, many holes. Far more than I could expound on here. And I never have understood why the title was used. The term "premonition" really doesn't apply in this case. Fair acting abounds, but doesn't cover the huge plot holes. Ok, I can't resist, why not tie the childs feet around the bike? Tying the bike in some way would have been far easier. Too easy? :) The Duplicate Man: 3.5/5 There's quite a bit to like about this one. The sets, props, and feel are just right for the subject matter. The acting is quite good, the plot is interesting, and the payoff is rewarding. Had this been a typical monster hunt it wouldn't have worked. The Megasoid is as amusing as it is menacing and for a creature that is so "evolved" it isn't very bright. I would have liked to see this ep. as a two parter like The Inheritors, but as it stands, it's well crafted. For a series that had to cut corners on costumes, I'm surprised an attempt wasn't made to show the creatures as little as possible, it would have helped. The Probe: 2.5/5 Not really out with a whimper or a bang. Nice cast, nice acting jobs all around, but the mood is quite sterile and ineffective. The concept of this last episode is interesting but the direction never rises above ordinary The "germs" design seems to be a pre-Horta from Star Trek. Wrap-up:
Still, in spite of all the hokey props, there lurks delicious camera angles, glorious sound, odd lighting, and most importantly, a fun sense of adventure that has all but since evaporated from the airwaves. In spite of the 3 stars, I cannot reccommend this set enough. Not because I'm caught like "the enemy" in the never-never, but because I'm trapped in a time period that uses "effects" to convey awe and mystery instead of imagination. The Outer Limits is a welcome look back at a future gone by.
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DVD ~ Sam Wanamaker
DVD ~ Burgess Meredith
DVD ~ Vic Perrin
DVD ~ Godfrey Cambridge
DVD ~ Jay O. Sanders
