Review of Twilight Zone, The: Vol 2

Introduction

Do-do-do-do--do-do-do-do-- do-do-do-do.

Yes, The Twilight Zone is being re-released on DVD. This television series was first broadcast in the late fifties. Each episode tells us a tale of the imagination, with elements of the paranormal, and sometimes just plain weird, featuring heavily.

It`s fair to say that without this series, which has been on our screens in one form or another almost constantly for over four decades, their would be no X-Files, Outer Limits or Buffy today.

Video

This, the second disc of classic episodes, contains four shows from the late fifties and early sixties. Each episode has been digitally remastered to provide the best quality possible. You can definately see the improvement in the picture - at times it`s hard to believe that you are watching something that is forty years old.

There are a few times when the original quality shows through - now and again you`ll notice the kind of flickering and spots that you are used to on old films. This doesn`t actually detract from the experience though. On a modern film it would be unacceptable, but here it`s understandable, and actually adds to the nostalgia.

Two of the four episodes feature well known actors. William Shatner plays the main character in "Terror At 20,000 Feet", a man recovering from a nervous breakdown who is the only person on board a plane who can see a gremlin attacking the wings. Burgess Meredith, who went on to play The Penguin in the original Batman television show, is the star of the first episode. A big name actor at the time, his performance pays tribute to the respect commanded by the show, and it`s actor pulling power.

Features

Disappointingly, all of the extras available here are text based. We get a synopsis for each of the featured episodes, along with an overview of each season of the show. I`m guessing that the season overview was also on volume 1 of the series, and therefore redundant on this disc.

More interestingly, a biography of the shows founder, Rod Serling, is included. If this had included some interviews, it would have been great, but as it is it`s just a worthwhile inclusion.

The animated menus here feature a large staring eye, that follows your highlighted choice. Whilst not being the most advanced piece of CGI I`ve ever seen, it`s somehow spooky enough to do the job.

Conclusion

Overall this is a good DVD. Long time fans of the show will relish in their ability to purchase some classic episodes, without having to purchase an entire season, which would invariably contain some duds. If this is your first entry into The Twilight Zone, as long as you remember the time in which this was made, and that it`s all about the stories, you may just find yourself converted.