Reviews (12)

Anime thong song video
Fencer of Minerva: The Tempest is a very disappointing anime. The female characters are slaves or eventually become slaves. They have shackles around their necks and a flimsy top and a g-string to "cover" their bottoms. The plot drags and the action is basically missionary. The clothes keep falling of the slaves at the sight of another male, or female in some instances. The characters are not developed or likable. Diana, who is a princess; was strong willed, and a great swordsman. She also had to put on her thong for Master Sho, and become his personal slave (oh joy). (sniff, sniff) I own Vol 1 and 2 of this series. You have been warned.

A bit of a disapointment
Well...at first i noticed that most of the female characters in this anime..are barely dressed while the men are decently covered..why is that?..second of all Diana realy got me hooked at first but then she yeilded in being a slave..To Sho? coz he's her childhood sweet heart? ...if he really loved her he wouldn't let her go on disgracing herself..he should have married her..thats another thing...and i think the story would have been ten times more exciting if Diana put up a struggle ..like the one she had at the first episode..i think if she had,...Sho would have been more and more into her...
And the sex..God the sex!...Its in every scene.!
Note the Diana lets Sho take other woman!!...Iw anted to kill her!!
I swear...
but i liked the characters...
If your bored and need something to watch..take this

One of the best mature anime, i have ever seen!!!
this is one dvd or vhs you must have.. im not about to give it all away here but i will give you the basic's... it is a bout a prince of a forgotten and evil (to some people) kingdom, and a princess of the reformed evil kingdom these two meet and have many adventures in the two movies but the catch is it is a adult like novel in a movie format great story line no to much xxx rated sex but for you who like that kind of thing it has enough nough said it is a great video i have seen it many times and have yet the money to buy it it is realy great.
characters:(main),sho
"d" (diannna)

through the movie the princess is taken from her land and ends up in a rape and thiefish gang where in this time and setting it is not rape people are allowed to have love slaves and are suposed to be treated by them acordingly. find out more about this movie by seeing it

The worst film I have ever seen
The entire film plays like an adolescent boy's wet dream.

A spirited princess escaped a forced marriage only to be captured by slave traders and given as a sexual slave to her childhood friend. Because she loves him she is happy to be his slave and renounces her identity so that she will not have to fight against him.

That's it for the plot. The first thing I should say is this is truly bad anime. The animation is nothing special, there's virtually no characterization or conflict and the dubbed dialogue is atrocious. Most of the film is given over to two things: reinforcing to the viewer that Sho and Diana were childhood friends and gratuitous shots of Diana's nude body and the experience of her sexual awakening.

This film is hideous in its depiction of women. If there was a decent plot with any actual depth there might be something to recommend it, but there isn't. If you want to watch anime sex, go get one of the Countdown movies or Rei Rei, at least they don't pretend to have a plot. If you want actual depth to your plot and a medieval (or quasi-medieval) setting, get Heroic Legend of Arislan, which is wonderful.

Not Recomended for Children
This aname is not recomended for children. The quality of the animation is first rate from the beginning to the end. The story line from beginning to end also involves adult situations as to bondage, submission, explicit sex (not hardcore), and for the adult viewer I would recommend that they consider this movie. If you are looking for lots of sword play look elsewhere, the story line has a different intrigue. I was pleased with the movie and am going to be purchashing the Tempist. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Original airdate: 8/28/95. Stardate: 48975.1. Granted, the sight of a 1936 Ford pickup truck floating in space is pretty cool, and although the truck's presence is never explained, it does lead to one of Voyager's quirkier encounters in this, the series' second-season opener. The vintage Ford leads to an even bigger discovery: eight humans--including the famous Earth aviatrix Amelia Earhart (Sharon Lawrence)--preserved in cryostasis on a distant planet, having been abducted from Earth in 1937 by an alien race called the Briori, who forced over 300 abducted humans into slavery. The Briori were defeated in a slave revolt and now, 15 generations later, the humans have developed a thriving city-based civilization. With Voyager having safely landed on the planet (a series first, allowing for some memorable visual effects), Janeway must face the possible exodus of her crew to the safety of a tempting new home. Will anyone leave Voyager? The answer is anticlimactic, and this episode (scripted by series veterans Brannon Braga and Jeri Taylor) leaves too many unanswered questions to be truly effective. (Details about the Briori are not forthcoming.) Still, this is one of those nifty "What if?" episodes that are Star Trek's bread and butter, and Lawrence (who was still a semiregular on NYPD Blue at the time) makes Earhart a believably misplaced explorer.--Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (9)

The "Voyager" crew solves the mystery of Amelia Earhart
So, there you are on the good ship "Voyager," stuck in the Delta Quadrant 70 light years from home and feeling pretty sorry for yourself. What could be worse? Well, an answer to that question is provided in the premier episode of the second season of "Star Trek: Voyager." Episode 20, "The 37's" (Written by Jeri Taylor & Brannon Braga, Aired: August 28, 1995) begins with the starship encountering a pickup truck from the Earth circa the 1930s. The trail leads to a planet where "Voyager" actually lands on the planet (remember when the ship was preserving energy because they are in the middle of no where?). There an Away Team discovers eight human beings in cryo-statis units. When they are revived the crew discovers these people were kidnapped by aliens in 1937 and that one of them is the famed aviatrix Amelia Earhart (Sharon Lawrence) and her co-pilot Fred Noonan (David Graf). Another mystery solved by the friendly people at Starfleet.

Of course the revived earthlings want to know where they are and what happened to them and being told that they were abducted by strange visitors from another planet 400 years earlier is met with disbelief. Apparently aliens in need of slave labor raided the earth and brought back hundreds of humans (this extremely wasteful use of energy for such limited returns makes landing "Voyager" on the surface of a planet seem like a stroke of genius in comparison). Ultimately it turns out that what "The 37's" is about is that, in the grand tradition of premier episodes of a show's second season, the "Voyager" crew gets to rededicate itself to the mission going home. All things considered, this is the long way around to make that particular point. Furthermore, the episode continues the tradition of less than stellar "Star Trek" stories from various series in which we find 20th century human beings alive and well in the Star Trek universe. The point of having Amelia Earhart be one of the humans is not really exploited to great effect and the entire affair ends up being something of a silly diversion from the task at hand.

'What If?' ... Who Cares?
A truly dumb outing for any series, THE 37S is made equal parts dumber by taking a wonderful television actress (Sharon Lawrence) and stuffing her into a glitzy, no-brainer role. 'What If' scenarios generally work for Trek, but this time out -- the discovery of missing Earth items along with Amelia Earheart -- bares no significance. 'What If' stories work when they present some interesting aspect to ponder which makes you re-examine your world: this episode just makes you want to re-examine better episodes on the same theme.

Imagine you see a 1936 Ford Truck floating in outer space...
The Voyager second season opener is one of those episodes fans seemed to have a friendly debate over. After a first season filled mainly with the type of shows that define character roles and generally focusing on their differences, I think Voyager fans were looking to be treated to an action filled episode. 'The 37s' wasn't what most of us had in mind but I wasn't at all disappointed with it. The story is derivative of the TNG episodes, 'The Neutral Zone' and 'Up The Long Ladder' - it's more like a melding of the two of them actually.

Harry reports that he has found traces of rust during a routine scan of the area of space Voyager is traveling. More than just a mere anomaly it is investigated by the bridge crew who then follow the trail to a 1936 Ford Truck floating in outer space. Bringing the truck aboard they discover it has an AM radio which they play with - and hear an old style SOS signal being broadcast. That signal is traced to a planet, which the crew travel to and are forced by atmospheric conditions to land the entire ship. They soon find the source of the signal, which is an early 20th century earth aircraft. Inside it they notice an alien device that powers the SOS signal. Further, they discover a cavern that houses several humans held in cryogenic suspension; upon investigation one of them turns out to be Amelia Earhart! Of course the crew releases them all from suspension and that begins the fascinating mystery.

Admittedly, some of the elements present in this story can be a bit tough to swallow for the Star Trek fan that insists on hard science fiction only. This episode reminded me of the pulp science fiction & fantasy short stories I read as a youth growing up in the sixties. Perhaps it is a bit slow, but what it lacks in action it makes up for in intrigue. During their investigation of the plane 'someone' silently observes them. When they enter the cavern to explore it, that same 'someone' observes them again. We wonder if they aren't falling into a well-plotted trap. The discovery that the present alien culture are descendants of a group of over 300 earthlings "shanghaied" to this planet by an alien race during the early 20th century also piques our interest.

The intro to the show is great as well - it's an excellent hook device. The crew's quizzical treatment of the truck; their reaction to it's backfiring; one of the earthlings demanding to speak to J. Edgar Hoover in Washington; and other such awkward moments adds humor in all the right places. Again, the Star Trek writers devised a clever way for the crew to interact with the past without having to time travel. (See also TNG's, "The Big Goodbye", "The Neutral Zone" and "Up The Long Ladder".) All in all I found this a very satisfying episode and one of the Voyager shows that I like to watch frequently.

One final note: The first use of surface landing by a Federation starship is seen here - "ST IV: The Voyage Home" featured a Klingon ship landing in San Francisco bay, for all you buffs.

Interesting Twist on Earhart Disappearance
Sensors detect a trail of rust and Voyager follows it to an old pickup floating in space. The truck is pulled into the cargo bay and Tom Paris discovers an SOS is being picked up by the radio. The crew tracks the SOS to an earth-like planet and Star Trek history is made when Voyager becomes the first starship to actually land on a planet. Captain Janeway, Ensign Kim and Lt. Tuvok find an old style airplane with an alien fusion-based transmitter onboard that is the source of the SOS. Meanwhile, Chakotay finds a cave which is the source of some power readings and upon investigation by Janeway, Chakotay and B'Elanna, 8 cryo-stasis chambers are discovered inside. Amelia Earhart (Sharon Lawrence) and her navigator, Fred Noonan (David Graf) are among the 8 people in stasis. After being revived, the eight believe they have been kidnapped by Janeway and the others and Fred pulls a gun on them. Janeway persuades Earhart to accompany her to Voyager to prove that the 8 have been 'asleep' for a few hundred years and the crew mean them no harm. When they leave the cave, they discover other humans on the planet who turn out to be descendants of 300 people who were brought there by aliens to be slaves. The human slaves revolted and drove the aliens off and are now free. The 300 were abducted from Earth in 1937 and the last 8 of these have been in stasis since that time. The planet's inhabitants explain that the 8 people are known as The 37's and that they are monuments to their ancestors. The humans invite Voyager's crew, as well as Earhart and the other 7 people, to stay on the planet with them. Janeway worries that too many of her crew will stay behind and that would effect Voyager ever getting home. The captain is disappointed when Earhart tells her that she and the others are staying behind. It's a tense moment for Captain Janeway as she and Chakotay walk toward the cargo bay to discover how many of the crew will be waiting there to transport to the surface and begin their new life.

This is a good episode with an interesting twist on the Earhart disappearance. The only thing that bothered me was that I don't think Amelia Earhart would really have decided to stay on the planet. Being an independent, adventurous person, I believe she would have left with Voyager. But, understandably, the writers had to write the story with her staying. Too bad - she would have made an interesting addition to the crew.

The dumbest "Voyager" episode
This is the single worst episode of "Voyager" -- what "Spock's Brain" is to the original "Star Trek". What a stupid idea -- aliens drag Amelia Earhart halfway across the galaxy for no apparent reason; the crew finds a 1937 truck floating in space(with it's AM radio still functioning after 400 years!); they get to a planet where Earhart is in suspended animation; wake her up; and then -- NOTHING HAPPENS! Nothing, except a dumb debate about whether they should stay or go. No action, tedious, pointless. Fortunately, "Voyager" reached it's bottom early, with this debut to its second season and got better from here. Don't waste money on this -- any other episode would be a better purchase. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

everybody lies
Writer/director Ron Oliver's thriller doesn't break any new ground but it's diverting if ultimately forgetable entertainment. Shannon Tweed stars as the mother of a 16 year old boy who has been traumatised by the accidental death of his father, a stuntman who failed to survive a jump over Niagara Falls. Oliver gives us a witty editing cut from the boy screaming to a car alarm, which clues you that this isn't going to be a deep psychological drama. I also liked a psychiatrist's comment to Tweed's concern over her son being institutionalised - "We've paved over the snake pits"- and one scene where it is the psychiatrist who rests on a couch while the boy talks. Since we are told that the father was beheaded in the fall, that may explain the son's collection of doll's heads which he keeps in a fish tank. When truckie David Keith marries Tweed, their wedding cake amusingly made in the shape of a truck, and then Joseph Bottoms appears as Keith's brother, the signs indicate more trouble is ahead, especially since Keith sports a ponytail and Bottoms an earring. The boy begins to have visions of a woman in a red car, and you can bet that she leads him back to the Falls. As the boy Nicholas Shields is all big eyes, but his sheepishness in reaction to Bottoms' attempt at seduction is funny, and Oliver times our sight of Bottoms in his face pack superbly. Oliver encourages Bottoms, Kathleen Robertson as a girl who befriends Shields, and Christopher Plummer doing a parody of Peter Falk's detective, to overplay, and he even gets a reasonable performance out of Tweed, who for once isn't used as a sexpot. She has a scene where Bottoms torments her with a duck glove puppet that is more comic than serious. The setting of the climax in a Madame Tussaud's Chamber of Murders has delicious potential but by then we've been exhausted by an extended chase where the outcome has come to be disappointingly inevitable. The plot features a point about a large amount of money, the origin of which is never made clear or rational by the end, and gives the coda an unfunny laugh line, spoken by the character in a totally out of character way. Mention is made of the lovely theme music by Paul J Zaza. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Best known as the episode featuring the first interracial kiss on television, "Plato's Stepchildren" remains a disconcerting story in which our Star Trek heroes are reduced to playthings for psycho-telekinetic fiends. The Enterprise proceeds to the planet Platonius in response to a distress signal, and find that a race of people with special powers live there, having created a society loosely based on that of ancient Greece. These Platonians can force outsiders to act against their wills, and when Captain Kirk (William Shatner) attempts to prevent the Platonian king from holding Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) indefinitely, he and Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), and Nurse Chapel (Majel Barrett) are made to perform for their captors. Much discussed by the show's producers before shooting commenced, a kiss exchanged between Shatner and Nichols crossed a certain threshold in network television, where such a thing had been previously unimaginable. Still, Shatner's own recollection (from his memoir, Where No Man Has Gone Before) is accurate when he states that the scene is so compelling dramatically that the color of the actors is almost beyond notice. What does not go unnoticed, however, is the sensitive performance of Michael Dunn, the dwarf actor best known as Dr. Loveless from The Wild Wild West.--Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

A bit below average, if groundbreaking, episode
Another menacing and sadistic 3rd season episode, this time involving an Ancient Greek-like people
with telekenetic powers. This is one of those episodes-there would be many more ahead--that doesn't have a lot to say. It is most noteworthy for the kiss between Kirk and Uhura (too bad it had to be forced upon them), the absurdly camp antics performed by Kirk and Spock in particular, and the icy malevolence of Parmen and his cohorts. Whatever moral the episode conveys could probably best be summarized as "absolute power corrupts absolutely." There's nothing very deep about the crew's 'escape' either, although they are able to teach Alexander some valuable lessons before they go.

Wonderful episode!!!!!
"Remember, Cupid's Arrow kills Vulcans."

The line above was spoken by Parmen, leader of Platonias. I like this episode because it is a very good episode. I highly recommend this to future Star Trek fans.

Watch this one for Michael Dunn, not the interracial kiss
Having always enjoyed Michael Dunn's performance as the evil genius Dr. Loveless on "The Wild Wild West" it is his appearance as Alexander that makes "Plato's Stepchildren" a memorable Star Trek episode for me, and not the infamous first interracial kiss on television between Kirk and Uhura (I think he missed her lips). The Enterprise responds to a distress call from Platonius and discovers the people have telekinetic powers. Finding McCoy's medical knowledge useful, the Platonians refuse to let him or the crew leave. After being forced to perform like fools, Kirk and Spock figure out that the source of the Platonians' power is a substance called kironide and figure out a way of turning the tables. I have read Plato and these people sure seem more like decadent Romans that heirs to the political philosophy outlined in "The Republic." Then again, you do get to see Spock trying to control his anger after being humiliated by the Platonians. But in the end this is Dunn's episode, achieving great pathos as the court jester of the Platonians because he is the only one with the power. Dunn and Shatner have a couple of very strong scenes together, no matter what you think of the rest of the episode.

A few good laughs keeps this episode from being a dud
There's an evil man named Plato who wants to use the crew from the Enterprise as entertainment once Dr. McCoy and the others refuse to stay on the planet with Plato and the Platonians. The only defense that Captain Kirk, Dr. McCoy, and even Spock have is to try and not pay attention to the powers that Plato and his servants possess. But their powers are stronger than expected. Plato and his sidekicks have the power to make people do things they don't want to do by controlling their minds.

"Plato's Stepchildren" isn't that good of an episode, it's basically just an average episode at its best. However, there are a few hilarious parts that keep it from being a complete dud, such as when Plato makes Kirk and Spock dance around foolishly, and when Spock just can't quit laughing.

I recommend any fan of Star Trek to at least watch "Plato's Stepchildren."

Exploitation is wrong, and so is Shatner's acting
I've got to give the show and its fine crew of writers credit where credit is due, not just for the impact of Kirk and Uhura's kiss (the first interracial kiss in television history) but for their overall message in this episode.

With the help of the unimaginally indulgent, remorseless Platonians, they sent across a substantial message in a flash of sparkling outfits, thick makeup (particularly in poor Chris Chapel's case) and Will Shatner's staccato and over-the-top acting:

Exploitation is wrong.

True, this is a lesson we all learned years ago in Kindergarten with the Golden Rule, but, not surprisingly, in the midst of the guilty excitement of gossip and the build-'em-up, tear-'em-down philosophy of the media, we all tend to wander from that message.

The Platonians used Kirk, Spock, Uhura and Chapel, putting them into humiliating, and what would have inevitably become fatal, situations purely for their own amusement. One can find similar parallels in the mass media market today. Indeed we do seem to receive some sort of pleasure in seeing some of our favorite actors, writers, personalities, etc. put into embarrasing situations.

Kirk and the gang, as always, represent the new world of equality, virtue and harmony throughout, even when consumed with hatred for their capturs.

One has to wonder just who the Platonians represent.

One Schlocky Note: Shatner slapping himself silly, cracking the whip, and...well just *being* in the episode seemed to be one big campfest for him this time. Congratrulations Bill, you should be proud. ... Read more

Reviews (94)

Mystery and Suspense Without Sherlock Holmes
One of the finest suspense movies that I have seen in long time. Avery has had the unfortunate luck to have his sister kidnapped and ransomed for $2,000,000. Unfortunately, neither he nor his father have that kind of money. So he and his friends kidnap retired mob boss Charlie Bartolucci (expertly played by Christopher Walken) so that he can use his contacts to find the girl and pay the ransom. Shocked, angered, and ultimately amused by his novice captors, Bartolucci agrees to help with Avery's sister. While doing so, one of his contacts lets him know that the kidnapping had help from an inside party. Slyly playing the friends against each other with this information, the tension slowly continues to boil until the movie's explosive climax. With an underrated but excellent supporting cast (including Jay Mohr, Sean Patrick Flanery, and Denis Leary), this movie keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time because you're never sure who to trust. Perhaps the most brilliant aspect of Josh McKinney's script is the unending depth of the characters. Denis Leary's role is a perfect example: as Bartolucci's lieutenaant he posesses an expected viciousness and sarcasm. However, he allows a good soul to shine through at odd moments: like when he shows up to question a friend of the boys and instead protects her from the forced advances of her stepfather. Filled with tension that is only heightened by the film's biting humor and its complex characters, this is a great flick to watch with a bunch of friends so you can all guess whodunnit and be shocked by the ending.

Very Funny and Dark
"Suicide Kings" is a very good movie with a great ensemble cast. Different viewers will chose their particular favorites, but if you are an admirer of Christopher Walken you have all the reason you need to see this film. Denis Leary is the second best aspect of this film, and that is largely due to his smaller, but critical role. His defensive riffs on justifying his $1500.00 Stingray boots that others acknowledge as, "fish-boots", is quality stand up material.

Four prep-school, rich kid, lifelong friends, and a fifth that they mislead as only friends can do, decide they need to kidnap Christopher Walken for his diplomatic skills. His character is a modern version of Don Corleone so a decision to detain him against his will is poor judgment at best and lethal at worst. When Walken contacts his attorney to unravel this mess his first comments include, "don't send your kids to boarding school". The unwitting friend Ira, as played by Johnny Galecki is a riot as he frets over his parents newly finished floors and marked liquor labels, while, "The Godfather", is duct-taped to his father's favorite chair.

Christopher Walken is an amazing actor that deserves more recognition than he has been given. If there is an actor who can play a more sinister, purely evil character, without raising his voice, I have never seen him. This role is comparable to the part he played in another film when he introduced himself as the Anti-Christ. As brilliant a, "Player", as his character is, there is also a pair of low level goons that are the mob's equivalent of Laurel and Hardy.

The R rating is appropriate for the violence, and language that may or may not offend some viewers. There are no, "adult situations".

A movie to watch time after time
I don't exactally know what made me watch this movie. I think my dad picked it up from some $5 bin and one day while bored out of my mind I picked it up a random movie and decided to watch it. But I am glad that I watched it for sure. It is a movie that I have literally watched twice in the last week (well that could be due to the fact that I have nothing better to do...) and cracked up thru both times. and everytime i watch this movie knowing the ending I am still questioning who the inside player is and how everything is going to end. basically it is in my top 5 favorite movies of all time and it is a movie tht i recommend to everyone who likes dar comedies and doesnt mind blood and cussing.

Christopher Walken the Great.
Great script, great directing, great acting, great movie. it is a blend of crime drama and thin satire. it combines very smoothly the abilities of great actors (Christopher Walken)with the exuberance of young prospects. and Dennis Leary was born for his role in this motion picture.
this is a must have for any christopher walken fan, and movie lovers in general. you will not be dissapointed, especially with the deleted scenes and alternate endings extras. enjoy.

1 of my favs
christopher walken is a mob boss kidnapped for ransom by a bunch of college kids who didnt plan well dennis leary is the mob boss hitmen coming to find the kids who kidnapped his boss to compound the problem the kids cutoff the mob boss fingers then regret it and panic a dark comedy/thriller many people have not seen cause its an independent film buy this killer dvd today ... Read more

Reviews (15)

NUUUUKIIIEEEE!!! NUUUKIIIEEEEE!!!!
oh man, Ebert & Roeper, you guys got your work cut out for you, Sias Odendal has made a sci-fi epic that will boggle your mind with it's utter insanity and outrageous plot; make sure you're severely intoxicated while watching this movie or it won't make any sense, otherwise you'll wanna be skinned and doused in salt and lemon concentrate and have your eyes torn out by a wild animal just so the aforementioned pain might actually cause you to forget such a movie exists...if you like bad movies, and you haven't seen "Nukie," then you don't like bad movies...

I've been naked under my clothes for years.
I did it all for the Nukie! C'mon, the Nukie! C'mon, the Nukie! So you can take that...I apologize.

I've been naked under my clothes for years.
I did it all for the NUKIE! C'mon! The NUKIE! C'mon! The NUKIE! So you can take that...I apologize.

WHO IS THIS DAVID C WILMOT?
And how did he get past the censors? I demand retribution!

Who is the Glynis person, and why hasn't he been shot?
Damn you, David C. Wilmot. Damn you, and the horse you rode in on. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Slightly below average
This below average show concerned a hemoglobin-seeking space cloud from Kirk's past. The episode certainly has a couple things going for it; like The Doomsday Machine the episodes explores obsession with past mistakes and the quest for redemption. Evidence of Kirk's fallibility and capacity for introspection are always welcome, and his humane decision to give Garrovick the second chance he never received himself is poignant. Unfortunately, the story itself is not terribly engaging. Call me shallow, but it's hard to get excited about these gaseous clusters! (see/don't see Metamorphosis and the Lights of Zetar as well)

Kirk as Ahab in search of the great gaseous creature
"Obsession" is another of those Star Trek episodes inspired by Melville's "Moby Dick" with Kirk in the Ahab role this time around. Three members of a landing party are killed on Argus X by a gaseous creature that drains all the red blood cells from their bodies. Kirk abandons the Enterprise's mission to deliver desperately needed drugs to another planet, claiming this same creature attacked the crew of the USS Farragut 11 years earlier. Kirk had been a member of the crew and holds himself somewhat responsible for the deaths of 200 crewmates. However, he neglects to share all relevant information with the crew, which makes Spock and McCoy doubt the captain's judgment. Of all the episodes where Kirk goes over the deep end, this is the lamest of the bunch. The air of mystery which makes his every deed look suspicious is too contrived, as does the ending when he finally comes to his senses. But there is a nice scene when Spock and McCoy confront Kirk about his actions, so this episode does have some nice moments.

The Best story ever on the Captain of the Enterprise.
William Shatner delivers his best performance ever on Star Trek in this story of the Captain meeting the same cloud creature who murdered the captain and half the crew of a starship Jim had served on 11 years before. His obsession soon almost blinds him to the safetly and needs of the Enterprise crew, until Spock and Bones help Jim see matters clearer. Eventually Jim with the help of his former captain's son (Stephen Brooks) are able to destroy the creature with a matter/antimatter bomb and both men return to the Enterprise safe.Written by Art Wallace. Directed by Ralph Senensky. Music Composed and Conducted by Sol Kaplan.

Kirk encounters an earlier enemy and becomes obsessed
"Obsession" tests Captain Kirk's character more than just about any episode of the original series. While on a planet, he smells something that smells familiar. He soon discovers it's the same cloud, or creature, that killed many people including his commanding officer that he was real close to. Now, Captain Kirk must fight off his anxiety and past memories and find a way to kill the creature.

Another interesting aspect is that Kirk's former commanding officer's son is now onboard the Enterprise in order to give Kirk a helping hand. Kirk is obsessed with killing this cloud and this episode is worth seeing so you can see if he can get rid of this 'obsession.'

"Obsession" is a good episode and I recommend any Star Trek fan to get it. It showcases one of William Shatner's best performances as Captain Kirk.

Good KIRK Analysis
"Obsession" begins with a classic TOS teaser. Kirk and Spock beam down to a "planet" with three redshirts to obtain a mineral they need. They have found a very good sample and are about to beam up when Kirk smells a familiar, ominous odor. He knows that whatever is emitting this odor is dangerous. Kirk, Spock, and the redshirts go off to find where the odor is coming from. The classic part--the three redshirts are killed by the alien of the week, a dangerous cloud.

"Obsession" is a wonderful character study of Captain Kirk as he faces demons from his past. This cloud killed 200 men on the USS Farragut, when Kirk was a luitenant. "Obsession" is very entertaining and quite dramatic in places. This is one of the most character driven plots the series has provided. This is definatley a winner. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The standard-bearer for the entire Star Trek canon, this episode begins with a medical accident that leaves Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley) a paranoid madman. Leaping through a time portal to Earth's Great Depression of the 1930s, McCoy causes disastrous changes to history that include the disappearance of the Enterprise. Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) must follow him and undo whatever disruptive action he took centuries before. There, Kirk meets a kindly social worker, Edith Keeler (Joan Collins), with whom he falls in love before realizing that her fate is the key to a restored future.

A shattering drama, "City" brings out the best in the cast and production teams, looking like a feature film that found its way onto television. The background on this show is equally compelling and sometimes hysterically funny, beginning with a highly fanciful script by Harlan Ellison (including a scene with cast members riding a carousel that passes in and out the side of a mountain) that was either rewritten by series creator Gene Roddenberry or producer Gene L. Coon, depending on who's telling the story. Ironically, Ellison's original version won a Writer's Guild award, while the revision captured a Hugo, but the real prize is the episode itself. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Not the book but a classic
In the program McCoy accidentally injects himself with substance that makes him paranoid and is compelled to leave the ship for the planet they are near. Through a series of events he goes through a portal to old earth (depression era). Some how he changes history and the Enterprise disappears. So the mission is to retrieve McCoy before he changes time. This naturally includes a love interest (Joan Collins.)

Read the book first (ISBN: 1565049640). This is not a serialization of the program; it is the original written script. You will be surprised at the transformation from a Harlan Ellison novel to a Star Trek episode (28).
To fit the mold of the series McCoy replaced a drug dealer. The first thing Harlan asked was that if this was, that if clothes were stolen that they did not look like they ware miraculously a perfect fit. And Spock stops Kirk from saving Edith. Kirk would have given up the future for love.
Now watch this episode, and yes the changes were necessary and this is one of the best.

Okay, it's dated, cheesy...but still the classic Trek
To the New Age Trekkies who are journeying with Captains Janeway
and Archer, the old crayola-colored helm and styrofoam planet sets of the original Star Trek series may seem "cheesey" (got that from a college Soph). However, it is the chemistry of the original crew, Kirk, Spock and Mc Coy, as well as all the crew,
that started the Star Trek Phenomenon. "City On The Edge Of Forever" epitomizes this chemistry. Future generation Star Trek episodes have tried to emulate this original Emmy winning "back in time on earth" formula (most recently "Enterprise, Carbon Creek" in which "I Love Lucy" is extolled), but the fact is, the sentiment, the feeling, the heartwarming relationships in this Joan Collins guesting episode have never been equalled. If you never saw the original Star Trek, if you never felt the chemistry that started it all, this is the episode to buy and enjoy.

I agree. Absolutely the best of the original Star Trek
episodes. Maybe even the best of the "time travel" genre. I love the original Star Trek, over & oover & etc. Production values low but the stories are so superb & original it doesn't matter. But this episode is the best of those. Joan Collins was once a babe & this is her best work. The Star Trek series that have followed have used & reused the the plots from the original merely requiring some rewrite. But they haven't attempted this one. How could they? The world-wide depression, the rise of facism, WWII pending, all are actual events from history. They must be allowed to proceed or the world that Kirk & Spock know will never exist. Pretty heady stuff for a t.v show.

Let's get the he*& out of here
The final issue in an unprecedented string of six consecutive well-above average episodes was probably the greatest of them all. Here we have the classic episode in which The Triumvirate pass through a portal into Depression Era Earth, where they must try to reverse changes that have been made to history. This episode in addition to being packed with tension, somehow feels more professional than most other episodes; as one reviewer noted, it truly does feel like you're watching a short movie. And while most of the other past/parallel Earth episodes relied primarily on the comedic aspects, those are clearly secondary here (all though by no means absent). This is a serious show, and the actors and production team took it as such. Kirk's love affair with Keeler is probably Trek's most convincing, and it is no coincidence that she is one of the strongest female characters to appear on the show (the lack of more was in my opinion perhaps Trek's greatest failure). And lets face it, for the climax of the episode everything gels; the scene simply feels 'right' to an extent almost never witnessed on network TV. We feel Kirk's choice and his loss, but realize it had to be. Sacrifice. The tone is carried over perfectly to the final scene, in which Shatner issues the final, bitter and disgusted line of the episode perfectly.

Sweet
I think that this is a nice love story, but not great science fiction. Joan Collins doesn't seem convincing when she says what she thinks the future will be like. It's a "chick" episode! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Writer Norman Spinrad had in mind a futuristic Moby Dick when heconjured up this story, though things didn't quite work out that way. Theoriginal idea was that the Enterprise would encounter an obsessive, Ahab- like captain whose Starfleet crew had been destroyed by a planet-killing robotship, and who sought revenge by taking command of James T. Kirk's vessel for aprivate hunt. Alas, the tough-as-nails actor Robert Ryan proved unavailable forthe guest spot, and Trek producers cast the more visibly vulnerableWilliam Windom instead, softening the script accordingly. "The DoomsdayMachine," as a result, falls short of its potential. The story still concernsthe destruction of life aboard the starship Constellation and Kirk'sinability to beam back aboard his own ship. But, while a major conflict betweenWindom's unsteady character, Commodore Matt Decker, and that of Spock (LeonardNimoy) for control of the Enterprise is entertaining enough, one yearnsto see a real showdown. (In karmic terms, that face-off took place later inStar Trek: The Motion Picture, between then-Admiral Kirk and Decker'sson, Captain Will Decker, played by Stephen Collins.) Also a little dubious isthe tubular robot ship, which is supposed to look both mechanical and organic,yet resembles moldy cannoli. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (20)

MAYBE THE BEST ORIGINAL STAR TREK EPISODE
I can't resist writing the review of one of the most exciting, action-packed, interesting science fiction hours ever done. Forget the fact that modern CGI could do special effects 20X better; this story of the Enterprise versus an hugely powerful alien planet killer while Kirk and the crew face off against the obsessed Captain of the destroyed starship Constellation (Matt Decker, played by William Windom) makes for great drama. Never have the stakes been higher for Kirk ( perhaps except in "City on the Edge of Forever", which is a more personal story, this is a pure Kirk, crew and the Enterprise adventure) as the Captain, watching helplessly on a viewscreen, sees his beloved crew and ship facing imminent destruction inside the fiery maw of the tremendous planet killer.
The fantastic score, quick pacing and terrific performance make it a standout SF episode comparable to any series. It isn't perfect, some may consider the planet killer a cornucopia in space, but it is one of the most satisfying episodes of Trek with a terrific moral about superweapons. It has an air of immediacy and freshness even today. If you don't have all the episodes already, you should have this one. Even casual fans like it. A side note:
compare the ability of the Enterprise to withstand attack in this show to subsequent movies. After the first film, the ship was evidently depowered. This episode almost borders on comic book level combat, but it works because it puts the larger than life characters in a situation where you're not sure they can make it.

Definitely one of the best episodes
In "The Doomsday Machine," Captain Kirk and the crew find an injured ship with a commander that has just witnessed his whole crew die aboard his ship after a tube-shaped creature in space attacked his ship. Kirk has to do what he can to help the ill and paranoid commander whom he has a lot of respect for, while also keeping the Enterprise a safe distance from this galactic creature that can eat whole planets.

"The Doomsday Machine" isn't my favorite episode of Star Trek - The Original Series, but it's definitely one of the best. It has great acting, especially by Spock, good effects, and it's exciting. If you like the classic episodes of Star Trek, get this episode now!!!

A Top-Notch Nail Biter
This is The Original Series' most intense episode, and still elicits nail-biting even after numerous viewings.

While other reviews have given us the story line in brief, suffice it to say that with it's limited budget, this episode holds up well and upped the bar for all TV Science Fiction to follow.

"Doomsday Machine" went over budget due to special FX issues, and up to it's time was the most FX-laden TV show in history. It was also one of the most expensive to produce, and was a trying project for Star Trek's 60's-era FX house to complete. Fortunately, a local toy store had a model of the "USS Enterprise" for sale, which was quickly purchased, burned with a cigarette lighter, and stressed to look like a destroyed Starship "Constellation", thus saving thousands in new model building. One can clearly see that the "Constellation" is a toy when viewed from behind as it flys into the Planet Killer's fiery maw. Very well done!

William Windom's whigged-out portrayal of Commodore Decker is absolutely perfect and adds tension to the plot. The Planet Killer itself, while frequently panned for it's papier mache-look, is terrifying for the time and well done, in my opinion. It appears malevolent, albeit coldly computerized, and massive. The sound effects of this episode and the music round out a first-rate episode.

A conflict between regulations and what is right
The longevity of Star Trek is due in large part to the ideas inherent in the plots. Social and political messages were embedded in the shows and it was only the cover of a science fiction story that allowed them to be aired on network television at that time.
In this episode, the fallacies of thermonuclear weapons are examined. A powerful, robotic and self-sustaining weapon wanders into Federation territory. It severely damages one starship, killing everyone but the commander (Commodore Decker). Kirk and the damage control party beam aboard the crippled ship to determine what happened and Kirk stays behind while Decker and McCoy beam back to the Enterprise.
The story then becomes one of military discipline on the part of the Enterprise crew and obsession on the part of Commodore Decker. In agony over the loss of his command, Decker assumes command of the Enterprise and orders an attack that all but he knows is hopeless. The tension between Spock, Decker and the remainder of the Enterprise crew is intense, as they try to resolve the conflict between adherence to regulations and what they know to be right.
The conflict is resolved when communication is reestablished between Captain Kirk and the Enterprise. Decker is relieved of command and he unintentionally shows the crew of the Enterprise how to destroy the robot. This episode also has one of the most intense resolution scenes in the original series. William Shatner properly underplays his role, staying calm and collected, when it would have easily been possible to put too much stress into the scenes.
This is one of the best episodes in the original series. It is tense, well-acted and shows how critical adherence to regulations is to the crew of a star ship.

Above average, but overrated
I've always felt this good episode, in which a(nother) deranged captain pursues a Doomsday Machine (flying doobie?), was a bit overrated. The episode certainly has its share of action, and thought provoking themes. The latter include the dangers of 1) technology and 2) hubris and obsession in the wake of a loss. One problem is that William Windom is no Gregory Peck; his Ahab is over the top. The episode is also somewhat sterile, with too much of the Doomsday Machine and the music that follows it everywhere. Yet even this monotony somehow adds tension as the show builds to its climax. A good episode, but somehow not quite as dramatic and momentous as it aims to be. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Touching...
I've never been a huge fan of this show, in fact the holiday episode with Ann-Margret was the only episode I caught. That being said, it's one of the most touching and well acted (largely in part due to Ann-Margret's brilliant performance) show I've seen in a long time. This episode will surely make you teary-eyed...I was expecting a sappy holiday episode and this is in no way that! This is a great piece of work. Ann-Margret was overlooked by the EMMY committee (as usual) for this one. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Robert Wagner Fan
YES! Please DO make a new movie -- AND PLEASE release the entire series! It Takes a Thief is my all-time favorite TV show and Robert Wagner is STILL my favorite actor! I, too, would buy every single one!

I second that movie idea
Yes there should be a major motion picture based on "It Takes A Thief," but I suggest Rob Lowe as his son. Would also buy a DVD collection of every episode.

RW as Alexander Mundy - It Takes a Thief
And it would take an exceptional talent to one up Wagner in this pilot for the excellent series that followed. I enjoyed Fred Astaire playing Wagners dad in the tv series. The fabulous 60's. It Takes a Thief will go down as one of the best tv series of that golden era. Saw RW on the Larry King show recently. He still looks fantastic at 72! Hey RW, how about a 2002 version of "The return of Alexander Mundy." Is the actor who played Noah Baine still around? Great series. I loved it.

Great series
That was a great series, they have released other series on DVD that were not as popular at the time but so far not this one.
I wonder what they are waiting for.

My favorite TV show of all time
I don't know why I love this series but I do. As with a previous reviewer, I would love to own Magnificent Thief on DVD and I would purchase the entire series on DVD as well. I have all episodes on VHS and watch them over and over. Some of the best episodes are "Takes one to know one" and Turnabout. Love this stuff. Maybe we should write to Universal and start bugging them to get this series out on DVD. Anyway, this "made for TV" movie set the stage for the short lived series (1968-1970) and I want more. Maybe Wagner should do another movie as Alex Mundy only 30 years later with Tom Cruise as his son following in his footsteps. Tom is optional. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Kirk reluctantly agrees to play along with a Federation test of a new supercomputer, designed by the brilliant Dr. Daystrom (William Marshall, the booming baritone stage actor most famous for Blacula) to run a starship almost single-handedly. It does its job too well, locking the human crew out of ship operations and using deadly force during the Federation war games. Spock and McCoy continue their now-legendary banter about man versus machine while Kirk muses over the obsolescence of his own command. Marshall is excellent as a former-boy-wonder genius banking his reputation on this breakthrough, treating his creation like a son. That's not too far from the truth: designed after his brain pattern, this thinking, reasoning, learning machine carries with it the insecurities and desperation of its creator. The fears of the emerging digital revolution explored in The Ultimate Computer in 1968 remain today: what is the fate of man in the face of technological efficiency? Films from 2001: A Space Odyssey and Colossus: The Forbin Project to Demon Seed and The Matrix have echoed these themes, and this Trek episode--primitive special effects, zero-budget sets, and all--stands up to them quite nicely. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (11)

The Best Kirk vs the Computer episode
The Enterprise beams aboard Dr. Richard Daystorm, a scientist who developed the computer systems for many Federation starships, and now he's invented a new computer called the M-5, which can run the ship without Captain Kirk's orders. The Captain does not like the idea and soon his fears are justified as the M-5 takes over total command of the Enterprise, the Captain then relies on his past skills as a computer destroyer to reclaim command of the Enterprise, thus showing that human beings should control starships, and not computers. Actor William Marshall turns in a brillent performance as Dr. Daystorm.Teleplay by D.C. Fontana. Story by Laurence N. Wolfe. Directed by John Meredyth Lucas. Music Composed and Conducted by Sol Kaplan and Fred Steiner.

Man vs. Computer
A famous inventor boards the Enterprise and brings his invention, a computer, onboard the ship with him. The M-5 computer is capable of running a starship by itself without the aid of human assistance. It is supposed to be going through an experiment by playing war games with other ships. However, trouble arises when Captain Kirk and his crew find out that the M-5 computer has taken over completely and there's nothing they can do, including control the Enterprise in any way. Everybody better watch out because if something goes wrong, the M-5 computer could possibly destroy innocent lives when it's not supposed to.

"The Ultimate Computer" is a good episode of Star Trek. It is interesting, or in Spock's words fascinating, and it has great acting. I recommend it to anybody who likes Star Trek - The Original Series.

A certain event, a computer with a survival instinct
In this episode, a supercomputer called the M-5 is placed on board the Enterprise. It is so sophisticated that nearly all of the crew disembarks so that it can run the ship. However, it has been constructed using a human mind as a template. The creator of the computer, the brilliant Dr. Daystrom, used the patterns of his mind to build the circuits of the M-5. Unfortunately, Daystrom is mentally unstable, so the M-5 is also unstable.
When the M-5 is subjected to a war games exercise, it does not understand that it is a mock attack, so it treats it as a real one and destroys a star ship, killing everyone on board. The remaining ships then form an attack force, but Kirk is able to disable the computer and regain control of the Enterprise in the nick of time.
The most significant point in this episode is that a black man is portrayed as a very intelligent man who strongly defends his invention. He stands up to Kirk, interacting with the people in power as an equal, if not as a superior. Another point is that Dr. Daystrom has the most memorable reaction to the Vulcan neck pinch in the entire series.
I enjoyed the episode, it is often portrayed as anti-technology, but that is not true. I consider it an example of the reality of bleeding edge technology. Whenever a dramatic leap of technology has been attempted, there have been mishaps and deaths. Steam ships and locomotives blew up, ships sank, space shuttles exploded, planes crashed etc. Artificial intelligence (AI) remains an elusive goal with success being difficult to measure. However, one of the consequences of successfully implementing AI will be a computer behaving in a manner similar to that of the M-5, exhibiting a strong survival instinct. This is one of the episodes that is a safe prediction of a future event.

Slightly above average
This war games episode, in which command of the Enterprise is handed over to a computer (with predictable results) is a solid offering. The episode, in classic second season fashion, has more than it's share of action presented in a dramatic fashion with proper pacing and strong direction. The episode is simultaneously thoughtful as it touches on important issues such as human obsolescence, pratfalls (to put it mildly) of technology, introspection, fame and immortality, and the risks inherent in putting too much into your work. But the episode ultimately suffers from an ending that is too predictable (you'll never guess who outwits a computer!) and too pat (Kirk lectures M5 for only 1 minute!).

It should be noted that this is one of the most prominent roles played by an African-American on Star Trek TOS. While one is initially frustrated by the character's fate, further reflection suggests a lack of prejudice in this episode. Rather than walk on eggshells, the brain trust gave him the same fate (collapse of some sort) that (almost) always befell all Federation elite.
Despite McCoy writing him off as almost insane, Daystrom's motives are fairly complex. This creates the interesting paradox that Kirk exploits at the end of the episode. The computer is flawed whether it 'is' pure computer or part human!

Shatner performs well in one of his most symapathetic and demanding roles. The friendship between he, Spock, and McCoy is also presented in an unstilted and natural way. A good story is always the best route to character development, humor, and other supplimentals.

Wesley is one of the more sympathetic federation brass. While he is certainly insensitive to Kirk and less than circumspect about the potential dangers of the operation, he is one of the few Starfleet elite to show any capacity for reasoning, let alone sound judgment.

There are several signs that this is a late season episode with a tight budget. There is no original score, the entire episode takes place on board the ship, and the space station and cargo ship are retreads from The Trouble with Tribbles and Space Seed respectively. And then there is Shatner's expanding waistline.

Do Not Trust Dr. Daystrom on computers.
The U.S.S. Enterprise is to be the new test ship for the new M-5 multitronic computer system, a computer meant to be able to run a starship without human intervention. Also aboard for the test is Dr. Richard Daystrom, the inventor of the M-5 and an obsessive and unstable man.

Initially the M-5 performs well, but when it decides to destroy a robot freighter, Kirk orders the test cancelled. The M-5, however, protects itself and makes it impossible for it to be disconnected. The computer becomes increasingly erratic, a result of Dr. Daystrom's decision to impress his engram onto the computer as part of its programming. Starting a scheduled war games drill, M-5 uses the full arsenal of the U.S.S. Enterprise to attack four other Federation starships.

In a last-ditch appeal to the M-5, Kirk makes the computer realize that it has committed the sin of murder for killing the crew of the U.S.S. Excalibur. Since Dr. Daystrom would be ethically abhorred at such an act, the M-5 is equally penitent and tries to commit suicide by leaving the U.S.S. Enterprise defenseless against a counter-attack by the remaining three Federation starships. The Federation fleet's intent is to destroy the U.S.S. Enterprise, for destroying the U.S.S. Excalibur. At the last moment, Spock and Scott are able to finish disconnecting the M-5 unit. Kirk keeps the shields down, gambling successfully that the attacking ships would not fire on an undefended vessel. Restoring communications next, the fleet is called off by Commodore Robert Wesley. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

This is it--the Real McCoy!
This is the infamous Blooper Reel. Yeah, the picture quality is horrendous. No, it's not especially funny.

But it is exactly as I remember seeing it at a Philadelphia Star Trek convention in 1978. Right down to the dark images on the projection screen.

Its real value to a Trekker is that it's part of Star Trek history. Most of the early fans watched this at conventions. Foundational books such as "The World of Star Trek" (David Gerrald) to "The Making of Star Trek" (Stephen Whitfield) positively gushed over the Blooper Reel. So, for better or worse, you too can share in that experience with this video.

Think of it as primary research. It doesn't have to be pretty. It just has to be.

Live long and prosper--
Joe
Former boyhood president of "Where No Fan Has Gone Before" (ca. 1974!!)

Not For Everyone
Of COURSE it looks and sounds bad! It is true - these were eventually rejected and trashed, folks. I saw them over 15 years ago, and the quality was just as bad then. This isn't a video for most people, it's for us die-hard TOS fans who love trivia and oddities concerning the series. If you are willing to accept it for what it is, it is certainly watchable and actually quite humorous. I guess we should be thankful that Mr. Roddenberry decided to save them in the first place, no matter how they were mistreated later on. As far as I know, these are the ONLY bloopers of TOS in existence.

A true collectible
I have done a little research and my understanding is that the STAR TREK outakes on this video were obtained directly from film stock found the dumpsters outside of the facilities where the show was edited. This means that they are vary rare and to my knowledge, don't exsist in any other public collection of Star Trek Bloopers. Unfortunately, this also means that that their veiwing quality is marginal because of their exposure to the outside elements. However, if you are a die hard Star Trek fan/collector (like many people I know), just possessing these rare and funny outakes more than makes up for their quality.

As for the the quality of the bonus bloopers, they are great, and are guarenteed to make you laugh until your sides ache.

Star Trek Bloopers
Very disappointed in this video. It is not worth the money. Looks like someone pieced together very old films that were worn out. It was not what I expected and I would highly recommend people do not waste their money.

OOOOOOOOOHHHHHHHH NNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOO!
I have collected bootleg bloopers from Star Trek since Gene Roddenberry leaked the first out-take reel to the fans. I have seen much better, and have better than the product being offered here. Save your money, spend it on an Aldeberan Shellmouth....anything. Do not waste your money on this trash. I came, I saw, I bought, I kicked myself. Call this recording a REHASH OF TRASH. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Totally entertaining, mind-expanding scifi spectacle
"Galaxy Being" is the superb, seminal episode of the original Outer Limits, and it still packs quite a unique wallop today--indeed all the more so by contrast with the dismal state of contemporary scifi cinema. This is a towering, all-time great portrayal of the human encounter with the alien, who is at once intelligent, wise, noble, confused and stressed-out. His final, stern lecture to the foolish, frightened earthlings who in their ignorance would destroy him, puts this film into the same class as "Day the Earth Stood Still", one of OL's most important thematic forerunners. But then, in a brilliant stroke, there is a strong and daring infusion of emergent parallels between the rational and the non-rational, between recent discoveries of science and ancient, intuitive, mystical teachings--way ahead of its time in 1963. Another profound theme, embodied in both the alien and the Cliff Robertson character, is the courage of the individual who would seek to investigate the unknown, against the pressures of brain-washed society to conform, and all the efforts of authorities to keep humanity subservient and under control. Should these loner, visionary scientist types who break the rules in their quest for knowledge be careful what they're fooling around with? Of course; and yet, its often by mistakes that we learn the most and advance furthest as a species. The special effects are stylish and riveting, especially the design and imaging of the alien itself, which has few comparisons. The human/alien relationship is mirrored as well by the maritally troubled husband/wife couple, who have their own differences to overcome. The lame gender stereotypes of today's pathetic, post-Cameron/Hurd scifi offerings (i.e., the men as wimps or swaggering macho idiots and foils for the obligatorily smarter, stronger, wiser but good looking female lead) are nowhere to be seen, so you might not like this if you require that kind of shallow, formulaic content. The focus here, setting the tone for the whole series, is on the timeless and recurring themes of human existence, the quest for meaning, the finding of the self in the other, transcendence versus domination, the triumph of the human spirit and hope. Outer Limits is the Shakespeare of TV/cinematic scifi, and will admirably withstand the test of time. By the way, there is one unintentionally diverting moment here to watch for which I've got to mention, because I've never seen it commented upon elsewhere. It involves quite a double handful that Cliff Robertson gets hold of in the last act. How did that get by ABC's watchful eye?

Please Stand By
An inventor, and a manager of a radio station, creates a 3-D monitor device in order to communicate with alien beings from outer space. He receives a signal from the galaxy of Andromeda. This is the pilot episode and a classic one. The key episode that gives you the premise and the series approach. Cliff Robertson is the perfect example of a cursed and lonely tinkerer ("But the secrets of the universe don't mind. They reveal themselves to nobodies. Who care ?") lost in his radio experimentations and in search of an absolute. The best scene remains the intense dialogues between Cliff Robertson and the Andromedan Being about the fundamental questions : Life, Death, War and God ("Infinity is God. God, Infinity, all the same."). Pre-"Counterweight" Jacqueline Scott plays skeptical and pragmatic Carol Mawxell who threats her husband ("Carol, it's more than interesting, it's important !"). Pre-"Production and decay of strange particles" Allyson Ames (Leslie Stevens' wife) is very gorgeous. The alien's optical effects is strange and magnificient at once and it is the best "bear" of the entire series. There are two beautiful scenes with the negative effects : 1.The Being enters a shop, with suspended instruments, and examines items (binoculars, musical box, bust). 2.The Being cauterized the injury of Allan Maxwell's wife with a blast of radiation. You have a "The day the Earth stood still" reference with the army, the jeeps and the alien's warning ("There is much you have to learn.").----"The planet Earth is a speck of dust, remote and alone in the void. There are powers in the universe inscrutable and profound. Fear cannot save us. Rage cannot help us. We must see the stranger in a new light-the light of understanding. And to achieve this, we must begin to understand ourselves, and each other."

-End of transmission-

Debut Episode Of This Sci-Fi Series Is Still The Best!
This VHS video contains the premiere episode of the 1960s science-fiction TV series, "The Outer Limits". Cliff Robertson stars in "The Galaxy Being", a story of energy gone haywire.

I recall watching this thrilling episode as a little kid years ago, and even today it's still a terrific sci-fi outing.

That's Jacqueline Scott as Robertson's wife. Jacqueline was a veteran guest star in many, many TV shows of that era, including a 2nd guest spot on "The Outer Limits" (the episode "Counterweight" in December 1964). Scott also very ably appeared in shows such as "The Fugitive" (as Richard Kimble's sister), "Gunsmoke", "Bonanza", "Lassie", "Ben Casey", "Route 66", "Perry Mason", "The Twilight Zone", and "Marcus Welby".

Somewhat ironically, "The Galaxy Being" episode of "The Outer Limits" premiered on network television on Monday, September 16, 1963, exactly one day before "The Fugitive", another series which featured Miss Scott frequently as a guest star, made its network debut.

If you're looking for one of the best episodes of "The Outer Limits" TV series, look no further than this particular entry.

'Scared the [stuff] out of a then ten-year-old!
When I saw the pilot episode of the classic sci-fi anthology, I was frightened beyond belief. The mouthless, glowing alien that the unwitting radio announcer "yanks" from outer space was enough to make a kid sleep with a nightlight on.

As an adult, I can now better appreciate the social commentary built into this particular installment. Also, the acting of a young Cliff Robertson, fresh from his popular role in "PT-109" can be also be credited for the success of this entry.

While the later "The Bellero Shield" explored a similar theme of reversed "alien abduction" with better results, "The Galaxy Being" was a great start to a show that should've lasted beyond its two years.

Outer Limits #1: My radio conversation with an alien...
On September 16, 1963 viewers watching ABC at 7:30 on that Monday night noticed that the picture on their television screen started to do funny things. Then a deep voice intoned: "There is nothing wrong with your television set. Do not attempt to adjust the picture..." Thus started one of the two greatest science fiction anthology shows in television history, "The Outer Limits."

"The Galaxy Being" was the pilot episode, starring Cliff Robertson as Alex Maxwell, a technician at a radio station who makes contact with an alien. The first half of this episode highlights the simple but compelling conversation between these two in which they discuss everything from life and death to God ("Infinity is God. God infinity. All the same," the alien tells the human). The episode takes a radical, but not totally unexpected turn in the second half when Alex goes away and a DJ boosts the station's signal, which manages to bring the alien to Earth. The alien was shot as a negative photographic image, which is amazingly effective, as most simple, elegant ideas often are. Of course the alien's mere presence sends frightened citizens running in terror and Alex comes back to find an imminent confrontation between the alien and all those people with guns.

Writer and Director Leslie Stevens comes up with a nice introduction to the world of "The Outer Limits." The episode appeals to both those who like the intellectual dimensions of good science fiction and those who want cool monsters from another planet. It also establishes one of the show's strongest elements, which was making viewers uneasy with what was going on rather than going for fear and terror. Robertson also provides the first of many strong performances by actors on this show (e.g., Robert Culp in several key OL episodes). His Alex Maxwell might be an ordinary Joe, but making first contact with an alien is a cause for curiosity and wonder, not fear and loathing. No reason to get into allegorical dimensions regarding the Cold War, because the simple lesson here is that aliens are people too. ... Read more