Masters of Science Fiction: The Complete Series
Starring: Stephen Hawking, Jason DiabloStudio: Starz / Anchor Bay
MPAA Rating: Unrated
Format: Color, DVD, NTSC
Running Time: 264 minutes
DVD Release: August 5th 2008
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DVD Review
From the very beginning, we have struggled to understand time, matter and the infinite universe; who we are, where we are headed, and if we are alone. Great minds ? and some of the genre?s most legendary writers and directors ? have now imagined the most wonderful and terrifying answers to these questions. Join host Professor Stephen Hawking for these six expeditions into the outer realms of scientific imagination, starring such award-winning actors as Sam Waterston, Judy Davis, Anne Heche, Malcolm McDowell, Clifton Collins Jr., Terry O?Quinn, Elisabeth Röhm, John Hurt, Sean Astin, James Denton, Brian Dennehy, James Cromwell and more.This collection features all six episodes of the acclaimed series, including the two ?lost? episodes ? Little Brother and Watchbird ? never broadcast during its original network run.
User Reviews
Very good. - Rating: 5/5
I wasn't sure what to expect from this series, but they did a very good good. Great stars and writing.
Masters of Science Fiction - Rating: 5/5
1. This had a selection: "The Awakening" which was one of the best things I have ever seen in this genre.
2. I can't comment on it without giving away the fantastic ending, but it was awesome!
3. I teach High School, and I use some of these selections in my Psycholgy and Sociology classes, even in my Government classes (one of them has a story about the President getting counseling that has a great punch to it.
4. I wish there had been more than 6 selections.
Was that science fiction? - Rating: 2/5
This may be good viewing for somebody who never reads science fiction.
As a person who reads sci-fi endlessly, and as a collector of sci-fi movies and television series, I have to say I was disappointed with this one. Perhaps the target audience is younger than myself and is a group that does not want to spend time thinking about... erm... anything in particular.
If the authors are in fact masters of science fiction, I would suggest that maybe they are not masters of television screen writing.
Why only 6 episodes? - Rating: 4/5
After watching all six episodes in one week I can only ask why just 6? Following the philosophy of the series, it could have at least dozens of episodes. The only fallback I can think is the lack of special features, which I believe would be of tremendous value. After all, it was just 6 episodes, why not give us a little bit more?
Masters? Complete Series? - Rating: 2/5
I have watched this "complete series" and it consists of six, that is correct, only 6 episodes. Only 4 of them aired. Hmmm....might that suggest how popular this show was?
Now it could be it was too expensive to film but it doesn't show. There are some grade B effects. Maybe they spent too much on stars like Judy Davis, Roddy McDowell, Sam Waterston, Brian Dennehy, Anne Heche, Sean Astin and James Cromwell? That could be it.
The stories are from fine writers but the teleplays are not well written.
So you are left with some good actors and fair FXs but poorly told stories.
Two stars for "The Discarded" for a nice teleplay, the best of the shows.
Another thing, the shows are only 44 minutes long, obviously made that way to leave room for 16 minutes of commercials. Over 1/4 the running time of a show would be devoted to showing ads and so little time is left to develop characters and a storyline. A failure.
The shows are hosted by Hawking except, curiously, the last show where he is no where to be heard. Strange. That last show just ends like they just ran out of money and stopped filming. Unsatisfying.
Bottom line: Mediocre. Rent.
