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Twilight Zone - The Movie (1983) DVD Review
Twilight Zone - The Movie (1983) DVD Credits:
Twilight Zone - The Movie (1983) Directed by:
Joe Dante, John Landis, George Miller, Steven Spielberg
Twilight Zone - The Movie (1983) Written by:
Not available at this time
Twilight Zone - The Movie (1983) Cast:
Dan Aykroyd, Albert Brooks, Vic Morrow, Doug McGrath, Charles Hallahan
Twilight Zone - The Movie (1983) Released by:
Not available at this time
Region:
1
Twilight Zone - The Movie (1983) DVD Release Date:
8th October 2007
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Twilight Zone - The Movie (1983) Synopsis:

Four directors collaborated to remake four episodes of the popular television series 'The Twilight Zone' for this movie. The episodes are updated slightly and in color (the television show was in black-and-white), but very true to the originals, where eerie and disturbing situations gradually spin out of control.

Twilight Zone - The Movie (1983) DVD Review:

Before Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez combined their distinct abilities as filmmakers to show reverence for a former source of entertainment enjoyed by many there was another gathering of filmmakers. Directors John Landis (Animal House), Steven Spielberg, Joe Dante (Gremlins), and George Miller (The Road Warrior) each direct their own tribute to Rod Sterling’s memorable television series in Twilight Zone: The Movie. Three of the four segments are from actual Twilight Zone episodes, with a hilarious prologue directed by Landis as well and starring Dan Aykroyd and Albert Brooks. This film also shares another similarity with Grindhouse, which featured a scene in which a helicopter is used to destroy zombies. Unfortunately there was a tragic accident on the set of the film and actor Vic Morris was killed in a helicopter crash. Although this shadow will remain over the making of the film, there is no question that the result still managed to be another entertaining example of successful directors using their pull with a few hits to make a film they really wanted to make.

The first segment as well as the prologue is directed by Landis, who tells the tale of an angry white business man unfortunate enough to miss out on a promotion. He is even more angered by the fact that it was given instead to a Jewish man. This brings him to rant and rave about America, all the while speaking against anyone who isn’t white. This, however, is just a precursor to the Twilight Zone taking hold of him. As soon as he exist the bar the racist man finds himself transported into numerous places and time periods with racism, always mistaken for anything but white. The Nazis are positive he is Jewish and the KKK sees him as black, and there is no escape from the lesson-teaching Twilight Zone.

Steven Spielberg directs the second segment which is a perfect representation from the director’s family-friendly phase. It is all feel good moments when he directs an updated version of the episode with the fable about the senior citizen home with a new resident determined to show the other housemates how to think young. Not only does the segment show the young filmmaker’s distinct style, but there are also some interesting parallels between it and Peter Pan as he already seems eager to make the film Hook. In this segment taken from “Kick the Can” a retirement home is given a chance for youth one evening.

The third segment, directed by Joe Dante, is taken from another Twilight Zone favorite. Based on “It’s a Good Life” a young woman agrees to give a young boy a ride home on what she thinks is his birthday. When they arrive at his house she is surprised to see a scattered and greedy family that seems more frightened of the child than anything else. Every room in the house is playing cartoons, even when the young boy isn’t around, and slowly it becomes obvious that the boy has a special ability to change things with his mind.

The fourth and final segment is based on one of the most popular episodes, “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”. Directed by George Miller, this segment somehow isn’t as harrowing as I remember it being on the original television show, but the updated version certainly has its charm. For one thing, John Lithgow fits perfectly into the role of the nervous passenger aboard a plane on a stormy night. He makes the mistake of looking out his window and he sees a creature on the wing tearing the plane apart. The only problem is that nobody else has seen it and they all think he is crazy.

This film has been long anticipated on DVD, and fortunately it has arrived with all new treatment, even if the special features were neglected in the process. The DVD includes a new digital transfer, with the soundtrack re-mastered in Dolby Digital 5.1. There is also the inclusion of the original theatrical trailer.


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Twilight Zone - The Movie (1983) DVD review written by: Ryan Izay

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