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Amazon.co.uk Review
Steven Spielberg's mid-'80s foray into television, Steven Spielberg Presents Amazing Stories, was based loosely on a pulpy sci-fi magazine from the '40s and '50s--much as his rollicking hit Raiders of the Lost Ark had been based on movie action serials of the same era. Yet despite the retro concept, Amazing Stories brought high gloss and state-of-the-art production values to their yarns of horror, sci-fi, and fantasy. The boxed set of the first season (which debuted in 1985), contains all 24 episodes, as well as more than 20 minutes of deleted footage. Spielberg himself was very hands-on in the series, and directed many episodes and wrote most, and some themes from his later films show up here. In The Mission, a special hourlong episode (most are half an hour), stars Kevin Costner and Kiefer Sutherland play World War II bombers whose plane is hit during a routine mission, and who face a dire choice, with one young colleague's life hanging in the balance. Spielberg's visceral direction of the wartime violence, camaraderie, and anxiety is pitch-perfect, and presages some of the most moving moments in Saving Private Ryan. Part of the fun of this collection is seeing the stars and guest directors Spielberg cajoled into service, including Martin Scorsese, Sam Waterston (with a head of bushy '80s hair), Tim Robbins, Clint Eastwood, Harvey Keitel, and John Lithgow. The storytelling is crackerjack, and the trip down TV memory lane priceless. --A.T. Hurley
Synopsis
Academy Award-winning writer/director Steven Spielberg presents Amazing Stories, the hit television series featuring a star-studded cast including John Lithgow, Kiefer Sutherland, Tim Robbins, Charlie Sheen, and Kevin Costner. The show's first groundbreaking series blends mystery, science fiction, and horror.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
'Amazing Stories' was an anthology series developed by Steven Spielberg in the 1980s. The Spielberg name attracted a multitude of big stars both in front and behind the camera to the program- (Actors) Kevin Costner, Tim Robins, John Lithgow, Bronson Pinchot, Harvey Kietel, Charlie Sheen, Kiefer Sutherland, (Directors) Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorcese, Irvin Kershner, Joe Dante, Clint Eastwood, (Composers) Danny Elfman, John Williams and many more, aswell as budgets to match (1 million an episode). As a result the program was released to almost unheard of anticipation, and perhaps inevitably it failed to live up to its 'potential'. It was criticised for just not being 'amazing' enough and also in many cases because the of some slightly bizarre endings that ruin otherwise strong stories such as Scorcese's 'Mirror, Mirror' and to a lesser extent Spielbergs hour long 'The Mission'. The show only managed a second series on the basis of the contract rather than its success as a show.
I personally wasnt around when this was released, back in 1985, and whilst I agree that the show suffers from the problems mentioned, I still very much enjoyed it. The tone ranges from drama to comedy to sci-fi to horror, with a completely new story every week. Its true that a few episodes were fairly missable but thats only probably about 6 of the 24 really, the rest ranged from good to occasionally superb. Highlights include 'The Doll'- a lonely John Lithgow finds love when he buys a doll for his niece (for which he won an Emmy), 'Mummy Daddy'- an actor playing a mummy tries to make it to the hospital for the birth of his son in costume and 'The Mission'- Kevin Costner captaining a WW2 bomber. Id really recommend this series if you enjoy anthology shows or the short stories of writers such as Paul Jennings or Roald Dahl. Hopefully Universal will release the second series if this one sells well, it certainly deserves to anyway.
I personally wasnt around when this was released, back in 1985, and whilst I agree that the show suffers from the problems mentioned, I still very much enjoyed it. The tone ranges from drama to comedy to sci-fi to horror, with a completely new story every week. Its true that a few episodes were fairly missable but thats only probably about 6 of the 24 really, the rest ranged from good to occasionally superb. Highlights include 'The Doll'- a lonely John Lithgow finds love when he buys a doll for his niece (for which he won an Emmy), 'Mummy Daddy'- an actor playing a mummy tries to make it to the hospital for the birth of his son in costume and 'The Mission'- Kevin Costner captaining a WW2 bomber. Id really recommend this series if you enjoy anthology shows or the short stories of writers such as Paul Jennings or Roald Dahl. Hopefully Universal will release the second series if this one sells well, it certainly deserves to anyway.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
I think that this used to be on every sunday morning or afternoon but it really doesn't seem more than twenty years ago so maybe they were repeated in the 1990's because this is when I seem to remember it being on, all I know for certain is that I never watched it properly and I don't know why, I know this seems strange but I think the reason for this was because I hated sundays and so I just couldn't be bothered, I think had this been on a friday or saturday I would have probably watched it properly.
I bought this because I really like anthology programmes and I just knew that this would be different from everything else that I like as Steven Spielberg is involved, that and the fact that it was a fairly cheap price on Amazon compared to everywhere else I have seen it being sold. I can say that I am really glad that I bought it, as it is another gamble that as paid off for me.
I have to say that I am amazed that only two seasons of this were made, especially as Speilberg was involved. This like most anthology programmes as something for everyone, a little comedy here, a few frights there etc. There are plenty of big name actors involved in this, although personally I couldn't give a flying circus as long as the stories are amazing which thankfully they are or near enough at least. Each episode is about 23 minutes each, as you are probably aware as always, this is because of the advert freezone (without adverts). There are twenty four episodes on four discs, six episodes on each disc, in two very thin cases. I know that this style of packaging isn't for everyone but it is one of my favourite syles of packaging as it is very tidy, they are not awkward to open and also you can lend somebody one case at a time if you haven't finished watching the full season.
One last thing about this boxset that deserves a special mention is that the picture and sound have been remastered and so the quality is as good as perfect, out of the Universal Playback DVD Boxset releases, the picture and sound quality is as good as any, why or why can't they all be treated with this much respect I will never know.
So then, if you want to watch some amazing stories then this is well worth adding to your collection.
I bought this because I really like anthology programmes and I just knew that this would be different from everything else that I like as Steven Spielberg is involved, that and the fact that it was a fairly cheap price on Amazon compared to everywhere else I have seen it being sold. I can say that I am really glad that I bought it, as it is another gamble that as paid off for me.
I have to say that I am amazed that only two seasons of this were made, especially as Speilberg was involved. This like most anthology programmes as something for everyone, a little comedy here, a few frights there etc. There are plenty of big name actors involved in this, although personally I couldn't give a flying circus as long as the stories are amazing which thankfully they are or near enough at least. Each episode is about 23 minutes each, as you are probably aware as always, this is because of the advert freezone (without adverts). There are twenty four episodes on four discs, six episodes on each disc, in two very thin cases. I know that this style of packaging isn't for everyone but it is one of my favourite syles of packaging as it is very tidy, they are not awkward to open and also you can lend somebody one case at a time if you haven't finished watching the full season.
One last thing about this boxset that deserves a special mention is that the picture and sound have been remastered and so the quality is as good as perfect, out of the Universal Playback DVD Boxset releases, the picture and sound quality is as good as any, why or why can't they all be treated with this much respect I will never know.
So then, if you want to watch some amazing stories then this is well worth adding to your collection.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Watching Amazing Stories as a youngster and now again reminded me of why I like certain genres of films and amazing stories packs them all in from horror, mystery, magical, Indian magic, thriller, WW2, ghost stories, comedy... and just great, no, Amazing Stories.
If, like me, you want to buy for old times sake, it's well worth it with the high quality picture and cracking acting. Or if you want to purchase something 'old school' these stories will get you into a wide range and test your genre of movie type - for the better.
Go on do something amazing, buy Amazing Stories!
If, like me, you want to buy for old times sake, it's well worth it with the high quality picture and cracking acting. Or if you want to purchase something 'old school' these stories will get you into a wide range and test your genre of movie type - for the better.
Go on do something amazing, buy Amazing Stories!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
no subtitles in English??!!
Good picture and sound quality, a number of stories are intriguing and gripping. However, how come a dvd is released without subtitles in English??!
Published 18 months ago by Monica Costa P. Parreiras
help please
Can anyone tell me if this DVD has subtitles in English or for Hard of Hearing please? I really enjoyed these stories when they were aired, favourite is The Mission. Read more
Published 19 months ago by RosieB
Dated but ok
This looks so dated now and the stories are predictable, but for the low price it is a good little bit of entertainment as on the scale from dreadful to brilliant it is just ok --... Read more
Published on 10 April 2010 by Cheryl R. Kennedy
Mostly Forgetable.
I found it truely amazing that there were 24 episodes in this first season because I could only recall seeing two or three. Read more
Published on 8 Oct 2009 by Observer
Pretty Good Stuff
Took a chance on this because I didn't really remember the show to well. The gamble paid off as most of the stories are pretty entertaining and although a few are weak that's to be... Read more
Published on 6 May 2008 by Paddy
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