Masters Of Science Fiction - The Complete Series
Starz / Anchor Bay (9/1/2006)
In Collection
#1190
8*
Seen ItYes
(6/13/2011)
013138950086
264 mins USA/English
DVD  Region 1   Unrated
Director Jonathan Frakes
Mark Rydell
Writer Sam Egan
Michael Tolkin

A wealth of Hollywood talent brings to life six thought-provoking short stories by legendary authors of science fiction in this criminally underrated anthology series. Produced by the same team who brought Masters of Horror to television, Masters of Science Fiction takes a decidedly literate route with its stories--though production values are top-notch, it's the material, and the message behind them, that drives the episodes. The moral complexities of war are examined in Robert Sheckley's "Warbird" (one of two episodes on the set making their debut on this DVD) and "The Awakening," by Howard Fast, while Robert Heinlein's "Jerry Was a Man" and Harlan Ellison's "The Discarded" challenge the definition of humanity. Elsewhere, Walter Mosley explores justice in a draconian future ("Little Brother"), while Nebula winner John Kessel's "A Clean Escape" delivers a Twilight Zone-style sting with its story of a psychiatrist (Judy Davis) attempting to uncover a truth hidden in the mind of her patient (Sam Waterson). The cast in the latter episode is indicative of the level of talent in front of and behind the camera for Masters of Science Fiction; among the other players are Terry O'Quinn (Lost), James Cromwell, Brian Dennehy, John Hurt, Anne Heche, Malcolm McDowell and Sean Astin, while directors include Mark Rydell, Harold Becker, Michael Tolkin and Jonathan Frakes, and scripts are penned by Ellison, Mosley, and Hugo winner Sam Egan. The emphasis on strong and evocative stories and performances over special effects does much to draw parallels between Masters and such classic genre anthologies as the aforementioned Twilight Zone and The Outer Limits; it's unfortunate that the program wasn't given more of a chance to develop an audience during its brief network run. Equally disappointing are the lack of any supplemental features in the two-disc set. --Paul Gaita
Edition Details
Distributor Starz / Anchor Bay
Release Date 8/5/2008
Packaging Keep Case
Screen Ratio 1.78:1
Audio Tracks ENGLISH: Dolby Digital 5.1
Layers Single Side, Dual Layer
No. of Disks/Tapes 2
Personal Details
Purchase Date 8/15/2008
Owner Thomas Eisenmann
Store Amazon.US
Purchase Price $31.99
Condition Excellent
Reviewed Not Reviewed
Bit Rate 448 KB
Anamophic Yes
Links Amazon US
DVD Empire

Features
Disc 01 Anamophic
Features Not Specified

Widescreen Review
Season 1
1. A Clean Escape
Community Score8.0
Great 9
reviews
First aired: 8/4/2007
Set in a post-apocalyptic future, psychiatrist Dr. Deanna Evans interrogates a confused man who is suffering from a lapse in memory.

Writer: Sam Egan, John Kessel
Director: Mark Rydell
Guest star: Camyar Chai (Mansur), Malaya Cooks (Technician), Peter Bryant (Dr. Gavin), Kelly McKye (Claire), Burkeley Duffield (Will), Peter Hall (Nick)

2. The Awakening
Community Score7.1
Good 4
reviews
First aired: 8/11/2007
In war torn Baghdad, US soldiers discover a mysterious casualty that they cannot identify as human.

Writer: Michael Petroni, Howard Fast
Director: Michael Petroni
Guest star: Doron Bell (Kirby), Samir El Sharkawi (Iraqi), Adrian McMorran (Medic), Dean Marshall (General's Aide), Hiro Kanagawa (Captain Oguchi), Dave Lantaigne (Army Officer), Johannah Newmarch (Assistant), Mitra Lohrasb (Palestinian Woman), Andre Fex (French Leader), Deni DeLory (Interpreter), Veena Sood (Dr. Kashani), Parm Soor (Pakistani Leader), Scott Miller (I) (Technician), Eddy Ko (Chinese Leader), Igor Inglesman (Russian Leader), Laura Soltis (Skynner's Wife), Ben Cotton (Creature)


3. Jerry Was a Man
Community Score7.0
Good 2
reviews
First aired: 8/18/2007
This futuristic episode follows the seventh richest couple in the world. Their lives take a turn when they acquire an anthropoid named Jerry.

Writer: Michael Tolkin, Robert A. Heinlein
Director: Michael Tolkin
Guest star: Jeanie Cloutier (Judge #3), David Neale (Pyramus), Val Cole (News Anchor), Richard Ian Cox (Pudgy Dodge), Heale Col (Anchorman), Osmond L Bramble (Bailiff), Matty Finochio (Judge #2)

4. The Discarded
Community Score6.9
Fair 3
reviews
First aired: 8/25/2007
A group of people are sentenced to drift in space forever, they take one final chance at returning back to Earth.

Writer: Josh Olson, Harlan Ellison, Harlan Ellison
Director: Jonathan Frakes
Guest star: Brian Dobson (Voice of Samswope #2), Vicky Lambert (Frenchy), Alex Zahara (Bucky), Leanne Adachi (Sharon), Jason Diablo (Smiler), Barbara Kottmeier (Sis), Harlan Ellison (Nate), Ken Kramer (Schmool), Gillian Barber (Dr. Goldstein)

5. Watchbird
Community Score7.2
Good 1
review
Flying droids patrol the skies of America, they are tasked with stopping murder before it can occur.

Writer: Sam Egan, Robert Sheckley
Director: Harold Becker
Guest star: Viv Leacock (Willy), Dean Redman (Bradley Tanner), David Abbott (President), Ivan De Leon (Hispanic Youth #1), Andreas Abbondanza (Hispanic Youth #2), Ken Camroux (Sumner), Sean Owen Roberts (Mugger), Alistair Abell (SWAT Leader), Gerry South (Gunman), Vanesa Tomasino (Housekeeper), Jill Krop (TV Newscaster), Link Baker (Technician), Mark Docherty (TV Newscaster), A.B. Chatter (Terrorist #1), Mehdi Darvish (Terrorist #2)

6. Little Brother
Community Score7.5
Good
In a future where merciless computers have replaced judges and juries, a man must convince a machine that he is innocent or be subject to instant execution.

Writer: Walter Mosley, Walter Mosley
Director: Darnell Martin
Guest star: Jorgito Vargas Jr. (Young Man), Lorena Gale (Mary (Mother)), Shelley MacDonald (Female Guard), Nicole Munoz (Frightened Girl), Adrien Dorval (Officer Bernard), Keith Dallas (Officer Laley), Joanna Reid (Defense Attorney), Carlos Joe Costa (Juror #3 (Kwame)), Alex Kliner (Juror #1 (Jessup)), Alexia Fast (Juror #4 (Ginnie)), Doreen Ramus (Juror #2 (Renee)), Greg Chan (Juror #8 (Old Chinese Man)), Jim Shepard (Juror #6 (Middle Aged White Man)), Ray G. Thunderchild (Juror #7 (Native American Man)), John Burnside (Juror #9), Ellen Ewusie (Juror #5 (Black Woman)), Donna Yamamoto (Asian Police Woman), Louis Chirillo (Interrupt Program 9.1), Paul Hebert (Technician #1), Jeni Le Gon (Juror #10), Nimet Kanji (Juror #11), Esme Lambert (Juror #12)