Rating: 
Summary: Man Does Not Live by Bread Alone
Review: Rod Serling was a man of great literary and social intellect and integrity. Ahead of his time and somewhat less respected because of the genre he worked within and made him famous, he is now recognized as one of the great pioneers into the realm of sophisticated storytelling combing intellect and emotion. His great vision and realization, "The Twilight Zone" remains a testament of his contribution to the Arts and Humanity. It has been said "Man does not live by bread alone." This 40th Anniversary Gift Set is very representative of "The Twilight Zone" television series. There are 19 episodes included. They are not all classics but they do show the diversity of the series held together by a common theme and I think that is what strengthens this set. The 90 minute feature, "ROD SERLING: Submitted For Your Approval" which I originally viewed on Public Television is also included. It is one of the best biographical documentaries I have ever seen. Of the 19 episodes included there are some truly great titles such as "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet," "Kick the Can," "Night of the Meek," "Two," "I Sing the Body Electric" and "Walking Distance" and "The Lonely," both with heartfelt and endearing Bernard Herrmann scores. This is a good way to start collecting "The Twilight Zone" on DVD. These transfers are excellent and truly have to be seen to be appreciated.
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Summary: In the Zone
Review: Twilight Zone is one of the most creative pieces of Americana. What Serling succeeded in doing was to combine a first rate scifi imagination with a concern for the human condition and the basic questions of existence. He questions, he doubts, he moralizes, but without overt preaching. Instead, he gives us his imaginative tales that combine suspense and innovative plots, meaningful characters and strange circumstances. All this entertains and teaches a lesson at the same time. And you are likely to learn something new from Serling's biography, which is also included in the 40th Anniversary Gift Set. Owning The Twilight Zone is like owning a piece of America.
Rating: 
Summary: Not intended for the serious collector
Review: If you are a serious collector -- or if you are shopping for a gift for a big fan of this show -- then you really should investigate the "Twilight Zone Collection" box sets. The entire series is available in a total of 5 sets. This 40th Anniversary Gift Pack is not comprehensive enough for a serious collector. It contains exactly the same material as Vol 1-5 of "Collection 1," which goes beyond that, all the way to Vol 9.
Rating: 
Summary: Some mediocre, but mostly good -- worth it.
Review: I agree that the selection of episodes in the gift pack (as is also true of the regular DVD releases of TZ episodes) represents more of a random sampling than an only-the-best selection. Nonetheless, I'm quite pleased with the overall quality of the included episodes. While segments like "Probe 7--Over and Out" are mediocre at best, the collection still includes classics like "Time Enough at Last", "A Game of Pool" (with terrific performances from Jack Klugman and Jonathan Winters), and "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet." Of the 19 episodes, I find 15 of them to be well worth owning--not a bad ratio. I'm also impressed with the Rod Serling documentary included in this set. Rather than an insipid fluff piece about how wonderful TZ is (which is unfortunately the more common type of "documentary feature" usually included in DVD products), this is a satisfyingly in-depth look at Rod Serling's entire career which aired on PBS as part of the "American Masters" series. A nice bonus. I do agree that the packaging is sub-par. No liner notes, and all discs are crammed into 2-CD jewel boxes. This is unimpressive for an "anniversary tribute" set. These drawbacks are purely cosmetic, though, and do not detract from my enjoyment of the set. The transfer is generally well executed, capturing the contrast and detail of the often striking black-and-white cinematography. At its best, TZ is like classic film noir distilled into 24-minute doses. The two episodes originally shot on videotape instead of film for budgetary reasons ("Night of the Meek" and "Long Distance Call") fare less well, but this is to be expected. So: Overall, a good sampling of episodes with a satisfying bonus documentary. I thoroughly enjoy it.
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Summary: Good bargain for all that you get
Review: Getting five DVD's for this price is good no matter what they are, and if they are Twilight Zone episodes -- you better grab this deal right away! The gift set's contents include a variety of episodes, from sentimental to downright scary, all of which any Twilight Zone fan will enjoy seeing again and again. See the early work of Robert Redford, Charles Bronson, William Shatner and Lee Marvin -- when they were hotties! Rod Serling and the creators were way ahead of their time, and the "making of" documentary proves this. The only problem with the gift set is the strange packaging: you get the DVD's in double-disc cases, thrown into a box that looks like it was designed for more content.
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Summary: The Twilight Zone - 40th Anniversary - Major Disappointmen
Review: I cant believe how cheaply they packaged this set. I have a twilight zone collection and each volume is packaged in a classy DVD cover. I was expecting 5 volumes that had the similar package.......WRONG......They have put these DVD's in a cheap plastic CD holder that is a totally different size and look than the rest of the collection. I would rather pay the difference and get the volumes individually. WHAT A CHEAP WAY TO PACKAGE THIS PRODUCT. ESPECIALLY WHEN MOST OF US BUY THEM TO COLLECT. TALK ABOUT DISAPPOINTMENT!
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Summary: ...
Review: 'Twilight Zone's Next Century ' Its A Great Book Better than the original Twilight Zone. Written and created by a ex-step son of James Serling's Rod Serling's 1st cousin. Michael J.Sudore Author Of Twilighjt Zone's Next Century. Buy this book its a great novel. Some people think Sudore is a actual Blood relative of the Serling's because he looks like Rod and he has his imagination. Some people think he has powers because he come up with these stories from the top of his head. A story out of his book is about the Witch who becoomes fat she eats a piece of pie, and she explodes into seven witches all seven inches tall all the same existance of the witch. I don't want to spoil the book or tv stories of sudore's read it all, his stories are out of this world. and they are new.
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Summary: Twilight Zone's Next Century
Review: "Its a great book, "The Next Twilight Zone" "Next Twilight Zone."
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Summary: The New Twilight Zone
Review: "This DVD is good, "The Old Twilight Zone Is very well written by Rod Serling who is the King of all other Science Fiction writtter's. "I have seen every episode of "The Twilight Zone" "Its a Great Wild Tv Show." "I have purchased the book's "Twilight Zone Companion" "Twilight Zone 2000, "Tz2k" Written By, Rod Serling's ... "Author Mark Zicree, did a perfect job on the book "Twilight Zone Companion," It tells all about the Tv Show right from the very first episode." "The Next Twilight Zone 2000" "TZ2K Book, has all new stories that I thought, I was never going to see in this life time." "I was surprized because you all know there is nothing but re-written and re-runned movies, like the stories in book's and Tv inc." "This book is really great just like Rod Serling's " Twilight Zone classical show," Only with bran new stories that are wild, and there very interesting." "I know one thing "The Twilight Zone will never die, the memories of Rod Serling remain along with his great tv show "The Twilight Zone," that still airs on the scifi tv station." "Now that this book is out in the web, it's carring a "Next Twilight Zone," right into our living rooms and dens and bedrooms and 30% Percent of the population doesn't even know it exist." I'm guessing!"Which means the Author of this book is well trained by Rod Serling, and he asking for a 50 Million dollars in contract's to air his stories on Television, or he says he will just sell the book on the street corners, or perform Tv Commercial's to adverise the book "Tz2k.' "I know one thing, When this book does become fully exposed in the United States Of America, it will sell out fast, The Graphics on the front cover are very attractive. and the stories inside the book are supernatural, meaning they are really good, there new, wild, bizzare, fascinating, entertaining." "I never seen a book anywhere that is like it, it makes "Steven King" and "Steven Spielberg" look like they are standing up in a classroom telling the class their 1st grade stories that they wrote when they were in kindergarden."
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Summary: You just don't get it
Review: I bought the 40th anniversary set when it was a preorder back in sept 1999,... Being a fan of TZ from my baby boomer youth and watching it with all the family in the den on the old black and white TV has permanent memories. I didn't know that they were starting to produce TZ on DVD until I saw the anniversary edition. Apparently the first five volumes 1-5 have already been produced and were on the market and they were for sale at a higher price. So when the preorder package came out of the first five in the Anniversary set it was quite a deal. Especially for someone who wants to collect them. Plus it gave an extra disc on biography of Rod. Some of these reviews think the anniversary set are not the same as the first five.... Also, As the DVD format improves over time I hope they improve the DVD menu's access to episodes. That's all that is. And now we are down to volume 42, with volume 43 as the last volume not yet released. The price has gone up. But I am anticipating finishing this collection. Even though they might offer the entire set one day at a discount rate it's been great collection as they have been produced. It would be nice to have some kind of syllabus for the entire set of each season and episode pointing to the correct DVD. I have had to do it myself the hard way. A must book for all collectors is " The Twilight Zone Companion" by Marc Scott Zicree .It covers every season and episode.
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