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| Masters of Science Fiction: The Complete Series | 
 enlarge | Actors: Stephen Hawking, Jason Diablo
Studio: Starz / Anchor Bay
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.97
Buy New: $8.96
You Save: $21.01 (70%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  52 reviews
Sales Rank: 10656
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: Unrated
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 264
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.4 x 5.4 x 0.7
MPN: ANBDN9500D
UPC: 013138950086
EAN: 0013138950086
ASIN: B001A7GOCA
Release Date: August 5, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Studio: Starz/sphe Release Date: 08/05/2008
Amazon.com
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
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| Customer Reviews: Read 47 more reviews...
 Pleasantly surprised at the quality... January 8, 2009
Masters of Science Fiction: The Complete Series
This was surprisingly a pretty good short-lived series that came out last summer (summer of '2007) on ABC...and amazingly good talent such as Sam Waterson, Brian Dennehy, John Hurt, Terry O'Quinn, Anne Heche, Malcolm McDowell and Sean Astin. Just a bit frustrating that ABC like many networks just don't give science fiction much of a chance to really succeed and build an audience, of course it's not going to do well during summer evenings, because that when most of your potential audience is out of the house and not watching TV. Anyway, to science-fiction fans, this is a must-see. But I also encourage casual fans who love good acting and writing to check this out.
A mixed bunch; December 21, 2008
Some good stories here, some not so good. This collection is along the lines of the "Twilight Zone" with a mix of different, sometimes pretty odd sci-fi stories. Overall, they are worth watching. I'm somewhat suprised that Stephen Hawking lent his name (and time) to this, didn't realize that he was that 'off the wall'. The acting is mostly pretty good and you'll recognise quite a few 'named' actors. Also, the stories are written by several top of the line authors. I just dinged it a star because the made for T.V. type format makes some of the short films seem overly rushed. I would definately recommend this compilation for sci-fi fans.
A good Idea but.. December 2, 2008
Overall, this was a fantastic idea with only good execution. As others have mentioned, this is very reminiscent of "The Outer Limites" or "Twilight Zone." However, those programs tackled controversial issues with SUBTLETY. This series tries a little too hard to be relevant, when it needed to concentrate on entertainment value. The anti-war message was blatant, and the tried and true "diversity" rears its head as well. That said, there is something to enjoy here.
The acting is top notch with a LOT of recognizable talent. I love Sam Waterson, Sean Astin and Malcolm McDowell. If viewers look past the politicizing, the source material is some of the best in the SciFi genre. Heinlein's writing is usually thought-provoking and the story selected here, "Jerry was a Man," is the best on the disc I think. In the vein of his masterpiece, "Stranger in a Strange Land" it really stands out and the set is worth purchasing for this alone. Of course, adapting any written material results in something being lost, but the gist is here. Reviewer CFH provides a succinct, if a little harsh, recap of the other episodes.
Overall, I think the network should have given this more of a chance. I missed it entirely when it aired, and would have made an effort to see it if I had known about it. For me, the biggest disappointment was the lack of extras. Producers had a great opportunity to explore the works that inspired these stories, with interviews of the authors still living, their impact on actual scientists (like Stephen Hawking), etc. That would have made this a must-have. Instead, I'd only recommend it for SciFi fans - at a discount of course.
 From J. Kaye's Book Blog November 19, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Hosted by the voice of Stephen Hawking, Masters of Science Fiction began on American television as an anthology series from the same creators who brought us Masters of Horror. The show debuted on ABC in August of 2007, but was cancelled after four shows. On the DVD, you can view all six of the original shows scheduled to air.
The shows include the following:
A CLEAN ESCAPE is from a 1986 play by John Kessel. It features a dying psychiatrist attempting to cure the President of the United States of his amnesia in order that he can be held accountable his role in the world's nuclear holocaust.
JERRY WAS A MAN is based on a 1947 short story by Robert Heinlein. It's a futuristic setting that centers on the worlds seventh richest couple and an anthropoid named Jerry. It deals with civil liberties and equal rights.
THE AWAKENING, originally called, The General Zapped an Angel, is based on a short story by Howard Fast. In this episode, two U.S. soldiers outside of Baghdad discover a mysterious casualty, only no one can identify as human.
LITTLE BROTHER written by Walter Mosley is set in the future. The courtrooms exist without human judges or juries. In its place is a computer that decides the fate of the convicted.
WATCHBIRD is based on the short story by Robert Sheckley. A corporation creates a robotic machine originally to assist with our wartime soldiers. When it saves lives the government uses it to fight crime in the US. In the end, it will question if we are willing to sacrifice liberty for security.
THE DISCARDED is based on the short story by Harlan Ellison. Humans born with various mutations are isolated and forced to drift in outer space. Many commit suicide from the loneliness and despair. Hope comes, but they must make a pact with the very people who sent them there to begin with.
Judy Davis, Sam Waterson, Anne Heche, Brian Dennehy, John Hurt, James Denton and Malcolm McDowell are to name some of the few stars of this series. I am sorry to see this canceled as each would make for an enlightening discussion for high school students.
 Masters of Agitprop November 10, 2008
2 out of 3 found this review helpful
The idea behind MASTERS OF SCIENCE FICTION is, on the surface, a good one: Draw from some of the best literature of the genre, commission scripts from some of the best screenwriters in the genre, and turn those scripts over to some talented filmmakers. Good idea, true, but just as with Dr Frankenstein's infamous experiment, the stitching together of these various parts has produced a horrible monster.
Instead of delivering thought-provoking, cutting-edge speculative SF or subtle cautionary tales wrapped in the trappings of SF, these "Masters" of Science Fiction offer up ham-fisted, blatantly biased socio-political sermons. What's more, they can't even keep their politics straight, with at least one of the episodes (to wit, "The Awakening") preaching the spiritual beliefs of the Religious Right at the same time that it stands on the complete-disarmament soapbox of the ultra-left. That's a stitched-up wreck of a Frankenstein monster if there ever was one!
Now, lest you accuse this reviewer of being politically biased, let me state right now that I am a dyed-in-the wool liberal and actually agree with some of the political stances presented in this show. But I've also been a fan of SF practically since birth, and I can certainly appreciate a dystopian cautionary tale. Indeed, two of my favorite SF novels are George Orwell's NINETEEN EIGHTY-FOUR and Ayn Rand's ANTHEM, one of which was written by a disillusioned socialist and the other by a staunch laissez-faire capitalist. Nonetheless, that doesn't mean that I want to watch a science-fiction TV series where every episode is little more than an anti-American political statement. And frankly, that's what each of the six episodes of MASTERS OF SCIENCE FICTION amounts to--40 minutes of ideological propaganda.
On the plus side, the technical skills that went into this short-lived series are outstanding. For example, the performances from the likes of greats like Sam Waterston, Terry O'Quinn, James Cromwell, Malcolm McDowell, and many others are superb. Also, the make-up FX for episodes like "The Discarded," a story that centers on a society of genetic mutants, far surpass those of most made-for-TV SF shows. And the special FX for all the episodes are very well done, with even the nowadays-ubiquitous CGI being used to good effect. Sadly, these positive aspects of the show are too greatly diminished by the in-your-face politics of the writers and directors.
The idea behind this series is a good one: Take the best talents from the genre and use them as the foundation for a TV series. As a matter of fact, the same idea was employed on the earlier series MASTERS OF HORROR, and that show had a successful two-year run on cable and experienced phenomenal DVD sales. Unfortunately, when the same producers--Mick Garris, Keith Addis, and Ben Browning, to name a few--applied their idea to a science-fiction series, they let their politics get in the way, and the result is merely a batch of 40-minute agitprop films that are poorly disguised in the trappings of SF. It's really no surprise, then, that MASTERS OF SCIENCE FICTION lasted for a scant six episodes, and it's almost laughable that the creators of this travesty actually expect people to pay for the-- ahem!--"privilege" of watching it on DVD.
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