MovieChat Forums > The Twilight Zone (1985) Discussion > why not as good as the original?

why not as good as the original?

posted 15 years ago by adamwarlock
8 replies | jump to latest

I like this version of TZ but in the end, can't say it out does the 60s version. This is due to:

black & white vs. color-B&W creates the better mood. Some of the color in the 80s is too soft & bland.

too many cutesy/warm episodes-sure, Serling did plenty back in the day but this show had a big share of stories that were funny/cute/happy-feely. I want my scary TZ.

No one does the intros like Serling.

The theme music & intro doesn't hold a candle to the original's.

[–] thatguy_78757 15 years ago

HYPE

no one will admit that anythings as good as the original of anything- even if it is.

Nothing will ever be the first Twilight Zone or have its impact- BUT with this version you can tell they REALLY tried their best to live up to the name and legacy... and in many episodes succeeded in at least equalling the original.

[–] WalletGuy 15 years ago

The writing on a whole simply wasn't as good as the original show.

Probably the only advantage that this show over the original was that there was no requirement for how long segment had to be. In the original the show was 1 half hour episode for seasons 1-3 and 5, and 1 hour long episode for season 4. In this show although the episodes were shown in a one hour block, it wasn't always 2 half our episodes. Segments such as "A Small Talent for War" could be 10 minutes and the shortest segments were about 5 with the longest about 40 minutes. This allowed for more flexibility, shorter segments didn't have to be padded out and longer ones didn't have to be cut. I imagine that if Rod Serling was able to to do that episodes like To Serve Man and Eye of the Beholder would be much shorter and the hour long season 4 episodes would contain 2 half hour episodes.

[–] torreydeluca 15 years ago

I'll agree with previous posters that the black and white yielded a better atmosphere. I think the background scores of the old episodes worked better, too, as they were more moody. Also, as someone said, some people hate re-makes/modern versions just because. I always thought if "Convict's Piano" was shot back in 1962 that the people on the board for the original series that always trash the 1980s TZ would be saying "classic!".

I think one of the big differences between the two series is the lack of social commentary in the 1980s version. "A Small Talent for War", "Shelter Skelter" and "The Girl I Married" made some statements about society in general, or about individuals, but most stories just had some sort of a cool plotline or twist ending. Like I saw "The Library" and "The World Next Door" the other day and thought that if Rod Serling was involved with their production that they'd have explored their underlying topics in greater depth.

[–] minhas4 13 years ago

I disagree with your last paragraph (yes, over 2 years later). 80s TZ had plenty of social commentary, especially with regard to the cold war. In fact, I'd say most episodes had some underlying social commentary. You just have to look for them.

[–] masuka-fan 12 years ago

You're right about "The Library" (I just watched it) - it should have been much darker and heavier, instead of whimsical and melodramatic.

[–] 12 years ago

[deleted]

[–] masuka-fan 12 years ago

While I agree that the B&W aspect of the old show added "automatic" atmosphere (and the poor film quality of the newer show, at least as it looks today, drains it away), I don't agree on the general inferiority of the 80s series.

The original TZ had plenty of sentimental episodes (they are usually not my favorites, either) and even some silly ones.

I think Charles Aidman was a fine narrator. And I LOVE the updated theme and title sequence. They evoke the mood of the show brilliantly. The old animations have a certain charm, but do you really think they are better?

[–] frog-34 11 years ago

I'd like to chime in four years after the original post. There's one thing about the original series that has stood out in my mind, and I don't think I've ever heard or read anybody mentioning it. Rod Serling was a veteran of World War II, and I would argue that his experiences in the war underlie every episode of the original series, even the most emotional, syrupy ones, and that element is what gives the 1959 TZ more "bite" (for lack of a better word) that the subsequent remakes.