Season One
Creator(s) – Steven Spielberg (1941, Jurassic Park), Joshua Brand (Homeward Bound, A Year in the Life), and John Falsey (The White Shadow, A Year in the Life)
Starring – John Scott Clough (Phantoms, Quantum Leap), Robert Blossom (Christine, Home Alone), and Kelly Reno (The Black Stallion, Brady’s Escape)
Release Date – 1985
Rating – 3.5/5
I’m a huge fan of Steven Spielberg which is true for most people my age. Millennials grew up in the late 80s and 90s with Spielberg being a huge part of our childhood. Regardless if he was producing or directing, you can bet that everyone’s favorite movies or shows growing up was touched by this man in one way or another. I was born in 86 so I did my growing up in the 90s.
Sometime in the early 90s I caught a few episodes of the short lived television series Amazing Stories. I remember fucking loving it but the reruns were short and few in between. As I got older I completely forgot about the show until recently when Umbrella Entertainment announced that they would be re-releasing both seasons of the show on DVD. I reached out to them and they were kind enough to send over a review copy. Thanks guys.
**Spoiler Alert** The seasons follows different “amazing” stories ranging from a high school football star becoming magnetic after a meteor crashes into his room, an airplane gunner trapped under a plan that is about to crash land, to even a ghost train. **Spoiler Alert**
Amazing Stories is a fantastic television series that starts out wonderfully but starts to drag it’s feet as the series progresses. Don’t get me wrong, the episodes that are truly amazing are absolutely unforgettable but some of the later episodes are pretty dull and lack that something that makes it stand out like the others. It’s a fun season but very inconsistent. The acting in this show is absolutely amazing. Just when you think a certain episode is the best acted you watch the next episode and see that it’s just as good.
The acting is very consistent while the stories are not. I would be here all day if I went from episode to episode picking apart the amazing performances. The stories for this one is very inconsistent. The season starts out amazing with stories of ghost trains, opposites attracting (physically), and so on but as we reach the half way point in the series the shows that stick with you become separated with some dull and forgettable tales that are not worth of the Amazing Stories title. They are obviously tossed in as filler but just don’t have that spark that the other episodes have.
Finally, this is not a bloody or violent show. We get some visual effects, some make-up effects, and a lot of character development but not the bloody stuff most of you are looking for. Overall, Amazing Stories Season One is absolutely spectacular. I know some of the episodes are dull but the rest of the season is truly remarkable. They really do need to be seen.
Season Two
Creator(s) – Steven Spielberg (Jurassic Park, Jaws), Joshua Brand (A Year in the Life, The Americans), and John Falsey (Northern Exposure, I’ll Fly Away)
Starring – Patrick Swayze (Road House, Dirty Dancing), Christopher Lloyd (Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit), and David Carradine (Death Race 2000, Kill Bill)
Release Date – 1986
Rating – 3.5/5
A couple weeks ago I started watching season one of Amazing Stories that was sent to me to review from Umbrella Entertainment. I really enjoyed myself with it but I wasn’t able to binge the second season immediately after due to to my work schedule.
I didn’t want to start it and have to stop it between episodes so I waited a few days to toss it in until I had a few days off together. I recently found those days off and jumped on season two. I seriously want to thank Umbrella for sending me this set because I really enjoyed myself with it.
**Spoiler Alert** This season, much like the first, follows amazing stories following broad way murders, getting back at mean spirited teachers with magic, and rings that possess the wearer just to name a few. **Spoiler Alert**
Season two is similar to the first season. We have some seriously entertaining stories that is fitting of the Amazing Stories title but some of the other not as spectacular. The yare still great episodes but not as memorable as others.
The acting in this one is absolutely amazing. We have amazing performances from some of the most iconic actors of the 80s. I was shocked to see Patrick Swayze, Danny DeVito, Chrisopher Lloyd, and David Carridine in this. They deliver unforgettable performances and the supporting cast is just as memorable. Amazing acting all around in this season. The stories in this one range from amazing to not so much. They are very inconsistent but not disappointing. I really enjoyed the episodes so don’t take it the wrong way but some are so amazing that you are thinking about them days later while others were forgotten as soon as the episode ended.
Finally, this one has a few visual effects that are really out dated by this point and a little blood but nothing memorable. If you are looking for blood and gore you will be very disappointed and barking up the wrong tree. Overall, Season Two is just a fun as the first season. I highly suggest making time to binge both seasons on DVD from Umbrella Entertainment. It was a great experience to finally watch the entire show.
