these outer limits collections are good sci fi, makes for good viewing most of the family will find addictive and still stands up today. reasonably intelligent writing, and true to the old and trusted outer limits formula. after buying this one, i defy any sci fi lover not to start buying the other outer limits collections! i did, and it’s been good fun. buying used copies works out very good value for money. treat youselves, you’re worth it!
Rating: 5 / 5
These Region 1 DVD’s really are pretty good for the casual Outer Limits fan. Understandably, for those who would rather wait for the complete season sets and who followed the series more devotedly- there will be some frustration with the choices of episodes for each set and also with the unimproved sound and picture quality. But at such good value and 6 episodes of a ground-breaking 1990′s show…there isn’t much more to criticize. And as these sets have all appeared at around the same time it’s also possible for the casual fan to pick and choose from the various genre categories, which at the moment consist of “Tim Travel and Infinity,” “Sex and Science Fiction,” “Mutation and Transformation” “Fantastic Androids and Robots,” “Death and Beyond” and this compilation- “Aliens Among Us.” This set however, is not one of the best that’s currently available. Only one of the couple of episodes that I had in my mind as being particularly good examples of the Outer Limits exploration into aliens on Earth is present here and only that episode shocks and absorbs to the highest standard set by the programme.
Episode (1) “Quality of Mercy” = The first episode enjoyably explores the concepts of alien captivity and experimentation, despite an ending that’s a little predictable. All the action takes place in one location, but the relationship between the two lead actors largely compensates for this limitation. The writing is good (Brad Wright), the performances are good (Nicole De Boer and Robert Patrick), but there isn’t enough action or insight here to sustain a 40-minute episode- 7/10.
Episode (2) “Afterlife” = I remembered this episode from when it was first shown on television as brilliantly demonstrating the intelligence of the Outer Limits when at its prime. The sets and the special effects are very impressive, the characters are compelling and the story is absolutely engrossing. There are countless Outer Limits stories that explore corrupt government departments and lawbreaking military men who believe the ends justifies the means, but in this story that cliché works fantastically well against the sympathetic lead character- 10/10.
Episode (3) “The Grell” = The story of a prejudiced and pampered family whose alien slave is the only one that stands between them and the revolt of his race against humanity is somewhat diverting, but adds nothing new to a common racially-centred sci-fi plotline- 6/10.
Episode (4) “Relativity Theory” = This is a very lightweight and crudely written vehicle for Melissa Gilbert ( of ‘Little House on the Prairy’ and ‘Babylon 5′ fame). Her character is an incredibly weak female lead and her fellow male officers seem too contrived. I wasn’t at all fazed when they suffered the consequences for their absurdly violent actions- 4/10.
Episode (5) “The Magic Shop” = A morality tale, as well as a magical one- this atmospheric story doesn’t strictly fall into the alien-among-us category, as it’s more an enchanted fairytale than a story about little green men. Nothing really inventive, but solidly enjoyable- 7/10.
Episode (6) “Beyond the Veil” = This is the classic extra-terrestrial story about one man who believes he’s been abducted and experimented upon multiple times by wide-eyed-staring aliens. But when he’s sent to a psychiatric hospital for making these assertions he comes face to face with his worst nightmare. Very clichéd, predictable and dull- 5/10.
One last thing…the Region 2 European version of the “Aliens Among Us” collection also available on Amazon lists completely different episode to the ones that are present on this disc. I don’t own that DVD, but it seems the episodes for the two DVD’s are (strangely) not the same. So make sure you choose the set you’d prefer by the episodes specified if you have the option of watching either DVD region on your player. For the European version- ‘Sandkings’ is listed, which stars Beau Bridges- an excellent episode if I remember correctly.
Rating: 3 / 5
April 18th, 2010 | 
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these outer limits collections are good sci fi, makes for good viewing most of the family will find addictive and still stands up today. reasonably intelligent writing, and true to the old and trusted outer limits formula. after buying this one, i defy any sci fi lover not to start buying the other outer limits collections! i did, and it’s been good fun. buying used copies works out very good value for money. treat youselves, you’re worth it!
Rating: 5 / 5
These Region 1 DVD’s really are pretty good for the casual Outer Limits fan. Understandably, for those who would rather wait for the complete season sets and who followed the series more devotedly- there will be some frustration with the choices of episodes for each set and also with the unimproved sound and picture quality. But at such good value and 6 episodes of a ground-breaking 1990′s show…there isn’t much more to criticize. And as these sets have all appeared at around the same time it’s also possible for the casual fan to pick and choose from the various genre categories, which at the moment consist of “Tim Travel and Infinity,” “Sex and Science Fiction,” “Mutation and Transformation” “Fantastic Androids and Robots,” “Death and Beyond” and this compilation- “Aliens Among Us.” This set however, is not one of the best that’s currently available. Only one of the couple of episodes that I had in my mind as being particularly good examples of the Outer Limits exploration into aliens on Earth is present here and only that episode shocks and absorbs to the highest standard set by the programme.
Episode (1) “Quality of Mercy” = The first episode enjoyably explores the concepts of alien captivity and experimentation, despite an ending that’s a little predictable. All the action takes place in one location, but the relationship between the two lead actors largely compensates for this limitation. The writing is good (Brad Wright), the performances are good (Nicole De Boer and Robert Patrick), but there isn’t enough action or insight here to sustain a 40-minute episode- 7/10.
Episode (2) “Afterlife” = I remembered this episode from when it was first shown on television as brilliantly demonstrating the intelligence of the Outer Limits when at its prime. The sets and the special effects are very impressive, the characters are compelling and the story is absolutely engrossing. There are countless Outer Limits stories that explore corrupt government departments and lawbreaking military men who believe the ends justifies the means, but in this story that cliché works fantastically well against the sympathetic lead character- 10/10.
Episode (3) “The Grell” = The story of a prejudiced and pampered family whose alien slave is the only one that stands between them and the revolt of his race against humanity is somewhat diverting, but adds nothing new to a common racially-centred sci-fi plotline- 6/10.
Episode (4) “Relativity Theory” = This is a very lightweight and crudely written vehicle for Melissa Gilbert ( of ‘Little House on the Prairy’ and ‘Babylon 5′ fame). Her character is an incredibly weak female lead and her fellow male officers seem too contrived. I wasn’t at all fazed when they suffered the consequences for their absurdly violent actions- 4/10.
Episode (5) “The Magic Shop” = A morality tale, as well as a magical one- this atmospheric story doesn’t strictly fall into the alien-among-us category, as it’s more an enchanted fairytale than a story about little green men. Nothing really inventive, but solidly enjoyable- 7/10.
Episode (6) “Beyond the Veil” = This is the classic extra-terrestrial story about one man who believes he’s been abducted and experimented upon multiple times by wide-eyed-staring aliens. But when he’s sent to a psychiatric hospital for making these assertions he comes face to face with his worst nightmare. Very clichéd, predictable and dull- 5/10.
One last thing…the Region 2 European version of the “Aliens Among Us” collection also available on Amazon lists completely different episode to the ones that are present on this disc. I don’t own that DVD, but it seems the episodes for the two DVD’s are (strangely) not the same. So make sure you choose the set you’d prefer by the episodes specified if you have the option of watching either DVD region on your player. For the European version- ‘Sandkings’ is listed, which stars Beau Bridges- an excellent episode if I remember correctly.
Rating: 3 / 5