The (New) Twilight Zone (2019-2020)

  The original twilight zone tv series ran from 1959 to 1964. It was revived and new episodes ran from 1985-89. It was revived again in 2002 but only lasted one season. In 2019 it was revived again and ran for two seasons. In February 2021, producers announced the series would not return.

  I have seen one episode from the original series (thank you YouTube), a few episodes from the 2002 revival, and have just started season 2 of the 2019 revival. A lot of what I know about the original Twilight Zone is what I have heard from outside sources. In essentials, all versions are the same. Each episode is a stand-alone story, in which the protagonist experiences unusual, often paranormal events that change their whole life. There is often a surprise ending and in some cases a moral. There is no ongoing subplot or reoccurrence of characters or events. There was one exception.

   While the Twilight Zone stories essentially take place in our 'world' so to speak, there is debate over what the Twilight Zone actually is. An alternate reality? A dreamland? A totally different dimension? We travel through a dimension to cross over into the Twilight Zone. The Twilight Zone is the only place in which these events can happen. Basically, the Twilight Zone is a situation or conceptual area that is incredibly unusual. For example, if you come home to find that your messy child has cleaned and tidied their room you feel like you're in the Twilight Zone.  As the series explains it 

There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone.

    As I said, the episodes are standalone stories and, so far, there's only been one episode that was, in its own Twilight Zone way, revisited.

  In the original series, season 3 episode 8 was titled, "It's a Good Life". This episode was about a fictional town called Peaksville and the monster who lived there. This monster was six-year-old Anthony Fremont. Anthony could read minds and change things. He could make people into grotesque horrors, destroy their minds and make them disappear, never to be seen again. People though could not rebuke or discipline Anthony nor act like what he was doing was anything other than good. "It's good that you did that Anthony." It was parodied in the Simpsons 'Treehouse of Horror II' in which Bart is the monster and everyone in Springfield is forced to think happy thoughts and whenever something strange happens to say "It's good that Bart did that." In the 2002 revival, episode 31 "It's Still A Good Life" the episode is back in Peaksville, 40 years after the original story. Anthony and his family are still there but now Anthony has a daughter with the same abilities he has. Anthony has sent people and things he doesn't like to 'the cornfield' a place no one can come back from. By the end of the episode, it is revealed Anthony's daughter's powers are greater than his, and she can bring things back from the cornfield. Originally portrayed as being more tolerant and kind-hearted than her father, the girl eventually shows that she's similar to him, if people aren't nice to her, they will suffer the consequences. This show didn't have a moral, more an update on Peaksville and a bleak one at that. 

  As far as I know, no other stories had an 'up-date episode, later on, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. I know there are episodes from the original series that some found a little too bizarre. I'm sure I'll come across these one day, I do intend to watch the original Twilight Zone in the future. I have not seen all the episodes from the 2002 revival but the ones I did watch I enjoyed. Sometimes the twist, if there is one, is the best bit. Sometimes the moral packs more of a punch than you expect. To do a review I really can only do a full review of season one of the 2019 revival, however, I will say something about a few specific ones from other episodes I've seen.

Living Doll (Season 5 Episode 6)

"My name is Talky Tina and I don't think I like you." 

  

 People who are uncomfortable with dolls should probably avoid this one. Talky Tina is a popular toy that talks. It says phrases such as "My name is Talky Tina and I love you very much". It is bought for a girl named Christie, to comfort her and she loves it. Over time, when alone with the doll, Christie's stepfather hears it say rather disturbing things to him. Without giving too much away the last line of Tina in this episode is pretty chilling "I'm Talky Tina...and you'd better be nice to me!" A creepy story about a disturbing doll, this is a proper bit of horror.

It's Still A Good Life (2002 Episode 30)

"It's going to be a good day. A real good day"

  As this is, in a way, a sequel to an episode from the original series, it helps if you've seen that one. It's not essential, just helpful. I have never seen the original but I knew about it and had seen the Simpsons parody. There are references to the original episode and everything is explained which is why you don't have to have seen "It's a Good Life" to enjoy this episode. A rare move from The Twilight Zone ibn revisiting a previous story, it works well and is a fun throwback for fans of the original.

The Collection (2002 Episode 37)

"You were all so bad, I have to ground you forever. You're never getting out again"

  

  Miranda, a psychology student, babysitting a seemingly troubled girl, Danielle, finds out that all is not as it seems. Thinking the girl is playing pranks with the dolls she changes her mind when she notices the dolls have moved when she wasn't looking. After two near misses, she attempts to get Danielle out of the house but the phone line's been cut and someone definitely doesn't want Miranda to leave. Another tale of creepy dolls with one heck of a twist, this one is what the Twilight Zone is all about.

The Twilight Zone 2019-2020

  With the first episode featuring Tracy Morgan and the last a cameo I cannot give away, this is a treat for fans new and old. We start with a mediocre comedian getting advice from a man it may have been better to avoid (played by Tracy Morgan). Then we nod to "Nightmare at 20,000 Feet" from the original series with "Nightmare at 30,000 Feet", no gremlins in this but a nail-biter nonetheless. "Replay" then shows us why the age we live in is a good one. "A Traveler" is one of the less straightforward ones but a good one for those who like the science fiction side of The Twilight Zone. "The Wunderkind" shows us in startling clarity what a pre-teen president would lead to. "Six Degrees of Freedom" mixes loss, paranoia, and isolation in a trip to Mars. "Not All Men" gives us another story with a moral, a fresh look at something that has been done. "Point of Origin" finds Ginnifer Goodwin questioning everything when she and her husband are questioned by Homeland Security Investigations. "The Blue Scorpian" sees British actor Chris O'Dowd play a depressed professor coping with his impending divorce and his father's suicide when he inherits an unusual gun containing a bullet with his name on it, a few twists lead to an interesting climax. The series ends with "Blurryman", a contrived story with a nightmarish feel, we have never felt more like we too are travelling through the Twilight Zone.

  Whether new to the series or not, if you are looking for some fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, supernatural drama, black comedy, psychological thrillers with a little macabre and a library of twists, then I look forward to seeing you all very soon, in The Twilight Zone.

   

The Loneliest Ho in the World Review

 Then Loneliest Ho in the World

⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  Perhaps not the best title for a children's book, only adults will understand why. I had heard that this book had never been released and most copies were in the factory they had been produced at. I also heard that, while a few copies were floating around, it would be expensive to own one as they were so rare. However, I found this one on Amazon for the reasonable price of £4.94 I felt I  should get it. not only can I now say I've got it, but I can also review it. It is self-published and printed on demand by Amazon so maybe the author, Travis Heaton, just wanted to get it out there. Either way, I gave it a read.

  Of course, while this isn't about the hos we, as adults, think about, this is about Santa's laugh. I do wonder if parents could get through this without laughing. I mean, could you say that it isn't Christmas without hos? Or, that they're lickity-chewy and taste like Christmas pudding? Would you be able to keep it together until a Ho pops out of Santa's beard?

   Perhaps you could read this aloud with no problems and the rest of us are weak with dirty minds. The book is not at all inappropriate, though some of the wording is strange. It features two reindeer I have never heard of, one of whom cries and seems to be ignored. I don't think I'll read it to my son so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it. It seems a little disjointed, with lots of little ideas pressed together. I think a lot of it was done for comedic effect, but I feel the jokes fall a little flat. It is a little odd as children's stories go.

  

  

I don't know where Travis Heaton was going with this. I don't think the story makes an awful lot of sense. The illustrations are good. Gary Andrews did a good job with the material but the story, not very good. If you're curious, want a gag gift, or think it could be good, by all means, go for it. The only reason I gave this book one out of five stars is because I think the unfortunate wording is a little amusing. While I'm glad I reviewed it, I wish I could have done it for a lot less money. Sorry for the short review but really, there's not much more to say.

The Adventure of Ichabod and Mr Toad (without spoilers)

  The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad

⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  A film more than 70 years old is one you might find dated but I did not. It has the old-school Disney touches and a few stereotypical characters but as it is about two stories still known and loved, it works. Mr Toad is over 100 years old, The Wind in the Willows having been published in 1908 and Ichabod Crane is even older. A story from a collection it was published in 1820, making it over 200 years old.

  This film is narrated by both Basil Rathbone and Bing Crosby.

  Probably best known for his role as Sherlock Holmes in 14 films (with Nigel Bruce as Watson) and also as Sir Guy of Gisborne in Errol Flynn swashbuckler The Adventures of Robin Hood, Basil Rathbone narrates the Wind in the Willows. Best known for his unique singing voice he demonstrated in over 70 films, Bing Crosby narrates The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

  The old school touch is evident, We start with Basil Rathbone asking the audience who the greatest literary character is. As he asks we pan a shelf in a library and eventually stop on one featuring Rathbone's character's favourite character, Thaddeus Toad. Much like earlier Disney films, the book magically opens for the tale to begin.

  The Wind in the Willows is the story of Badger, Toad, Rat and Mole, four friends who live near a river. In the book, while Rat, Badger and Toad know each other, Mole is new to the friend group. Also Rat rarely leaves his home but does on occasion to visit his friends. Badger lives in the wild wood, a dangerous place. Only their species are their names. In this film the four are already a friend group and have first names, their species being their surname. The villains of the tale in both the book and the film, are weasels. This is basically an animated version of The Wind in the Willows, while minor things are changed a little, the main story is the same. Toad is a character from old money, who lives in Toad Hall and risks bankruptcy with one new obsession after another.

  When Rathbone finishes his tale, Bing Crosby comments that while Toad is a good character and England has a lot of fabulous characters 'over here in the Colonies we've managed to come up with a few of our own'. Now America had become the United States back in 1776, but some people still referred to them as the colonies and it might even have been a slight dig (I'm sure in a joking way) at England. Crosby's character then tells us about his favourite character, Ichabod Crane.

  Oddly, the book Bing Crosby chooses is actually titled Ichabod Crane. It is not the original book the story comes from, nor is it the title of the story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Part of a collection of stories, often published now as Rip Van Winkle and Other Stories, the Legend of Sleepy Hollow is the story of a superstitious school teacher that moves to Sleepy Hollow and encounters the most terrifying apparition to appear there, the headless horseman.  In some versions, it is revealed that the apparition of the horseman is Ichabod's rival for Katrina, Brom Bones, wishing to scare Ichabod and perhaps get him to leave Sleepy Hollow. Bing Crosby sang two songs for this adaptation, The Ichabod Crane Song and The Headless Horseman. Sleepy Hollow is thought by the residents to be extremely haunted and the most terrifying ghost is said to be the headless horseman who rides to where he lost his head and will take the head of anyone he encounters. The film is similar, Ichabod Crane is a school teacher who comes to Sleepy Hollow. In this film, Ichabod's rival for the hand of a pretty, coquettish heiress, scares him with the tale of the headless horseman.  Riding home that night, Ichabod's imagination plays tricks on him but eventually, he does encounter a headless rider. There is a short reprise of the song about the headless horseman as the book is closed, returned to the shelf and the camera pulls back. When we pull back so far as to be out of the library, the lights go off and Bing Crosby nervously says 'man I'm gettin' outta here". 

One of Disney's darker endings. I have to say I enjoyed this. The animation is as good as we have come to expect from Disney. It is a little primitive in parts but in 1949 animators could only do so much. It has comedy as well as drama and a little terror in both. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow really does seem to leave Ichabod's ultimate fate left to the audience to decide. Two classic stories narrated very well by two giants of 1940s cinema with a Disney touch, not exactly expected to be a bad film. An unfairly forgotten gem, one I hope more people watch. Either the traditional way or Disney+ subscribers making the most of it.

On IMDB

 

Buy on Amazon

The Adventure of Ichabod and Mr Toad (with spoilers)

 The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr Toad

⭐⭐⭐⭐/⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Warning: This review contains spoilers. Read next post for one without.

  A film more than 70 years old it is one you might find dated but I did not. It has the old-school Disney touches and a few stereotypical characters but as it is about two stories still known and loved, it works. Mr Toad is over 100 years old, The Wind in the Willows having been published in 1908 and Ichabod Crane is even older. A story from a collection it was published in 1820, making it over 200 years old.

  This film is narrated by both Basil Rathbone and Bing Crosby.

  Probably best known for his role as Sherlock Holmes in 14 films (with Nigel Bruce as Watson) and also as Sir Guy of Gisborne in Errol Flynn swashbuckler The Adventures of Robin Hood, Basil Rathbone narrates the Wind in the Willows. Best known for his unique singing voice he demonstrated in over 70 films, Bing Crosby narrates The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

  The old school touch is evident, We start with Basil Rathbone asking the audience who the greatest literary character is. As he asks we pan a shelf in a library and eventually stop on one featuring Rathbone's character's favourite character, Thaddeus Toad. Much like earlier Disney films, the book magically opens for the tale to begin.

  The Wind in the Willows is the story of Badger, Toad, Rat and Mole, four friends who live near a river. In the book, while Rat, Badger and Toad know each other, Mole is new to the friend group. Also, Rat rarely leaves his home but does on occasion to visit his friends. Badger lives in the wildwood, a dangerous place. Only their species are their names. In this film, the four are already a friend group and have first names, their species being their surname. The villains of the tale in both the book and the film, are weasels. This is basically an animated version of The Wind in the Willows, while minor things are changed a little, the main story is the same. Toad is a character from old money, who lives in Toad Hall and risks bankruptcy with one new obsession after another. He starts with a gypsy cart, trashing everything in its way, then sees a motorcar and is ultimately tricked into trading his ancestral home for a car that turns out to be stolen. A villainous character involved commits perjury at Toad's trial and Toad is convicted. After being helped to escape, Toad and his friends seek to reclaim Toad Hall and clear Toad's name. Toad seems a changed character, then buys himself an aeroplane. The friends concede that their friend will never change completely, but love him just the same.

  When Rathbone finishes his tale, Bing Crosby comments that while Toad is a good character and England has a lot of fabulous characters 'over here in the Colonies we've managed to come up with a few of our own'. Now America had become the United States back in 1776, but some people still referred to them as the colonies and it might even have been a slight dig (I'm sure in a joking way) at England. Crosby's character then tells us about his character's favourite character, Ichabod Crane.

  Oddly, the book Bing Crosby chooses is actually titled Ichabod Crane. It is not the original book the story comes from, nor is it the title of the story, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Part of a collection of stories, often published now as Rip Van Winkle and Other Stories, the Legend of Sleepy Hollow is the story of a superstitious school teacher who moves to Sleepy Hollow and encounters the most terrifying apparition to appear there, the headless horseman. In the book, Ichabod encounters the horseman while riding home after his marriage proposal is rejected by Katrina Van Tassel. In some versions, it is revealed that the apparition of the horseman is Ichabod's rival for Katrina, Brom Bones, wishing to scare Ichabod and perhaps get him to leave Sleepy Hollow. His plan works as Ichabod flees and never returns. However, this can still be ambiguous as Ichabod's hat and his horse's saddle are found by the bridge, while both the horse and Ichabod have disappeared. Bing Crosby sang two songs for this adaptation, The Ichabod Crane Song and The Headless Horseman. Sleepy Hollow is thought by the residents to be extremely haunted and the most terrifying ghost is said to be the headless horseman who rides to where he lost his head and will take the head of anyone he encounters. The film is similar, Ichabod Crane is a school teacher who comes to Sleepy Hollow and soon falls in love, as all the men do, with Katrina Van Tassel, only daughter of the wealthy farmer. As with probably the majority of the men, while Katrina is beautiful and coquettish, Ichabod seems more attracted to the money marriage with Katrina will bring him than Katrina herself. While in this film Ichabod seems to successfully court Katrina, his rival, unable to have stopped Ichabod, scares him with the tale of the headless horseman. Leaving Katrina's home that night, Ichabod's imagination plays tricks on him but eventually, he does encounter a headless rider. The rider laughs maniacally as Ichabod and his horse struggle to outrun him. The rider holds a flaming carved pumpkin aloft and tries to behead Ichabod. Ichabod and his horse eventually make it over the bridge the rider cannot cross, which is meant to be safe. When they stop and look back, the rider does not pursue them but hurls the pumpkin at Ichabod, who seems to be stuck and blacks out. In the morning Ichabod has disappeared but his hat and a shattered pumpkin are found at the 'safe' end of the bridge. Katrina marries Ichabod's rival and Ichabod's ultimate fate is ambiguous. While it ends with some saying Ichabod simply left and married someone else, the story ends by saying that the residents didn't believe the 'nonsense' that Ichabod lived, because they knew he was spirited away by the headless horseman. Laughing on his horse while holding a flaming pumpkin aloft is the last image of the horseman we see. There is then a short reprise of the song about the headless horseman as the book is closed, returned to the shelf and the camera pulls back. When we pull back so far as to be out of the library, the lights go off and Bing Crosby nervously says 'man I'm gettin' outta here". 

One of Disney's darker endings. I have to say I enjoyed this. The animation is as good as we have come to expect from Disney. It is a little primitive in parts but in 1949 animators could only do so much. It has comedy as well as drama and a little terror in both. The Legend of Sleepy Hollow really does seem to leave Ichabod's ultimate fate left to the audience to decide. Two classic stories narrated very well by two giants of 1940s cinema with a Disney touch, not exactly expected to be a bad film. An unfairly forgotten gem, one I hope more people watch. Either the traditional way or Disney+ subscribers making the most of it.

 

On IMDB

Buy on Amazon