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Harsh Realm - Season 1
Scott Bairstow stars as U.S. Army Lieutenant Tom Hobbes, a decorated hero who risked his life rescuing a buddy, Major Mel Waters (Max Martini), during a peacekeeping mission in the former Yugoslavia. Set to return to civilian life and marry his fiancée, Sophie (Samantha Mathis), Hobbes is summoned by a mysterious superior (Lance Henriksen) and asked to test-run Harsh Realm, a virtual reality war game devised by the Pentagon. Once he begins, however, Hobbes is mentally imprisoned in the dangerous game (his body, along with those of hundreds of other "volunteers," is cared for in a secret military hospital), where he is identified by other, desperate captives as the savior they've been awaiting. D.B. Sweeney is very good as another soldier, Mike Pinocchio, whose sense of mission is re-awakened by Hobbes and who becomes a partner in an endless effort to defeat a madman named Santiago (Terry O'Quinn), who rules Harsh Realm from within. As with The X-Files, the nine episodes in this boxed set are each very striking on their own terms, with post-apocalyptic sets, constant surprises, and that special Chris Carter touch (fans of his Millennium will like Harsh Realm, too) that makes every story look and feel like a collision of a nightmare and a crisis of faith. --Tom Keogh
RRP: £34.99
Our Price: £13.99 (subject to change)
Editorial
Amazon.co.uk Review
The dark and fantastic Harsh Realm, a science fiction series about a war fought by flesh-and-blood humans trapped inside virtual reality, was launched by The X-Files creator Chris Carter in 1999 and died a regrettable, premature death on the Fox channel after three episodes. The remaining six shows found sanctuary on the FX network, and then Harsh Realm slipped into history, its wild story, based on a comic book, far from resolved. Perhaps Harsh Realm's ratings failure had something to do with its broad similarities to the hugely popular The Matrix, released only a few months before, or, for that matter, David Cronenberg's 1999 eXistenZ, in which characters fight for their lives inside a video game. Whatever the reason, enough time has passed to take an objective look at Harsh Realm, and there is a lot to be admired in its high level of imagination, complex plotting, and cutting-edge production values.
Just the treat for Mothers Day!
Review date: 2007-03-19 Rating: 10 out of 10
Kids got me this for Mother's day. They made me a picnic and I stayed in bed ALL day and watched the whole series! Bliss! Couldn't sleep last night though....wonder why!
I thought this had the makings of a really great show and it's a pity it wasn't allowed to carry on. If you want to sit and nitpick for holes and whatever then that's fine, I prefer to just sit back, relax and enjoy when I watch something. I for one thoroughly enjoyed it and it's now going to start doing the rounds with my friends.
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Reviews
You pay your money and take your choice..........
Review date: 2006-02-26 Rating: 4 out of 10
The mix of positive and not so positive reviews are a good reflection of this series - some of it is pretty good some of it is pretty poor. On the positive side some real effort has gone into it and I particularly like the theme tune and the opening credits. Basically, if you're a fan of Carter's or like this type of Sci Fi than it's definitely worth it's current price. However, if you're a bit tired of the conspiracy theory drama that never finds resolution (Is it? Isn't? Is it, in a isn't kind of way?) then steer well clear, especically as there are unlikely to be any more episodes to clear things up......
Cancelled after Nine Episodes? Too Harsh!
Review date: 2005-12-12 Rating: 10 out of 10
I was initially put off by some of the negative feedback this DVD had been given, however finally I bit the bullet and gave it a go. I wasn't disappointed. In fact, by the end of the series, it really had left me wanting more. It certainly should have been allowed to continue and didn't deserve to be cancelled, and you are left with the strong impression that this was a show just finding it's feet - the episodes move from strength to strength, and I am certainly pleased that I took a chance and bought this one, it now has a proud home amongst my collection. Had it not been cancelled, I think it would have become a hit show, and it's a shame that it will never achieve the success it (in my opinion) so richly deserves.
Awful
Review date: 2005-05-22 Rating: 2 out of 10
I've bought some great series recently Alias, etc. (we only have the traditional 4 channels)and looked forward to this, but I can't even stand to look at the box now.
While the original premise was OK, and the start reasonable, it soon fell into contradicatory, illogical and frustrating character and plot elements that either didn't make sense or were senseless.
Most frustrating for me were
1. The supposed link between the virtual world and real world
2. That someone just didn't kill Santiago
3. That the hero just didn't kill Santiago or even begin to grasp what he needed to do to get out of there - kill Santiago!
4. The whining letters from the hero to his wife
5. The dog
6. Anything to do with the dog
7. The many mysterious and unexplained things that will remain just that
8. The differences in the last episode
9. The fact that it was released
10. That I bought it
Better luck next time to the team.
Another example of an American TV screw-up!
Review date: 2005-04-11 Rating: 8 out of 10
I for one would like to know how to go about getting a job on a TV Network in the USA. Obviously you don't need any kind of quality control credentials. You just cancel what you like when you like!
Harsh Realm is a show that was cancelled before it was ever given a chance to shine, and while there are are a few duff episodes, on the whole it is an excellent slice of TV Sci-Fi. The computer program/alternate universe theme is always a good one and Scott Bairstow plays his role well. Although the stand-out character in my opinion is D B Sweeney's Pinocchio. Cynical to a fault, while always entertaining.
Yes, the show is a bit underdeveloped, but with less than half a normal season of episodes thats only to be expected. And it does get very good towards the end of the season.
Highly recommended. Harsh Realm is dfinitely worth buying. And considering how unlikely it was that UK viewers would ever get to watch it, you can savour it all the more. Buy it. You never know, maybe if enough are sold then we might get more never-seen gems!!
We can hope!
Product Details/Specifications
Actor(s):
Terry O'Quinn
Scott Bairstow
Rachel Hayward
D.B. Sweeney
Samantha Mathis
Director(s):
Recording label: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
Manufacturer: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment
EAN: 5039036017114
Binding: DVD
Number of items: 3
Format: Box set, PAL, Widescreen,
Release date: 2004-07-26
Number of discs: 3
Aspect ratio: 1.78:1
Audience rating: Suitable for 18 years and over
Region code: 2
Running time: 405 minutes
Theatrical release date: 1999-10-08
Language: French (Subtitled)
Language: English (Original Language)