Genesis II / Planet Earth - Blu-ray Review

[Michael Scott]

Genesis II / Planet Earth



Movie:
Video:
Audio:
Extras:
Final Score:


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Movie
Gene Roddenberry was a very active man in the TV production world, and while he is best known for creating Star Trek and it’s derivatives, but he contributed very heavily to the world sci-fi and has been the brain behind countless shows. However, he was not ALWAYS successful in getting his ideas off the ground into multi season TV series. Back in the 1970s he created several made for TV pilots that were SUPPOSED to be the start for a new dystopian TV show, only for them to fail rather miserably and end up being a trio of movies with loose connections about the same main character, Dylan Hunt (who would later come to be the inspiration for what would become 2000’s Andromeda lead hero, with the same general plot point of being a man from a past time period). Warner Archive has brought the first two films, Genesis II and Planet Earth to this Blu-ray set, but for some strange reason they didn’t bring the 3rd film, Strange New World in the same set. I’m not sure whether it’s a rights issue, a master issue, or they just didn’t think of it, but it would have been neat to see the entire trilogy in one set instead of just the first two films.

Genesis II:
Either way, this set is what I would consider for Roddenberry collector’s for the most part. The 1973 and 1974 TV movies were cheesy as all get out back in the 1970s, and they haven’t gotten any better today. Genesis II starred Alec Cord as the main hero Dylan Hunt, a man who was a NASA scientist during the 70s who submitted himself to a “temporary stasis” program that went wrong. He wakes up 150+ years later and finds himself in the world of 2133. It seems that we annihilated ourselves with nuclear war (a constant fear in the 50s – the 70s) and the world had split in two. Part of humanity was under the control of PAX, a seemingly peaceful group of human survivors, and the other belong to the Terranians, a group of mutants who believe themselves superior to humans.

Dylan’s nurse, Lyra-a (Mariette Hartley) is actually a Terranian, and convinces Dylan that Pax is actually very militaristic and cruel. Escaping with her, Dylan finds out the hard truth. The Terranians are the ones who are militaristic and cruel, enslaving humans in their cities and exerting control with an iron fist. The real reason that Lyra had stolen him away from PAX is so that he can use is knowledge of ancient earth’s technology and bring online a nuclear power pant. Reluctantly agreeing, Dylan tries to figure out a way to escape from the Mutant’s lair and take with him the remaining human slaves before they find out his subterfuge.

Genesis II is a bit cheesy, but has all of the fun of an average Star Trek: The Original Series episode. It may seem a bit flower child and hippyish, but it WAS right in the middle of a war and flower child movement in the U.S. at the time. Roddenberry’s typical Utopianism crops up as the heroes are ridiculously pacifistic, and the whole “love child” type of vibe clashes with the sci-fi aspects. Honestly, it’s not a bad way to spend 74 minutes, but it’s 74 minutes of pure cheese.

Planet Earth:
1974’s Planet Earth picks up right where Genesis II left off, just with John Saxon replacing Alex Cord (Saxon would also play in the sequel Strange New World as well) as Dylan Hunt (have you seen my force lance?). Dylan has integrated thoroughly into PAX at this point, and is out on patrols looking for survivors of humanity. Dylan and his partner Harper-Smythe (Janet Margolin) and Isiah (Ted Cassidy, who also played Isiah in Genesis II) infiltrate an Amazonian matriarchal tribe of humanity in search of a missing doctor. This tribe of women not only is matriarchal, but domineering as well. Ala Planet of the Apes, women treat men like slaves, drugging them into submission and using them as brute labor. Dylan is brought into their tribe to be sold as a slave, where he runs into the high spirited Marg (Diana Muldair, who is not stranger to Star Trek fans) where he is able to use his status as a slave to look around for the good doctor.

Planet Earth is much more trim and polished in many ways over Genesis II, but regresses in others. The backstory of Dylan Hunt and his cryo-stasis is trimmed down to 30 seconds or so, and the whole outfits and sets of the show are much more futuristic. However, there’s not a lot of action in the film, as it’s much more intent on social commentary. Especially in regards to women and men’s roles with each other, and what can happen when one sex is out of balance with the other. It’s less “flower child” and more “2nd wave feminism” as the main glaring trope, but it’s still 1970s cheesy fun.




Rating:

Not Rated by the MPAA




Video:

Both films were shot back to back (or nearly so) and thus look virtually identical in quality. Warner Archive has done a GREAT job of cleaning these old 1970s low budget films up for us today as well. The films are both very period specific in clothing and visuals, both shot in 1.33:1 for TVs of the times, and both crystal clear. They are both bright and clean without any major visual impairments outside of some mild softness. Facial details are razor sharp, and I never noticed all of the intricate textures on the rough hewn clothing of the PAX citizens. Colors are bright and well saturated, leaning towards that sort of 1970s “ugly green couch” type of hues. I did get a chuckle out of the Terranian’s outfits in Genesis II, as it reminded me of what a gay nightclub toga party would look like.









Audio:

The 2.0 DTS-HD MA tracks are less exciting, but still good. The track is limited by the TV studio design, but there are no signs of major crackling, hissing, or other age related audio problems. Dialog is clean and locked up front, and the minimal effects in the show are readily intelligible at all times. A couple of times I noticed a weird echo when under ground, but I’m assuming that it was a problem with recording in an enclosed area with the technology of the times. A good mix, nothing special, but certainly very easy to listen to.







Extras:

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Final Score: ​

Genesis II and Planet Earth (not to be confused with the BBC Documentary) were both severely failed TV pilots, but both distinctive enough to be their own movies. Sadly we don’t get Strange New World in this set, but at least 2 of the films make it to HD, and like usual, Warner Archives does a wonderful job with the video department. There’s no extras to speak of in the set, but both films work well for vintage sci-fi nerds who want a dose of non traditional Gene Roddenberry. Worth a cheesy watch.


Technical Specifications:

Starring: Alex Cord, Mariette Hartley, Ted Cassidy, Percy Rodrigues, Janet Margolin, Christopher Cary, Diana Muldaur
Directed by: John Llewellyn Moxey / Marc Daniels
Written by: Gene Roddenberry
Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 AVC (Both Films)
Audio: English: DTS-HD MA 2.0
Subtitles: English SDH
Studio: Warner Archive
Rated: NR
Runtime: 74 Minutes (Genesis II) / 74 Minutes (Planet Earth)
Blu-ray Release Date: September 29th, 2020

Recommendation: Cheesy Watch

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[Todd Anderson]

Taking us WAAAAAAY back, there, Michael. Way back!

 

[tripplej]

Thanks for the review. Never heard of these pilots. Will skip them.

 

[Michael Scott]

Taking us WAAAAAAY back, there, Michael. Way back!

I'm assuming back to when you were in your 20s and 30s???