Die 4. Dimension

This fun,imaginative TV pilot by George R.R.Martin(Beauty & the Beast) dealt with a couple who could travel to earth-like planets located in other dimensions.Cat comes from another world to our earth,in fact she is a former slave on the run from her masters who are in hot pursuit. Here she is befriended by a doctor who then becomes caught up in her flight. With the advanced technology from her homeworld, she is able to find a portal that will open up into the next world. Trouble is she isn't always conveniently near the opening & must race to get to it. She also carries an organic weapon with her that packs a devastating punch.The premise is similar to the TV series Sliders. I wish this had been picked up by the network(ABC) as a series as it had so much potential. Visiting a new & different world each week would offer endless story possibilities. The report is that the ABC network had to choose between this or another sf show. They went with the other show:Lois & Clark. What a shame.

George R. R. Martin, writer of "Beauty And The Beast," and a well known professional SF writer ("Tuff Voyaging" is heartily recommended) came up with this pilot for an alternate universe adventure show some time before Sliders, but Tracey Torme's version was the one that became a series. Ignore the disparaging remarks and watch it -- George Newbern goes well beyond the bounds of 'male ingenue (sp?)' and Kurtwood Smith delivers two good performances (conceivably he could have been the Kenny of live action TV, a comment you will need to watch it to understand, if the series had made it.

I've got to admit I could not watch more than 10 minutes of this. Sorry.

The opening sequence appears to be the first of it's kind; it has absolutely no idea of how to do what it's attempting. The whole thing looks like it was made early 80's, although Terminator looks better!

Budget? What's a budget.

Story? Oh, we ripped that from a guy writing a show called Sliders.

If you see this in a video rental store, ignore it.

Doorways should be given a chance and put out on DVD. Everyone I have talked to about this movie says that they really liked it and wish that they could purchase it for their collection. It has an unusual plot and was fun to see where each scene would take you. The whole idea of sci-fi is to take you away from the stress and strain of everyday drudgery. It gives you a feeling of other things and other worlds out there, if you don't watch it all the way through how can you even think of trying to rate the movie. Many people listen to these people that rate movies and take their word for truth. I have found many good movies that were supposed to be lousy but found them to be great movies. Give those poorly rated movies a chance because what sucks to one or two people may be a very good movie.

In the first half hour there are a number of plot flaws that are hard to accept. Had the writers thought about it just a bit more it might have worked out as a good series. But then again, they'd have had stiff competition from Sliders.

Also, I think the talent agent could have picked out some better actors. The mix clashed with each other while the variety in sliders melded better. It is a good comparison between a series that made the concept work vs a series that did not allow it to work. The behind the scenes crews is crucial in making a series a hit. I was going to say especially the casting director but that is not true. Without a good scrip writer... etc etc. Each part has to perform to a certain level for a series to make it. They did not meld well in this one.