"Golden Years" is a 1991 series, based on Steven King's idea, for which most of the scenario he wrote personally. The first season consisted of 7 episodes in a total duration of about 6 hours and ended with cliffhanger. Unfortunately, from episode to episode series had weaker and weaker ratings, so it was canceled. For the purpose of DVD release it was turned into a film. It was shortened to 4 hours and an alternate ending was filmed, so it doesn't stay unfinished. The idea is great, story and characters are developing well and it had the potential to be one of the better King's accomplishments. Unfortunately, it's not. The first hour is so slow and boring that I was on the verge of giving up. Later, the story becomes more and more exciting, and once you get yourself attached to the characters, 4 hours just fly by. Nevertheless, there is an omnipresent feeling that something is wrong. As much as they skillfully turned the six-hour season into a four-hour film, although I did not watch the original version, I always felt that something was missing. But all of this would not have a major impact on the overall impression if there wasn't for a catastrophically bad ending, which so obviously does not belong to this film-series that it's simply painful to see. The story develops for 4 hours in its slow but atmospheric natural pace, and then suddenly ends, as a knife cut, with the end that is forcefully sewn to where it doesn't fit.However, I recommend King's fans to watch it anyway, as well as fans of the series "X-Files", because the film has an atmosphere very similar to this series, as well as a couple of joint actors that enhance this impression. All in all, I enjoyed it, but I would not watch it again.6/10

I just saw "Golden Years" for the first time on DVD. It was originally broadcast as a seven episode mini series on TV. It's not your usual Stephen King fare. There are no gory monsters or what you would call horror elements that are present in most Stephen King adaptations. The story is about a 70 year old man, Harlan Williams (Keith Szarabajka) who is exposed to an unknown substance following an explosion in the lab of "mad scientist" Dr. Toddhunter. Harlan suddenly begins to exhibit signs of becoming younger much to the concern of his wife Gina (Frances Sternhagen) and the "Shop". Terry Spann (Felicity Huffman) is the security chief of the science lab complex. General Louis Crews (Ed Lauter) is a rather uninvolved military head. The "Shop" has sent hit man Jude Andrews (R.D. Call) to investigate the matter. His superiors want to question Harlan and find out the effects of the poisoning to his system. Andrews wastes no time in taking over the investigation. Dr. Ackerman (John Rothman) is forced to assist Williams but is "taken out" when he no longer serves a purpose. A similar fate befalls Eye Doctor Eakins (J.R. Horne) who had examined Harlan's eyes and discovered their re-generation. Terry takes it upon herself to aid the Williams and gets them to flee. They wind up in Chicago at the home of the Williams' daughter Francie (Harriet Samson Harris) who with the help of friends gives the group which now includes Crews, protection. However, Jude Andrews has not given up the chase and through devious means, locates the fugitives and... The cast in general, give excellent performances particularly Szarabajka and Sternhagen as the Williams. Felicity Huffman is a little to young and glamorous to be taken seriously as a security chief. Lauter as the General seems a little unsure of his role in the proceedings. Stephen Root as Major Moreland is out of place here as the inept personnel guy. I found the ending to be a little bizarre and unexplained. And..what becomes of mad scientist Toddhunter who started all of this mess in the first place?.

I've always liked the movie adaptations of Stephen King's novels. Even most of the bad ones have that "charming" b-movie feel to them."Golden Years" is a typical Stephen King adaptation, and I think it's a good one. The story is really good and interesting, and you won't get bored. This is more a sci-fi than the typical Stephen King horror movie/series, so don't expect bloody gore and guts. This IS "made for TV" from the early 90s, so don't expect "Spielberg visuals" and jaw-dropping special effects. But if you're able to look past that, I think it's worth a watch. And if you're a fan of other SK- adaptations, it's absolutely for you.

DVD version: A SciFi movie with a truly original premise and glimpses of real people.I've not really enjoyed a Stephen King horror movie since Firestarter. Just so you know my bias I like Stephen King horror books but not his horror movies. I do enjoy his non-horror films. Misery, The Shawshank Redemption, Dolores Claiborne, Apt Pupil, The Green Mile, and Dead Zone (both TV show and movie).Golden Years is on the slow side, as is to some extent every movie I listed above. Golden Years succeeds like the above movies when it explorers characters in ways we are not used to exploring them.Golden Years is about relationships, about the love and relationship of an elderly couple. Rarely in any movie or book do we see two characters this rich a history and depth of love. The action in Golden Years is not a lab experiment gone wrong, it is about the world of two people suddenly shaken to its foundation as they both come to realize that they have no control over their future. Golden Years is the story about the fear of leaving someone behind and the story of being afraid of being left behind.The movie works well when the characters are connecting, unfortunatly not all the characters connect well. All in all there is much to be admired here. All in all this is simply a made for TV mini-series of the type often slapped together in the 80s-early 90s.Both the TV version and Video version are greatly flawed due to rather odd editing choices. The ending of all three versions is still a bit weak, due I suspect to the last two episodes being written by Josef Anderson. The old age makeup for the lead character Harlen Williams leaves a lot to be desired and is often just plain distracting.I am saddened that Stephen King feels he doesn't have anything to write about any more. Golden Years deserves to have many of its ideas fully realized in a novel.