Entertainment Weekly Reviews The Star Trek Movies
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And it's Monday now. It should have been up four days ago.
theres a VI podcast thing the writer of these articles has done: http://vidiotsshow.libsyn.com/the-undiscovered-country-vidiots-show-beyond-vi/size/2
(looks to be doing all the movies like the articles)
(looks to be doing all the movies like the articles)
May 27 it went up. We're coming up to two weeks.
My mistake.
Thanks for the alert!
Nice review. I like how it notes one of the central ironies of the film -- the conspiracy to prevent peace between the Federation and the Klingons proves that they can work together.
It bugs me that he misquoted the film several times, though. Kirk didn't say, "Let them die," he said "Let them die," with a clear emphasis on the first word. I'm also pretty sure that Kirk says to Spock that "reality is somewhere in between" rather than "between us," although the ST transcription site doesn't seem to agree with me. And he oddly refers to the "show trial" line twice, almost like he'd forgotten he'd talked about it already.
It bugs me that he misquoted the film several times, though. Kirk didn't say, "Let them die," he said "Let them die," with a clear emphasis on the first word. I'm also pretty sure that Kirk says to Spock that "reality is somewhere in between" rather than "between us," although the ST transcription site doesn't seem to agree with me. And he oddly refers to the "show trial" line twice, almost like he'd forgotten he'd talked about it already.
At the time (1991) the film seemed like it might actually be relevant..but the dialogue is too often trite and not profound. The overused quotes simply don't make up for good dialogue. The pacing is just off (something Meyer isn't very good at) in parts of the movie, both the dinner and Starfleet meeting feel interminable, with pauses everywhere that make the worst Picard staff meetings seem like action sequences.
The movie looks cheaper than STII..due to inflation, the budget of $27-30 million is not that much higher than the $11 million of WOK. I still have problems with galactic scale events not feeling "galactic" at all..taking place in small rooms like an episode of Space patrol from the 50s.
Trekkies normally would have problems with "canon" and continuity in this movie, but because the events are kind of warmed over and afterthoughts, no one really cared that it doesn't fit well into the "next generation" it would lead into before the credits. Aside from the timeline issues, which are more easily dismissed, there's the fact that STVI seems less like the Star Trek world established before it than even the JJ films..
It was shot in Super 35, which really looks flatter than anamorphic due to a lower technical quality..whatever the effect, it just doesn't look as good as the following STNG movies or other earlier features.
The movie looks cheaper than STII..due to inflation, the budget of $27-30 million is not that much higher than the $11 million of WOK. I still have problems with galactic scale events not feeling "galactic" at all..taking place in small rooms like an episode of Space patrol from the 50s.
Trekkies normally would have problems with "canon" and continuity in this movie, but because the events are kind of warmed over and afterthoughts, no one really cared that it doesn't fit well into the "next generation" it would lead into before the credits. Aside from the timeline issues, which are more easily dismissed, there's the fact that STVI seems less like the Star Trek world established before it than even the JJ films..
It was shot in Super 35, which really looks flatter than anamorphic due to a lower technical quality..whatever the effect, it just doesn't look as good as the following STNG movies or other earlier features.
I rank The Undiscovered Country as my second favorite Star Trek movie. It is clumsy and cheap looking, but it attempts to say something about who we are and how difficult change can be. I like that thirty straight years of direct and indirect conflict has worn most of our heroes down.
I never had an issue with it fitting with what comes later.
I never had an issue with it fitting with what comes later.
Interesting analysis. I really am pretty ambivalent about Star Trek VI. I certainly don't dislike it, but there's always been something "off" about it, and I think you've summarized some of it well here.
I've always felt that it was very forced and didn't really feel "genuine" to me.
It actually always amazes me that Nick Meyer directed this and TWOK, because they both play so very differently IMHO. TWOK is a small film (meaning, it's contained to a story about Kirk vs Khan) but it feels very real and dramatic and there's a ton of emotional energy and "real" jeopardy. It is straight-forward perfectly paced, and the characterization and acting are spot on. The characters seem like real people, and the actors pit on tremendous performances to make everything feel believable and intense. It is a simple, effective story.
TUC, on the other hand, is a "big" movie about the wall coming down in space and change of the entire galactic landscape, but it feels tongue-in-cheek, small and cheap at times. Nothing feels as important as it should, and I can't put my finger on it. The characters all seem to be subconsciously winking at the camera and having a grand ole time trying to save the galaxy from war. The peril just isn't there. The pacing in the middle acts is HORRENDOUS. The script, while charming at times, is sloppy and feels rushed. There are things that just outright make absolutely no sense whatsoever, and I think they tried to be complicated and intricate and it falls absolutely flat. And, it feels bargain-basement cheap. The wrap-up on Khitomer is completely underwhelming.
I don't know...I don't dislike TUC, but I'm always kind of curious how so many put it up there as a classic TOS film, when I think it's pretty mediocre. I think a lot of it is the nostalgia factor (last voyage of the original crew) combined with the elation that it was infinitely more well-received than TFF. I also believe that because Nick Meyer directed it, we convince ourselves that it is better than it really is.
I'm going to check out the review.
Loved the review. The Undiscovered Country is my favourite of all the films.
For me? It is simply fun to watch. The characters actually feel like an evolution of their TV series roles.
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