That Destruct Sequence
- Thread starter Spock's Barber
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I totally forgot about that classic destruct sequence. BTW, that movie scared the life out of me.
I totally forgot about that classic destruct sequence. BTW, that movie scared the life out of me.
I've watched it so many times, and it's still such a marvelous visual spectacle. And even knowing the movie practically by heart, it still has the power to unnerve me.
It was so... alien. Unlike any other sci-fi horror movie ever made up until then. I still have memories of when I first saw it. I was good about avoiding trailers. But from what I remember, there wasn't much to them. A lot of suspense was created because of that. When the egg opens up in front of Kane, you just know something isn't right. Squirming, pleading for him to back off, and then SPROING... right into his face. Later, when the creature starts struggling to get out of him... you just feel the searing pain. Then that bit of blood. The pause. You know what's coming, and it's just so damned horrifying... climaxing with the alien bursting forth. The autonomic twitching of Kane's arms. It's like being next to someone who just got shot and is dying, and there's nothing you can do about it. The horror... the horror. One of the truly scariest moments I've ever experienced from a film. Still feel so unnerved when I see it play out again.
Director Ridley Scott set up that scene without telling the actors what was going to happen. That's why their horrified reactions seem so real.
"Spaceballs" ruined that scene for me. Now whenever I see it I expect the baby alien to scurry across the bar with tophat and cane in hand dancing to "Hello my Baby".
"Check please!"
"Check please!"
I'm sure Spock knew it was an available function -- he was just incredulous that the captain of the Valiant would actually have given the order to self-destruct. What onboard situation could possibly be so dire that a ship's captain would give the suicide command?
Yeah, I noticed that.
Yep, I heard about that as well -- definitely a great idea. Only John Hurt was in on it. Their shock and quick flinching was very authentic.Director Ridley Scott set up that scene without telling the actors what was going to happen. That's why their horrified reactions seem so real.
John Hurt's reaction to what was happening to his character was so incredibly convincing, which just added to the whole effect.
Spock told Kirk that, in less than a month, Mitchell "will have attained powers we can't understand and can't cope with. Soon we'll be not only useless to him, but actually an annoyance."
That left Kirk two possible courses of action: Leave Gary stranded on Delta Vega or kill him while he still could. The captain of the Valiant probably let his feelings cloud his judgment and waited too long to make his decision. As First Officer and closest advisor to the captain, Spock was just doing his job.
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Yep, I heard about that as well -- definitely a great idea. Only John Hurt was in on it. Their shock and quick flinching was very authentic.
Plus Veronica Cartwrights' totally real freak out when the blood hits her in the face!
Still an amazing chilling movie to this day, I agree.
BTW, the destruct sequence is dramatic, even in the third season!
That's because she had asked Ridley Scott to not get anything messy on her face due to her having some kind of phobia about it. So of course, he made sure it was set up to hit her square. She didn't like him after that.
I'm pretty sure walking into engineering with a phaser and blasting anything large and humming would do the job, immediately.
Also, in TMP Kirk orders Scotty to set up a self destruct by releasing the antimatter, iirc.
There are probably a variety of ways to destroy the ship. Some take shared responsibility - some probably don't, but it's 100% on you then, mister. Some are quicker - some slower, perhaps designed to unnerve those who would take command from you. Kirk used that method in the movie, however, because he needed the built in delay time to get off the ship.
And Spock has always apparently had a problem with self destruct orders. Look at the destructive power of his ship in Star Trek 2009, and yet did he destroy it? No, he let that sucka fall into the hands of a madman and his equally crazy crew - a destructive power that could destroy thousands of worlds. What was he thinking? I can't destroy my ship. That would be illogical. (I really do dislike those Abrams films)
Anyway, that sequence is one of many ways, and it has its place, and though it's the way 1701 finally went down, that was an emotional moment on par with the death of Spock (however temporary that may have been).
And Spock has always apparently had a problem with self destruct orders. Look at the destructive power of his ship in Star Trek 2009, and yet did he destroy it? No, he let that sucka fall into the hands of a madman and his equally crazy crew - a destructive power that could destroy thousands of worlds. What was he thinking? I can't destroy my ship. That would be illogical. (I really do dislike those Abrams films)
Anyway, that sequence is one of many ways, and it has its place, and though it's the way 1701 finally went down, that was an emotional moment on par with the death of Spock (however temporary that may have been).
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