I never knew that ep was considered sub par ? Why ? I mean, the only 'weak' thing I can think of right now is that simplistic 'reboot' solution at the end, and well, it was only the late 80's, people were still getting accustomed to having a computer at home...
Actually... I quite like that episode.
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I never knew that ep was considered sub par ? Why ? I mean, the only 'weak' thing I can think of right now is that simplistic 'reboot' solution at the end, and well, it was only the late 80's, people were still getting accustomed to having a computer at home...
I actually like Macrocosm with the alien virus thingy and Janeway taking her shirt off-that was great!
I always liked "The Alternative Factor", sure the science was wonky, but the idea of a crazy guy from an alternate universe wanting to kill his counterpart was interesting and the mystery of the two Lazaruses was trippy, plus, as a kid, the scene of Enterprise phasering Lazarus' ship is cool.
Yes! Silly, check. Bad science, check. Kathryn Ripley, oh hell yeah!
I don't suppose it rises to the level of ``hated'' episode, but it is one with few defenders. But for me, the Original Series The Return Of The Archons is a dear favorite, not just because it's the first live-action Trek I'd seen.
The bits that people complain about, like how the society doesn't seem to make sense and the characters never quite know what's going on, feel to me like virtues. The planet is bigger and stranger than people understand with their short experience; shouldn't it be? Somehow the roughness makes it feel realer.
The bits that people complain about, like how the society doesn't seem to make sense and the characters never quite know what's going on, feel to me like virtues. The planet is bigger and stranger than people understand with their short experience; shouldn't it be? Somehow the roughness makes it feel realer.
I like Masks too. Great Spiner hamming it up time. Plus it's a kind of trippy concept to explore, if you can get over the absurdity of it.
Also a fan of III - so much huge stuff happens in this movie but it's constantly overshadowed. It could be the general lack of Spock, or that the scale of the film is somehow weirdly out of proportion to its story - you see all this epic stuff happen but in the end it looks and feels like a television episode. It makes you wonder what a bigger budget for some location shooting could have done for it.
Also in for the Royale, Alternative Factor, and sometimes Move Along Home.
Also a fan of III - so much huge stuff happens in this movie but it's constantly overshadowed. It could be the general lack of Spock, or that the scale of the film is somehow weirdly out of proportion to its story - you see all this epic stuff happen but in the end it looks and feels like a television episode. It makes you wonder what a bigger budget for some location shooting could have done for it.
Also in for the Royale, Alternative Factor, and sometimes Move Along Home.
I think TSFS's reputation has improved over the years for a lot of people, myself included. While I think Christopher Lloyd was a bad casting choice for a Klingon villain, there's a lot of great stuff in that film and important character development.
TSFS was huge on world-building as well.
I can't imagine anyone else in the role, so you've got me curious -- What makes you say that?
I realize this is probably an unpopular opinion, and I don't claim to be right. But my personal feeling about Kruge is that he just wasn't intimidating or threatening. He was played too calm, too calculating. There wasn't any of that Klingon fist-pounding rage. He was practically bureaucratic in his execution of Kirk's son. He lacked a certain Klingon je ne sais quoi, for me. I thought Christopher Plummer did a better job of the threatening but cool Klingon thing. Just a feeling, I guess.
I'm forced to agree that Kruge could've been handled better, in some areas ...
He has this beautiful girlfriend he feels forced to kill off for knowing too much and then just goes about his normal routine. Wouldn't it have been nice to let your Sweet Petunia back onboard, instead? You know ... to kiss up and everything. Especially when his crew is so few, seemingly so delicately balanced, yet he'll kill them off, individually, for mistakes on the job. She could've taken one's place.
Kruge's singularity of purpose, regarding Genesis threatened to push him towards caricature. He killed (intentionally and otherwise) everyone useful in accomplishing his goal. Then, tries taking blood from a stone by beating the living shit out of Kirk for it, when he don't know, for the exciting climax. It almost doesn't work and shouldn't have worked at all, so I credit Lloyd for keeping it all together, by being thoroughly entertaining to watch.
He has this beautiful girlfriend he feels forced to kill off for knowing too much and then just goes about his normal routine. Wouldn't it have been nice to let your Sweet Petunia back onboard, instead? You know ... to kiss up and everything. Especially when his crew is so few, seemingly so delicately balanced, yet he'll kill them off, individually, for mistakes on the job. She could've taken one's place.
Kruge's singularity of purpose, regarding Genesis threatened to push him towards caricature. He killed (intentionally and otherwise) everyone useful in accomplishing his goal. Then, tries taking blood from a stone by beating the living shit out of Kirk for it, when he don't know, for the exciting climax. It almost doesn't work and shouldn't have worked at all, so I credit Lloyd for keeping it all together, by being thoroughly entertaining to watch.
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What did he have to base his performance on at that point? How much fist-pounding rage did Kor, Koloth, or Kang exhibit in TOS (never mind Bob the Discount Klingon)? The Space Vikings of TNG hadn't been established yet...if anything, Kruge, who displayed plenty of brutality, was the bridge from the Klingons of TOS to the Klingons of TNG.
Yeah, I really can't argue this point -- you're right. I realize my opinion is a little unfair, but there's just something about Christopher Lloyd that I can't get past. It's his voice or something. Or the fact that I can only see/hear Doc Brown. I know Klingons were not yet Space Vikings. And I actually like those Klingons too! So maybe it's just that it's Christopher Lloyd. Because the more I think about it, his portrayal wasn't that much different than Christopher Plummer's portrayal of Chang, and I friggin LOVE Chang. It's probably a Doc Brown thing.
Yeah, I dislike Kruge precisely because he comes off too much like a thug, lacking the finesse and guile of a Kor or a Chang. I feel like Kruge does come across too much like the Generation-era Klingons, when I prefer the originals. Or too much like Darth Vader, with the wanton killings of subordinates and the anomalous title of "lord." Think about when this movie was made.
(On the other hand, there's a pretty decent explanation I'd never thought of for Kruge's title of "lord" in a thread about Kruge and Kirk on the movies board. I'd link to it, if I knew how.)
I'd argue that Kang might be the bridge to Kruge who's the bridge to the barbarian Klingons of the Generation-era, though I prefer Kang to the Klingons I believe he helped inspire.
(On the other hand, there's a pretty decent explanation I'd never thought of for Kruge's title of "lord" in a thread about Kruge and Kirk on the movies board. I'd link to it, if I knew how.)
I'd argue that Kang might be the bridge to Kruge who's the bridge to the barbarian Klingons of the Generation-era, though I prefer Kang to the Klingons I believe he helped inspire.
I like Shades of Grey and Masks. I thought Shades of Grey was Pulaski's finest hour, in a complimentary kind of way.
I do feel Lloyd lacks a bit of impact in the role, surprising given how strong an impression he makes in other parts. But I don't think it's a big weakness of the film. He's believable, and you can argue it's realistic that not all Klingons resemble Fu Manchu (TOS) or are driven only by anger and pride (Berman era).
It's getting a pummelling elsewhere at the moment, so I'll just mention that I think ENT's A Night In Sickbay is underrated. It's not supposed to be taken too seriously; there are a lot of nice character moments; and Porthos is adorable (or adoggable, if you like
).
It's getting a pummelling elsewhere at the moment, so I'll just mention that I think ENT's A Night In Sickbay is underrated. It's not supposed to be taken too seriously; there are a lot of nice character moments; and Porthos is adorable (or adoggable, if you like
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