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Improving 'The Alternative Factor'

Esteban said:
Although it is probably the worst episode of the 1st season, rushed, full of continuity goofs, and overstuffed, I always had a sneaking admiration for the final lines, wondering about what it would be like to be imprisoned through eternity with a madman at your throat.

"...but what of Lazurus?"

Hokey, shtick, trite--but I liked it.
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Quick, let's put together a script for the next Trek film! :evil:

Star Trek: Lazarus
 
Tomalak said:
It's one of those 'high-concept' episodes that sounds quite interesting on paper, but just doesn't work in practise. I'm not sure there is much CBS can do to improve it, unless they develop a time machine and give Roddenberry a new script. Maybe do something to make it more obvious that Kirk and Lazarus are actually crossing into a different dimension. Is there a way to make his spaceship look less like Supercar?
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Actually, if you're familiar with the comic Space Mouse, it looks more like SM's Lunar Schooner!
http://www.povonline.com/iaq/IAQ13.htm
 
'The Alternative Factor' is one of those episodes that's practically beyond saving, simply because no amount of new visual effects can salvage the horrid mish-mash of the script. The idea was fair enough - it's essentially 'Mirror, Mirror' only with a guest star doing the universe-swapping rather than the heroes - but the end result made no real sense and rendered the story completely pointless.

Only starship porn could save the TOS-R version. 42 minutes of nothing but the port side of the ship, in ultra close-up! (So is the power cord running down the Enterprise's port side, as showcased in the original episode, canon?)
 
Short of reshooting significant chunks of this episode from Square One, even a buttload of Mike Okuda CGI isn't going to save this one from the doghouse. The effects are so bad and wooden in the original 1967 version that it'll take more work than almost any other episode since "The Doomsday Machine" to correct this one and make it more palatable.
 
I have yet watched this episode. I wonder why I have put this one off for such a long time, considering my overall opinion of TOS is nothing but favorable. :cool:
 
I'll be satisfied and count myself fortunate if nothing more than those "spinning newspaper headline" transitions when the two Lazaruses fight one another in the corridor are fixed and changed. :lol:
 
I can't stomach this episode. It's such an illogical mess. So, sane Lazarus can't let nutso Lazarus touch him anywhere outside the "corridor", or it's curtains for the universe. Fine, so why not just "waporize" one or the other?
 
And it's bad enough the origins of NEITHER Lazarus are explained very well. Is there a parallel/alternate Earth one comes from, because the loonier, nuttier Lazarus claims "his Earth" was destroyed while he was inspecting magnetic communications satellites. Of course, it could just have been another of his many lies and obfuscations.

The whole episode gives me a headache...the effects...the two Lazaruses and their motivations...argggh. :scream:
 
The only thing I like about the episode is the end with both versions of Lazarus left fighting for all eternity. Something cool about the concept.
 
I have my doubts they are going to do much, if anything, to the "negative image" fights. The transitions, sure. But nobody has made a convincing CG person yet and CBS Digital isn't up to the task at all. I'd be happy if they removed the phaser sound from the rear shot of the Enterprise firing phasers. This was added for the DVDs. Actually, it's a shame they're going to replace that image, since it is such a rare shot.

Maybe they could have Lazarus fall of cliffs a little less often....
 
cooleddie74 said:
I'll be satisfied and count myself fortunate if nothing more than those "spinning newspaper headline" transitions when the two Lazaruses fight one another in the corridor are fixed and changed. :lol:
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"Madman From Alternate Universe Falls From Cliff"

"Engineer Wears Sciences Uniform; Starship In Turmoil"

"Madman From Alternate Universe Falls From Cliff-Again"

"Port Side Of Starship Shown; Panic In The Streets"

"Madman From Alternate Universe Falls From Cliff-When Will It End?"

"Boy Trapped In Elevator Eats Own Foot"
 
DS9Sega said:
I can't stomach this episode. It's such an illogical mess. So, sane Lazarus can't let nutso Lazarus touch him anywhere outside the "corridor", or it's curtains for the universe. Fine, so why not just "waporize" one or the other?
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I agree 100%. One of the few TOS eps I never want to see again and the only stinker IMHO from the first season. :rolleyes:
 
Hambone said:
cooleddie74 said:
I'll be satisfied and count myself fortunate if nothing more than those "spinning newspaper headline" transitions when the two Lazaruses fight one another in the corridor are fixed and changed. :lol:
Click to expand...

"Madman From Alternate Universe Falls From Cliff"

"Engineer Wears Sciences Uniform; Starship In Turmoil"

"Madman From Alternate Universe Falls From Cliff-Again"

"Port Side Of Starship Shown; Panic In The Streets"

"Madman From Alternate Universe Falls From Cliff-When Will It End?"

"Boy Trapped In Elevator Eats Own Foot"
Click to expand...

:lol:

"Extreeee! Extreeee! Read all about it!

Two identical guys with wispy, glued-on beards fight in interdimensional corridor! Fate of two universes at stake! Motivations of neither man fully understood or certain!"
 
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