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Episode Guest Reviews

Reviewer : James Koon
Ave Rating : 4.6000 for 5 reviews
Title : Star Trek Rating : 4
Writers : Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci Year : 2258
Review : Please be aware that there are major spoilers in this review. Honestly, when I left the theater when I saw Star Trek the first time, I didn't know how to feel. Because of this, I decided to split my review into different sections, since there are so many facets to this movie that came together beautifully, while some parts of this movie were lackluster, at least to this avid Star Trek Fan. Plot Review: My main issue with the plot of this movie was not the inconsistencies with timeline, or even with the issues with established technologies. I understand that this movie was meant to be a reset, a last-ditch effort to keep the Star Trek series alive. And that it did... The largest issue I found with the movie was in the villain, Nero. I did read the Countdown comics, and I still didn't understand how he could blame things so fully on one man, to the point he would commit mass-genocide against the Vulcans as well as attempt to take out Earth and the rest of the Federation. It seemed to me that their whole purpose on bringing Nero in was to erase the franchise and start from scratch. And oh, the repercussions this has on future timelines. No more Vulcan, Kirk is now captain in 2258 (He originally promoted in 2263, which means Pike's 5 year mission is completely gone). In addition, it is likely that Tuvok would have never been born (2264), Spock will never go to Vulcan for the Kollinar (sp), and who even knows how the V'ger incident, or Khan, or any of the rest could even unfold. Not even thinking about how things will play out into the 2360s and on. Needless to say, the plot was golden around the main character development, especially Kirk and Spock. You must remember that these actors are portraying the characters 7 or more years before we originally saw them, and Kirk’s life up to that point had been radically altered by Nero’s appearance and the destruction of the Kelvin. Seeing as these aspects were a major point of this entire movie, the fact they pulled it off well saves the Emo-Nero issues I have. Casting Review: May I say, Wow! Chris Pine as Kirk felt natural without the need for imitation, Zachary Quinto as Spock was perfect, and Karl Urban as Bones was absolutely fantastic. All of the actors and actresses did a fantastic job at making the roles their own without mocking their predecessors. And of course, Leonard Nemoy. He portrayed the aged Spock perfectly, maintaining his ‘emotional’ sterility but adding a hint of warmth to the role. Exactly how you could imagine a man who is wise beyond years, with the weight of his life on this shoulders. Casting could definitely be the greatest aspect of this movie. Music Review: I would have to say I didn’t really notice the music on the first viewing, as it blended quite well with the actual scenes to the point that it was one with the scene. I went back on subsequent viewings and it started to pop out more, and I would say it definitely fit the movie well. Trekkie Review: As I said before… if something hadn’t been done, we wouldn’t have anymore Star Trek. But that does not stop the inner trekkie in me from saying “What the bloody hell are you doing!?” Destroying Vulcan before Kirk’s first five-year mission is such a major event that my mind starts thinking for hours non-stop about the reprocussions to the beloved Star Trek universe. Somewhere in my mind I almost felt it disrespectful to all that came after the original Star Trek, or even the original Star Trek. But it was pulled off well, and I do believe that it will lead to some good movies. But, a little piece of me died when I saw this movie… akin to when I saw the end of Undiscovered Country, when I knew that the old was out and they had moved onto the new. Redesign Review: Oh, my poor engineering. How I will miss thee. Most of the Enterprise I really liked, moreso when I saw it in action instead of the still pics. The bridge was beautiful, the corridors were nice… but… engineering… what happened? To a point, I understand the idea behind the ‘steam-punk’ engineering design. It’s the bowels of the ship, there’s a lot of pipes and conduits and such, and it was probably easier to use an on-location place in filming as opposed to building a whole new engineering, especially with the scope they tried to show the ship in. But c’mon! Put a single core in there. Hell, digitally paint one in! I will say, for the first time, when I saw the Enterprise, I felt the size of it. Even on the spacewalk during First Contact, there really wasn’t that scope. Though, the way I understand it, ILM said that the digital ship was about 900 meters long… Not going to get into the logistics and reprocussions of this revelation, however, if it is true, the movie went beyond a controlled reset and just rewrote the manual. Literally. Overall Review: Yes, certain aspects of this movie were great, and overall I found the movie immensely enjoyable. But as I said before, a little piece of me died, just as it did when I first saw Undisc
Title : The Ship Rating : 5
Writers : Rick Cason, Pam Wigginton Year : 2373
Review : Definitely a strong beginning to fifth season, and the overall arc of a theme that will stay with DS9 through this season; the personification of people lost in conflicts, and the tragic implications of war. It's one thing to see "5 people died". We see it every day. Up to this point, the theme that in times of war each person died had friends and family is rarely explored, and this is the beginning of such exploration in DS9.
Title : Rocks and Shoals Rating : 5
Writers : Ronald D. Moore Year : 2374
Review : This episode says more than words. Speaking without giving the whole plot away, I've never known more hate for a single being in "Hollywood" than the Vorta in this episode. His smug way, knowing that Sisko an crew would act honorably in the end. He played both his own and the Starfleet personnel to ensure his own survival. The "Third" in the episode, played by an apparently great actor, was able to pull off both nobility and servitude with the knowledge of his own plight in a way that is indistinguishable from what the character would know. Overall, strong episode, keeping with the theme of the reprocussions (sp? sorry) of war. For once, it's not one sided "The Federation has better morales that you", but more "The Federation will preserve itself, but not without trying to save you first". The latter, in war, is what is more honorable. Give until you cannot, and let live who will do what is right.
Title : Sons and Daughters Rating : 4
Writers : Bradley Thompson, David Weddle Year : 2374
Review : ***Spoiler Alert*** I give this such a "high" rating because of the special place in my heart for Worf and his son. First, I feel that from the certain point that it acknowledges Worf having a son and gives the boy direction. The "and daughters" part of the title deals with Ziyal, and to be honest, it is the subplot, though fairly informative to the mindset of Nerys and the overall plot of most of Season Six, and the plot that backs her with the mindset that "The Dominion occupation isn't so bad", though as far as freedom is concerned, and occupation isn't good (sorry for the run-on, but plot synopsizes tend to do that in the hands of the inebriated). The plot lines on DS9 definitely invoke that mindset, sometimes too well that it feels rather melancholy and like we're watching prison, at least from the characters respective. However, the soul of this episode is Worf and Alexander. And in my honest opinion, Alexander was underly utilized, not only in TNG, but in DS9 as well. However, this episode at least embodies the spirit of the Klingon, and develops Worf in the sense that he can be a good father if provided with a favorable chance (even by a son that might as well be the ship jester), especially with what happens to him and Jadzia in later episodes. By and by, passable if you're jumping episodes, but it at least in the end, grows Worf, and even the relationship between Martok and the former, and a such can't be subjugated to negative reviews in the grand scope of Worf the character, let alone DS9 as a whole. You can't touch the house of Martok. ^.^
Title : Sacrifice of Angels Rating : 5
Writers : Ira Steven Behr, Hans Beimler Year : 2374
Review : The one thing I've always loved about DS9 is the fact that they developed all the characters so well, even the chief antagonist (Dukat). ***SPOILER ALERT*** When Ziyal is killed by Dumar, Marc Alaimo's portrayal of Dukat's utter despair is nearly tear jerking. The rest of the episode is epic, and sets up the rest of Season 6's themes of War and the reprocussions of it. By and by, a staple of DS9, and perhaps one of my favorite episodes across all of the series.

© Graham & Ian Kennedy Page views : 9,470 Last updated : 28 Mar 2024