I'm annoyed by the lack of illumination in many of the scenes. We get it, it's dark where the scene is being filmed, but presumably the production company has location lighting available to properly light the scene. I''m in the first 15 minutes and there have already been two scenes where I've been reduced to hearing dialogue against a black screen where nothing can be seen or made out. Who thought this was a good idea, and why? If this is an artistic choice on the part of the director, i'd say it was poorly conceived. I haven't seen enough of the series thus far to have an opinion regarding the story content.
Reviews
5 Reviews
Star Trek: Lower Decks
(2020–2024)
I showed up for the Star Trek universe
29 July 2022
Having watched several episodes, I have to say I find this exercise rather appalling. The bulk of the story line thus far revolves around an exploration of the dysfunctional relationship between a psychotic female African American starship captain, and her psychotic Starfleet daughter that has a superhero skill set, serving under her, on the USS CERRITOS.
The Lower Deck characters are unlikeable, there's nothing remotely connected to the spirit of Star Trek or Gene Roddenberry's vision to be found here. None of these characters would be allowed anywhere near an actual real Starfleet vessel. These characters are unreliable, juvenile, culturally xenophobic and undisciplined. They are illogical to a degree of endless astonishment.
The senior officers are petty, incompetent, and not especially bright.
I'm attempting to comprehend who the target audience is. If the target audience is children, the language is objectionable because we should want better for our children. I'm no prude, but gratuitous gutter language is just low class. We should want to be better than that.
If it's supposed to be comedy, it fails on that level for me, because thus far, (and I think I'm up to episode 9), I've found nothing especially funny. It's unfortunate because it's a missed opportuniity for good stories to be told in a graphic cartoon format.
I'm struck by the thought the writers hate and disdain fans of Star Trek. I can sense their projection of what their idea of who Star Trek fans are, oozing throughout the dialog. It's quite unfortunate.
I'll probably continue to watch in the hopes it might improve, but early indicators are not encouraging..
-Spock out.
The Lower Deck characters are unlikeable, there's nothing remotely connected to the spirit of Star Trek or Gene Roddenberry's vision to be found here. None of these characters would be allowed anywhere near an actual real Starfleet vessel. These characters are unreliable, juvenile, culturally xenophobic and undisciplined. They are illogical to a degree of endless astonishment.
The senior officers are petty, incompetent, and not especially bright.
I'm attempting to comprehend who the target audience is. If the target audience is children, the language is objectionable because we should want better for our children. I'm no prude, but gratuitous gutter language is just low class. We should want to be better than that.
If it's supposed to be comedy, it fails on that level for me, because thus far, (and I think I'm up to episode 9), I've found nothing especially funny. It's unfortunate because it's a missed opportuniity for good stories to be told in a graphic cartoon format.
I'm struck by the thought the writers hate and disdain fans of Star Trek. I can sense their projection of what their idea of who Star Trek fans are, oozing throughout the dialog. It's quite unfortunate.
I'll probably continue to watch in the hopes it might improve, but early indicators are not encouraging..
-Spock out.
Mostly classic TOS
2 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Having watched 9 episodes of SNW, I have to say that I'm impressed with the series so far. Anson Mount as Captain Pike was inspired casting, I first became aware of Anson Mount in the series "Hell on Wheels", about the construction of the transcontinental railroad. He shared leading roles with none other than Colm Meaney, Chief Miles O'Brian of ST TNG and DS9. (This is bound to be a trivia question someday). Anson is so intense in that series as Cullen Bohannan that his performance there is absolutely riveting.
I have to say that Anson is by far the "Kirkiest" of any of the other franchise ST captains. He's breezy and doesn't take himself too seriously. The rest of the lead cast is strong, with special acknowledgement of Ethan Peck as Mr Spock. Having said that, I hope the writers don't feel compelled to explore Vulcan sexuality too much beyond what's already been done.
The writing is mostly good so far, and the SFX are quite well done. The Gorn species in particular are truly terrifying. They've come a long way from an actor in a lizard suit. Think of them as being more like "Alien" with Sigourney Weaver.
I would as a general rule prefer storylines that at least have some passing connection to scientific reality and possibility, but like TOS, they've decided to inject an element of fantasy to the storytelling, episode 8 in particular. But it's a lighthearted series that doesn't take itself too seriously either, and in that sense, it honors TOS. I'll give them a pass on that, so long as it's not overdone.
In episode 9 we learn this series isn't shy about killing off main characters, so expect some shock value there as well. I appreciated having an Aenar variant Andorian crew member. He will be missed.
So far as the ship is concerned, it's a gorgeous design, especially the bridge. It's an homage to the TOS, but tech forward in a blend that's truly amazing to behold. It's what TOS bridge might have looked like if they had the budget and technology at the time.
Number One, (played by.show creator Gene Roddenberry's wife, Majel Barrett in the pilot episode in TOS) in SNW is such a badass in a good way. She can be scary, I would not want to have to take her on. I'm glad she's on our side.
The show is light, humorous and the best Trek since Enterprise. Finally, we have a return to form. Give this one a chance, folks. It's the real deal.
I have to say that Anson is by far the "Kirkiest" of any of the other franchise ST captains. He's breezy and doesn't take himself too seriously. The rest of the lead cast is strong, with special acknowledgement of Ethan Peck as Mr Spock. Having said that, I hope the writers don't feel compelled to explore Vulcan sexuality too much beyond what's already been done.
The writing is mostly good so far, and the SFX are quite well done. The Gorn species in particular are truly terrifying. They've come a long way from an actor in a lizard suit. Think of them as being more like "Alien" with Sigourney Weaver.
I would as a general rule prefer storylines that at least have some passing connection to scientific reality and possibility, but like TOS, they've decided to inject an element of fantasy to the storytelling, episode 8 in particular. But it's a lighthearted series that doesn't take itself too seriously either, and in that sense, it honors TOS. I'll give them a pass on that, so long as it's not overdone.
In episode 9 we learn this series isn't shy about killing off main characters, so expect some shock value there as well. I appreciated having an Aenar variant Andorian crew member. He will be missed.
So far as the ship is concerned, it's a gorgeous design, especially the bridge. It's an homage to the TOS, but tech forward in a blend that's truly amazing to behold. It's what TOS bridge might have looked like if they had the budget and technology at the time.
Number One, (played by.show creator Gene Roddenberry's wife, Majel Barrett in the pilot episode in TOS) in SNW is such a badass in a good way. She can be scary, I would not want to have to take her on. I'm glad she's on our side.
The show is light, humorous and the best Trek since Enterprise. Finally, we have a return to form. Give this one a chance, folks. It's the real deal.
Vanishing Point
(1997 TV Movie)
Watch the original..
22 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
This movie represents the times it was made in as much as the original, i suppose. Which is really sad, because at a deeper level, the title 'Vanishing Point' the original, is so ironic. I'm sure it wasn't intended that way, but the original was filmed in 1970, and released in 1971. The REAL 'VANISHING POINT' was the end of an era, which pretty much ended in the early 1970s.
In this remake, all the counter-cultural elements have been stripped away, and been rendered more PC in an attempt to reach a broader audience, presumably. "Sanitized for your Protection"
Inserting the American Indian scenes was gratuitous, and the idea of a 'noble purpose' to the trip was subtraction by addition. I'm glad I watched it however, it made me appreciate the original that much more. The original is a cult classic and golden. This remake is dreadful.
In this remake, all the counter-cultural elements have been stripped away, and been rendered more PC in an attempt to reach a broader audience, presumably. "Sanitized for your Protection"
Inserting the American Indian scenes was gratuitous, and the idea of a 'noble purpose' to the trip was subtraction by addition. I'm glad I watched it however, it made me appreciate the original that much more. The original is a cult classic and golden. This remake is dreadful.
The Ice Storm
(1997)
The way we REALLY were
10 August 2008
Warning: Spoilers
I was Paul Hood's age during Thanksgiving of 1973. If you were a teenager during 1973 you must see this movie. Ang Lee brings that era back in spades. The wardrobe is just amazing. 1973 was a really weird year anyway, people were depressed the sixties were over, nobody knew what would be next.. It was a really strange time. There was the first gas shortage in US history, and the price doubled. When you could find it. Terrific soundtrack, and a thought provoking look back at the US of that time. An all star cast, I won't repeat a lot of what's already been said, but the movie is like a virtual time machine.
I think we were a better society then, a more tolerant one. Even Nixon seems benign compared to our current government.
The serendipity of Tobey Maguire reading Marvel Comics is surreal now, with that whole Spiderman career of sorts which followed. The Party he thought he was going to be alone with Katie Holmes was evocative as well.. If you weren't partying, you weren't connecting. Human connection and family is the core of this movie. The recurring attempts at a real human connection was thematic. Joan Allen's quirky shoplifting and bicycle riding, her encounters with the long haired Reverend Philip Edwards was insightful. This is a movie with layer upon layer of pathos.
I do think a special mention is reserved for Allison Janney. Great as the hostess, Dot Halford, The Halfords annual party; this time with the twist of being a key party. Her role, though small, was memorable. Especially the Zebra dress. Very 1973. The upper-middle class average woodsy exurban living kind of mirrored my own. It's almost spooky exactly how spot on everything was. I think Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Joan Allen, and Jamey Sheridan were horribly overlooked during the Academy awards decision making process.
The most hilarious scene in an otherwise dark movie was Wendy's (Cristine Ricci, who the camera just loves by the way,) trombone recital at home. It consisted of playing two notes (badly), over and over.
There were a couple of others, like when Sigourney Weaver's character Janey Carver parked her station wagon, heard a loud pop, and looked at her tire, as if it had blown out. Turns out her number two son, Sandy, (deftly handled by Adam Hann-Byrd) was playing with fireworks and generally creating mayhem.. The offer of the whip to play with was priceless. (The keys she later fishes out of the bowl were attached to a rather long leather woven tether, it works well the way she handles those keys in a way similar to the way she handled the whip.) Then when she goes inside to inquire of Mikey (One of Elijah Wood's best performances to date), if HE were aware of the fireworks outside. Mikey, sitting with Wendy while they both watched television, was oblivious. Sigourney Weaver, hearing THAT just shakes her head and rolls her eyes in a combination of disbelief and exhasperation and goes back upstairs.
Sigourney Weaver was excellent and Oscar worthy in my opinion for her credibility in this movie. I knew this character type from then.
Ang Lee's use of ice as a recurring theme, was well established, early and often.. Ice Trays, the old fashioned kind you had to actually crack open really set the tone for that. Even the turkey that Kevin Kline and Joan Allen wrestle with is frozen. The fact that the final 18 minutes or so of the movie is without dialogue isn't really noticed, at least not by me. Very moving anyway, that whole dénouement.
I think I was one of the 4000 people that actually saw this movie in theatrical release. It's a movie best watched alone or with one other person. It was an early matinée and I had the entire theater nearly to myself. That was great too. I've since then owned in sequence, the VHS version, the original DVD, and I now own the CRITERION DVD and I watch it every Thanksgiving now. The richness of this film is astonishing. The Criterion treatment is well done indeed.
I think we were a better society then, a more tolerant one. Even Nixon seems benign compared to our current government.
The serendipity of Tobey Maguire reading Marvel Comics is surreal now, with that whole Spiderman career of sorts which followed. The Party he thought he was going to be alone with Katie Holmes was evocative as well.. If you weren't partying, you weren't connecting. Human connection and family is the core of this movie. The recurring attempts at a real human connection was thematic. Joan Allen's quirky shoplifting and bicycle riding, her encounters with the long haired Reverend Philip Edwards was insightful. This is a movie with layer upon layer of pathos.
I do think a special mention is reserved for Allison Janney. Great as the hostess, Dot Halford, The Halfords annual party; this time with the twist of being a key party. Her role, though small, was memorable. Especially the Zebra dress. Very 1973. The upper-middle class average woodsy exurban living kind of mirrored my own. It's almost spooky exactly how spot on everything was. I think Kevin Kline, Sigourney Weaver, Joan Allen, and Jamey Sheridan were horribly overlooked during the Academy awards decision making process.
The most hilarious scene in an otherwise dark movie was Wendy's (Cristine Ricci, who the camera just loves by the way,) trombone recital at home. It consisted of playing two notes (badly), over and over.
There were a couple of others, like when Sigourney Weaver's character Janey Carver parked her station wagon, heard a loud pop, and looked at her tire, as if it had blown out. Turns out her number two son, Sandy, (deftly handled by Adam Hann-Byrd) was playing with fireworks and generally creating mayhem.. The offer of the whip to play with was priceless. (The keys she later fishes out of the bowl were attached to a rather long leather woven tether, it works well the way she handles those keys in a way similar to the way she handled the whip.) Then when she goes inside to inquire of Mikey (One of Elijah Wood's best performances to date), if HE were aware of the fireworks outside. Mikey, sitting with Wendy while they both watched television, was oblivious. Sigourney Weaver, hearing THAT just shakes her head and rolls her eyes in a combination of disbelief and exhasperation and goes back upstairs.
Sigourney Weaver was excellent and Oscar worthy in my opinion for her credibility in this movie. I knew this character type from then.
Ang Lee's use of ice as a recurring theme, was well established, early and often.. Ice Trays, the old fashioned kind you had to actually crack open really set the tone for that. Even the turkey that Kevin Kline and Joan Allen wrestle with is frozen. The fact that the final 18 minutes or so of the movie is without dialogue isn't really noticed, at least not by me. Very moving anyway, that whole dénouement.
I think I was one of the 4000 people that actually saw this movie in theatrical release. It's a movie best watched alone or with one other person. It was an early matinée and I had the entire theater nearly to myself. That was great too. I've since then owned in sequence, the VHS version, the original DVD, and I now own the CRITERION DVD and I watch it every Thanksgiving now. The richness of this film is astonishing. The Criterion treatment is well done indeed.
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