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Star Trek: Discovery: Life, Itself (2024)
Whats the Point?
Afterall this Episode is a good Reference for what i think defines Discovery:
Pros:
-Beautifull to look at, sure
-A nice touch to end on a 90something Minute Episodes
-After they got canceled they tacked on the Ending and tried to make a proper sendoff
-They try to connect the Series and it's Plot lines to the Rest of Star Trek
Cons:
-Plot Convenience at it's top
-Totally contrived and studid Storylines
-Not enough Story to fill in a Season
-A typical Season has a good start, drags on for much to long (With pointless Fetchquests and filler material) and then ends in a hurry. It ends pointless, contrived and very sloppy. With almost every Season if DSC i think, they kind of couldn't think of a good ending, and they could think how to plot From A-Z.
-They deconstructed the Breen and their mistery. Bad Decision.
-They deconstructed the The Chase TNG Episode (The Original Episode about the progenitors and negated it's meaning somewhat.
Conclusion:
What was the point in the hole Season? They didn't met the real progenitors. Just some people who found and used the technology. There is not consequence of the finding of the McGuffin. They just hide it again. They deconstructed the Breen Mistery for nothing and tarnished the Chase Episode from TNG.
I kind of like the Epiloge were we see Burnham and Book old and retired. That was i nice touch.
I found it completely unnecessary that they forced in the ending were they Setup the Short Trek Calypso (From 2019 were Discovery is alone in the even more far future). For a series that had so many problems with continuity and canon, thats rediculuos. This was just an Ego trip, because the very bad director of this episode also directed that Short Trek.
Dune: Part Two (2024)
Wow, already a classic
Wow, what a movie. Denis Villeneuve is in my opinion just one of th most giftet directers / writers of our time.
I'am sure, that this movie (or part 1 and 2) have already earned their place in the ranks of the best movies of all times (like about the Lord of the rings 20 years before.
As someone who read the Dune and saw all the earlier iterations of the material, i can say that this is very true to books and a very good adaptation of the source material.
This movie has everything i like in a movie. The visual and audible style are top notch. The Screenplay is superb. The Actors are perfect for their roles.
Is this movie to long with almost 3 hours? No, i don't think so. It's densly packed with story and has a good balance to let the scenes brief without getting self indulgent. It actually felt more like 120 minutes, as it was captivating from start to finish.
The Orville: Future Unknown (2022)
Great Ending
My rating is not only for this Episode, but for season 3 as a hole.
This was a great season and it really feels like TNG at it's best. Especially the longer Episodes enabled the creative team to let the Episodes more breath. The growth in Quality is imense.
While Episode 9 provided a grand finale for the Keylon War, this Episode is a lot quieter. It's almost like a bottle show and a wrap up Episode. They have clearly used a lot of their budget on the Epic showdown that was Domino.
This Episode has two smaller plotlines, but more important it gives us a hopefully not last impression of the lives of the Orville crew and provides some further Worldbuilding on the Union.
If you want high stakes and a lot of Action, please re-watch Episode 9. Episode 10 lets you have some intimate time with these great characters. Possibly for the last time. Its more like the last 10 Minutes of a Series finale but expanded to 90minutes. Does that sound boring? Yeah maybe to some viewers, but its great fan service. Just enjoy seeing and interacting of our crew a possible last time. Enjoy the Orville Sets once more.
I just hope, this won't be the last season of the Orville. If it is, it's a great goodbye.
Star Trek: Insurrection (1998)
an enjoyable movie
I remember when i watched this movie in 1998 when i was a Teen. So i'am a little biased here...
Pros:
-It feels TNG. I think the Actors were on their height with their characters in Star Trek 8 and 9. I think i can also feel the the were very relaxed and enjoyed playing their characters.
-Jonathan Frakes direction is solid as always. He understands the charakters, the world and perfectly blends the TNG TV style with Film style.
-The Film has some great character moments for Picard, Data, Riker and Deanna and Geordie as well
-While not overly complex i really like the Plot and the moral dilemma it has
-This film proves that you can make a good Startrek Movie withouth having to fate of the hole universe threatened. It's a small storie with small stakes and it's still very entertaining.
-Without getting sluggish, the film takes it's time and let the scenes breath. The Intro, Sunrise and the hike through the mountains are wonderfull to look at.
-The athmospere which the film creates is wonderfull
-Although in the Briar Patch the World feels riche and lived in with the mentioning of the dominion war, federation politcs, all the character backstories and Riker and Deannas romance re-surfacing.
-The bigger Movie Budget (70 mio against First Contacts 46 mio) certainly shows and allows for some bigger Set pieces, more effects, more extras in the Bakku scenes and some bigger Action Scenes
-The First Star Trek Movie to fully use CGI Spaceships and for the most part i couldn't tell the difference.
-Avoid mostly plot convenience (don't mention Worf....) and plot holes
Cons.
-Once again, Crusher, Worf and to a lesser extent LaForge and Troy get very underused. At least LaForge and Troy could shine little.
-Does it feel more like an overblown 2 Part TNG Episode than an epic Starwars Movie? Yeah, sure but i don't mind
-Are the effects subpar as ILM was occupied the the phantom menace? Especially all the window backdrops suffer from rather bad Roto Work and have the hard out of focus/in focus edge to it which is a shame. The Holo-Ship interior looks a bit dated, but otherwise the effects are quite nice and still look great.
-The finale on the collector was poorly planed and obviously they didn't had enough budget to really complete their vision. All the blue backdrops on the collector are in fact bluescreen which they couldn't afford the effects no more. What a shame.
The Creator (2023)
Very well directed, Script has its flaws
I think this movie should get bonus points for beiing about one of the most original things coming out in 2023. It's not a Sequel, Prequel, Reboot (Soft or Hard) nor it's a Spinoff. It's not derivativative "Content" vomited out from one of the major, or minor Franchises.
Garett Edwards made a very enjoyable, and good movie. I'am looking really forward to see whatever his next project will be. I think he is very talented. Even more impressive is what they pulled of with a very modest Budget of 80 mio dollars (even though this sounds crazy). In my opinion this can compete with with a lot of 150-250 mio dollar movies in therms of scope, scale and effects.
The story is not unique, but at least something new and not as formulaic as many other movies today. Yes it has its flaws and plot holes. Actually it has many plot holes. Some are just to move the plot forward, some are more structural.
It's it a perfect movie? No, not all, but it's a very nice try. However, i enjoyed those 2 hours and 13 minutes and did not have to supend my disbelief as much as with many other recent releases. Thank you, creative Team behind The Creator.
The X Files: I Want to Believe (2008)
I so, so Standalone Episode with a bigger Budget
I saw this movie the first time about 2009, 15 years ago, and i was dissapointed. No Aliens, no conspiracy, almost no Action or Special effects. It was a mediocore Standalone Episode with a bigger Budget. After it was underwhelming at the Box-Office it was clear, that this was possibly the End of the X-Files for many years. And i was even more dissapointed.
After seeing it again i changed my mind somehow. The verdict is still the same. It's a forgetable Episode which would not stand out by any means. It's not a bad Episode, but its certainly not a standout. Not even in a season of 24 Episodes. As a Movie it's also kind of underwhelming. And why did they blast 30 mio. On this? Even with bigger salary, this cant be more expensive than 10-15 mio (4-6 Episodes of X-Files). Especially when Fight the Future was 66 mio and filmed in multiple locations in the US, England and Canada. And this one is filmed around good ol'Vancouver. So, why then 7 out of 10?.
In it's heart it's X-Files. It's not a bloated Special Effects Action Movie. It's kind of slow and building Tension. It leaves a lot of room for the Viewer to think. It's not all black and white, it's sometimes grey. What was the priest for a human? Was he good, no he was flawed. Think for your self on how to judge him. Same for the FBI Agents. The were not heroes, not badboys. The were just flawed agents.
How about the ending? The ending was kind of underwhelming, but at least it was not the typical over-the-top showdown fight. No one was killed, not even a shot fired. It was kind of quitly resolved - like a lot of good Episodes of the X-Files. Our heroes survived and the mystery was kind of solved.
But really, why 7 of 10? I like how the movie ends. Scully proceeds with her surgery. We don't know how it went. But she has followed her faith and thats the import point. And we finally get Scully and Mulder kiss and row a away in boat. Hopefully to leave all the bad things behind and enjoy the rest of their lives.
I still have tears in my eyes, this movie at least gave a wonderfull send-off for Mulder and Scully. Especiall, after i saw it and it was already clear, that we won't get another X-Files Movie.
Star Trek: Picard: Võx (2023)
warning heavy spoilers / i loved it
I almost had tears of joy when i saw the Enterprise-D. Overall i think it was mostly good writing. At least so much better what i've become used to from the Kurtzmann/Goldsmann hacks. Unfortunatley i still was a bit underwhelmed. For the penultimate Episode of the Season it still felt a little to much as a setup Episode. Man, it's the 9th Episode, the grand finale should be in full swing. The should be aboard the Enterprise since about Episode 7.... I was also dissapointet but not surprised the Capt. Shaw died. Sad, i really liked that caracter....
Nevertheless i still hope we get the Star Trek Legacy Series.
So why did i gave 9 points? Well i had i dopamin rush when i saw the episode i haven't had since years. Otherwise this would have been a solid 8.
Star Trek: Lower Decks: The Least Dangerous Game (2022)
enjoyable but not a masterpiece
Enjoyable episode but mediocre script. I know, it's comedy, but the script suffers from "plot happens" syndrome and has many ilogical decisions. Especially Lower decks should know, that you can write a better, more coherent scipt and have a good comedy.
I won't be disecting all the plot points as it doen't matter. Watch it youself, it's still worthile. Even with mediocre episodes i enjoy Lower decks still the most of the new Trek shows (Couldn't watch SNW yet...)
Thats it for the review. The rest ist just to meet the stupid demand of this site to write at least 600 characters. Some shows just don't need a 300 page essay, dear page administration.
Flashpoint (2008)
Very good!
This show is much more than its parts. On the surface it is an oldschool Episodic, even formulaic Police show. Made on a modest budget in Toronto. But it is really good. The Episodes and characters are really good written. The Actors are terrific. There are real Twist (not just to subvert expectations), suspense, there characters make logic decisions and the stories just work. In addition there is always a moving, emotional component (which can give me tears) and a sense of moral and optimism. It kind of reminded me a bit of star trek with it's optimistic tone. Or maybe it's just that Canada is nice (I'am not canadian but i love the country).
Especially the last Season (5) is hands down the best. It just shows, that they had more time and Budget producing only 13 instead of 20+ Episodes.
The Series ends on a very high note. The penultimate Episode (I'am counting the 2 part finale as one Episode) is the most emotional and brings Ed's Story which begann in the Pilot kind of to a conclusion. The Big 2 Part Finale is just superb. The Production Values are like a TV-Movie and the SRU faces it's biggest Engagement ever. The Pacing was really good and didn't sacrifice to give the characters all a good sendoff and time to shine once more. Moreover i was really nervous the could kill of a character. Wonderfull.
I would really hope, they could continue Flashpoint sometime in the future....
Star Trek: Picard: Hide and Seek (2022)
faster desintegrating than after disruptor fire
After a compelling season start, good couple of first episodes and a dragged out midseason, this seems to boil down to the standard kurtzmann/goldsmann Season conclusion. A giant mess and full of garbage. Plot happens instead of logical decisions and a natural chain of events. Not to mention all the plot holes
-where is Robert Picard
-Why do holograms have memorys of dead people
-why do the in the wall beamed borg lock so stupid an cheap
-why does the weapon not belonging to Rios have a DNA safety no other has?
-Same Borg implants on seven as before?
-Why does to WW2 Pistol open doors better than a disruptor
-Why is the Picard Mother/Father Arc so unnecessary and illogical? Did i miss the point of it?
-Why do they destroy canon with letting the Borg escape and change?
-It is the 9th Episode and we learned nothing about the motivations of Q and where is Q?
There are so many lost plot points to explain in the next 60 minutes.....
Star Trek: Picard: Penance (2022)
very nice second episode
Very good paced second episode. When i saw the trailer i was scared, the the bloated up the premise of a good 2-part episode to a full season. I thought they would meander arround getting the borg queen and travel to the past until about episode 6. But no, the plot moves forward and they are building some mystery around Q's motivation and the Borgs intentions.
Looking very much forward tho the next episode.
Star Trek: Picard: The Star Gazer (2022)
What a Start
Wow, after the rather dissapointing Season 1, this is a compelling start.
Finally i'am getting more of the long needed Post Nemesis, but still Berman-Era Star Trek. The Story Arc for Picard kind of nicely pics up from Star Trek Generation (where it has been touched best i think) with his struggle of age, and regret he has never had a familiy and that the Picard Familiy will end with him.
I'am also happy that they finally managed to make the Borg once again menacing and mystery.
Finally i'am totally ok, with the explanations why Guinan und Q look older now (especially for Q it is very fitting).
Looking forward to next week.
Star Trek: Discovery: The Galactic Barrier (2022)
style over logic
Visually very nice. The effects are once agains superb (even though the bubbles reminded me heavily of an episode of the Orville).
But seriously? Jesus Burnham bossing arround the president of the UFP? Ridiculous....
Screamers (1995)
classic
Yes it it feels lika a generic b-movie form the 90s with bad effects and a very low budget, but it is a good story and has really great, depressing atmosphere. Peter Wellers performance is really good. The mate paintings are really great and it does a good job of conveying this feeling of hoplessness.
For me it's a classic sci-fi movie from my childhood. It scared me when i was younger, sucked me in with it's atmosphere when i grew up and now is a classic which i still like to see.
Star Trek: Lower Decks: No Small Parts (2020)
finally feels like home
This is not only a Review for the episode but for the first season.
I'am am really dissapointed by Star Trek Picard and Discovery for all it's poor writing and direction. And they just don't feel at all like Star Trek.
Lower Decks on the other hand does feel like Star Trek. I love the TNG era. It is clearly written by people how understand and respect canon. It shows, that you can tell cool stories withouth breaking canon. Unlike DSC it uses Canon and blends in the rich World already created.
I'am really looking forward to the next Season. Unlike DSC, very i checked out after Season 3 and Picard where i'am really worried about Season 2.
Star Trek: Discovery: Su'Kal (2020)
Burned
This season sucks. The completely trainwrecked this seasons arc.
1.5 Episodes of bad introduction
6.5 Episodes of boring fetch quests. Search this, than visit this, that bread crumb leads to the next. Rinse and repeat. Beautifully garnished with rather mediocore planet/problem of the week episodes which were all already done better.
2 Episodes of the most borring mirror universe / fan service / Georgiou exit
And then the blow it with this sucker. a boring holo episode with some plot twists to subvert expections. subvert my a%s. Now i know we we had zero story progression over the last episodes: Because the didn't had a clue what the story should be...
A Freak accident by a lost child caused the burn. Yeah sure. Why not. It didn't need to be something meaningfull. It's not important to set up a bigger narative possibly for season 4 -7... Just pull out the next half baked idea out of the writers a%s for the next season. Something with tentacles from another universe and AI would be great!!! Like already done twice in Bad Reboot Trek.
So, after vomiting out, i feel a bit better. Why still 4/10?
-The CGI and Sets were great. As always
-Seeing Saru without Make-up keept me watching the episode. Doug Jones is such a good actor in my opinion.
-It would not have been the worst VOY or ENT Episode. But then we are not anymore in 1995 or 2001. Get a grip "Writers" People more. Star Trek is great storys, not rehashed mediocore super simple plot of the weeks. Those story were filler. They didn't kept Star Trek alive then (and probably killed enterprise) and they certainly won't today.
The Midnight Sky (2020)
Waste of air
I've seen worse Netflix movies, but this one isn't good either. Basic premise Und production values are good.
But:
-It's boring
-Badly adapted for screen (haven't read the book, but I hope it's better)
-it completely glosses over WTF caused this, are there other survivors and the tragic of billions of people lost
-what a bad ending. Humanity is basically lost. The should have at least included a message, that the other colony ship is still OK.
Star Trek: Discovery: Terra Firma, Part 2 (2020)
One of the most boring mirror Episodes
The plot of this 97min 2 part episode could have been easely reduced to 1 episode.
It was a boring plot with lots of filler material (circue du soleil, minute long sobering and whispering scenes). Clearly this 2 part episode was conceived to fullfill 3 purposes:
-create an exit for Georgiou to continue in her own section 31series (if thats still a thing)
-cost reducing bottlepisodes (the hole 2 parter) to save up some money for the rest of the season or recoup some budget the have blown in the first couple episodes (probably more that reason)
This mirror episode failed on many different topics
-one of the most boring mirror arcs i have seen. The season 1 arc at least was partially entertaining
-the plot is kind of stupid and Georgiou is totally out of character and unbelievable. Yes it is rectified in the end with the explanation of the guardian, but still, come on?
-the guardian of the edge of forever was kind of wasted as an exit
-so, what happens now in the mirror universe? Couldn't they at least be consistent with their own canon? Or is this a further correction of the timeline messed up in season one? How can Georgiou still switch to the prime timeline in season one, if she dies months before in this timeline? Jesus, i know timetravel always is a mess but the could have at least tried....
I saw The Expanse S5x01 yesterday. Please Kurzmann and Paradise: Please get professional help in the writing and planing department. If would continue to measure Star Trek and the expanse (or other good written shows) by the same standard (without added Star Trek benefits) i would need to rate most episodes with 1 or 2 instead of 4 to 6
Star Trek: Discovery: Far from Home (2020)
underwhelming
Another underwhelming Episode. All Story elements are just recycled from older episodes and are done already better.
This is a cliched fest and boring as f-.
Production values are high as always. I just whished they wouldn't blow all their budget for stupid, nonsense bling-bling effects and use it for something really important.
Star Trek: Discovery: Unification III (2020)
meh
Although this ecoes some classic courtroom/planet/problem of the week episode, it feels a little empty.
Shure it's not the pinnacle of stupidity i'am getting sometime force feed by DSC/Picard, it's i nice little story with some proper resolutions.Unfortunately it is still 930 years away from the good quality of those classic episodes it tries to mimic.The writing just isn't up to par.
Furthermore it suffers the usual DSC Problems: 7 Episodes in, half of the season already past and the main story Arc hasn't really progessed, and still is not compelling. They follow just their simple playbook:
The Arc has a beginning and an end. The middle 11 Episodes are just filler material. Fetch-quests and try mimic some old trek story concepts.
For me, thats just not enough for 2020. Hell, it would be enough for 2002. Enterprise has proofed the Seasons of self contained, just above mediocore, episodes is not enough to survive.
I just wish, they would NOW really come up with some compelling stories like DS9 did with the beginning of season 3 (dominion).
I'am used, that the first 2 Seasons of any Trek show are not the best. Thats tradition, but they really need to improve...
Snowpiercer (2020)
decent
I guess most bad reviews are from movie and comic fans who are dissapointed, that the series takes some other turnes, and most reviews were written after the first few episodes.
i think it is a decent series with a lot of potential. The Crime story is just the incident which gets the story moving and introduces the charakters and the society.
Production values, writing, actors and effects are all fine. I really hope the ploted out the grander story arc so it doesn't get silly in the second season or the write them selves in a corner. I don't see, that this will be a good six or seven season series. If they plot it right, the can tell an amazing story in 3, max 4 seasons and end it with a bang and not slump into infinity with worse and worse stories and stretched out arcs where nothing really happens (Looking at you walking dead...).
looking forward how season 1 climaxes and where season 2 will take us.
Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)
helmed by Jar-Jar
This movie is a great action flick with very high production values.
But it is just plain stupid. The script is so dumb, full of plotholes. You can only enjoy this movie if you shut of your brain before you watch it and never again think of what happened in it.
It takes the laziness of Star Wars 7 and 8 to a hole new level of inconsistency. This is a merchandise vehicle and the story makes no sense whatsoever. It relies purely on completely artificially taked on fan-service and contrived twists and macguffins.
However flawed and not well aged the prequel trilogy was (and it had also some plotholes), at least it tried to tell a consistent story and character arcs.
Unfortunately star wars has joined the dark side now.
Terminator: Dark Fate (2019)
the final nail in the coffin
It has good action scenes. Thats about it.
Terminator genesis was crap and this is as well. It is a boring rehash of the same story we have seen in the other terminator movies (except for 3 with the surprising ending and 4).
"Choose you own fate". The hole premise of the movie suggests, that we cannot choose our own fate. Skynet is simply replaced by Legion? How absurd is that? How lazy writing, it is the most stupid idea they could have came up with.
An offcourse it takes a huge dump on the first 2 movie by killing john, replacing Skynet with legion and making sarah just plain stupid. At least Terminator 3 had the guts to make it about judgement day and ending the film on judgement day. Terminator 4 (which was not perfect by all means) than told a completely new story and finally showed us the world after judgement day.
So you still can enjoy the terminator franchise. Just see parts 1 through 4 or 1 through 3 and end on a high note. Just forget the last 2 movies.
Star Trek: Picard (2020)
Almost Perfect
This is an almost perfekt start for a Start Trek Series. It is kind of what i hoped discovery would be.
In a way it has the pure essence of Star Trek and it is in the same way very modern. The kind of Star Trek i always hoped id get. Not some unlogical JJ-esque Star Trek 2009 or Discovery were the plot is just built to convenience, stitching Action pieces together and show off coll stuff (like the BS with the Starflett Delta drawn in the Sand in the Pilot of Discovery).
It feels very grounded, i see why people are refering it has some Expanse in it, and feels good. It is totaly believable. I love seeing Patrick Stewart again and all the connections to TNG. It harkens back to loved Episodes like Familiy, Measure of a Man, all good things, Insurection, and the Offspring. It is finally the continuation of the Star Trek i grew up with. I almost cried in some scense with data.
Even for my Girlfriend it is perfect to watch. For her it modern storytelling nothing cheesy, for me it is TNG, DS9 finally grown up (Enterprise felt kind of cheesy, 90s cliches in the 2000s).
Offcourse the production values are superb. It certainly was not cheap.