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"Mirror, Mirror"
When their mission to secure a mineral trade ends in failure, a freak ion storm catches Kirk, McCoy, Uhura, and Scotty in mid-beam-up and sends them to a parallel dimension where Federation leaders are as ruthless as the Klingons, and Star Fleet promotions are attained by assassination. They find themselves on an alternate Enterprise, peopled with evil counterparts to the people they know (all attired in glittery, glam-rock uniforms), including most famously an evil, goateed Spock whom Kirk must convince to overthrow the empire. Kirk and his landing party try to fit in with this crew of villains who are threatening with annihilation the planet where the mineral trade went sour, while searching for a way back to their world and fending off assassination attempts. Mirror, Mirror achieves the best of what Star Trek is capable, which is to say space opera brought to a high pitch by melodrama. Everyone appears to be having great fun turning their characters to the dark side, especially George Takei, whose evil Sulu beams when making his assassination attempt against Captain Kirk, and Leonard Nimoy, who makes Spock's shift from the meditative logician to the ruthless goateed one seem, well, quite logical. This episode in particular fueled popular culture in such a way that in some circles it is now impossible to sport a goatee without being called "the evil Spock." The story of the evil Spock is continued in the Deep Space Nine episode Crossover. --Jim Gay

"The Deadly Years"
While on the planet Gamma Hydra IV, Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and Scotty are infected with an unknown disease that causes premature aging. The only member of the party unaffected is Chekov (Walter Koenig), who becomes McCoy's guinea pig while searching for a cure back on the Enterprise.A nifty idea with some poignant overtones, the story by David P. Harmon startles a viewer with the sight of these familiar folks rapidly graying, wrinkling, weakening, and suffering memory loss. At the same time, Harmon is careful to age each character as a unique individual. Kirk slows down more than the longer-lived Spock, while McCoy remains mentally keen, if physically brittle. As for poor Scotty, well...

The dramatic subtext in "The Deadly Years" concerns the perennial conflict over when and how to decide that someone has become too old to execute crucial responsibilities. In that sense, this episode feels constantly relevant and uniquely entertaining: let's just say some of these actors play "old" a little better than others. (Director Joseph Pevney has reported that there was a lot of conflict over who was stealing old-guy moves from whom.) With all this going on, one might not notice that guest star Charles Drake is a truly familiar face, having been cast in The Maltese Falcon and Now, Voyager. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Getting to see some different faces of the Enterprise crew
The common element to the two episodes included on Volume 20 of the Star Trek DVD series is that we get to see alternative versions of some of the Enterprise officers. In "Mirror Mirror," the Halkan council has declined to give the Federation mining rights to dilithium crystals, because they fear the crystals would be used for non-peaceful purposes. When Kirk, McCoy, Scotty and Uhura beam back to the Enterprise an ion storm sends them to a very different Enterprise. In this Mirror Universe, the Federation is an evil empire and Kirk is captain because he has a nice little weapon in his quarters that makes his enemies suddenly disappear. Even worse, Sulu is a sadist with a giant scar and Spock wears a goatee that makes him look even more like Satan than usual. Do not try to get this all to make sense in terms of all the previous Star Trek episodes, just go along for the ride and make sure none of your friends want your job, since assassination is the main means of promotion over there. As alternate realities go, this is one of the better ones to pop up on Star Trek, but while I know Kira looks good in a cat suit, Deep Space Nine did overdo it with all those Mirror Universe episodes. On the other hand, it was cool when the Cartman from another universe on "South Park" had a Spock-like goatee. Certainly, "Mirror Mirror" resonates more than most Star Trek episodes.

Then, in "The Deadly Years," the Enterprise discovers everyone on Gamma Hydra IV has either died or is in the process of dying from old age. Back onboard their ship, Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Scott all begin to age rapidly as well because of some unusual kind of radiation. Meanwhile, there is a Commodore Stocker on board who forces Spock to relieve Kirk as being unfit for command and then does the same to Spock. But the Commodore has been flying a desk his entire career and in no time at all he has the ship in the Neutral Zone, surrounded by Romulans. Seeing all the senior officers in old person make-up is a bit hokey, but this is redeemed by Kirk's performance during his competency hearing and the way Kirk uses his earlier mistakes to save the day in a nice ironic touch. Usually when the writers come up with a gimmick like this they do not come up with a worthwhile story in which to play it, but that is not the case with "The Deadly Years." This could have been a really lame episode, but it is well-above average. Neither of these episodes is in my personal Top 10, but there are certainly in that next tier

Beatniks & Geezers
Ah, the fun I have watching classic Star Trek™! I just love the over-the-top acting of our stalwarts, the even-more-over-the-top acting of the guest star(s) who play the bad guy(s), the primitive effects, and those seemingly-impossible-to-get-out-of predicaments our heroes seem to get themselves into show after show. In short, great entertainment for the cheese-hungry!

This particular presentation showcases the landmark alternate-universe eppie 'Mirror, Mirror', where Jimmers & Co. get transported onto an alternate-universe Enterprise in a galaxy where the Federation has now become a ruthless interstellar empire! Not only do we get to see Spock looking truly satanic with his mod goatee, the mirror Mr. Sulu's sporting a pretty nasty if somewhat hokey-looking facial scar (oh my)! As usual, Kirk bags the babe, and with the help of beatnik-Spock they manage to transport themselves back to their own dimension! Strangely enough, red-shirt casualties here were pretty much nil...

Oh yes, then there's 'The Deadly Years', where we see our gallant crew age before our very eyes! Fortunately, a remedy for the problem is found, courtesy of Dr. McCoy Mr. Chekov. Wow, I guess Chekov really WAS useful for something, hmm? Anyhoo, the aging-fx makeup shown here is relatively primitive compared to NextGen's more advanced approach; check out the 'de-aging' Admiral Jameson from TNG's 'Too Short A Season' & you'll see what I mean. Still, their simulated aging in this eppie looked a helluva lot better than the real-life aging they had to endure over the next 35+ years! Whenever I watch this particular show, I think about that fact, and I have to stifle a chuckle or two. Especially in front of my more- ardent UberTrekkie buddies who get on my case every time I convey even a hint of irreverence towards Star Trek™! Ah, the hell with 'em-- I'll chuckle all I want! How do ya like THEM apples, huh?!

'Late!

VERY VERY GOOD
Ive always loved "Mirror Mirror" The crew gets in an ion storm thats sends them to an opposite galaxy where thier mirror images are evil and desperate. The good kirk must convince the opposite spock that there is no logic in remaining evil. For some reason the last line before there return to home sticks in my mind. Kirk says to the mirror Spock " in every revolution there is one man with a vision". I recommened all these discs really. Star trek was ahead of its time.

One must-see and another well above average show
Mirror, Mirror-The 'real' alternate universe episode, featuring an evil Enterprise, is a real gem. From the spooky string music accompanying the ion storm at the start to the ensuing more dramatic music and orbit-change, Mirror Mirror has Trek's best teaser. It doesn't let up much thereafter. Drama is maintained throughout, as the good guys try to keep up with the wily machinations of Chekov, Sulu (even Sulu turns in a good performance here!), and just about everybody else. The gorgeous Luna also turns in a nice performance. The episode is very dramatic and threatening, yet by the end a hard-fought optimism has been interjected, thanks to some of Kirk's strongest salesmanship ever (he has to work on both the Harkan council and Spock here). By the end of the episode, I was totally absorbed, and even found myself believing that maybe good can conquer evil (certainly it's hard to imagine the 'evil' Federation ever growing strong in the first place with all that intrigue and double-dealing). It just goes to show how a good story can knock down our cynical defenses. (5 stars)

The Deadly Years-This episode, in which the crew experience accelerated aging, is another winner. The best thing going for this show is the most simple; it's a good story. Add to that the fact that it is developed nicely and at it's own pace, and you have another thoroughly engaging show, in which we actually feel suspense as to how the crew will get out of this jam. The acting performances are also enjoyable from the big 3 in particular. (4 stars)

I.S.S. Enterprise and the U.S.S. Enterprise in two episodes.
"Mirror, Mirror"

Caught in the beginnings of an ion storm, Kirk, McCoy and Uhura interrupt their negotiations with the Halkans for dilithium crystals, to return to the U.S.S. Enterprise. Scotty beams the landing party aboard as a burst from the storm hits the starship. The transporter short-circuits, sending Kirk, McCoy, Scotty and Uhura into a parallel universe. In this world, they soon discover the "Galactic Empire" is maintained by fear and assassination. Now, aboard the parallel version of the U.S.S. Enterprise, the four must find a way to remain undetected until they can return to their own universe.

Meanwhile, the I.S.S. Enterprise versions of Kirk, Scott, McCoy and Uhura have been beamed on board the positive U.S.S. Enterprise. Their behavior is so different from their counterparts that Spock immediately realizes something is wrong. He puts the four in the brig until the transporter could be checked and repaired.

On the I.S.S. Enterprise, the parallel Chekov is foiled in an attempt to assassinate Kirk. When Kirk refuses to give an order to destroy the Halkans, who have refused to give up their dilithium crystals, the bearded Spock becomes suspicious.

The Imperial Starfleet sends a secret message to the bearded Spock, telling him to kill Captain Kirk and assume command of the starship I.S.S. Enterprise. Finding an unexpected ally in the bearded Spock, Kirk continues to stall while his three comrades gather the information needed to send them back to their own universe. Scotty tells Kirk that if the four don't leave in three hours, they will be trapped forever in the mirror universe.

The bearded Spock has no desire to become captain, and therefore a mark for assassination. Along with Lieutenant Marlena Moreau, who wants the parallel Kirk back because she is "the Captain's woman," they help return the four U.S.S. Enterprise officers to their own world. Before he goes, Kirk talks to the bearded Spock, telling him the advantages of a Federation-system over the anarchy of this universe. Spock seems almost convinced that he should in fact get rid of his Kirk, seize control of the I.S.S. Enterprise, and manipulate the Imperial Starfleet into working toward a more civilized universe. With the dimension barrier about ready to collapse and seconds to spare, the small U.S.S. Enterprise crew beam on their own ship. Kirk can only hope that the parallel Kirk will find changes from the bearded Spock.

"The Deadly Years"

On the way to Starbase 10, the U.S.S. Enterprise stops to deliver supplies to the colonists of Gamma Hydra IV. A landing party, consisting of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scott, Lieutenant Galway and Chekov beam to the planet's surface. They find that accelerated aging has taken place, killing most of the colonists. Chekov is terrified when he discovers the first body. The only survivors, an elderly couple who claim to be in their twenties, die shortly after meeting the U.S.S. Enterprise crew. When the landing party returns to the U.S.S. Enterprise, the aging acceleration begins to affect the entire crew ... except Chekov, who remains unaffected. While Kirk wants to remain in orbit around Gamma Hydra IV until a cure can be affected, one of his passengers, Commodore Stocker, wants to proceed to Starbase 10 where he feels the best medical aid can be found.

Each person on the U.S.S. Enterprise begins to show the effects of old age and soon Kirk is unable to command, as are Scotty and Spock. Command falls to Commodore Stocker, who, while an efficient desk officer, has no deep space training. Thinking he will save time, Stocker plots a course through the Romulan Neutral Zone on his way to Starbase 10. The Romulans are waiting and begin an attack.

Stocker, panicked and inexperienced, has no idea what to do. As the U.S.S. Enterprise is surrounded, McCoy comes up with an antidote to the aging sickness ... adrenaline. Chekov, he explains, wasn't affected because his fear at finding the bodies on Gamma Hydra IV had already kicked his natural adrenaline into high gear.

McCoy restores Kirk to normal in time to save the U.S.S. Enterprise by reusing his famous "corbomite" bluff and telling the Romulans that the U.S.S. Enterprise would destroy anything within a 200,000 kilometer radius. McCoy distributes the antidote and restores everyone to their normal state. ... Read more

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It may have been underrated when first broadcast on PBS on consecutive nights in the fall of '03, but executive producer Martin Scorsese's homage to the blues is a truly significant, if imperfect, achievement. "Musical journey" is an apt description, as Scorsese and the six other directors responsible for the seven approximately 90-minute films follow the blues--the foundation of jazz, soul, R&B, and rock & roll--from its African roots to its Mississippi Delta origins, up the river to Memphis and Chicago, then to New York, the United Kingdom, and beyond. Red, White & Blues is Mike Figgis's entry in the series. --Sam Graham ... Read more

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Hollywood's film archives overflow with the carcasses of dismal movies based on lame '60s and '70s television shows, a syndrome that shows no sign of abating. But here's evidence that the reverse effect, turning a movie into a TV series, can have surprisingly positive results. Indeed, Stargate SG-1 is not only significantly better than the 1994 feature it's derived from, but arguably the best-made, most compelling sci-fi program on television.

The central conceit of the original Stargate--the existence of an artificially created "wormhole" through which one can travel to different worlds light years away from Earth--was an intriguing one. In seizing on the obvious possibilities for expanding on that premise, series executive producers-writers Jonathan Glassner and Brad Wright smartly retained some of the film's basic elements (its amalgam of myth and theoretical hokum, or the ongoing clash of wills between scientists and soldiers), while adding a variety of fresh ideas (including new characters, new locations, and a welcome dose of humor, much of it supplied by Richard Dean Anderson, MacGyver himself, who replaces Kurt Russell in the central role of Colonel Jack O'Neill). The result is a show with multidimensional heroes and villains and consistently compelling story lines (many of them introduced in the pilot and carried forward through subsequent episodes) balancing excellent special effects and production values.

In the second season, "The Serpent's Lair" concludes the cliffhanger from the end of the first season in a rollercoaster of wit, plot twists, and cutting-edge special effects as the SG-1 team resign themselves to a suicide mission. In the two-parter "The Tok'ra," Sam's estranged father is dying of cancer, but her obligations sway her toward saving a member of the Goa'uld renegade Tok'ra who is also dying. In "Show and Tell," the central story arc takes a dramatic turn when a child arrives to warn that some survivors of a Goa'uld attack are determined to eliminate anyone who might host their enemy--which means Earth as a whole.

To resolve the season 2 cliffhanger, General Hammond rounds up every conceivable ally to rescue the SG-1 team from Hathor's clutches and gets a much-needed field trip in the process. In subsequent episodes in season 3, Daniel Jackson is intrigued by the planet Orban's scientific advances over only a few years. In a two-part cliffhanger, Sam must attempt to rescue her father, face Satan himself on a prison moon, and resurrect "Jolinar's Memories" from the Goa'uld she was briefly possessed by, then "The Devil You Know" reveals an embarrassing secret that could allow the team to escape the clutches of Satanic Sokar.

It wasn't until the beginning of the fourth season that fans knew to take the Replicator threat seriously. The spidery nasties had only seemed like one of many new enemies introduced in previous years. But when the one seemingly omnipotent backbone of the galaxy was asking Earth for help, clearly we were in real trouble! In fact, the team's list of enemies expanded and got far more complicated. There were quite a few Earth-based stories in the year, but not all the new enemies were originally local. Willie Garson comically guest-starred as Martin, a geekily suspicious guy with too much knowledge of the Stargate. More sinister was an old flame of Daniel's turning into something far more painful than an old wound (thanks to an ancient Egyptian curse). Thankfully, the writers hadn't forgotten the importance of one-off storylines too.

It now seems clear that season 5 will be remembered as the one in which something went awry with Daniel Jackson. Lots of behind-the-scenes rumors fueled the idea of cast tension, but whatever the problem, his sudden departure from the show was obviously through a quickly contrived scenario. Most shows go through a run-around, skin-of-their-teeth period awaiting renewal, and it certainly seems to have affected storylines this year. For example, a next generation of younger SG teams is introduced. The most unfortunate aspect, however, was that every single story was dependent on a part of the greater interwoven warring-species threads. Some of the one-off tales were terrific in and of themselves, but it was as if the writers fell into the trap of having to refer to as much backstory as possible, perhaps to ensure loose ends could be easily wrapped up? Ultimately none of this mattered since the show went on for quite a while.

The biggest change for the sixth season was its move to the Sci-Fi Channel. Financial rescue or genre haven from cancellation? With the addition of Daniel Jackson's replacement, Jonas Quinn, the new show dynamic (hinted at by the new title theme) meant far more convolutedly involved story arcs and less individual focus. One of very few solo spotlights came from Christopher Judge writing his own show, when "The Changeling" saw Teal'c act out a life as a fireman. There'd be several cameos through the year, culminating in a finale that relied on how much attention you'd been paying to that all-important back-story.

A gradual shift in overall style, character homecomings and departures, and evolving on- and off-screen roles for the major players are among the attractions of the seventh season. Perhaps most noticeable is the reduced role of star Richard Dean Anderson, who opted to limit his number of trips to Vancouver, where Stargate SG-1 is filmed. But that's not a bad thing. The show's ability to poke fun at itself has always been a strong suit, and while Anderson still brings a welcome sense of humor to his portrayal of wiseacre and loose cannon Col. Jack O'Neill, his act is getting a little smug by now. What's more, the other principal cast members have taken up the slack, both behind and in front of the camera: The seventh season also finds the series somewhat more earthbound than in the past; indeed, there are episodes in which the Stargate (the "wormhole" our heroes use to travel to different worlds) doesn't appear at all. On balance, the stories are more personal, and more political--especially the final two, with the newly elected U.S. President (William Devane) struggling to decide the fate of the Stargate program (and, of course, the fate of the entire known universe as well!). And then there's the ultimate villain, Anubis, who makes perennial nemeses the Goa'uld (of which Anubis is one... sort of) look tame. --Sam Graham and Paul Tonks ... Read more

Reviews (6)

confusion
I think it is amazing the amazon can't seem to get this right. Is it collections? Is it 2.1, 2.2, etc? I took a tip from other reviews and went to bestbuy and got what I want. It was more expensive, but my time is a premium to me. All I wanted was order. Good luck finding it here.

Confusion still rules
After spending more time than I would like to admit, on trying to figure out what combination of Andromeda Season 2 Volumes and or Collections I would have to order to end up with a complete Season 2, I stumbled upon the customer reviews for Season 2 Collection 4. I was amazed that people were having the same problem over 6 months ago. What is amazing is that Amazon has yet to fix the problem. I guess I'll give up like they did and buy this at Best Buy.

We want to know the EPISODE NUMBERS!
A couple of the reviews below pointed out why I didn't buy this from Amazon. I don't know what I'm getting. I know the EPISODE sequence of the show. I know what I don't have...I DON'T know that this collection will give me EP
The Dance of the Mayflies
In Heaven Now are Three
The Fair Unknown
Immaculate Perception
The Knight, Death and the Devil
And if I don't KNOW that I'm going to get it from Amazon I'm not buying from them.

I'll buy mine elsewhere
If Amazon isn't going to correct this problem then I'll purchase mine elsewhere.

Andromeda: Season 2, Collection 4
This is not so much a review as an explanation of the "error" described in the prior review posted by another customer. There is not really an "error" on the part of the manufacturer, but rather confusion in the way our partners at Amazon.com have chosen to list the products.

I have tried to explain this "problem" to Amazon's customer service group before, but failed to get the point across.

The Andromeda series is being offered up in two separate DVD "formats", if you will... One being in "volumes" which contain two episodes on a single DVD and the other being "collections" containing four or five episodes on two DVD's.

Amazon has mis-matched these and the listing for "collection" number four shows the cover art for "volume" four - this is why the episodes don't match.

Since I could not get Amazon Customer Service to acknowledge the problem and tell me which was the collection and which was the volume, I just bought the title at my local Best Buy.

It turned out the collections were cheaper at BB and with no shipping charges. ... Read more

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You have to love a TV program whose titles alone manage to evoke the Oldand New Testaments ("The First Commandment" and "Cold Lazarus," respectively),Shakespeare ("Brief Candle"), Norse mythology ("Thor's Hammer"), and more--andthose are just four of the episodes contained on this, the second disc ofStargate SG-1's first season. Yet, while stories dealing with the natureof fear ("Thor's Hammer"), the value of enjoying life, no matter how short("Brief Candle"), and other weighty issues certainly offer the potential forpretension, these largely manage to steer clear of it. As usual, the creatorshave spent their money on special effects rather than a lot of elaborate sets orenormous action pieces; there's also a refreshing emphasis on the stories, withtheir elements of humor, suspense, drama, and emotional resonance. Each episodehas a menu for selecting the different scenes; DVD bonus features are limited tolanguage and subtitle choices, along with a very slight, self-serving cast andcrew featurette. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (22)

Do NOT have secon thoughts about it...
Just think about it, you ae looking at a 6 stargate spisoides DVD with two of the most espectacular episoides ever shown in TV. With an outstanding storyline, audio, video and acting, the Stargate Series are becoming the next TV cult. This DVD in particular contains the episoides THE BROCA DIVIDE, THE FIRST COMMANDMENT, COLD LAZARUS, THE NOX, BRIEF CANDLE and THOR'S HAMMER. All Stargate Fans know that THE NOX and THOR'S HAMMER are two classics on the Stargate Series (crucial for the future development of the series), and if you don't know the story, this is your chance to understand why Stargate is becomming the next Star Trek (but far more better). Stargate is not only a grate "sience fiction advnture", but it also has done its reserch. Mithology and sience convine with an explosive outcome. This MGM TV Serie, goes beyond the unspectable, with more quality than series such as MGM's The Outer Limits or Poltergist. I seriously advice that you see first the Stargate SG-1 Season 1, Vol. 1: Episodes 1-3 (1997) DVD, which includes the episoides CHILDREN OF THE GODS, THE ENEMY WITHIN and EMANCIPATION, for a complete understanding of the story. You may understand it anyway, but I promise you will enjoy it better.

A great DVD for a great show.
Stargate SG1 is a great Science Fiction Adventure series featuring a great cast led by Richard Dean Anderson. Michael Shanks is actually better in the role of Daniel Jackson than James Spader was in the original movie. The special effects in the series are all top notch, and the scripts are well written. Stargate SG1 is closer in spirit to the original Star Trek series of the 60's than any of the recent Star Trek shows (that's not comparing quality, just style - although SG1 holds up very well to them quality wise). That sense of adventure from the original Star Trek series is present in SG1, but SG1 just has more modern sensibilities. The episodes on the DVD Vol 2 are all good, with Brief Candle and Thor's Hammer as standouts. This DVD is well worth buying, and I highly recommend it, but you may also want to consider the Box Set of season 1. That's a great package. But you get great value with Vol 2 on its own as well (5 episodes on this disc). Either way - BUY IT! You will not regret it.

SG-1 Box sets
great show, great special effects, great stories, great actors!
my only GRIPE, being hearing impared is that there are no english subtitles for the hearing impared!!!This is a real bummer of an oversight as most dvd's have this feature and that is the reason most hearing impared people buy dvd's. please correct this deficency promply and if possible exchange the deficient sets for us. thanks for listening.

Richard Dean Anderson proves (repeatedly) that he can act
I think it is useful to remember that when you are looking at the first season of any series that the writing staff spends a lot of time getting everything set up in the pilot and then off of the various premises they have established they start spinning off stories. This means that everybody is writing episodes without having seen any, which explains why it takes a show a while to get going after a strong pilot. You will see that this is the case in the five episodes from Season 1 of "Stargate SG-1" that are collected here on Volume 2. The results are certainly not bad as they explore some ideas basic to the premise of the series, but this series really hits stride in the second half of this first season and finishes very strongly. The biggest common denominator for this set is that most of the episodes showcase the acting ability of Richard Dean Anderson, who gets to do a lot more than crack jokes in a sardonic manner. So just keep in mind that the pilot was good, that the best is yet to come, and that these are still enjoyable episodes and one of them is very good:

Episode 4, "Broco Divide" (Written by Jonathan Glassner, Aired August 15, 1997) has SG-1 visiting a planet when the people are divided into the "Touched" and the "Untouched." When the team returns home they discover that they have contracted the disease of the "Touched," which has General Hammond (Don S. Davis) and Doctor Frasier (Teryl Rothery) in a state of near panic. Although the problem of contagion is rarely as "real" consideration in these shows, this episode does deal with the problem and gives Jack O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) an opporunity to get primitive. 4 Stargates.

Episode 5, "The First Commandment" (Written by Robert C. Cooper, Aired August 22, 19977) has SG-1 going off on a rescue mission for a pair of members from SG-9. The planet has sunlight that is practically lethal and has caused Captain Jonas Hanson (William Russ) to go insane. Hanson has declared himself a god and is working the natives to death in a quest for something he insists will save them all. This is one of those episodes where the idea is something that "Stargate SG-1" wants to get around to, but the fifth episode is a bit early to play this card. 3 Stargates.

Episode 6, "Brief Candle" (Story by Steven Barnes, Teleplay by Katharyn Powers, Aired September 19, 1997) is one of those episodes when our heroes show up in a paradise and discover the place is more of a hell. On this planet people live at an accelerated rate and live their lives in terms of days and not years. O'Neill becomes afflicted by the nanocytic virus that afflicts the local populace and begins to age rapidly. The question of why some aliens would think this was an ideal way for people to live becomes secondary to Anderson's performance. 4 Stargates.

Episode 7, "Cold Lazarus" (Written by Jeffery F. King, Aired August 29, 1977) is the best episode on this set. After O'Neill is injured touchign a blue crystal on a mission an alien comes through the Stargate impesonating the Colonel and goes to see his ex-wife (Harley Jane Kozak). This is one of those episodes where you wonder what is going on and the payoff to the mystery is worth the wait. 5 Stargates.

Episode 8, "Thor's Hammer" (Written by Katharyn Powers, Aired September 26, 1997) takes SG-1 to the planet Cimmeria (where Robert E. Howard's Conan the Barbarian hailed) where they encoutner a Viking-like culutre that worships Thor, god of thunder, and his big hammer. Meanwhile they meet a woman who once had a Goa'uld but it now free of the parasite, which might have some significance for Teal'c (Christopher Judge), who has an encounter with Unas, the first Goa'uld. This is an episode where the stuff about the Goa'uld is interesting but the Viking stuff is rather unnecessary. But, again, remember this is the first season and the idea that the people on the planets you can reach through the Stargate originally came from Earth thousands of years ago has all the writers picking their favorite ancient cultures. 4 Stargates.

You will notice that the airdates are out of order. I have no explanation for why this does not jive with the episode numbers presented here, but I will offer the observation that the obvious result is to put three solid acting performances by Richard Dean Anderson on this one DVD. Of course, this makes it seem like the whole point of "Stargate SG-1" is to see what they new makeup job they can make their star endure each week, but I can assure you that is not the dominant theme of the first season. I would rate this disc 4.5 stars if they would let me.

Good disc, but loses points for no extras
I won't go into a rehash of the series plot, but this disc sets up some of the later storylines. If you are a fan of the series, you need this disc. If you are just getting into the series, you need this disc.

The video quality is good, everthing looked sharp and clean when I was watching it. Likewise audio is good, but is you have a good setup you might be disappointed in only having a Dolby 2.0 audio track.

What disc fails at is in the extra's department. Having only a featurette on the disc just isn't enough anymore. Maybe a episode with a commentary track would be good, or a who's who of the universe. Something other than a long commerical for the series. One other thing that bothers me is the lack of subtitles. The only way to have them is to turn on closed captioning which is kind of annoying.

Equipment used:
Sony Playstation 2 DVD player
Phillips 21" televsion ... Read more

Reviews (13)

Two more must-see episodes
This Side of Paradise-Yet another excellent episode, this one concerns a planet where plant spores have caused an epidemic of joyful inebriation. Like many of the best early shows, the slow pacing here allows a sense of mystery to develop before the hook is revealed to us. This is one of the more convincing of the 'Enterprise in danger' episodes, but it is more than that. The plot device enables several crew members to flesh out their characters, most notably Leonard Nimoy. It is difficult not to feel angry at Kirk as he goads Spock with racial slurs, even as we understand why he says what he does. Certainly the conflict between the happiness provided by drugs and alcohol on the one hand vs. their 'unnatural' tendency to hinder personal development and achievement is as resonant today as it was in 1967. (4.5 stars)

Devil In the Dark-Yet another in the string on winning episodes, this one concerns a conflict between miners and a silicon-based life form. This unusual episode has a strong element of suspense, since we are not only trying to figure out just what's happening, but also worried about what lurks in the dark tunnels. The episode is more than just suspenseful though. Themes explored include the rights of all creatures to survival, and the mammal bias inherent in our notions of both ugliness and maternal love. Star Trek must have been one of the first shows to devote so much thought to ecological/environmental questions, which like so many themes explored by Star Trek has only grown in importance. More research is of course devoted today than ever before to boundary conflicts, and more generally to finding ways to balance our human resource needs with the survival of other species.

Tidbit: William Shatner's father died during the production of this episode. (4.5 stars)

Alien Encounters
Volume 13 of Paramount's complete Star Trek reissue contains two episodes long popular with fans.

This Side of Paradise is known primarily as the episode where Spock falls in love. This sensitive story was written by D. C. Fontana, who wrote many of the series' best scripts. Spock had been mostly asexual since the beginning of the series, but when Leonard Nimoy began to receive large quantities of fan mail, the writers decided to come up with a romance for Spock. This episode allows Nimoy to stretch his acting muscles and prove he can do more than merely raise his eyebrow. Seeing Spock come under the influence of the alien spores ("I love you. I can love you.") and finally escape his self-imposed purgatory of logic is akin to watching a butterfly escape from its cocoon. The scene with Kirk alone on the abandoned bridge is a searing portrait of the loneliness of command, excellently acted by Shatner.

William Shatner has referred to The Devil in The Dark as his favorite episode. It's easy to see why: the story, dealing with the crew encountering a new life form which makes the crew reconsider their actions, summarizes everything that Star Trek is about. The timelessness of the story makes it possible to overlook the rather dated Horta costume. This episode was also close to Shatner's heart for a very different reason: while filming the Horta mind-meld scene with Leonard Nimoy, he was notified that his father had passed away. Ever the professional, and knowing that he would not be able to catch a flight for several hours, Shatner refused to abandon that day's filming--although the scene remained unfinished until he returned from his father's funeral. Nimoy remained at his side for the remainder of the day, which cemented their relatively new friendship. Fortunately, there are no continuity problems resulting from the break in filming. In a reversal of the norm, Shatner underplays his performance during Spock's agonizing mild-meld with the Horta, allowing Nimoy to shine.

The picture has never looked better, with great colors and flesh tones, particularly in the outdoor scenes. The sound has been remastered in multichannel stereo.

Pure 60¿s cheese, as you like it
"This Side of Paradise" - 3.865 stars

(a.k.a., "James T. Kirk: Wet Blanket")

"For the first time in my life, I was happy" - so says Mr. Spock, when asked to comment upon his experience on Omicron Ceti III. Of course, the duty-bound Joe Friday of space, Captain Kirk, would have none of this nonsense. Perfect health? Bah! Peace? Hooey! Love? He'd rather fight than switch. What a creep. "Man was meant to struggle" Kirk/Friday somberly intones, perfectly embodying the hair shirt anti-pleasure ethic. Living in harmony with nature and one another bad; tearing up the landscape to "accomplish" (i.e., build more starships to endlessly repeat the process) good.

Don't ever invite this guy to a party, unless you want it to end.

"The Devil in the Dark"- 2.135 stars

(a.k.a., "Super Smackdown with The Rock")

Our heroes are summoned to a Federation mining operation on Janus VI that is being troubled by one man-eating monster, and quite a few bad actors. Well, they've got quotas to meet, mister, and production is suffering. Who cares about environmental rape - hey, that's what other planets are for! Shoes for industry! The creature looks like a heapin' helpin' of Hamburger Helper dumped on a chenille rug, and man is it ticked off. Good thing Spock can connect because, unlike most of the other aliens in the Star Trek universe, it's English-speaking skills are lacking.

It's writing skills, however, are surprisingly good.

Spores & Aliens
"This Side of Paradise" A planet laced with plants that shoot out spores which make everyone happy & content infects the crew of the Enterprise. How will they break free?

"Devil in the Dark" An underground monster is killing a bunch of miners. Why? Watch & find out.

Mmmm... Meat Loaf...
REVIEWED ITEM: Star Trek® Original Series DVD Volume 13: This Side of Paradise© / The Devil In The Dark©

THIS SIDE OF PARADISE© PRELIMINARY BRIEFS:

Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: "Man stagnates if he has no ambition, no desire to be more than what he is"- Captain Kirk

Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: None

REVIEW/COMMENTARY: All I can say is, it's about time Spock be mackin' the-mad hottie-of-the-week instead of the charming Captain Kirk! Especially entertaining is the setup to this little romantic romp: the official Star Trek love theme starts up, followed by alternating reaction shots of guest-star Jill Ireland (as the crush-ridden Leila Kalomi) and Mr. Spock as they stare at each other in "that way"! Well, actually she stares in "that way"; Spock looks a bit confused by it all. But don't worry, he'll come around! A nice touch to this initial scene is the gentle glowing aura surrounding the love-struck lady! Kudos to the show's lighting department for getting this effect just right!

The real fun begins when Spock cops a whiff of some intoxicating flower spores, which cause him to become a way-too-cheerful ball of sickly-sweet happiness who is now deeply in love with Charles Bronson's future wife. He also acquires a penchant for literally hanging out on tree limbs like he was some kinda monkey! Ironically, for a man who's no longer afraid to show his emotions, Nimoy didn't put much feeling into his character's dialogue here. Fortunately, Jimmers finds out how to relieve Spock's (and subsequently everyone else exposed to the spores, including the entire ship's crew) newfound dorkiness by making insulting remarks to his face regarding his mom and dad, with a few racial slurs thrown in for good measure! But before Jimmers can bring the Spockster around, he has to snap outta his own little trip to La-La-Land. He manages this with his angered utterance of "I... Can't... LEAVE!", spoken in that distinctive manner that has become a staple of many a second-rate standup act! Adding to this scene's funkiness, our beloved captain's face is illuminated in a spooky quasi-fluorescent, light-blue hue! Needless to say, the dramatic lighting department was in rare form for this eppie!

Another memorable lowlight to goof on here: Dr. McCoy breaking into a way-too-overdone Deep South accent after his exposure to the happy-spores. I am aware that DeForest Kelley hails from Georgia, but never the less his character's drawl was a bit too much, even for a native southerner! Adding to the overdone good-ol'-boy charm is his concoction of a mint julep! Sheesh, why doesn't he just break out the grits and pickled pigs' feet while he's at it!

THE DEVIL IN THE DARK© PRELIMINARY BRIEFS:

Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: Don't mess with Mom!

Historical Milestone: Spock's first mind-meld with a non-humanoid life form

Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: 1 Dead, 3 Incapacitated

REVIEW/COMMENTARY: 'Devil' features one of the most entertaining cheeseball moments in Star Trek history: Spock's mind-meld with the rock-creature-thingy! His anguished utterances of pain and sorrow are very similar to Counselor Troi's little trances whenever she uses her empathic abilities to check out the entity-of-the-week's emotional state on NextGen. Speakin' of emotional states, am I the only person who gets a hankerin' for meat loaf (no, not the singer, silly!) whenever I grab a glimpse of the creature-thingy? I can't be the only one...

Another especially goofy scene-well, several scenes, actually-- are the reaction shots of the doomed miners and/or red-shirts right before they get toasted by the vengeful creature. Most of 'em seem to have enough time to get off a phaser shot or two before they start to feel the burn, but instead they spend their last two seconds of life all petrified and screaming like the total sissies they are (were?)! These amusing moments reminded me of the death-by-steam-roller scene in 'Austin Powers'! Actually, a better parallel would be the death of Darth Maul in 'Star Wars Episode I'! In any case, it appears the average human's reflexes in the face of certain doom ain't gonna improve all that much in the next three hundred years...

'Late ... Read more

Reviews (46)

Nothing gets me more in the XMas Spirit than this movie !!
This is my favorite Holiday movie. From the first time I saw this dark comedy six years ago, I have enjoyed it year after year. Nora Ephron did a wonderful job taking something as tragic as a Suicide Hotline on Christmas Eve and turning it into something funny. Of course the subject of suicide itself is far from funny, and if you cant get past that, then you probably wont like this movie (although the movie doesnt dwell on that subject too much).

But this film keeps it light with lots of subplots, an outrageous cast including Steve Martin, Madeline Khan (who is hysterically convincing as the uptight Mrs. Munchnick), Adam Sandler, Rita Wilson (in her best performance to date), Tony LaPaglia, Liev Schreiber (very funny in drag), and others.

The music is very upbeat, the plot is fast-paced and there is a great blend of subtle humor (Khan insisting on increasing the suicide tote board by one number arguing that "even though the person calling did not seem suicidal 'he or she may have become suicidal had they not called the hotline'") and in-your-face humor (Martin dancing (against his will) with Schreiber-in-drag and ensuring that he keeps his body as far away from Schreibers as possible, that is, until he, Martin, realizes that he is actually enjoying himself).

The other great thing about this movie is that it can actually make the normal holiday blues seem not nearly as bad when you compare them to some of the problems that these characters encounter ........ and still they're able to find the true meaning of the holiday and have a happy Christmas.

Needless to say, I highly recommend this film.

Dave

Twisted sense of humor.
I laughed all the way through this movie. It has a definite WARPED sense of humor, so be prepared. Either you'll love it, or hate it. I chose to love it.

All the characters are great in this film. I always enjoy Steve Martin, and he was quite amusing and clever in this movie. Rita Wilson (Tom Hank's real life wife) is quite delightful as Martin's lovely but underappreciated coworker (and potential love interest). The late Madeline Kahn is my particular favorite--she has the most sharp and clever sense of humor, and her talents are displayed well in this movie.

There are plenty of other future stars in this film (Adam Sandler, Jon Stewart, and so on) and they all do well in their parts.

The story goes awry during the last 20 minutes or so, so suspend your disbelief. It isn't supposed to make sense, or be realistic. (Or at least, it ought not be!) It's just a bizarre and funny movie. There's also lot of gallows humor here, so be warned, and just allow yourself to appreciate it!

Christmas on Venice Beach is certainly a unique experience in this movie!

It is not that bad
I don't know why does almost everybody hate this movie. I think that's pretty funny.
The cast is excellent and the plot is so morbid that you can just laugh. I did. It was a kind of Married with children (with Al Bundy)-story because the movie wasn't so sweet like a candy...and we have several candy-chistmas films so I think is was time to do another type-movie as well.

So if you like something different and you can accept that chistmas is not the same for everybody, then buy it.

Christmas is more fun if you are a little warped
Mixed Nuts grows on you IF you have a quirky sense of humor. Yes, there are parts that grate, annoy, and perturb, and there are other parts that will delight you. No matter how often I watch this, I love the musical intro to the film with all the scenes around Venice, with a bum wrapped up like a candy cane, an angelic girl's choir waiting on a bus bench, a skating snowman, and the bad-tempered roller bladers. Madeline Kahn gets some of the greatest lines, rapping "I'm stuck inna' elevator" with a Christmas toy, trying to make enough racket so that someone will come to her rescue. Once rescued, she races to the bathroom in urgent need, only to find that the self-indulgent and pregnant Juliette Lewis has locked herself in it. Finally the girl opens the door and everyone topples in. Madeline next turns up on the john, holding a bath towel as a privacy screen, as she shares her private moment with everyone else.

The world is a sadder place without Madeline Kahn in it. She makes a sad, lonely and bitter woman lovable in the end.

Nora Ephron assembled a cast and characters that cannot exist in real life...except that I walked past a local shop of oddities and such, with the proprietress busy arranging a wide assortment of rummage, and I realized that it was the Juliette Lewis character come to life, even aged appropriately since the movie's date. I whispered "Mixed Nuts" to my husband, and he got the joke immediately.

Now we're watching for that pink-wrapped fruitcake.

Put your tongue in your cheek, have some eggnog & enjoy!
White Christmas, A Wonderful Life, and Mixed Nuts are can't miss classics in our household. Sure, it doesn't meet the historical significance of the first two, but for a light hearted and wacky Christmas movie with a different twist and campy performances from a well known cast (some up and coming at the time such as Adam Sandler and Jon Stewart), have another eggnog, sit back and enjoy! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Scattered through the five episodes contained on this fourth DVD from Stargate SG-1's first season are echoes of such science fiction classics as The Terminator (the cyborgs in "Tin Man"), Aliens (Carter's maternal instincts in "Singularity"), and Planet of the Apes (the story twist in "Solitudes"), along with such popular themes as cloning ("Tin Man" again) and the might-makes-right preoccupation of the military ("Enigma"). So the show is derivative. Stargate SG-1 still does a better job than most of creating engaging stories--such as "Cor-ai," which deals with issues of retribution and forgiveness when Teal'c (Christopher Judge) is put on trial for his actions when he was still a Goa'uld henchman. And let's face it: the effect of going into and through the gate itself never gets old. What is lacking are superior DVD bonus materials; here they include a featurette spotlighting Carter (Amanda Tapping) and an overview of the show that provides more promo than the promised behind-the-scenes insights. --Sam Graham ... Read more

Reviews (3)

The apex of the first season of "Stargate SG-1"
Volume 4 is the best single DVD out for Season 1 of "Stargate SG-1," which you will discover in due course after you have gone through the pilot movie and the episodes on the previous three discs. When the series begins its 8th season next year it will become the second longest running science fiction television series in the history of the universe (people keep guessing "Star Trek: The Next Generation" is number one but the answer is "The X-Files"), and such longevity is not a surprise given how great a first season they put together:

Episode 14, "Cor-ai" (Written by Tom J. Astle, Aired January 23, 1998) finds O'Neill (Richard Dean Anderson) and the SG-1 team traveling to P3X1279, which Teal'c (Christopher Judge) announces is Chartago, one of the favorite worlds from which the Goa'ulds like to gather human hosts for their larvae. Unfortunately, one of the locals, Hanno (David McNally) recognizes Teal'c as the Jaffa who killed his father. For this crime Teal'c stands trial. O'Neill and Carter try to defend their friend, but Teal'c freely admits to having killed Hanno's father and seems resigned to his fate. The outcome is rather predictable, but the key conflict here ends up being not between Hanno and Teal'c but between Teal'c and O'Neill. 4 Stargates.

Episode 15, "Singularity (Written by Robert C. Cooper, Aired October 31, 1997) has the SG-1 team traveling to P8X987 where another SG team had been getting ready to observe a black hole. But when they get there a strange disease has killed everyone on the planet except for a little girl named Cassandra (Katie Stuart ). Carter (Amanda Tapping) brings Cassandra back to Earth and the two quickly establish a strong bond. That is why Carter is upset when they learn that Cassandra's chest pains are caused by a metallic device growing around the child's heart. The device was planted by the Goa'uld to destroy the Stargate on Earth and as the bomb counts down to detonation Carter has to make some tough choices. This is a gut wrenching episode that gives Tapping a chance to shine as her character's emotions and intellect come colliding together over a frightened little girl. The resolution of this episode does justice to both. 5 Stargates.

Episode 16, "Enigma" (Written by Katharyn Powers, Aired January 30, 1998) sends SG-1 to Tollan, a planet with an erupting volcano and dead bodies all around its Stargate. The team rescues the few survivors they can find but back on Earth the Tollans are not at all grateful. Omoc (Tobin Bell), their leader, dismisses Earth as a primitive society and wants to be sent to a suitably advanced world. He also refuses to say anything about his people's advanced technology, which is a constant source of pressure from above on General Hammond (Don S. Davis). It seems that once upon a time the Tollan shared their technology with a planet like Earth, which then destroyed itself. SG-1 has encountered relatively few advanced races on its trips to date, so dealing with the Tollan is a welcomed change of pace and underscore the pressures from up high that will set up the cliffhanger to the first season. "Enigma" offers up another satisfactory resolution and shows that the story editors are paying attention to what has been going on. 4.5 Stargates.

Episode 17, "Tin Man" (Written by Jeff King, Aired February 13, 1998) begins with the members of SG-1 being dropped by an electrical charge as soon as they arrive on PX3989. They wake up to find Harlan (Jay Brazeau), a strange little fellow who claims to be 11,000 years old and is the only one of his people left in this giant underground lab. SG-1 returns home, over Harlan's objections, and are stunned when Dr. Frasier (Teryl Rother) finds they are all machines. O'Neill finds this particularly hard to swallow because he still thinks he is himself. To make things worse, they have to return to Harlan's world before they run out of power or end up dead. Back on PX3989 they discover that Harlan is also an android (or robot or whatever) and that he has done this to help him take care of the lab and to ease his loneliness. This is another episode where I am impressed by Richard Dean Anderson, who brings some nice nuances to O'Neill as a robot (or android) that thinks he is human. The final scene on this one is a hoot. 4.5 Stargates.

Episode 18, "Solitudes" (Written by Brad Wright, Aired February 6, 1998) finds the Stargate malfunctioning when SG-1 is retreating from a shootout on a hostile planet. Daniel Jackson and Teal'c make it back home, but O'Neill and Carter end up in an icy cavern on an unknown planet. O'Neill has suffered a broken leg and punctured lung, which means it is up to Carter to find and repair the Stargate so they can get back to Stargate Command, where Dr. Jackson is trying to narrow the odds on where rescue teams should look to find their comrades. Another classic episode with Tapping and Anderson working off each other all alone somewhere out there. 5 Stargates.

The common denominator on these episodes is that with the exception of the first one they all over very impressive resolutions to the dilemmas confronting our band of adventurers. I especially liked the twist on the last one. If Volume 2 showcased the acting talents of Richard Dean Anderson, then Amanda Tapping is the one who has the two standout performances in this quintet (and we still have the cliffhanger for the first season left to go).

Another must see for late comers
All of these episodes are winners & are great viewing. In addition, three of the episodes on this DVD contain background stories of characters who have shown up in more recent seasons. With 5 episodes on this DVD you can't go wrong buying it! Lots of good viewing for the money.
1. Cor-ai - Teal'c on trial for war crimes. An interesting plot & good story line.
2. Singularity - the background story of Cassandra, the girl who shows up in season 6 as a telepathic teenager.
3. Enigma - introduction of the Tollan people & Nareen, who figure prominently into later episodes.
4. Tin Man - Harlan, a lonely sole survivor of an alien race transfers the SG-1 team into androids. Harlan & the androids also show up in a later season.
5. Solitudes - Carter & O'Neill are trapped inside an "ice planet" when the gate malfunctions during their return to Earth. "Cool" ending, (pun intended), and an enjoyable episode. Also introduces some possibilities for other stories that haven't been explored yet.
Featurette on Capt. Carter was typical "bonus material." No real insights or new information. Behind the Scenes Feature was some better. Don't buy it for the bonus material, buy it for the shows.

Great Cast & show
This has been a great series cant wait for the rest of the seasons to come out. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Looking to stay busy and useful in her latter days, GraceMcQueen (Jessica Tandy) discovers the wonders of cable-access TV and starts her ownshow, reading stories for kids whose parents are too busy to pay them enough attention.A rising TV exec and single mom (Stephanie Zimbalist)realizes "the Story Lady" could advance her career--and maybe help her connectwith her own daughter.This film has a lot in common with Miracle on34th Street--both revolve around Christmas and both explore that uneasy middle ground in which children's dreams collide with modern commerce. Like the original 1947 Miracle, The Story Lady tells its story with heartfelt sincerity, while avoiding the mawkishness that marred the '94 remake of Miracle.Tandy brings a bit of spice to her role as "ideal grandma," and she's surrounded by a cast full of top pros,including Charles Durning in an unbilled cameo.Production design and directing clearly mark this as a made-for-TV movie, and you can see the plot points coming, but there's something very charming and true about it.Trivia factoid:That'sJessica Tandy's real-life daughter, Tandy Cronyn, playing her daughter in the film. --Geof Miller ... Read more

Description

"A Private Little War," Ep. 45 - Kirk and company beam down to a primitive planet visited by Kirk 13 years ago. But some of the once-peaceful natives now have sophisticated weapons, courtesy of the Klingons. "The Gamesters of Triskelion," Ep. 46 - Kirk, Uhura and Chekov are enslaved on the planet Triskelion. There they are trained in the art of combat so that their unseen masters, the "Providers," can make wagers on the outcome. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

One winner, one loser
A Private Little War-This underrated 'cold war' episode featuring a gorilla-unicorn, is another taught thriller from the second season. In addition to the non-stop action (shootings, Mugatu bites, Klingon intrigue, etc.) we have a well-reasoned ethical debate about the dual perils of intervention and non-intervention by a superpower. Kirk even acknowledges some ambivalence about the arming of the Hill people (think Vietnam) at the end of the show. Other pluses in this episode are the culture of the planet, as well as Nona. Her healing scene with Shatner is pretty racy, even by today's standards. (4 stars)

The Gamesters of Triskelion-This episode, in which the enslaved crew are forced by giant brains to engage in arena combat, was a big step down from prior episodes. In fact, I would argue that the drop in quality attributed to the 3rd season really started here; only one of ten remaining second season shows was truly strong (A Piece of the Action). I for one would take the first ten shows of the 3rd season over the remaining ten from the second season.

But that's another story. The Gamesters of Triskelion is a very nasty episode. In addition to violence for it's own sake, there is the strong suggestion that Uhura is violated as the show fades to commercial. It's really unforgivable that the subject is never adressed in the rest of the episode. We also have one of the true bimbos of Trek in the nubile Shana, who is made to utter some truly stupid lines. There isn't much going for this episode; with a bit less action, it would belong in the latter part of season three.

Tidbit: Angelique Pettijohn, who played Shana, went on to adult film fame. (2 stars)

"Cheek-ooff... that's a nice name..."
REVIEWED ITEM: Star Trek® Original Series DVD Volume 23: a Private Little War © / The Gamesters of Triskelion ©

A PRIVATE LITTLE WAR © PRELIMINARY BRIEFS:

Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: Maintaining a balance of power to preserve both sides; cultural contamination

Notable Gaffe/Special Defect: In the long shots of Kirk battling the mugato, it's fairly apparent that the good captain has been replaced with a stunt stand-in.

Historical Milestone: The first (and so far the only) appearance of the dreaded mugato!

Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: None

REVIEW/COMMENTARY:

There ain't too much I can say 'bout this particular show, mainly 'cuz I had quite a bit o' trouble tryin' to figure what to discuss and opine about! All I can say is that the healing ceremony scene between Nona and Jimmers after the mugato attack seems almost- well, kinda naughty, if you get my drift. It's a scene that lends credence to those Hollywood legends regarding Gene Roddenberry's libido, and how he'd try to write subtle (and sometimes not-so-subtle) sexual undertones into his work. Then again, it could just be some amazing coincidence. Yeah, RIGHT...

Oh yes- Spock manages to recover from a gunshot wound that would've been fatal had he been fully human. That's right, kiddies- you're treated to yet another showcase of his amazingly different (and highly resilient) anatomy that the show's writers loved to exploit at least three times a season! I guess you could say that Spock is the Timex of Star Trek: he takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'!

THE GAMESTERS OF TRISKELION © PRELIMINARY BRIEFS:

Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: The folly of complacency; the human need for freedom; humanity's strange duality of both propensity for and abhorrence of violence

Notable Gaffe/Special Defect: Kirk is strangling a monstrous, saber-toothed humanoid with a leather strap. But if you take a close look at the piece of strap that's visible between Kirk's hands, you'll notice that it's completely slack!

Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: None

REVIEW/COMMENTARY:

The beginning of this particular eppie features one of the more memorable crew-versus-heavies hand-to-hand combat scenes. Al I'll say about it, is that it's reminiscent of somethin' you'd see on a WWE® pay-per-view event- just not as realistic. The three-on-one death match at the climax is also filled with some delightfully cheeseball moments of mayhem!

As you might expect: leave it up to Jimmers to get the ET babe-of-the-week as his drill thrall (sortuva gladiatorial DI) after he, Uhura and Chekov get captured by a trio of disembodied brains! And speaking of Jimmers, much of the entire show is one hammy bit of Shatnerian method acting after another! Watch his exaggerated look of surprised pain as he's punished repeatedly by his captors for his insolence! Watch him work on his drill thrall Shahna with that wonderfully herky-jerky delivery of lines (Jim, you smoothie, you)! And to top things off, he gets in top form as he lays down the big wager to his gray-matter-laden antagonists! How... can-you-NOT... enJOY-that?

Oh, how can I forget to mention one of old-school Trek's greatest intentional bits o' humor? Watch Chekov get somewhat fidgety and very uncomfortable over the attention his drill thrall (a rather... imposing alien female) is throwing at him! Hey, them's the risks ya takes when ya put that there uniform on, ya know?

'Late

Kirk battles Klingons for a planet's Hearts and Minds
This is another great Trek pairing.

"A Private Little War" is Trek's take on what was then our expanding participation in Viet Nam. Here, Kirk and crew journey to an idyllic Eden of a world populated by noble nomads and settled villagers and, unfortunately for everybody, fair game for the Klingon empire. Though barely on the edge of the industrial revolution, villagers are now armed with flintlocks, and have engaged in a genocidal war against the nomads -a noble band led by the heroic Tyree. A close friend of Kirk's on his last sojourn their, Tyree allows Kirk to hide within his tribe while he and McCoy investigate Klingon backing of the villagers. Spock is unluckily struck by one of the primitive flintlocks and spends much of the episode in the Enterprise's ICU. Down below, between ducking Klingon's, Kirk and McCoy bitterly debate the morality of bringing the tribes into technological parity with the villagers, with Kirk in favor of giving Tyree's people a fighting chance, and McCoy arguing how that would only prolong a bloody and suicidal war (almost a completely win-win situation for the Klingons).

This was a great episode, deftly referring both to Viet Nam and treatment of indigenous tribes in 19th century America. McCoy especially shines in his moments arguing with the Captain, while the script gives Kirk the coldly logical position normally reserved for Spock (it would probably have been too cold; perhaps that's why they had him shot down in the opening scene). Also look for 1960's TV fixture Nancy Kovack as Nona, Tyree's bewitching wife. Kovack had a recurring role as Darrin Steven's former flame on "Bewitched", exposing her to all sorts of nose-twitching witchcraft. As Nona, a "Kunutu" woman, she now gets to cast the spells.

"Gamesters of Triskelion" is perfectly campy Trek, with Kirk, Uhura and Chekov kidnapped during transport by a highly advanced race of beings (is there any other kind?) called "Providers" who force Kirk and crew to battle in mortal combat with other kidnapped aliens (one of them, a beautiful humanoid who's wicked in the ring). You'd think the Providers would have long tired of the repetitious gaming (they bet using "quatloos", but you never see one) and would have long settled on developing the slaves to try living normal lives as a more amusing form of entertainment. "Gamesters" is campy trek, using interior sets (even for outdoor scenes) and featuring Shatner in full "lounge mode" as he courts his fellow prisoner. One caveat though, this episode features a moment in which Uhura is assaulted just out of camera shot. It's very suggestive, but by the end of the episode, there's just about no closure. It was perhaps a bit too campy for its own good.

TWO DIFFERENT TYPES OF GREAT STAR TREK EPISODES!
Two of Star Trek's second season episodes that are quite memorable appear on the Volume 23 of this DVD collection. One tackles a huge issue of the 60's while the other is just a classic Star Trek episode.

A PRIVATE LITTLE WAR obviously attacks the Vietnam War issue that plagued the world at the time (the late 60's). This had been attempted to a lesser extent in the earlier episode FRIDAY'S CHILD. However A PRIVATE LITTLE WAR is far more successful at getting the message across. Kirk and McCoy arrive at a peaceful primitive planet which Kirk had visited years earlier. However upon their arrival they find the planet has been divided and they're using flintlocks. As it turns out the Klingons have been supplying villagers with weapons to kill tribesmen. One of these tribesmen is Tyree a good friend of Kirk's from years earlier. As Kirk tries to help he realizes that he is violating the prime directive. And in the end the peaceful Tyree even falls into the hatred and bloodshed when his manipulative wife Nona is murdered by villagers. This episode ends on a real down note. For it is extremely tragic what happens to this peaceful planet because of the Federation and Klingons. It really relates to the Vietnam war when you think about it. This episode is one of the more serious Star Trek outings however the Mugatu ape beast is somewhat cheesy looking and so this episode does have a few funny moments. There is a great lesson to be learned from A PRIVATE LITTLE WAR but it's never been a personal favourite of mine. It is a good episode though.

The other one here is the classic GAMESTERS OF TRISKELION. I am greatly suprised at the amount of negative reviews for this episode however. I always found this to be one of Star Trek's finest and a true classic. Kirk, Chekov, and Uhura are abducted by superior beings and forced to fight "drill thralls" in a gladiator like fashion. The superior beings (known as the Providers) end up being talking brains that bid over these gladiator battles. This episode has tons of colourful characters including a beautiful green haired humanoid named Shahna whom Kirk falls in love with (kinda predictible huh?). Meanwhile Spock and the Enterprise crew search for the missing crew members until they are captured when they find them. The episode ends in Kirk making a bet with the providers if he can defeat three drill thralls the providers will let everyone go free and Kirk and his crew may return to the Enterprise and if he fails the entire Enterprise crew will be forced to become part of these gladiator games. I dunno if that was the best bet for Cpt. Kirk to make but he was successful and thats what's important. I have always loved this episode it is a classic. It is a typical 'superior beings play with inferior beings' episode but the gladiator fight scenes have to be watched! It's memorable!

Overall I highly recommend Volume 23. It has two great episodes from Star Trek's second season, one tragic and one classic but both are great. Highly recommended!

Kirk having a couple of bad days making key decisions
If there is a theme to the pair of Star Trek episodes found on Volume 23 of the DVD series, then it would have to be highly questionable decisions made by Captain Kirk. In "A Private Little War," Kirk returns to a planet he surveyed 13 years earlier to visit a peaceful little village and is surprised to find the Hill People. When he discovers they are fighting with flintlocks instead of bows and arrows, Kirk becomes suspicious. But before he can investigate further the captain is attacked by a mugato and only Nona, the Kahn-ut-tu of his old friend Tyree, can save him. Eventually Kirk learns the Klingons are arming the Village People and decides to achieve a balance of power by giving the Hill People flintlocks. But Tyree does not want to give up his peaceful ways and McCoy thinks Kirk is violating the Prime Directive. "A Private Little War" is one of the most thoughtful Star Trek episodes dealing with the problematic Prime Directive, although Kirk has an easy out since the Klingons are already interfering. But there is an inherent sense of sadness to what has happened to the people on this planet.

But Kirk's decision-making ability takes a turn for the worst in the next episode on this disc. "The Gamesters of Triskelion" is another one of those episodes where superior beings play with the crew of the Enterprise for their own amusement. Kirk, Uhura and Chekov suddenly disappear from the Enterprise to find themselves being held captive by a being named Galt who informs them they are not thralls, who will fight others for the amusement of the Providers, who are just a bunch of brains looking for a good time. When the Enterprise shows up and the Providers decide the humans should be destroyed, Kirk offers a wager: if he can beat three thralls then the Enterprise goes free; but if he loses the Enterprise crew will beam down and be the Providers play things. I guess sometimes the needs of the one (or the three) outweighs the needs of the many. But, seriously, this has got to be the worst decision in Kirk's career as he risk enslaving his entire crew! Just contrast this with all the times Kirk told the Enterprise to save themselves and leave him to his fate. Of course, they never listened, but that is not the point here. "The Gamesters of Triskelion" is a below average episode; even without Kirk's stupid wager we have seen this type of thing done before and done much better (e.g., "The Squire of Gothos"), although I must admit the chessboard fighting area is kind of cool. ... Read more

Description

Jimmy. Dave. Sean.Friends who grew up in working-class Boston, they drifted apart afer a terrible tragedy.Year later, brutal events reconnect them. ... Read more

Reviews (304)

NOT Eastwood's best...
...that title remains with Unforgiven.

Mystic river is a good movie, not a great one. It has a great story and great characters - with a good screenplay by Brian Helgeland, based on Dennis Lehane's book. The directing is solid, while not really bringing anything special to the film, yet pacing it prefectly in building the tension around the murder.

What is outstanding about this film is the acting. Sean Penn gives yet another inspired performance as a working class father from Boston who just lost his oldest daughter to a horrific murder. Although the scenes that most people seem to remember (and that are shown in the trailer) show his *exaggerated* response to his daughter's death, the rest of the performance is more subdued and restrained.

Tim Robbins' performance is also of note, as Penn's disturbed boyhood friend who shows up covered in blood the same night of the murder, making his frightened wife (Marcia Gay Harden) start to doubt his story and to believe that he is in fact the murderer.

The rest of the cast give solid performances in somewhat limited characters, Kevin Bacon and Laurence Fishburne as the cops asigned to the case, and Laura Linney as Penn's second wife.

However, there are a few things about the film that rubbed me the wrong way; the whole sub-plot about Bacon's wife calling him on his cell phone and not speaking? What was that suppossed to bring to the movie? Or Linney's (apparently) sudden transformation into Lady MacBeth, telling Penn's character that he should do whatever needed to be done? Or the final parade scene?

In short, while not a great film (certainly not Eastwood's best), it's a good one worth catching, and not as bad as some other reviewers will have you believe (certainly not Mistake River!).

Sean Penn and Tim Robbins are outstanding!
In Mystic River, director Clint Eastwood has taken the themes of pain and loss, added superb actors, and a literate script to make a memorable movie.

Jimmy, Sean, and Dave were childhood buddies growing up in a working-class neighborhood in Boston. One day, Dave was lured away and sexually abused by two men. Years later, the boys are now adults; Jimmy (Penn) is an ex-con with a loving family, Sean (Bacon) is a cop with marital woes, and Dave (Robbins), forever damaged by his childhood trauma, is barely clinging to reality. When Jimmy's daughter is murdered, Sean investigates, Jimmy vows vigilante justice, and Dave is a prime suspect.

The lead actors are outstanding here. Penn is utterly convincing as the former thug and heartbroken father. Robbins displays his acting chops in the performance of a lifetime, showing a fragile man dealing with such pain that he can no longer function rationally. The two men certainly deserved their Oscars.

This is a movie that will pull at your heartstrings while keeping you guessing who the killer is. There are, thankfully, no graphic scenes of child abuse or the girl's death, yet you will be on the edge of your seat much of the time. This is an outstanding film.

Stale As Month-Old Potato Chips
I was quite surprised at how bad this movie was. Perhaps it was just me, but I was looking forward to a Unforgiven-type directoral masterpiece from Mr. Eastwood and the stars Robbins and Penn. Given the hype this movie recieved (and the oscar nods to its 2 main stars and director Eastwood) I was really ready to sink my viewing teeth into something substantial.

Unfortunately, this movie was as stale as a bag of month-old potato chips. I never really came to symphathize at all with Sean Penn's character, even though his daughter was murdered. I mean, seriously, how can you symphathize with a criminal (Penn's character) who barely was involved in his kid's life to begin with?

Perhaps if the movie had shown a more deeper relationship between Penn and the kid then I could have cared more about the outcome. As it was all my sympathy went to Tim Robbins character, sexually molested as a child and then basically forgotten by his so-called "buddies". In my opinion Tim Robbins is the only reason to watch this movie. He walks around with an aire of utter hopelessness (reminiscent of the character he played in Jacob's Ladder), and yet he tries so hard to get passed the mental anguish of his past and make it through each day as an adult that by the end you are cheering for him.

Which brings me to the other reason why this movie stinks - the ending.

Like in a good novel, the reader/viewer doesn't want to be cheated in the end. I don't want to give away the ending, but be warned - it stinks.

All in all there really wasn't any substance to most of the characters, and I found myself toward the end wondering why I should even finish watching it. I like to be absorbed by characters played with heart and substance. Watching these jokers (except for Robbins) was like watching carboard cutouts being moved around on a stage.

Mystic River..The Ending Bites
First off..someone please tell Clint Eastwood to back away from the camera slowly and never ever direct another film. As far as everyone who raves about this film..you have lost all cred. I supposed your enthralled by shiny objects too. The ending was ridiculous....my daughter is killed..lets go to a parade?????? The fact that this drivel was considered genius in two mediums is baffling...more proof that everything is watered down beyond hope...whoever says this is a classic- I have some old home movies..you wanna shell out money to see those too???

Pretentious Puddle?
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In great dramas, people aren't perfect, but their mistakes make sense. In melodramas, their mistakes don't; they occur only because the screenwriter wants them to.

Mystic River is a horrid melodrama, Hollywood's worst in years.

Pick any three-minute segment, jump in the shoes of any major character, and you'll find at least two instances where common sense would completely unravel the plot. There would be:

phone calls to doctors
routine checks on how the investigation is going

alerts to detectives
ridiculous assumptions thrown out the window
obvious suspects brought in for questioning
DNA and blood evidence rapidly analyzed and suspects eliminated
direct confrontations and/or backchannel neighborhood chats to double-check facts
and, oh, maybe a teeny bit of thinking before irreversible acts are committed.

None of this happens, of course, because the screenwriter creates a