Reviews (4)

"He admitted it, Morse. Why would he do that?!"
"Second Time Around" is quite possibly the best of the 33 "Inspector Morse" episodes. If you're a fan of the series and don't own it yet, then you should consider it a must-have. If you're new to the series - start here.

An old police detective is murdered while writing his memoirs. A suspect, Frederick Redpath, is brought-in for questioning. Morse and another chief inspector on the case, Dawson, recognize the man as a suspect from a child murder case from over a decade ago. Dawson becomes heavily involved in the new case, and Morse and his sergeant, Lewis, are trying to work at it from their own angle.

There is conflict, emotion, heartache, introspection, and mystery aplenty in "Second Time Around", and all of these factors come together to help make the episode a real treat. The direction is wonderful, and the acting is amazing. John Thaw, as usual, excels as Morse, and Kevin Whately does well as the ever-faithful Lewis. Oliver Ford Davies, an underrated gem of an actor, is convincing as the troubled Redpath, but the real star of this story is Kenneth Colley (famous from the first "Star Wars" trilogy) as Chief Inspector Dawson. Probably one of the best characters ever to grace the Morse series.

"Inspector Morse" is one of my all-time favorite television shows, and this episode is simply tremendous. It encompasses the best aspects of the series: an introspective Morse, a haunting murder case, great guest stars, and sorrowful music from Puccini ('Senza Mamma' from Suor Angelica). This is simply the best of "Morse". Don't pass it up.

Inspector Morse
Inspector Morse shines in this film, as always. It's one of the most fascinating Morses ever made. This film leaves you guessing until the end.

Memoirs of Inspector Morse
This episode of the Morse series provides the viewer with some insight into the development of Morse's character.

The death of senior police office shortly after his retirement celebration sets the scene of a murder investigation which departs from the immediate concern of his murder to become a much broader investigation which encompasses an 18 year old unresolved murder mystery which Morse was involved in.

In this rather unusual Morse there are some exemplarary performances notably from Pat Heywood (RootInto Europe) and Oliver Ford Davies (who would later co-star with Thaw in the sublime series, Kavanagh Q.C.). What distinguishes this particular Morse from the others is the degree of personal involvement shown by Morse. Despite his usual disspassionate, academic approach. Morse cannot resist responding to the friction from his old colleague who found success following his mentor, the Deputy Chief Police Commissioner to London. Also there is a heightened sensitivity shown by Morse to the case of the young girl, murdered many years earlier.

There are the usual twists and turns but in particular the scenes where the long suffering suspect of the child's death is finally completely cleared of any involvement. At that point the latest suspect is mentioned only for the first accused to fiercely criticise the police for their continued incompetence.

The conclusion to the story is a tragic scene wherein Morse confronts the killer with the evidence of his guilt. At that juncture the viwere is faced with sympathy with the killer's motive for the crime only to discover that the man who was killed was doing so protecting his child's life in just the same way that the murderer is revenging his.

Here the extent of Morse's involvement is revealed and one of the lasting impressions we have is the depth of tremendous sadness in his eyes.

This episode shows us the emotional side of Morse in many different ways. The storyline is supported in this regard by a stellar performance of Kevin Whately who gives vent to his frustrations with what he perceives to be Morse's attitude and verbally lashes him, only to discover later that he was wrong and very sheepishly apologises. Morse is magnanimous in his acceptance of the apology and moves on.

All around a very polished performance and an enthralling whodunit in the very best traditions of the genre. A+++

One of the Best
Not counting those adaptations based on actual Dexter novels, "Second Time Around" may well be the best single episode in an almost continuously excellent series. The strengths of the series are here in abundance: compelling plots, tight direction, interesting characters, and, unlike a few of the later episodes, a denouement that not only make senses and is unrushed but that has real emotional and psychological impact as well. Thaw and Whately are in top form, the best one-two punch in crime fiction since Holmes and Watson. This episode is also an excellent example of one of the thematic preoccupations of this series: middle-age melancholy and the toll it sometimes takes.

"Second Time Around" is yet another example of the superb work of John Thaw as Morse--even in those episodes which lack the usual tension and bite, Thaw's Morse is an astounding presence, irritable, acidic, vulnerable, funny, pompous, and compelling, by turns, and thoroughly, entertainingly, convincing. For those unfamiliar with the series, here is a good place to start. ... Read more

Description

"Obsession," Ep. 47 - A "vampire" cloud, which Kirk failed to destroy 11 years ago, has returned to stalk the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. "The Immunity Syndrome," Ep. 48 - Kirk, Spock, and McCoy frantically try to devise some means of stopping a gigantic single-celled creature that has destroyed an entire solar system. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Subpar second season shows
Obsession-This below average show concerned a hemoglobin-seeking space cloud from Kirk's past. The episode certainly has a couple things going for it; like The Doomsday Machine the episodes explores obsession with past mistakes and the quest for redemption. Evidence of Kirk's fallibility and capacity for introspection are always welcome, and his humane decision to give Garrovick the second chance he never received himself is poignant. Unfortunately, the story itself is not terribly engaging. Call me shallow, but it's hard to get excited about these gaseous clusters! (see/don't see Metamorphosis and the Lights of Zetar as well) (2.5 stars)

The Immunity Syndrome-The giant amoeba episode has less going for it than its companion on this disk. While the hook is probably slightly more intriguing than Obsession's, this is really a 'face value' episode. It doesn't pack any subtle messages. If the episode were more engaging, I'd say no problem, but unfortunately this one is pretty dull. McCoy fans will appreciate his prominent role in this one though. (2 stars)

Problem: Killer Clouds & Giant Germs. Solution: Anti-Matter!
REVIEWED ITEM: Star Trek Original Series DVD Volume 24: Obsession / The Immunity Syndrome

OBSESSION PRELIMINARY BRIEFS:

Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: Obsession (no, really...); dealing with guilt; priorities; Making the right choice when caught in a dilemma

Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: Four dead, one injured

REVIEW/COMMENTARY:

Oh, what to do: destroy a gaseous vampire-cloud that has killed half a starship crew and will doubtless kill endless more beings in the future, or transfer and deliver a highly-perishable vaccine to a world stricken with a deadly plague that could claim millions of lives? As might've guessed, that's the little dilemma ol' Jimmers has to turn around in his head here. Throw in his guilt over hesitating to destroy the same creature years before-- a seeming error that claimed the lives of several shipmates-- and the son of one of those crewmen, and Kirk is firmly entrenched in the stickiest of wickets! Fortunately, ol' Jim manages to overcome his single-minded obsession towards the deadly cloud-being, and saves the day once again! But not before he has that obligatory moment of self-doubt over the course of action he's taking, which naturally is chock-full of that Shatnerian method acting that you all know and love! McCoy's confrontation with Kirk following this precious moment adds a bit more meat to the ham sandwich with one of the series' most memorable bits of character-developing dialogue!

Also thrown into the mix: Thanks (once again) to his differing half-Vulcan physiology, Spock manages to survive the vampire cloud's shipboard attack with narry a missing red corpuscle (mainly 'cuz he doesn't possess any)! And there ain't many just-in-the-nick-of-time transporter rescues that are more suspenseful than the one that puts the final punctuation on this eppie's climax! Tricky stuff, that anti-matter...

THE IMMUNITY SYNDROME PRELIMINARY BRIEFS:

Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: A Macrocosm of the Immune System

Notable Gaffe/Special Defect: The shadow of the camera man can is just noticeable as he pans/dollies in for a close-up on Kirk's reaction to McCoy's intercom statement that the crew is "all dying".

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

REVIEW/COMMENTARY:
Continuing this disc's "killer-parasite-creatures-that-must-be-stopped-at-all-costs" format, the Enterprise enters and must destroy a giant space amoeba that threatens to destroy life on other worlds. Thanks to a little shuttle-bound research from Mr. Spock and a dollop of anti-matter, the Enterprise endeavors to act as a galactic antibody to keep the horrible cosmic disease from spreading even further out through the ether!

This particular show highlights the advantages of DVD technology: the high-pitched whining sound that pops up when the Enterprise enters the amoeba's outer membrane caused me to react in a similar manner as the crew did when the noise hit their ears- a bit annoyed, and a tad nauseous. Now, THAT'S interactive TV!

'Late

TWO STAR TREK EPISODES WITH A SCI-FI TWIST!...
Volume 24 of the Star Trek DVD series contains two episodes that deal with the second season's ...plot. Unlike some of the less successful attempts at this kind of story in the second season the two episodes here have their moments and are quite good.

OBSESSION deals with Kirk's past and one of his greatest fears that has somewhat haunted him over the last 11 years. A mysterious vampire cloud, that feeds off the red bloods cell of humans, attacks the Enterprise crew. With it's distinct sickly sweet smell Kirk realizes it is the same monster that attack and killed his crew mates years ago when he was a Lieutendant. Upon realizing that this monster is alive Kirk drives himself into obession (hence the title) in an attempt to destroy this creature. He even disregards his orders to deliver greatly needed drugs to another planet. Kirk also punishes Ensign Garrovick (played by Stephen Brooks) (which Kirk sees a younger version of himslef in him) after the Ensign attempts and fails to kill the monster when disobeying Kirk. This episode really developes Kirk character and how (at times) he can be so self critical. OBSESSION is a slightly above average episode of Star Trek but barely. Without the nice dramatic moments between Kirk and Garrovick, plus Spock and McCoy's confronting of Kirk's actions, this episode wouldn't be so special.

THE IMMUNITY SYNDROME has stood up suprisingly well over the last thirty years. The story was very well written and scientifically accurate. The concept of The Enterprise discovering a single celled organism of massive size in the body of space is a really creative idea. To think that space is a body, that single cell is a virus and humans are mere antibodies in the whole thing is such a diverse concept. As the Enterprise encounters this massive cell that drains energy out of everything (including humans), the crew gains information of the cell and realizes it begins to reproduce like a virus, and pretty soon it will plague the depths of space unless it is destroyed. THE IMMUNITY SYNDROME is another one of those Star Trek episodes that would've been average had it not had a few special moments. This episode is actually very good the acting is well done and the story was well written and concieved.

In conclusion Star Trek Volume 24 has two good episodes with a few special moments. This DVD is worth getting but you may want to check out other more classic Star Trek episodes before this. Recommended.

Immunity Syndrome: Best Episode?
"Obsession" is a great episode (particularly for those interested in the origins of the Matt Decker character in the first movie). However, for my money, "T.I.S." is among the very best episodes in the original series. Why? One of the most compelling sci-fi statements of all time coming from the mouth of Dr. McCoy: that humans are mere anitbodies in the organism that is our galaxy.

Another couple of episodes offering ST twists on Moby Dick
"Obsession" is another of those Star Trek episodes inspired by Melville's "Moby Dick" with Kirk in the Ahab role this time around. Three members of a landing party are killed on Argus X by a gaseous creature that drains all the red blood cells from their bodies. Kirk abandons the Enterprise's mission to deliver desperately needed drugs to another planet, claiming this same creature attacked the crew of the USS Farragut 11 years earlier. Kirk had been a member of the crew and holds himself somewhat responsible for the deaths of 200 crewmates. However, he neglects to share all relevant information with the crew, which makes Spock and McCoy doubt the captain's judgment. Of all the episodes where Kirk goes over the deep end, this is the lamest of the bunch. The air of mystery which makes his every deed look suspicious is too contrived, as does the ending when he finally comes to his senses. But there is a nice scene when Spock and McCoy confront Kirk about his actions, so this episode does have some nice moments.

While "The Immunity Syndrome" does not offer anyone acting like Ahab we do have a giant amoeba playing the symbolic part of the great white whale. The Enterprise encounters a massive area of darkness and discovers the giant single-cell organism inside. When the always-curious Spock investigates in a shuttlecraft, he ends up inside and discovers the creature is about to reproduce. Since one of these things is a threat to the galaxy, two would probably be a lot worse, so Kirk takes the Enterprise inside the amoeba (I mean, come on, that is obviously what they have blown up here, an amoeba) in an effort to save the universe. The magnified amoeba is certainly interesting looking, but the tension in this episode is equally artificial. But it sure is amazing what you can find out there in deep space. "The Immunity Syndrome" is, at best, an average Star Trek effort. ... Read more

Description

Compilation of a new children's horror TV series narrated by R.L. Stine of the "Goosebump" fame. The show is an anthology of chilling tales of children trapped inside The Nightmare Room. This volume includes the following episodes: My Name is Evil, Scareful What You Wish For, Tangled Web. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

great for pre teens and early teens
COOL DVD for kids age 12-16 or older- r.l. steins books are genius and his movies are pretty good too this dvd teaches some lessons to kids while at the same time scaring them or adding some suspense. dvd has 4 diff scary stories and a cool DO you dare? challenge as an extra on the dvd - its sort of like the books he has where u can choose diffrent paths to take but this is on the computer which makes it even cooler - if u take the wrong path u die or u can get to the end if u take right path - u can play it on the dvd player or computer.
EPISODES ON THIS DISK
1. MY NAME IS EVIL- 4 STARS
2. SCAREFUL WHAT U WISH FOR- 4 STARS
3. TANGLED WEB- 5 STARS
4. FEAR GAMES- 3.5 stars
and then the haunted cave game extra feature
plus trailors - highly recomended dvd

TWILIGHT ZONE for kids
This is the TWILIGHT ZONE for kids... with young teens menaced by the supernatural...though usually with a not-so-subtle moral to the story. MY NAME IS EVIL is the best of this bunch...though they are all good, intelligent fun for the 16 and younger set.

A Tangled Piece of Magic......
A wonderful addition to any DVD collection. R.L. Stine, the man behind the "Goosebumps" legacy, has returned with this collection of tales from his "The Nightmare Room" series. The disc is a highly enjoyable one and is full of tricks and treats for all ages. 4 episodes are featured on this disc. In "My Name is Evil" Morgan visits a carnival with friends and is told he is `evil' by a gypsy. Bad things start to happen, but the question is are they a fluke, or is the prediction true? In "Scareful What You Wish For" Dylan is followed around by Buddy, his supposed `best friend.' He belives that it is a childhood toy come to life. Will Dylan be able to stop Buddy's attacks, is he crazy or will he become just another victim? In "Tangled Web" Josh is a compulsive liar who uses words to get out of everything. But when a supply teacher shows up and believes his lie, things get interesting. Josh's lies begin to come true! Will Josh be able to escape the trouble he put himself in or will he become a casuality of his own words? Lastly in "Fear Games" teens are selected to take part in `The Fear Games.' Upon arrival at Tranquility Island April is told of a witch that inhibits it. During the games she sees that the witch legend may indeed be true. Will she and the others be able to escape reality tv alive? The stories each feature familiar faces from current televison....Tippy Hedren, Ashley Peldon (Catlin's Way/Thunder Alley), Besty Randle (Boy Meets World), David Carradine, Justin Berfield (Malcolm In The Middle) + the twins from "Big Daddy" and a few others. The acting is superb and each episode is excellently done. In terms of special features, there are a few. With "The Nightmare is Yours: The Haunted Cave" you have an interactive `Choose Your Own Adventure' type of story in which you decide your very fate. "Do You Dare?" is a trivia feature about our darkest nightmares. "The Nightmare Files" is an interview with R.L. Stine himself. Lastly, there is a "Trailers" feature that showcases other Warner Brothers titles that are available. I highly recommend this DVD as it provides a wide variety of entertainment for people of all ages. Do you dare attempt to venture into "The Nightmare Room?" :-) ... Read more

Reviews (4)

An excellent introduction to the Inspector Morse series.
An Amazon.com reviewer of July 10th has written a superb review of this episode of the extensive series of Morse mysteries and I won't go over ground that he or she has ably covered. For those viewers who are convinced by his/her review to begin watching the Morse mysteries with The Silent World of Nicholas Quinn, I would like to add that the mystery begins with the opening credits.

We are introduced to the deaf Nicholas Quinn, an examiner at a Board based in Oxford, England. He is standing by himself reading the lips of the various people talking with one another at a wine party. We see the obvious concern on his face that something is desperately wrong, but, like him, we can't hear what many of the guests are saying. He does not need to hear; his facility reading lips is evident. He tells another reviewer that the examinations conducted by the Board are compromised and he walks out of the party in distress.

In the next scene, still while the credits are playing, we watch a fire drill at the Examining Board. We don't see Nicholas Quinn leave the building even though we are told that everyone is accounted for. If you watch this scene a second time carefully, many of the clues to unlock the mystery are contained in this first few minutes of the program.

My guess is that most people who view this mystery like solving complicated puzzles and will enjoy watching each clue that Morse uncovers right to the last scene.

John Thaw, unfortunately now dead, was a superb English actor and he found an ideal character to play in the crusty Chief Inspector Morse. Kevin Whately is almost equally as good as his long suffering sidekick, Sergeant Lewis. Viewers who like this early installment will have a chance to watch Morse and Lewis in action many more times in this outstanding and long running series.

exquisite!
This has grown to be my favourite Inspector Morse of the entire Morse series! The more I watch this the more enchanted I become with it uncovering little pieces each time. Exquisite indeed!

The murder is set in the arcane world of examiantion boards which were affiliated to some of England's major universities as arbiters of the academic development of students at ages 16 and 18. This obscure branch of academia is nonetheless an ivory tower existance disguising basic human failings of jealousy, greed etc.

When a relatively new examiner is found dead at home the detectives seem to be looking beyond the workplace but in the course of the investigation the examination board becomes the centre of attention.

Essential Morse has three main interests, his love of opera, his appreciation of real ale (microbrews in American parlance), and his fascination of crosswords. It is in the last of these that we find the core to this story. As always the story is composed like a crossword such that the clues must be solved before completing the case. Here, however, the crossword assumes a much greater role. One of the other examiners, and as such a suspect, turns out to be an intellectual hero of Morse, Daedalus, who sets a particu;arly challenging crossword which gives Morse great pleasure. The two men share similar interests and it becomes apparent that they have a similar view of the world. They become competitors in trying to resolve the case but only until Daedalus (played superbly by Michael Gough) is also murdered although he leaves some difficult clues behind.

Another dimension to this story is the love interest of examiner Monica. Again there is a crossword perspective. Morse is intrigued by the physical and intellectual beauty of this woman, but as usual he cannot solve the clues to understanding her. He is torn between his feelings for her as a person and the growing suspicion that she is somehow involved in the murders. Ultimately this conflict is only resolved when it is too late.

The plot twists and turns and has several blind allies but it is compulsive viweing and by the device of Daedelus we get to see a mirror image of Morse the man. Kevin Whately puts in another superb performance as the long suffering Lewis who we perceive as the apprentice of the master but also the master's concience.

An excellent vintage and quite excellent indeed.

The DVD version is a little disappointing in that it delivers a full-screen format with a cleaner sound. Moreover Barrington Phelong's incidental music does not benefit from the transfer. It would certainly benefit from a remastering. The other additional features are minimal but did make me replay the Jeremy Brett version of Arthur Conan Doyle's "Sign of Four" shortly afterwards to find John Thaw in fine form. I am sure that Inspector Morse fans would appreciate the show even more if it was available in the widescreen format but I am afraid that that is unlikely.

Still, this remains an exceptional introduction to the Morse series and an absolute must have for one's fledling DVD collection.

Vintage Morse...
THE SILENT WORLD OF NICOLAS QUINN is about a man who works for a syndicate in Oxford England. The business of the syndicate is testing students in underdeveloped countries for the purpose of awarding degrees--one presumes from Oxford University as the syndicate members are all affilitated with various colleges of the university. At a reception for a dignitary from a Middle Eastern country, a hearing impaired professor named Nicholas Quinn reads the lips of two speakers and uncovers an awful truth--cheating is abroad. It seems some or all of the syndicate members are involved in a scam to "sell" test results by providing the answers to the questions beforehand. Quinn shares his concerns with a fellow member of the syndicate and is overheard, or his lips are read, or his confidant betrays him --the end result is murder. (Sherry, crossword puzzles, acrosstics, and ticket stubs for Marlon Brando's "Last Tango.." become important clues.)

The film is vintage Morse. The shots of Oxford are fabulous --some of the best. This episode was part of the set of stories used to introduced Morse to the American viewing public. John Thaw, who plays Inspector Morse, was born in 1942 and sadly died this past year. Colin Dextor ended the life of his character Inspector Morse about the same time--perhaps knowing the actor had cancer. The series always resonated with sadness and loss, but now the loss is real. Phelong Barrington's wonderful music beating out the no longer used Morse code adds to the angst.

The series was able to snare the best BBC actors and this episode is no exception. Mystery fans will recogize Kevin Whately as Lewis. Barbara Flynn, who played a private investigator in another Mystery presentation, plays a female don. Frederick Torres, who has been suspected of murder more than once and who fans of the "Jewel in the Crown" will know, also plays a don. Clive Swift, known to those who watch "Keeping up Appearances" as Richard Bucket (Bouquet) plays the head of the syndicate.

The DVD is a recording of the tape and is thus not top notch. This is the A&E version and A&E does not always do the best job. However, if you are a Morse fan, this is one of the best of the series, and unlike some of the later episodes was based on a book by Colin Dexter with the same title--so the plot is ingenious.

Exquisite!
This has grown to be my favourite Inspector Morse of the entire Morse series! The more I watch this the more enchanted I become with it uncovering little pieces each time. Exquisite indeed!

The murder is set in the arcane world of examiantion boards which were affiliated to some of England's major universities as arbiters of the academic development of students at ages 16 and 18. This obscure branch of academia is nonetheless an ivory tower existance disguising basic human failings of jealousy, greed etc.

When a relatively new examiner is found dead at home the detectives seem to be looking beyond the workplace but in the course of the investigation the examination board becomes the centre of attention.

Essential Morse has three main interests, his love of opera, his appreciation of real ale (microbrews in American parlance), and his fascination of crosswords. It is in the last of these that we find the core to this story. As always the story is composed like a crossword such that the clues must be solved before completing the case. Here, however, the crossword assumes a much greater role. One of the other examiners, and as such a suspect, turns out to be an intellectual hero of Morse, Daedalus, who sets a particu;arly challenging crossword which gives Morse great pleasure. The two men share similar interests and it becomes apparent that they have a similar view of the world. They become competitors in trying to resolve the case but only until Daedalus (played superbly by Michael Gough) is also murdered although he leaves some difficult clues behind.

Another dimension to this story is the love interest of examiner Monica. Again there is a crossword perspective. Morse is intrigued by the physical and intellectual beauty of this woman, but as usual he cannot solve the clues to understanding her. He is torn between his feelings for her as a person and the growing suspicion that she is somehow involved in the murders. Ultimately this conflict is only resolved when it is too late.

The plot twists and turns and has several blind allies but it is compulsive viweing and by the device of Daedelus we get to see a mirror image of Morse the man. Kevin Whately puts in another superb performance as the long suffering Lewis who we perceive as the apprentice of the master but also the master's concience.

An excellent vintage and quite excellent indeed. ... Read more

Description

"A Piece of the Action," Ep. 49 - Kirk and the U.S.S. Enterprise crew visit a planet that has developed a civilization based on a book a previous Starfleet crew left: Chicago Mobs of the Twenties. "By Any Other Name," Ep. 50 - The U.S.S. Enterprise is commandeered by the Kelvans, a group of aliens from the Andromeda galaxy who have assumed human form and plan to take over the Milky Way galaxy. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Right? Unquestionably. RIGHT? RIGHT!
Volume 25 of Paramount's complete reissue of Classic Star Trek contains two stories showcasing superior writing and offering plenty of action.

A Piece of the Action remains one of Trek's most popular episodes. In essence, it's a time travel episode, without the time travel, which frees the story from the usual "Don't alter the future" constraints. The hands of Gene L. Coon, who co-wrote this episode, are evident in the colorful writing, and in the banter between the characters. Deliberately, the Iotians are all made to speak using a nonstop stream of 1920s cliches. When Kirk adopts these cliches, and eventually persuades Spock to adopt them, the course is set for maximum comedy.

By Any Other Name is mostly standard action fare, involving the Enterprise being hijacked by an invading force of Kelvans from another galaxy. These esoteric aliens have taken Human form to be able to function in a human environment. The solution is to introduce them to the pleasures of the senses, which creates a chance for James Doohan to shine as Scotty gets a Kelvan, and himself, drunk. This episode also highlights one of Kirk's finest characteristics: his willingness to forgive. Even after the Kelvan leader has killed one of his crew, Kirk is willing to extend the hand of friendship and offer the Federation's help.

Both sound and picture are fine.

Sometimes the Star Trek universe is a very funny place
Comedy is the telling commonality for the two Star Trek episodes included on Volume 25 of the DVD series. "A Piece of the Action" has the Enterprise visiting Sigma Iotia II, where a hundred years early the USS Horizon visited. Apparently this was before the Prime Directive, because one of the Horizon crew left behind a book: "Chicago Mobs of the Twenties." Now, once you get past the fact that (a) someone was toting a book into Deep Space and (b) it happened to be that particular book, you can really enjoy this one. Bela Oxymy wants the Federation to supply his gangsters with weapons so he can take over the planet, taking down Krako and the other bosses. My favorite part is when Kirk makes up a very complicated card game to play with the gangsters holding him hostage and Spock has to admit having never calculated the odds on the rarest of possible hands. Then there is also the bit where they try to drive an automobile. In the end, Kirk decides if you cannot fight them, join them. "A Piece of the Action" may well be the second funniest Star Trek episode, after "The Trouble With Tribbles," of course.

In "By Any Other Name" a group of Kelvans take ove the Enterprise using advanced technological weapons that allow them to reduce the crew to small blocks of chemicals until only Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Scotty are left. Rojan, the leader of the Kelvans, wants to modify the Enterprise so his group can get back to the Andromeda Galaxy in only 300 years, at which point his descendants will inform their government that the Milky Way is suitable for conquest. Fortunately, the Kelvans have assumed human form, which means they are now susceptible to sensory inputs, a fact that Kirk and the others seek to exploit. Scott introduces one Kelvan to liquor (the "green" type), McCoy slips them stimulants, and Kirk hits on Kelinda, while Spock helps Rojan experience the wonderful world of jealousy. It is rather surprising that "By Any Other Name" goes the comic route, but it does get pretty funny. You know, it is important to have fun when you are out trekking around the universe on a five-year mission.

TWO GREAT SECOND SEASON EPISODES!!!
Volume 25 of the Star Trek DVD collection has two great episodes from the second season. Although season 1 of Star Trek was far more diverse and fresh, season 2 just happend to spawn some of the series most classic and memorable episodes. This DVD contains just two of these great episodes.

A PIECE OF THE ACTION may very well be one of the top five most popular episodes of the original series. The Enterpirse crew arrives at Sigma Iotia II to find a civilization similar to the Chicago Mobs of the 1920's. The planet itself has been divided by gang wars and Kirk feels he must reunite the planet so it can have good relation with the Federation. Kirk resorts to him and Mr. Spock donning mobster gear and talking in slang which leads to A PIECE OF THE ACTION being one of the funniest Star Trek episodes. The episode itslef is quite good and very entertaining especially Kirk driving the old jalopy, the card game and Spock acting like a gangster. However the episode wraps up unevenly and it really makes you think: Kirk completely disobeyed the Prime Directive in this episode! However this episode doesn't fail to please and the end left this plot open for a sequel. Unfortunetly it has never been produced. A PIECE OF THE ACTION is an excellent episode of Star Trek though.

BY ANY OTHER NAME may be one of the strangest episodes of Star Trek ever! Kirk and the crew are abducted by Kelvans who take on a human form. The Kelvans demand control of The Enterprise so they can take a voyage to find a planet suitable for colonzation since there own ship was destroyed. The Kelvans are so ruthless they even go to the extent to killing an innocent enterprise crew member to get what they want. This makes BY ANY OTHER NAME seems like a serious episode that is until the crew discovers the Kelvans weakness: human sense and emotion. This results in Kirk flirting with the beautiful Kelinda, Spock making Rojan feel jealousy, and Scotty getting himself and another Kelvan drunk. This results in BY ANY OTHER NAME to be a comical episode of Star Trek but it's strange how the mood changes. The first half hour is somewhat dark whereas the second half hour is bright and funny. The episode ends with The Kelvans making peace with the Federation even after the death of a crewmate. BY ANY OTHER NAME is an uneven but above average episode of Star Trek.

In conclusion I highly recommend this DVD for it does have twoo great episodes. The picture and quality are fine too! Highly recommended!

One classic and one solid show, with hints of trouble ahead
A Piece of the Action-This gangster episode, and Tribbles, were the two Trek comedies that really worked. While I wouldn't exactly call the humor here subtle, it is intertwined in a fairly traditional action plot. We are able to enjoy Kirk and Spock's thuggishness for its own sake while simultaneously staying focused on the plot, for the simple reason that their behavior is called for by the story, rather than being a gimmick. The idea of a highly impressionable alien race who's cultural evolution could depend so thoroughly on a random event (the leaving behind of the book) is an interesting one as well. This episode is also helped by strong guest acting, most notably from Tayback. (4.5 stars)

By Any Other Name-An average episode, this one sees the enterprise crew reduced to salt (Styrofoam?) crystals for future use by the colonization-bent Kelvans. As others have pointed out, this is an interesting episode in that it has two tones. The events of the first half are frightening (although not as eerily stylized as 3rd season shows), as Kirk seems powerless to prevent the Kelvans' cold blooded homicide and control of the Enterprise. The ominous sense that anything goes is augmented by the surprising turn of having a female crew member killed. The tone changes dramatically in the second half of the show though, as the remaining crew exploit the Kelvans' newfound emotions, with entertaining results. These scenes are not just entertaining, but also insightful; it reminds the viewer that much of our own (only semi-successful) acculturation is devoted to reigning in our emotions.

But one wonders whether the blend of the dark and the comic seen here was for the best; it still worked here to some extent, but the episode's schism is somewhat jarring, and we're not quite as able to go along with the blend as we were in say Friday's Child, or A Private Little War. Why? Because a growing lack of introspection was beginning to border on cynicism. Did this gradual moral drift taint the show? Certainly the shows were becoming more calloused, a process that would accelerate in season 3. Season 3 certainly had other problems, but I believe some of the roots of future problems can be found, ironically enough, even in some of the strong episodes from season 2.

But back to By Any Other Name. Other pluses include Kirk's willingness to forgive even a defeated and cruel foe. And don't forget the lovely Kelinda. (3 stars)

Flivvers, Fizzbin, and a centuries-long trip to Andromeda
REVIEWED ITEM: Star Trek Original Series DVD Volume 25: A Piece of the Action / By Any Other Name

A PIECE OF THE ACTION PRELIMINARY BRIEFS:

Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: The consequences of cultural contamination

Historical Milestone: Kirk 'introduces' a few skells to the fictional card game 'Fizzbin'

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

REVIEW/COMMENTARY:
This is one of the series' most cheesy and fun-filled hours. It's rather apparent that Shatner had the time of his life playing the part of a stereotypical 20s/30s movie mobster. The combination of his legendary acting and the colorful mobster lingo make for some of the most amusing bits of Star Trek hamminess out there! Not to be outdone, Nimoy does an admirable job of playing the straight man to Jimmers' mafioso shenanigans! Makes ya wanna get on the blower and tell alla' yer trekkie buds all about it! Or maybe drive on over to their house in your flivver, and let 'em in on the deal personally! That sound jake to ya, kid?

Notable guest star: the late Vic Tayback, best known on the sit-com 'Alice' as the crusty diner owner/cook Mel, keeps the fun flowin' as Jojo Krako, the chief rival of main heavy Bela Oxmyx. I could almost see one of his molls turning to him and uttering, "kiss mah grits"!

BY ANY OTHER NAME PRELIMINARY BRIEFS:

Moral, Ethical, and/or Philosophical Subject(s) Driven Into The Ground: The advantages and pitfalls of being human; human frailties and learning to control and deal with them

Expendable Enterprise Crewmember ('Red Shirt') Confirmed Casualty List: One dead

REVIEW/COMMENTARY:
Ah, the ol' shrink-the-crew-down-into-weird-geometric-blocks episode... pure old-school Trek silliness! Throw in Mr. Scott gettin' hooched-up with one of the Enterprise crew's captors, and Jimmers seducing the alien babe-of-the-week (SURPRISE!) in order to regain control of his vessel from his captors, and you've got... well, nothin' you haven't seen before in previous old-school Trek eppies, really. Still, I find it entertaining in its own funny way, and by golly that's all that matters!

'Late ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Whom Gods Destroy"
It's the supporting players who provide the most watchable performances in the 1969 "Whom Gods Destroy," one of the best episodes from Star Trek's final season on NBC. Running an errand to the planet Elba II, an inhospitable place housing a remote hospital for the hopelessly insane, Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy) discover that a longtime patient and Starfleet icon, Captain Garth (Steve Ihnat), has overtaken the facility. Suffering delusions of absolute power, Garth declares himself master of the universe, though his mastery fails to lure the rest of the Enterprise crew into a trap.With Kirk and Spock subdued prisoners of the brutal Garth, the story opens to Ihnat's flamboyant yet sympathetic performance. You can see behind the character's crazy veneer to the bold starship commander whose exploits fired Kirk's imagination as a cadet. Equally good is Yvonne Craig as Garth's would-be queen, the very sexy Marta, a compulsive killer whose seductive dances, wayward intelligence, and exotic, green skin make her one of the most striking females from the original series. Newbie Trekkers will be happy to know that the story by Lee Erwin and Jerry Sohl clarifies a couple of biographical points about Kirk and Spock, including the captain's own reference to his Starfleet career track before becoming an explorer. --Tom Keogh

"The Mark of Gideon"
Every now and then, the meager budget for Star Trek was helped along by stories set almost entirely on the Enterprise, which required shooting within established sets. "The Mark of Gideon" was a clever way to mitigate the visual monotony of such episodes. Captain Kirk (William Shatner) beams himself down to the planet Gideon, but instead finds himself alone in a mock-up of his own starship. (Translation: it's Shatner on the Enterprise set without the rest of the cast.) Almost alone, that is: Kirk finds himself accompanied by the beautiful Odona (Sharon Acker), an inhabitant of Gideon selected for infection by an outsider, in hopes that a plague of some sort will help the planet's overpopulation problem. Despite, or even because of, the set-bound nature of the story, "The Mark of Gideon" is actually one of the boldest and freshest ideas in the series, and like "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield," took on a hot topic of controversy (population control) in the issue-driven 1960s. The script, incidentally, was cowritten by Stanley Adams, who played Cyrano Jones in "The Trouble with Tribbles." --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Both stories need a little 'birth control'
Whom Gods Destroy is another visit to an insane asylum, no better that the 1st season show 'Dagger Of The Mind'. At least Dagger introduced the 'Vulcan Mind-Meld". Even the actors looked either 'nut's' or heavily medicated. Note Kirk & Spock slouching in the "table room" scene with more than mild disinterest in their faces (even for a Vulcan!)

The Mark Of Gideon screams for an obvious message. Duh! Birth Control. Anyway, why would a supposedly intelligent race free of disease allow its' population to run amok! Do I see Soylent Green?

2 signs that Trek was getting ready for bed
Whom Gods Destroy (2 stars)-The second of the insane asylum/ penal colony episodes is no better than the first (Dagger of the Mind). The episode has the cold, impersonal feel that was becoming a staple at this point in Trek's run (at least in part attributable to the actors having to act of character [witness the recondite Spock here], the executive producer's let's get this over with approach, and a growing sense that the run was over.) A telling scene has Kirk and Spock seated, with Garth and his cohorts standing behind them. Are the slouching Kirk and Spock's snickering, knowing, and tired expressions aimed at Garth's entourage of misfits, or at us, the audience? Most of the make-up, costumes, and equipment are retreads, and the plot too has nothing new to say. As in other third season shows, we have sadism for its own sake. The cruel and childish antics are reminiscent of the recently finished Plato's Stepchildren. But as in the real world, evil for evil's sake would surface all too often in the 3rd season.
In this sense the stylistically trippy 3rd season is actually more realistic than the idealistic 1st season. Oh well, at least this episode's finale holds out some hope for Garth and company's redemption. Too late for the viewer! (2 stars)

The Mark of Gideon-Another episode struggling to fill up its allotted 50 minutes, this one features Kirk and a beautiful lady alone on the (?) Enterprise. I know I've said in other reviews that I don't hold Star Trek to a high plausibility standard, but this episode even offends my sensibilities. Rebuilding a ship like the Enterprise, to perfection? Spock, and the transporter system in general, getting fooled again (as in the prior episode)? Not to mention the extent of the overcrowding on Gideon!
The episode's few pluses include the subtle, macabre twist on the Kirksploitation element seen in Wink of An Eye (even if it too is farfetched here, and there for that matter), as well as the return of some of the eerie atmospherics of some of the earlier 3rd season shows. Examples of the latter include the faces seen in the windows and the camera shots of Kirk alone on the bridge. Props should alsi be given for the fact that the episode addresses overpopulation, however crudely. (2 stars)

GOOD STAR TREK THIRD SEASON DVD!
Volume 36 of the Star Trek DVD series includes two of the better episodes from the tail end of the TV series' third and final season on NBC. Both these epiosdes are fairly decent despite the typical third season flaws.

WHOM THE GODS DESTROY is simply a fun Star Trek episode. Kirk and Spock beam down to the prison planet Elba II to find that Garth of Izar (Steve Ihnat), an infamous Star Fleet Captin who wiped out an entire race, has taken control of the prison complex from Governor Cory. Using his ability to shapshift into different characters Garth attempts to take over the Enterprise. This episode is actually pretty laughable. Garth's evil plan is way too far fetched to even work. But perhaps the producers wanted to point out that the character was utterly insane. It's the cast of colourful characters and the over the top acting that save this one. Ihnat is great as the bantering Garth and Yvonne Craig (Batgirl from the TV show Batman) makes a great acting appearance as Marta (the green alien woman). Ironically the third Batman guest star to appear in a consecutive Star Trek episode. Too bad Adam West, Burt Ward, Burgess Meredith and Caesar Romero never showed up as guest stars huh?

MARK OF GIDEON is a little more serious and almost creepy. Another Star Trek issue oriented episode. This time tackling overpopulation problems and contraception. Most of the screen time is given to Shatner and guest star Sharon Acker who plays Odana. There is great chemistry between the two and the acting in this episode is quite good. Good casting and a strong plot overshadow the obvious production budget flaws on this episode (most of it was filmed on the Enterprise set). The Gideon council leader, Hodin, is played by David Hurst, who made a hilarious appearance as Baron Von Klutz on the Monkees TV series. Here though he plays a suprisingly serious role as the main antagonist.

Overall a good set of third season episodes. One laughable one a little more dark and serious. Considering that the tail end of the final season was filled with bad episodes this is quite refreshing to watch becuase these are a few better episodes from the wildly uneven third season. Highly recommended!

How lucky can one man get?
Two more great episodes from TOS in which Kirk gets AN ORION SLAVE GIRL in "Whom Gods Destroy". He dukes it out with an insane Starship Captain as well who can morph into anyone he chooses.
In "Mark of Gideon", TOS tackles the problem of overpopulation & birth control...and Kirk gets the girl AGAIN!

Appearances Are Deceiving...
...as Captain Kirk discovers, in these two pretty good episodes.

"Mark of Gideon" isn't terribly plausible, but it is fun, and actually kind of creepy. Captain Kirk beams down to an isolated planet on a diplomatic visit - but never arrives there. Instead, he finds himself still on board the Enterprise, but all alone. Yet the Enterprise can't find him aboard, despite the insistence of the planet's inhabitants that Kirk never materialized among them. Eventually, Kirk encounters a beautiful alien girl (is there any other kind, where he's concerned?) named Odona, who falls in love with him (come on, you knew that, right?). It's all part of a nefarious plot by the planet's inhabitants to thin out their overpopulation - but as to how, you can find that out yourself. The early scenes, with Kirk haunting an empty Enterprise like his own ghost, are rather eerie, and Sharon Acker is delightfully appealing as the childlike Odona.

"Whom Gods Destroy" is just plain fun, no matter how you slice it. The inmates have taken over the asylum on an isolated prison planet, but Kirk doesn't find out until he's beamed into the situation and found himself held prisoner. The man who freed his fellow inmates is a fellow Starfleet captain gone mad named Garth (Steve Ihnat), who learned the unique talent of being able to rearrange his molecular structure to appear like anyone he chooses, and intends to impersonate Kirk and commandeer the Enterprise. Spock smells something wrong, but can't get into the facility to arrange a rescue attempt. While he works that little problem out, Kirk has an assortment of adventures with the mad Captain Garth and his erstwhile concubine, the equally mad green alien dancer girl, Marta (Yvonne Craig).

Ihnat was a lesser-known character actor of the time, whose premature death unfortunately deprived us all of seeing more of him - he's quite good here, as he was in everything he did - and anything with Yvonne "Batgirl" Craig is always a delight. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

New color era for Steed and Mrs. Peel
Following the huge success of the first filmed series of The Avengers, starring Patrick MacNee as debonair British agent John Steed and his cool, sophisticated partner Mrs. Emma Peel, the producers opted to make the next batch of 26 episodes in color, to be broadcast in 1967. In order to accomplish this, foreign backing was necessary, and the American networks were approached. The US had broadcast the black and white season four as a mid-season replacement, and were interested in moving forward with a color season in prime time, however they only provided enough backing for 16 episodes initially. Another challenge was that Diana Rigg was not particularly keen to film another season of the show, and demanded a huge salary increase in order to secure her participation. She got the money, but it was made clear it would be her second and last season with the show.

Apart from the use of color film, there were other subtle changes to the show for this fifth season. Both Steed and Emma were given new apartments and Mrs. Peel a much more stylized wardrobe. The device of ending each story with the two leads driving off in a variety of vehicles was abandoned and instead a tag scene was used to introduce each story, where Steed informed his partner that they were needed in a variety of humorous ways. Each story title was also given a two-line subtitle. After completion of the first batch of 16, the American backers did provide finance for a further 16 but asked for both the subtitles and tag scenes to be dropped, and also requested that Mrs. Peel's wardrobe became more recognizably en vogue.

After only 8 episodes were completed, producers Brian Clemens and Albert Fennell left the show after a disagreement and the new producers opted not to continue with Mrs. Peel and began their own interpretation of the show. It wasn't long before Clemens and Fennell were back in charge, but the 67 series ended with "Mission highly improbable," although Rigg was brought back in 1968 for the one-off "The forget me knot," to introduce her replacement Tara King. This episode is included in this release as a bonus episode.

In terms of storylines, acting and the wonderful interplay between the two leads, there is little difference between this color season and the preceding black and white stories and the show had really reached its zenith by this point. Certainly in terms of popularity and ratings, it was never as successful again. Interestingly, several of these stories are in fact remakes of earlier episodes from the Mrs. Gale era. "The joker," "The correct way to kill," and "The $50,000 breakfast," are all remakes, whereas "The return of the Cybernauts," is a sequel to an earlier Steed/Mrs. Peel adventure.

Fans of The Avengers will of course be delighted to have these discs, and I'd highly recommend them to any other fans of the sci-fi/fantasy genre, and indeed fans of the 60's spy format. If you've ever seen the dreadful movie featuring Ralph Fiennes and Uma Thurman, don't let that put you off. These stories are the real McCoy!

Pop Goes the Weasel
If you fondly remember that great British import that we watched on TV way back in the 60s then you no doubt know about the content of what you are getting. You are more likely concerned about the quality of the product. Like John might say to Emma, "You scratch my back and I'll scratch your back. Just watch the hat please." John and Emma are back and are here to stay via DVD technology. Being on DVD, the aesthetics about the actual episodes are not in question here. More appropriately one may ask how they look. They look good, very good, excellent in fact. Great 60s pop culture.

A great classic!
I remember watching the Avengers on TV 7-8 years ago when A&E was showing them. Now, I am glad to say that I can own this series. The Avengers have always been based on intelligent scripts, witty dialogue, and suspense. This set is no exception. This set contains very classic, very different episodes from the Avengers: suspense thrillers, psychological games, and good old espionage. I highly recommend it.

One of the best TV shows ever
I am thoroughly impressed with A&E's reissue of the Avengers series. Never have these episodes looked so good: the color is sharp, the sound crisp, and the shows themselves are as witty and fun as you remember. Yes, the "extras" are skimpy but to have three episodes on one disc is worth the sacrifice

Absolutely top-notch
The VHS (digital enhanced) version is beautiful. Vivid colors and seamless cuts. Looks as good as the day it was broadcast. Of course, the series is 5-stars plus (no doubt about that). ... Read more

Amazon.com

The collision of Japan's two most famous cinematic swordsmen--Shintarô Katsu's blind masseur, gambler, and rascally hero Ichi and Toshiro Mifune's unnamed wandering mercenary and scruffy antihero who goes by the appellation Yojimbo (which means, simply, bodyguard)--makes this one of the most riveting chapters in Zatoichi's long-running saga. Not quite friends and not really enemies, the rival swordsmen meet in a once-peaceful village caught between rival gangs, a swarm of government spies, and a fortune in stolen gold. Director Kihachi Okamoto gives Yojimbo a marvelous ambiguity that Mifune invests with a grubby sense of honor, whether growling and drinking and stirring things up or fearlessly strolling through the climactic gang war, dispatching attackers with a swipe and a grimace. But if the story belongs to Yojimbo, the film is Zatoichi's: his minor scams and clowning demeanor hide a reluctant warrior and a tragic hero. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Samurai movie fan must see.
If your a Toshiro Mifune fan or a Shintaro Katsu fan this movie will be entertaining. If you happen to be both, like myself, you'll find it fascinating.

Comparing this film to the likes of Yojimbo, Aka Hige, or The 7 Samurai isn't really appropriate. It would be like Classic American Western to Spaghetti Western, both are western genre but not really comparable.

Toshiro Mifune (the bodyguard) and Shintaro Katsu (the blind masseur Ichi) hook up as opportunists playing two yakusa syndicates against each other. Does this sound familiar?

The predictable theme and general story line lets the really subtle relationship build between Ichi and the Yojimbo. It evolves to be a bit more complex and fun than the typical Japanese morality play.

Excellent Movie
I loved this movie and found it very entertaining. I don't know what the other reviewer was griping about but Toshiro Mifune's character was very much like his hard drinking, money grubbing of a samurai in Yojimbo. The performance of both lead actors was enough to keep me watching the entire movie with total interest.

Great DVD of a fun movie!
This DVD is absolutely worth getting!

The picture quality is fantastic and the movie is fun too. Katsu Shintaro turns in his usualy good performance as Zatoichi, and Toshiro Mifune is always fun to watch, especially in roles similar to Yojimbo.

This DVD has some good extras, great video, and good audio. Add all that to a good film, and there's no reason not to buy this DVD!

Be warned!
First things first, for those that are concerned (and I'm sure you will be as I was), Toshiro Mifune is NOT playing the Yojimbo character from the Kurosawa movies. The title is purely a cash-in, though I'm not sure if it is for the modern Western market or the original title translates as such and was designed to con the Japanese market. The only other film I know of where Mifune genuinely plays the Yojimbo character is "Ambush at Blood Pass" which was the film the both actors completed after this one. In all respects, this is a bad film sadly. It has a few nice moments but its clear this was a commercial venture utilising the two most famous male Japanese actors and characters at the time. In all honesty, I know little about the Zatoichi character, but imagine that the original film must be far superior to this. I couldn't really recommend this film to anyone unless you're a hardcore fan of Japanese Cinema or of the two actors. There are many, many better films of the genre to choose from. Even "Ambush at Blood Pass" which is not a great film is still significantly superior to this one. "Zatoichi versus Yojimbo", like many Japanese films of the time seems confused over what audience its aiming at. The result is an unsatisfactory soup of part comedy, part slasher, part period drama, part morality tale which limps from moment to moment. As said previously, some of these scenes are nice in themselves, but the overall effect is somewhat bland with some scenes almost cringe-worthy. For the uninitiated, always try a Kurosawa film first, if not (and you are interested in Samurai films from an historical perspective) then you may prefer to look at the films of Mizoguchi or Kobyashi. If you just want to see a good samurai flick with Mifune in it, then you may want to look at films such as "Red Lion", "Samurai Assassin" or "Samurai Banners" which are more rounded films and are currently available. As said, I don't know much about Zatoichi, but I would imagine the original and early films are better than this one and worth the effort. Still, I hope this proves useful, it would have saved me money!

entertaining for the Toshiro Mifune/Samurai flick fan
Not your typical action movie. Fights scenes aren't spectacular but enjoyable. Must be able to pay attention to the not-so-obvious plot advancing scenes. If you are into Toshiro Mifune/Samurai movie, you will enjoy this long but entertaining movie ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Smallville ROCKS!
The first episode of this series, also known as a pilot, is by far one of the best in the series. Before Superman became the Man of Steel we are all familiar with, he had to deal with his adolescence and the discovery of his super powers.This is his story.

The story begins with a shot of space. A meteor shower and a spaceship are headed towards earth.

Next, a married couple named Jonahtan and Martha Kent drive into town, where the Crows, the local sports team are celebrating a recent victory. They both want a baby but unfortunately are unable to have one. Jonathan buys Martha a lovely bouquet of flowers. They get in their truck and drive away.

In another part of town multi-millionaire and corporate titan Lionel Luther, is trying to make his young son Lex conquer his fear of heights by forcing him to open his eyes while in the air in a helicopter. After landing, Lionel is trying to close a deal while, Lex is playing in a nearby cornfield. Lex is frightened, drops his inhaler and has an asthma attack (more on this later).

Suddenly, the meteors come crashing to earth wreaking havoc on the picturesque city of Smallville, Kansas. As John and Martha are driving back home, the space ship crash lands in front of them destroying everything in its path including the road they are on. Their truck is turned upside down, and out of the corner of her eye, Martha Kent sees a boy coming out of the space ship.

Meanwhile, as young Lex Luther plays in the corn field a meteor hits the area and a cloud of dust engulfs everything in sight. We see Lex after the blast, his hair is gone and his father looks disgusted by it.

Back at the lonely road, the young couple decides that they can't just abandon the boy they discovered. So they act fast and decide to claim the child as their own adopted son and hide the space ship in their cellar.

The meteor shower not only causes destruction, but also shatters many lives. This is the case of Lana Lang, her parents are killed in the meteor shower.

As a teen Lana Lang becomes the object of adopted Clark Kent's affection.We are also introduced to Pete and Chloe, Clark's friends and aspiring journalists.

This is a lot of material to tackle for just one episode, but the direction is kept tight and there's plenty of action to keep you entertained. The special effects are well done with the exception of the first shot which could have used some work, but overall a really solid entry into this new series. I'd also like to add that it's thrilling to see Clark discover a new super power, it's as if he's one step closer to becoming SUPERMAN.

I would have given this episode five stars, except for a sub-plot involving a man who is comatose for years and suddenly wakes up, not having aged a day, wanting revenge on those who caused his coma. Clark Kent a.k.a. Superboy must save his friends at the school dance and gets even with the school jock, and a good time is had by all.
All in all, Smallville Rocks!

Smallville is a must see
Here we have the release of the Pilot Mini-DVD release. I must say Smallville is an AMAZING show. The Legend of Superman you've never seen. Smallville is a show that has been running for four years on the WB network. No, it's not Superman and other heroes flying around saving each other. Smallville is a show of surprises, action, adventure, suspense. 'The boy he thought he was and the man he is destined to become' is still the show's core, as we tag along with future-Superman Clark Kent and future-Arch-enemy Lex Luthor, and many other cast members including Lana, Chloe, and Jonathan and Martha Kent.

The first season begins and unfolds as Clark learns his true origins, and faces many meteor-infected meteor freaks. (Pilot) As the season ends, a disaster tornado heads right towards Smallville, and leaves Lana trapped in the vortex... (Tempest)

Season two begins as Clark rescues Lana, and Lex's father, Lionel, becomes blind by the twister. (Vortex) This season progresses as Clark learns more and more about his destiny. Christopher Reeve makes an unforgetablle appearance, as Dr. Virgil Swann, a high-tech scientist, who tells Clark about Krypton, his home world. (Rosetta) The season ends with a shocker as Clark and Lana finally get together, Chloe is jealous and turns to Lionel to investigate on Clark, Martha, who was pregnant, looses her baby, Lex gets married, but his jet falls from the sky and crashes into the ocean. But Clark turns to Red-Kryptonite (which makes him a bad boy) after he caused his mother's miscarrage by blowing up his rocket ship so his biological father, Jor-El, cannot send him destiny messages. He rides to Metropolis, the big city north of Smallville, on his Harley and in his leather jacket, turning to the life of crime. (Calling, Exodus)

Season 3 opens as Clark (now known as 'Kal') is in Metropolis and wrecking havoc. Jonathan Kent makes a deal with Jor-El to bring Clark home. (Exile) But when he returns, Clark pays the price as a crime boss named Morgan Edge comes back, looking for a vial of blood Clark should've stolen for him in Metropolis. (Phoenix) Season 3 continues with many interesting storylines such as: Lex going crazy and getting himself into an insane asylum (Shattered, Asylum), Jonathan having a heart attack (Hereafter), Clark giving up his relationship with Lana, Lana getting a call from the future (Crisis), and Pete Ross, Clark's best friend, leaving Smallville, burdened by Clark's secret. (Forsaken) Season 3 ends with a bang as Lionel is in jail for murder, then getting his head shaved, Lana leaving for Paris, Chloe entering a house that explodes, Lex has been poisened by his brandy, Jonathan's braindead in the caves after Clark was mysteriously sucked into the Phantom Zone, and the Kent Farm is on fire... (Covenant)

Season 4 begins as Clark is reborn as his alter-ego Kal-El. Lois Lane comes to town, Lex is in Egypt searching for a mysterious crystal, Lana has a new love, Jason Teague, in Paris, and she also gets a very strange mark on her back, Chloe is still presumed dead, Martha is alone on the farm, and Lionel is still in jail. (Crusade) Later, Lois and Clark investigate Chloe's death, and find her, alive, in an abandoned warehouse. (Gone) More highlights: the future Flash comes to Smallville (Run), Lionel and Clark switch bodies (Transference), Mikhail Mxyzptlk (My-kal mix-yez-pittle-ick) jinxes everyone in Smallville (Jinx), Chloe, Lois, and Lana become possesed by 17th century witches (Spell), Lex is accused of killing a woman he slept with (Bound), a virus enters Smallville and everyone thinks their worst nightmare is a reality (Scare), Clark's former-flame returns (Unsafe), someone learns Clark's secret (Pariah), Clark heads to Metropolis on a college football recruiting trip (Recruit), Clark finda a super-powered dog (Krypto), Lex, Jason, Lana, and Clark head to China in search of a Kryptonian crystal (Sacred), Lois Lane's younger sister, Lucy, comes to Smallville (Lucy), Lex gets split in two by Black Kryptonite (Onyx), a girl who can enter people's bodies does on the night of the prom (Spirit), a boy who can wipe out memories clears out Clark's mind (Blank), Lana and Clark find an abandoned baby in a cornfield (Ageless), a boy who doesn't want high school to end has the ability to make his own fake world kidnaps high schoolers and traps them in his world (Forever), and a mysterious meteor shower strikes Smallville... again. (Commencement)


I hope you enjoyed my season reviews of Smallville! Season's 1-3 are now available on DVD. Season 4 comes to the stores on September 13, 2005. Don't forget to buy 'em! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Simply Beautiful
Though I may not have seen this DVD, I just saw the same exact movie on PBS only minutes ago. After it ended, I knew I had to get it, so I look it up on trusty Amazon.com, and to my amazement I find it here! Sadly, I'll have to wait to get it, but I must say that this was the most beautiful and moving cinema I've ever seen! The movie was absolutely genious and Martin Clunes, a favorite British comedy actor of mine from Men Behaving Badly, suited the character absolutely flawlessly. I cannot stress how highly I think of this movie, though I only saw little more than an hour of it. I can't wait to see the rest once this DVD comes out. I reccommend it to anyone who can comprehend something a bit deeper than an action flick of today, something rare I find. Still, this movie is great and you will love it if you have any sense of film appreciation at all! ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Balance of Terror one of the best ST:TOS; Charlie X OK
I saw with some disappointment that Balance of Terror had been bundled with Charlie X. A better match would have been a more action-oriented episode, such as Amok Time. Still, Balance of Terror is worth the price of the bundle. In my opinion, it is one of the top 5 ST:TOS eps, and also one of the most "adult." The nobility, professionalism and skill of the two soldiers (Kirk and the Romulan captain) are admirable as the story twists and turns through basically a 45-minute battle. The opening and closing, with the married couple who suffers a loss, is a final dramatic touch. Along with City on the Edge of Forever, Balance of Terror is classic, classic Trek. I have to say, though, that the lack of DVD extras is extremely disappointing. The clarity is nice, but when you are talking about 30+-year-old TV shows, the DVD package should include extras to add value for the many loyal Trek fans. Paramount goofed on this.

Two Outstanding Episodes of Classic Trek
Volume 4 of Paramount's reissue and refurbishment of Classic Trek contains two outstanding stories which provide continuous entertainment and enlightenment.

Charlie X is a remarkably frank and moving study of adolescence, with a supernatural twist. Robert Walker, Jr's. awkward Charlie Evans may well be the most sympathetic "villain" in the Trek canon. Anyone who has ever embarrassed himself during adolescence (who among us hasn't?) will feel for Charlie and the agonizing loneliness he endures. William Shatner has some surprisingly subtle moments as Kirk tries to explain the facts of life to Charlie. This episode also contains a glaring continuity error: When Kirk enters the turbolift en route to the bridge, he's wearing his standard gold tunic, but when the turbolift doors on the bridge open, he's wearing his green v-necked pullover!

Balance of Terror consistently winds up on nearly every Trekker's top ten list. This story gets a lot of its flavor from the classic submarine film Run Silent, Run Deep. Viewers who have also seen the recent U-571 can also see the influence of this episode on that movie: Both stories contain an "enemy alien," Spock in this episode, Wentz in U-571. Kirk's forthright confrontation with prejudice ("Leave any bigotry in your quarters. There's no room for it on my bridge.") should be part of a training manual for company managers. Mark Lenard's scenes aboard the Romulan ship have an almost Shakespearean gravitas.

The picture is remarkably clean, considering the source elements are over 35 years old. The sound has been enhanced with stereo effects, although this has not been overdone.

The youth from hell and "The Enemy Below."
Star Trek: The Original Series Volume 4 presents two episodes originally aired in 1966:

"Charlie X:" A troubled adolescent with powerful telekinetic abilites comes aboard the Enterprise and horrifyingly subjects the crew to his undisciplined, torturous powers. Writers Gene Roddenberry and Dorthy Fontana serve up a mature and utterly captivating yarn of space horror that further explores the "power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely" theme, which was well presented in the (second) pilot "Where No Man Has Gone Before" (episode #2). Highly memorable. GRADE A+

"Balance of Terror:" The Enterprise plays cat and mouse with a cloaked (i.e. invisible) Romulan ship in this space version of "The Enemy Below." This is Mark Lenard's first role for Star Trek as the Romulan commander. He is much better known as Spock's Vulcan father Sarek, who first appears in the second season episode "Journey to Babel" (episode #44). Interestingly, Lenard would also go on to play a klingon in "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." He thus holds the distinction for being the only actor to play a Romulan, a Vulcan and a Klingon on Star Trek. Bottom Line: Okay, but generally boring; ridiculously overrated by some. Grade: B- (I'm being generous)

One very good, and one great episode
Charlie X-This strong episode is about an awkward and lonely young man with exceptional powers. The episode explores the transition from boyhood to adulthood, as well as the subtleties and arbitrariness of much of interpersonal interaction. The twist is that Charlie has the power to force adults, and the viewer, not to trivialize his plight. This episode also devotes attention to personality development through casual, leisure scenes including chess and music. Unfortunately, later shows almost completely got away from trying to give us a full portrait of life on the starship, as the episodes became more formulaic. But here, a simple, tight script, augmented by the fleshing out of details, generated a strong show. The solid writing and attention to human detail allows us to feel empathetic towards Charlie at the end, despite all the harm he's caused. You wouldn't see such subtlety in later years. (4 stars)

Balance of Terror-This Romulan battle episode was one of Star Trek's best shows. This episode demonstrates that while science fiction expands the range of possible stories, generally some of the best stories are the most universal. This episode could easily have been transported to the deep, and renamed Das Boot. The basic premise is simple enough, but the story is divided into discrete sections, each of which contains a surprise. I can't think of an episode which more often faded to commercial with actual drama. We are allowed right inside the Captains' minds, so we feel both their uncertainty and fear about encountering each other, and see them reformulating their strategies and estimations of each other as the chess match unfolds.
The episode is further assisted by Mark Leonard's acting (he's even better here than in Journey to Babel) and a dramatic score. The wedding scene also does not detract, since it reminds us that everything is affected by war. Kirk also is at his best here. Over the course of the episode he shows brilliance, compassion, and forgiveness. He also consoles, mediates, accepts criticism, is decisive, and stands up to injustice. Other pluses here include the stance taken on racism, and the fact that the brain trust, even at this early stage in the show, was not afraid to give Kirk a worthy adversary. (5 stars)

Only the best from TOS!
Next to SPACE SEED and THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER, both episodes included on this DVD are by far two of the best ever. Both are extremely well written and directed, and feature great and memorable guest star appearances. The first episodes in 1966 were understandably and predictably introductory compared to the later episodes around 1967, 1968, and 1969. What made these two work so well is they revolve around a realistic story.

WARNING - POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!

CHARLIE X: Robert Walker Jr. guest stars as Charles "Charlie" Evans, a boy with special powers who is welcomed aboard the Enterprise during a routine space flight from the vessel Anteres. Things become complicated when Charlie develops a crush on Yeoman Rand, and begins to display feelings of hostility towards any crewmembers who get in his way. After the Anteres vessel is destroyed, Kirk becomes suspicious of Charlie.

The theme of parental responsibility. Charlie illustrates an example of a young boy, who is confused and frustrated. He tries to be nice to those he encounters, especially women who he has a flame for, yet has a hint of anger and danger about him just beneath the surface. As adolescents we all grew up this way, and naturally many of us who grew up watching this show can view as more than a classical entry. It serves as an episode to educate. There are many extreme moments when Charlie induces crewmembers to freeze, spout poetry, turn into lizards, have their faces erased, or simply disappear. There are also moments of heartbreak when Yeoman Rand disciplines Charlie for overacting his emotions. A truly classic episode.

BALANCE OF TERROR: An important episode for three reasons. 1) The debut of the Romulans, and Mark Lenard (later played Sarek) guest starring as the Romulan Commander. 2) An episode focusing on the grim reality of war. 3) An episode also focusing on prejudicial behavior. The wedding ceremony of crewmembers Robert Tomlinson and Angela Martine is interrupted when Federation Outposts fall under attack. The Enterprise moves into investigate, but they find themselves intruding into the Romulan Neutral Zone. When Earth Outpost 4 is destroyed, it is evident Romulans are behind the attack. When transmissions are able to be made, the crew is astounded (us as viewers likewise) to discover Romulans resemble Vulcans, which causes Crewman Andrew Stiles to display feelings of distrust and bigotry to Spock. The Romulans perfect a cloaking device on their ship, which they must deactivate in order to attack. A deadly game of cat and mouse ensues.

Under Paul Schneider's screenplay this episode is a true classic. It has moments of mystery as before crossing Romulan Space, they are believed to be a race bent on war and destruction. Yet no one has seen or knows anything about them. There is also the footnote of Crewman Stiles, who had a Father killed during a Romulan battle. No doubt he has a personal vendetta to settle. There are elements of who is the more tactical. The Romulans possessing weaponry much superior to Kirk and the Enterprise, and who is the more clever with sneak attacks and evasive maneuvers.

I personally like the moments when the Enterprise is badly hit, and is forced to shut off power to avoid detection. When Spock is repair phaser thrusters, he accidentally triggers the reactivation button. Also when the Enterprise crew helplessly watches the destruction of Outpost 4, they see an illusion of a laser fired from the Romulan ship to destroy the outpost. Later when the Romulans fire the very same laser at the Enterprise, it cleverly echoes the Outpost 4 destruction - only this time it is no illusion.

Lastly there is the theme of war fatalities. When a phaser coolant overheats, Stiles and Tomlinson are rendered unconscious leaving them wide open for the Romulans to fire for full destruction effect. Spock heroically enters the room and presses the firing button, and the Romulan ship is disabled. Kirk communicates with the Romulan Commander through a transmission asking him to beam aboard to safety. The Commander refuses and self destructs his ship. He unforgettably states "You and I are another kind. In a different reality, I could have called you friend." Every time I see it, I can't help but shed a tear.

The Enterprise crew is victorious, unfortunately one crewman was killed: Tomlinson - the boy who was going to marry! BALANCE OF TERR