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Reviews
Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (2022)
Overall good but where's the strange new worlds??
The awful Trek Discovery never seemed to actually discover anything - even when presented with what should have been the great opportunity of being thrown 3,000 or whatever years it was into the future...same so far with Strange New Worlds. I like the series, it beats hell out of any 'new' Trek besides the 3rd season of Picard but again, where is the exploration, the actual 'strange new worlds" ? Last episode was yet another time travel trip to our current century 21. All well and good but god, for a supposed space trekking series, or franchise, or whatever one may call it now, I don't see much that lives up to series titles like "strange new worlds" or "discovery". Missed opportunities, sadly, in my view. Also, all the 'new Trek' series episodes I find are far too long. On TV, with commercials (4-5 minutes' worth between scenes, which is why I record it and FF through) episodes are at least an hour, sometimes up to an hour and 20 minutes. Classic Trek shows, without commercials, were 44-45 minutes long, nice, tight stuff. Granted, seasons are now usually just 10 episodes as opposed to 20 or more in the past, arguably accounting for the almost movie length each week but it seems to lead in many cases to bloated storytelling full of filler.
Star Trek: Picard: Mercy (2022)
Franchise loyalty and maybe a better way to watch 'new' Trek like Picard/Discovery
I continue to watch these 'new' Trek shows for reasons I can only ascribe to some sort of perverse franchise/brand loyalty, which I imagine might be true for many forever Trek fans.
I stay with it, bizarrely, in the forlorn hope that it might improve. And I thought the first two episodes of season 2 of Picard were good but it's since gone downhill, largely as a result of modern TV's incessant need to 'serialize' every show. The season-long story 'arcs' of both Picard and Discovery would have been quickly done in two, at most three-part episodes of classic Trek but no, now they're extended to (thankfully) seasons of just 10 or so episodes that nevertheless feel like a 35-episode slog. I find I'm constantly thinking, well, just x-number of episodes left in this season to get through. And unlike previous Trek, which has always prompted repeat views, I've never once and never will repeat watch any 'new' Trek episode; there's just nothing compelling me to do so.
I still watch them as they air, but almost as background noise while my attention drifts to reading or whatever. But I've developed my own sort of speed viewing method. Just watch the "previously on ... " opening segment, then find a good plot summary somewhere, and you're good.
And, whatever happened to using outer space as a vehicle in a sci-fi show? You know, boldly going and all that?
Sigh.
Star Trek: Discovery: Rubicon (2022)
whatever, my franchise loyalty constantly tested
I quit this show some time back, then relented and caught back up. Not sure why other than franchise loyalty although the franchise has been in other hands from the originals who even knew Gene Roddenberry/Rick Berman and those involved up to and including Enterprise.
I'll repeat what I said from the very first episode. A major flaw in this series is the episodes are too damn long! Last week, commercials included, was 70-plus minutes, this week down to a relatively manageable 52. Classic trek, all series, was 44 minutes or so in an hour-long with commercials TV window. That fact meant tighter storytelling, less filler. Discovery has WAY too much filler.
And, as someone in a season 4 thread somewhere else accurately pointed out, WTF is it where a ship from 900 years ago, with a crew from 900 years ago, is now the prime ship of a society advanced 900 years from them??? It just makes no sense. Sure, they could learn, will learn, etc. But within 2-3 episodes of the 900 years in the future (was that season 3, can't keep track) suddenly the Discovery crew is the all-knowing, go-to crew?? Relative to their 900-years 'older' brethren they'd be in kindergarten at best given advances in technology etc.
I was really looking forward when Discovery got thrown 900 years into the future, for the ship to truly start 'discovering' new things...the possibilities were endless, create something entirely new yet still Trek. Yet. The people running the show chose to do whatever it is they are doing.
Dial M for Murder (1954)
spoilers: Might not be considered Hitchcock's best, but it may be my favorite
Difficult to pick a Hitchcock favorite from among Psycho, The Birds, Rope, Vertigo, Rear Window, Strangers on a Train, on and on we all know the titles. But Dial M has always been one of my favorites I suppose largely based on the acting performances. It came on Turner Classic the other night and even though I own the movie, I couldn't help but watch it again as it was broadcast - as often happens to me with many Hitch movies.
Ray Milland is excellent as the suave husband and I've always found his parrying with John Williams as the Columbo-like - well before Peter Falk as Columbo, wonder if Inspector Hubbard inspired it - Inspector Hubbard who, one suspects, suspected Milland from moment one that Hubbard came on the case.
I think those two actors make the movie but of course Grace Kelly and Robert Cummings as her lover turn in fine performances - as does Anthony Dawson as Swann. And the ending, with the Milland character essentially saying, ok, you got me, anyone for a drink, to me is just classic.
Just a great movie I never tire of.
Star Trek: Discovery: Forget Me Not (2020)
may ditch it after 14 minutes and to date I've liked season 3
I thought throwing the crew 900 years into the future was a great move; no more issues re canon, if that's an issue, can chart own path and truly 'discover' which used to be the ethos of the franchise. and I liked the first 3 episodes, for the most part, of season 3. but this one displays Discovery's fatal ongoing flaws to me - lousy writing displayed in a propensity for the dialogue not to be natural conversation between people but rather contrived speeches . . . not at all how people actually talk to each other. Maybe in the 24th or whatever century we'll have progressed to that stage but, hope not if this is what it means. And, as usual, individual episodes in this series are WAY too long, 70 minutes or so. But I guess one has to allow for speech/conversation in and around whatever action and 'discovery' might actually ensue. Hopefully a bad blip in what I thought was an encouraging and better season 3, and we'll move on to better things from here. You're 900 years in the future now, Discovery. Go actually DISCOVER new things!
Star Trek: Picard (2020)
I try to like it, then I don't, then I sort of do...they're playing with Trek fans' loyalties
I've tried to like Discovery. I will give it yet another chance when it resumes if it does (apparently so, after Picard finishes season 1) because the way last season ended, at least they're 900 years in the future now so they don't have to worry about any prequel BS, 'canon' and so on (why Trek shows, or any shows, try to do prequels is beyond me, just makes it more difficult than it need be)...
I've tried to like Picard, and I sort of do but...it's kinda boring. The most recent episode I saw, "The Impossible Box' got good, sort of, but took a long time to get there. Currently watching Nepenthe which brings back Troi and Riker but I doubt even they can save it.
So I've realized, yeah, I know, duh...the same folks running this show (at least one of them,Alex Kurtzman) are same folks who did the 'reboot' movies with original series characters (first two movies were decent I thought, third one was just action movie BS) and same folks doing Discovery.
So you have yet another dark, slow-moving, serialized show (which is funny because I loved DS9 yet...). why can't they, please, return to episodic TV? why is every TV show nowadays a serial? no wonder I don't watch much TV. you can maintain a story line, as TNG did, without having to serialize it. you can do the main arc, as DS9 did, if you have an arc, but also do stand alone episodes as you move along with the narrative, inserting what you need in the episodes to carry it further. but, no, aparently. so what we now have with Discovery and Picard is an ongoing narrative bereft of the initial wonder of Trek, no discovery, no exploration, no new aliens and wonders of the universe to encounter and/or figure out each week...sad.
Yet as a Trek loyalist since the days of the original series, I keep tuning in, hoping, as do many people like me. So the producers are playing with us and we're suckers for it.
Bottom line: the original series and TNG, and to a lesser extent the rest up to Enterprise were, for me, Trek shows I wanted to repeat view because I enjoyed them so much and I've seen original series and TNG episodes literally probably hundreds of times, many are like me, we know the dialog by heart, etc. etc. There's just a magic to those shows.
There's no magic to these new 'imaginings' of Trek. I have no desire or compulsion whatsoever to repeat view any of the movie reboots, Discovery or Picard. Because there's no magic.
But, I don't begrudge those who enjoy the new shows. And I will keep watching them, hoping, out of Trek loyalty. But, I continue to be disappointed. Then again, when Enterprise was cancelled I was disappointed because I thought it was improving, but I and I would presume many others were fine with the franchise shutting down. Nobody asked for reboots or new series or, at least, certainly not what we've been given since. Sigh.
Star Trek: Discovery: Such Sweet Sorrow (2019)
As a Trekkie, I keep watching, trying...but it is.. trying.
Not going to get into it too much but 2 main things bug me about this show and though a fan from the very beginning of Trek and old enough to remember it airing live...and there have been some good/decent episodes this season - and I honestly don't are about 'canon' so much - but again the series is wildly inconsistent more than any previous series ever was.
1. why does Burnham constantly put down/seem to know more/usurp the captain? sure, subordinates often have better ideas because they are often experts in a given field, as in any workplace, but seemingly in EVERY episode (this season, Pike) winds up asking of Burnham 'what is your recommendation?" so then why not just put Burnham in charge since she apparently has all the answers? What's the point, otherwise? Spock (original Spock), Riker, etc could have been in charge but weren't; but while offering insights they also didn't continually blatantly and publicly embarrass their commanders with the 'smarter' answer to whatever. Even in a current century office there are protocols around that, the second in command goes to the commander privately yet we are led to assume that in this advanced century you just publicly countermand your commander?
2. more tellingly, where is the HUMOR in this show? unlike every other Trek preceding this series there appears to be (unless I've missed it) NO sense of humor to this series. Zero. None. There's never a fun episode, or fun parts in any episode, things like the old Spock-McCoy banter, or Worf's dry wit, etc. etc. there seem to be attempts at it but so poorly executed as to be just pathetic.
fix that up and it might be worth watching. I continue to watch, hoping.
Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982)
Easily the best of the franchise
Fans of the movies involving Michael Myers hate it but this is easily as others have stated the best of the Halloween franchise, at least based on the 6 or 7 of the franchise I've seen. There's a real story here, a SF element, beyond the repetition of the other movies which amount to an indestructible being in a white mask going around and killing people. Fine for one movie, maybe two. Carpenter wanted to branch out but the audience didn't move with him, hence Halloween III failed in terms of box office but it's easily the best in the series. So why just a 7? well, the acting/actors are not exactly top notch, and the ending rips off, at least, the 1978 remake of Invasion of The Body Snatchers, but overall a much better viewing experience than watching some mindless, mute guy in a white facemask, who we never really get to know too much about besides Loomis saying repeatedly that he is not human, stiffly walking around killing people.
Batman: The Bloody Tower (1967)
ridiculous episodes with non-traditional villain
Why they thought to make this a 3-episode arc is beyond me or likely anyone. let's face facts: this series is/was best when Batman faced Joker, Riddler, Penguin and Catwoman, his traditional enemies. otherwise, the episodes suffer, albeit as a loyalist I watch. But 3 parts for this "Londinium' escapade? Ridiculous. Pretty much garbage.
Star Trek: Discovery: Despite Yourself (2018)
I keep trying to like this show, but I can't.
Longtime Trek fan, all series, movies even the reboots though the last one jumped the shark in terms of just being yet another explosion-filled adventure movie, not Trek at all. And I don't even really care whether the movies or series are 'Trek' or not. Just that they are worth watching. which Discovery decidedly is not, despite my repeated attempts simply due to being a Trek fan. For one thing, what has this crew ever actually, er, discovered? Beyond that, lousy acting, lousy lighting (I don't watch much TV, maybe the shadows and darkness are the current cool thing but doesn't do much for me), lousy stories, lousy characters. Beyond the overhyped and terribly bad actress Michael character (where in hell do people find her a good actress?) I could not name one character in this show without a character list. whereas in all other Trek series, within a few episodes, I and other fans could easily do so. Says a lot. It's frankly just an awful show and I think by this point I'll only continue watching to see how utterly worse it might get, if that's possible. Longtime, and hugely disappointed, Trek fan.
The X Files: My Struggle III (2018)
actually pretty good
Longtime X-Files fan, from the beginning, the movies, all of it. I actually liked Doggett, for instance. Anyway, I didn't mind this episode. I do not think it's as bad as many here think, though I respect those views. Actually liked it. It will lead to more things as the season progresses. All that said, I think they ought to have put the series to rest when it originally ended but since they've chosen to bring it back, I think this episode opens some doors to further exploration. And, if Gillian Anderson/Scully does leave, if they so choose, they'll continue the series as they did when Duchovny/Mulder essentially left in season 9. Hope I do not sound like a shill because I'm not; I do like how they have advanced the series in this episode, we'll see what happens the rest of the season.