Man, that Armageddon is Tas-TEE!

Star Trek Remastered. “A Taste of Armageddon.”

Not a lot on the new CGI front in this one, as most of the action takes place planet-side. There’s a nice new digital matte interpretation of the surface of Eminiar VII, complete with a little moving tram and tiny Eminians dutifully moving around in the background.

I’ve always liked this episode and its (still) very topical theme of using computers to wage war. In this viewing it really hit home that the leaders of Eminiar VII are proud – too proud – of the fact that they are waging a “non-destructive” war (at least as far as buildings and property are concerned) but it hasn’t occurred to them to seek to NOT wage war. Your hand can make a fist and you can use that fist to knock people down, or you can open your hand, grasp another’s hand, and help them to their feet. The choice is yours. (End of sappy sermon.)

The planet of Eminiar VII has been at war with fellow planet Vindakar for 500 years. How do we know this? They have characters state this fact at least FIVE TIMES. Twice, maybe three times would have been sufficient. But five times and you’re just bragging.

When Kirk and his landing party materialize on the planet, they immediately turn around and look at the wall behind them. All of them do this! What, they’ve never seen a wall before?

After receiving the message from Eminiar to stay the heck away, Ambassador Fox demands they proceed. This negotiator doesn’t really try to reason, or bargain with Kirk, he simply pulls rank and demands Kirk do what he wants. Great ambassadorial skills there!

Kirk includes two “red shirt” security guards in his landing party. They actually both make it through to the end of the episode ALIVE! This may be the only episode where that happens.

The chick who plays Yeoman Tamula is a terrible actress. Probably another producer’s girlfriend.

Ambassador Fox has an assistant we only see when he beams down and is taken hostage. This Tony Perkins look-a-like never says anything. And he has the worst death I've seen in quite some time. After being rescued by Spock, Fox and Tony are walking behind the Vulcan when they encounter some Eminian guards and they all exchange "sonic disruptor fire" and Tony sort of squats in a corner and dies. He squats and he dies. Is there a sillier death than that?

Anan 7 states they have war dead of one to three million a year, all of whom have to step into disintegration machines. But when we see a disintegration machine in operation – with a crowd of “casualties” waiting in line – it only zaps ONE PERSON at a time. Even my microwave can nuke two, hell, even three burritos at one time.

Disclaimer: Star Trek is Copyright 2008 and a Registered Trademark of CBS Studios, Inc. No infringement of those rights is implied.

Thanks to Trekcore.com for the Star Trek screencaps.

"xXx" film franchise spellz "dumb"

Okay, so I just watched "xXx: State of the Union" starring that Royal Shakespeare Company master of exactly one facial expression Sir Ice Cube. I was kidding about the RSC bit. And the bit about the knighthood. And "watched" maybe be stretching it, as I sorta scanned through the dull parts. But Cube DOES have only one expression, and it's a frown. Nice.

I haven't seen the first "xXx" film starring Vin Petroleum, sorry, Diesel, but I hear it's pretty stupid. Good thing, because the sequel is so dumb it should repeat its grade again. And take summer school.

I do recall seeing the promos for Triple X #1 where filmmakers said they were gunning for the James Bond franchise - the pinnacle of action films - which they saw as tired, old and weak. They set about doing this by using generic action film plots, hiring "star actors of the moment," and by staging the dumbest, loudest, and most non-thrilling action scenes. There was nothing in xXx-2 I hadn't seen before, and done better, in other action movies. If you put a drawer full of silverware and a big toaster in a 55 gallon drum, sealed it up and shook it about, you'd be just as loud as this film's action beats, but, more importantly, MORE exciting. The only action bit I thought had any merit was when Cube used a aircraft carrier's plane catapult to launch his mini-tank into a much larger tank that was pursuing him. That was something I hadn't seen before.

Another thing that gets me about a franchise that make no bones about going for a younger action audience, especially when it's built around the premise of using characters who are into extreme sports is that neither Vin Diesel nor Ice Cube are in that age range. They were both 35 years old when they made their respective xXx movies. 35 would be about retirement age for a real x-treme sports dude. Why aren't they casting someone about 25 years old, which seems to be the peak for x-treme sports?

The xXx movies play out like a bad SNL sketch. What's next, Will Ferrel as a bad guy named Mugatu?

Hef's Ho Ho (no third Ho)

Here's Hugh Hefner's Christmas card, featuring his ridiculous, eternally pajama-clad self and his two new TWIN girlfriends, Tit and Tat (who cares what their real names are).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/12/23/hefs-christmas-card-bodyp_n_153087.html

"Hef" is 82 years old. The twins, Karissa and Kristina Shannon, are 19. All together now, "EEWWWWW!"

Our octogenarian Lothario showers his girlfriends with cars, clothes, jewelry, etc. For those under 25 (which is MOST of them, at least at the start), he should also pay for a decent college education. Not nail technician school, but a four-year college. If he really loves them, as he says he does, he would do this.

Because who is going to want a 24 year old, empty-headed, peroxided-out, used, former-Hefner g.f?

Views/Reviews - Star Trek Remastered - Maab Mentality

Star Trek Remastered. "Friday’s Child."

Nothing new on the CGI front: the ship looks TOTALLY computer generated and the “realistic” planet, Capella, looks more fake than the original 1960s version.

I am convinced this episode was written by a schizophrenic. Every time one position is stated as fact, it is soon refuted. Eleen wants to die. Then she says, “to live is better.” Maab kills the ruling Teer because he wanted to explore more options. Shortly after, Maab says, “perhaps to be a Teer is to see in new ways.” McCoy who had previously studied the Capellan culture states they shun medicine, believing the weak should die; he knows and understands their customs. Then McCoy goes out of his way to help Eleen. I know he’s a doctor and all, but to force his beliefs upon her seems wrong. (I know Kirk does this all the time, but still.)

My main man Maab looks like a steroidal Johnny Carson. I hate to see what Ed McMahon looks like.

The Klingon - who is called only "Klingon" in this episode, but has a name, Kras, in the end credits - has Wolverine's sideburns, which are cool, but then he also has thinning hair, which is not cool.

I love this one bit toward the end. Kirk and Spock are crouched behind some rocky outcroppings and a Capellan soldier sees them and reports this to Maab. Seconds later, Eleen comes over and says she killed Kirk’s party as they slept. The Klingon wants proof, but Maab says “she’s the wife of a Teer” and that’s all the proof they need, and they turn to leave. The Klingon runs up the hill and is shot by Kirk with an arrow and all hell breaks loose. Why would Maab just call it quits because Julie Newmar comes back and why does her “word” mean anything? She’s the wife of the guy he JUST KILLED so why does that carry any weight? Just before the Klingon ran up the hill, she says “I want to die in my own tent” or something. Again, with the schizophrenic back and forth!

This episode came in the middle of season two, so the show’s writers and producers had a while to figure out the characters and such. Look at this exchange between Kirk and Spock just before the big blowout.

Kirk: There's just one thing I want.
Spock: The Klingon?
Kirk: One of us must get him.
Spock: Revenge, Captain?
Kirk: Why not?

Isn’t that just a bit out of character for Kirk?

Lastly, this only hit me when I was watching the closing credits and I saw all the character names spelled out: MAAB, AKAAR, ELEEN, DUUR AND KEEL. What’s with all the “vowel stuttering?” Fu-uck me-e.

Disclaimer: Star Trek is Copyright 2008 and a Registered Trademark of CBS Studios, Inc. No infringement of those rights is implied.

Thanks to Trekcore.com for the Star Trek screencaps.

Running CEO Man

According to this AP study $1.6 Billion dollars was awarded to CEOs of banks that are now asking for a taxpayer handout. Http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081221/ap_on_bi_ge/executive_bailouts;_ylt=AmtUA0WCqknpr9_Bq.WWbrQDW7oF

This quote kills me, "The total amount given to nearly 600 executives would cover bailout costs for many of the 116 banks that have so far accepted tax dollars to boost their bottom lines."

In Mel Brooks History of the World, Part 1, Dom Deluise as Caesar had a great scene where he jumps into a ornate tub and gets a "treasure bath" with gold coins, jewels and other expensive baubles poured onto him, which is exactly what these unbelievably greedy CEOs and other executives have been doing.

Hey, network programmers looking for the next reality show hit, I've got an idea for you. Running Man: CEO. Similar to the Arnie movie and Stephen King's novel, CEOs and other executives would have to run for their lives from angry taxpayers armed with guns, knives, chainsaws, flamethrowers, pole axes, basically whatever they can get from Home Depot.

Oh, and there's no chance whatsoever of the CEOs actually escaping. They're all toast in this gameshow; here, the taxpayer actually wins (for once).

Views/Reviews - Star Trek Remastered. Gilded Cage, Part 1

I've been watching Star Trek: Remastered here in Hollywood, the first time I’ve regularly watched the series since the mid 1980s. So with more than a hint of nostalgia, fresh eyes, and curiosity about the new CGI visual effects, I present these Views and Reviews, complete with Star Trek Fumetti.

Star Trek Remastered. The Menagerie, Part I.

Boy, the syndication cuisinart-editors chopped this one up all to heck! They cut out the Spock smiling at the plastic space flowers scene! (a-holes) Nice new purpley cgi starbase planet in the beginning, with new matte painting (day and night views) at Kirk and party's beam down (they also added some extra folks in the bg of the matte too). They made a new Starbase Shuttlecraft, with all new markings, for the scenes of Kirk and El Commodore chasing after the Enterprise.

Also they fixed that shot from The Cage where the camera goes from outside the Enterprise right through the bridge dome. That correction rocked! The commodore's female assistant who meets Kirk and company at beam down is stoned. Seriously. They also do some weird editing where she speaks a line, they cut to Kirk's line, then they come back to her blank face. They do this in two different scenes. Stoned, I tell you.

http://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x11hd/themenageriepart1hd008.jpg This one shot of Spock from The Cage could be mistaken for one from Star Trek TMP. http://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/1x11hd/themenageriepart1hd361.jpg

Man, I was really digging this episode. Some great scenes between Kirk and McCoy discussing Spock's various loyalties (watching scenes like that after serving in the military and, well, just getting older and thinking about such things gets me all teary-eyed). I love that it got so heated they were SHOUTING at one another! I think DeForest Kelley really came into his own with this episode. Leonard Nimoy as always in top form here. I wish that Nimoy didn't retire from acting and that someone like David E. Kelley would have come up with a role for him late in his career, like Kelley did for Shatner on Boston Legal, to showcase just how good of an actor this man really is.

Gene Roddenberry clearly forgot about this episode when he was re-jiggering Star Trek with Phase II, TMP and later with TNG and all their perfect utopia feelings. I love that here traveling to Talos IV is the only DEATH PENALTY on Starfleet's books. Some utopia, that -- everything is GREAT, but if you gas up at this one planet, we'll kill you.

Disclaimer: Star Trek is Copyright 2008 and a Registered Trademark of CBS Studios, Inc. No infringement of those rights is implied.

Thanks to Trekcore.com for the Star Trek screencaps.

Views/Reviews Star Trek Remastered - Gilded Cage, Part 2

Star Trek Remastered. The Menagerie: Part II

The original Talos IV looks like a piece of concept art from David Lynch's Dune - http://trekmovie.com/wp-content/uploads/menagerie/old_conference_viewer.jpg The new version looks more "accurate" but not nearly as unique. If you want to see the cool new cgi shot where they zoom in on the bridge dome and go THROUGH it to show the crew go here, the link with the new effects is just below the title card photo: http://trekmovie.com/2006/11/25/the-menagerie-part-1-screenshots/

I always liked the deep voice of the gravel-faced Transporter Chief shown in The Cage footage; according to imdb the voice was actually dubbed by an uncredited Bob Johnson, who also voiced all the "Good morning, Mr. Phelps..." tapes in the Mission: Impossible series! (you learn something new every darn day).

Alas, the Asian assistant transporter guy is uncredited and has no lines. He's the one with the thick Coke-bottle eyeglasses (his friends in school called him "The Observatory").

You ever read the Talos IV eyes only document that Mendez shows Kirk in Part 1? It's odd in that it lists "Half Vulcan Science Officer Spock" twice. Why is his race or species important? I thought the Federation was colorblind. In their respective Annual Performance Reports does it list "Swahili Communiations Officer Uhura" "Caucasian Chief Surgeon Leonard McCoy" and "Half Japanese-Half Filipino Helmsman Sulu?"

Disclaimer: Star Trek is Copyright 2008 and a Registered Trademark of CBS Studios, Inc. No infringement of those rights is implied.

Thanks to Trekcore.com for the Star Trek screencaps.

I No Longer Believe

The X-Files: I Want To Believe.

The X-Files is finally, truly dead. This movie proves that creator/co-writer/director Chris Carter, his chief writing partner Frank Spotnitz, and the franchise have nothing left in it. Part of the reason is the TV series simply ran for too many seasons – nine(!), with the last 1 ½ seasons WITHOUT David Duchovny’s Mulder, the character that is the central focus of the show. They ended the series with the X-Files closed down and Mulder framed by the FBI and the government.

The movie opens six years after the end of the series. Scully is a practicing doctor at a depressing Catholic Church run hospital. Mulder stays at their home (they became an item at the end of the series) sitting in his office all day, cutting out newspaper and magazine clippings about the paranormal, and tossing pencils at the ceiling. Now the actors haven’t worked with each other since the end of the show, but Mulder and Scully have been together all that time, so why do they have NO chemistry between them? That was one of the hallmarks of the television series, their chemistry. They worked well together, they bantered with each other in a fun, flirtatious way. Not here. This common law marriage is dead.

I mentioned the depressing hospital, but everything is this movie reeks of depression: the lead actors expressions, the cold setting (Virginia in winter), a pedophile priest, the characters’ lives. And what's with rapper Xhibit being in this film as frowny-faced FBI doubter Drummy? This movie should have been subtitled, "There Is No Hope." Also, and this is a big issue, the majority of X-Files tales, especially the stand alone episodes, were scary, which was a major goal of the series, according to Chris Carter. He wanted to scare you! Here, depressing is substituted for scary.

SPOILERS AHEAD

Let’s talk about the X-File in this film. The series had a variety of paranormal phenomenon it explored, from the traditional – extra-terrestrials and alien abduction, vampires, werewolves, ghosts, and A.I. – to the unusual - fluke men, liver-eating elastic mutants, lightning-wielding teens, killer cockroaches and zombie insectoids.

So what is the X-File in this film? There really isn’t one! Billy Connelly is a supposed “psychic” pedophile priest, divining what went on and the current state of the victims, but it turns out he only has a psychic connection with one of the villains in the film, who is revealed to be a survivor of a childhood molestation by the priest. And the villains in the movie? They are Russian doctors who are not only black market organ thieves, but continuing their earlier nasty Dr. Frankenstein-like work by creating two-headed guard dogs and keeping the now grown molestation survivor alive by transplanting his head onto compatible bodies (male or female). What’s next, an Incredible Two Headed Transplant? Paging Rosey Grier and Ray Milland!

[Let’s talk about that two-headed guard dog for a second. He/they/it is shown briefly when it runs after one of the kidnap victims. But it was so dark, and edited so quickly, you really couldn’t see what it was (and that’s how director Carter wanted it). Fine. But later it attacks Mulder and, once again, it is so dark that I didn’t realize it was a two-headed dog! That’s poor photography and editing, people.]

This movie is so pathetic that the X-File is almost an afterthought. Now, the series had at least one episode, “Irresistible,” where the X-File was not paranormal; it dealt with Donnie Faster, a necrophiliac (the network sensors didn’t like that term, so he was called a “death fetishist”). But Mulder and Scully were fully engaged in that episode, which focused more on Scully’s reaction, having been recently abducted at that point in the series. In this movie, Scully is ONCE AGAIN questioning her faith in God. Geez, make up your mind, woman. And Mulder is supposedly drawn back to investigating an X-File, the only thing he knows how to do. Well, at least that’s what it said on paper, because the always low-key Duchovny is near comatose in this film, just (barely) going through the motions. And the once radiant Gillian Anderson's light has dimmed over the years. Too many depressing British period pieces perhaps?

The movie ends the way it began. Scully is still a doc at Depressing Memorial Hospital. And Mulder’s work on this barely there X-File is dismissed and thrown aside, leaving Mulder to re-grow the Grizzly Adams beard he sported at the start of the film as he continues to sit in his home office cutting out magazine and newspaper clippings, and tossing pencils at the ceiling.

What a pathetic film, and what a pathetic end to a once-great, groundbreaking series.

Disadvantage Point

Last night I watched Vantage Point, the political action thriller with Dennis Quaid, Matthew Fox and William Hurt. Similar to the Akira Kurosawa classic Rashomon, Vantage Point shows an event from several character’s points of view. In this film it’s the assassination of Hurt’s U.S. president, seen from the point of view of veteran Secret Service man Quaid, tourist Forrest Whitaker, the assassin, the president, Sigourney Weaver as the on-sight news director, and about six or seven other people too. I’m only slightly exaggerating. Each time one point of view ends, the film literally rewinds itself to start another character’s 20 minute viewpoint of the proceedings. If you put all the “rewinding” scenes together they probably lasted a good half hour. Why they felt they had to do this, I don’t know, but after the third time I started fast forwarding through this dreck.

Dennis Quaid is getting older and his face seems to be stuck with one expression: constipation. I like Quaid, and wouldn’t mind having a beer with the man, but the director should slap him in the face – HARD – before each take to get the man to loosen up.

The movie has a car chase through the streets of Mexico City (doubling for Spain) that lasts roughly 45 minutes. Again, I kid, but only slightly. After The Bourne Identity and its thrilling Mini-Cooper chase through the tight, winding streets of France, Vantage Point’s car chase through the long Mexican streets is a severe let down, with the editor going bug-nuts crazy with the splicing machine. That little bulldog riding the skateboard in the famous viral video was way more exciting than this. (Maybe that dog should have been driving one of the cars in Vantage Point.)

One thing that really got to me was the movie’s sense of place, or rather, lack thereof. The assassination happens in a large plaza. A couple of the shadier characters plan to meet at a nearby overpass. Several of the characters do end up at this overpass after a foot chase started at the plaza. When Quaid who is at the plaza commandeers a car and chases after a suspect they end up after their LONG, HIGH SPEED car chase at this same underpass. WTF? Were they driving in circles?

A pointless, boring film. Watch grass grow for something a bit more exciting.

Paint it black

They're sandblasting the window frames, or something, before painting at the apartment complex out back. And the NOISE. IS. DEAFENING. (The whole world right now sounds like the inside of a espresso machine.)

And this has been going on since the sun came up, and will probably last ALL DAY.

...(sigh)

The Economy is affecting EVERYTHING

Due to the severe economic downturn, stand up comics across the country will be forced to tell jokes...with no punchlines.

Views and Reviews - Star Trek Remastered

Star Trek Remastered. "Errand of Mercy."

This one I always hated as a kid because of all the talking, kind of like with Return of the Archons. Plus, like Archons, Kirk and Spock are OUT OF UNIFORM for much of the episode. As a kid I wanted to dress up in a cool Starfleet uniform, not wear leggings and fur! But as an adult viewer this episode kicks some space-heiney. In the first 3 minutes of the show, we have an attack on the Enterprise - the new CGI attack isn't as cool as those original little points of light with the lens flares they used - and a declaration of war before we go to the opening credits. ACTION PACKED, PEEWEE!

CBS-Digital gave the Organians a nice new planet, with chocolate oceans and caramel mountains. (Imagine if Ben and Jerry's made a planet.)

I believe I have traced the Takei/Shatner feud to this episode. Here's an exchange of dialogue between Kirk and Sulu after Kirk decides to leave Sulu in charge (Scotty had a HELL of a hangover, so he was out this episode).

Kirk: The Klingon fleet's in this quadrant. We know that Organia will be a target. If they should emerge --

Sulu: We'll handle them, sir.

Kirk: You will evaluate the situation. If there's a fleet of them, you'll get out of here.

Sulu: Butt Captain--Kirk: NO butts! (Okay, certain spelling license may have been taken but that is the dialogue word for word.)

After watching John Colicos, I wish they would have used him as Kor in Star Trek III instead of Christopher Lloyd/Kruge. Colicos was really good in this one, his acting going near the top but never over it. I just love how SMUG he is, so sure that he is in control on Organia.

I think someone put ants in Kirk's pants. At the SLIGHTEST provocation - a hand gesture, raised eyebrow, whatever -he just about launches himself toward the "provocateur." He has to be held back SEVERAL times in this episode. He almost punches out an Organian goat at one point! (Guess he hadn't gotten any space-tail in a few stardates.)

That "Klingon munitions dump" - consisting of painted corrugated cardboard boxes - was the worst prop/set dressing. EVER.

Disclaimer: Star Trek is Copyright 2008 and a Registered Trademark of CBS Studios, Inc. No infringement of those rights is implied.

Thanks to Trekcore.com for the Star Trek screencaps.

Views and Reviews - Star Trek Remastered

Star Trek Remastered. "Journey to Babel."

This one has it all, "it's got sex, it's got violence, it's got the ethnic angle." It even has fez-wearing midgets with gold-painted faces. This episode rocks.

Nice new CGI shots of the Enterprise gliding by the camera. I wish I could check them out in HiDef. One funny thing they did was when the enemy ship was zooming by the Enterprise they cut to a scene looking across the saucer section and the double phaser blasts from below are following the enemy ship trying to zap it! It looked more silly, I guess, than cool. They do a nice new CGI shuttle and hangar bay (complete with planet Vulcan seen outside the hangar doors) for Sarek's arrival at the beginning, though I'm tired of them showing the pilot and co-pilot faces in the shuttle windows when on the actual shuttle set their heads are WAY BELOW the windows. Maybe they use barber chairs that telescope up?

Someone tell me why for Sarek's exit from the shuttlecraft the music they chose is the drum beat beginning to the Amok Time fight scene music? Were they trying to make it into a Vulcan theme? I was expecting Sarek to come out with that big stick with the blade on one end and start chopping off heads.

It's funny but as I was watching this episode, I was really admiring the group of guest actors they got: the always creepy Reggie Nalder as the creepy senior Andorian, William O'Connell as Thelev the saboteur, even the actors playing the Enterprise security guard and the Tellarite ambassador were good. Not to mention Mark Lenard and Jane Wyatt. In reading Jeff Bond's review of this episode at trekmovie.com he ALSO goes on about the great guest actors, singling out Joe D'Agosta, Star Trek great casting director for merit. This one has it all: great character bits, humor, suspense, Kirk kicking ass (all Shatner, no stunt double!), new cool aliens, family drama, a space battle, father/son tensions, midgets putting bean bags into drinking glasses, galactic intrigue, and McCoy trying out his new ham smoker.

Disclaimer: Star Trek is Copyright 2008 and a Registered Trademark of CBS Studios, Inc. No infringement of those rights is implied.

Thanks to Trekcore.com for the Star Trek screencaps.

(Leaf)Blowin' in the wind

It has been raining - yes, raining - the proverbial "cats and dogs" here in Hollywood for several days now. We get a good daily torrent pouring down for ten minutes, then it continues to sprinkle for practically the rest of the day. Everything is washed away clean.

So when the groundskeepers came yesterday to do their thing, why did they have a guy run the leafblower? On typical dry days, Leafblower guy usually runs around the entire apartment complex blowing leaves, dust and dirt up and out. But with the daily down-pourings, why the heck would he run the leafblower yesterday? Other than, it's what we always do when we come here.

And to annoy the crap out of me.

Steam Punk'd

In tonight’s Kinetoscope presentation, Ashton Kutcher pranks Charles Dickens, author of "Oliver Twist." With the aid of Jules Verne, a dirigible and a difference engine, Kutcher leads Dickens to believe he has contracted syphilis from a London docks prostitute. I say, old boy!

Views and Reviews - Star Trek Remastered

Star Trek Remastered. "The Man Trap."

They took out the cool, original Jupiter-like planet and replaced it with a generic CGI sphere. They also created some great CGI matte paintings that show more of the planet surface with the ruins. Very impressive.

Speaking of impressive the actual planet set seems to be fairly large, larger it appears than other similar planetscapes. It would be cool to play paintball or laser tag on a set like this, especially with all the column ruins.

Kirk does his captain's logs in practically a whisper. Very eerie.

In the teaser just before they meet Nancy and the Prof, Kirk, very much the jock, picks some weeds and offers them to McCoy to use as flowers for his old girlfriend. Kirk is a dick.

In dialogue they state that Nancy was 25 when she met McCoy 12 years ago, so that would make her only 37, then why the ugly, gray-haired old lady wig? And another thing that's always bothered me is how Nancy is shown for the majority of the episode AS KIRK SEES HER. WTF? She was Dr. McCoy's old flame, so throughout the episode should she not have been shown as McCoy had remembered her, i.e. less matronly?

Expendable Crewman #1 sees Nancy as the hot blond from "Wrigley's Pleasure Planet." Just how much fun can you HAVE with gum?

Uhura is just plain horny here. She says to Spock, "Why don't you tell me I'm an attractive young woman?" and "Tell me how Vulcan looks in the moonlight." Geez, why not just wave a condom and a tube of lube at the man.

The crewmen all die from the Victor Borge plant. POP!

There are several quick scenes in the Enterprise corridors -- they are alwasy bustling with activity. At one point even the beekeeper-guy shows up. Very cool. There's even one scene where they follow Kirk from the corridor into the elevator with a handheld camera -- a big deal with the huge 1960s cameras they used.

Mr. Sulu is ALL OVER the ship in this episode. He's eatin' a salad with Beauregard the pink hand puppet plant in the botanical lab, he's roaming the corridors with Yeoman Rand a few times, he's sitting at Uhura's station later on the bridge while Uhura is at Spocks (musical chairs!).

After Kirk shoots Crater, he leaps over a rock, visibly jostling the slab of styrofoam ruin behind him. oops.

Disclaimer: Star Trek is Copyright and a Registered Trademark of CBS Studios Inc. No infringement of those rights is implied.

Thanks to Trekcore.com for the Star Trek screencaps.