VIDEO REVIEWS -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- At last - the return of the video reviews!! Hopefully, we'll be able to run this feature in EVERY issue from now on! STAR TREK: THE MOTION PICTURE - EXTENDED VERSION ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ Reviewed by Simon Plumbe ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ This an unusual release for CIC Video in the respect that it is only available in the UK (as far as I know) and it is on sale EXCLUSIVELY through one chain of retailers, Woolworths for only ฃ10.99. There's no real need to describe the plot of the film, as if you don't know it by now you shouldn't be reading this mag! What makes this version special is that there is extra footage. Unlike the Director's cut of Star Trek VI (that only has 5 minutes of extra scenes), this version of TMP was completely re-edited and it has had a large amount of the effects shots trimmed or removed completely and has then had about 20 minutes of addtional plot and character scenes added. One of the problems with the original version was that it was really too long! The film lasted for over 2 hours, but out of that, there was well over an hour of effects! The scene where we are introduced to the new-look Enterprise lasts for 5 minutes alone! There is also the terminally-boring scene where the Enterprise flies into the heart of the cloud generated by V'Ger which is nothing more than 20 minutes of effects interrupted with the occasional line of dialogue! Admittedly, the effects are nice to watch, but I want to see a movie for its story and nothing else. Obviously, the real problem with the film is that it was actually an episode from the abandoned second TV series, Star Trek - Phase II called "In Thy Image". Now, when you take something that is written as a 45 minute TV episode and then pad it out to form a 2 hour film, its bound to be heavy going for the viewer! However, this version was produced (in the states by ABC TV if I remember correctly) to rectify this. Although its not in the now-favoured wide-screen format, its far more entertaining and more watchable than the original. I've rarely been able to sit through the first film (it's even sent me to sleep on a few occasions!), but I can watch this extended version without any problems. The story still doesn't really hold the film together for 2hrs 20 minutes, but its worth getting if you've never seen the extra footage. You never know, you might even grow to like it!! However, you may be surprised to know that it HAS been transmitted on TV in the UK, although most TV stations are oblivious to the fact that they are showing the "special edition"! STAR TREK VI: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY - U.K. RENTAL RELEASE ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ Reviewed by Simon Plumbe ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ On November 30th 1992, Star Trek VI was finally released in the UK on video to rent. Now, you know what people thought of the film from last issue's feature, but does the movie stand up to scrutiny when seen on the small screen? Well, I bought the video (it cost me over ฃ60!) so I thought I'd take a look... Now, unlike the version reviewed last issue, this is, as with The Motion Picture, the EXTENDED version. Although not extended by the same extent as the first film, there is a few minutes of extra footage to the film, extending two scenes and adding one brand new one. Now, in all honesty, my opinion of Star Trek VI has changed somewhat over recent months. What I once though of as being the best film in the series is now nothing more than average. Why? Well, the problem is that Star Trek VI just doesn't stand up to continued viewing. When it was released, it was given very high praise in the general press - reviews from casual viewers or non-Trek fans. Now this is all well and good, but where Trek VI falls down is that it may be a good sci-fi film, but it is NOT good Star Trek. Many of the characters act "out of character", the sets are too dark and the film overall has a too militaristic feel to it. It really is too moody for Star Trek. Now, don't get me wrong, I still enjoy watching the film, but not as Star Trek. The prime culprit of this is the extra footage, which really should have been left on the cutting room floor - one line of dialogue should never have been spoken and there is another scene that doesn't fit in with the Star Trek mythos. This, to a certain extent, spoils the whole film, although the final piece of extra footage corrects a flaw in the original cut. However, as far as this tape is concerned, it isn't in the popular wide- screen format so about 30% of the picture is missing. Fortunately, this doesn't spoil the film too much, but it is really noticeable in all the space scenes and the exterior footage on Rura Penthe. The overall picture quality however, is excellent (but then, what would you expect for a ฃ60 video!). The real icing on the cake has to be the sound. In the cinema, the sound was superb, but if you have access to a stereo video and a surround sound hi-fi, you're going to be in for a treat! The sound is simply superb with both sound effects and music being thrown at you from all directions! It's an experience! (It's best with the lights out and the surround sound speakers placed behind you -- especially the explosion of Praxxis at the beginning!! Also, listen out for the turbolift doors opening all around you!) Still, despite my reservations, it's worth hiring out to see the extra footage alone. Just don't expect too much from the film itself (apart from THAT sound...!). STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION - CASSETTE 56 ("HERO WORSHIP"/"VIOLATIONS") ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ Reviewed by Matthew Dean ญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญญ (WARNING! This review gives away plot points so stop reading if you haven't seen these yet - Simon) "HERO WORSHIP" -------------- On this, the twelfth episode of season five, and the one hundred and eleventh episode in the series, the Enterprise is ordered to a mysterious "Black Cluster", to investigate the disappearance of the research vessel Vico. When they arrive, they find the ship, destroyed, at the outer edge of the cluster. However, when they beam on board the ship to investigate, they discover a lone survivor - a young boy - trapped under a beam. When transport proves unsuccessful, Data remains aboard to lift the boy out from under the beam, to get him into the corridor where he can be transported from. Data succeeds, and is beamed out before the structure collapses. After the boy is safely aboard the Enterprise, he explains that the ship was attacked from within the black cluster, and attackers with phaser rifles beamed on board and killed everyone on board. When Data attempts to leave the boy, the boy pulls him back and asks Data to stay with him. On examination, they find that the Vico's data banks had been scrambled by the explosions, and that 83% of their data banks had been lost. This prevents Data and LaForge determining the real reason for the destruction of the Vico. On the bridge, Picard talks with Data and LaForge, and explains what the boy said about intruders from a hostile vessel. LaForge disputes the information, explaining that it was categorically impossible for intruders to have been on board. The boy befriends Data, and as a result of his trauma and Data's help, the boy emulates Data and decides that he too is an android. This is a very amusing insight into Data's personal life, and some very funny scenes result. He continues in his android persona until Picard tries a phaser blast inside the cluster. The blast is refracted by the cluster and the beam dissipates into space. On consultation with Data, Picard concludes that it was impossible for the Vico to have been attacked inside the cluster, and he summons the boy to his ready room. The boy explains the truth. When the Vico was experiencing problems in the cluster he fell and his hand hit the computer panel. It was then the the ship seemed to destruct. Troi and Picard explain that this was impossible, and they find themselves no nearer to finding the solution. The Enterprise begins to experience the same problems, and just as they are about to transport warp power to the shields, Data discovers that they had been experiencing a "harmonic amplification effect" - i.e, the more power that was dumped into the shields, the worse the effect became - if they had transferred warp power to the shields as the Vico did, it would have ripped the ship to shreds. I really enjoyed this episode and the insight into Data's personal life. It is also one of the few episodes we get to see him consume something. I would reccommend it to anyone. "VIOLATIONS" ------------ In this episode, the Enterprise is ordered to ferry a delegation of Ullian historians to Kaldra Four. The Ullians are a strange species, and can be trained to possess great telepathic skills. To begin with, the Ullians are explaining to the crew over dinner about what they intend to do at Kaldra four, and about their telepathic "library" that they have been building. One of the Ullian's overbearing father puts down his son, and upsets him somewhat. It turns out the this Ullian has been warped and twisted by is hatred of his father over the years. He then storms out of dinner to the turbolift where he is met by Counselor Troi. They have a talk in the turbolift, and it is evident that this Ullian wants more out of Troi than simple friendship. Troi gets to her quarters and starts brushing her hair when the memories come. She has a flashback of a moment with Commander Riker, after a poker match. It is an intimate moment, and obviously a memory Troi looks back on with pleasure - but it is twisted by the Ullian - he imposes himself on Troi and rapes her. After this she falls into a deep coma - the first to fall, and the crimes have begun. As investigations persist, Commander Riker finds the Ullian and questions him, with the best of intentions. The Ullians weak answers and the impression that he has something to hide makes Riker angry and it results in Riker giving the Ullian a short sharp statement that he will investigate and he will find them guilty. It is then that the Ullian seals Rikers fate too... Riker is in his quarters viewing a PADD, when the memories of a past engineering accident come flooding back. Riker is in charge when there is an explosion and the engineering section is evacuated. He is about to bring the door down when a young Ensign informs him that Ensign Keller is trapped in the core. The Ensign goes on an Riker finds that it is the Ullian accusing him of Keller's death. Riker makes the decision to bring the door down, killing Keller, and is reminded, over and over "You killed her - you killed her.". On this note, Riker falls into a coma as well. By now the investigation is really becoming tense and Picard goes and talks to the Ullians, trying to confine them, voluntarily, to their quarters. The Ullian that is causing all the trouble appears a totally reformed character, and tells Doctor Crusher that they are all willing to co-operate. Doctor Crusher is the last to fall. She starts getting flashbacks from her past, over a very emotional moment when she went to see her husband's body. Captain Picard is accompanying her (the sense of time is reinforced by the Picard in the past having a head of hair!!!). Doctor Crusher recalls herself walking down the corridor in silence, with only brief talk between her and Picard. Eventually they reach the mortuary where the image of Picard is replaced by that of the Ullian. He pulls back the cloth and Crusher sees her husband dead, with severe wounds. Jack Crushers eyes suddenly flick open, and he is replaced with the Ullian. Crusher starts to scream, and looks to Picard - who now is also the Ullian. This is when she falls into her coma. Data and LaForge conduct and extensive search of Starfleet data banks, and they indeed find that other unexplained comas had been caused while Ullians were present. It is at this point that a distressed Troi awakes, not remembering her ordeal. She agrees to a mind probe from the suspect Ullian, unaware he is the culprit, to try and explain her anxiety. She recalls the memory, and all is the same, except the rapist is in fact the culprit Ullian's father - the one that he had an argument with a while ago. LaForge and Data continue scanning, attempting to find the full scope of the father Ullian's crimes. They discover, to their astonishment, that comas had occurred on a planet in the Nhell system, without the father Ullian present. They find no explanation for this. Meanwhile, Counselor Troi is in her quarters again, when a very friendly culprit Ullian comes in, apologising for his fathers behavior. He makes a wrong move by stoking his hair, and the colour just drains from his face when he realises what he has done. He goes to leave but Troi wants to talk. Then the Ullian tries another mind probe. The councillor then discovers that it was this Ullian, and not his father, but as the mind probe takes place, the councillor fights back, giving him a very good battle. Eventually, as things look bleak, Worf breaks in and with one swipe, knocks the Ullian cold. As the mystery is solves, Crusher and Riker recover and are helped by Ullians on their home world to come to terms with their ordeals. I enjoyed this episode - it dealt with a very adult theme in a way that was understandable. This is another part of Star Trek education - the people coming to terms with their ordeals, and showing that even in the 24th century, that as well as love, there is also extreme violence and pain. A very good episode for the younger generation. Send your reviews in - of videos OLD and NEW!