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Reviews (4)
03 September 2006
Michael Dunn is Wonderful!
I bought this DVD purely because of Michael Dunn's performance as Alexander in the episode, Plato's Stepchildren. With the release of the first season of The Wild Wild West TV series, I became very nostalgic. I had a crush on Dr. Loveless, not Jim West! Michael sparkled when he was on screen. I believe his love of acting came through, making his characters come to life better than many supposed A-list actors today. He made Loveless the kind of villain you wanted to get away so he could come back in future episodes.
Alexander is a kind-hearted pawn, not a villain. Still, he is the kind of character you wish you'd see again in a later Star Trek episode. According to two ST sites I looked at, Alexander is one of the most popular and fondly remembered guest star characters of the original Star Trek series. Some fans have wondered whatever became of Alexander and wished there had been a follow-up episode-- an apt tribute to such a wonderful actor.
The episode itself has its moments, such as Spock laughing, crying, then singing and the famous Uhura/Kirk kiss that was or wasn't, depending on whom you want to believe.
The other episode, Wink of an Eye, was one of my least favorites of the ST series, but I would have bought the DVD regardless of what else was on it because I wanted Plato's Stepchildren so much.
08 October 2006
Women scantily clothed
"A Private Little War" was not one of my favorite episodes. Kirk interferes with the progress of a culture (again) and doesn't get into trouble (again). It's classic Shatner-type acting, though, as he moans and groans in pain, then later acts drugged and lusting... as if he needed a drug for that. The woman in question is in an outfit that screams '60's rather than stone age, but, hey, there's not a lot to it and it's tight-fitting. There's a stupid looking ape thing in a horribly choreographed fight scene, too.
"The Gamesters of Triskelion" is the reason I bought it. My husband liked Shahna and her outfit. Again, not a whole lot of outfit there. I think this disk should be popular with the guys. This episode is better than the first one. There's more action that is better choreographed, Shahna is likable, as is Tamoon -- though Chekov makes he clear she hasn't got a prayer with him. While not one of the best episodes, it is one of the better ones.
04 November 2006
Cheesy horror flicks
1 of 1 found this helpful I purchased this disc solely because Michael Dunn is in Murder in Rue Morgue. This movie is supposedly based on Edgar Allan Poe's short story of the same name. However, other than the same title and a monkey-type creature (which is an actor portraying a monkey in a bad play), they have nothing in common. In fact, it's not entirely clear what the point of the movie is, other than most of the guys lusting after the same woman. She is beautiful, but not enough to support a movie plot. The dialogue is lame, the characters are paper cut-outs, and the special effects aren't. Don't get me started on the fight scenes, please. It more closely resembles Phantom of the Opera than the Poe story.
Jason Robards has done better. Michael Dunn did his part well, though I wish it could have been a better role. Christine Kaufmann is beautiful and screams well.
I had seen Cry of the Banshee on TV, but had forgotten it. As I watched the disc, I started remembering. There's some nudity and violence and it takes a very long time for the movie to reach an interesting point. We're treated entirely too long on what a bad, bad man Vincent Price's character is and just how afraid everybody is about witchcraft. It's a disturbing movie because the fear of witchcraft has been a part of history and people can be horribly cruel to those whom they fear. While this movie is not based on a specific incident in history, many of the incidents depicted could have happened.
Vincent gave his typically styled performance as a man whose power over others goes to his head and he becomes corrupted by it. While some of his victims might have dabbled in witchcraft, it becomes clear that all it takes is for him to decide that and you're a goner. He's not a man you want to cross.
The movies are average fare for that era. I've seen many cheesy horror flicks made during this time period. These aren't the worst, but they certainly aren't the high points in these actors' careers.