Review of Star Trek First Contact DVD - Notes on why franchise failing

[Ravenseye]

http://www.dvdfile.com/software/review/dvd-video_11/firstcontact_se.html

The review barely touches on the movie itself, it's more an essay on the failings of the franchise. Good read.

[coloradodem2005]

1. Essentially, I would agree, except for dissing DS9.

I loved DS9 and I thought it was good Trek, even though people couldn't get it. I thought Voyager was the first show to truly start killing Trek.

I never understood the animosity towards Deep Space Nine.

[Ready4Change]

2. I never "got" DS9

It just never felt like a space station to me. Never felt real.

I felt like a got to know the Enterprise. Gave me a setting I could rely on, use as a base from which to go exploring.

DS9 always seemed like a stage. Artificial. It never solidified into a real "thing" for me.

I could go on about other Star Treks, but I think I'll use another message, in order to not confuse this one on DS9.

[Ravenseye]

6. I didn't care for DS9

I drifted away from DS9 eventually, came back breifly during the dominion war, then left again before the end.

I thought it had some of the worst actors on any Star Trek series.

Avery Brooks, Rene Auberjonois, and Nana Visitor (among others) just really hurt that series in my eyes. While Sisko and Odo slightly annoyed me, I winced every time Kira said anything.

I loved Nicole deBoer but she only came in last season. Honestly I only really saw her in reruns. I had mostly tuned out by that season in broadcast.

Also the series really focused heavily on the Ferengi, Cardassians, and Bajorans. Three TNG races I never really cared much about.

Hey what ever happened to the Ferengi Whip Weapons?

[Ready4Change]

3. I never "got" Voyager either

My problem with Voyager was that they didn't stay consistent with the reality of the effects of their long journey. Thousands of light years from home, they get their ship blasted in battle, and next week it's shiny and new looking? Huh?

As the show progressed the ship should have started looking shabbier and shabbier. Different colored or textured panels. Makeshift equipment that doesn't quite fit right. Faithful viewers should have been able to say "Cool! That phaser burn mark from last season is still in that access panel."

When it arrived home people should ahve been gawking at it, not just because of its long journey, but because from its battered appearance the journey was hell.

Maybe they started doing this. I don't know. I lost faith and stopped watching it long before they had any chance of returning home.

[Ravenseye]

7. Voyager Got Better

The first couple of seasons really I think were a problem. I'd say that when they introduced seven of nine is when they unjumped the shark. Not because of the sex appeal aspect, but just getting rid of that stupid mousey girl who did nothing, and bringing in an interesting character with an interesting backstory. I think Jeri Ryan showed she was a decent Trek actress.

Kate Mulgrew was a good captain. You can definately see her commanding a ship alongside Picard. Not like Sisko, maybe why they never gave him a ship eh?

While a number of the supporting actors (Tom Paris and Harry Kim come to mind) were....well bleh....overall I liked it.

I do remmeber sometimes the ship was sort of patched up badly. Then they'd find some shipyard to fix things, or trade on a planet for the rigth parts they needed, etc. It basically amde sense.

My favorite storyline was a multi episode one i think where basically a whole year or more went by that got unwritten by a temporal thing. By the end of that the Voyager was really falling apart and in bad shape.

I'd buy the DVD's of Voyager before DS9 any day.

[Ready4Change]

4. I almost "got" Next Generation Star Trek.

I began getting a feel for the ship. I got accustomed to its seemingly luxurious appointments, which contrasted to the originals stark militarism.

But the crew never seemed to get used to it. They always looked posed, like "I need to look heroic" or "I mustn't lean to hard lest I break the set."

I can picture Captain Kirk doing a shot of Romulan Ale in the Original series, slamming it to the bar top, then slugging the Klingon next to him, just because he exists. In the Original Series I just got the sense that everything was slammable or punchable or leanable. And even when some of the sets visably shifted like cardboard I just got the impression that was ok too, because damnit, you can still just punch it.

Next Generation, though, you had to be careful. Like when a house has a living room no one ever uses. Can't slam down drinks in Ten Forward, no. Might muss the bars finish. Always wipe your feet when stepping down from the Transporter array. Next Generations world seems so fussy I can't imagine they'd get any exploring done.

You can't explore the universe while wearing a sweater.

[Ravenseye]

8. It was very clean, wasn't it.

I also didn't like that aspect. So in the future everyone wears polyester jumpsuits or miniskirts on occasion (even the guys). When do they vaccum the carpets?

I think TNG really came into it's own in maybe season 3-4. The first couple seasons looking abck on them now were pretty bad.

At least they eventually got rid of wesley.

[Ready4Change]

5. I didn't take time to "get" Enterprise

Almost never had time to watch it. I liked the concept of it. I think it had a lot of potential for fun.

I heard they punched an alien or two. That seems to me to be a good sign. Ah well.

[Ravenseye]

9. I like Enterprise

it's finally doing somethign right with Manny Coto aboard. This season has been really good.

Still they're suffering from one dimensionality too much.

Archer has one, maybe two sides to him. No real depth.

Travis and Hoshi might as well not be there.

T'Pol is somewhat interesting, as is Malcom I think, but not enough to carry the series.

Reed...every time I start liking him he makes a goofy face.

Still. i'd rank Enterprise as better than DS9.