Over-hyped, overpraised. Trekkies (or Trekkers, as they sometimes prefer) may adore this series, which probably takes the place of actual lives. But in the main "Star Trek" (created but thankfully not much written by that dreadful lack of talent called Gene Roddenberry) is tedious, repetitive and po-faced.
Yes, the last accusation may be unfair. A series like "Star Trek" has to take itself uber-seriously or viewers will notice how creaky it is. With its spaceship hallways the size of tennis courts and the girth of its out-of-shape Captain who never works out shoved into his uniform like he was squeezed in it from a tube. Unless it took itself serious as death and taxes the (necessarily) cheap sets with the phony red or yellow backlighting for planets, and cheesy props that might fool a first-grader ("This stick is a gun 'cause I say so") would stand out more.
But it's also po-faced because it pretends to take on issues. I don't like shows that pretend to address "issues" because it usually ends up with a preachy sermon from some hack writer who thinks he knows better than the rest of us. I.e., in this case, that mantle best fits the preachy hack Roddenberry.
Star Trek has a few good episodes. Having yawned through the series more than once just to say I saw it, I like experimental pieces like "Hour of the Gun" and humorous bits like "The Trouble with Tribbles" and "I, Mudd." Also good is the rapport everyone has in space. As I understand it this was not Roddenberry's idea; and, indeed, once his brainchild was launched by others, he came back to make the atmosphere unpleasant for everyone. Still, the friendship depicted between Kirk and McCoy seems real enough. And though some characters have flaws (such as Chekhov's outrageous accent) they mollify them by tidbits such as Chekhov believing his beloved Russians invented everything.
Chekhov is not the only bum actor in the piece. William Shatner's Kirk is famous, even among Trekkies, for his overacting. Nimoy's Spock is emotionless because . . . well, have you ever seen Nimoy in anything where he emotes? He gave better performances in "In Search Of . . ." Sulu looks like he was carved, and acts like it.
Poor writing, poor acting, tedious and repetitive stories ("get along with us or we'll blow you up"), lousy props and sets. Man, I'm glad I'll be dead by the twenty-third century, if it's anything like this pile of dingo's kidneys. Fortunately for the future, "Star Trek" already looks incredibly dated (watch how they fight, with those wide punches and the Laurel-and-Hardy law that states you can't do anything to me while I'm hurting you, and we'll take turns throwing punches).
But the worst aspect of the show is its I-know-better-than-you preachiness. I hate being preached by by know-it-all Hollywood types. Or by people who wear pointy ears to conventions. I'm fine with people being fans. I'm a fan of some things myself (not just one thing). But I never dress up. I enjoy what I enjoy, then put it back in its box and get on with life. And if I lived "life according to Star Trek" I'd be a basket case. See it once through just to say you have then leave it to the pocket-protector types who live vicariously through it.
Overall, lots of hooplah, but as MacBeth might have said, "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."
Yes, the last accusation may be unfair. A series like "Star Trek" has to take itself uber-seriously or viewers will notice how creaky it is. With its spaceship hallways the size of tennis courts and the girth of its out-of-shape Captain who never works out shoved into his uniform like he was squeezed in it from a tube. Unless it took itself serious as death and taxes the (necessarily) cheap sets with the phony red or yellow backlighting for planets, and cheesy props that might fool a first-grader ("This stick is a gun 'cause I say so") would stand out more.
But it's also po-faced because it pretends to take on issues. I don't like shows that pretend to address "issues" because it usually ends up with a preachy sermon from some hack writer who thinks he knows better than the rest of us. I.e., in this case, that mantle best fits the preachy hack Roddenberry.
Star Trek has a few good episodes. Having yawned through the series more than once just to say I saw it, I like experimental pieces like "Hour of the Gun" and humorous bits like "The Trouble with Tribbles" and "I, Mudd." Also good is the rapport everyone has in space. As I understand it this was not Roddenberry's idea; and, indeed, once his brainchild was launched by others, he came back to make the atmosphere unpleasant for everyone. Still, the friendship depicted between Kirk and McCoy seems real enough. And though some characters have flaws (such as Chekhov's outrageous accent) they mollify them by tidbits such as Chekhov believing his beloved Russians invented everything.
Chekhov is not the only bum actor in the piece. William Shatner's Kirk is famous, even among Trekkies, for his overacting. Nimoy's Spock is emotionless because . . . well, have you ever seen Nimoy in anything where he emotes? He gave better performances in "In Search Of . . ." Sulu looks like he was carved, and acts like it.
Poor writing, poor acting, tedious and repetitive stories ("get along with us or we'll blow you up"), lousy props and sets. Man, I'm glad I'll be dead by the twenty-third century, if it's anything like this pile of dingo's kidneys. Fortunately for the future, "Star Trek" already looks incredibly dated (watch how they fight, with those wide punches and the Laurel-and-Hardy law that states you can't do anything to me while I'm hurting you, and we'll take turns throwing punches).
But the worst aspect of the show is its I-know-better-than-you preachiness. I hate being preached by by know-it-all Hollywood types. Or by people who wear pointy ears to conventions. I'm fine with people being fans. I'm a fan of some things myself (not just one thing). But I never dress up. I enjoy what I enjoy, then put it back in its box and get on with life. And if I lived "life according to Star Trek" I'd be a basket case. See it once through just to say you have then leave it to the pocket-protector types who live vicariously through it.
Overall, lots of hooplah, but as MacBeth might have said, "full of sound and fury, signifying nothing."