Reviews (1)

Typical excellence - and one extra feature
A painter dies mysteriously, and various interests including his father, his erstwhile model and a mysterious rich man all seem to have something to do with it. Typically excellent fare from the Morse team, with the great John Thaw (a national resource, and his death from cancer was a dreadful loss) in typically grumpy and expressive form as Morse, and gorgeous, sunlit English landscapes - in Morse's England it practically never rains (not that I mind). But I hope you don't mind my saying that it is something else that makes this one episode absolutely unforgettable for me: the mysterious model - a single mother living a life of squalor in one of Morse's few genuine slum dwellings - is Nicola Cowper, a little-known English actress who is probably the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life. She simply burns on the screen like a flame. One does not wonder that one character is troubled by her almost to his death, and that another is willing to pay for her favours. But even if you do not share my taste for small, exquisite, intense women, you will still not regret buying this episode. ... Read more

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Clint sings! This memorable Rawhide episode steers off the cattle-drive trail for an often-comical story about a snake-oil hustler's redemption. Buddy Ebsen guest stars as Dr. Stimson, a "Golden Remedy" purveyor, whose pitch wagon is attacked by Indians. Rowdy Yates (Clint Eastwood) rides to the rescue, but in the ensuing skirmish one of his men, Frank Miller, is killed. The drivers pitch in to send money to Frank's widow and two children, but Stimson has a plan to raise the stakes. Feeling that he "owes this boy's family a debt," he suggests a way to turn the tables on a local crooked poker game (run by venerable character actor Jack Elam) using Mushie (James Murdock), thefrontier Gump, as the "pigeon." This being Mushie, the con is soon discovered, but Stimson has another ace up his sleeve. When his estranged wife (Joan O'Brien) arrives to announce she is remarrying the more respectable Sam (Hugh Marlowe of All About Eve and The Day the Earth Stood Still), Stimson convinces her to impersonate the popular singer Jenny Lind and perform a recital. Yet another setback finds Stimson, Rowdy, and the boys alone to face an audience of increasingly agitated high-paying customers. "Rowdy," suggests grizzled cook Wishbone, "why don't you go out there and sing?" This is an atypical Rawhide episode, but one that pays off in unexpected, off-center moments. And Ebsen, for one, is in his element as the folksy, fast-talking Stimson. --Donald Liebenson ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Rawhide should be on DVD. DVD please!
I recently read that Rawhide was one of the most popular TV western series of all time. They should put the Rawhide series out on DVD. They're converting all the other old TV series out on DVD, why not Rawhide? Also, there were about 270 one hour episodes made in seven or so years. Think of the all that great western footage from the golden years of Eastwood and the Western! I saw a short clip of Rawhide on the Eastwood documentary 'Eastwood-the Man from Malpaso' , and even that brief scene was good, so you know there's some good stuff hidden in all those episodes. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The Hot Number and The Suburbia Affair
The Hot Number Affair is an episode about a dress( a hot number) with a pattern that is a secret code and the Thrush people want it.This episode is built around pop singing duo Sonny And Cher who play Jerry and Ramona.Ramona(Cher) wears the "hot number" and doesn't remember where she left it until it's brought in from the cleaners.Jerry(Sonny Bono) designed the hot number that Ramona wears and Jerry has a crush on Ramona.The popular Sonny and Cher song "I Got You Babe" plays in the background.The stock music uses kazoos throughout the episode which may be irritating to some but I found it to be humorous.
"The Suburbia Affair" has Napoleon and Illya move temporarily to the suburbs.These two guys even divide up the household duties on cooking and cleaning.The so-called milkman sends them milk that appears to blowup.What a mess for them to clean up.Illya even gets to drive a ice cream truck.In one scene Napoleon and Illya almost sound like an old married couple when they begin to argue.I've seen a episode guide on "The Hot Number Affair" as an worst offering of the series.To me it's not that bad of an episode for 1967 compared to what tv executives put on nowadays. ... Read more

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For those not familiar with the popular Nickelodeon series, Animorphs concerns the adventures offive teens who have been given the ability to morph into animals and bugs. Don't dismiss it as asci-fi Saved by the Bell. The acting is surprisingly top-notch, and the stories are fun and thrilling.Animorphs: Part 4--The Legacy Survives finds friends and morphers Jake (ShawnAshmore), Rachel (Brooke Nevin), Marco (Boris Cabrera), Cassie (Nadia Nascimento), and Tobias(Christopher Ralph) in their big battle against the Yeerks, sluglike aliens who aspire to take over theworld. The Yeerks insinuate themselves into a human ear and have all the appearances of being human.The three-episode adventure offered in Animorphs: Part 4--The Legacy Survives is like thecreatively creepy They Live! for the 7 and up set.

The actual morphing process, as the teens turn into creatures, is especially neat, and audiences may findthere's not quite enough of the inventive special effect. Since the episodes are designed for television, thereare obvious breaks for commercials (distinctive fades-to-black) that may be distracting, but the videofeatures footage that hasn't and won't be seen on television. --N.F. Mendoza ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Read The Books
Here is my positive and negitive lists. Positive: Good Acting, Good time passer. Negitive: weak special effects, bad alien voices, toatlly different from the book, visser three looks dumb. All in all this was the best of the four, but they do weird things, like they find ax in the forest and Cassie has long hair in some episodes and short hair in others. I suggest you read the books.

The Legacy Survives
This is the best of the 4 movies! The 3 episodes are The Capture Parts 1 and 2 and Not My Problem. In the Capture Part 1 The animorphs discover the yeerks are in charge of a health clinic where the governor will receive a treatment and if the Yeerk's plan is successful he will be a human-controller. He is also running for president! Jake falls into the Yeerk Pool and becomes a controller. In the Capture Part 2 Ax figures out that Jake is a human-controller. Jake keeps reassuring the animorphs that he is not and they figure they must lock him up for 3 days to be sure. On the thrid day Jake waits for Rachel (who is guarding him) to fall asleep. He then morphs to dog and escapes the barn undetected (or so he thinks). He leads the animorphs to a new entrance to the Yeerk Pool. He finds out that his friends knew he escaped since Rachel had only been pretending. The Yeerk dies and the Animorphs meet at the mall where Jake calls tom disgusing his voice telling him not to give up. In Not My Problem Jake has had enough between fighting Yeerks and keeping up with his schoolwork. He wishes he never met the Elfangor and the Ellimist grants his wish. Then durind their new lives Tobias (who is the only animorph) tells Rachel about the Yeerk threat. At 1st she thinks he's nuts. Later they all go to a Sharing meeting where Tobias is caught sneeking around. It is then revealed that Jake is a controller. After school Tobias calls Rachel and asks her to meet him at the Spider Club (the place where the Sharing meeting was held). Jake follows her and a lion saves her from Jake. The lion turns out to be Tobias. He and Rachel tie Jake up and then Jake asks him about the "andalite" that attacks him. It turns out that Rachel has been a controller since the previous night and then she tells Jake everything. Tobias tries to escape but Tom, Cassie, Marco, and 2 punks cut off his escape. He is captured and Visser 3 comes in and promotes Jake to Visser 10. Jake tries to infest Tobias but fails when the real Jake fights back. Jake is then in his room back in a world where Tobias is still a hawk, the animorphs exist and none of them are controllers. Was it a dream or real? All in all this is a great movie.

For shame
These books are great and the movie made a joke out of them. Visser 3 looks like a blue hair ball and theirs NO ACTION!

A shame to the name Animorph
This like its predeseres is an insult to the magical books. The books were great this wasn't. Gone is the intense action and fights the book described. Now we get garbage sneaking around. The andalites are very fake and are never showen all at once. No taxxons at all. The hork bajar just stand there. Gone is the witty smart acting of the books replaced by total garbage. Read the books and stay away from this.

Must say,it's the best of all four
This is best of all four movies.Some parts are enjoyable,such as the beginning,but some such as the last,aren't. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Tourist Attraction = 2 out of 5 stars
If you can get over the laughable creature from the deep, then this episode is at least watchable with a few decent moments. It all starts out well, in fact, it has the feel of "The Creature From The Black Lagoon." The characters are not too annoying and the premise is solid, but it completely unravels halfway through the episode. It seems that after 20 minutes, the director had the actors do the script as an improv because NOTHING happens and everything just goes in circles. Which brings me to the end.............errrrrrrrr.........hmmmmmmm.....no comment.

In short, the opening is solid and the premise is good, but the script and plot execution is awful.

thank you for your time, David

I Sink the Budget Fantastic!
If any good came out of this episode, it would probably be the fact that "Tourist Attraction" is the touchstone for how NOT to waste money on a uninteresting idea.

The underwater photography is fairly good, even if the critters are not very convincing. The performances are fairly perfunctory and even Henry Silva as the maniacal dictator seems rather uninterested in what little is going on.

The ending, where an already weakened dam breaks, flooding the city below, comes as a welcome relief to anyone who managed to make it that far into the show.

A Sinking Ship
Absolutely one of the worst--and possibly THE worst--Outer Limits episodes. Usually, OL was a brilliant, if sometimes erratic series. Tourist Trap is aptly named; after watching it, you'll feel as if you've been an unwilling prisoner for the last hour. "Horrible" is too kind a description.

A Lungfish Ate My Homework (Blub!)
It could have been worse. It could have lacked the presence of Henry Silva, as a South American despot. Its locales and sets could have been less exotic and lush. Even Janet Blair's legs are surely worth a point or two.

Unfortunately, I've named about all this episode is worth. Tourist Attraction has the sad distinction of being the reason many worthier OL entries looked so [bad] - it ate most of the production budget for the first season. And the saddest thing is, you'd never guess it to look at it. The lungfish beasties (they could only afford three, made to look like more through the miracle of recycling) are really unconvincing.

Let 'er sail! (Blub, blub, blub...)

Ambitious as Hell
Though the Outer Limits was ahead of its time in many respects, this episode seems rather dated. This doesn't detract from it if one remembers what TV production qualities were back then. Here, we have underwater photography, several sea-monsters, and Henry Silva all in one episode of an anthology series. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Morality makes its own decisions
One of the best episodes in the Outer Limits series, this one has an intellectual and moral theme that is directly relevant to today. The story is set at a government research center called Cypress Hill and opens with a scene of a technician sitting in front of a circular display screen. The technician is viewing, apparently real-time, a research professor, Dr. Anderson, who is voicing complaints about his superior, which, the technician notes, is the "12th occurrence". The technician's attention is then shifted to the presence on-screen of what appears to be a "monster", and he then is strangled to death from behind.

In the next scene, a Senator Orville appears at Cypress Hill to investigate the murder and the general morale situation at the center. Inquisitive and intolerant of evasiveness, Orville sets up a board of inquiry and calls several witnesses, the first one being Clyde Wyatt, an investigator from the CID. When questioned by Orville, he notes only that the technician was strangled to death but that he is "not competent to say" regarding any morale and psychological problems at Cypress. Wyatt's evasiveness angers Orville, and he quickly dismisses Wyatt from the stand.

The next witness is a Dr. Philip Fletcher, an elderly man who has been employed for five years at Cypress as a research consultant in astrophysics. Fletcher had sent a letter to Orville, addressing the morale problems at Cypress. Apparently he had written several more letters but did not send them, having been questioned by the military police about the letters. Questioned by Orville as to how Cypress knew he was writing the letters, Fletcher responds by saying that "they know everything" and speaks of rumours and fear at Cypress. Cypress is a "ghost town" he says, and a place where "no one laughs".

After being notified that the head of Cypress, Dr Clifford Scott, was unavailable for questioning due to suffering a physical breakdown, Orville calls a Dr. Lomax. Lomax states that morale is no better or worse than any other government facility, but Orville rebuts by stating the statistics: divorce up 400%, rampant alcoholism, and three suicides. Also, reports of a "peeping Tom machine" have been related to Orville, but Lomax refuses to discuss the machine. Orville then demands all information on the machine, and gets a demonstration of it the next day.

Called OBIT for "Outer Band Individuated Teletracer", Lomax explains its operation to Orville, and illustrates its use by spying on a draftsman who is located somewhere in Washington D.C. Lomax states that "those who have nothing to hide have nothing to fear from OBIT", but this is dismissed eloquently by Orville, who expresses worry and revulsion over the ability to use the machine to spy on himself when engaging in commentary on the President, his wife, or other senators.

A fourth witness, Col. Grover, is then questioned by Orville, but Grover has no knowledge of OBIT's manufacturer or who authorized its deployment. Again Orville demands all information about OBIT and its history of deployment and when threatened by Grover as to his political future, dismisses any concern with it, stating that "morality makes its own decisions".

Orville then calls Mrs. Clifford Scott, who states that the morale has been unbearable at Cypress and was left completely in the dark about the location of her husband.

Grover is later recalled, and speaks of 18 OBIT units deployed in the military as well as many more in industry and education. He describes painfully OBIT as being the most "hideous creation ever conceived", and one that saps the spirit, and indulges in using it himself, not being able to resist its temptations.

After insistence from Orville, Orville questions Dr. Scott, who describes his opposition to OBIT, and how he is always at odds with Lomax, who for some reason cannot be monitored by OBIT. The reason becomes rapidly apparent, as Lomax is transfigured to an alien being, who represents a race of beings who have deliberately placed OBIT machines on Earth to create rips and tensions in society and demoralize humanity, as preparation for their eventual invasion. He disappears suddenly from the scene.

The episode ends with the announcer explaining that all of the OBIT machines have been found and destroyed and that whether OBIT can live up to its reputation "depends on you".

The OBIT machine, with its ability to spy real time on citizens within a 500 mile radius, and even then through solid rock or steel, is certainly a technological marvel. Such a machine does not exist of course, but its abilities can be emulated. Governments can now engage in data mining and Email and business transaction monitoring, coupled with citizen spies whose sole function is to report "suspicious" behavior, can certainly have the same devastating effects as OBIT. The resulting suspicions and extreme paranoia accompanying these strategies of spying can indeed make life unbearable and demoralizing.

We must make sure we have senators who think like Orville, and refuse to allow this kind of privacy-robbing technology to be employed unless in very extreme life-threatening circumstances. "OBIT-like" projects like TIAA and its children must not be allowed to progress and must be kept in check. Thankfully there are many in government who are taking steps to insure that these kinds of projects do not get implemented. Eternal vigilance among citizens, government officials, and the military must be unrelenting in insuring that these kinds of projects never be put in place. Such an attitude should be part of our consciousness and automatized in our belief structures and in our machines, for this is the proper morality in the information age: a morality which makes its own decisions.

Don't Look Behind You...
...but someone is watching. And they're not human. If you thought the NSA was bad...

One of OL's few truly evil E.T. entries, a murder mystery performed as a courtroom drama. The script is highly literate, but the suspense is half-shot from the beginning by showing too much. It's still worth it for the opening murder scene and the dramatic finale alone, though the interesting analysis of intrusive government spying on its own citizenry along the way is quite good, too (and, for the time, eye-opening, as well).

Typically great OL cinematography, one of the creepier and more memorable monsters, and good performances all around, especially by Jeff Corey.

OL masterpiece with Orwellian overtones
An army security man is strangled under mysterious circumstances at Cypress Hills, a top secret military installation where a sinister new snooping system (the Outer Band Individuated Teletracer) is being tested. This audio-video spying device can tune in to the individualized biorhythms of everyone on the base, except for the murderer, it seems. The frightening implications of this new device for depriving personnel of even the slightest shred of privacy and dignity are unravelled in the course of a congressional investigation conducted by young, charismatic Senator Orville. His persona is tough as nails, but smooth-edged with dashes of wisdom and self-deprecating wit, a la JFK. This portrayal comes across as an intriguing reflection of the Camelot era, and we know from the moment we meet him that he is going to get to the bottom of things. Likewise, we are shown from the opening scene that the murder was committed by a Thing Not of This World, a monstrous, gangly, one-eyed creature of obviously alien origin. Our attention is also directed early on to one Byron Lomax, a sinister character who is in charge after the rightful director of the base is sent away to a mental institution, in Kremlinesque fashion we find out. These plot threads are woven together in a tense, moody script with expert direction and stylish noir photography, giving this episode the unmistakable first-season OL signature. The shattering and dehumanizing effect of invading privacy, feeding upon dark, all-too-human impulses, is the moral center of this story: we must rise above our lower impulses and temptations, or be dragged down by them. In the latter case, we become easy prey for an invading alien race that easily sets us up, and can take over without a single shot ever having to be fired. This is OL at its characteristic, intelligent best, with solid story and thought-provoking themes convincingly elaborated (e.g., we are our own worst enemies, the price of freedom is eternal vigilance, etc.); plus loving homages (intentional or otherwise) to schlock 1950's scifi cinema, most notably Wyott Ordung's hilariously inept "Robot Monster". But it bridges the lowbrow appeal of such juvenile material with the prescience of George Orwell's writings. The kind of sheer range on display here is breathtaking, and puts to shame what passes today as scifi cinema, with its monotonous emphasis on artless techno special effects and characters targeted to audience hang-ups and attitude.

I.C.U.
This Outer Limits is unusual to feature a courtroom hearing as a series of talking heads, when otherwise episodes feature a lot of action. The scenario by Meyer Dolinsky centres around the titular surveillance machine, which Meyer used to parallel the House Un American Committe and Senator Joseph McCarthy witchhunts of the late 1940's and early 1950's. However the Senator who comes to the defence department site where a murder has been committed, ironically acts as arrogantly (and humourlessly) as McCarthy. The only seemingly intentional laugh in the whole episode is when a doctor is heard to make a derogatory remark about his superior - "He doesn't know the difference between a periodic table and a timetable". The obligatory series monster here is seen on the OBIT screen, which deliberately resembles the early round TV sets, and it is the sighting which accounts for the witnesses death. The monster itself is quite bizarre. The initial long shot view has it wearing a diaphonous gown, and it's mask face is half Halloween pumpkin and half unformed baby head. When the monster attacks another witness, it is unintentionally funny. Since the hearing's talking head structure relies upon testimony it becomes a series of performances, the best being Konstantin Shayne and Sam Reese, and the worst Alan Baxter. As the administrator of the base and the one associated with the OBIT, Jeff Corey wears distortive bottle-bottom black-rimmed spectacles which give him a great look but his climactic grandiose speech is undercut by it coming out of nowhere, and the maniac way it is filmed by director Gerd Oswald. The narrative also features a few plot holes - an affair has no pay off, and the monster has the unexplained ability to be in two places at once. However Oswald provides some redemptive images - a flashing cheap hotel sign, the ominous placement of Corey's overly hairy hand, and the soft-focus lighting of Joanne Gilbert as the base commander's wife, who still manages to come off as an anorexic transexual.

Probably my favorite.
I've always loved this episode. I has good dialogue, a fairly good monster, and a believable premise (except for the monster, of course). The pacing is well done, and it leads up to a fine climax. ... Read more

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As if alien invasion isn't enough to deal with, Rachel finds out herdivorced dad is moving 1,000 miles away and wants her to leave her friends, mother, and sister behind and join him in "The Stranger," the first of three 24-minute episodes based on the Scholastic book series by K.A. Applegate.While she is mulling over Dad's offer, Rachel and the rest of the band ofmorphing teenagers face a tempting offer: stay on earth and fight whatappears to be a losing battle to the invading Yeerks, or take refuge on a safeplanet with their families. In "The Leader," parts 1 and 2, Jake and Marcoare caught morphing into animals and launched into space to face a powerful new Yeerk leader, Visser One, who turns out to be the mother Marco thoughthad been dead for two years. The three episodes from Nickelodeon's prime-time series are sandwiched by extra footage of Marco first making his case to quit theteens' quest to save the earth and then, after discovering his mother's fate,vowing to fight until she is free. This well-produced adventure seriescombines domestic tales with science fiction geared toward ages6-12. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (8)

concerned reader/watcher
The show is okay, but has no comparison to the book series. The books are more graphic, and funnier. Also, They twist the story around. Like in the reaction. Rachel is the one who has the allergec reaction, not cassie. The actors can't act either. The people who played Jake, Tobias,and Cassie are the only people that I have seen on other T.V. shows.

Read the books
Read the books. They are awsome one of the best book series ever made. This show is [is bad]. Morphing is only showed half the time. In the books there are intenes battles and an awsome story. In this show there are no battles just sneaking around. There are no Taxxons. The andalites look like weird mupputs and you never see there whole body at once. Ax and Visser three are always in human morph. The hork bajar look right but they don't move anywhere. They just stand there. Remember the witty and smart dialoge of the books replaced with stupid and unrehersed acting of the show. The charactors don't look like the book charactors at all. Read the books don't watch this [show].

The Enemy Among Us
This movie is great. The 4th one is the best but this one is right behind it. In the Stranger Rachel is offered by her dad to move 1,000 miles away with him. Then Jake, Rachel, Marco, and Cassie are warned by Tobias that Ax is in trouble. They attempt to save him but are caught in a net. Then the net vanishes. Tobias is in human form much to everyone's suprise. They are greeted by a being called the Ellimist. He offers them a chance to leave Earth with their families including a human Tobias, Tom, and possibly Marco's mom. He shows them what happens in the future after they are caught. Rachel is Visser Three's (now Visser One) best warrior and Tobias was roasted and eaten with barbaque sauce. Rachel takes a knife from her older self. The Animorphs refuse his offer. They are caught in the net. Rachel cuts it with the knife. Marco and Rachel save Ax and Rachel doesn't go with her father. In The leader Part 1 Jake discovers there is a second Kandrona at the EGS tower. They set out to destroy it. JAke and Marco are captured and taken to the Mother Ship where MArco discovers a suprising secret. In Part 2 Jake and Marco steal a Blade SHip and with Ax's help they get back to Earth. Marco now has a new reason to fight the Yeerks.

okay
If you ask me, you should read the books first, then watch the movies. The other way around kinda spiols it. I like how the movies are visual, I am a visual person after all (kinda). I still think that the books are better than the videos because they have a longer storyline and a really interesting one, not that I am saying that the videos don't, because they do, they are just kinda dilluting it, that's all. Read book #1, then go down to your local video renting store and check out the first video in the series and you'll see what I mean. The videos are pretty good though, beleive me. The books are better, however, if you want a really good book to read, choose the Holy Bible, God's word.

I loved this movie, it was so awsome. You have to see it!
Animorphs. Five normal kids with the power to become any ANIMAL they touch. Jake, Marco, Rachel Cassie, and Tobias are Earth's only HOPE against an alien invasion that's hit their neighborhood. But they're getting tired of saving the world... until a mysterious stranger shows what the FUTURE will look like if they give up. Then, when Jake and Marco are held hostae on the Yeerk space ship, they discover a SECRET that changes EVERYTHING. ... Read more

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A planetoid called Alpha Memory is chosen to become the Federation's official library, and Lieutenant Mira Romaine (Jan Shutan), charged with transferring records to the site's computers, is en route to that destination aboard the Enterprise. Along the way, she acquires a new beau in the adoring Scotty (James Doohan), and big trouble when the collective consciousness of the Zetars, a lost and disembodied race, attack the Alpha Memory project and take possession of her and her voice.

Not surprisingly, the story was written by someone who knew a lot about projecting personalities and voices into hapless third parties: puppeteer Shari Lewis and her husband Jeremy Torcher, both big fans of Star Trek. Typical of the original series' troubles with ever-shrinking budgets, the Zetar entities are represented as mere colored lights, an adequate effect improved immensely by the scary-dramatic context in which they appear and by a good vocal performance by Barbara Babcock (lately of Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman) as the merged creatures. Shutan is just fine as the comely librarian, and Doohan is great in his impassioned-Scotty mode. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Worst episode of them all?
I'm sorry, but it doesn't get any worse than The Lights of Zetar. I have always thought this one was neck-and-neck with The Mark of Gideon for worst episode, but I watched it recently and really tried to like it. But come on... First of all, Spock says one ridiculous non-Vulcan thing after another through the whole episode. The whole cast appears to have given up...Scotty's assessment that one more phaser blast will kill Mira is thereafter taken as fact, even by Spock. The first half has some potential to be spooky...a planet full of dead people, a dying lady turning colors and talking weird (nice respect for the dying, Kirk, as he points at her like she's a freak). But nothing is ever developed, and it's not like they didn't have time...that scene in the briefing room where they match the brain waves is interminable! Seriously, that has to be the longest, most boring scene they ever shot. The whole episode drags on with pointlessness instead of exploring any interesting storyline. Even affectionate Scotty, endearing at first, get a little old. Weak.

Better than That Which Survives
Yet another dull and pointless episode, this one sees Scott's newfound-love (Mira Romaine) possessed by an alien life form represented by shimmering lights. Scotty's romance plays only slightly better than McCoy's earlier in the season; whereas McCoy's romance seemed flat, Scotty is over the top, acting out of character. At least Jan Shutan's stiff performance provides some counterpoint! The episode has few highlights other than the romance and the disturbing scene on Memory Alpha. While the concept of the 'distilled spirits' of a dying race is interesting enough, the cold-hearted treatment of the aggressors (see Wink of an Eye for a similar example) betrays the shows loss of idealism. Compare this to the humanity Kirk showed in say, Space Seed or By Any Other Name, in seasons 1 and 2. The episode simply has no message.

Plot gaps are also intolerably large even by Star Trek standards. Why do the Zetarians do so much more damage on Memory Alpha than on the Enterprise? What is special about Memory Alpha to the Zetarians? How does Kirk know pressure may kill them?

One plus about the episode is that it has the quirky style of many early 3rd season shows; although there is no original music here, this episode features music and even shots from a variety of episodes (revisiting the Where no Man has gone Before soundtrack was an interesting decision [given the parallels to that episode], and they were running out of money after all). The close up shots of her eye were also kind of interesting. When such minutiae are the best thing going for an episode, it's got problems.

The final scenes features the type of repartee and character discussion that were almost absent from season 3. Noteworthy though is a lack of warmth in the dialogue, which actually seems to extend to the actors themselves (excepting the irrepresible Shatner). Perhaps the others could no longer put their hearts into these weak shows and their improbable dialogue; perhaps the weak shows further strained the relationships between the cast.

Wh at Am I Missing?
I am sorry, fellow Trek fans. This is one episode that I simply can't stand. Don't be mad! Maybe I have no taste! But I do find it schlocky and the music is so terribly repetetive!

I have made these comments before for what they are worth but I have always loved the incidental music on Star Trek on some episodes but I find this episode is overkill.

For fans only. Not particulalrly bad but definitely not a masterpiece.

The closest thing to a Star Trek horror story (with holes)
As a kid, I always thought this episode was one of Star Trek's scariest, with pseudo-demonic possession, malevolence galore, and the ever-present Star Trek drama. As an adult, I find the episode still scary, but you must be willing to suspend disbelief and ignore the gaping plot holes.

"Lights of Zetar" had the potential to be one of the best episodes ever, but I believe third-season budget constraints and the pressure to deliver the script on time may have damaged it's credibility. How could a hyperbaric chamber "kill" gaseous entities capable of warp-speed? Too many plot holes; nevertheless, this episode still gives you the willies. A Trek-lover must-have.

The Enterprise encounters another killer cloud in space
"The Lights of Zetar" finds the Enterprise heading for Memory Alpha, a repository of accumulated knowledge which must be the Federation's version of Asimov's Foundation facility, when an energy cloud appears. After knocking out Lt. Mira Romaine on the ship, the cloud attacks Memory Alpha, kills most of the researchers and wipes out the computer memory. When the Enterprise finally catches up with the killer cloud it is clear that there is some weird link between it and Romaine. Eventually Kirk gets around to exploiting it in order to figure out what is going on and what to do about it. This is one of those Star Trek episodes that just strikes me as rather lame. Although the set up is certainly interesting, the explanation is unsatisfying and the resolution is a bit extreme on several levels. I know for sure that Jean-Luc Picard would not have wiped out an entire race of beings like this, even if they are already "dead." Besides which, I do not think energy clouds would be that easy to defeat. "The Lights of Zetar" was just another nail in the coffin for the show during its third and final season. ... Read more

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Freddy Benson (Steve Martin) is a crass, loud American.Laurence Jameson (Michael Caine) is a suave, urbane European. Their common ground is that they both are confidence men, and they meet in a train compartment as Benson is scamming his way across Europe, taking advantage of women's generosity. The two are forced into a rivalry, which culminates in a wager to see who can be the first to bilk $50,000 out of American heiress Janet Colgate (Glenne Headly). Their game of one-upmanship is, of course, brought to ridiculous heights as things progress. Written by Paul Henning (the mind behind such TV shows as Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies), Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is an uneven but funny mix of Martin's physical comedy and Caine's oily charms. Martin's first role as cohort is to assume the persona of Ruprecht, the "special" younger brother intended to scare off potential brides. As Ruprecht, he comes off as a cross between The Andy Griffith Show's Ernest T. Bass and Jerry Lewis; hilarious as it is, it doesn't quite fit with the rest of the film. Once the wager is on, though, Martin slips into his overly earnest mode as an American military man suffering from hysterical paralysis, with Caine as a psychologist who takes on his case. All in all, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (a loose remake of the 1964 film Bedtime Story with David Niven and Marlon Brando) is a droll, intelligent comedy, short on knee slappers but long on comic situations and characterizations. --Jerry Renshaw ... Read more

Reviews (59)

One of the funniest movies of the last 20 years!!
An absolutely terrific comedy!!! I won't rehash the plot much, but let's say that Steve Martin plays a crass, American, two-bit con man trying to move in on a town on the French Riviera, where Michael Caine, a suave, successful, tasteful con man, already runs the show.

The men start as rivals, then become reluctant co-conspirators (in the FUNNIEST scenes of the movie, and maybe EVER!), and then, in the extended final act of the movie, rivals again, both trying to con the same woman, a naive American (Glenne Headly, terrific and enchanting as always).

Martin gets to show off his best comedic moves here. His physicality and pure ridiculous side is amply on display, but his more sophisticated, verbal skills are showcased as well. I'd be willing to say this is best, sustained purely comedic performance. Michael Caine is PERFECTLY cast as the suave Brit. He isn't "funny" per se, really the straight man, but he is the perfect foil for Martin, and he is charming and winning. He's seldom been more appealing and lighthearted.

Frank Oz directed this movie with zest and the right amount of panache. We enjoy the scenery, and we are eased into the movie slowly. The tension between the men is allowed to build slowly over time, making the final twists and turns (and there are many delightful ones) all the more fun.

I've seen this film half a dozen times, and I've got all the twists memorized, but there are still scenes I look forward to eagerly, and still laugh hysterically over. IN one bit, Martin is assigned to play the younger, insane brother of "Prince" Michael. Caine lures the rich women, gets their money and devotion, and then introduces them to his revolting brother (Martin), who scares the women away, leaving their money behind. Martin is so unbearably funny, and Caine plays his end so straight that, truly, the five minutes this stuff takes up in the movie may be the single most delightful five minutes you can spend in a screwball comedy.

I don't like to toss out the word "classic" too often, but I feel that perhaps this movie warrants it. I know I'll be watching it again and again in years to come!

Good Clean Humor and Under-rated..
If you are a fan of Steve Martin and Michael Caine, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a must-see. For some reason, this comedic gem was over-looked by many a critic. To me, it's a classic that will be enjoyed twenty years from now. The wonderful acting performances by Martin and Caine are side-splittingly HILARIOUS! Tie in the physical comedy of Martin, the snake-oil smoothness of Caine and a hilarious script and you've got yourself a winner. The scene where Freddie Benson has to endure five minutes of punishment from Dr. Schuffhausen will have you rolling on the floor!

I love the European backdrop of the French/Italian Riviera and the soundtrack is also well done. I have this movie on VHS and am looking forward to a copy on DVD, see this movie as soon as possible if you want some good clean fun!

Monkey Boy
Why do I love this movie so much? Clever dialogue, twists, predictable, yes but still funny, elegant setting, odd ball pairing, bad French accents...What more can you ask for in a movie. I love it all, especially Martin as Ruprecht, and the reactions he elicits.

Michael Duranko
www.bootism.com

One of the best .
A great comedy about con-men. Steve Martin will have you on the floor laughing and Michael Caine is brilliant as always. Directed perfectly by Frank Oz. This is a must see.

Ruprick, the genital cuffs!!!
I can't believe this movie is a decade and a half old! Neither will you when you view it again (or for the first time). The cinematography is fresh and the comedy is timeless.

The story revolves around a simple American con-man (brilliantly played by Steve Martin) who specializes in charming wealthy women out of whatever charity he can manage to swindel. That is, until he stumbles on to the master (Michael Caine), a suave ultra-swank European who doesn't go for the fast buck, but rather for the slow millions.

The difference in their styles, as Martin invades Caine's comfortable European playground (and then ultimately decide to work together) make for extreme comedy. However, not the Jim Carrey slapstick that's been so popular lately, rather, this is infinitely more subtle in it's buildup, but "net net" as funny as most of the best contemporary comedy out there.

If you have yet to see this film, count yourself lucky. Buy this DVD and give yourself 15 minutes to get into it. You won't be disappointed. For those of you who have seen it and are thinking about buying. Do it. It's one of the few DVD's in my collection I frequently watch and enjoy.

Hope this was helpful to you.

Christian Hunter ... Read more

Amazon.com

"Operation: Annihilate" is undoubtedly the only science fiction drama inhistory in which the requisite Scary Monster resembles a three-dollar itemfrom a novelty store--specifically, a rubber puddle of fake vomit. Moreover, theshooting locale for much of the story, which is set in a research community onthe Federation planet Deneva, brings to mind the plush, friendly, L.A. exoticaof Frank Capra's Shangri-La in Lost Horizon rather than anextraterrestrial outpost. Having said all that, however, this episode isdeservedly a minor classic that becomes most interesting in its final act.Rushing the Enterprise to Deneva is Captain Kirk (William Shatner), whosebrother Sam and his family are among the victims of an unknown invader thatfeeds on human nervous systems, driving people wild with pain and ultimatelykilling them. Once arriving, Kirk's problems are compounded when Mr. Spock(Leonard Nimoy) is attacked by one of the nasty "flying pancake" killers (blobbycritters of the aforementioned fake-vomit variety). The script (by Steven W.Carabatsos) feels as if it did not survive the series' editorial committeeprocess intact. There's a certain amount of obvious padding in the action, whilenext to nothing is made, dramatically speaking, of Kirk's discovery of his brother's fate. The best bits are reserved for a story twist in which Dr. McCoy(DeForest Kelley) develops a cure for Spock's ailment that is almost as bad asthe affliction. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Flying Pancakes
The string of winning episodes finally came to an end in the final show of season one, which concerned pancake-like creatures that attack Spock's central nervous system. This was by no means trek at it's worst incidentally; just a step down from the prior six shows produced. The episode feels more like a second season episode in that it lacks the complex themes of its precursors; still it manages to work in a loss for Kirk and the effects that physical pain can have on the way we present ourselves. (As an aside, one thing that does connect this episode with season one is the slow pace at which the story develops.) This is one of those shows though that despite a disturbing premise doesn't have a lot to say in the end, and relies on a gimmick for the ultimate resolution of the conflict. Also dulling are the absence of significant guest performances and the un-engaging sets; both may well have been due to both empty coffers and fatigue at this point. Virtually everyone involved had certainly laid it out there in season one, both in terms of effort and sincere emotional investment; it wouldn't always be that way.

Tidbit: Both of the dead Kirks would appear in other episodes: the elder 79 times as Captain Kirk, and the younger once as Tommy Starnes in And the Children Shall Lead.

Attack of the giant brain cells on the planet Deneva
In "Operation--Annihilate!", the last episode of the first season, the Enterprise arrives at the planet Deneva in time to see a spaceship fly into the sun after the pilot cries out that he is finally free. Things are equally strange on the planet, where a mob attacks the Away Team. Then Kirk learns that his brother Sam is dead and his sister-in-law and nephew have been infected by strange creatures that sort of look like killer blood cells with little tails. While trying to capture one of the creatures for testing, Spock is attacked; the creature tries to control the Vulcan through his nervous system, causing great pain. So it turns out the creatures are more like giant brain cells (with little tails). Meanwhile, McCoy tries to figure out why flying close to the sun freed the Denevan pilot from the creature's control. On the one hand this episode has several very emotional moment, when Kirk discovers his brother is dead and when McCoy realizes he did not need to blind Spock to free him from the creature. But on the other hand this "inner eyelid" bit is just too damn convenient, even for television/science fiction. You would think between the Science Officer and the Chief Medical Officer they would know enough about the scientific method and the correct way to perform scientific experiments in your own lab to avoid making such a horrible mistook.

Can Kirk and the crew make this a successful operation?
"Operation-Annihilate!" is a solid episode for the original Star Trek series. Captain Kirk and the crew beam down to the planet Deneva and find out that Kirk's brother, Sam, has been killed and that his nephew has been injured by some alien force. They soon find a bunch of little creatures that are one-celled organisms. One of them get Spock and he is immediately taken to Sick Bay onboard the Enterprise. Being a Vulcan, Spock learns to control himself and says he must get one of the creatures onboard to study it. Kirk, Spock, and McCoy later decide that they are only cells of some larger alien. They must find a different way of destroying the creatures on the planet without having to kill every person that has been infected by them.

I recommend getting "Operation-Annihilate!" so you can find out how the U.S.S. Enterprise crew will destroy the creatures and cure Spock of the disease. My only complaint is that you never get to see the alien that these cells come from. But other than that it's a good episode. It features some of the best acting by Spock.

This episode gets a C+ grade and is ranked 47th out of 80
Arriving at the planet Deneva, home of Kirk's only brother Samand his family, the U.S.S. Enterprise picks up a transmission from aDenevan pilot who has steered his craft into the sun to destroy some unknown menace. ... Read more

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Written by renowned novelist-screenwriter Richard Matheson (The Incredible Shrinking Man), the outstanding episode "The Enemy Within" proposes a transporter malfunction that results in Captain Kirk being divided into two versions of himself, one aggressive and brutal, the other sensitive and good. Essentially, the personality mix that makes Kirk an effective leader and balanced man is scattered like so many marbles, and the result is one captain running around mauling women and wreaking havoc while the other is frightened and indecisive. The production is very effectively done, and William Shatner's performance is among his most interesting. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (14)

The Good Kirk Plus The Bad Kirk Equals Captain Kirk
"The Enemy Within" proved early on that William Shatner could certainly act when the spirit moved him; maybe the key factor was not playing Captain Kirk, per se. When Kirk beams back from Alpha 177 a transporter malfunction splits him into two halves: one good, the other evil. When Spock and the others catch on that there are two Kirks they are forced to leave Sulu and the rest of the landing party stranded on the freezing planet. Meanwhile, Yeoman Rand finally has a close encounter with the Captain, which turns out to be not all that enjoyable. Yes, it makes absolutely no sense for the transporter to split Kirk's personality in half like this, but that is why they call it science fiction (besides, the transporter was just a cheaper way of showing the crew getting to planets than doing special effects with shuttle crafts). Plus we get the philosophical discourse on how Kirk needs his "evil" side to be a good starship captain. "The Enemy Within" is an above average episode.

Human psychology clashing with technology
Human psychology takes center stage in this episode. A transporter malfunction creates a second Captain Kirk by siphoning out essential characteristics of his personality. Since only negative characteristics are placed in the copy, it is a feral creature, dominated by lust and other primitive emotions. The episode is well acted by all three of the principle characters, Shatner as the good Kirk appears properly drained, showing progressive weakness as he loses the will to command. However, his best performance is when he is playing the feral Kirk, fearful, yet full of animal vigor. Spock serves as psychoanalyst, properly dissecting the Kirk personas as he physically observes both parts. The crankiness so characteristic of McCoy begins to emerge.
It is in this episode where we are introduced to two fundamentals of the show. The first is the appearance of the rivalry between Spock and McCoy and the second is the first use of the Vulcan neck pinch to subdue the evil Kirk. The first time we see the rivalry is when Spock goes to the captain's quarters to investigate McCoy's assertion that Kirk is acting like a "wild man." Kirk's response is that the doctor is putting you on again, stated so routinely that it speaks volumes about the relationship between Spock and McCoy.
However, it is the mind of the captain that makes this story. We see the powerful Kirk vulnerable and afraid, and it is easy to see those two sides in our own personalities when we watch it. We all have our animal sides, and for most of us it rarely surfaces. Which is quite healthy, as a normal person is as repulsed as Kirk when it appears.
An episode that begins to flesh out the two other major characters and also the first time we hear the memorial McCoy line, "He's dead Jim!", it takes an old theme of good and evil and packages them in one person, but two separate bodies. While it is not one of the very best episodes in the original series, it shows us a new way in which a classic story can be told. It also points out that human psychology will remain what it is and clash with whatever technology we manage to develop.

"Just give me the brandy!"
On the surface, "The Enemy Within" looks like another re-telling of the classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde tale with the timid Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and the animalistic Captain James T. Kirk filling in for the good doctor and his beastly half. However, this first season episode is actually more than that. It is a philosophical exploration of the complex duality of man and an illustration of how his good and evil sides taken together define his very being. It is also a gimmicky way to squeeze in double the Shatner for your viewing pleasure. Talk about getting good value in return for your viewing time.

The U.S.S. Enterprise experiences a transporter malfunction while beaming up a crewman from Alfa 177. After the transporter is inspected by Montgomery Scott (James Doohan), Captain Kirk is cleared to beam aboard. However, remnants of the planet's magnetic ore have been caught in the transporter system and leads to the materialization of a second Kirk. It turns out the two Kirks each embody distinct traits of the original - one personifies his good attributes while the other personifies his sinister attributes. Soon the crew finds itself racing against time to save the two Kirks and the remaining members of the landing party still stranded on Alfa 177 because of the defective transporter.

It may not be one of the essential episodes in the Star Trek canon but "The Enemy Within" still has a lot going for it. You get to see the good Kirk devolve into a whimpering mound of jello. You get to see the evil Kirk swilling down brandy. You get the see the two Kirks modeling different Captain Kirk outfits. You get to see what an alien planet looks like when your television series is working on a limited budget. You get to see a nice alien dog and a mean alien dog. Yet when you get right down to it, the bottom line is that you get twice the Kirk than you usually get. What more can anyone ask for?

Getting there
The Enemy Within-With this episode, in which a transporter malfunction creates two wildly different Kirk's, the show begins to hit its stride. Like many first season shows, this one is sharply focused on dynamics of human personality and interaction. We are shown subtle aspects of both the two Kirks, and the thought process of the rest of the crew as the relate to the new Kirk's. Such attention to internal details, for better or worse, really fell off in the 2nd and 3rd seasons as the show become more extroverted. As others have noted, Shatner turns in a nice performance here, although that absurd make-up they put on the male crew members for the early shows is kind of distracting in the close-ups. One other nice thing about this episode is that its central theme, concerning our dual nature, is not presented in an overly simplisitic way; by this I mean that even each of the two sides of Kirk are somewhat nuanced, and the description of how the two parts need to be together not overly cliché. Nevertheless, the show like many early ones, is way too talky. While the show was beginning to hit it's stride, it wasn't there yet; this episode does drag, and feels somewhat clunky despite a fair amount of action.

Kirk must face both death and his darker side
After a transporter decides to go haywire, Captain Kirk gets split into two halves: an evil, unforgiving half and a nice, intelligent half. Not only does the real Captain Kirk have to worry about his other, animal-like half, but he also has some men that are trapped on a freezing, icy planet with nowhere to go. Is it possible to manage a double take of the captain and get the two halves to equal one again?

"The Enemy Within" is compelling, and it provides good entertainment the whole way through. It also has great acting like always from William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy, and a memorable line from Spock. Not to mention that you'll see a now-famous maneuver from Spock the very first time it was performed, and something else in this episode that you'll never see in another show of Star Trek.

We must all face our darker side every now and then, but I don't think any of us have ever had to face ourselves the way Captain Kirk must do. I recommend any Star Trek enthusiast to add this episode to their collection. ... Read more

Reviews (59)

One of the funniest movies of the last 20 years!!
An absolutely terrific comedy!!! I won't rehash the plot much, but let's say that Steve Martin plays a crass, American, two-bit con man trying to move in on a town on the French Riviera, where Michael Caine, a suave, successful, tasteful con man, already runs the show.

The men start as rivals, then become reluctant co-conspirators (in the FUNNIEST scenes of the movie, and maybe EVER!), and then, in the extended final act of the movie, rivals again, both trying to con the same woman, a naive American (Glenne Headly, terrific and enchanting as always).

Martin gets to show off his best comedic moves here. His physicality and pure ridiculous side is amply on display, but his more sophisticated, verbal skills are showcased as well. I'd be willing to say this is best, sustained purely comedic performance. Michael Caine is PERFECTLY cast as the suave Brit. He isn't "funny" per se, really the straight man, but he is the perfect foil for Martin, and he is charming and winning. He's seldom been more appealing and lighthearted.

Frank Oz directed this movie with zest and the right amount of panache. We enjoy the scenery, and we are eased into the movie slowly. The tension between the men is allowed to build slowly over time, making the final twists and turns (and there are many delightful ones) all the more fun.

I've seen this film half a dozen times, and I've got all the twists memorized, but there are still scenes I look forward to eagerly, and still laugh hysterically over. IN one bit, Martin is assigned to play the younger, insane brother of "Prince" Michael. Caine lures the rich women, gets their money and devotion, and then introduces them to his revolting brother (Martin), who scares the women away, leaving their money behind. Martin is so unbearably funny, and Caine plays his end so straight that, truly, the five minutes this stuff takes up in the movie may be the single most delightful five minutes you can spend in a screwball comedy.

I don't like to toss out the word "classic" too often, but I feel that perhaps this movie warrants it. I know I'll be watching it again and again in years to come!

Good Clean Humor and Under-rated..
If you are a fan of Steve Martin and Michael Caine, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is a must-see. For some reason, this comedic gem was over-looked by many a critic. To me, it's a classic that will be enjoyed twenty years from now. The wonderful acting performances by Martin and Caine are side-splittingly HILARIOUS! Tie in the physical comedy of Martin, the snake-oil smoothness of Caine and a hilarious script and you've got yourself a winner. The scene where Freddie Benson has to endure five minutes of punishment from Dr. Schuffhausen will have you rolling on the floor!

I love the European backdrop of the French/Italian Riviera and the soundtrack is also well done. I have this movie on VHS and am looking forward to a copy on DVD, see this movie as soon as possible if you want some good clean fun!

Monkey Boy
Why do I love this movie so much? Clever dialogue, twists, predictable, yes but still funny, elegant setting, odd ball pairing, bad French accents...What more can you ask for in a movie. I love it all, especially Martin as Ruprecht, and the reactions he elicits.

Michael Duranko
www.bootism.com

One of the best .
A great comedy about con-men. Steve Martin will have you on the floor laughing and Michael Caine is brilliant as always. Directed perfectly by Frank Oz. This is a must see.

Ruprick, the genital cuffs!!!
I can't believe this movie is a decade and a half old! Neither will you when you view it again (or for the first time). The cinematography is fresh and the comedy is timeless.

The story revolves around a simple American con-man (brilliantly played by Steve Martin) who specializes in charming wealthy women out of whatever charity he can manage to swindel. That is, until he stumbles on to the master (Michael Caine), a suave ultra-swank European who doesn't go for the fast buck, but rather for the slow millions.

The difference in their styles, as Martin invades Caine's comfortable European playground (and then ultimately decide to work together) make for extreme comedy. However, not the Jim Carrey slapstick that's been so popular lately, rather, this is infinitely more subtle in it's buildup, but "net net" as funny as most of the best contemporary comedy out there.

If you have yet to see this film, count yourself lucky. Buy this DVD and give yourself 15 minutes to get into it. You won't be disappointed. For those of you who have seen it and are thinking about buying. Do it. It's one of the few DVD's in my collection I frequently watch and enjoy.

Hope this was helpful to you.

Christian Hunter ... Read more

Amazon.com

This big, fat theatrical bomb has a lot going for it. There's the three leads, Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy, and Sarah Jessica Parker, playing three resurrected witches who wreak havoc on Salem, Massachusetts, 300 hundred years after they were hung. There's music, special effects, and magic. There's a surprisingly horror-filled plot. Whoops, hold up on that last one. It's probably the extremes that this film goes to (displaying a Disney label), such as the witches sucking the life out of a little girl in the first five minutes, that put the brakes on any success for Hocus Pocus. Older children, however, in the 8 and up range should get a kick out of all the weird goings-on. It's a good measure of Halloween thrills and chills. --Keith Simanton ... Read more

Reviews (105)

A Fun Halloween or Anytime Movie, One of the Best.
Three aged witch sisters (Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy) are brought back to life after three hundred years when a teen virgin taking his little sister (Thora Birch) trick-or-treating scoffs at a local legend and lights a black flame while trying to impress a girl.

It is light-hearted and fun but a little scary for a Disney flick as the witch sisters must find children and suck the life from them to regain their own youth.

Good vehicle for Midler and Parker as the bumbling witches wisecrack their way through an action-filled Halloween night. Ten-year-old Thora Birch (American Beauty, Ghost World) is typically witty and very cute.

Some themes are a bit racy for a Disney feature and very young children might find some scenes a bit scary, but these are what help make this movie entertaining for the whole family. It's Halloween fun.

Any witch way you slice it...Hocus Pocus is fun!
I never understood the negative reviews for Hocus Pocus. We went to the theatre anyway and thoroughly enjoyed this movie. Bette Midler is hammy, yes, but it's Bette! She's playing a beaver-toothed, child chasing 17th century witch in a Disney flick. What else is there but hammy?! Kathy Nijimy, with her Dairy Queen hair and lopsided grin, is a hoot. And Sarah Jessica Parker, the curvaceous, third sister, does Sex In the City...Salem-style! (stictly PG of course!) Thora Birch has yet to reach her brooding, raven-haired American Beauty stage, so she's still adorable! And to top it off, there is Zachary Binx, the talking black cat...an obvious inspiration for Sabrina, the Teenage Witch's Salem! My seven-year-old daughter loves this movie! I finally purchased the video today (we had been holding out for a DVD release) to save myself the video rental fees! If you're not a "serious student of film" and can sit and watch and just enjoy a fun movie...rent Hocus Pocus for a test drive...and then buy it!

Glorious For Anyone Who Loves Halloween
If you grew up where I grew up, Halloween was THE biggest event of the year - and all these (45) years later, I still love the sights, smells and spirit of that most magical night.

In Hocus Pocus, you might not find true horror, blood and guts, body parts and roaming zombies (um, wait...), but you do feel the gorgeous allure of the season through the crunchy-leafed scenery, the equisite set design, costuming, innocence of youth and the somewhat corny (if not over-acted) witchy zeal of the wonderful Sanderson sisters. Okay, the plot wouldn't win a Pulitzer Prize, but for sheer fun and enjoyment, let Hocus Pocus transport you to a time and place where witches ruled and moms still impersonated Madonna in cone cupped bustiers. PS: Did I mention I have my own black cat named Zachary Binx?

Disney wrost movie.
This movie shoud be on MST3000.

"This are my three ugly sisters."

"She flying a what?"

"You she her this moring."

It's time to run a-muck!
I, personally, find this movie to be hilarious. The acresses are great and very funny. The whole cast is great. The story is very funny as well. ... Read more

Amazon.com

While on the planet Gamma Hydra IV, Captain Kirk (William Shatner), Mr.Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), and Scotty (James Doohan)are infected with an unknown disease that causes rapid aging. The only member ofthe party unaffected is Chekov (Walter Koenig), who becomes McCoy's guinea pigwhile searching for a cure back on the Enterprise. A nifty idea with somepoignant overtones, the story by David P. Harmon startles a viewer with thesight of these familiar folks rapidly graying, wrinkling, weakening, andsuffering memory loss. At the same time, Harmon is careful to age each characteras a unique individual, as in real life. Kirk slows down more than the longer- lived Spock, while McCoy remains mentally keen if physically brittle. As forpoor Scotty, well...the dramatic subtext in "The Deadly Years" concerns theperennial conflict over when and how to decide that someone has become too oldto carry out crucial responsibilities. In that sense, this episode feelsconstantly relevant and uniquely entertaining: Let's just say that some of theseactors play "old" a little better than others. (Director Joseph Pevney hasreported that there was a lot of conflict over who was stealing old-guy movesfrom whom.) With all this going on, one might not notice that guest star CharlesDrake is a truly familiar face, having appeared in such classic films as The Maltese Falcon and Now, Voyager. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Another strong show
This episode, in which the crew experience accelerated aging, is another winner. The best thing going for this show is the most simple; it's a good story. Add to that the fact that it is developed nicely and at it's own pace, and you have another thoroughly engaging show, in which we actually feel suspense as to how the crew will get out of this jam. The acting performances are also enjoyable from the big 3 in particular. Certainly the best job done by the make-up team as well; the aging was quite convincing given how low budget and low-tech Trek was.

While Commodore Stocker predictably fails, at least he is presented as a reasonably likeable Starfleet Official and one capable of being self-critical. The court-martial scene was a good idea, but it was far too drawn out at 10+ minutes; we did not need to have each of Kirk's recent foibles pointed out to us again!

This episode does a really good job of exploring how aging not only affects one's mental performance but also one's ability to gauge their mental performance. When we are young and thinking clearly it is so difficult to accept that as we approach death some of us will not accept that our capacities have significantly diminished, and will go on driving, living on our own, etc. even when it is no longer safe to do so.

Where's Planet Viaga IV when you need it?
In this one the crew faces rapid aging like Spock did in Star Trek III. Only in this one it only lasts one episode. I wonder if the the actors compare the way they look in this and the way they look today. They are in as old as they were supposed to be in this episode. It's a good overall. It's a silly concept but has a good gimmick to keep you watching. I don't see how the process was reversed to keep the crew to their current ages, however it works for Star Trek.

Kirk might be old, but he's still got grit and gumption!
In "The Deadly Years," the Enterprise discovers everyone on Gamma Hydra IV has either died or is in the process of dying from old age. Back onboard their ship, Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Scott all begin to age rapidly as well because of some unusual kind of radiation. Meanwhile, there is a Commodore Stocker on board who forces Spock to relieve Kirk as being unfit for command and then does the same to Spock. But the Commodore has been flying a desk his entire career and in no time at all he has the ship in the Neutral Zone, surrounded by Romulans. Seeing all the senior officers in old person make-up is a bit hokey, but this is redeemed by Kirk's performance during his competency hearing and the way Kirk uses his earlier mistakes to save the day in a nice ironic touch. Usually when the writers come up with a gimmick like this they do not come up with a worthwhile story in which to play it, but that is not the case with "The Deadly Years."

Radiation Sickness ages the Crew.
While making a routine at a small science outpost near the Federation/Romulan border, A Landing Party discovers that the scientists have died of old age from some form of radiation sickness and now the same fate will happen to Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, and Scotty unless a cure can be found within 48 hours. Makeup artist Fred B. Phillips does a great job with applying make-up to the actors to have them look older in every new scene. Guest stars Charles Drake and Sarah Marshall also give good performances. Written by David P. Harmon. Directed by Joseph Pevney. Music Composed and Conducted by Fred Steiner and Sol Kaplan.

An episode you won't forget
"The Deadly Years" is definitely one of the best episodes of the original Star Trek. Kirk and the crew find some old people on a planet that say they are only 25 and 28. However, they look like they're in their 90's. Soon afterwards, the crew beams back onboard the Enterprise and discovers that everybody, with the exception of Chekov, that beamed down to the planet is turning old quickly. Dr. McCoy or somebody must find a cure for the disease before they die of old age in only a matter of a few days.

"The Deadly Years" features some of the best makeup of any TV show or movie from the 60's, and also some of the best acting. Captain Kirk and Dr. McCoy put on the two best performances, they will make you think they really are old and frail. "The Deadly Years" is a classic episode of the series and Kirk does some of his best commanding at the end of the episode. This is one episode you won't forget. ... Read more