Amazon.com

More is not necessarily better. A glitzy Hollywood cast and a big budget did not improve the wonderful 1957 teleplay (or its equally charming 1964 remake) upon which this version is based. This is partly because Brandy, cast in the title role, cannot act. Not helping matters are Whoopi Goldberg as the prince's mother and Jason Alexander as his valet. Their shtick wears thin very quickly. However, Paolo Montalban is charismatic as the prince, and Whitney Houston plays a fairy godmother with pizzazz. The production cost millions, and is certainly lavish, but the whole affair feels forced and overdone, reminding one of a prom queen wearing too much makeup. It does deserve credit for a multi-ethnic cast, the addition of two new songs and a hip attitude. However, the 1964 version (the original was not taped) is much sweeter and more romantic. Originally released as Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. --Rochelle O'Gorman ... Read more

Reviews (124)

Excellent
I watched this movie when it first aired and loved it so much that I bought the video. I have since watched it numerous times.

Brandy does not have near the voice to do a Rogers and Hammerstein. I still don't understand why she was cast as Cinderella. I hope she will not attempt another musical in the future. Whitney was Whitney. She succeeded in turning the fairy godmother into her image.

Fortunately, the rest of the cast more than make up for them. Overall, the acting was good. The singing (beside Brandy) was excellent. Whoopi Goldberg and Victor Garber were great as Queen and King. Whoopi was hilarious, but I wish she didn't have to sing. I agree with the other reviewers that Bernadette Peters stole the show as the wicked stepmother. Her singing and acting were superb. Jason Alexander was OK as the Prince's Valet, but why did he need that accent??? The two stepsisters were funny.

The real fairy tale is newcomer Paolo Montalban. He was exceptional in his TV debut and what a fantastic voice. I hope to hear him sing again. His prince was perfectly charming, and he could dance too.

Lastly, the mutlicultural casting is ingenious. All the actors and actresses were cast by their singing (except Brandy) and acting (except Whitney) ability. Disney didn't make this an all-white or all-black Cinderella so children of all races can enjoy it. For the people who think that this is not realistic, remember THIS IS A FAIRY TALE. If mice can change into horses and pumpkins into coaches that fly then why can't a white king and a black queen have an asian son. We don't need an scientific explanation to everything. Just enjoy the movie. ~

Great film!!
This version took a big risk and, eventhough its tough to see, it was a woderful film. True, Brandy doesn't have the best voice for R&H but her Cinderella was a stronger character and more believable, instead of the usual weak Cinderella. Having great B'dway stars like Bernadette Peters, Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg, Victor Garber, Paolo Montalban and the two step sister brought life, woderful acting, and wonderful singing to the film. Even though Whitney Houston wasn't the best choice for the Fairy Godmother she produced the movie and you have to admit she can sing. The sets, costumes, and special effects were amazing and brought out the story book mood, something the other versions never did and R&H's score was beautifully brought back to its full glory that just wasn't in the 1965 production. Though the film has a few flaws it's a great film!!

Fabulous!
My 2-year-old daughter and I have so much fun singing along with this video. She even asks me to dance during the ballroom scenes. It is a fabulous production.

great voices but ok acting
I've seen the version with Leslie Anne Warren and thought that anyone could sing and be Cinderella better than her, and with Disney's 1997 version someone did. Brandy brings to this role some much needed sophistication and class that, unfortunately, Leslie Anne did not. The movie is filled with great music and overall ok acting, but still can't anyone make a musical that is not corny or cheesy? Did the great musical end with Grease? Paolo was absolutely fabulous and a great find. His voice resounded with greatness. It's too bad that a musical can have such great singing talent, but not much in the acting department. Still, it makes for great background noise while reading or studying.

multi-ethnic cast shines!
Having grown up with the magic of Lesley Anne Warren as Cinderella, I wasn't sure the Rogers and Hammerstein musical could be topped, but the whole family was impressed with this one. Brandy does a wonderful job as Cinderella: demur, wistful, and understated, and her singing is beautiful (and I wasn't a fan before). The set and costumes and the supporting cast are all excellent! All of the actors manage to convey a sense of their characters' humanity (with the possible exception of Jason Alexander). The "evil" stepsisters are a hoot, Bernadette Peters is inspired, the royal parents capture every parent's concern for their offspring, and Paolo Montalban as the prince is someone anyone could fall in love with.... In short, this updated, multicultural Cinderella is worth putting in your DVD library. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Excellent Story of the Indianapolis
This movie is a very good adaptation of the events surrounding the sinking of the USS Indianapolis. I was impressed with the attention to detail that the producers paid in the movie. For example, it is known that the ship's doctor burned his hands to the point of uselessness while trying to open a door, and sure enough, this scene was excellently covered in the movie. Stacy Keach stars as Captain Charles McVay, and he does an excellent job throughout the film. Richard Thomas portrays the ship's doctor. The scenes of the sinking and the subsequent struggle to survive on the sea is vividly portrayed. I was also impressed with the attention payed to the rescue and Captain McVay's court martial. In fact, this movie does a better job of covering the court martial phase than many of the books I've read on this subject. I would highly recommend this film to anyone who knows or has read about the story of the USS Indianapolis.

Mission of the VCR
I was interested in the Indianapolis disaster after seeing the movie Jaws, where it is discussed. I was hoping this VHS film would give me some more information, and it might have, if the tape had been of sufficient quality to actually watch.

Unfortunately, the company that copied the tape for distribution, which must have been "Bubba's Backstreet Tape Copiers and Stormdoor Company," apparently used one of the first VCRs ever made to do their copying. The tape is recorded on Super Long Play, and I don't care how good your automatic or manual tracking is, your VCR can't keep up with the grainy, flipping images of this tape. The thing is unwatchable. You can just hit yourself in the head with a hammer a couple of times and get the same headache. Save your money.

Like JAWS, only real, and worse
This film is quite upsetting, perhaps because the real event on which it is based was probably worse. It is not as if the makers didn't do their best to tell this true horror story. I believe they did, or if the didn't, I don't wish to see a more upsetting version. Don't expect to sleep well after you see this. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The Children of Tama are a mysterious, rarely encountered race whose language is indecipherable even by the Universal Translator. This is because Tamarians speak in metaphor, which is strange and poetic, but, without a frame of reference, also gibberish. After yet another failed attempt at communication, the Tamarians take drastic measures: they kidnap Picard and beam him to the surface of a hostile planet along with their own captain. What follows is an interesting, well-acted story of the struggle to understand.

Don't be put off by the premise. "Darmok" is one of the best episodes of TNG. It's action-packed and holds its own next to "The Best of Both Worlds, Part I," "Time's Arrow," and "Descent." Thanks to Joe Menosky's brilliant teleplay and Paul Winfield's solid acting, this uphill battle in futility shows what probably would happen when two truly alien races attempt to communicate. There is genuine desperation in Dathon's (Winfield) eyes when he attempts to explain "Darmok and Jalad at Tenagra" for what seems like the millionth time. Watching Picard struggle to understand is downright painful, as is the inevitable confrontation that follows. The viewer comes to care what happens to the Tamarians. We want to know this alien race; but at the same time, we also know we'll probably never comprehend them.

In series television, it's almost unheard of for a show to depart from canon. TNG takes a huge chance with "Darmok" and the end result is worth watching again and again. --Kayla Riggney ... Read more

Reviews (15)

One of the best TNG episodes
Next to "Best of Both Worlds" or "Yesterday's Enterprise," "Darmok" is one of the most intelligent and vibrant episodes of the entire Next Generation catalog. Picard's attempts, and eventual success, to communicate with the Tamarian captain, wonderfully portrayed by Paul Winfield, is splendid. Obviously, most Star Trek stories, whether they be the original series or TNG, offer socio-political commentary on our own society, this episode is no different. It basically teaches that communication with peoples or entities that are different than us can be accomplished if one is willing to try. "Darmok" is Patrick Stewart's finest hour in TNG.

In order to read, you must have read.
Have you ever read The Canterbury Tales? Allusions to classical literature abound. These references were a sort of shorthand or jargon of the time, a way of saying much by saying little. To refer to Zephirus, for instance, is to mention the warm, sweet breezes of Spring and to conjure up that time of year, with all of its freshness and new life.

Episode 102 presents a culture in which this sort of idiom is carried to the extreme. The words are getting through, but the meaning is not. The struggle of the two captains, the alien and Picard, to bridge the gap is brilliant and fascinating.

This is my favorite Star Trek episode of all time, of all generations.

Magnificent.

The best episode from the 7 years of ST:TNG
"Darmok" remains the best of the best of the seven years ST:TNG was on the air. In a short 55 minutes, one has learned a new language. Think of it: at the time Picard speaks with the Tamarian First Officer, the language exchange (if you paid attention to the whole episode) is completely understandable. There is no need for a translation scroll at the bottom of the screen...and was wisely done that way.

Highly recommended.

A testament to the excellence of season 5...
"Darmok" captures what is the heart and soul of Star Trek: discovering new races and learning to coexist with them. In this episode, that is no easy feat for Picard, who is trapped on a planet with an alien captain who talks different from everyone else. The two cannot understand each other, but as a monster hunts them down, it becomes apparent that the two must learn how to communicate. This is a phenominal episode, downplaying the action and instead building on the characters of the alien captain and Picard. It's not just good Star Trek, it's great science-fiction. While the monster effects are very subpar (they always are for Star Trek), the being itself is of little importance to the story. What is important is how Picard and the other captain learn how to communicate. Truly a wonderful episode.

An example of how Star Trek can be a good base for new ideas
One of the things I like about Star Trek was the ability for it to be a platform of new ideas. This episode certainly shows that strength- it's not loaded with special effects and technobabble but it shows good acting and an outstanding idea in having a race which talks solely by example. Though I've not watched much TREK recently this is one of the episodes I remember. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This two-hour finale of Star Trek: The Next Generation is a very satisfying piece that leads the seven-year-old television series back to its beginnings in the original TNG pilot. Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart), whipping through time uncontrollably, simultaneously finds himself back at the start of his tenure on board the Enterprise while also on the ship's deck in the present--at the same time he tried somewhat feebly to forestall a disaster in the distant future. As fans might expect, a certain imp named Q seems to be behind the mystery...but not necessarily for bad reasons. A wonderful wrap-up to seven years of TV legend, All Good Things deserves to be a TV classic. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (31)

'All Good Things' Run Forever In Syndication
Most television series exit the boob tube on only one leg, but STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION sailed off into the small screen sunset with this incredible thought-provoking opus, "All Good Things."

With a stellar performance by Patrick Stewart as Jean-Luc Picard, the adventure travels the gamut of three separate periods in time ... the future, the present, and the past ... juggle a series of events that might, in fact, forecast the end of all mankind (not just the series, that's how much was at stake here).

While I never REALLY liked Q (played by John de Lancie), his role came full circle in this science fiction twist with shades of A CHRISTMAS CAROL. In this two-hour episode, Q rose above being a mere plot device and showed that, as a character, he had worth that the viewers couldn't have possibly imagined.

So ... where's the Q movie?

Spectacular end to a great series...
This TV movie is the last episode of "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and it isn't to be missed. Captain Picard is moving back and forth through time, where an anomaly is destroying life in the universe. It doesn't take long for him to find out that the mischievious Q is behind it all. Very exciting conclusion to the long-running series. It's especially good if watched right after the episode "Encounter at Farpoint," the first show. John DeLancie is always excellent as Q and Patrick Stewart is the only man who could ever play Picard correctly. The biggest reason to see this is if you're a fan of Star Trek. If not, don't bother.

Better than any of the movies.
While the original crew had it better with the movies, The Next Generation was the only Star Trek TV series that I watched consistently. The show had a cast that at least equalled that of the original, boasted better production values, and plots that were intriguing and touched on varieties of concepts that Kirk, Spock, and Bones never got the chance to explore. Deep Space Nine was too mired into the whole "war of the quadrants" to explore any ideas with real satisfaction, and while Voyager had the best effects and the best premise, the cast was middling at best. As for Enterprise, hell, I tried to watch one episode and got too damn bored.

All Good Things..., the swan song episode for TNG, is possibly the best of Star Trek, period, focusing on mind-boggling concepts while retaining the character development and human interest that made the show so appealing. It's the seventh year that the crew of the Starhip Enterprise have been together, but Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) is experiencing odd timeshifts. He's constantly switching between three different time periods; to the past, right before the Farpoint mission, the present, and the future, where the crew has long since split up, Picard is retired and is diagnosed with a debilitating mental illness. Naturally, the rest of the crew is skeptical (be it in any time period), but when Picard discovers the true nature of his constant shifting, he realizes it is both the means and cause with which the existence of mankind could be erased.

I hesitate to give too much away, though I doubt anyone with a passing interest in Star Trek hasn't already seen this episode. But it plays as an interesting comparison and contrast to the series' first episode, Encounter at Farpoint, which it directly ties in to with Picard's timeshifting to the past. There's been a notable improvement in the quality of the sets and the visual effects, and also the acting, the pacing, and the plot development.

All Good Things... has all the solid acting one expects from the cast, and a human touch that was missing from the latest film, Nemesis. It's interesting to note that this episode (meaning the whole series, as well) ends with the door open for all sorts of possibilites; at this time, this clearly implied the much-hyped transition to the big screen.

Unfortunately, some of the more open-ended questions this episode focused on were never even touched on. Sure, the Worf/Troi/Riker triangle was resolved, but one of my favorite ongoing side stories, the burgeoning romance between Picard and Dr. Crusher, was completely ignored in the movies. And the final scenes lead one to believe that the movies would take us to "places" never explored, even though the most recent film was merely a plotless action movie that didn't even have enough action to warrant the movie's existence.

Stewart is the true highlight of this episode, displaying the great acting chops he's been known for. The fact that we care for him and the rest of the crew as well, adds a sense of urgency and involvement in the proceedings that the otherwise quite frantic pace alone might not have been able to develop. The plot twists are pure Trek, each mysterious element giving away to some big revelation that only leads to more questions. The story is engrossing, the dialogue is strong, and the performances and characterizations are spot-on.

There are a few problems with All Good Things. The timeshifting obviously means we're going to see past and future versions of the cast, but everyone's aged to the extent where they can't quite pass for their more youthful selves, and the old-age makeup is never entirely convincing (Old Riker's first appearance gave me a good laugh). That said, I would like to make mention of what full-blown hotties Marina Sirtis and especially Gates McFadden became (McFadden is easily the most attractive post 50-year old actress I've ever seen).

The continuing movie series actually began quite well; Generations and First Contact were enjoyable adventures, but everything seemed to fall apart with Insurrection. Funny, All Good Things... is a title that turned out more prophetic than anyone would have guessed.
**** 1/2 out of *****

Brilliant - what else can you possibly say?
If you were tempted in the beginning season of TNG as many were, to compare the personalities of Kirk and Picard, I think that by the time you got to this production, actually the final one of all, you would have long given up. As a character in a fiction, Picard in no way is even an analogue of Kirk. This virtual tour de force is confirmation of this, if it were needed at all.

My sons and I actually saw Patrick Stuart in the flesh in Leeds on my sisters birthday (I should really have gone there instead, but there you go), watching his signposted one man performance about Shylock - Shakespeares alien. It was quite famous over here, and very well attended. I wish I could relate this to you, but I would go WAY over the 1000 word limit and not even begin to scratch the surface. Sufficient to say, that Stuart's vocabulary as an actor is enormous, and he brought so much intelligence to bear on this very rich and complex play (the merchant of Venice) and interwove it most perspicaciously with recent events - terrorism, racism, and his own fascinating recollections of performances, character interpretations, and so many other things. It was like being on board a ship in a gale, exhilarating and wonderful, and no-one wanted it to end.

It's a fact that when we had the opportunity to ask questions, and also at other times during the show, Patrick mentioned his relationship with Paramount in several ways. I don't want to quote these comments, but sufficient to say that all the cast members felt that things were not always on an even keel. In fact, there was evidence of a really complicated and not always simple state of play at many times. Fortunately, during the last season, there was relatively little in the way of compromise, largely due to the continuous diplomacy of Spiner and Stewart. The result of this diplomacy in the case of this episode pair is just about as good as it gets, and is a truly magnificent way to conclude the series.

Picard, in this episode, has to deal with the final and inevitable onset of the final enemy - age, and mortality. In this he plays beautifuly an far older man than the younger commander seen at Farpoint, though the story is ingeniously composed in such a way that this ending episode is wrapped in an inescable embrace with this very first episode. I doubt whether this could ever have been pulled off by anyone else so well. But what is so well done is to (within the confines of the show format) to produce a strange sense of the timeless and the memorable. This is an astonishing effect. The whole thing seems... haunted by a strange atmosphere which would have been impossible to script in if you were aiming for it intentionally.

I think there is a remote chance that this may just happened anyway, by accident. Perhaps, this is may have been due to the time paradoxes and folding in of the plot. But this atmosphere is surely due in greater part to the unconscious realisation by all participants that this was, in fact, the last time that all the cast would be gathered together in precisely that time and place and circumstance, a sort of breaking of the fellowship.

After the gymnastics of a complicated plot, which gradually reaches a rather dramatic climax, the final stroke of genius is that the ending is positioned somewhere and sometime, but where exactly... Who knows? I suspect in a future which is that strange ambiguity that we know as happily ever after - no irony intended - in fact, you can truly imagine that the ending never actually happens at all,at least not one witnessed, but trails off into memory forever, into the furthest of distance. And it is there that we bid good bye.

Of course, it's not really over, but here the story TELLING naturally ends, and most satisfyingly so. My gosh, what a way to go...

The End
This final episode of TNG stands alone as an all-time classic science fiction episode. "All Good Things", (co-directed by David Carson, from Star Trek: Generations) moves back and forth across time in an eye-appealing way. It's very fulfilling to see Picard deal with both his past, present, future, and Q to top it all off! A great way to end the series. ... Read more

Reviews (11)

Fairie Tale Theater rocks, especially Cinderella!
I love Fairy tales. The first time I saw this movie (and thisone Cinderella especially) I was enchanted and I loved it from thenon. Jean Stapleton gives this movie humor, Jennifer Beals gives it enchantment, and Matthew Broderick gives it a taste of what is still a celebrity in the late 90's! This movie ROCKS!

Faerie Tale Theatre: Cinderella
One of the most romantic episodes in the excellent Faerie Tale Theatre series, this one is the classic rags-to-riches story of Cinderella. Jennifer Beals beautifully portrays the role of Cinderella, and Matthew Broderick makes a delightfully witty Prince Henry. The appearances of Jean Stapleton as the fairy godmother and Eve Arden as the wicked stepmother are superb. The costumes, sets and music are truly divine in this wonderful faerie tale.

Happily Ever After start HERE!
What happens when you have Jennifer Beals playing Cinderella and Jean Stapleton as the fairy godmother? MAGIC!!! This is a wonderful film in the Faerie Tale Theatre series. Each actor/actress gives very memorable performances from Matthew Broderick playing the prince who is looking for love to Eve Arden who plays the unfair dictating stepmother. A perfect family film. A movie that no family or fan of fantasy should be without!

Amazing!
These videos were my absolute favorite as a kid, and at 20, I'm still watching them! They're all so beautifully done and have such wonderful actors! I'm saving all of my copies to show my children some day!

Great Movie
Wonderfully modernized version of the classic tale of Cinderella brought to life with wonderful actors. Great movie . Highly reccomend. ... Read more

Description

An irresistible cast of Hollywood's young faces star in this fun, sexy comedy hit about the power of attraction and the pressures of popularity! Stung when his bombshell girlfriend abruptly dumps him for a TV celebrity, big man on campus Zack Siler (Freddie Prinze Jr., I KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER) wagers with a classmate he can quickly turn any girl -- even the school's biggest geek, Laney Boggs (Rachel Leigh Cook, LIVING OUT LOUD) -- into the prom queen! He wasn't, however, betting on falling in love! After an amazing makeover, Laney is transformed from nobody to knockout ... but when she learns of Zack's deception, it could ruin any chance he had with his newfound dream girl! With a hip, modern soundtrack and a hilarious story that audiences loved, this great comedy is all that ... and more! ... Read more

Reviews (291)

Pygmalion '99
Let's get one thing straight before I make my critique: for those who are expecting an earnest depiction of high school students and high school life, look elsewhere. "She's All That" is as over-the-top as it can get and the movie ironically contains random jokes and parodies about supposedly realistic programs as well, namely the MTV-spawned reality show "The Real World" and its progeny series "Road Rules". This movie is all in good fun but it does manage to hint at a good deal of real life trifles that particular people suffer in that highly-influential and barely survivable place that we geeks and outsiders call "high school". Well, maybe not "high school" (probably closer to HELL), but anyone who was picked on or unjustifiably ostracized gets the picture.

The endearing Rachael Leigh Cook and Freddie Prinze, Jr. star in this sugary ditty about a dude named Zack Silar (Prinze) who is ditched by his long-time armpiece Taylor Vaughn (O'Keefe) only six weeks before the prom. He suffers public humiliation in front of his jock companions and, moreover, the entire school. His less-than-sympathetic pal Dean (Walker) proposes a bet which the illustrious school president can't pass up: Dean will hand-pick the geekiest girl in the school and within the time allotted, Zack must transform her into a mega-babe and make her more than eligible for the elite status of prom queen. The deal is on and within only two minutes of searching, the "scary and inaccessible" Laney Boggs (Cook) makes her appearance by falling flat on her face in the courtyard - Dean has found his guinea pig. From here, Prinze and Cook do the traditional and recycled theme of geek-to-goddess. Suspension of disbelief is a pre-requisite for this transformation - the pretty and petite Cook is hardly an ugly duckling by any standard, her luminous brown eyes and almost pixie-ish beauty a complete distraction, even when she is supposed to look mousy (tortoiseshell glasses, stringy hair, sloppy clothes, etc.). Prinze comes off humble and sweet even when he is trying to be suave and arrogant, but this doesn't ruin anything. We rather want to see him that way because we want to believe that he really does care about Laney and that his reputation is the last thing on his mind. Prinze does this remarkably well. Matthew Lillard of "Scream" fame is a riot as a fictitious Real World cast member Brock Landers, a character that is obviously modeled from the obnoxious and insensitive Puck from Real World San Francisco. Of course, he's a lot more likeable because his character is a complete farce and Lillard almost steals the show. Almost unbearable is Paul Walker as Dean Sampson, the narcissistic jock who places the bet with Zack and manipulates it in his favor. Walker's delivery is so forced and obtuse that one would believe that is truly HIS nature and not just his character. Jodi Lyn O'Keefe is a comedic queen as the vacuous Taylor Vaughn, and Kieran Culkin and Eldin Ratliff are again part of the same cast list (The Mighty) but this time as Laney's younger brother Simon and her best friend Jesse, respectively. If you watch closely during a particular lunchroom scene, you will see Prinze's fiancé and "Buffy" TV star Sarah Michelle Gellar make a brief cameo.

"She's All That" borrows a lot of old themes but still remains fresh because of its enthusiastic cast and an above average script. If teen fluff is your fave, direct yourselves towards cookie-cutter flicks like "Down To You", "Ten Things I Hate About You", "Can't Hardly Wait" and the all-time classic "Clueless". If you want some BIG laughs, rent "American Pie" and watch for its sequel, due out August 10th. Lastly, if you really want to see Prinze show off his acting gams, rent "The House of Yes".

Oh God, not another one!
Here is another movie in which a guy makes a bet about girl, falls in love with girl, then girl finds out, etc. There have to have been at least 40 other movies and tv shows with this plot. Honestly, I would advise you to avoid all movies that have Freddie Prinze Jr. as their star. Every one that I have seen is rubbish.

In this movie, popular guy/jock Zack(Freddie Prinze Jr.) gets dumped by his self-absorbed witch of a girlfriend Taylor(how can you like a character who would go out with her?) for a rude self-absorbed tv star named Brock. While reeling from this shocking breakup, he makes a bet with a jerk friend of his(Okay, how did they become friends?) named Dean. The bet is that he can take any girl and make her a prom queen within the eight weeks before the prom. His "friend" picks out Laney, a misfit artist with horn-rimmed glasses and an extremely unbecoming haircut, played by Rachel Leigh Cook. A relative of mine glanced at the cover that features a photo of her and, after hearing a brief plot summary, said, "Oh, yeah right, like she could be a geek."

However, Cook manages it so well at the beginning that I found it difficult not to consider her a freak. Especially after the 'preforming arts' cafe scene. Anyway, Laney ends up flowering into a beautiful girl who gets nominated as prom queen (big surprise, huh?). The other nominee? Zack's old girlfriend Taylor.

Poor Zack begins to fall in love with Laney, but, unfortunately for him, his 'buddy' Dean decides that the new Laney is totally hot and tells her all about the bet. He omits the fact that it was his idea and that he selected her as the victim. Must have slipped his mind. Laney is shocked and hurt. Gee, what will happen? Will Zack be able to win her back? Ooh, that's a tough one. Oh, there is also a milisecond appearance by Sarah Michelle Gellar. This really does nothing to improve the movie. I suggest that you save your money.

Yuck
First of all, the main character, the dorky girl, isn't ugly. The "popular girl" is not very good looking and there is no way any of these people are highschool aged. This film is also totally sexist.

The jist of this movie was that there is a dork, everyone treats her like crap they make her all pretty (They take of a pair of thick glasses...WOW) and then she lives happily ever after with the jerk that bet everyone he could turn her into prom queen. Charming. Kind of reminds of of Ten Things I Hate about you does it not? A film which I also dislike.

it's all bad
This is the last ripple in the wave of teenage movies that gripped the nation in the late 1990s. A la Pygmalion, My Fair Lady and Pretty Woman, a girl looked down by general society gets a makeover by a respected man and everyone loves her. yay!

But this is the most boring version yet! It is nice that Freddie Prinze Jr's character is a popular jock who is also on the honor roll -- but that's it for changes and surprises. Unless you count the fact that everyone at the prom does a synchronized choreographed dance. Watch if it is on TV, but don't spend actual money on it.

This exemplifies what is bad about "teen movies"
Not only is this film completely predictable, it is also entirely implausible. Cook is simply NOT believable as the "ugly duckling." The characterizations are one-dimensional, and the plot twists are as stagey and disconnected as would be in a high school skit.

Is it any wonder that this was the primary source for "Not Another Teen Movie"? ... Read more

Amazon.com

This made-for-TV pilot of the short-lived series is a decent screen interpretation of the DC Comics hero. While investigating a case involving a dangerous street gang called the Dark Riders, crime lab specialist Barry Allen (John Wesley Shipp) is involved in a freak accident. One stormy night, lightning strikes his lab, electrifying his body and shattering chemical-filled beakers all over him. The ensuing reaction radically alters his physiology, bestowing him with the power to race at superhuman speed. Baffled by his transmutation, he follows the guidance of scientist Christina McGee (Amanda Pays) to comprehend his new physiology. After the nihilistic Riders murder one of his family members, Allen utilizes his new power to seek vengeance against them. Even though this TV movie has many of the exaggerated comic-book scenarios and average acting of other superhero films, The Flash is fun because of Shipp's charming, vulnerable protagonist and Pays's feisty, brilliant scientist. The effects are pretty good, too. --Bryan Reesman ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Good Superhero Movie
Even though he wasn't a well-know hero to the general public, The Flash was given his own show none the less. It wasn't that bad either. Good special effects, a Danny Elfman score, and notable names make this 2 hour pilot interesting. I used to watch the show when I was a kid and loved it. Some episodes were good, and some bad. Still, it was interesting enough to hold my attention. Still, it would have been nice if the show was kept up to date with the comics, being that Wally West was (and still is) the current Flash at the time. Unlike big Hollywood productions, there weren't as many changes to the character. One characteristic I thought was funny was that everytime he was through running, he would have to eat 10,000 TV dinners or pizzas to keep his energy in check. In the show, I would've liked to have seen a relationship develop between Barry and Tina. They always came close, but never did. Let me end off on one little piece of trivia: Years ago when this show was on, I read an insider trade magazine that stated the show was given a renewed fall season, but CBS changed their minds at the last minute. Oh well. It was good while it lasted.

Great Movie--Especially for comic book buffs
This is the first episode of one of my favorite TV series. It came out after the highly successful first Batman movie, which you can tell some of the similarities between the 2 (like the flash symbol against the backdrop of the moon). This is one television show I wish they would at least bring back in reruns, I never got to see all the episodes and would like to add them to my video collection. Anyway, if you liked the first Batman movie better than the rest, or are looking for a good adaptation of a comic book hero, you want to get this movie!

This Show Rules
I remember when this show first came out. I didnt think it would be any good, but i was wrong. The pilot kinda starts out a little slow but it builds up really well, and lets u get to know the caracters. The main thing is the costume...its a really good looking costume and not one of them cheap costumes that doesnt even look like the carachter. The theme music is really good as well, Danny Elfman does the theme and is really good. This show should have gone on longer than just one season.
Thanks for listenin....

Flash is the king
This movie is the best super hero movie ever

The best superhero ever!
The Flash is one of my favorite heroes. The movie is a fantastic adaptation of the comics. John Wesley Shipp plays the Flash perfectly. The movie has a great story. And who can forget the amazing theme song by Danny Elfman? If you are a fan of the Flash, superheroes in general, or even just action, there is no reason why you shouldn't see this great movie.
So what are you waiting for? BUY IT NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!! ... Read more

Reviews (7)

"All hands abandon ship..." BOOM!!!
The above line, and subsequent collision, still chills after repeated viewings as it did when the episode aired over fifteen years ago. Although the destruction of the Enterprise is fiction, the line resonates almost as much as did the real-life "Go with throttle up" spoken to the crew of the ill-fated Challenger.

"Cause and Effect" is one of those time loop episodes that find a welcome home in most science fiction. And it's a remarkably well-paced one, with each "revisitation" as enigmatic as the first one.

This is is first-rate in all aspects!

A truly entertaining episode...
Directing "Cause and Effect" couldn't have been an easy task, but Jonathan Frakes does incredibly well. The Enterprise seems to be trapped in a time loop that starts with the crew playing poker, and ends in the ship colliding with another ship and exploding. How does this happen? How can they prevent it? Watching the episode, you'd think some of the repeated scenes would get old. They don't. In fact, it gets more interesting as the crew begins to realize something's wrong. The ending is terrifically smart and this episode is a TNG classic.

Writer's block episode...
Cause and Effect or the Writer's Block Episode

Kelsey Grammer makes an appearance as a captain of the Starship Bozeman from Kirk's era. He accidently stumbles onto Picards timeline and averts a disaster with the Enterprise. In this one we get to see the Enterprise destroyed at the end of each act before the commercial break. It took them a few tries before they left the endless time loop. It's plot has been repeated before in Voyager and many other Trek episodes. I like to call them the writers block episodes. They have taken the place of what I call the mysterious cloud thing where some ghost like cloud covers the Enterprise and makes the crew act unusual. When the producers get the crunch time of not being able to do location shooting... this is the rusult.. a shipboard story where some special effect wrecks havock with the crew. It doesn't require new sets or any other budget breakers.

The Enterprise blows up (again, and again, and again...)
You will not find a more dramatic teaser to an episode of STNG than this one: The Enterprise is badly damaged with the crew unable to regain control of the ship. Captain Picard issues a frantic order to abandon ship but it is too late and the Enterprise is destroyed by a massive explosion. The next thing we know we are in the middle of just another normal day aboard the Enterprise, except people are experiencing strange feelings of deja vu (as opposed to the unstrange type of that feeling). When the Enterprise encounters a time-space distortion field the main power systems on the ship fail. Suddenly another spaceship emerges from the distortion; Picard tries to use the tractor beams to avoid the other ship but they collide, damaging the Enterprise's starboard warp drive engine. The Enterprise is badly damaged with the crew unable to regain control of the ship. Captain Picard issues a frantic order to abandon ship but it is too late and the Enterprise is destroyed by a massive explosion. We are back to where we started.

This pattern is repeated several times in this episode, with each progression offering slight but significant chances in solving the mystery and avoiding the ship's apparent fate. These changes are most notable in the poker game being played by several members of the bridge crew. "Cause and Effect" is a first rate episode that does a marvelous job of exploring the repetitive and yet still progressive pattern of each time through the time loop. Of course we know that eventually the disaster will be adverted; the fun here is watching them discover the how. This is far and away the best of the STNG time distortion episodes. Final Note: This is the episode where Kelsey Grammer has a nice cameo appearance.

Great episode
The eterprise is in a temporal causality loop. That is the same period of time is repeated again and again with the crew having no memory of the previous loop. If they don't get out of the loop they will be stuck that way possibly forever...

This episode has a cameo appearence by Kelsey Grammer ... Read more

Amazon.com

The two-hour pilot of The Next Generation holds up well after all these years and many, many subsequent episodes and four feature films. Gene Roddenberry's second go-round with Star Trek on television boldly goes where no other soul had gone, overcoming Trekker skepticism at the time about new characters and a new cast. After introducing Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and the rest of the crew, the script by Roddenberry and former Star Trek story editor Dorothy Fontana plunges them into a familiar Trek confrontation with a superior power, Q (John De Lancie), in a weirdly archaic setting drawn from Earth history (in this case, the bloody kangaroo courts of Robespierre's day). Declaring mankind barbarous and unworthy of existence, Q gives Picard 24 hours to prove humans are not just a "grievously savage race." The story is punctuated with various delights, particularly first meetings between the characters (watch for Riker's houndish introduction to Dr. Crusher) and a surprise cameo from a Trek icon. There are bumps: originally shot as a 90-minute special, "Encounter" had to be padded a bit (ergo the ship separation scene) to make it two hours. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (20)

"This is a new ship, but she's got the right name."
Star Trek made its return to the television airwaves with the premiere of Star Trek: The Next Generation in 1987. It was apparent from the beginning of "Encounter at Farpoint" that this new series would be more cerebral and less dependent on green-skinned slave girls and bare-chested captains. This was going to be a series that emphasized that humankind could co-exist in harmony with the technology of its creation and would only resort to violence to solve problems as a last resort.

Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) sets a course for Farpoint Station on his newly commissioned Enterprise-D to pick up new crew members Commander William Riker (Jonathan Frakes), Dr. Beverly Crusher (Gates McFadden), Lt. Geordi La Forge (LeVar Burton), and Wesley Crusher (Wil Weaton). However, with Lt. Commander Data (Brent Spiner), Counselor Deanna Troi (Marina Sirtis), Lt. Worf (Michael Dorn), and Lt. Tasha Yar (Denise Crosby) already on board, the Enterprise is intercepted by the mysterious Q (John de Lancie) who chastises Picard for humanity's inability to leave behind its more savage impulses. Picard objects to the accusation and argues that humankind, while still far from perfect, has abandoned its more destructive habits. Q decides to test this claim by subjecting the Enterprise-D to a test at Farpoint Station which will determine just how far humanity as a whole has evolved.

Being the first episode in a new series, "Encounter at Farpoint" has the usual problems typical of television pilots. The dialogue and performances are a little stiff and the nuances between characters had not yet had time to develop. Yet, "Encounter at Farpoint" is notable for expanding the Star Trek mythos considerably in just a single episode. We are introduced to a new class of ship, a new uniform design, new alien beings, the infamous holodeck, and given a history lesson on important developments that preceded the advent of Starfleet. A cameo by Admiral Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley) also provides a nostalgic link to the fondly-remembered original series. It would take some time before Star Trek: The Next Generation found its stride but "Encounter at Farpoint" did its job by establishing a solid foundation on which to build upon.

The ST:TNG pilot episode...
The U.S.S Enterprise, captained by Jean-Luc Picard, is on a routine investigative mission to Farpoint Station when they encounter an enigmatic, god-like individual known simply as Q. The omnipotent being appears to have no other intention other than to cause trouble and immediately places Picard and his senior officers on trial for the crimes of humanity...

Encounter of Farpoint is not among the best of the Star Trek: The Next Generation episodes - it merely serves as a necessary starting point for a TV programme that took until its third series to display the type of quality we associate it with. Characters are introduced; past relationships are established (although it does take 178 episodes, seven series, three movies and eleven years for anything to come of it in the case of Riker and Troi). This is a must-have for any fan of the series - watching "Encounter at Farpoint" and comparing it to later episodes will allow you to see just how far the characters - Picard, Riker, Troi, Dr Crusher, Data, Worf, La Forge and Yar - have evolved and how the show as a whole changed over time.

~*Jenna*~

It introduced us to so many characters and yet told a story
Had I written a review of this episode shortly after it came out, it would not have been nearly as positive as this one. In viewing it again, I am struck at how well the two "unusual" characters of Q and Data are introduced. While to outward appearances he is human, Data is an android and we are immediately made aware of that as well as some of his "failings." Simple things such as whistling and humor are beyond his capacity at this time.
The outstanding feature is the introduction of one of the best characters to ever appear in a television series, Q, the impish God. Without question, he is a god, possessing mighty powers and yet he is using them to determine the worthiness of humanity to explore the stars. After the dark, foreboding and sometimes bloody descriptions of God in much of our religious literature, it is a pleasure to see one who puns and tests us with puzzles rather than in how well we slaughter our enemies. Of secondary interest is the mention of the Ferengi, although they are described as a people who eat those who displease them.
Dr. McCoy of the original series makes an appearance as an admiral, inspecting the medical facilities of the Enterprise. He is as irascible as ever, yet he also praises the Vulcans as an honorable race, worthy of respect. Data escorts him while he is on the Enterprise, and their conversation is one of the classics in the entire Star Trek genre.
The Enterprise crew gets together and their mission is to investigate Farpoint Station, a structure constructed with unusual rapidity by a people who wish to have the Federation use it as a star base. On the way to Farpoint, they encounter Q and we are introduced to the plot device where the saucer and weapons sections can be separated. This was not extensively used in subsequent episodes, which was unfortunate. Given that families are now on starships, it is my belief that such separations would be standard practice when there is the reasonable expectation of hostilities.
Q creates a courtroom whose spectators are survivors of an atomic holocaust. Humanity is put on trial through the crew of the Enterprise and then they are let free to continue their mission. When the Enterprise arrives at Farpoint, things are not what they appear to be. When the leader of the people who built Farpoint is questioned, he professes ignorance, yet it is clear he knows what is happening. Another "ship" arrives and begins bombarding the city near Farpoint. Rather than immediately firing on the new arrival, Picard seeks information and learns that the "ship" is in fact an intelligent entity that is trying to free its' mate, which has been transformed into Farpoint. By firing energy of the proper form into Farpoint, the Enterprise heals the creature and it frees itself. Q is impressed by this and announces that humanity has passed the test.
Given that there was very little to build on, this episode effectively introduces much of what is arguably the greatest television series ever. Therefore, it can also be considered the best episode of the series.

Just what you'd expect from the first episode of a series
While 'Encounter At Farpoint' is only average at best it's important to take into consideration that it is the series opener. In many such shows most of the production staff and especially the actors tend to be concerned whether or not the show will succeed; additionally the actor's character portrayals naturally become sharper and better defined. Considering the daunting task of attempting to revive the series with an all-new cast it is completely understandable that there should be some hesitation or reservations present. The debut of this Trek serialization was penned equally by the seasoned and distinguished series veterans D.C. Fontana and the show's creator Gene Roddenberry. Reportedly the story went through several changes but basically retained the same original plot of the new Enterprise crew at the edge of known Federation explored space, find the peculiar conundrum and expose the culprits. The Farpoint scenario isn't really fleshed out well; what really works best in this episode is the inspired invention of Q, brought to vivid life by the underrated and underused John De Lancie. He became more of a scamp and a thorn in the side of Picard in later episodes, but here he is genuinely nefarious and quite ominous. His performance in his relatively few scenes is more than memorable and adds punch to the proceedings when it is lagging. There is also a natural lead-in to the future episode 'Hide And Q' that comes near the end when Q first meets Riker face-to-face.

Though the show falls flat where it is concerned with the Farpoint station, the concept of Q is well developed; an omnipotent, all-powerful being appears and tells the humans they can come this far and no farther. Incapable of battling against such a potent foe the humans strike the only bargain they can: test us. See if we've advanced beyond our primitive and savage desires; watch us and make certain we don't corrupt and defile everything and everyone we come into contact with. The challenge comes at an opportune and delicate time too as the Enterprise is beginning their new mission. Sure it's a convenient plot element but it gives the writers something to work with right out of the gate and besides future Q appearances give the viewer something to look forward to in later episodes.

Initially the main characters themselves don't really come off too successfully; with the exceptions of Jonathan Frakes as Riker and Brent Spiner as Data everyone would appear to be only a distant reflection of what they were here in the episodes immediately following. At times Patrick Stewart as Jean Luc Picard comes off as more of a classroom instructor grading the crewmembers in some sort of a starship mockup exercise; Denise Crosby as Tasha Yar seems mousy here in comparison to the rest of the series; Michael Dorn as Worf speaks lines only so that Picard can chastise him; Marina Sirtis as Deanna Troi wavers uncomfortably between strong and meek characterizations, unable to discern which quality she should be projecting; other cast members get too little screen time for us to get any real impression of them. By the show's end though we get a good feel of what to expect of them in future episodes; the addition of past histories and relationships between some of the key bridge officers is a great twist. Later the writers would make the most of these opportunities drawing us into the problems of being both a superior officer and a friend, defining the lines that can and can't be crossed.

Good Beginning To A Remarkable Sci Fi Show!
Star Trek: TNG was and is one of my favorite TV shows, I actually started watching it during it's second season and didn't get to watch the first season episodes til I got some first season videos from Columbia House and when I watched Encounter At Farpoint Parts One and Two I wasn't disapponted because it answered some questions for me such as how they were introduced to Q and who this Tasha Yar was who was mentioned in some of the second season episodes. Yes it may be said that Encounter at Farpoint isn't an excellent movie but it's not awful, not one of the few stinkers of the series long run by any means and I actually found this series pilot quite entertaining especially the scenes with Q played by John De Lancie who I think was fantastic and so was Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-luc Picard and I think all of the the actors were good, yes their acting wasn't as good as in other episodes but since as this was the pilot I think they just hadn't hit their stride yet and when the characters were more fully developed their acting improved a lot and really impressed me and though Encounter At Farpoint is not a 5 star episode I think it's worth 4 stars just for the scenes with John De Lancie and Patrick Stewart and in other first season episodes and later seasons you will get to see great acting from LeVar Burton, Brent Spiner, Jonathan Frakes, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, etc. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

One of the best episodes!
This is one of the best Star Trek Next Generation episodes because in the context of Star Trek and encounters with alien species, it explores the complicated and difficult feelings which can arouse in regard to love, physical appearance and the unpredictability of one's partner. If only we had more Star Trek episodes as thought-provoking and emotionally moving as this one!

Who was that Trill I saw you with last night
Who was that Trill I saw you with last night?

In this one Bev Crusher falls for a Trill host. They make their first appearance in this episode. The host's body rejects the worm and Riker offers to serve as host to the worm entity. Other than that it's not the most action filled episode. But it does stretch the bounds of love for poor Bev. She has this thing for Riker, however it's the personality in the Trill that she loves. It's sets the tone for all the future Trills we see like Dax in Deep Space Nine.

Beauty Within
I am not a Crusher fan, nor am I a big Riker fan, and if someone had told me the concept of the episode, I would have rolled my eyes, but this is one of the most profound, beautiful things I have ever seen on TV. Odan, the symbiotic being Crusher is attracted to, is incredible--he gives the notion of "having a beautiful soul" substance. His impulse to love, and the enforced restraint in Riker's body is riveting--Jonathan Frakes displays some of his best acting ever.
One wishes the episode didn't have to end as it does--Crusher's all-too human failing can't rise to the challenge of unconditional love--but it is fitting, and inevitable, given the episodic format.
I recommend this highly to anyone.

Dr. Crusher falls in love with a Trill.
This is one of those Star Trek episodes where one of the crew falls in love with an "alien" and things do not work out. In "The Host," Dr. Crusher falls for Odan, a Federation ambassador who happens to be a Trill, although this apparently means nothing to her. Obviously this episode has great implications for the Star Trek universe down the road with Jadzia Dax being a main character on Deep Space Nine. When Odan is injured during an attack on a shuttle, Crusher discovers the symbiotic relationship between the Trill and its host and is stunned to learn that "Odan" is the parasite in the relationship. Crusher removes the Trill and puts it in stasis. When the host dies they learn it will be forty hours until a new host can arrive for Odan, which will be thirty-eight hours too late for Odan. To save the Trill's life and to allow the delicate negotiations to continue, Commander Riker volunteers to host Odan. This means that Crusher has to get used to the idea of Odan living in Riker's body.

Star Trek often tries to find interesting new ways of dressing up old ideas, and "The Host" deals with the idea that beauty is only skin deep. Enlightened people want to believe that they love the mind, the soul, the personality of someone, not their appearance, and here is a chance for Crusher to put this to the test. Once we gloss over the idea that the Chief Medical Officer of the Federation's flagship did not know what a Trill was before Odan showed up on board, this is a fascinating episode. Certainly it treats both its subject and the focal character seriously. Given Jack Crusher's tragic death, there is a certain pathos that carries over to any of Beverly's attempts to find love in the universe. This is an adult episode that provides some of Gates McFadden's best moments on the series and introduces a species that will be put to much better dramatic use in the future.

Beverly falls in love?
Dr. Crusher falls in love with an alien diplomat, who is involved in peace talks with an alien planet. But the good Doctor is crushed when she learns that her lover is actually a parasitic life form that lives off host bodies and has lived for years. The episode becomes even worse when the symbiont is planted into Riker's body to resume the peace talks, and when a suitable host comes aboard the Enterprise, the symbiont is finally placed in the body of a woman. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

Every Borg episode gets better and better!
"The Best Of Both Worlds" is the true inspiration of the Borg. Never-ending and teriffic action, the special effects (which you'll mostly see on part 2) and the plot gets you off your seat! You truly can't miss this one!

Crown Jewel of Next Generation. Film or tv
Unfortunately I only became a Next Generation fan around the time the series was about to go off of the air. So I can't even imagine the suspense that the truly faithful had when this episode aired with a whole summer remaining before the answer would be revealed. I was edgy just to see the next episode even though I only had to wait a day.

What I can say is that this episode is one of the best written and produced television events i've ever seen. The sets, as always, were awesome. The Borg ship is ominous and eerie. The action and surprise is palpable. And the plot is just outstanding. I don't wanna give ANY of it away but just suffice it to say that an almost perfect quandry is presented to the crew of the Enterprise.

The Borg has to be the most ominous concept perhaps ever created for television. Picture this... a big metal cube that flies through space without any apparent leader. And wherever it goes it's sole purpose is to anihilate the planets and vessels it encounters. Or it seeks to assimilate the inhabitants into its' 'collective'. Once assimilated the beings lose all sense of self and become motivated only by the desire to serve the collective. It's kinda like Night of the Living Dead in space. You can't outrun em and if you kill em more just keep comin'. Frightening.

I used to have many discussions about what the Borg was meant to represent. I always believed that the Borg was meant to represent Communism but I was intrigued by the many different interpretations that I was exposed to.

In short, you don't have to be a Next Generation fan to appreciate this single episode. It stands on its' own merit. When you watch Next Generation in general it's hard to imagine how anyone ever even liked the original series with James T. Kirk. This episode is just beyond fantastic.

Next Generation has to be one of my five favorite television series ever and this is the crown jewel of Next Generation.

One of the Great Cliffhangers of All Time
In "Q Who?" (Episode 42), Q sent the Enterprise 7,000 light-years away, where they first encounter the Picard. Ever since the conclusion of that episode, which heralded the coming of age of Star Trek: The Next Generation, we have known that the Borg were coming to destroy the Federation. After a year and a half (as reckoned by television time), the Borg finally arrive in the season finale to year three. Starfleet has been preparing, and Commander Shelby, head of the Borg Tactical Analysis Team, is on the Enterprise to tell everybody how to do things right (No one likes her). The Borg arrive and demand Picard beam over to their ship. Picard refuses and although the Enterprise escapes from the initial battle, hiding in a nebula until they can devise a new high-energy beam weapon, the Borg appear on the bridge during the next encounter and disappear with the Captain. Riker sends an away team to rescue Picard, but to their horror they discover he has been transformed into a Borg named Locutus. This cannot be good.

This episode is just a fantastic payoff to the long wait for the return of the Borg. The two-parts of "The Best of Both Worlds" is clearly the highpoint of the series, the equivalent of the Fantastic Four fighting Galactus or Buffy slaying Angel. The final scene of Part I, indeed the final WORD of this episode is the most memorable moment on the show, seared into your memory because of the long hard summer it created wondering what would happen when we got to Part 2. Truly an epic episode on the top of every Trekkers list. Note: Commander Shelby is "currently" the Executive Officer on the Excalibur in Peter David's Star Trek: New Frontier series, which by definition makes her one of the more successful minor characters in the Star Trek universe.

The 2nd Best TNG episode (because part 2 is the best!)
Now how to explain the greatness of this episode without ruining the suspense for those who haven't seen it. Let's say this much - the borg are in it, which makes it good there. Now if you've seen episodes of Voyager or First Contact, these borg don't seem as rough looking or dangerous, but it's the same guys. This episode is filled with suspense and you'll love the ending. You'll want to see part 2 for sure and I'm not saying that just because it's only natural to watch a part 2. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

The Worst of Both Episodes
While Best of Both Worlds part 1 was unquestionably one of the best episodes of TNG, I can't say the same for the 2nd part. The amount of suspense that was built nicely through the first part made the summer seem interminably long, waiting for the conclusion. What a disappointment! I believe the writer's essentially painted themselves in a corner and then couldn't come up with a follow up that would both resolve all the issues and maintain the same level of drama.
On another note regarding the same episode, this was just one of a large number of episodes that proved Riker had no business being in command of a ship. Seems like every time Will got to sit in the "big chair" he would screw it up! (Near the end of the episode, after making the very WRONG decision of not making Data his 1st officer, when all else fails, what does he want to do to the Borg? "Gee, let's ram the big square ship with the Enterprise. It probably won't make much of a dent in the cube and they will go on to Borg-ify all the humans, but it will probably make a pretty cool fireball!")

As I said, it truly gets better and better...
Part 2 of this extrordinary episode is 2x more better than Part 1. A rescue mission to free Picard (Locutus) from the hive mind turns out to be a googleplex's amount of money worth of a battle. I especially like how the action and plot are, as that's what I always like, and the way they come out of this scary adventure. Enjoy watching this one!

Resistance is futile? Come over here and say that!
In Part I of "The Best of Both Worlds," the Borg finally arrived at the Federation, kidnapped Jean-Luc Picard and turned him into a Borg named Locutus. At the end, when Locutus made known the demands of the Borg to the crew of the Enterprise, Riker had ended the episode ordering Worf to fire the weapon that would destroy the Borg cube and everyone on it. However, as the fourth season of Star Trek: The Next Generation end the long summer of torment after one of the great cliffhangers of all time, the weapon does not work. Picard has been assimilated, and his knowledge has joined the collective. This cannot be good and indeed it is not. With the help of Locutus, the Borg annihilate the armada sent by Starfleet (one of the casualties being Benjamin Sisko's wife, as we shall find out in the pilot for Deep Space Nine). Riker comes up with a new plan: kidnap Picard and turn the tables by using his knowledge of the Borg to discover THEIR weaknesses.

Part 2 provides an excellent payoff to the fantastic ending of Part 1. We often say that stature of a hero depends on the qualities of the villain, in which case the Borg are one of the great adversaries of all time. From the perspective of humanity, the Borg are clearly everything we are not. The simple twist of fate by which Picard because one of the Borg, leaving Riker and the others to defeat their great enemy without their fearless leader, only serves to up the ante even more. This is another A+ episode and you cannot have one without the other.

The Best!
The follow up from part one does a very nice job. Riker is fantastic in dealing with the ways to rescue Picard from the Borg ship. Too bad you couldn't see the actual "battle" at Wolf 359. But you actually can if you watch the beginning of Star Trek Deep Space Nine's 1st episode. As with the 1st episode, this one's loaded with suspense. You won't want to miss a minute. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This jaunty B-movie funhouse of an episode could have sprung from The Twilight Zone. That's essentially where Commander Riker, Data, and Worf find themselves while investigating an oxygen pocket on a lifeless planet. A revolving door in the middle of nowhere whooshes the away team into a bustling Las Vegas hotel casino, where the activity seems to contradict sensor readings. There's no life here, merely an elaborate holodeck fantasy sprung from the pages of a trashy paperback crime melodrama. ThinkHarold Robbins by way ofJean-Paul Sartre: there's no way out of this hackneyed soap opera and the Enterprise transporters can't beam them out, so it's up to Riker and company to create their own dramatic exit. The rather elaborate explanation for it all concerns an ancient NASA astronaut and the misguided benevolence of a naive alien race, but it hardly matters. The fun lies in Data's studies of gamblers, gold diggers, and the intricacies of room service, and Riker's energetic fling as a flamboyant high roller. As Counselor Troi listens in on the hoary dialogue emanating from the gambling hall, she queries: "Did humans really talk like that?" Only in the B movies and TV soaps this episode parodies with such eye-rolling fun. --Sean Axmaker ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Silly but Fun!
I love Star Trek: The Next Generation, it is one of my all-time favorite TV shows and of the few silly episodes of the series I liked episode 38, The Royale, yes it's like a campy B movie but it's fun to watch and everyone is great especially Brent Spiner who really has some wonderful comedic flair in the casino scenes with Vanessa and the gambler from Texas. I didn't like Some of the silly episodes of STTNG but The Royale is an exception and is a delight to watch!

"All Right! Time To Get Down To Bidnesz!!"
"The Royale" was generally well received when it originally aired during the second season. Within a short while though fans and critics alike accused this show of being too deriative of ST:TOS's "A Piece Of The Action", but I prefer to see it as a tribute to that episode, a fan favorite.

As in the original series' show, here the trapped Enterprise crew members throw themselves into the roles being forced on them and the result is memorably funny. There are ample enjoyable elements that make this episode one of my favorites: The casino set piece is one of TNG's most memorable; the compliant but condescending desk clerk; the cheesy dialogue spoken by the casino characters - particularly the bellhop and Mickey Dee; Noble Willingham is a hoot as 'Tex'; seeing Data at the crap table in the final sequence really puts the show over the top. Also, the mathematical puzzle Picard is trying to solve in the intro and his explanation of it to Number 1 is a perfect bridging device for this episode.

Not to be taken seriously, "The Royale" is both an homage to Trek's earlier incarnation and a bouquet to fans of each of the series.

Surrealistic Fun
"The Royale" is good weird fun. I would remind those stuffy fans who hate the episode that science-fiction is supposed to be strange and awe-inspiring, and not always logical. The episode is a bit vague and it doesn't make total sense. Nevertheless, the show is so surreal and funny that a suspension of belief is welcome. Ron Jones' score is delightful and the production values are excellent. The mystery is well played, the casino scenes are funny, and the fate of Colonel Ritchie is strangely sad. The away team's interaction with the stereotypical Texan and with "Vanessa" is priceless stuff. Brent Spiner has some real fun with Data in this episode. Watching a nauseated Picard and Troi listen to the awful dialgue of "Hotel Royale" is amusing. One of the better second season episodes.

One of the best
I love this episode. It reminds me of old time Vegas with a little twist to it.

A human, a Klingon and an android walk into a casino...
The nicest thing about the holodeck is that Picard can have his Dixon Hill novels, Data can play Sherlock Holmes, so on and so forth, without the Enterprise stumbling upon planets based on Nazi Germany or Gangland Chicago as happened from time to time on the original Star Trek. For that reason, this particular episode really rubs me the wrong way. Orbiting Theta VIII, the Enterprise finds a NASA spaceship from 21st-century Earth. When Riker, Data and Worf beam down to a small area of breathable area on the barren planet, they discover a casino-hotel named "The Royale." It seems that when the American ship arrived nearly three centuries ago, it encountered an alien presence, which accidentally killed all of the astronauts save one. To make amends, the aliens provided for that sole survivor by using a pulp novel "Hotel Royale" to create what it presumed was an ideal existence for the human. Now the away team is stuck in the hotel and in the novel until they figure out the rules of the game.

While it is admittedly fun to see Data playing at a craps table for really big money, I just resent the whole contrivance of the situation, especially since during its second season Next Generation was getting away from the tendency to mimic original Trek episodes at every opportunity. If you look at the other episodes produced at this time (e.g., "Contagion" and "Times Squared"), you can see that "The Royale" is clearly a cut below the rest. Then again, from the standpoint of the actors, it must be nice to have a fun episode to break up the monotony of saving the universe each week. Fortunately the series learned to put as much effort into the fun episodes as the serious ones (e.g., "Menage a Troi"). ... Read more