Rating: 
Summary: They don't call it classic Trek for nothing
Review: The first season of Star Trek is, for me, a pinnacle of television entertainment, and having these new episodes in this vibrant, remastered, digital format is a dream come true. Both "Mudd's Women" and "The Enemy Within" have a great sweaty, nocturnal look to their cinematography and terrific performances. It often seems to be a given to our 30-years-later perspective that the original Star Trek contains "bad acting." People forget the esteem in which this show and its cast were held when it originally aired--Leonard Nimoy was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role on the series and Shatner--yes, Shatner!--was a respected stage performer. I can't imagine anyone else attacking the role of Kirk's evil double with the kind of flamboyant theatricality that Shatner does. You couldn't get away with it today and the aesthetic has changed completely, but I miss this kind of scenery-chewing, and it's definitely one of the reasons why this show can be watched over and over again. Roger C. Carmel's deliciously hammy, hilarious performance in "Mudd's Women" is almost as good. Just remember, you're not watching NYPD Blue, you're watching Star Trek.
Rating:
Summary: They don't call it classic Trek for nothing
Review: The first season of Star Trek is, for me, a pinnacle of television entertainment, and having these new episodes in this vibrant, remastered, digital format is a dream come true. Both "Mudd's Women" and "The Enemy Within" have a great sweaty, nocturnal look to their cinematography and terrific performances. It often seems to be a given to our 30-years-later perspective that the original Star Trek contains "bad acting." People forget the esteem in which this show and its cast were held when it originally aired--Leonard Nimoy was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role on the series and Shatner--yes, Shatner!--was a respected stage performer. I can't imagine anyone else attacking the role of Kirk's evil double with the kind of flamboyant theatricality that Shatner does. You couldn't get away with it today and the aesthetic has changed completely, but I miss this kind of scenery-chewing, and it's definitely one of the reasons why this show can be watched over and over again. Roger C. Carmel's deliciously hammy, hilarious performance in "Mudd's Women" is almost as good. Just remember, you're not watching NYPD Blue, you're watching Star Trek.
Rating:
Summary: DVD shines in its clarity
Review: This is probably the BEST DVD I have seen to date. The picture is crystal clear. I was awestruck when I watched. I couldn't believe such an old tv show could be so sharp, clear and in focus. They did a really good job of remastering this series, and the DVD really does it justice!The sound quality is a little off par, but that is expected for a series this old (I don't know how hard it is to clarify audio in a remaster...I don't imagine it is easy though). All in all, you get alot for what you pay for. The series sells right now on VHS at $14.00 per episode in stores (Suncoast), so at Amazon's generous $13.99 for TWO episodes, it is a bargain (if not a steal!!!). The discs themselves are low on extras, but they do include the trailers of each show on the disk, plus the two episodes on the "next volume". Nice touch. I would have liked to have seen interviews much like what they had on the sci-fi channel, but the price point doesn't support that. I am most pleased with this issue!
Rating: 
Summary: Get this one for Shatner
Review: Those who claim Shatner can't act should be shown "The Enemy Within," an episode that shows that, yes, Shatner can act. The premise is simple enough--Kirk is split into two halves, one that is the "good" side of humanity and the other the "evil" half of humanity. Over the course of the hour, Kirk learns he needs both halves not only to command but to be human. It's a powerful and moving episode and it certainly features Shatner at his finest as he brings both half of Kirk to life. This is one of the finest explorations of Kirk's character in the entire original series and this episode proves again and again why the original series is so loved and has endured for so long. As for "Mudd's Women," this was one of the three scripts for the second pilot that Roddenberry wanted to do. Thankfully, he went with "Where No Man Has Gone Before," and the rest is history. Not that "Mudd's Women" is bad, mind you. It's a standard Trek story that features some nice moments with Kirk. It also deals with how far humans will go to find acceptance and love and certainly has some rather interesting, thought provoking themes. But, overall, it's not one of the stronger early entries the series had.
Rating:
Summary: Get this one for Shatner
Review: Those who claim Shatner can't act should be shown "The Enemy Within," an episode that shows that, yes, Shatner can act. The premise is simple enough--Kirk is split into two halves, one that is the "good" side of humanity and the other the "evil" half of humanity. Over the course of the hour, Kirk learns he needs both halves not only to command but to be human. It's a powerful and moving episode and it certainly features Shatner at his finest as he brings both half of Kirk to life. This is one of the finest explorations of Kirk's character in the entire original series and this episode proves again and again why the original series is so loved and has endured for so long. As for "Mudd's Women," this was one of the three scripts for the second pilot that Roddenberry wanted to do. Thankfully, he went with "Where No Man Has Gone Before," and the rest is history. Not that "Mudd's Women" is bad, mind you. It's a standard Trek story that features some nice moments with Kirk. It also deals with how far humans will go to find acceptance and love and certainly has some rather interesting, thought provoking themes. But, overall, it's not one of the stronger early entries the series had.
Rating:
Summary: Get this one for Shatner
Review: Those who claim Shatner can't act should be shown "The Enemy Within," an episode that shows that, yes, Shatner can act. The premise is simple enough--Kirk is split into two halves, one that is the "good" side of humanity and the other the "evil" half of humanity. Over the course of the hour, Kirk learns he needs both halves not only to command but to be human. It's a powerful and moving episode and it certainly features Shatner at his finest as he brings both half of Kirk to life. This is one of the finest explorations of Kirk's character in the entire original series and this episode proves again and again why the original series is so loved and has endured for so long. As for "Mudd's Women," this was one of the three scripts for the second pilot that Roddenberry wanted to do. Thankfully, he went with "Where No Man Has Gone Before," and the rest is history. Not that "Mudd's Women" is bad, mind you. It's a standard Trek story that features some nice moments with Kirk. It also deals with how far humans will go to find acceptance and love and certainly has some rather interesting, thought provoking themes. But, overall, it's not one of the stronger early entries the series had.
Rating:
Summary: CLASSIC STAR TREK MOMENTS!!!
Review: Volume 2 of the Star Trek original series DVD collection contains two episodes that are fairly well known among fans of the show. Both epsiodes are quite watchable and prove to be rather landmark episodes. The first episode here is "MUDD'S WOMEN". The episode is famous because it has the debut of the Space Rogue Harcourt Fenton Mudd (or just simply Harry Mudd). The Enterprise is pursuing an unknown ship into an asteroid belt in order to save it's crew before it is destroyed. Four crew members are beamed aboard space pirate Harry Mudd (played by character actor Roger C. Carmel) and 3 beautiful sultry women. During the pursuit the Enterprise burned out their lithium crystals which power the ship. Kirk orders the crew to set their course for Rigel XII a lithium mine. Mudd finds out there are 3 lonely miners on the planet and decides to scheme his way out of the charges Kirk has placed on him by bribing the miners with the 3 women. A frustrated Kirk will stop at nothing, to make sure Mudd does not weasel his way out of the charges and to get some lithium crystals in order to save the ship and his crew from destruction. "MUDD'S WOMEN" is a decent standard episode but is not one of the series better plots. It is basically a classic because of Harry Mudd's debut on the show (he would later return in season 2's "I, MUDD") The second episode here proves Shatner can really act well. "THE ENEMY WITHIN" finds the Enterprise's transporter acting up after Technician Fisher(played by Edward Madden) is beamed aboard from the planet Alpha 177 with a strange magnetic ore on his clothing. When Kirk is beamed aboard he is split into two different personalities: a kind gentle Kirk and a violent mad Kirk. As the violent Kirk creeps around the ships causing a few problems the other Kirk realizes he is losing his sense of judgement and is beginning to weaken and Spock later reveals that the two Kirks will have to reunite as one or they will eventually die.
"THE ENEMY WITHIN" is truly one of Season 1 Star Trek's better episodes as Shatner plays both the violent and gentle Kirk very realistically. Overall Volume 2 is a must for Original Star Trek tv fans. MUDD'S WOMEN is a standard episode but it marks the comical crook's debut which is rather interesting. THE ENEMY WITHIN is a classic though and is worth it for this DVD! Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: CLASSIC STAR TREK MOMENTS!!!
Review: Volume 2 of the Star Trek original series DVD collection contains two episodes that are fairly well known among fans of the show. Both epsiodes are quite watchable and prove to be rather landmark episodes. The first episode here is "MUDD'S WOMEN". The episode is famous because it has the debut of the Space Rogue Harcourt Fenton Mudd (or just simply Harry Mudd). The Enterprise is pursuing an unknown ship into an asteroid belt in order to save it's crew before it is destroyed. Four crew members are beamed aboard space pirate Harry Mudd (played by character actor Roger C. Carmel) and 3 beautiful sultry women. During the pursuit the Enterprise burned out their lithium crystals which power the ship. Kirk orders the crew to set their course for Rigel XII a lithium mine. Mudd finds out there are 3 lonely miners on the planet and decides to scheme his way out of the charges Kirk has placed on him by bribing the miners with the 3 women. A frustrated Kirk will stop at nothing, to make sure Mudd does not weasel his way out of the charges and to get some lithium crystals in order to save the ship and his crew from destruction. "MUDD'S WOMEN" is a decent standard episode but is not one of the series better plots. It is basically a classic because of Harry Mudd's debut on the show (he would later return in season 2's "I, MUDD") The second episode here proves Shatner can really act well. "THE ENEMY WITHIN" finds the Enterprise's transporter acting up after Technician Fisher(played by Edward Madden) is beamed aboard from the planet Alpha 177 with a strange magnetic ore on his clothing. When Kirk is beamed aboard he is split into two different personalities: a kind gentle Kirk and a violent mad Kirk. As the violent Kirk creeps around the ships causing a few problems the other Kirk realizes he is losing his sense of judgement and is beginning to weaken and Spock later reveals that the two Kirks will have to reunite as one or they will eventually die.
"THE ENEMY WITHIN" is truly one of Season 1 Star Trek's better episodes as Shatner plays both the violent and gentle Kirk very realistically. Overall Volume 2 is a must for Original Star Trek tv fans. MUDD'S WOMEN is a standard episode but it marks the comical crook's debut which is rather interesting. THE ENEMY WITHIN is a classic though and is worth it for this DVD! Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: Ah Canna Change the Laws o'Physics !
Review: We all know 'em and love 'em, and if we don't by now we never will. Questions of acting quality are irrelevant to my mind. The group dynamic that is created between the characters of Kirk, Spock & McCoy, ably supported by the other regulars, elevate the show for beyong the ordinary. Its one of those rare situations where group chemistry develops and the whole becomes far greater than the sum of its parts. Some of the stories are pure 60's cheese, but some (many) still excite & intrigue today. I'll be collecting the DVDs anyway. My main reason for contributing this review is to float the idea of Paramount 'back-engineering' the original series with modern special effects, a' la Star Wars. I was very impressed by what was done with the DS9 'Tribbles' episode where the DS9 crew travelled back to the time of Kirk & co. What do other fans think ?
| 
