Rating: 
Summary: Hidden Trailer
Review: There is a hidden trailer on this DVD for the DVD release of The Next Generation. Go to the Main Menu and press your up button to highlight the Star Fleet Insignia, then press Enter. Then choose the Next Generation trailer. Paramont is releasing them in a box set, a season at a time. (Just like the X-files) Season 1 is coming out in March. It also includes some behind the scenes extras. It's about time Paramount!
Rating: 
Summary: If you only buy one DVD of the original series this is it.
Review: This DVD is (partially) a repackaging of a 1986 television special hosted by the late Gene Roddenberry that gives some interesting insights into the history of the Trek that was pitched to network suits. That in itself makes it a keeper for Trekkies but the treat is in the contrast between the first and last episodes. Spock's fits of near-anger and occasional smiles in The Cage clearly show how in-flux the show was before it geled in its now-famous character developments. The quality is there for DVD and the Next Generation trailer (never mind the fact that you're paying for an advertisement) offer a taste of some outstanding sound enhancements to be part of the first season's box set.
Rating:
Summary: Space - Began Here!
Review: This DVD is a must for the collector. It contains a lot of Star Trek history. A) First the original pilot - complete and in full color. The full color print was found in the vaults of Paramount. (Apparently found in the 90's) B) The original piot TV Special airing "The Cage" - the original pilot when they only had the orignal black and white prints and used material from another two-part episode - "The Menagerie". This is because the original full color print was thought to be lost in the Paramount Vaults. (Apparently found int he 80's) C)The very last episode to air. "Turnabout Intruder". (William Shatner gets to play a woman!) Basically you are getting three epsiode. See Spock before he was the Spock we knew. The Doctor before McCoy and a female in the "second in command" position. (The wife of Gene Roddenberry, the Creator, himself - Majel Barret who later is Nurse Christine Chapel.) The costumes were espcially influced by the 60's. And the props, well, you just have to see them. So in essenace you get to tsee the first and the last of the original Star Trek. A must DVD for every Star Trek fan!
Live Long & Prosper!
Rating: 
Summary: You don't quite get your money's worth.
Review: This last DVD from the Star Trek; Original Series collection contains three not very good shows. Two of which are the same only filmed in color and the other black and white. The Cage, was the original series pilot that Gene Roddenberry pitched to NBC in 1965, but it;s easy to see why it didn;t sell the first time, the story is well written but Hunter's acting in the role is a bit over the top in many places, and regretfully the story borrows too much from the 1956 science fiction movie, Forbitten Planet. The other film on the DVD is the last show from the thrid season, Turnabout Intruder, and that is one of the worst stories ever filmed on Star Trek. With this DVD, you really get pretty medicore or mixed stories.
Rating: 
Summary: Worth watching for historical value
Review: Turnabout Intruder-Star Trek closed with one of its oddest and campiest offerings, in which an old flame switches bodies with Captain Kirk. In no other episode is there such a palpable sense of the personnel's detachment from the material. This detachment is presumably attributable both to the episode's dubious content and the knowledge that the show would not be renewed. The basic premise is interesting enough and the effects during the transfer are cool, but the episode quickly runs into trouble. First off, the episode is very sexist even by the standards of the day. Lester's character is an amalgamation of stereotypes including:
1) the scorned lover, who made too much out of a fling, 2) the woman unable to `face the reality' that she wasn't `cut out' for command of a starship, and 3) the sadistic, murderous woman who will stop at nothing to preserve her deluded sense of reality. These stereotypes are obviously all very pernicious, and this is one case where Shatner's acting (which I generally find solid) didn't help matters any. Odds are he was told to play the part this way, but it's still enough to make you cringe. Not to mention his scenes with the hapless Harry Landers; did Landers think about what he was signing on for beforehand? Smith on the other hand is decent enough, but it isn't enough to lift the episode through the tedious court room proceedings. Tidbit: NBC didn't finally get around to airing this episode until June of 1969, more than 2 months after the penultimate `All Our Yesterdays' had aired. (2.5 stars) The Cage-The pilot episode of the show, which featured a different captain (Jeffrey Hunter) as Pike would be worth watching for comparative purposes even if it was not an interesting episode. Much feels clumsy and disconcertingly different in this episode, but how could it be any other way, given that this was their first attempt, and so much was rejected by the suits? But a female second in command would have been really interesting (I'm not sure Barrett would have been up to the task though), as would a more emotional Spock and a more introverted Captain (I prefer Shatner's interpretation though). The story is also good enough, with aliens reminiscent of the Vians from `The Empath'. The episode explores the nature of reality and illusion, as well as the human need for companionship and love (themes also explored in `The Empath', come to think of it). A strong if inevitably somewhat clunky episode, but one ultimately most valuable for the fact that it makes us ask ourselves, "What if.." (3.5 stars)
Rating:
Summary: Worth watching for historical value
Review: Turnabout Intruder-Star Trek closed with one of its oddest and campiest offerings, in which an old flame switches bodies with Captain Kirk. In no other episode is there such a palpable sense of the personnel's detachment from the material. This detachment is presumably attributable both to the episode's dubious content and the knowledge that the show would not be renewed. The basic premise is interesting enough and the effects during the transfer are cool, but the episode quickly runs into trouble. First off, the episode is very sexist even by the standards of the day. Lester's character is an amalgamation of stereotypes including:
1) the scorned lover, who made too much out of a fling, 2) the woman unable to 'face the reality' that she wasn't 'cut out' for command of a starship, and 3) the sadistic, murderous woman who will stop at nothing to preserve her deluded sense of reality. These stereotypes are obviously all very pernicious, and this is one case where Shatner's acting (which I generally find solid) didn't help matters any. Odds are he was told to play the part this way, but it's still enough to make you cringe. Not to mention his scenes with the hapless Harry Landers; did Landers think about what he was signing on for beforehand? Smith on the other hand is decent enough, but it isn't enough to lift the episode through the tedious court room proceedings. Tidbit: NBC didn't finally get around to airing this episode until June of 1969, more than 2 months after the penultimate 'All Our Yesterdays' had aired. (2.5 stars) The Cage-The pilot episode of the show, which featured a different captain (Jeffrey Hunter) as Pike would be worth watching for comparative purposes even if it was not an interesting episode. Much feels clumsy and disconcertingly different in this episode, but how could it be any other way, given that this was their first attempt, and so much was rejected by the suits? But a female second in command would have been really interesting (I'm not sure Barrett would have been up to the task though), as would a more emotional Spock and a more introverted Captain (I prefer Shatner's interpretation though). The story is also good enough, with aliens reminiscent of the Vians from 'The Empath'. The episode explores the nature of reality and illusion, as well as the human need for companionship and love (themes also explored in 'The Empath', come to think of it). A strong if inevitably somewhat clunky episode, but one ultimately most valuable for the fact that it makes us ask ourselves, "What if.." (3.5 stars)
Rating:
Summary: Turnabout Review
Review: Unlike others, I will not take the time to review "The Cage." My five stars mainly reflect the content of this episode, worth watching and owning. The praise heaped upon this pilot episode by others is largely accurate and deserved. Love the Captain. Love Number One. Love the landing party jackets. As many mention, it would have been interesting to see what direction the series might have gone from this launching point.
However, I take to task anyone who cannot appreciate the humor (intended or not) of the campy "Turnabout Intruder." Of course it is not the best episode ever, it arguably may be the worst. However, taken out of the context of the overall show, it is a tour de force for William Shatner's hammy scene stealing acting. Shatner goes over the top "implying" femininity, and comes off just plain gay. From filing his nails to a girly giggle, he's totally fey. Left with no space babe to molest, he has a number of one on one scenes with male Dr. Coleman. One wonders how that relationship was going to play out.
Contrasting Shatner's performance to that of Sandra Smith, is like comparing apples to oranges. While she may not have Kirk's mannerisms or voice inflection, she does manage to successfully convey a sense of isolation and panic. Regardless of the limitations of the story, her depiction of one personality being locked in another body is strong. While Shatner overplays his part to literal hysteria, Smith keeps her performance tight and controlled. Considering the material, she is actual very watchable.
I will agree with all others, that the overall attitude towards women is appalling. From the opening lines about the limited opportunities for women to the last ("Her life could have been as rich as any woman's..."), the tone is patronizing, especially considering the series usual forward thinking nature. The idea that women remain subordinate to men in any field, even in the late `60's seems anachronistic.
Viewed with some degree of tongue in cheek and removed from the formal "Star Trek" genre, I believe this episode does contain numerous enjoyable moments. With a nod to "Fatal Attraction," Janice Lester will not be ignored.
Rating:
Summary: The Cage - Great, but could be better.
Review: When I started watching "The Cage" Episode 1 (for which I purchased the DVD) I was quite amazed at how well the opening sequence looked and sounded. The music has appearantly been remixed from the original elements for the DVD, and the picture quality is amazing. Definetely the best "The Cage" has ever looked, and probably the closest possible to what the NBC executives saw when they screened this pilot episode. However, this version still is somewhat different from what the executives HEARD. Although the sound is much better than previously available versions, it (at least the dialog) is still mixed from material from the Menagerie, and from Gene Rodenberry's black and white work print of "The Cage". I had hoped that either from the color print, from which the video portion of this presentation is derived, or from original soundtrack elements at Paramount, that the original version of the soundtrack would have been restored. In short, the glaring difference is that originally Malachi Throne's voice was used for the voice of the Keeper. This version of "The Cage" still has the voice that was redubbed by another actor for "The Menagerie," which was done because Malachi Throne played Commodore Mendez, which would have led to some confusion if his voice were also that of the Keeper in the same episode. If you have the DVD of "The Menagerie" you can hear Malachi Throne's voice dubbed for the Keeper on the included preview (on lines that were redubbed in the Menagerie). That preview implies that Paramount still had a full copy of "The Cage" (with original soundtrack intact) with Malachi Throne's voice as the Keeper, at the time "The Menagerie" was completed. The poor quality of voices in some cuts, and minor differences in musical cues are also the result of using this pasted together soundtrack for Episode #1 on this DVD. So, come on Paramount, dig a little deeper and give us the version of "The Cage" that the NBC execs not only saw, but HEARD. Or at least give us an explanation of why that is not possible, if it is not. Was the color print found in the vaults without a soundtrack? Are the original dialog soundtrack elements missing? Is there no complete source for putting together a soundtrack for "The Cage"?
Rating:
Summary: And so a series of DVDs comes to an end
Review: With the release of Volume 40, the complete series of Star Trek: the Classic series is now on DVD. The editorial above is in error however. The copy of "The Cage" referred to as Episode 1 is the half and half copy which when released on tape originally was introduced by Gene Roddenberry. The one called episode 99 is the completely coolorized copy which was first shown to tv audiences (the first ever tv showing may I add) in the middle of a Star Trek documentary that aired in between the first 2 seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation (which will probably start coming out on DVD next month). It continues to be the only copy of "The Cage" aired in syndication nowadays. It was also released on videotape after the whole series was released on tape henceforth the number "99" (there were only 79 episodes counting "The Menagerie" as 2 but since Paramount counts it as 1, there are 79 with "The Cage"). With all of Classic Trek on DVD now after slowly coming out for 3 years, and all 9 movies available on DVD (as of November) again after slowly coming out for 3 years, we can look forward to the 10th movie on the big screen soon, and it's DVD months later as well as DVD releases of the sequel series (plural) Star Treks: The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, and Voyager. Of course if Paramount releases them as slowly as they did the above mentioned 49 discs and the 3 box sets of the movies, it is safe to say it will be at least 10 years for all of them to come out being their are at least 150 episodes of each of the above series, each having aired 7 seasons. By then the new prequel series Enterprise will be only a memory and who knows if they will have been out on tape by then. Hopefully also by then DVDs will be a lot less expensive as a collective (pardon the pun). In the meanwhile, congratulations to Paramount on finally releasing the entire Classic series and all the movies to date on DVD.
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