Review: Star Trek: New Voyages: Mind-Sifter

Mind-Sifter is the latest episode of Star Trek: New Voyages (or Phase II now), made in New York by a dedicated crew of actors, writers and technicians all headed by super-fan James Cawley. 

Like most fan produced Star Trek shows (including Star Trek: Hidden Frontier in which I worked on), there are some good elements and bad ones. New Voyages has a step-up on most other shows as Cawley has recreated the bridge of Enterprise and other sets to lend a more realistic approach than HF, which relied on green screen, computer generated sets. 

Mind-Sifter has a teleplay by Rick Chambers, and is based on a story by Shirley Maiewski, a longtime fan as well, her original short story, in which this episode is based on, was first published in the fanzine Showcase #2 in 1975 and was later reprinted, in an edited version which she did not authorize, in one of two volumes of fan-produced short stories published by Bantam in the 1976 and 1978 called The New Voyages.

In her original story, Captain Kirk is tortured (offscreen, the story starts in the aftermath) by Klingons to get information about time travel and then stranded on 1950s Earth, where he ends up mostly amnesiac and unresponsive in a mental hospital, with some brutal orderlies and a caring nurse who falls in love with him. Eventually he gets rescued by McCoy, Chekov and Spock.

In the filmed version, Captain Kirk (Brian Gross) has vanished on a mission, captured by the Klingons, who torture him to get information on the Gateway (featured in TOS episode The City on the Edge of Forever, one of many nods for the fans) so they can obtain time travel. Eventually the Klingon’s mind-sifter works out the location of the planet on which the Gateway is, and Kor (Clay Sayre) and his cohorts arrive there only to discover the Gateway will not communicate with them. However, it will talk to Kirk, who asks it to reveal Earth’s history. But like many villains, Kor’s posturing distracts him enough that Kirk is able to break away from his captives and jump through the portal, which dumps him somewhere in upper New York in 1958 and where he becomes mostly amnesiac and unresponsive in a mental hospital. While there are “brutal orderlies”, the nurse has become a Doctor, Jan Hamlin (Rivkah Raven Wood, AKA to Hidden Frontier fans as Rebecca Wood). 

 

Meanwhile, after several weeks of not being able to find Kirk (and they assume him dead), Admiral Withrow (Robert Withrow) arrives to promote Spock (Brandon Stacy) to Captain and send him and the Enterprise crew on a mission in the opposite direction of where Kirk vanished. While Spock follows orders, this sends a wave of uneasiness to the crew, who feel the need to mourn the loss of Kirk. In particular, Doctor McCoy (Jeff Bond), who (apparently after years of knowing him) is surprised at Spock’s detachment from crew. Of course, with Spock, all is not as it seems, as we learn towards the end of the episode that he and Kirk do have a deep connection that allows the Vulcan to figure out the complicated plot.

What works here is the acting, something that can be surprising in these fan-produced shows which usually cast non-actors. Brian Gross, who takes over for creator James Cawley as Kirk, is splendid. At the risk of starting a flame war, Gross is so much better than Cawley (who finances this series through his stage work as an Elvis Presley impersonator, and who seems to be playing Elvis, playing William Shatner, playing James T. Kirk. His scene chewing performances has always distracted me). He brings a much more subtle approach to the character; it’s not so much an impersonation of Shatner, but more of an alternate universe version of him without all the silly theatrics and body motions.  

Along with the ever talented Wood, who can take the weakest script and make it shine, they create a believable doctor/patient act –even if there star-crossed love match is just a reworking of the Kirk-Edith Keeler romance from City. 

However, it’s Brandon Stacy who gets to really shine as Spock. New Voyages has gone through a number of actors who’ve played the classic characters, but Stacy is the strongest one yet to play the Vulcan. His Spock is logical, emotionless, but shrewd. You see the wheels spinning in his arguments with Doctor McCoy on leadership and loyalty. The watcher is compelled to try and figure out what Spock knows –because you know that despite following orders, he clearly is still searching for Kirk. 

While I like Jeff Bond, who takes over the role of McCoy in this story, much better than the previous actor, his take on the “old country doctor” motif is more than original actor DeForest Kelly ever played him. Plus, I don’t buy into the whole notion that McCoy needs to be Spock’s conscious. If this series is set sometime beyond TOS three year run, the working relationship should have evolved, which means McCoy should’ve trusted Spock.

Issues:

The episode is overlong, in the end –it runs over 65 minutes. A good 10 to 15 minutes could’ve been excised and the story would not have suffered.

The whole Klingons want time travel knowledge subplot seems to go nowhere –it’s never clearly explained why they want it (for a Klingon, I think, would time travel be considered cheating? Is it time travel honorable?)

Had this been produced as a real episode of TOS, Doctor Jan Hamlin would’ve remained a nurse, as she was in the short story. While I have no issue with this bend to feminism, it shows that Cawley -who seems to want to his Trek very close to the original in so many ways- is willing to admit that it's 2014 and not 1969.

There is some horrible, over the top dialogue given by Spock on how everyone (the Klingons and humans) should be able to get along. It’s completely out of place here and comes off more eye roll inducing than anywhere near inspiring. 

Nice to see a Native American on the bridge of the Enterprise.

The CGI effects are top-notch, so is the cinematography and location work. 

 

James Cawley’s cameo is funny, but also self-aware (“I hate that guy”). It should’ve been edited out.

This episode, apparently, began production back in June of 2011. There are two clips (both released in February of 2012), on Youtube which show some scenes, but obviously they were re-filmed over the last few years with different actors. This is, of course, the nature of these fan productions. People come and go when time allows (no one gets paid, except the big name actors that have been drawn to the show) and the scenes that make up an episode are filmed out of order and sometimes there could be months between filming one scene that leads into the next. I’m sure it’s a logistical nightmare to keep things straight.

Missy = River Song? I Hope Not!

I will be so disappointed if Missy turns out to be River Song on the penultimate (and part one of two) episode of Doctor Who (airing November 1st). Titled Dark Water it does not take a huge leap here to think that writer/showrunner Steven Moffat is giving us a evil version of River (after all Dark Water equals River as well). 

Though I admit, I would be even more if this was a female version of The Master.

I understand the thematic aspect of taking a hugely popular character such as River (who has proven again and again to have suspect morals and willingness to do dangerous things in pursuant of her goals) and making her bad. It’s a hollowed trope within almost every genre, as it gives the hero (i.e. The Doctor) to strive to save someone, say Clara. 

But I think keeping her ambiguity -and the one who is able to make huge decisions in mere moments without going through a committee- is much more fun and interesting.

I realize bringing an old villain back from the TOS is complex -Moffat has said to do that, he needs a very logical reason for it. Mostly though, it’s a rights issue, as writer and creator of any previous villain must be compensated financially as well as acknowledged on screen. It was how it was done in the old days. So a dark version of River Song is easier, I guess (Moffat created her), but then does that not negate Moffat's reason for not bring back older villains like The Rani? Because making River Song dark would be a cop-out and a pointless thematic tool that writers use when they paint themselves in a corner. What is the logic in making River evil?

I may be wrong here, but I would think there is plenty of old villains in Doctor Who's canon that would deserve a return. Yes, the Rani would be nice. The Celestial Toymaker and even The Meddling Monk would be cool as well. 

But Moffat seems little interested in mining old Doctor Who these days (yes, he pays homage to it like the yoyo scene in Kill The Moon and the Jelly Baby scene in Mummy on the Orient Express), but he seems to think taking a characters like River and twisting her into something different is more creative.

It may be, but I like ambiguous River Song.

All of this, I will note, will be moot if what I wrote above does not play out. Carry on.

The Woe Is Me Post

It’s been nearly a year since I wrote something here.

Part of it –or most of it- is that other sites do this stuff better and all I’m doing is repeating what they wrote, trying to put my own spin on it. I don’t know how or have connections that would get me information before everyone published it.

Plus, I’m no journalist. 

The other part is that I’ve lost interest in reporting news about stuff I never plan on seeing. And that’s another thing that has changed in me. I used to care about this stuff, used to see almost every movie that came out, watched all the popular shows and followed the news coming out of Hollywood with bated breath. Now I could care less because it’s mostly about reality/game shows and paint-by-number dramas that demean women with such striking violence it shocks me that folks actually like this stuff (I’m looking at you Criminal Minds and Stalker). Oh, there are shows I like, but the list of shows I don’t like or watch is much longer than the ones I do like and watch. I still watch nothing on CBS.

And this past summer, I went weeks without turning the TV on. 

And I’m paying 9.99 a month for Netflix that I don’t even watch and what few Blu Rays I have bought over the last few months are still sitting in there factory sealed packages.

I’m at a crossroads –have been really for three years (which means, maybe, I’ve been stopped dead in my tracks with no means or ways to choose which path to take). And I’m tired, oh so tired of sinking in the mud, drowning and never finding the surface.

Still.

Still.

I want to get back into reporting news; just got to figure out a way to put my own spin on it. 

Paul McGann In 'The Night of the Doctor'

With just nine days to the 50th Anniversary Doctor Who episode The Day of The Doctor, the BBC has released the mini-episode The Night of The Doctor, which features the return of Paul McGann as the 8th Doctor.

It appears the battle between the Time Lords and Daleks is threatening to destroy the galaxy, but the Doctor appears not to be involved. He answers a distress call only to discover the girl, Cass, he intends to rescue, does not want Time Lord help and is willing to die before she will. Her ship crashes on a planet, killing her and the Doctor.

But the Doctor has arrived on Karn, home to the Sisterhood and The Sacred Flame, which produces The Elixir of Life. The sisterhood is remnants of the matricidal legacy that was the old ways of Gallifrey, long before the rise of Rassilon and have dealt with the Time Lords for eons (the fourth Doctor spent some time here during the TV adventure The Brain of Morbuis) ever since. The Sisterhood resurrects the Doctor, only to give him a grim reality: he cannot avoid the battle and the galaxy will fall if he does not help. So death or regenerate (with help from the Sisterhood) and fight in the Time War. The Doctor knows, of course, there is only one choice…

Star Wars: Episode VII set for December 18, 2015 Release

Just last month, when Kathleen Kennedy announced that Oscar winning writer Michael Arndt was off Star Wars: Episode VII script after nearly a year of writing it and that director J.J. Abrams and The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi writer Lawrence Kasdan were now scripting the movie, some began to worry that the film would need to be delayed from 2015 planned release. And it’s been rumored for a while that Abrams was hoping to delay the film until 2016 due to the scripting issues, while Disney was still wanting –probably- a summer 2015 release date (the six previous films all launched in May). 

Abrams –doing press for Bad Robot’s new FOX series Almost Human- hinted that Arndt’s departure had to with when Disney wants to release the film. "It became clear that given the timeframe, and given the process, and the way the thing was going that working with Larry in this way was going to get us where we need to be and when we needed to be."

But the hiring of Kasdan –who is known as a great and more importantly, a fast writer- may have elevated Abrams worries a bit, so Disney finally pulled the trigger on the release date, announcing what was probably a compromise, of a December 18, 2015 date. 

"We're very excited to share the official 2015 release date for Star Wars: Episode VII, where it will not only anchor the popular holiday filmgoing season but also ensure our extraordinary filmmaking team has the time needed to deliver a sensational picture," said Alan Horn, chairman of The Walt Disney Studios.

Preproduction on Star Wars: Episode VII continues in London and the film is set to begin lensing in early Spring 2014 at Pinewood Studios.  

Disney, Marvel Studios and Netflix Team Up for 4 New Shows

What was first hinted at a few weeks ago now comes to fruition as Marvel Television, Disney’s ABC Television Studios and the online streaming provider Netflix will team up and launch 4 brand new serialized TV shows that culminate in an epic miniseries event. The four Marvel properties will be Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Iron Fist and Luke Cage. Those four series of at least 13 episodes each will then lead into The Defenders,  reimaging a dream team of self-sacrificing, heroic characters who maintain order around New York's Hell's Kitchen.

The advantages of Netflix as a distribution hub will mean each series can expand its premise beyond broadcast TV scope and their limitations –such as what’s happening to Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. on ABC which has failed to light up many folks interest. Which means the shows can –depending on showrunners –actually follow close to their comic book storylines without too much worry of demographics, censors and dictated set pieces that follow a same business model that TV has been churning out for 60 years. 

This may give Daredevil a chance at redemption following 2003’s Ben Affleck led film, which suffered more due the fact that 20^th Century Fox wanted a family friendlier version of the character. Since then, there had been hope to reboot the franchise, but all things considered, TV may be the more viable option for it. And being on Netflix can make it better, where it can return to some of its darker roots.

Disney’s Marvel and Netflix Join Forces to Develop Historic Four Series Epic plus a Miniseries Event Based on Renowned Marvel Characters

 Landmark Deal Brings Marvel’s Flawed Heroes of Hell’s Kitchen, led by “Daredevil,”

to the World’s Leading Internet TV Network in 2015

Burbank, Calif. –  Nov 7, 2013—The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) and Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ: NFLX) today announced an unprecedented deal for Marvel TV to bring multiple original series of live-action adventures of four of Marvel’s most popular characters exclusively to the world’s leading Internet TV Network beginning in 2015. This pioneering agreement calls for Marvel to develop four serialized programs leading to a miniseries programming event.
Led by a series focused on “Daredevil,” followed by “Jessica Jones,” “Iron Fist” and “Luke Cage,” the epic will unfold over multiple years of original programming, taking Netflix members deep into the gritty world of heroes and villains of Hell’s Kitchen, New York. Netflix has committed to a minimum of four, thirteen episodes series and a culminating Marvel’s “The Defenders” mini-series event that reimagines a dream team of self-sacrificing, heroic characters.

Produced by Marvel Television in association with ABC Television Studios, this groundbreaking deal is Marvel’s most ambitious foray yet into live-action TV storytelling.

“This deal is unparalleled in its scope and size, and reinforces our commitment to deliver Marvel’s brand, content and characters across all platforms of storytelling. Netflix offers an incredible platform for the kind of rich storytelling that is Marvel’s specialty,” said Alan Fine, President of Marvel Entertainment. “This serialized epic expands the narrative possibilities of on-demand television and gives fans the flexibility to immerse themselves how and when they want in what’s sure to be a thrilling and engaging adventure.”

“Marvel’s movies, such as Iron Man and Marvel’sThe Avengers, are huge favorites on our service around the world. Like Disney, Marvel is a known and loved brand that travels,” said Netflix Chief Content Officer Ted Sarandos. “With House of Cards and our other original series, we have pioneered new approaches to storytelling and to global distribution and we’re thrilled to be working with Disney and Marvel to take our brand of television to new levels with a creative project of this magnitude.”

This new original TV deal follows last year’s landmark movie distribution deal through which, beginning with 2016 theatrically released feature films, Netflix will be the exclusive U.S. subscription television service for first-run, live-action and animated movies from the Walt Disney Studios, including titles from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar Animation Studios, Marvel Studios,

The 50th is called "The Day of the Doctor' and Smith's new wig for the Christmas Special

The BBC has finally confirmed the title for Doctor Who's 50th Anniversary Special, which will air -simultaneously- across the globe on November 23. Called The Day of The Doctor, the story will see the return of David Tennant as the tenth Doctor and Billie Piper as Rose. John Hurt also guest stars as some unknown version of the Doctor -somewhere between his 8th and 9th regeneration (or is Hurt really the 9th Doctor, with Eccelston, Tennant and Smith being shuffled down by one slot?).

Whether BBC America will air the other programming associated with Doctor Who is unknown, though they do plan to air An Adventure In Space and Time, a special 90 minute TV movie about the creation of the series that stars David Bradley, of the Harry Potter films, as William Hartnell – who was the first Doctor in 1963.

It's also possible BBC America will air (beyond current episodes of Doctor Who) An Unearthly Child, the series original premier serial, which the BBC is re-airing in November. This will be a restored version of the 4 episode debut, not previously broadcast in the UK (as well as the US).

Meanwhile, production has begun on the Christmas episode, which will see the end of Matt Smith's tenure as the Doctor and will pave the way for Peter Capaldi's Doctor (though the BBC says that the 8th season will not begin until August of 2014). Much like The Day of the Doctor, not much is known about this episode, though the Cybermen appear to be involved. As has happened over the last few years, this holiday special is expected to air here on BBC America on Christmas Day.