Star Trek 60th….and we need to talk

 

Happy new year! 

With many notable anniversaries this year, including the United States itself, the big one I’m most excited about is Star Trek! Yeah hard as it is to believe, this beloved franchise turns 60 this year. Ten years ago for the 50th I went nuts with articles about this franchise. So what do I plan for the 60th? 

Underrated Trek:These Are The Voyages… (ENT)

Welcome back to Underrated Trek, where I take a special look at Star Trek episodes that I love…which may not be the most popular or even liked by most. Some ideas are so bad, so stupid, so insulting you wonder how it even made it on to the page. Today we’re looking at one of the biggest slaps in the face of all Trek…

I once said I would never discuss this one because there was absolutely nothing positive about. But, is that true? Is there anything in this episode redeemable?

Underrated Trek:Regeneration (ENT)

Welcome back to Underrated Trek, where I take a special look at Star Trek episodes that I love…which may not be the most popular or even liked by most. I have done many of these articles by now covering the Berman era. Except for Enterprise, which I’ve only done three for and one of those was on a theme! Let’s just say I have my issues with that series but today the time has come to discuss an episode I’ve wanted to discuss for a long time. Not because of how bad it is, but how surprisingly good it is !

How did an idea that should have been dead in the water work? Let’s try to find out! 

Five Horrible Klingon Performances

Klingons have always been the big bag in Trek since the early days. Oh sure others pop up from Romulans to The Borg to The Dominion but not matter what, Klingons are always there to steal the show. And there are some actors who’ve done such an amazing job playing these characters I still can’t believe it’s them under that makeup! Some have made careers playing these characters from Michael Dorn to Robert O’Reilly. Others were so charming everyone has heard of them like William Campbells Koloth or Barbara March & Gwynyth Walsh as Lursa and Beator.

But like any role sometimes an actor just doesn’t fit and the Klingon is boring or just played badly. I mean no disrespect to them I’m sure they tried there best, it just didn’t work for me. That being said, five examples of Klingons that were not memorably awesome but forgettably silly. I should mention I am judging performance not character and not counting characters dressing up as Klingons in disguise.

Krell (Ned Romero, A Private Little War)

I was going to be harder on this guy, until I looked him up. He was Native American but clearly playing a white person in black face. Ah 1960’s. He was boring as hell but since he was probably way outside his comfort zone I understand why. At least he had a chance for redemption appearing in TNG and Voyager. 

Top 10 Live Action Lex Luthors

A few years ago I did my top five Lex Luthor list. Since then, we’ve had no less than four new adaptions of the character. So it seems only right to revise my list and see where I think they rank. As always, just opinion. 

 

#10. Lyle Talbot 

Last time I completely ignored this guy because I really don’t care for the old serials. Which isn’t fair lots of lore come from them including kryptonite, the phantom zone, and even Luthor. Predating the series (why was there no Lex Luthor in the original series?) this is truly the OG Luthor. Not only was he the first live action version but his bald look would became the canonical comic look also (he had red hair before this) and his mad scientist motif would stick right until the Crisis caused the major character revamp that created businessman Lex. 

My Official Superman Movie Ranking List

 I’ve done many articles on my favorite character but when it comes to ranking the movies that wasn’t easy. Not only be ate there were only a few live action films, but because how they ranked wasn’t very hard to figure. Last year I ranked the top 5 worst, but that’s still not all of them. And Ive changed my mind a bit. Then this year we got a brand new movie. And it’s time to decide where I think it ranks  and in order to do that I did a little rewatching. 

Ok here we go worst to best, live action theatrical releases only and of course this is just opinion. 

Underrated Trek:Thine Own Self (TNG)

 Welcome back to Underrated Trek, where I take a special look at Star Trek episodes that I love…which may not be the most popular or even liked by most. I’ve done a lot of talking about Season 7 TNG and as I’ve said most episodes are either pretty darn good…or so silly they’re ridiculous. There is one today I’ve never really categorized. Which one? 

Ah yes, the Data as Frankenstein episode. So was this episode good, or awful? It seems to be a good example of a general problem with Season 7. But I’ll get to that.