Warped9
12-18-2004, 07:17 PM
I commented on this in another thread, but I feel it diserves its own discussion.
Wow! I mean...hell, I mean Wow! Seeing "The Cage" in it's full restored version is a real treat. And it's the only way to really watch this episode. The "original" version of b&w footage spliced with the colour footage seen in "The Menagerie" two-parter is distracting. But seeing the restored version just somehow makes the whole thing work beautifully and so much better. This is almost akin to a DE version of the episode.
This is a gorgeous production overall and I am struck by a few things. On the downside first it's a shame they weren't then able to do ship fly-by sequences like they would later in WNMHGB and the series itself. As it is the 33in. filming miniature is rather disappointing for the fly-by visuals. Also the attempt at depicting transition to warp speed, while interesting, is rather ineffective in the end--it just doesn't convey anything special happening. There are also one or two instances when the terminology of the time now seems really anachronistic.
On the positive side having all the missing bits put back in realy fleashes out the story IMO. I think "The Cage's" version of he original theme is perhaps my favourite overall. Next, make no mistake, Kirk is my favourite Star Trek character and I love Star Trek as we got it over the three seasons, but I must say that I'm generally more impressed with the performances of the cast of "The Cage" than I've ever been, and in particular I really like Jeffrey Hunter's portrayal of Pike. And although I wouldn't trade Star Trek as we know it for anything I can't help but feel that the NBC suits of the day were freakin' nuts to reject "The Cage." I, for one, am certainly left wondering what might have followed if they'd given it a go-ahead. No wonder I have such fun imagining those Pike era manips in my Never seen TOS scenes. :D
One other thing. I really would rather they had kept the bridge in WNMHGB closer to what it was like in "The Cage." The 1st pilot version works better overall. The bridge in WNMHGB now comes across too much as a transitionary exercise between 1st pilot and series production versions and just doesn't work as well aestheticlly as either the first or final versions IMO. Similar opinion regarding the ship's exterior. The 1st pilot version simply looks better than WNMHGB's because of the details. I also have to give the nod to the original men's tunics over those seen later in WNMHGB--the collars simply look better.
Wow! I mean...hell, I mean Wow! Seeing "The Cage" in it's full restored version is a real treat. And it's the only way to really watch this episode. The "original" version of b&w footage spliced with the colour footage seen in "The Menagerie" two-parter is distracting. But seeing the restored version just somehow makes the whole thing work beautifully and so much better. This is almost akin to a DE version of the episode.
This is a gorgeous production overall and I am struck by a few things. On the downside first it's a shame they weren't then able to do ship fly-by sequences like they would later in WNMHGB and the series itself. As it is the 33in. filming miniature is rather disappointing for the fly-by visuals. Also the attempt at depicting transition to warp speed, while interesting, is rather ineffective in the end--it just doesn't convey anything special happening. There are also one or two instances when the terminology of the time now seems really anachronistic.
On the positive side having all the missing bits put back in realy fleashes out the story IMO. I think "The Cage's" version of he original theme is perhaps my favourite overall. Next, make no mistake, Kirk is my favourite Star Trek character and I love Star Trek as we got it over the three seasons, but I must say that I'm generally more impressed with the performances of the cast of "The Cage" than I've ever been, and in particular I really like Jeffrey Hunter's portrayal of Pike. And although I wouldn't trade Star Trek as we know it for anything I can't help but feel that the NBC suits of the day were freakin' nuts to reject "The Cage." I, for one, am certainly left wondering what might have followed if they'd given it a go-ahead. No wonder I have such fun imagining those Pike era manips in my Never seen TOS scenes. :D
One other thing. I really would rather they had kept the bridge in WNMHGB closer to what it was like in "The Cage." The 1st pilot version works better overall. The bridge in WNMHGB now comes across too much as a transitionary exercise between 1st pilot and series production versions and just doesn't work as well aestheticlly as either the first or final versions IMO. Similar opinion regarding the ship's exterior. The 1st pilot version simply looks better than WNMHGB's because of the details. I also have to give the nod to the original men's tunics over those seen later in WNMHGB--the collars simply look better.