The exploding saucer section is another one of those annoying apparent plot holes in a story where what the audience is seeing could be perfectly sensible despite being counter-intuitive, but the story teller feels no need to try and slip that explanation into the actual story.
Want to know the answer to the mystery of the Enterprise's exploding saucer section? Buy the new updated and fully illustrated Star Trek technical manual, with foreward by James Doohan! Just $29.95 from Amazon.com!
@StrainOfThought Yeah, it's a little weird... In some sources it is claimed they trigger a warp core breach for the auto-destruct... But this scene let's it appear that there are seperate explosive devices dedicated to only that purpose.
On the other hand, if you have a situation where you want to abandon ship while you blow it up, then blowing up the ship with the warp core would be problematic, because you have to get quite far away before it blows or you won't survive...
@Herbarius That's essentially the explanation given in the technical manual I actually read: the constitution class has two separate self-destruct protocols, one that overloads the warp core by flooding it with antimatter and creating a massive, radioactive explosion that completely obliterates the vessel, and a second, auxillary protocol that detonates inert explosives planted in the primary hull in order to disable the ship and destroy sensitive data and technology in the event that:
@Herbarius (Continued 2) Given that the ship was uncrewed and disabled, I expect it was scenario B. This could have been neatly explained by slipping in a line from Scotty like: "Captain, with the automation down, the warp core's failsafes have taken it offline... we can't even self destruct properly!", and after a depressing pause, a reply from Kirk such as "Then we'll detonate the backup explosives.", and then segue to the code inputting scene.
But, if the writers had put that much thought into the Enterprise's destruction, they probably wouldn't have gone through with it in the first place. If it absolutely had to be destroyed, better to disable it and leave it in orbit of the Genesis planet to be wiped out when the planet went pear-shaped, the crew escaping in the captured Bird-Of-Prey, and Kirk exchanging the empty Enterprise for Spock's soulless body- essentially reversing the trade from The Wrath Of Khan.
@lockyuk2000 Much as I hate explaining a joke: I was imitating the DJ of an easy listening station. They pretty much only play bland music done by white people - stating that fact is not an anti-white sentiment, it's an anti-easy listening sentiment.
If anyone has forgotten, please listen to the list of acceptable targets from The Conscience of the King review.
While I agree with many of Chuck's criticisms this film has really grown on me over the years and I now regard it as better than Voyage Home which hasn't aged as well and now seems pretty dated. Overall my third favourite Trek film behind The Wrath of Khan and The Undiscovered Country.
@adrius It's just the double standard. "Bland and white" (whatever that means) is ok, but let's say "stupid and black" is offensive. sfdebris surely is one of those self loathing White Americans, who think it's "uncool" and "boring" being white, while knowing nothing of the cultures of his country(s) of origin in Europe. If Racism is bad then it's bad period!
Re: the lack of impact David's death has. I thought this was even more pronounced in The Voyage Home, where at literally no point does Kirk give the impression of someone who suffered such a severe personal tragedy only a few months before. Of course, it wouldn't fit in with the light-hearted tone of the film...
Regarding the "how many have died" comment by Savik, my thought has always been that she's implying the substance is illegal and perhaps obtained to the 23rd century equivalent of the black market...perhaps from the Orion Syndicate, which we know from DS9 and Enterprise are very dangerous.
hm.... Maybe i have a solution for the body problem. Maybe they don't have an empty body on hand - and having him spook McCoy doesn't seem to be healthy for either of them. Could very well be that, even though they HAVE his soul, they would need Spock's actual corpse to keep it as it would vanish in another mind. Doesn't explain how they think they'd find a HEALTHY Spock there, though.
HOLY HOPPING TOMOLIES! IT'S BACK HUZZAH! I love this review, well I love all of SF Debris reviews but especially the movie reviews! oh and ummm first! -prepares to watch the epic once more.-
Do think you could review Nemesis at some point?
dragonstormx 7 months ago
The exploding saucer section is another one of those annoying apparent plot holes in a story where what the audience is seeing could be perfectly sensible despite being counter-intuitive, but the story teller feels no need to try and slip that explanation into the actual story.
Want to know the answer to the mystery of the Enterprise's exploding saucer section? Buy the new updated and fully illustrated Star Trek technical manual, with foreward by James Doohan! Just $29.95 from Amazon.com!
StrainOfThought 7 months ago
@StrainOfThought Yeah, it's a little weird... In some sources it is claimed they trigger a warp core breach for the auto-destruct... But this scene let's it appear that there are seperate explosive devices dedicated to only that purpose.
On the other hand, if you have a situation where you want to abandon ship while you blow it up, then blowing up the ship with the warp core would be problematic, because you have to get quite far away before it blows or you won't survive...
Herbarius 7 months ago
@Herbarius That's essentially the explanation given in the technical manual I actually read: the constitution class has two separate self-destruct protocols, one that overloads the warp core by flooding it with antimatter and creating a massive, radioactive explosion that completely obliterates the vessel, and a second, auxillary protocol that detonates inert explosives planted in the primary hull in order to disable the ship and destroy sensitive data and technology in the event that:
StrainOfThought 7 months ago
@Herbarius (Continued)
A) You have no antimatter because you are out of fuel, having used it up or vented it or busted a massive leak.
B) The warp core has already been ejected or otherwise damaged in a way that prevents it from overloading effectively.
C) For some crazy reason you don't want to create a fuck-all humungous antimatter explosion in the particular location where the ship currently is.
StrainOfThought 7 months ago
@Herbarius (Continued 2) Given that the ship was uncrewed and disabled, I expect it was scenario B. This could have been neatly explained by slipping in a line from Scotty like: "Captain, with the automation down, the warp core's failsafes have taken it offline... we can't even self destruct properly!", and after a depressing pause, a reply from Kirk such as "Then we'll detonate the backup explosives.", and then segue to the code inputting scene.
StrainOfThought 7 months ago
@Herbarius (Continued 3)
But, if the writers had put that much thought into the Enterprise's destruction, they probably wouldn't have gone through with it in the first place. If it absolutely had to be destroyed, better to disable it and leave it in orbit of the Genesis planet to be wiped out when the planet went pear-shaped, the crew escaping in the captured Bird-Of-Prey, and Kirk exchanging the empty Enterprise for Spock's soulless body- essentially reversing the trade from The Wrath Of Khan.
StrainOfThought 7 months ago
Next review is already uploaded
seahawk124 7 months ago
it's standing up now and an ape is hitting it with a bone LOL
kranktank 7 months ago
Was that an Oddworld reference in part 3? Please tell me that was an Oddworld reference.
Nyarlathoteplol 7 months ago
@Nyarlathoteplol yoyoyoyoyoyoyo...
sfdebris 7 months ago
@lockyuk2000 Much as I hate explaining a joke: I was imitating the DJ of an easy listening station. They pretty much only play bland music done by white people - stating that fact is not an anti-white sentiment, it's an anti-easy listening sentiment.
If anyone has forgotten, please listen to the list of acceptable targets from The Conscience of the King review.
sfdebris 7 months ago 2
While I agree with many of Chuck's criticisms this film has really grown on me over the years and I now regard it as better than Voyage Home which hasn't aged as well and now seems pretty dated. Overall my third favourite Trek film behind The Wrath of Khan and The Undiscovered Country.
RichardJAllen 7 months ago
Really, I'm not racist! Really! Some of my best friends are white!!!
sfdebris 7 months ago 2
Wow, what an amazing review!
samsam29 7 months ago
"Bland and white" Racist.
fleischwolferl 7 months ago
@fleischwolferl Uhura to Lincoln: "But why should I object to that term, sir? You see, in our century we've learned not to fear words."
adrius 7 months ago
@adrius It's just the double standard. "Bland and white" (whatever that means) is ok, but let's say "stupid and black" is offensive. sfdebris surely is one of those self loathing White Americans, who think it's "uncool" and "boring" being white, while knowing nothing of the cultures of his country(s) of origin in Europe. If Racism is bad then it's bad period!
fleischwolferl 7 months ago
@fleischwolferl They're both harmless, get over it.
adrius 7 months ago
Re: the lack of impact David's death has. I thought this was even more pronounced in The Voyage Home, where at literally no point does Kirk give the impression of someone who suffered such a severe personal tragedy only a few months before. Of course, it wouldn't fit in with the light-hearted tone of the film...
ignoranceandcrisps 7 months ago
@ignoranceandcrisps true, but then again, he only spent a few months with his kid, not a lifetime. Not the usual father-son attachment.
samsam29 7 months ago
Regarding the "how many have died" comment by Savik, my thought has always been that she's implying the substance is illegal and perhaps obtained to the 23rd century equivalent of the black market...perhaps from the Orion Syndicate, which we know from DS9 and Enterprise are very dangerous.
finalfrontier1701 7 months ago
I still have somewhat of a love for this movie. I think it's the best of the Odd Numbered Treks.
thunderphoenix440 7 months ago 2
@thunderphoenix440
Also, Thrust Barcode and his sidekick need a spinoff where they save the galaxy from the nefarious Soulless Minions of Orthodoxy.
thunderphoenix440 7 months ago
Trek III was one of my favorites... even though it is DEEEEEEPLY flawed.
leptonsoup337 7 months ago
Didn't you give it a 4 before? Or am I remembering incorrectly?
AceEuphrates 7 months ago
@AceEuphrates
I believe it was 6/10.
MerelyAFan 7 months ago
@sfdebris This whole "upload" frenzy on your webpage is pretty amazing. Its nice having a new one almost every day for you.
(Minus the coding error you have on your main page) haha .
Seriously though- i enjoy you and your work.
drockjr 7 months ago
No Burn Baby Burn for the NCC-1701? :)
EleanorDLou 7 months ago
@EleanorDLou Burn Baby Burn is for crashing; Janeway (or Kirk or whomever) Pi is for self-destruction.
mitmfan 6 months ago
@mitmfan lol, Janeway Pi
EleanorDLou 5 months ago
Hey - I'm in this! :D
commanderkruge 7 months ago
I cried when I watched this. A truly beautiful review. Thank you for the wonderful gift.
playadominical 7 months ago
ahh the mushroom starbase, my favorite design
CIarKent 7 months ago 5
@CIarKent I always wondered how Starfleet built it so quickly...
Herbarius 7 months ago
hm.... Maybe i have a solution for the body problem. Maybe they don't have an empty body on hand - and having him spook McCoy doesn't seem to be healthy for either of them. Could very well be that, even though they HAVE his soul, they would need Spock's actual corpse to keep it as it would vanish in another mind. Doesn't explain how they think they'd find a HEALTHY Spock there, though.
RotalHenricsson 7 months ago
I've fleshed out a few bits here and there and clarified some topics further.
sfdebris 7 months ago 2
Any notable changes/additions this time around?
rob062388 7 months ago
Nice! :D I love your reviews man.
internationalvibe 7 months ago
SWEET !!!!!
DOWSOE 7 months ago
HOLY HOPPING TOMOLIES! IT'S BACK HUZZAH! I love this review, well I love all of SF Debris reviews but especially the movie reviews! oh and ummm first! -prepares to watch the epic once more.-
ATADSP 7 months ago