Comments on: “Mirror Mirror” Screenshots and Video

By: the SASS Man

the SASS Man — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 07:43:08 +0000

I remember reading, somewhere around 1977-1978, an article about George Lucas–who had just finished changing the world of Science Fiction, changing the concept of motion Picture, and changing everything we would ever know about Visual Effects–complaining about how unsatisfied he was with the final appearance of his masterpiece.

Artists, in general, are often perfectionists, who work for months, years, or even decades trying to perfect a single piece. Lucas, himself, was forced to re-design the effects industry in total, and still took 25 years before he was “Satisfied” with the original trilogy.

Star Trek is similar in many ways, as it is as much a work of art by Gene Roddenberry as Star Wars was for Lucas. And, like Lucas, Roddenberry often complained about the lack of funds, time, and/or the technical limitations that made episodes of TOS only “so good.” Granted, the staff at Desilu Studios did a remarkable job with Star Trek, especially pre-dating even Star Wars by a decade…but I’m sure, if given a chance, Gene Roddenberry would have made Star Trek with higher quality graphics, more realistic-looking planets, and better detailed models, just as he did with Star Trek: TNG.

Is it wrong to tamper with the original Star Trek? Even if it brings the show closer in line with reality, history, and Gene’s original Vision? I don’t think so. We will always have the “Original” TOS. All those old plastic globes with plain green and light blue are still out there on VHS and DVD. What we have here is another look…a “Star Trek Special Edition” as it were. Personally, I think Gene Roddenberry would be pleased.

But then again…I think old Gene would be surprised–even stunned–that the old TV films he made back in the ’60s remain so popular that there is even the drive–and the money–to try to fix and update them in the first place.

SASS has Spoken.

By: saurian brandy

saurian brandy — Thu, 25 Nov 2010 02:28:36 +0000

I am not a fan of this wave of revisionism of popular art, and would much rather see TOS as it was originally filmed. The only concession is the remastering of the image and sound. The effects don’t need changing; they are part of the show and as much a part of the charm of this landmark 1960’s science-fiction series as the characters and stories. It seems sad that people are unable to accept these works of art as they are.

By: Redbone619

Redbone619 — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 15:35:41 +0000

Thanks to wikipedia for having a link to this site whereby I was able to discover more 4-1-1 about the gussied-up Star Trek [only] episodes, and to Mr. TrekMovie [ironically to me only #2 and #4 were even barely tolerable to watch] for his detailed information. I will have to wait until I obtain the DVDs to fully appreciate the “upgrades,” since what few episodes shown on UPN 28 in Raleigh my horrified eyes were exposed to had been brutally hacked up and chopped out like the stuff of Lizzie Borden’s dreams. If anything this axe-murderess technique was even worse than what had been done to reruns in ye olden days since in general programs now have got shrunken like dried beef to cram in more crappy commercials [42/43:60 min running time versus 51/52]. But while some of these “renovations” are indeed reinvigorating and overall quite a technical toor d. force, in many instances [e.g. The Galileo Seven] the
space effects tended to be repetitive, overwrought and disappointing. I agree in this instance that “ISS’ being slapped on the hood and perambulated about is rather forced and gratuitous, and query the
purpose of the “taller” bridge, but keeping the pointy-needle nacelle caps consistent with l’originale was a good move – although weirdly more plastic-model-like. From the ones I’ve seen, almost all beefed-up
planetary detailing is a wondrous improvement [although the emphasis on green and purple, as in "Mirror Mirror" (note the underside of the saucer glowing like a fluorescent fairy lamp!), is puzzling and quickly
grows tiresome to the eye], but I don’t like the new headon-angle shots [e.g. new departure sequence over the original "underbelly" version] which lack, well, vision. There’s no impression of Soaring Majesty
in those reimagined flybys, as far as a mechanical construct can have, in this big bulging thing just zooming in as for the biggest kiss in the universe; the look now is rather flat and dull. It still beats out anything in those horrid “aftershows” from TNG to that fabulously named Enterprise, which along with the most unexciting space-music scores ever dropped untold millions on SFX and still turned out faint little boring monotone beeps and hisses to indicate operating equipment and unconvincing/laughable “aliens” that managed only to look like Terrans who had a futuristic fetish for freaked-out plastic surgery or just with irreversible injuries suffered in some kind of Horrible Horrible Accident. I’ll have to reserve more complete judgement of these efforts until I’ve seen a full[er] accounting of them; but perhaps in the meantime someone who’s seen it can tell if, unlike in the retinkered “The Empire Strikes
Back,” the one brief reversed shot in The Way To Eden [closeup on Kirk when McCoy yells at Dr. Severin] was corrected. No excuse for overlooking/ignoring several seconds of that on the part of Lucasfilm Inc. while they had their pigeon chests stuck out Looky What We Did fashion on adding sparkle to the only Star Wars trilogy worthy of the name, but maybe just maybe somebody involved in this Star Trek rebake had enough of an eagle eye to both catch that particular goof and turn it around – no “mirror mirror” there!

By: Crazy Guy

Crazy Guy — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 23:33:45 +0000

I have the new Polar Lights USS Enterprise kit that lets you choose between the two pilot E’s, the Series E, and the Mirror E. When I looked at these screenshots (I never caught the episode on TV, and the DVD is too expensive for me), the first thing I noticed was that the ISS Enterprise here lacks the Terran Empire’s insignia on the exterior, while the model had it.

Why the heck did they refuse to carry that over!? It woulda been awesome – especially since ISS Enterprise NX-01 had external insignia!

By: R M

R M — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:45:01 +0000

Trivia Fans, is this episode the first time a woman on American Television revealed her belly button?

Given Nichelle Nichols looked even more amazing in this episode. I’m surprised Kirk would be with Marlena, not Uhura.

Then again with the Captain’s perogitive maybe he’s lucky enough for both?

By: Bruce Carr

Bruce Carr — Wed, 20 Jun 2007 19:39:13 +0000

The one thing I thought would have worked on the I.S.S. Enterprise would have been to have the Empire’s Globe-and-Dagger emblem on the ship in place of the yellow chevrons on the nacelle’s registry banner, with more on the dorsal and ventral surfaces of the saucer. That would have made sense in light of their penchent for decorating the interior with it every chance they got…

By: Richard Kenney

Richard Kenney — Sun, 06 May 2007 02:38:31 +0000

dear sir Hi there i would like to know if you might be able to put up anymore DVD ScreenCap Pictures of MIRROR UHURA from the STAR TREK TOS episode #39 Title MIRROR MIRROR on to your Web Site so please let me know as soon as possible, Sincerely yours- Richard Kenney- 8 Dix Ave Johnston- Rhode Island USA- 02919

By: Hill Stuart

Hill Stuart — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 12:22:43 +0000

dear Trekmovie.com Hi and Good Morning to you i would like to ask if there was someway that you might be able to put up some NEW Pictures of MIRROR UHURA from the Star Trek episode #39 Title MIRROR MIRROR on to your Photo Gallery so could you please let me know on if you can do it,—————————Sincerely yours- Hill Stuart- 8 Dix Ave Johnston- Rhode Island USA- 02919-

By: Jeremy

Jeremy — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 19:26:29 +0000

I’m sure that they used the 2nd Pilot model because it was a way to subtly make the Enterprise different, while still using “original” – non-artifical material. It’s less cheap, and a very creative way of ressurecting an otherwise useless Trek model in a dramatic way – and keeping it a genuine “Jeffieries” design.

By: kevin spencer

kevin spencer — Wed, 29 Nov 2006 05:07:36 +0000

i want this in britain ! not just this episode all of them.