A stranger leaves a package on your doorstep, a box wrapped in plain brown paper. You aren’t expecting a delivery, but Christmas is coming. Your sister’s getting married in a few weeks, so it could be a present for members of the wedding party. You open it. You find another box inside, a curious black device of wood and aluminum, with a clear glass dome enclosing a small red button on top. The dome is locked. If you had the key, would you push the button?
Katsuhiro Otomo is best known for his post-apocalyptic anime Akira (1988), which became an instant hit in Japan and a cult classic in the United States. Though he wrote the screenplay for another futuristic anime film, Metropolis (2001), Otomo didn’t direct another full-length theatrical feature until 2004’s Steamboy, which took ten years to complete. Instead of exploring a future Japan, Steamboy takes us to a past that might have been: a Victorian England in a world where steam is the primary source of energy.
“Catspaw”
Written by Robert Bloch
Directed by Joseph Pevney
Season 2, Episode 7
Production episode: 2x01
Original air date: October 27, 1967
Star date: 3018.2
Mission summary
Kirk is worried because the landing party surveying planet Kyris VII missed their scheduled check-in. Neither Scotty nor Sulu respond on communicators, but finally crewman Jackson contacts the ship with a request for transport—alone. He ignores Kirk’s questions about the people he really cares about, so they beam Jackson up. As soon as he materializes on the transporter pad he falls over, dead. Another transporter accident? No, because a cheesy voice trying to be scary emanates from Jackson’s mouth:
Captain Kirk, can you hear me? There is a curse on your ship. Leave this place or you will all die.
[Kirk won’t even follow Starfleet’s orders, so this guy has no hope of him obeying.]
In Japan, Astro Boy needs no introduction. He’s as instantly recognizable to Japanese of all ages as Mickey Mouse and Superman are to Americans; the fictional character even enjoys an honorary citizenship in Niiza, Saitama. It’s likely that most Americans have never even heard of Astro Boy until now, but Summit Entertainment and Imagi Studios hope that he’ll become a household name this side of the Pacific thanks to their big-budget, star-studded animated film, Astro Boy, which opens in wide release this Friday, October 23.
This isn’t the first animated outing for the little robot who could, though it is the first to originate in the United States. There have been three animated TV series in the last forty-six years, all produced in Japan and based on the original manga serial by Osamu Tezuka, who is often called the “God of Manga.” The Tetsuwan Atom (“The Mighty Atom”) comics were published from 1952 to 1968, and the black-and-white cartoon appeared in 1963, setting the template for all anime that followed. That year the show also became the first anime import to the U.S., dubbed into English and renamed Astro Boy for broadcast on NBC.
“The Apple”
Written by Max Ehrlich
Directed by Joseph Pevney
Season 2, Episode 5
Production episode: 2x09
Original air date: October 13, 1967
Star date: 3715.3
Mission summary
A survey team consisting of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Chekov, Yeoman Landon, and more redshirts than usual beams down to the surface of Gamma Trianguli VI. There have been reports of strange sensor readings from the planet, and the Enterprise has orders to investigate and establish contact with the inhabitants. Everyone is immediately impressed by the lush vegetation; apparently the entire planet is just as fertile, with an average temperature of seventy-six degrees, which reminds McCoy of the Garden of Eden. The group is about to head for a nearby village when one of the security officer notices a flower behaving oddly. It turns and nails him right in the chest with poisonous thorns. So long, Hendorff.
Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Nintendo Wii)
Published by Atari Inc, developed by Red Fly Studio
Released June 16, 2009
MSRP: $39.99
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+
It’s Thanksgiving Day, 1991. A wave of spectral activity is once again sweeping over New York City. Who ya gonna call?
“The Changeling”
Written by John Meredyth Lucas
Directed by Marc Daniels
Season 2, Episode 3
Production episode: 2x04
Original air date: September 29, 1967
Star date: 3451.9
Mission summary
The Enterprise responds to a distress signal in the Malurian system, but when they arrive it’s already too late—the entire race, some four billion people, have mysteriously disappeared. The cause of their total destruction is less mysterious when an unknown enemy attacks the ship with energy bolts traveling at warp 15, each with the strength of ninety photon torpedoes. Shields hold up under three such attacks while they pinpoint the source and fire a photon torpedo at it, but it’s easily absorbed by their assailant. The fourth energy blast destroys their shields and they finally decide to attempt contact. Spock also determines that the enemy vessel is tiny: “Weight, five hundred kilograms. Shape, roughly cylindrical. Length, a fraction over one meter.”
Star Trek: The Exhibition is a traveling exhibit of ship models, props, set recreations, and costumes from the 43-year history of the franchise, from all five series and eleven movies. Its website claims this to be the largest such collection of “authentic Star Trek artifacts and information ever put on public display,” but it’s unknown if that indicates the combined features of its various installations. The Exhibition is produced by Premier Exhibitions Inc, and is currently in the second year of its “five-year mission” of touring the United States, appropriately enough visiting space centers and museums around the country. Having completed stints at San Diego Air & Space and the Arizona Science Center, it is currently open at the Detroit Science Center in Detroit, Michigan (through September 13) and the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (through September 20).
“Amok Time”
Written by Theodore Sturgeon
Directed by Joseph Pevney
Season 2, Episode 1
Production episode: 2x05
Original air date: September 15, 1967
Star date: 3372.7
Mission summary
Something’s wrong with Spock! At least that’s what Dr. McCoy thinks, since Spock hasn’t eaten in three days and he’s a little edgy. Captain Kirk assumes his first officer is just being moody again, even after Spock throws a bowl of plomeek soup at Nurse Chapel. But then the Vulcan requests a leave of absence to visit his home planet, which definitely demands explanation.
Spock claims Chapel deserved mistreatment for being nice enough to bring him homemade soup that he didn’t ask for, but Kirk couldn’t care less about his misogynistic opinions, he’s more interested in the request for shore leave: “In all the years that I’ve known you, you’ve never asked for a leave of any sort. In fact, you’ve refused them.” Spock won’t share his reasons, but it seems pretty important and he obviously needs a vacation. The usually controlled Vulcan can’t even keep his hands steady. Kirk finally agrees to divert the Enterprise from its mission to Altair 6.
Before we transition into the second season of Star Trek, we thought this would be an ideal time to pause and look back on the first twenty-nine episodes of the Enterprise’s mission. Hopefully some of you have used the last month to catch up so you can follow along as we continue to re-watch the series. Reading your comments and discussing the episodes each week is as exciting and interesting for us as we hope it is for you!
Here is a breakdown of our respective ratings.
[Click below the fold for the chart, as well as our thoughts on the first season.]
In recent years, animation director Hayao Miyazaki and his company Studio Ghibli have developed a growing fanbase in the United States, despite lackluster box office sales. Often referred to as “the Walt Disney of Japan,” Miyazaki’s popularity in the Western world is largely due to the actual Walt Disney Company, which distributes his films in the U.S., as they do with Pixar (which is also connected to Ghibli through Miyazaki’s close friendship with John Lasseter). The deal between Studio Ghibli and Walt Disney has seen all but two major Ghibli films released on DVD in the U.S. within the last decade (the only exceptions being Isao Takahata’s Only Yesterday and Goro Miyazaki’s Tales from Earthsea), with limited theatrical releases of Princess Mononoke, the Academy-Award-winning Spirited Away, and Howl’s Moving Castle.
The latest offering from Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli is Ponyo, a fish-out-of-water tale that evokes Disney’s The Little Mermaid, Pixar’s Finding Nemo, and Miyazaki’s early classic My Neighbor Totoro, while also incorporating many other elements of both Western and East Asian influence. Ponyo was released in Japan last summer and now makes its U.S. debut in both dubbed and subtitled versions (where available). As with other Disney-Ghibli collaborations, the English dub which was screened for this review features a Hollywood cast that includes Liam Neeson, Tina Fey, Matt Damon, Cate Blanchett, Noah Cyrus, and Frankie Jonas.
“Operation—Annihilate!”
Written by Steven W. Carabatsos
Directed by Herschel Daugherty
Season 1, Episode 29
Production episode: 1x 29
Original air date: April 13, 1967
Star date: 3287.2
Mission summary
Disaster seems to have visited another Earth colony just ahead of the Enterprise, this time on the planet Deneva, which lies on a path of “mass insanity” that has destroyed three other civilizations in the system in the past two hundred years. While they try to contact Deneva, sensors pick up one of its vessels intentionally heading straight for the sun. The Enterprise pursues it and opens a hailing frequency, urging the pilot, who may or may not be named Icarus, to turn back. As with the planet itself, there’s no response until they receive a transmission shortly before the smaller vessel burns up: “I did it. It’s finally gone. I’m free! I’m—” The Enterprise sets course for Deneva, Kirk more anxious than ever to make contact. Dr. McCoy, demonstrating his blunt bedside manner, comments: “Jim, your brother Sam and his family, aren’t they stationed on this planet?”
The Toxic Avenger Musical
Starring Celina Carvajal, Nick Cordero, Demond Green, Jonathan Root, and Nancy Opel
Book & Lyrics by Joe DiPietro
Music & Lyrics by David Bryan
Fight Direction by Rick Sordelet & David DeBesse
Directed by John Rondo
New World Stages
Tickets: $51.50, $71.50 (check Theatermania for discounts)
Global warming is upon us. The earth is in crisis. It is a time in need of heroes. Especially in one particular, horrible place.
Some theatergoers already familiar with the 1984 cult classic The Toxic Avenger, from low-brow, low-budget Troma Entertainment, might be understandably hesitant to check out The Toxic Avenger Musical. Whether you hated the film, loved it enough to watch all three sequels (and the animated series), or have somehow escaped its schlocky charm, most people likely will be relieved to know that this Off-Broadway rock musical is more in the spirit of Andrew Lloyd Webber than Lloyd Kaufman, rendered as a love story about a disfigured man wooing the woman of his dreams.
“The City on the Edge of Forever”
Written by Harlan EllisonTM
Directed by Joseph Pevney
Season 1, Episode 28
Production episode: 1x 28
Original air date: April 6, 1967
Star date: no star date (dun dun dun)
Mission summary
The Enterprise is in shaky orbit around a planet, rocking back and forth like a seafaring vessel as “ripples in time” from the surface wash over the ship. An explosion at the helm knocks Sulu unconscious and McCoy is summoned to the bridge to administer medical assistance. He gives Sulu a small dose of “cordrazine,” a powerful and dangerous stimulant, which revives him in a very good mood. Another time ripple rocks the ship and McCoy accidentally empties the entire hypospray of cordrazine into his stomach. He immediately flips out, ranting “Killers! Assassins!” and fleeing the Bridge. The drug has driven him mad, with the paranoid delusion that people are trying to kill him. He attacks the Transporter Chief and beams down to the planet to escape.
“Errand of Mercy”
Written by Gene L. Coon
Directed by John Newland
Season 1, Episode 26
Production episode: 1x 27
Original air date: March 23, 1967
Star date: 3198.4
Mission summary
Peace talks between the Federation and the Klingon Empire are breaking down, so the Enterprise is ordered to Organia, which isn’t a sex resort like it sounds, but a planet of “peaceful, friendly people living on a primitive level.” Actually, that still sounds like a sex resort, doesn’t it? Organia’s only value is its strategic military location; Kirk compares it to Armenia and Belgium in Earth’s history, “the weak innocents who always seem to be located on the natural invasion routes.” They must reach the planet before the Klingons and prevent them from establishing a base there. Starfleet Command’s communique also mentions the possibility of a surprise Klingon attack. Not long after decoding this message, the Enterprise is indeed attacked, but they quickly destroy the enemy ship. The debris hasn’t even cleared before they receive a code one alert from Starfleet. “Well, there it is,” Kirk says. “War. We didn’t want it, but we’ve got it.” And without a store receipt, they can’t even exchange it for something they do want. Committed to their duty, they set course for Organia at warp seven.
“This Side of Paradise”
Written by D.C. Fontana (story by Nathan Butler and D.C. Fontana)
Directed by Ralph Senensky
Season 1, Episode 24
Production episode: 1x25
Original air date: March 2, 1967
Star date: 3417.3
Mission summary
The Enterprise is tasked with a rescue mission to an Earth colony on planet Omicron Ceti III, which is being bombarded with lethal Berthold rays that disintegrate animal tissue under prolonged exposure. They don’t expect to find any survivors, and on first glance it seems that all 150 colonists are in fact dead, as there is no response to their hails. Brief exposure to the radiation should be safe, so Kirk beams down with a landing party consisting of Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, Lt. Sulu, Mr. DeSalle, and Mr. Kelowitz. They wander through the empty streets of a small town farming community, which oddly resembles a Hollywood backlot. Kirk laments the apparent loss of life in the colony, “another dream that failed,” but then a man appears and welcomes them to the planet. He identifies himself as Elias Sandoval, the leader of the group that left Earth four years before.
“Space Seed”
Written by Gene L. Coon and Carey Wilber
Story by Carey Wilber
Directed by Marc Daniels
Season 1, Episode 22
Production episode: 1x24
Original air date: February 16, 1967
Star date: 3141.9
Mission summary
The Enterprise stumbles across an unknown vessel, as it often does, but this one is transmitting a repeating signal in Morse Code: CQ. Kirk doesn’t even need Uhura to translate this old message, “calling any station,” leaving her with nothing to do. When they get in visual range, Spock identifies it as a DY-100, an Earth ship built in the 1990s. It has no business being out there, and they determine it must be a derelict or is being used by aliens. McCoy’s bioscanners do pick up faint non-human heartbeats, averaging “only four beats per minute,” and sensors detect functioning equipment on the other ship, though there’s no other activity.
“Court Martial”
Written by Don M.Mankiewicz and Steven W. Carabatsos (story by Don M. Mankiewicz)
Directed by Marc Daniels
Season 1, Episode 20
Production episode: 1x14
Original air date: February 2, 1967
Star date: 2947.3
Mission summary
After the Enterprise encounters another dangerous ion storm, it puts in at Starbase 11 for repairs. Unfortunately, the damage to the ship is the least of their problems; the records officer, Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Finney, was killed when Captain Kirk was forced to jettison an ion pod with him still inside. You wouldn’t believe the amount of paperwork this creates! Kirk even has to wear a fancy shirt to deliver his sworn deposition to the grim-faced Commodore Stone, who is probably the longest-surviving red shirt in Starfleet. Spock beams down with an extract from the ship’s computer logs to supplement Kirk’s report, and a moment later a girl cosplaying as Sailor Mercury bursts into the room. This is Jame (pronounced “Jamie”) Finney, and she accuses Kirk of murdering her dad. After Spock escorts the sobbing girl out of the office, Commodore Stone accuses Kirk of perjury, since the computer records indicate that the captain jettisoned the pod before calling for a Red Alert. He’s confined to the starbase while they decide whether he’ll face court martial.
“Arena”
Written by Gene L. Coon (from a story by Fredric Brown)
Directed by Joseph Pevney
Season 1, Episode 18
Production episode: 1x19
Original air date: January 19, 1967
Star date: 3045.6
Mission summary
Captain Kirk and some of his crew prepare for a fancy dinner on Cestus III, an Earth observation outpost in a largely unexplored area of space. Their host, Commodore Travers, is well known for his hospitality and they’re all looking forward to a good meal and entertainment. Instead, when they beam down they discover that Cestus III has been destroyed—and its literally cold-blooded alien attackers are still there. Since the massacre must have occurred several days before, it seems the invitation from Travers was faked to lure the Enterprise to the planet.
“The Galileo Seven”
Written by Oliver Crawford and S. Bar-David
(story by Oliver Crawford)
Directed by Robert Gist
Season 1, Episode 16
Production episode: 1x13
Original air date: January 5, 1967
Star date: 2821.5
Mission summary
The Enterprise is enroute to the New Paris colony on Makus III to deliver medical supplies to victims of an ongoing plague, when Captain Kirk gets distracted by a shiny quasar, Murasaki 321. Galactic High Commissioner Ferris, a grumpy officer in fancy duds, objects to stopping to investigate, but Kirk insists his mission includes scientific study of cosmic phenomenon. They dispatch shuttlecraft 7, the Galileo, to take a closer look with seven crew members on board: Mr. Spock, Dr. McCoy, Mr. Scott, Lieutenant Boma, Mr. Gaetano, Mr. Latimer, and Yeoman Mears. It shouldn’t take long to get some readings and return to the ship and resume their journey to Makus III.
