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ADDED COMMENT: The STAR TREK: INSURRECTION test screenings
I never put up all the reviews. Why? Because many are repetitive. The 3 Star Trek: Insurrection reviews Father Geek posted were indicative of the whole. The Positive review is exactly in line with the other one. And the 7 of 11 review and the Insurrectionist review sum up the total gripes of everyone else. The site is never about beating up on projects. It's about hearing what is good and what is bad according to real people. Now part of the concept of TALK BACK could be to give further information, and if the authors of those reviews feel their opinions haven't been stated... well they are welcome to put them up in TALK BACK, much the same as is done when I post my reviews in the review section.. Talk Back can be used for more than petty feuds and immature rantings. As some below have demonstrated. There may be one more review coming from that particular screening. One fella was gonna do a point for point review, going into detail with what was wrong. If and when I get it, I'll post it with a big ol Spoiler warning. Till the next screening though, that'll be the last review.
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Wow, what a feed back on the STAR TREK: INSURRECTION test screening. It has been the long standing belief of this site that test screenings are not the finished product. But often times, the results and the word that comes out of those test screenings comes to pass. I don't write the reviews, people like you that saw the film did. Saying that, what are my feelings about TREK?
I love it. I don't care if I get 3000 negative reviews a day for 3 months leading up to it's damn release. I'm there opening weekend. Why? Because I love Star Trek. It is not the exclusive love of my film-going and television watching life. I don't see STAR TREK as a big white whale to kill. If anything I see it as a beached whale that will die if it doesn't get back in the water and get moving.
In my opinion the franchise is in desperate need of some fresh blood, some great writers and some new directors. Go with A-list writers and A-list directors. Go outside the pool and gather some new thoughts. Ya know, like MGM has done with BOND. But as for me hating Trek, hell with the last TREK film, Glen and I went to a small mall theater and stayed up all night long building a giant BORG wall for the lobby alongside 30 or so other Trek fans. For this we got to see the film a few hours earlier than normal. Glen and I stayed up all night the night before that, editing together our favorite scenes from the television shows, the animated series and the films to have being played on a monitor while we worked the next night. Then we made an audio tape of our favorite score tracks of STAR TREK to have being played in the background while we worked.
I have a tribble sitting in my living room, a klingon bird of prey playmates toy above my CD collection and a Borg cube above my bookshelf. I have a couple of the old Trek masks you could order from FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND way back when, and an episode on film as well as tons of them on tape. I AM A FAN. However, I am not a fan that will look at every thing that goes on with Trek as the greatest TREK ever. I'm not a blind fan.
But here ya go, the test screenings are merely the words of individuals, they are not your opinion. I'm sure there are some people that weren't gonna go anyway, just because it's an odd one and has to suck. I like 3 and 7. They aren't the best, but heck, I've always liked 3 over 4 (and I acknowledge I'm in the minority there).
And I am eagerly awaiting the new Trek film. But the advance word, so far as I have been able to get is not rosy. There is no claim that the film will bomb like no tomorrow. There is no call from me to end TREK. And I'm not saying stay away. What I'm saying is, I now have 17 negative reviews to 2 positives. That means squat to me. There are a lot of people out there that think anyone that watches TREK is a pimple faced dweeb with one left Spock ear. I think TREK fans are the best in the world, because BJO TRIMBLE, a fan, managed to bring life back to Star Trek with the signatures of thousands of fans, gathered over years of traveling. This is the single best example of a fan doing something right for all their fellow fans. The feat has been duplicated to smaller degrees with shows that went off the air, but due to fans got picked up for cable, syndication, etc. But my god, look what Bjo jumpstarted.
If I had wanted to really really hurt TREK, I would have put up all the reviews, but I didn't. Why? Because I know this was the first one. The first test screening in a process that will last till the release. I'll cover the next one and the next one and the next one. Then I cover the finished print. And God willing, the 'finished' print will kick our collective butts, but if it never gets better, some people had a fair warning.
Let's hope for the best, and be in line to see it. STAR TREK needs two or three or four great films in a row. Why? Because that's what fans want. They want consistency, they want imaginative stories about the journeys to where noone has gone before.
At least that's what I want, let's hope they deliver. No matter what the cool toy line is out there, the big Talosian rocks!
Harry
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I love it. I don't care if I get 3000 negative reviews a day for 3 months leading up to it's damn release. I'm there opening weekend. Why? Because I love Star Trek. It is not the exclusive love of my film-going and television watching life. I don't see STAR TREK as a big white whale to kill. If anything I see it as a beached whale that will die if it doesn't get back in the water and get moving.
In my opinion the franchise is in desperate need of some fresh blood, some great writers and some new directors. Go with A-list writers and A-list directors. Go outside the pool and gather some new thoughts. Ya know, like MGM has done with BOND. But as for me hating Trek, hell with the last TREK film, Glen and I went to a small mall theater and stayed up all night long building a giant BORG wall for the lobby alongside 30 or so other Trek fans. For this we got to see the film a few hours earlier than normal. Glen and I stayed up all night the night before that, editing together our favorite scenes from the television shows, the animated series and the films to have being played on a monitor while we worked the next night. Then we made an audio tape of our favorite score tracks of STAR TREK to have being played in the background while we worked.
I have a tribble sitting in my living room, a klingon bird of prey playmates toy above my CD collection and a Borg cube above my bookshelf. I have a couple of the old Trek masks you could order from FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND way back when, and an episode on film as well as tons of them on tape. I AM A FAN. However, I am not a fan that will look at every thing that goes on with Trek as the greatest TREK ever. I'm not a blind fan.
But here ya go, the test screenings are merely the words of individuals, they are not your opinion. I'm sure there are some people that weren't gonna go anyway, just because it's an odd one and has to suck. I like 3 and 7. They aren't the best, but heck, I've always liked 3 over 4 (and I acknowledge I'm in the minority there).
And I am eagerly awaiting the new Trek film. But the advance word, so far as I have been able to get is not rosy. There is no claim that the film will bomb like no tomorrow. There is no call from me to end TREK. And I'm not saying stay away. What I'm saying is, I now have 17 negative reviews to 2 positives. That means squat to me. There are a lot of people out there that think anyone that watches TREK is a pimple faced dweeb with one left Spock ear. I think TREK fans are the best in the world, because BJO TRIMBLE, a fan, managed to bring life back to Star Trek with the signatures of thousands of fans, gathered over years of traveling. This is the single best example of a fan doing something right for all their fellow fans. The feat has been duplicated to smaller degrees with shows that went off the air, but due to fans got picked up for cable, syndication, etc. But my god, look what Bjo jumpstarted.
If I had wanted to really really hurt TREK, I would have put up all the reviews, but I didn't. Why? Because I know this was the first one. The first test screening in a process that will last till the release. I'll cover the next one and the next one and the next one. Then I cover the finished print. And God willing, the 'finished' print will kick our collective butts, but if it never gets better, some people had a fair warning.
Let's hope for the best, and be in line to see it. STAR TREK needs two or three or four great films in a row. Why? Because that's what fans want. They want consistency, they want imaginative stories about the journeys to where noone has gone before.
At least that's what I want, let's hope they deliver. No matter what the cool toy line is out there, the big Talosian rocks!
Harry
I have a tribble sitting in my living room, a klingon bird of prey playmates toy above my CD collection and a Borg cube above my bookshelf. I have a couple of the old Trek masks you could order from FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND way back when, and an episode on film as well as tons of them on tape. I AM A FAN. However, I am not a fan that will look at every thing that goes on with Trek as the greatest TREK ever. I'm not a blind fan.
But here ya go, the test screenings are merely the words of individuals, they are not your opinion. I'm sure there are some people that weren't gonna go anyway, just because it's an odd one and has to suck. I like 3 and 7. They aren't the best, but heck, I've always liked 3 over 4 (and I acknowledge I'm in the minority there).
And I am eagerly awaiting the new Trek film. But the advance word, so far as I have been able to get is not rosy. There is no claim that the film will bomb like no tomorrow. There is no call from me to end TREK. And I'm not saying stay away. What I'm saying is, I now have 17 negative reviews to 2 positives. That means squat to me. There are a lot of people out there that think anyone that watches TREK is a pimple faced dweeb with one left Spock ear. I think TREK fans are the best in the world, because BJO TRIMBLE, a fan, managed to bring life back to Star Trek with the signatures of thousands of fans, gathered over years of traveling. This is the single best example of a fan doing something right for all their fellow fans. The feat has been duplicated to smaller degrees with shows that went off the air, but due to fans got picked up for cable, syndication, etc. But my god, look what Bjo jumpstarted.
If I had wanted to really really hurt TREK, I would have put up all the reviews, but I didn't. Why? Because I know this was the first one. The first test screening in a process that will last till the release. I'll cover the next one and the next one and the next one. Then I cover the finished print. And God willing, the 'finished' print will kick our collective butts, but if it never gets better, some people had a fair warning.
Let's hope for the best, and be in line to see it. STAR TREK needs two or three or four great films in a row. Why? Because that's what fans want. They want consistency, they want imaginative stories about the journeys to where noone has gone before.
At least that's what I want, let's hope they deliver. No matter what the cool toy line is out there, the big Talosian rocks!
Harry
And I am eagerly awaiting the new Trek film. But the advance word, so far as I have been able to get is not rosy. There is no claim that the film will bomb like no tomorrow. There is no call from me to end TREK. And I'm not saying stay away. What I'm saying is, I now have 17 negative reviews to 2 positives. That means squat to me. There are a lot of people out there that think anyone that watches TREK is a pimple faced dweeb with one left Spock ear. I think TREK fans are the best in the world, because BJO TRIMBLE, a fan, managed to bring life back to Star Trek with the signatures of thousands of fans, gathered over years of traveling. This is the single best example of a fan doing something right for all their fellow fans. The feat has been duplicated to smaller degrees with shows that went off the air, but due to fans got picked up for cable, syndication, etc. But my god, look what Bjo jumpstarted.
If I had wanted to really really hurt TREK, I would have put up all the reviews, but I didn't. Why? Because I know this was the first one. The first test screening in a process that will last till the release. I'll cover the next one and the next one and the next one. Then I cover the finished print. And God willing, the 'finished' print will kick our collective butts, but if it never gets better, some people had a fair warning.
Let's hope for the best, and be in line to see it. STAR TREK needs two or three or four great films in a row. Why? Because that's what fans want. They want consistency, they want imaginative stories about the journeys to where noone has gone before.
At least that's what I want, let's hope they deliver. No matter what the cool toy line is out there, the big Talosian rocks!
Harry
Let's hope for the best, and be in line to see it. STAR TREK needs two or three or four great films in a row. Why? Because that's what fans want. They want consistency, they want imaginative stories about the journeys to where noone has gone before.
At least that's what I want, let's hope they deliver. No matter what the cool toy line is out there, the big Talosian rocks!
Harry
Harry
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uh...I was looking for an honest review of the movie, so I know what to expect...not some drivel about how trek movies suck royaly, but we should go see it anyway
Why is it you feel compelled to post negative reviews about Soldier over and over and over again, but as soon as someone says one bad thing about Trek, you slam the door shut.
so much for being a resource for me...I'll finally start using that "delete favorite" command in my web browser's organizer.
grow up, you slob, and start realizing that there is more to life than spock ears and endless loops of James Horner music and SNL skits of William Shatner telling you to get a life(he actually meant it, you know)...
go live with the ewoks on Endor's green moon for a month and you'll wake out of this hypnotic state of trekkieness
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What the hell is this? Harry, if you are listening, you are a news reporter, whether you like it or not. You are depended on for reviews, news and other tidbits by thousands of people. You are a pop icon. This is like Roger Ebert saying, "Well, I loved STAR WARS, so I am not going to review THE PHANTOM MENACE." What bullshit! Harry, your site is terrible. Go eat some twinkies. You suck.
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It is a litle surprising to me that Harry has decided to take the role of "Star Trek" apologist in this article. Of course, that is his right, but I get the feeling that he is trying to ensure that if the negative buzz generated by the reports from the recent test screenings of "Insurrection" somehow contribute to the movie bombing, he will not be blamed by the "Trek" fan base for "killing" "Star Trek" (silly, yes, but not impossible). I must say that I take exception with his ecouragement to attend this movie (or any movie) on opening weekend even if you're pretty sure that it is going to stink (and, on a side note, I'm constantly amused when someone tries to convince me how much they enjoy some entertainment property like "Trek" or "Star Wars" by giving me a laundry list of the dolls and toys they own. It's a strange society we live in where an ADULT seeks to gain status and admiration by boasting about his/her TOY COLLECTION. But I digress...). I'm going to reserve judgement on the latest "Star Trek" film until I actually see it. However, I came away from the last 2 ST films really disappointed, so at this point I do not automatically assume that this one is going to be any better. They're gonna have to prove it with positive reviews and good word-of-mouth (from both the fans and the "civilians"). Sure, the trailer does not look too bad, but you can make a decent trailer out of any turd of a film (remember "Batman & Robin", "Independence Day", or "The Truman Show"?). Trailers are marketing tools used to lure you into spending your money to see the movie, and put the best possible face on the product (and don't be deceived; most movies are strictly product, not art). My suggestion is, if you have reservations about seeing this film (or any film, for that matter), DO NOT attend on opening weekend. Wait to hear what your less patient (and more easily stung) friends and neighbors say before plunking down your $8 and giving up a couple of hours of your life to a potential dog (I'm still having a hard time forgiving them for "First Contact"). The bottom line is, try to be an informed consumer, and show your support or lack of it with your pocketbook. It's the only language these bean-counters in Hollywood understand. If it's a good movie, people will come and spend their hard-earned money. If it's not, let'em all cry their way down to the poorhouse (that's the only way you'll guarantee that they won't subject you to another one)! BTW, I wholeheartedly believe that at this point "Star Trek" as we know it should end. I really enjoy "Trek", and have for more than twenty years, but I'd prefer no new "Trek" to bad new "Trek". Wouldn't you? Let it rest in peace for about 10 years and wait for someone who has fresh and exciting new ideas to start it back up again with some heart and passion. We've got plenty of great re-runs to watch until then! Anyway, that's my opinion, let's hear what the rest of you think! Have a great day, Rod
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It would be nice it they could fix Insurrection, but the flaws that have been pointed out are not exactly fixable. Universally, most everyone finds the premise fairly weak, and if the story elements are as reminiscent of earlier episodes/films as I've heard, well..... there's really nothing they can do about that. Your comments are well meaning, Harry, but I think we all have to face up to the fact that we're in for a potentially weak installment. I haven't liked any of the NG films; so, I'm not going to be that disappointed, and I still maintain that the franchise is in it's waning days. It happens. Just enjoy what you've liked in the past.
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So, uh, what was the review like? This WAS supposed to be a site that contained reviews you know . . .
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MAY 21ST 1999....
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Harry,
Please don't hold back *any* of the reviews you've received from the Star Trek test screening. One of the reasons I frequent your site is to read advance test screening reviews for upcoming films of interest. I'm extremely dissapointed that you've taken the position of "wait and see" for better reviews. This is not like you at all.
- Frank A. Tropea -
Even though I love aint it cool news I think harry is a bit scared at bad mouthing a film such as this. Apart from all the hate mail he would get , if this film was a flop. He might end up getting blamed for the poor viewing figures just as he was with the crap bat man and robin.
Be BRAVE Harry -
I Totally agree about an infusion of new blood! It could be Writers, Directors or Actors\Characters. I think the best route to go would be writers! One writer who I think has the essence of Trek and is not afraid of going against the happy ending is Peter David! I love every book he has written and his new series (New Frontiers) should be the next franchise. I will also be waiting to see Insurection when it opens, NO MATTER WHAT! But it is time to move on to more injoyable Characters and Stories.
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Almost anyone who posts on these message boards has nothing positive to say. I won't even read them normally, but I took a peek today at a particularly nasty header, and am disgusted as usual. What the hell purpose does a board serve if not for useful communication and discussion, rather than more mindless dribble from people who for the most part don't understand Harry's point in the first place?
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The bottom line is, it's always 'Trek, and while it may not score among the non-Trek audience, we will go, we will either love it, hate it, or contemplate the damn good track record of the franchise and wait patiently for the next one. Maybe even one featuring the DS9-ers before it's too late...
Those of us who have followed Trek since the beginning know that it's no big deal, there's always something to be gained even in a less-than-stellar episode or film. And sometimes the fun is in discussing just how much we despise whatever we're picking apart - just think how empty the news groups would be if it was 'ice cream for dessert' all the time!
By the way, *are* the aforementioned 19 responses posted somewhere? I'm kinda' confused with the redesign and all.
And don't forget, there's always Voyager ; } -
Harry, I *know* the way to save this current installment of Trek. The only thing to do is -- bring back Sybok. Lawrence Luckenbill, America's most overlooked Oscar bait, could make this movie the next Schindler's List. Hey and maybe if they could bring Joe Piscopo in from the TNG holodeck to help out. Man, a Luckenbill/Piscopo vehicle - that's BOX OFFICE, baby! Much better than a stinky old prequel, huh? Eat a box of donuts for me, Harry.
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Harry, I *know* the way to save this current installment of Trek. The only thing to do is -- bring back Sybok. Lawrence Luckenbill, America's most overlooked Oscar bait, could make this movie the next Schindler's List. Hey and maybe if they could bring Joe Piscopo in from the TNG holodeck to help out. Man, a Luckenbill/Piscopo vehicle - that's BOX OFFICE, baby! Much better than a stinky old prequel, huh? Eat a box of donuts for me, Harry.
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C'mon man! I think that the first few screen tests shouldn't be grounds for Stalinism on the part of Harry. If anything, we need those early screen test results so we can see them change over time and debate the early or late screen test viewer's feelings. I thought some people [I'm talkin bout you Harold] would have at least that much common sense in their radiations stricken brains.
-Fred -
STAR TREK SUCKS NOW.
THAT's IT.
IT's OVER> -
Harry, stop it. Please, your making a fool of yourself. If you don't show the test screening reviews then pack it up and end your site. It isn't fair to us or other movies in which you post test screening reviews. If your going to be biased like this, your going to lose faithful readers of your website and any respect they have for you. So, SHOW US THE REVIEWS
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Oct 17, 1998 6:32:59 PM CDT
Yeah Harry, we want consistency from ST, but we also need it fro
by hyprocrite 101
C'mon Harry stop this bullshit. Show the reviews. Let us decide on our own. You claim trek fans want consistency, well, apparently YOU don't know what that means. You feel no problem in showing any sneak peek reviews about other movies but not your precious Star Trek?? PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I've been coming less often this site and will soon never come at all. FUCK THIS and FUCK YOU!! -
I can agree with you to a point.
I go all the way back with Bjo and have been involved with ST fandom from the very begining. I even have several real tribbles from the set... heck... my puppies are named Lursa and B'Etor.
But compared to what I've seen with Babylon 5 and what's happening with Star Wars, I think the fans have a right to expect something more than... pedestrian stories and sloppy production values.
ST really needs new blood in the writing and directing department.
I'll dutifully go to see #9, but my expectations are simply I hope that I won't be embarrassed by what I may see. -
First of all, stop shitting on Harry, I mean does anyone REALLY want to read 19 different reviews of the same movie? I think we can get the gist of it with a couple of positives and a couple of negatives.....Besides, whether you hate ST or love it, a review most likely will not change your mind. Second, I agree with Andy and Die Hard--the suits in control of ST should let Trek rest a bit, to 1) build up public interest, and 2) to take plenty of time to come up with a concept that is pure ST, and yet totally fresh and original. Think about it: in four or five years, a Star Trek 10--an even numbered filck, at that!--written by a fresh groups of writers brave enough to do new things, with 4 or 5 years to really brainstorm and come up with something really cool.....personally I think it WILL happen, because 1) Phantom Menace will be familiar, yet fresh and different (hopefully!), and make gobs of dough--giving the ST franchise a financial reason to go out and take a chance (perhaps the only thing the suits understand)..... 2) Star Trek 10 will be like a milestone of sorts, so it would be downright immoral to let it suck......
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Yo Harry and all others: it's Harry's damn site. If he doesn't want to post a review and come off as biased, that is his perogative. Having said that, why does Harry think people come to this site for? To talk to him and/or to read his pedantic spoonfeedings on what he thinks is cool and not? Fuck no. I, like probably alot of other visitors to AICN come here to get our dose of info-dissemanation and not to read on what Harry thinks of 6-string Samuri. Harry, I don't know if you read these things but you really should post the review of the next ST movie and let us decide for ourselves what to think and do. You're not big brother and you should get off of that power trip. having a site like this one gives you alot of access to stuff that we don't normally get; that's why we come here. As such, you have a responsibility to act as disemmanator and nothing more. To anyone reading this, exercise YOUR power and leave the site if you're not happy. That's the way to get Harry to change the way he does stuff. That's the kick in the nuts that will get Harry to lighten up.
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Ok, this seems to be two purposes to this site. One: to report movie news. Two: to bitch and complain and call Harry a fat fuck who sold out. It really is getting old reading the comments by those you insult Harry daily, and I imagine that 9 out of 10 of those people probably beat kids up for their lunch money in grade school. Lay off the guy Why do you need to read the reviews? So you get read 17 of the exact same thing? "It sucked!" "May 21, 1999!" I love Star Wars (The Phantom Menace coms out on my birthday!), but I love Star Trek too. So please don't bash the franchise just because it's not Star Wars, which is what a few people are doing. Last I checked, this site isn't called "Ain't It Cool Star Wars News". Respect the rights of the Star Trek fans. Back to the insults. What do you have against Harry? Other than the fact that he worked his way into getting to where he is and where most of us will probably never be. If you don't like what Harry says, then just leave. No one is pointing a gun at your head and forceing you to be here. You're here under your own free will, so why don't you just shut up or leave? Finally, remember me Harry, cause one day I'll be in the business, and you'll be reporting about my next movie (and maybe i'll hook you up with some insider stuff).
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This Whole system (not to mention life) revolves around the almighty $. That's it plain and simple. You control what will be up on the screen. If there is no $ to be made. They won't make it. But I guarantee all you people who moan and wail on these posts, will be there on dec. 11th anyway. Because I'am convinced trekkers would pay to watch the crew of the ENTERPRISE A THROUGH Z stand in a grocery line.
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Ok, Harry it's your site and that's cool and all but you have set your site up as an unbias stage for reviews and opions to be posted on. That's why studios have hated you and why ticket buyers like us have loved you. So don't come at us now with the "I'm not posting the reviews because I don't agree with them attitude." Grow up, if the head editor of Consumer Reports loved Acuras and the 1999 model sucked do you think the magazine would not tell the public? I liken your site to Consumer Reports, as many others do. Show us your site is still a great resource and post the reviews. Thanks.
Sincerely,
The E -
I agree with others here that Star Trek needs new writers, producers, and directors. Plus they need to please, please, please get rid of the techno-babble. It's just used as a crutch for unimaginative writers, the original series did quite well without that garbage. Let's get rid of the overuse of the holodeck too. I want to "seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before" and we've been to the holodeck way too many times!
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I have never seen one single episode of Star Trek. Not one of any of the "Trek" shows. No Thanks, no interest. Couldn't begin to tell you a characters name in any of the shows though I do know the actors names. Am I an idiot because I have absolutely no interest? Nope far from it, God bless and more power to you if you do. But I have seen each and every Star Trek movie.I thought that First Contact was very entertaining. I thought that's what movies were meant to be. Was I enlighted by any of the movies, did they change my life? No, but Contact did keep my attention for two hours. Aside from getting a little update about what a Borg is, I a non follower kept up, and enjoyed it. I thought that Jonathan Frakes did a terrific job as a first time feature director, considering it was a big project to handle( remember Shatner made on too!). I will probably go to the next because I liked the last whatever the reviews. Harry is just placating a major studio because he is not a
pardon the pun "little guy" holed up in his bedroom taking on the the big guys anymore. He has joined the ranks, accepting the rules of the trade. Be nice or we will cut you off. No more private tours of Dreamworks or special screenings. But who can blame him? Any movie loving person wants to walk the red carpet...it's fun, been there done that. So if you liked the series you go, give it a chance and make your own mind up. Harry will be just fine hobnobbing at Mann's Chinese -
I read the plot for ST:I months ago and I thought it was killer. My buddies and I (most of whom aren't even Trek fans) started counting down the days 'til it opened, because we felt that this was a movie that would entertain us. We still feel that way. In the end, you have to see a movie for yourself before you can make any sort of judgements about it. Personally, I'm not surprised by the sentiment that is found in the Talk Back section. More often than not, the comments posted here come from wannabe art house film snobs. You know the type, right? The ones who tell you that "Armageddon" was a tired formula movie with a one-note lead and eye candy to keep the mundanes "ooh'ing" and "ahh'ing" and stoop to implying that if you felt one twinge of feeling for the characters or the situations, then you're either a sellout or the result of inbreeding. It is these same wannabe twits who sit in judgement, sharing with us sparkling jewels of wisdom such as, "It's Star Trek! Of course it is gonna suck!" Well, you know what? Come December 11th, seven of my closest friends and I are going to be in line to see Star Trek: Insurrection on opening night. We're gonna laugh or roll our eyes at the jokes, we're gonna talk about how goddamned awesome the effects were and then we're going to go home, knowing that another Friday night had been well spent. THAT is what movies are for. They aren't for you to pick apart and bitch and moan and complain about, especially when you haven't even SEEN them for yourself. They are there to entertain you. If Star Trek isn't your thing, fine. Don't spend your hard earned money on it. Find something else to watch. But there are a lot of people out there who are jacked up to see this movie and when I come here and see people with the mentality of an 8 year old ragging on something that they haven't even seen yet, it brings me down. It pisses me off because it screws up the emotional high that I'm on as I wait for the movie to be released. In other words, I guess what I'm trying to say is don't knock it 'til you've tried it. And to all the wannabes out there who think that the only films worth seeing are the ones that were made on a shoestring budget, that was seen by eight people during a 6 city, three day limited engagement... Fuck you and fuck the seahorse you rode in on. You don't impress me, and you sure as hell aren't going to change my mind about what movie to see on a Friday night.
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sometimes i wonder wether or not you guys are just bots, that some hacker put up.
when the phrase "negative" or "bad" comes up, one bot posts a message about what kind of dumbfucks the reviewers are.
if there is an "I", another bot will say: harry is a fucking fat slob who sold out
and when an article contains "star trek/star wars/whatever is great", the bots post: "you fucking moron! get a live!" (notice the arbitrarily inserted typo here :)
see my point? for most of the talk back posts, you dont need no brain, just a few lines of code and a compiler.
harry, could you please put the following words in your meta tags: fuck, cum, breast, dick, blow job etc.
That way, the blocking software will keep out all those hyperactive kids, who didnt get enough attention from mommy and daddy (or too much?)
anyway, enough for the insults (yes kiddies, that was an insult, you may flame now. My email address is posted) and on to some constructive thoughts.
First all, I have to ask you: Do you really come here just for the news? I mean its a great place to get scoops but if that is your intention you shouldnt limit yourself to aicn. check out dark horizons or theforce.net (which i personally dont like very much) as well.
Me, I come here because of the personality, the subjectivity and the opinions (now that was a tautology, wasnt it :)
I have discovered that Harry's opinion often coincides with mine, so i love his rambling.
Furthermore, the posts you put off as non-news are exactly the thing i love about the site, because that way you see that there are real people behind the news. you wont get that on other sites....it somehow reminds me of the "blah" posts on voodooextreme.com or "out of the blue" on bluesnews.com
regarding the reviews that weren't posted....
IMHO the couple ones that were on the site, already are pretty repetitive (sp?). Now let me see, there were 19 reviews for the first test screening alone, with 17 negative and 2 positive....what will the picture look like, when the release date grows closer? do you really want to read 200 reviews? thats what editors (or harry in this case) are for. they look for the stuff that is important...now if there is bias in a "serious" publivation like the NY Times (which has more than enough bias) it is bad. but on a site this, run by a fellow geek, i'm all for it.
Harry a reporter? What the fuck are talking about? He's not a reporter, not an editor (except for the stuff above) and not a fucking journalist. He's just some dude in Texas, who loves movies and runs his own website about it. He has attitude and opinions that some people value, so they visit his site to read his rants and raves.
If you dont belong to that group of people, I would strongly urge you, in the interest of all parties involved, to delete the bookmark immidiately and never come here again. Please, do us and yourself the favor and stop wasting bandwith with your ridiculous attempts at provocation. Leave the discussion to mature adults who actually know what they are talking about.
If you just want insults and provocation and flame wars, I'd recommend the newsgroups. They have more than enough of that kind of stuff there.
But when you have learned to use your brain for more than breathing and eating and fucking, you are welcome to join us here again and experience the real world.
sorry, if that thought was to long and complex for your cpu and memory capacity. dont worry, you will understand it one day
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I apologize for the typos, I guess I was a little agitated.
BTW, It sucks extremely that Talk Back ruins your whole formatting by eating up all individual paragraphs and putting them all in one huge blob
later -
I think that Star Trek, in and of itself, has become cliche'. And I'm not just talking about the Classic Trek either, I'm talking the whole franchise. For that reason, lots of people will take potshots at it. Oh well. In our society, that's what we do.
I agree that the franchise needs some kind of a jump start. But before we throw too many stones, let's look at what we've got so far:
The last movie was the highest grossing of all the Trek films. Jonathan Frakes was heralded as a wonderful director. All the cast seemed to be fitting in well to the silver screen.
On TV, DS9 continues to stun reviewers. Their storylines are perhaps some of the best drama being portrayed on television today.
Voyager, while taking the brunt of most of the Trek critism, is still the highest rated show on UPN. And, while admittedly some episodes are better than others, the show as a whole continues a great tradition.
So I guess what I'm trying to say to all you naysayers who have nothing positive to contribute, pull your collective heads out of the sand and look around. Star Trek is here to stay!
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I went and saw Harry speak at the Smithsonian this past summer in Washington D.C. There came a moment when a member of the audience asked what he wanted in a film, and it's his answer that really made me love this fellow film geek b/c it hit exactly what I feel in my heart when the lights go dim in the theater. He said, "I want to be so moved, excited, whatever by that film that I forget that I'm in the theater and feel like I'm in the world of the movie." (Sorry Harry if that quote's not exact - but I believe it was an approximation...) I'm going to Insurrection no matter what I hear, because Trek is one of the unique franchises that actualy transports me. With such a long history and rich world, it has become extremely efficient at letting us sink into another world, a familiar world that often times feels like another home. And one of the reasons it does this is because Trek has a history. And yes, it has been a history of ups and downs, but I'm with the people who say to ride those ups and downs, it's a part of the experience. I've been surfing the net looking at these kinds of reviews and coments as far back as Generations, and every time the buzz on the net has been relatively bad despite what the general buzz in the industry has been. Even on FC people nibbled and picked at a lot of it. And hey - that's what fandom is about. There's a lot I can complain about in FC and Generations. Generations while trying to do something with the characters (I mean hey, they killed of Kirk which is a rather big thing to do, not to mention crashing the "D"), had little sense of it's own dramatic universe. The Data jokes didn't mix well with the dramtic weight of Kirk and Picard and their rather serious arcs. FC was a great action movie but after being away from TNG characters for so long we wanted a little more actual developement instead of the rather simple arc of "Borgs kick the Feds ass, Feds kick their ass back - one Fed (Picard) gets *extra* angry... ooohhh... great development.There - I got my shot in. But you know what - I still love both those films. In fact, I love all the Trek films, and all this crap about "voting" with your dollars - What's that? If you're a fan, and you enjoy Trek, go see it. If you're not, then go see Prince of Egypt or You've Got Mail instead. If all you people bitching about Harry really want to affect change in H-wood then get off your ass behind a computer and write a script and nab an agent. Or try starting and maintining a site as massive as this baby Harry has nurtured into something quite large and impressive. Personally I agree that Trek could use some new blood. DS9 has grown to become (in my humble opinion) the best Trek ever because it has let itself take chances with the characters. Trek 2 is my favorite Trek film b/c it truly developed the characters. It took risks. I heard years back in a screenwriting class to "make a screenplay about the most important times in your character's life", rather much in line with Hitchcock's famous "Film is life without the boring bits." Make these Trek films about SOMETHING, take an idea, an argument, and let our Trek characters explore it, because exploring the galaxy has always been much more of an excuse for our favorite characters to explore inside themselves. But, it's not my decision. It's Trek's. Oh, and guys ,let the tired "Star Wars vs. Star Trek" thing die please. We all know Phan. Men. will make more money than God. So what? Armagedon made more money than SPR. Hell, Independence Day made more money than Casablanca, but I know which one I'll have sitting on my bookshelf for the rest of my life... right next to all the Trek's. Of course Phan. Men. will probably be a lot tighter than Insurrection, it's been fifteen years stewing in Lucas's brain... but think about all the moments Trek has achieved becuse it IS there every week. As much as Star Wars is a distant modern "great", Trek is an everyday event, and it's characters have grown so much more detailed because of it. Luke may be an epic figure, but he's also as shallow as a wading pool... anyway, we all obviously care enough to write...
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Most of this struck me as Harry protecting his ability to get invited to Star Trek parties and hobknob with the stars...and I believe we saw the same thing when Godzilla came out. Harry becomes an apologist for Devlin and company...and Harry gets to go play on the set with Dean and the toys. At this point I'll admit that I am a bit jealous, and I probably couldn't resist the lure myself, but it still means the reviews lose all value. I realize I could be reading this wrong, but it just seems that in recent months, Harry has become more and more a professional suckup to those with whom he'd like to socialize. That's why I've begun submitting reviews to other sources of information like IMDB or Hollywood Bitchslap. At least there I don't have to worry that my opinions will be ignored if they don't generate a positive buzz for a favorite project of the site owner. I used to really like that I could come here and get honest opinions about films before they hit theatres. But from now on, I always have to worry that the truth is being filtered through Harry.
You're a Trek fan...congratulations. You're just a Trek fan who is buying possible schmoozing opportunities with his credibility.
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I forgot to include this line at the beginning:
So, if you get five positive and ten negative reviews in the future, will you post the five positive, and then three of the negative, because in your opinion the negative people are all saying the same thing? -
Harry, you scumbag,
why the hell did you erase my comments? Does the truth hurt you? I bet it feels like a humiliating kick in the crotch! -
Hi Harry, I visit your site quite often(several times a day), I agree with you on Star Trek, and even many others movies, just because Preview audiences trash a movie, or even critics, doesn't mean the movie will suck, so I will go on opening day, and judge it for myself. I do that with any movie. I also have a tip of advice for some of the other people out there. If you have a gripe, I suggest you post it in a mature way instead of taking pot shots at Harry, or people who have a different opinion than you do, you will find you get more what you want when you do things responsively, and respectively.
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Come on guys, let's be civilized here. I don't see Harry as the big white whale to kill. I see him as a beached whale who will die if he doesn't eat a vegatable soon.
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I work for Paramount folks and im a big Trekkie . As far as I know the movie will rock . TREK LIVES !!!!!! STAR WARZ RULE !!!!!!!!! HARRY SUCKS !!!!!!!!!!!
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I gotta agree with narpin on this one. I guess I just got a little pissed off yesterday when some people started making fun of star wars fans FIRST.......but I still don't think Harry should have erased my comments (somebody's got to defend star wars if it is being compared to star trek.)
My point is this : Star Wars is FANTASY and star trek is SCIENCE FICTION. Science fiction flicks have to somewhat link our present with a possible future...something that will make the audience wonder, or even tremble (something that has not been efficiently done since the application of the chaos theory in Jurassic Park, I think)......I think star trek doesn't have that ability anymore. I bet most of you people are fans because you were fans when you wer kids...fine by me....so if you are not going to change how you feel about star trek, no matter what....what the hell are you complaining about? THERE...I made my point in a mature fashion. -
Sithlord999, you better stop this nonsense. I made my point clear, don't make us look like fools in this unholy land.........
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Dear Sithlord, you are forgetting that Star Wars happened a long time ago...in a galaxy far, far away (in other words...it never happened and it will never happen)
Star Trek is in the future...23rd- 24th century...and it involves Earth and humans......just because the Star Wars universe has superior technology doesn't mean a thing! It happens OUTSIDE any of our parameters....wether it has rules of physics or not...it NEEDS them so that the STORY can make SENSE.Fantasy deals with legends (things that never happened,like the King Arthur legend) and science fiction deals with theories (things that might happen). If the Star Trek universe (our universe) has any elements of fantasy, it simply has to be catalogued as something that has not been yet explained (an x file). I better stop writing. I don't know if this is making any sense! -
Well, I suppose if we want to get technical......Star Wars could have happened, but we wouldn't know about it.....unless we develop technology to go to other galaxies and then stumble upon ancient ruins.....personally I think SW is better in the fantasy vs. science department, it's explanations are simple and consistent, and not so convoluted. And to the others who want to see ALL 19 reviews: Are you sick or something? Personally, I don't think I could stay awake thru 19 reviews of ANY movie, not Phantom Menace, Evil Dead 4 (if there is a God this will happen!) or any other film I am eagerly anticipating...... so lay off Harry, it isn't censorship or fascism unless it is done by the GOVERNMENT....I suppose if a friend gave you a ride in their PRIVATE auto but put the radio on a station you hate--despite your objections-- you would accuse them of abusing your "rights", when it is theirs to do with as they please...... this is not a public forum, it is private, so stop whining like little socalist bastards.......
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I'm a huge Sci-fi fan and still don't get the whole Star Trek vs. Star Wars thing... who cares? They're both good sci-fi and that's all there is to it! And as long as we keep getting GOOD sci-fi that people GO SEE, the studios will CONTINUE to make sci-fi. Sure, some (ok, MAYBE ALOT) of it is bad, (can someone say EVENT HORIZON?) some of it is unique and fun in its own way, (Starship Troopers, anyone?) some of it borders on OK, (X-files and the Fifth Element - only cool on the BIG screen) and some flat out ROCKS! (Star Trek: First Contact, Any and all Star Wars films) Needless to say, if we keep askin' for it, they'll keep makin' it. LAW of SUPPLY and DEMAND. Right? Support your favorite genre.... it'll help us all in the end.
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Listen you fat f**k, go and get a life!!! Star Trek isn't the center of the universe... well, there's the Death Star... Why can't you handle BAD reviews when it comes to Star Trek? I thought this site was supposed to be open to all reviews and comments! BUT NO... Mr. I-LOVE-F****N'-STAR-TREK gets all pissed off when someone hands in a "IT-SUCKS"-Review!!! C'mon you dildo, wake up! There happen to be bad Star Trek-films out there: the first film... ummm... the third and fifth one aswell. If you don't change your attitude on this subject I'll seriously have to think about taking you out of my bookmarks!
Nuf Said! -
It's about time Harry gets his chat-room up and running agian.
So U people can diss each other in chat instead of gluttering up this web-site with your redundant rantings -
Brother's keeper and Anonymous: where is your mind? You do not have a first amendment right to freely express yourself in someone else's property. I cannot go to your house, invited or otherwise, and tell you to fuck yourself, if you do not want me to. If I go to a restaurant and yell at all the patrons what fucking slobs they are, can I tell the owner of the place to suck on ass If he wants to throw me out because if have a right to freely express my self?
There is a first amendment right, and you did excersise it by writing your post, now Harry has no obligation to post it and that is his right too.
Marco and The E: who gives a fuck if harry's is biased? you know he is biased, take it in stride. we know harry's biases coming in to a movie at least he is more honest than most critics. first of all he has posted more negative reviews than not. And I echo his sentiments with regards to Trek, I am hoping it is good, I will go see it but it probably sucks, what's wrong with that? Why the hell would Harry take the time to post 19 negative reviews if they all say the same thing. Its not like he is hiding the fact that he is getting negative reviews, or how many they are.
And Gundam, why would you be that narrow-minded? to loose respect for Harry becuase he tells you that the reviews are in for Trek, most are negative and then only printing those that represent the opinions expressed in those reviews. I am sure Harry does not give a fuck if you loose respect for him.
And finally, Hypocrite 101, you are not coming to the site anymore? good! I am glad you are consistent. -
I'm a little disappointed that this whole thread seems to have lost any focus on what for me is a legitimate concern (and some of you here have echoed this).
Harry is NOT really 'one of us', or 'a geek' anymore, as much as he would like to be. He's a player of sorts. Not a particularly powerful player, but a player nonetheless. And as evidenced by the way he seems to embrace anything done by those who let him visit the set, he has lost any credibility as a source of valid information on the QUALITY of films. He can still grab the occasional scoop, but he's about as impartial as an infomercial. And THAT'S what I'll miss about the site. When I hear that Devlin's next is ultra-cool, I'll have to take that with a boulder of salt, because Harry is Dean's pal.
So, I could care less if Picard's weenie is bigger than Vader's, the real problem being talked about here is the loss of credibility. I really dig Batman, but I would never censor reviews because they were unfavorable to B&R. -
Allrighty then, it's a fact of life everybody's biased. Duh.
Harry admits he is. And he did post a negative review - just not all ten billion.
And what the hell is Phloog talking about? He's writing as if people can suddenly change status in some sort of hierarchy.
"Hah, I'm a Geek now, but tomorrow I'll be a Player. Bwaha-"
Bullshit.
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Oct 20, 1998 7:45:58 AM CDT
Trek, in all its incarnations, Rocks./The ''Stupid War''
by falcon_x-0n_
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Oct 20, 1998 8:35:29 AM CDT
Trek, in all its incarnations, Rocks./The ''Stupid War''
by falcon_x-0n_
Trek rocks. There is no doubt about. At least in my mind there isn't. I can't wait to see Insurrection. Negitive Reveiew, Positive Reveiws, in my mind, don't matter. When I see it, I'll decide. On another, more, well, more compleatly idiotic, is this whole Star Trek vs Star Wars War thing. In case no one knows, there is a CHAT PAGE FOR THIS!!! the addy is
__________________________________
http://members.xoom.com/swfullforce/vschat.htm
__________________________________
I go there often, and so does the so called SITHLORD999. I have seen him there, and i have fought with him on the page. What i want to know is WHY he is on a Talk-Back page for Star TREK. SHouldn't he be on the one of the gazzilion SW posts that come on Ain't it cool news daily? But he is on this page. And i know why. Star Wars Fans, not all, but most, HATE Star Trek with a Vengance. I am not kidding when i say that. At the Star Trek vs Star Wars chat page, many ''Warsies'' come in, shouting ''Kill Trekkies''
And, most of the time, i am the only Trek fan there. to defend Star Trek. I can guess what many of you are saying to yourselves: "so what?", but it is a big deal. Because of Treks current popularity. It's popularity is Diminishing. With DS9 going off the air, and Rumors of Voyager reaching home, and With the Phan. Men. Coming out, out long can Trek hold out? What Really Bothers me is that Lucas is going to be remembered as the Father of Science Fiction. He is not. Roddenbary, Elinson, Asomov, are the Fathers of science Fiction as we know it. Lucas had nothing to do with it. Now, i'm almost positive that SITHLORD999 is going to come Bashing after me, oposing all of my views, but let me say one thing: Bring Him On. In True Klingon fashon, i invite you, SITHLORD999, to a mock battle at the Star Trek vs Star Wars chat page listed above. Go there at 8:30-9:30, USA Eastern Standard time, on Saterday, October 24, 1998. I shall show you some of the finer points of Trek Technoligy. -
Okay. Here goes. I love Star Wars. It rocks. When I was a kid it blew me away completely, and I still enjoy it now I'm all grown up. I also enjoy TREK. I still get a grin and a chuckle out of seeing Kirk deal to Apollo and the Klingons and a thoughtful gaze when Picard starts talking about the meaning of Life, the Universe, and Everything. (42. I'm amazed they haven't figured that out yet.) Now, to those of you who live solely on the Net, you may be surprised, but most people I know who lap up Trek also enjoy SWars, and vice versa. It's merely the small wee little people who need something to slag off in order to feel happy that give that impression. Well, I've wasted enough time prattling like a moron here. Time to go do real work. Cheers.
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Howdy folks - just was at Trekweb's Insurrection siute,m and what I've read there makes me a little upset - which makes me a movie dork, but hey... you should check it out Harry, they quote you. Apparently they've been listening, Trek dorks, and now (if these rtumors hold up to be true) are reshooting a bit of the ending and even cutting out much of the Picard romance arc. After hearing other reviews, especially finally one from a woman, I think all this bithcing on this site about "bringing in freshness" might actually just bring us the same thing as First Contact. I've heard a few pos. reviews now, and supposedly this film tested best with non-trekkers than any film previous. What I'm worried about is that all you fucking dorks wh ripped it apart without seeing it will now never actually get to see a film that could have been a different vein. Personally I'd love to see the Picard romance story, I'd love to see the vision Frakes, Piller, Stewart and co. had before we filthy fans got in the way... it's bad enough that often producers completely tear apart a director's cut, but now the fans have thrown in their weight too. Isn' there any respect for the film maker's vision? PErsonally I feel the best films are one whee the film maker knows waht works and says: Screw it, I know how I want to make this film, I'm doing it. I mean, you don't think Cameron didn't get pressure to cut another good half hour or so from the beginning of Titanic. WEould have had more screenings per day, might have tested better with the young adolescent male audience, but it wouldn't have been as good a film, and wouldn't have as made as much money. Please, any member of the Trek production staff if you are on this site and read this, this comes from a die hard Trek fan who also appreciates intelligent sotrytelling and yes, even romance: you know the film better than any of these fans out here, you've been working on it for a year or more. Make the cut YOU want to make. Make the Trek film you set out ot make. Follow your vision, and you know what, the reviews and money will follow...
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Well then SITHLORD999, someone has been using your handle. But, do you acept the challenge? If not, then i can go to a friends house and watch the Evil Dead movies. If you do want to debate/battle, tell me. LLAP
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Understood, SithLord999. I shall try to create a better time for the both of us. Evil Dead for me, i suppose.
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Perhaps it's simply because I'm a brit and learnt about this site through Empire, but all this seems to be a little odd. It's just entertainment. Before you say I'm obviously not a fan I've seen every episode of Trek, I have collections of the videos at home and the games installed on this PC. I read the original reviews and did post a comment, however I will admit to being slightly perplexed/confused/amazed/bewildered by the Bobafettish and Mad running battle, if you've read the postings you'll know what I mean. Even though I didn't like the review and my posting did indicate it I probably will go to see it. But I won't lose any sleep over it if it's bad, nor will I watch it repeatedly if it's the best thing since sliced bread. Hopefully Paramount's exec's will take on board this site and make the movie better either by reshooting some scene's or adding in ones left out of the original cut. I'd also like to add that all the people critising Harry for posting his thoughts using the same forum we have, should remember he did post two negative reviews he's not trying to protect us he's just trying to run his site the best way he can.
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