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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(un)reason" data-source="post: 8607629" data-attributes="member: 27780">Polyhedron Issue 99: September 1994part 4/5Into The Dark: After three and a half years of regular reviews, James heads off to other pastures, but not before giving us one last particularly interesting theme. The works of William Shatner, with a particular focus on why nothing else he tried ever had the cultural impact of Star Trek. Is it his limitations as an actor, his choice of scripts, his even worse own attempts at writing and directing, or his obnoxious behaviour when the cameras stop rolling? Well that's a pretty can of worms to open for sure. Let's see what evidence the prosecution presents for it's case.The Devil's Rain is a particularly slow and depressing bit of 70's satanic horror, in which Shatner gets turned into a zombie, which at least removes the worry of getting good line readings from him. John Travolta also appears in a pre-stardom role that doesn't give him much chance to strut his funky stuff. Not really notable to fans of either unless you're an extreme completist.Kingdom of the Spiders sees Shatner cast as a vet trying to stop a horde of worryingly organised spiders. It's ok, if somewhat eco-preachy. Storytellers just can't resist making it all really our own fault. If only we'd understood all the ramifications and taken a different path.Visiting Hours also has the veneer of a morality tale, but sticks the landing even less. A misogynistic slasher that attacks victims of domestic violence for fighting back? (and everyone else who tries to thwart his attacks) That could in theory have been made to work, but in this case is just an excuse for violence porn filled with basic horror cliches like PoV shots and jump scares. James just hopes the actors got decently paid for this waste of celluloid.Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is here to show what happens when all the random elements align in the right way. An intelligent script that draws on lore from the series, letting Kirk face both an old enemy and his own aging & fears of death with subtlety. (and more than a little intentional ham) It's one of the big high points in Star Trek history, and James is just irritated that they threw away big chunks of the character development (and Spock's death) in the next one.Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, on the other hand, shows us what happens when Shatner directs himself. Nursery rhymes, weak humour, and a plot that never properly explains itself. (what does god need with a starship?) Final my ass. Good thing there are plenty of decent episodes released after that.</blockquote>

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