From: Scott Gorcey <scottgor@jaflrn.UUCP>
Newsgroups: rec.arts.startrek.current
Subject: Re: ST VI:TUC Musings/Comments (*SPOILERS?*)
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 92 16:26:42 EDT
Organization: The Wizzard's Cave, East Meadow, NY

Aaron Morrison <MORRISON@UCF1VM.BITNET> writes:

> In article <1992Jul13.092353.23646@ccu.umanitoba.ca>, jcoper@ccu.umanitoba.ca
> >in the mines, when Kirk et al are riding along in the cart, they witness
> >someone hide a piece of dilithium in the folds of their clothing, only
> >to be vaporized by a watchful guard.  This scene did not appear in the

   I don't recall whether the bit in question was in the theatrical
   release - but I don't recall that it WASN'T either.  Nothing that
   was in the theatrical release (except perhaps this dilithium thing)
   was CUT from the video release, though: only added to it.

> 
> >Continuity error: How could Valeris have known Kirk had said "Let them
> >die", when that statement was not part of any personal log, but part
> >of his dialogue with Spock at the classified meeting?
> >
> 
> Hmmm, will have to check this one out next time I watch it.
Another question: How could David have known that Kirk said "How we
deal with death is at least as important as how we deal with life?"
Answer: Saavik probably told him.  (In the novelization, she actually
did; also in the first couple of drafts of the script when the hint of
romance was there between them).

How did Valeris know?  Admiral Cartwright probably had the room bugged.
Or he was listening by the door.  It was a conspiracy: they have ways,
you know?
There are motivation problems with Valeris since she was SUPPOSED to
have been Saavik, but consider this: if it was Saavik, Cartwright could
have used Kirk's "They killed David!  Let them die!" routine to convince
Saavik to help the conspirators.

> 
> >I loved the Enterprise model shown from Chang's viewer as he seems to
> >be circling it.  Looks just like the one at my place, lights and all. :)
> >
> >I wonder if Enterprise getting the coup de grace of torpedo shots on
> >Chang's Bird of Prey was intentional?  Seems that she's always the
> >savior/victor in scenes like this.

Naturally!  It's one of the unbreakable laws of storytelling: let the
hero be the hero.

> >
> >I absolutley despised the ending scene at the conference, when everyone
> >from the "original" Enterprise makes their way to the stage and strikes
> >a pose.  Rather egotistical.
> >
> 
> Just a bit.... but it is the _final_ hoorah for the group after all.
>  (or is it?????? On the next *exciting* adventure... ;-)  )

    I will say this: that final scene doesn't work on the small-screen.
    I did like it on the big screen: it was appropriately melodramatic,
    although I did cringe even then at Kirk's super-leap to save the
    President.

> 
> >I may have missed it, but I didn't see Colonel West's name in the closing
> >credits, either as "West" or the assasin Klingon.  Could this be because
> >the credits are from the theatre release where the video's scenes did
> >not appear?

   A lot of scenes, as I'm sure everybody knows, were reinstated
   for the video release.  And, IMO, they all hurt the film.  They
   hurt the pacing, the seriousness with which it can be taken,
   the precision editing, etc.  The ONE SCENE that was shot but
   cut from the theatrical release that I would have liked to have
   seen was not included in the video re-cut:
   Sulu has just given Kirk the coordanites for Camp Khitomer and
   says Excelsior is getting underway.  Kirk hangs up.  Instead
   of jumping to the peace conference, the cut scene switches over
   to Sulu's bridge.  Sulu's first officer says, "Sir, you realize
   you've just commited treason!"  Sulu reclines and says, "You
   know, I've always hoped that when it came down to choosing my
   friend or my country, I'd have the courage to choose my friend.
   Warp nine!"  And Excelsior charges off.  
   I would still like to see how that came off.
> >
> 
> 
> >All in all, fairly well done.  Since everyone seems to be rating things
> >to death, I may as well offer an opinion of this compared to other films.
> >
> 
> I agree - it is well done.  I like the scene with Spock, Scotty, and
> Valeris in the torpedo room.  However, I tend to think they were right in
> leaving Colonel West out of the theatrical release.  Doesn't add too much
> to the movie.  I get the distinct feeling that they were added to the video
> to explain the blood color of the klingon assasinator.  Kinda makes you think
> that the Powers That Be(tm) actually read Usenet! :-)

  Remember, this footage was shot for the theatrical release and cut
from it, not shot especially for the video.  I think the revelation
that the Klingon assassin was Colonel West was cut because it was --
stupid and unnecessary.  Hm, novel concept, that: cut what you don't
need.  Call the papers: this is news.  
   For those of us who read the script, I think it was pretty 
obvious the Klingon assassin's face had wrinkles in it, in the
theatrical release, but I for one could have done without the rest
of that scene being reinstated.
   For that matter, I remember being overjoyed with Star Trek VI 
because everything that was stupid in the script had been either
not shot or shot but cut - the result being a fast paced, witty,
incredibly symbolic and intelligent send-off with only a few cringe-
points (understandably so: like the applause at the end).  
   The reinstated scenes are stupid and unnecessary: the story was
aptly presented without them, so their inclusion is unjustifiable.
That's my $.02

-Scott Gorcey
> 
> >Top notch, but still second, behind Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
> >---
> >    "We are all faced with a series of great opportunities
> >         brilliantly disguised as impossible situations." - Anonymous
> >+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+---+
> >D. Joseph Creighton  <jcoper@ccu.umanitoba.ca> - U of M Computer Services