Star Trek : Episodes 19-20 - Arena / The Alternative Factor [1967]

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Customer reviews

review by: Chicken Hat Theater Improv date: 2004-07-29 rating:
One hit and one miss from the first season of "Star Trek"
These two episodes from the original "Star Trek" series consists of one sure hit and one miss. There is a sense in which "Arena" proves how good Star Trek was, because, well, this is Captain Kirk fighting a guy in a lizard suit (and William Shatner is now 70!). After an unknown ship attacks Cestus III, the Enterprise heads off in hot pursuit. But just as they are about to attack both ships find themselves suddenly frozen in space by the Metrons, a powerful species that refuses to allow violence on their turf. Instead they will let the two captains fight each other on a barren planet: the winner goes home while the loser's ship will be destroyed. Thus Kirk comes face to face with a Gorn in a battle of agility and intelligence versus physical strength and endurance. True, the Gorn costume is not at all impressive, but the point behind the episode is fun and we get to learn the ingredients for gunpowder. This is certainly a memorable Star Trek episode. It is not on my personal Top 10 list, but it is close.

On the other hand, "The Alternative Factor" is one of those great science fiction ideas that just fails to translate into an effective episode. The Enterprise comes across a strange craft and an agitated being named Lazarus, who claims to be chasing an evil enemy he must destroy. Lazarus insists Kirk must help and when the captain refuses, the strange visitor steals what he needs any way. When Kirk follows he encounters the "evil enemy" of which Lazarus spoke, he turns out to be some sort of "twin" of Lazarus and a very reasonable being. Apparently Lazarus' people have discovered a corridor between the matter and anti-matter universes. When the first Lazarus discovered he had a twin, he went insane. Even more alarming, if the two meet outside the corridor, they will destroy both universes. This would not be a good thing. I have to admit that this is one of those times when I think the logical thing to do would be to simply zap one of the two Lazaruses and avoid the potential destruction of absolutely everything. But that is just me and apparently Kirk was not going to learn this particular bit of wisdom until "The City on the Edge of Forever." "The Alternative Factor" is long on talk and short on action and is a lesser than stellar Star Trek episode. But as long as this VHS has "Arena," it is a worthy addition to your collection.

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Video . Video . Categories . Classic Films . Horror & Suspense . 1920s
Video . Video . Categories . Classic Films . Horror & Suspense . 1960s
Video . Video . Categories . Horror & Suspense . General
Video . Video . Refinements . Condition (condition-type)
Video . DVD & VHS . Categories . Classics
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . BBFC Rating (intended_use_browse-bin) . PG
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Release Date (feature_three_browse-bin) . 1960 - 1969
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Editions (feature_two_browse-bin) . Standard Edition
Video . DVD & VHS . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . VHS

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