tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post3867874302662972279..comments2024-03-28T14:49:36.133-04:00Comments on John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV: Sci-Tech # 3: Alpha Moonbase EditionJohn Kenneth Muirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-88252559540092386362011-06-06T07:56:36.035-04:002011-06-06T07:56:36.035-04:00Hi Gordon,
I agree with you about the realism fac...Hi Gordon,<br /><br />I agree with you about the realism factor in Space:1999's spaceship designs, and also your assessment of the series' strongest point. Although I'm partial to the aforementioned (and horrific) "Force of Life," I can't disagree that the span which brought us episodes such as "Mission of the Darians," "Dragon's Domain' and "Testament of Arkadia," among others, is a real high point.<br /><br />Great comment!<br /><br />best,<br />JKMJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-91981145584280831142011-06-05T21:21:18.338-04:002011-06-05T21:21:18.338-04:00I agree about this seriously under-appreciated ser...I agree about this seriously under-appreciated series. The Original Series Enterprise might be my favorite sf vehicle, but the Eagle is a close second. The realism factor in the sets and effects and models is, IMHO, the highest of any science fiction. Only Ron Howard's Apollo 13 truly approached it, and that was based on reality.<br /><br />I think the show hit its peak late in the first season. I watched scattered episodes in the first season, and got some of the story records...and them my mom watched Force of Life with me. Instant ban from the horror of the show... I sneak-watched The Rules of Luton (LOL), so between that and the first part of the Starlog article, I knew who Maya was. But the best episode for me was Dragon's Domain, both for story and ships and effects.<br /><br />Gordon LongPDXWizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10884427889989897626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-15817145060892101342011-06-04T14:58:25.588-04:002011-06-04T14:58:25.588-04:00Design-wise, my favorite set piece from the series...Design-wise, my favorite set piece from the series are the colorful computer panels from the second series Command Center. These were designed by Reg Hill (not Keith Wilson) and originally used for 'Into Infinity'.<br /><br /> Though Main Mission was grand, some of the details were weak. Sandra's station was little more than flashing lights and an illuminated 'pie chart' intrument. (It certainly wasn't an improvement over Uhura's Enterprise station). The Main Computer panels featured clusters of unmarked key pads...good luck finding the right key. The illuminated cartoon graphs were rather lame. They certainly didn't look like real monitors. For the second series, the work stations were given monitors which were certainly more useful for gaining information (than just flashing lights). <br /><br />Another weak point in the first series was the ever changing medical center. It changed frequently. Viewers expect some continuity throughout a series.<br /><br />Looking at such coffee table books as "The Art of Star Trek' and "The Art of Star Wars", I've always thought that Space:1999 deserved its own book. It certainly featured some of the most impressive design work in all of tv history!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-74439804888966458182011-06-03T09:36:56.375-04:002011-06-03T09:36:56.375-04:00Hello, my friends.
SFF: I concur with your feelin...Hello, my friends.<br /><br />SFF: I concur with your feelings about the Eagle spaceship. It is really an impressive design, and IMHO the greatest spaceship in TV history. It's one reason I worry about a space:1999 remake. They'd fool around with the Eagle, and, well, you can't improve on perfection, can you?<br /><br />jdigriz: You bring up an excellent point. I think that if Space:1999 had stuck to its original format, or at least the original tone, it would be heralded today as an absolute classic, and one of the five best sf series ever made.<br /><br />great comments!<br /><br />JKMJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-68666680618787752172011-06-01T17:26:29.267-04:002011-06-01T17:26:29.267-04:00Great analysis as usual. Would the show be held in...Great analysis as usual. Would the show be held in higher regard if there wasn't such a change in tone from Y1 to Y2? I loved the alien spacecraft btw.jdigrizhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17887305269410549709noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-81371961278155369112011-06-01T15:18:30.072-04:002011-06-01T15:18:30.072-04:00Thumbs up on the Space:1999 scifi tech John.
I th...Thumbs up on the Space:1999 scifi tech John.<br /><br />I think the transport tube was my all-time favorite thing on that show. That tube made the place feel big. Scope! Just like you said.<br /><br />The Eagle remains perhaps the single greatest piece of spacecraft engineering ever designed for television or film. <br /><br />I think it holds the number one spot in my heart just in front of the Enterprise. I always loved the metal super structure. In fact, I love everything about the Eagle.<br /><br />Late, but I wanted you to know I enjoyed your Space:1999 Sci Tech post!<br /><br />Best, <br />sffSFFhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04256589316922398158noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-28894819941563389282011-05-31T17:39:00.221-04:002011-05-31T17:39:00.221-04:00Hi everyone,
Great comments here!
Meredith: I ag...Hi everyone,<br /><br />Great comments here!<br /><br />Meredith: I agree with you that Space:1999 rarely gets the respect it deserves. But that's okay. I just remind myself that all TV shows age, and some day fans of these other, more modern series, will be attempting to make the same argument about their favorites. It won't be so easy, in many cases. Indeed, Space:1999's cinematic visuals have, in a very real sense, preserved the series for the next generation...even if the title wasn't particularly helpful in that regard. :)<br /><br />Jane: I am open to whatever really looks best (and by that, I mean photo real). I think that CGI has made some strides over the last few years (Avatar, for example), but I still love and admire the old school look of programs like Space:1999. To my eyes, it just looks real!<br /><br />Hi Joanna! Good way to roll! :)<br /><br />best,<br />JKMJohn Kenneth Muirhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-27467803504239109232011-05-31T17:33:31.850-04:002011-05-31T17:33:31.850-04:00ME TOO Jane!!ME TOO Jane!!Joannahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06332977249074073942noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-39142717668228373742011-05-31T11:25:07.531-04:002011-05-31T11:25:07.531-04:00I'll take miniatures over CGI any day of the w...I'll take miniatures over CGI any day of the week. Painted backgrounds also. That's just how I roll;)Jane Considinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-38085115369713289202011-05-31T09:54:47.820-04:002011-05-31T09:54:47.820-04:00As an unabashed and unapologetic fan of this serie...As an unabashed and unapologetic fan of this series it is always nice to see it championed. So often, even now, it is harshly judged by fans of other, more popular franchises. Yes, it has its faults, but the vision and SFX of this series were unique in its time, and still hold up exceptionally well today (especially Y1). Watching the series on Blu-Ray recently, I remain impressed at just how excellent the model work on the Eagles and Alpha look, and the set details are phenomenal. Compared to the CGI on scifi shows in the 1990s (namely Babylon 5) and early 2000s, I challenge one to be honest when commenting on which show's SFX look dated!<br /><br />~~MeredithAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com