Here's one I found before it could be sent to Phil in time for the Classic Guide:

When Kirk and McCoy first go to Rura Penthe, a large something harrasses the good Captain (remember? He wants... your coat.) McCoy says "He's definitely on about something, Jim." Half of this line is said from one camera angle and the other half from another. The problem, you ask? In the first camera angle, watch McCoy's lips. He's become quite the ventriloquist!!

By Murray Leeder on Monday, October 19, 1998 - 12:23 am:

I know word usage might change a bit in the future, but I think Chang's "No your were incompetent, whether deliberately or because of age combined with drink..." could be questioned. He suggests that McCoy feigned incompetence, but I'm not sure if you can actually be deliberately incompetent.

By Omer on Thursday, October 22, 1998 - 04:09 am:

I thought this was a great movie. Defnetly the best of the banch(although I haven't seen SPOCK, and I'm hope the new one will be better...), it has lots of cool scene, and the 'universal translator' scene is incredibly funny, even if not very realistic.

Nits? well... I wouldn't have kept my... out at the open, if you know what I mean!!!.

By M on Monday, October 26, 1998 - 01:22 pm:

Big nit: when the 2 Kirks fight, one literally is a mirror image - - the shot's reversed (look at the Starfleet jacket)

Smaller nit: McCoy's starfleet badge is dislodged as he's arrested. It dangles as he's led out in cuffs.

By Rebekah Bunch on Wednesday, November 11, 1998 - 05:31 pm:

This is a weird title for the movie. Usually Shakespearean quotations in Trek are pretty relevant. Although W.S. is quoted in this movie, I don't think anyone actually speaks the lines from which the title is derived. It's from Hamlet's soliloquy, the "to be, or not to be" speech (and I think Col. Chang does speak that particular line.) Anyway, Hamlet wonders why people would put up with all the pains and hazards of life if it weren't for "the dread of something after death, the undiscovered country from whose bourne no traveler returns..." So the "undiscovered country" is death. Basically Hamlet is suggesting that most people are pretty miserable and would kill themselves if there was a way to know for sure whether or not being dead was even worse than being alive. This does not fit in with the optimistic message the movie was trying to project!

By Chris Ashley on Thursday, November 12, 1998 - 11:39 am:

Well, our friends at Paramount sure don't seem to think we're very literate in general. Think of Kirk finishing "Tale of Two Cities" in such a short time in II.....when he wouldn't have had any time to read! (Might he simply have skipped to the end? Naughty naughty....)

And while we're at it, I'm told there is no actual equivalent in Klingon for "to be". Truth?

By Joe Griffin on Thursday, November 12, 1998 - 01:57 pm:

Actually, I think the writers misinterpret Shakespeare. At one point, there is a toast "To the Undiscovered Country--The Future!" And the line at the end from Kirk, "You called the future 'The undiscovered country,'" but as Rebekah pointed out, in Hamlet, the Undiscovered Country is obviously death. (So, yes, they do quote the title line--twice.)
Of course, it could be referring to the eventual death of the Klingons, but I think that's a reach.

By Nsetzer on Friday, November 13, 1998 - 09:46 am:

>And while we're at it, I'm told there is no actual equivalent in Klingon for "to be". Truth?

The person who invented Klingon never intended for there to be a "to be" in the Klingon language, but that was all thown out the window when they needed the quote.

By Chris Franz on Friday, November 13, 1998 - 11:30 am:

Star Trek II was titled "The Undiscovered Country" by Nick Meyer, but got changed by the studio. He really wanted to use the title, and it makes sense in the second movie, so I think that he changed the meaning of it a little for Star Trek VI.

About Kirk quoting the end of "Tale of Two Cities", I think that he had probably already read the story a while ago, but was reading it again because Spock gave him the book.

By Nathan K. on Friday, November 13, 1998 - 01:32 pm:

I actually kind of liked the way they used the title in the dinner scene between the Klingons and the Enterprise crew. Chang proposes a toast to "the undiscovered country," and everyone pauses, seeming confused. "The future!" he explains, and they repeat, "the undiscovered country."

When I realized later that this phrase really refers to death, I began to wonder whether Chang, the Shakespeare fan, had a double meaning in using that phrase. Think about it-- Chang's immediate future does include death-- the death of Gorkon, hopefully the death of any peace between the Klingons and the Federation. I think the use of that phrase was very clever.

I might also add that the title could have had more significance if Kirk had died at the end of the movie, which may have been part of the original plan (I'm just guessing here-- anyone know?) and, in my opinion, would have made the story even more powerful.

By Chris Ashley on Friday, November 13, 1998 - 02:29 pm:

Well, I thought the ending was super even without Kirk dying. "Second star" and all that--quite effective.

Nice ending titles too with the signatures, IMHO.

By Jonathan Raines (Jraines) on Friday, November 13, 1998 - 10:13 pm:

i thought chanceller gorkon proposed the toast "to the undiscoverd country, not chang.

By D. Gunther on Saturday, November 14, 1998 - 12:57 am:

I think (I may be wrong) that the novel took into account that "The Undiscovered Country" meant death, and that is why everyone looked confused until Gorkon clarified himself. If it was not in the novel, I do remember reading it somewhere.

By Brian Henley on Saturday, November 14, 1998 - 01:17 am:

New topic!

Kirk asks Checkov if he knows anything about a neutron surge. Checkov responds "just the one the size of my head"
Cute, very cute, I'll admit. But is it really a good idea to have a tanked navigator on duty? Does Checkov have no releif? And if not, why was he boozing at the dinner? Drinking and navigating can kill a starship!

By Chris Thomas on Saturday, November 14, 1998 - 02:56 am:

Kirk's always bent the rules, wouldn't be surprised if he'd captained the ship after indulging in some Romulan ale.

By Chris Ashley on Saturday, November 14, 1998 - 12:45 pm:

It's about as good an idea to have a drunk navigator as a drunk doctor, and we see where that gets us. (How the Romulans became a galactic power I dunno. ;-)

By Jonathan Raines (Jraines) on Sunday, November 15, 1998 - 05:05 pm:

The Romulans became a power by giving there Ale to everyone eles. I have yet to see a Romulan drinking Romulan Ale.

By Murray Leeder on Sunday, November 15, 1998 - 09:35 pm:

So if Romulan Ale is illegal, why is the Enterprise carting it about to begin with?

By Charles Cabe on Sunday, November 15, 1998 - 10:18 pm:

"Who ever said the human race is logical."-Dr. Taylor. In other words people (especially Kirk) do illegal things. I refer you to his 17 violations of Starfleet's time travel protocol, or the times he broke the Prime Directive,....

By Brian Henley on Monday, November 16, 1998 - 12:31 am:

Re: Chris

McCoy might actually have an excuse for getting plastered though. We're not even sure he was scheduled to be on duty after dinner (i.e we didn't see him in sick bay doing docter stuff) when all heck broke loose. He just did his docter stuff when he had too.

But there's Checkov on duty, when it's not even an emergency yet, gazing at his controlls with the thousand yard stare. Just strikes me as strange. And entirely illogical ;)

By NathanK on Monday, November 16, 1998 - 04:25 am:

Thanks, Jraines, for nitpicking me! I think you're right-- it was Gorkon who made the toast to "the undiscovered country." My memory of the banquet scene was faulty. (I need to watch it again-- it's a great movie.)
I still feel that the scene (especially with the awkwardness Gorkon's toast caused) was supposed to have a hidden meaning. I suppose in this case, it's more like an irony-- Gorkon doesn't know how close he is to "the undiscovered country."
Oh, well. Sorry that my posts on this have bordered on reviewing as opposed to true nitpicking. I'll probably have more to say once I get the facts of the movie straight. : )

By Mf on Tuesday, November 24, 1998 - 03:33 pm:

The whole dinner scene seemed awfully shoppy to me. At one point Chang says "to be or not to be" in Klingon, and then, quite clearly went on immediately to say it English and continue with his "breathing room" comment. However, the editors, stuck other dialogue in the middle. Also, I remember seeing outtakes of dialogue that never made it into the final edit. All in all it looks stringed together line by line.

Also - at the end, Enterprise takes a pounding, torpedos are goins straight through the saucer section - and McCoy, apparantly the only doctor aboard (paging Dr. M'Benga, paging Dr. M'Benga), is off playing with torpedos??

By D. Gunther on Wednesday, November 25, 1998 - 12:03 am:

What makes you think there were no other doctors on the Enterprise at the time?

By Mf on Wednesday, November 25, 1998 - 12:57 pm:

The writing. At least in ST II Kirk bothered to ask McCoy if he could spare somebody. Here they've entirely forgotten that there is a crew aboard (for once, a full crew). In battle a doctor's place - especially the CMO - is in sick bay. Here it didn't even occur to anyone that his medical services might be needed. And what the hell deos McCoy know about torpedos? Scotty, ok, but McCoy?

By Ted Prohowich on Friday, December 04, 1998 - 09:55 pm:

Isn't Chapel an M.D. now? I don't remember seeing her in ST6, but if she was on the Enterprise at that time, she was probably in charge of sickbay while McCoy was on Rura Penthe with Kirk.
Maybe Spock needed someone with the steady hands of an experienced surgeon. If a red shirt was working on it with Spock, it would probably explode.

By Tim Thompson on Saturday, December 05, 1998 - 01:04 pm:

In ST4, Chapel was on Earth ("We need that power for emergency medical..." and so on.). But I'm sure there are other physicians on the Enterprise.

Completely unrelated rumination: the guy who runs the Rura Penthe camp (who appears to be the same actor that played Data's "grandpa" in TNG) gives a little speech to the new prisoners (while standing on a Klingon soapbox) before they are brought in out of the snow. Rent "The Bridge on the River Kwai" -- the Japanese POW camp commandant makes a speech that is practically identical, word for word. Another nice little homage worked into a ST movie.

By Brian Henley on Saturday, December 12, 1998 - 01:45 pm:

Ted, I think Chapel was on The USS Excelsior. Look at her after Kirk's sentance is read. She's the one who starts tearing up.

By Mf on Saturday, December 12, 1998 - 02:54 pm:

Nope, that was Rand.

By Brian Henley on Sunday, December 13, 1998 - 01:11 am:

Whoopsie.

By Brian Henley on Monday, December 14, 1998 - 08:03 pm:

This movie really joins the navy! Granted, Star Trek has always borrowed a little from the Navy, but check out some of the lingo in this flick.

Space dock now has a "Dockmaster". He's probably always been called that, this is just the first time I'm hearing it.

When the Enterprise comes alongside the Klingon Battle Cruiser, Kirk mentions "standard rudder". Never heard of the Enterprise having a rudder before.

Valeris mentions the Enterprises "ship to shore" transmissions. That's new.

Not these these terms don't make sense, in fact they make a lot of sense. But in this flick they crop up all over.

By Mf on Tuesday, December 15, 1998 - 11:59 am:

Hadn't really noticed. I do wish the new shows had more military decorum. Sometimes it's hard to recall that they're in a military service at all. Especially Voyager.

By Spockania on Tuesday, December 15, 1998 - 03:30 pm:

While hiking on Rura Penthe, there's a shot of our heros walking up to what appears to be a solid wall of ice hundreds of feet high. The shot pans, and guess what? It is a solid wall of ice! Why are they walking right to the edge? There's no apparent path down from there, and in the high wind it's rather risky, don't you think?

By Adam Patton on Tuesday, December 15, 1998 - 07:42 pm:

Ted - Chapel is an MD now. In ST:TMP after Bones beams aboard, he says to Kirk "I hear Chapel's an MD now..."

By Mf on Wednesday, December 16, 1998 - 11:53 am:

Spockania - yeah, but what a shot!!

By Phoenix on Thursday, December 24, 1998 - 08:59 am:

And so this is Christmas... war is over... but nitpicking doesn't disturb the aura of peace does it?

Rura Phente is cold. I mean really cold. It's so cold that everybody freezes in a rather short period of time. That's perfectly ok, but how can it *snow* there? Maybe our physical laws don't exist somewhere on the other end of the galaxy...

I always thought that the members of Star Fleet wear standard uniforms. Anyway, Uhura is wearing a skirt, but Valeris is wearing trousers. Rank has its priviledges, I suppose.

I'm not too sure about this one: I wonder howthe first suspect (sorry; I really forgot his name, the one with the big feet)gets of his trousers in the evening... I couldn't make out any zipper.

By Phoenix on Thursday, December 24, 1998 - 09:05 am:

Just ignore the spelling mistakes... *clears her throat*

By Mf on Friday, December 25, 1998 - 11:43 am:

Both the skirt and the trousers are G.I. - it's a matter of choice. BUT Valeris' wearing one color shirt and a different color shoulder-strap is strictly against uniform code. They were trying to make her "unconventional."

By Cableface on Monday, February 22, 1999 - 01:19 am:

As far as security is concerned, would it have killed the Klingons to put up a barb wire fence, just to be on the safe side?
Also, in the film, they have to try and translate to Klingon themselves using books because apparently, a translator wouls be recognised.But in the book of the film , the saboteur erased Klingon from the translator.Wouldn't this make more sense in the film, given the translator has worked flawlessly before?
And in the opening sequence, Valtane jumps from stooping by Sulu's chair to standing behind that pink alien looking up at the ceiling , to back stooping by Sulu again, all in the space of two camera changes.

By Mf on Wednesday, February 24, 1999 - 03:52 pm:

That translator line was just a throwaway (done in voice-over as a last minute thought) to explain why they were using books at all. It was just for a gag.

By Brian Lombard on Friday, March 05, 1999 - 06:07 am:

I'm watching a pan and scan version, so maybe someone with widescreen can look into this better. During the scene where the Feds and Klingons have dinner aboard the Enterprise, you can see that the dining hall is decorated with paintings of famous people. Sarek's portrait is plainly visible above General Chang right before Kirk's reference to Hitler. (I suspect Vulcan nepotism at work.) Who are the others?

By Travis T. Brashear on Thursday, January 14, 1999 - 11:24 pm:

In Phil Farrand's book, "The Nitpicker's Guide for
Classic Trekkers", someone informed him that a shadowy figure is hiding in the scene where Kirk and Spock argue about the mission ahead, and says
he can't see this on his pan-and-scan tape. Well, Mr. Farrand, I can confirm, yes, the figure is definitely there, and shame on you for watching this only on videotape--pan-and-scan, no
less! Widescreen laserdisc or DVD is the only true way to nitpick the Star Trek movies! NOTE:
The DVD of Star Trek VI comes out 1/26/99!!!

By Adam Howarter on Friday, January 15, 1999 - 07:50 pm:

I don't remember if Phil got to this or not, but it seems Chang forgot the "drink not with thine enemy" part of the Klingon code.
I'm still also trying to figure out who wins in the Klingon/Federation war these guys were trying to start. The Federation? No. The empire is falling apart anyway. All they have to do is sit back and watch. Popcorn in one hand, a beer in the other. It would be like if a US general tried to start a war with Russia when Boris took over from Gorby. They'd be tossing any the lives of Federation personal to hurry along what momentum has already started to do. There just isn't any rational reason for it.
The Klingons sure don't need a war with the Federation at a time when they need to move the heart of the empire to another planet. They can't win.
Infact the only one that does win are the Romulans.

By Rodnberry on Saturday, January 16, 1999 - 09:08 am:

I don't remember if Phil mentioned this in his "Classic" book but has anyone ever thought of what would happen to a planet if one of its moons exploded like Praxus did? Wouldn't that be equivalent to an awful lot of thermonuclear warheads exploding at once or something, and end up completely, or very nearly so, destroying its planet? Or at the very least killing every single living thing on the planet's surface. Look how close our moon is to us. Was Praxus that close to Q'On'os (I think that's the spelling) or farther away? If it was far enough away then the damage would of course would be less. I think Praxus was one of the Klingon homeworld's major moons, wasn't it? Wouldn't the entire race have been killed off, except for those few who were offplanet when the moon went kerplooey? I dunno, I'm just wondering but it seems to me something like might happen.

By MikeC on Saturday, January 16, 1999 - 06:06 pm:

GUEST STAR PATROL (The Discovered Country)

Christopher Plummer (Chang) starred in "The Sound of Music", among many other things.

By Adam Howarter on Sunday, January 17, 1999 - 12:10 am:

I kinda thought the explosion kicked up a dust cloud on Kronos (I think thats it, mother Earth father Kronos) and thats why it was such a big thing. Now the Klingon's have to go find a new homeworld because this one is going to look like Venus in a couple years.
Of course the hole shockwave thing brings up a problem. If the explosion had enough energy that it could toss around Excelsior when it reached it, let alone that it could reach it (presumably the Excelsior isn't patroling in the Kronos solar system), I surprised it didn't tear the planet it was orbiting apart. Finally how long ago did this explosion happen? The shock wave CAN'T travel faster then the speed of light so it would take decades (Centuries? Millenia?) for the shockwave to reach Excelsior.

By Rodnberry on Sunday, January 17, 1999 - 05:40 am:

I also think that the Excelsior would've been instantaneouly disintegrated when the shockwave hit it, resulting in one hell of a lot of complaints from ST fans, of course, and rightly so .I mean, since the explosion was enough to destroy an entire moon, or the better part of it, then it only goes to show that a mere human construct, such as a starship, wouldn't even come close to standing any chance whatsoever of surviving such a shockwave.

By Spockania on Wednesday, January 20, 1999 - 01:39 am:

This movie proves that Federation ground forces exist as part of starfleet. One of the Starfleet conspirators (the assassin played by Rene Oberjonis[sp] who helped brief the President on the plan to get Kirk back) is identified as "Colonel West." This rank is never refered to again, however.

By Rodnberry on Wednesday, January 20, 1999 - 03:48 am:

Rene Auberjonois.

When this film played in the theater, Rene's scene wasn't in it. Not till the video came out was it put in, making more sense about the conspiracy.

By Mf on Wednesday, January 20, 1999 - 11:09 am:

But what was the point of having West impersonate a klingon in the assasination attempt on Gorkon's daughter?

By Cableface on Wednesday, January 20, 1999 - 05:16 pm:

It looked good?And maybe we don't know enough about the physics of something like this.A man-made construct like Excelsior might not have been able to survive on it's own.But with shields against a wall of pure force, maybe.Or maybe it had travelled far enough to lose most of its force.

By Rodnberry on Friday, January 22, 1999 - 05:39 am:

Cable, do you have any idea how hard that wave would've had to hit the Excelsior? Poor Sulu and Co. wouldn't even know what hit them, and no shields, no matter how powerful, could withstand a force of that magnitude, no matter also how far it away it may have originated from the impact point with the Excelsior. ALTMTAISTI

By BF on Sunday, January 24, 1999 - 03:32 pm:

I was watching the movie the other day and I noticed that a lot of things in the film were kind of a purplish color. For example: The movie opens with the title and so on, look at the coloring of some of the words, they're purplish! Next: I noticed the snow, when Kirk and McCoy are at Rura Penthe (and also the lightning in the sky) are kind of purple. The other thing: When the Enterprise is on its way to Penthe, notice one of the warp trails, its kind of purple.
Does anyone know if the purple coloring was planned?

By Rodnberry on Monday, January 25, 1999 - 06:12 am:

I've never noticed the purple myself. It might be your tv. Have you checked its color settings? Or, if you saw it on video it may be from that, maybe, but I'm not sure there. If it is from a video it may be cuz so many others have watched it before you, if that has anything to do with it, but again I'm not sure. Just voicing an idea.

By BF on Monday, January 25, 1999 - 09:30 pm:

I don't think its my TV, I've noticed it on other television sets too. Is purple the color of 'peace?' I seem to have heard that somewhere, so I'm thinking maybe the purple coloring is some kind of metaphor that was never really revealed. Just a thought. Oh, other purple colors I noticed: the shockwave from the Rura Penthe explosion is purple in one of the waves. And, when the camera drops down the warp core of the Enterprise (during the battle w/Chang) notice the smoke venting out of it -- if my memory serves correct, it appears to be tinted almost a really dark purple -- I may have to watch it again to be sure.

By Charles Cabe (Ccabe) on Wednesday, January 27, 1999 - 05:41 pm:

I just watched the preview for STVI on my STV tape and I noticed a definite purple tint on the logo and the warp effect.

By Dwmarch on Wednesday, January 27, 1999 - 08:55 pm:

About the explosion on Praxis:

Do we know why the moon exploded in the first place? Moons don't just blow up for no good reason. The Klingons were mining it or something and were probably using some kind of subspace technology. Moon goes boom, subspace (FTL) shockwave travels a great distance in a manner of minutes... Still should've torn the planet apart though.

By BF on Thursday, January 28, 1999 - 09:24 pm:

Maybe they hit some kind of explosive gas under the crust of the moon and it caused some kind of chain reaction.

Ccabe: Do you think it was planned? I think its kind of neat. If you watch the movie watching for the purple tint throughout you'll notice it more.

By Greg W on Friday, January 29, 1999 - 09:28 am:

So let's see if you guys can find 47 uses of the purple hue in an unusual way....then we'll have something.

BTW this is the very first time it is established klingon blood is purple.

By Rodnberry on Saturday, January 30, 1999 - 02:39 am:

True, Greg, but in some NextGen and/or DS9 eps Worf gets hurt and bleeds RED blood! Go figure!

By Greg W on Saturday, January 30, 1999 - 09:34 am:

They get a funky forehead ridge, we find out they have 2 of all their internal organs, their blood changes colour... these Klingons are an amazing race.

By Rodnberry on Wednesday, February 03, 1999 - 04:53 am:

Not to mention rugged and durable. They're able to take a licking and keep on.....oh, sorry. I kinda channeled John Cameron Swayze there. (Or am I dating myself again there?)

By ScottN on Wednesday, February 03, 1999 - 11:52 am:

Yes, Rodnberry, you are. And I am about to too...

"My grandfather's watch was the best ever made
By the Timex company.
It was just like the one John Cameron Swayze displayed
Last night on the old T.V.
Oh it works underwater so perfectly
And it still makes a ticking sound,
Which my grandfather tried only this afternoon
And that's how the old man drowned!"

-- Allen Sherman
(to the tune of "my grandfather's clock")

By Cableface on Wednesday, February 03, 1999 - 05:25 pm:

yeah but the episodes establishing Worf with red blood were made before this film so technically, TNG is correct and this is wrong.

By Greg W on Thursday, February 04, 1999 - 09:27 am:

Ok, I'll buy that, but now we can explain Worf's red blood using that wonderful mechanism used during "Trials and Tribbleations"

'The klingons prefer not to talk about obvious genetic changes.'

I'll bet the Ferengi don't like to talk about sweeping philosophical changes either!

By Rodnberry on Friday, February 05, 1999 - 06:39 am:

Scott, that was very funny. I know Alan Sherman's one song, Hello, Muddah, Hello Fuddah, but that's it.

Cableface, I hadn't thought of that, so I agree with you. As I said elsewhere (I forget where) I think Paramount should've hired Phil to go over all scripts for their errors, then preside over production over theirs to greatly reduce nits, continuity problems, contradictions, and so forth. Of course, then these nitpicker pages wouldn't exist and lots of people would have that much less fun, and Phil's books would be a lot thinner.

By Omer on Tuesday, February 09, 1999 - 08:59 am:

Adam Howarter - I think that the Federation people wanted to 'Let the Klingons Die' to not help them, and by that prevent them from regaining force. And according to DS9, they would have been right in their thinking.

Greg - what change of phylosophies with the Ferengies?

and finally, my guess is that the explosion was probably FTL( faster then Light) because of something the Klingons were doing. and if it was weak enough so it wouldn't harm Sulo's ship too much, it might have been mostly stopped in the atmosphere, leaving damage that will take years to reach it's peak

By Greg W on Tuesday, February 09, 1999 - 04:40 pm:

The ferengi began as a hostile, cunning, angry race with only tertiary dealings with the Federation. They also forbade autopsies. Their weapon of choice was the phaser whip.

Now they work alongside federation people, mostly as stupid comic relief. They don't use phaser whips at all, and they sell their body parts on a futures exchange.

By Rodnberry on Wednesday, February 10, 1999 - 07:01 am:

And you hardly ever hear Ferengis call us "Hew-mons" anymore. I think Quark's the only one I've heard use it lately but only like once or twice that I can recall.

By Lea Frost on Wednesday, February 10, 1999 - 06:52 pm:

Greg, the "no autopsies" custom was invented after the characterization of the Ferengi as consummate capitalists was well established. I'm guessing it's because it would make their remains secondhand merchandise... :-)

By Rodnberry on Saturday, February 13, 1999 - 06:16 am:

Doesn't Kim Cattrall make another beautiful, sexy Vulcan? For a race that chooses to repress emotions they sure know how to turn out some of the best looking women! But then again, they do appreciate beauty, so their emotions aren't completely repressed, are they? I'm not even sure she's fully reached Kohlinar. Just look how she acts with Spock. Am I wrong or is she flirtatious in this film? Not that I'm complaining, mind you. It just makes her sexier I think, and, dare I say, more human, even for a total nonhuman.

By Cableface on Saturday, February 13, 1999 - 03:33 pm:

I was thinking about the whole colour of Klingon blood thing.Maybe it was a special effects issue.If it was normal blood, the guys would have had to distort the image on the far side of the blood, because it's partially see-through.Maybe they decided they just didn't want the hassle.

By Charles Cabe (Ccabe) on Monday, February 15, 1999 - 03:24 pm:

Here's my list of purple things in the movie.

1. part of the opening credits
2. the shockwave
3. Uhura's, Chekov's, and Lt. Slayter's shoulder strap and t-shirt. Also, Valeris's shoulder strap.
4. one of the flowers in the dining room (officer's mess)
5. the wall in the torpedo room
6. Klingon blood
7. some of "Admiral Bill"'s metals
8. the lightening on Rura Penthe
9. the lights following the Enterprise (en route to Khitomer)
10. In the matte shot of Khitomer, one of the delagates wares a purple sash.
11. The warp core leaks purple gas.

By B.F. on Tuesday, February 16, 1999 - 04:10 pm:

I told you there was a lot of purple! What do you think this means? I think it's absolutely awesome, I really like the purple color scheme. I don't think other movies have tried that before. Is purple the color of peace?

By Christopher Q on Sunday, February 28, 1999 - 06:07 pm:

Regarding blood & logic:
1. Logic-
I believe that the logic of Spock is faulty. Chekov correctly asks if the killers could have beamed from/to the cloaked ship instead on Enterprise. Spock states that either the people who filled the torpedoes are here or that the people who altered the databanks are here. Therefore, they begin to look for two pairs of gravity boots. It just so happens that Spock is correct, but he could have been wrong. The killers could have come from the cloaked ship AND a different person altered the database.
2. Blood-
Some people wonder why Klingon blood is purple in this movie, but red all the other times we see it. The reason is simple. Klingon blood changes color from red to purple once its exposed to anti-gravity. Note that the blood of Col West at the end had to be felt to know that it wasn't Klingon.

By Mike Konczewski on Monday, March 01, 1999 - 10:55 am:

I don't understand why Spock thinks finding a set of gravity boots would ID the killer. The Enterprise is a space ship. I'll bet that, from time to time, someone has to walk on the outer hull (a la ST:FC) to work on the ships. Surely there would be DOZENS of gravity boots, stored in a locker. All the killer would have to do is return the boots to their original location.

The original crew seems to be suffering from the early stages of Alzheimers. Why didn't Chekov and Scotty know that a phaser would set off an alarm? Why don't any of the crew know some Klingonese (they've encountered them many times in the past)? Why didn't Scotty figure out that the photon torpedo manifest had been altered? Why was everyone so rude at the diplomatic dinner (they've been to these dinners before and been much more cordial)? The Bird of Prey was briefly visible everytime it fired a torpedo; why couldn't anyone see this (or at least fire at the origin point of the photon torpedo)?

I understand that they were being deliberately provocative, but why did Gorkon's daughter say the Federation was a "homo sapiens only club"? The delegates at the peace conference were, for the majority, extra-terrestrials, including the President of the Federation.

I know Kirk is bitter about David's death, but he seems to have forgotten that Klingons saved his life in the last movie. Plus, the Klingons that killed David were renegades and not acting under the authority of the Klingon High Council.

I think I understand why the Enterprise-A was being decommissioned: it was built obsolete. Look at the slider controls on the bridge, and the all-human kitchen (no replicators?). It's got terrible shielding, too. Only a few hits and ALL the shields fail.

Klingon hearts must be very strong. Look at their blood; it had the consistency of pudding (note to British nitpickers: I mean custard, not a sausage)! How does it get pumped through the body?

This is the first time that we see a phaser blast act like a projectile weapon. When the assassins shoot the Klingons, they have holes blown in them or limbs shot off. In the past, a person hit by a phaser blast did one of three things: pass out (stun settings), die with no wounds (kill setting), or vaporize (maximum setting).

Was Tuvok off duty? I never saw him on the bridge of the Excelsior. Guess he was off making tea for Sulu....

By Rene on Wednesday, March 03, 1999 - 09:58 am:

Of course, the biggest problem with that Voyager
episode is that the guy who dies in the Voyager
episode is actually still alive at the end
of this movie. :)

By Wombat on Monday, March 08, 1999 - 01:31 pm:

The Klingon blood is purple because having that much red blood floating about on the screen would have earned the film an "R" rating--which they didn't want.

By cableface on Tuesday, March 09, 1999 - 03:28 pm:

Is it just me, or does the Klingon transporter chief speak French?When the assasins beam in, he says what sounds like "Parlez-Vous" which means "Do you talk", which, when you think about it, makes sense when two masked guys beam in and point guns at you.However his next line sounds like true Klingon, probably for "Oh s**t" or something along those lines.

By SB on Tuesday, March 09, 1999 - 04:27 pm:

RE: the phasers
****************

The novel states that the phasers that Burke and Samno used on Kronos One are an illegal burning phaser unit designed to be far more vicious with the beam force.

By Ryan Smith on Tuesday, March 09, 1999 - 07:55 pm:

I've always wondered why no one's sitting at the helm at the end of the film. Yes, I know it's the last shot of the classic crew together (except for Sulu), but still...

As Chekov, Uhura, and Valeris discuss sabotage, notice the Asian lieutenant sitting in the command chair even though superior officers are on the bridge.

By Mike Konczewski on Wednesday, March 10, 1999 - 09:44 am:

SB--so how come no one in the movie says, "Wow, looks like these Klingons were shot with illegal burning phasers, etc, etc."? That would have been a HUGE tip off that this was an inside job.

Also, I would expect a burning phaser to be less bloody; it would cauterize the wound.

By SB on Wednesday, March 10, 1999 - 04:05 pm:

Mike - maybe no one knew that burning phasers were used. The novel only mentioned them in a third-person narrative. As for the guy who got his arm shot/lasered off, he might not have known that burning phasers even existed.

By Meg on Wednesday, March 10, 1999 - 06:27 pm:

Valeris was originally supposed to be Saavik, but they couldn't get Robin I Cant Remember Her Last Name. So they worte teh part of Valeris, another Female protegee of Spock. Before I found this outI was windering why they didn't have Saavik in the first place

By Murray Leeder on Wednesday, March 10, 1999 - 08:03 pm:

There are many conflicting stories on why Saavik became Valeris. You can read that Roddenberry nixed it because he liked Saavik too much, you can also read that it was all Kim Cattrel's idea (I don't quit believe that one though). Maybe some day the truth will come out.

By mf on Monday, March 15, 1999 - 03:00 pm:

Kirstie Alley was supposed to appear as Saavik in the TNG episode that guest-starred her Cheers costar Kelsey Grammer as Captain of the Boseman. Her schedule wouldn't allow it, though. (Grammer actually reprised the role in a two word voice over in STFC.)

By Johnny Veitch on Saturday, March 20, 1999 - 06:20 am:

The beginning stardate is 9521, when we see Sulu on the Excelsior. Then at starfleet command the Excelsior incident is mentioned as taking place two months before. Then later Kirk gives the stardate as 9522. Two months and only one stardate unit?

Valeris has the insignia worn by commanders, such as Chekov and Uhura.

The graphic novel "Tests of Courage" where Sulu is given command of the Excelsior (an alternative title could be "Excelsior- The First Adventure) has Valtane being called "Mr Berger." If this is a different person that will explain two nits. First, how Valtane can be at both the science station and beside Sulu`s chair. One of them was Berger. Second, how Valtane can be seen at the end of the film after what happened in "Flashback". The one seen at the end of the film was Berger!

By dwmarch on Sunday, March 21, 1999 - 12:19 am:

Does it specifically say in "Flashback" that Valtane died? I realize that's how that memory parasite was supposed to have gotten from him to Tuvok, but maybe he was just really badly injured and the parasite left him because it thought he was going to die. After a trip to sickbay, Valtane is back on his feet and the parasite is happy in Tuvok's head. At least that's what I figured.

By SB on Monday, March 22, 1999 - 03:37 pm:

dwmarch:

I remember clearly that Valtane did in fact die in "Flashback", so I think that settles that arguement.

Second, regarding Valeris' rank insignia, it isn't actually a commander's pip. It's missing one of the bars on there, and matches Valtane's Lt. Cmdr. insignia. (I know, it's still a nit)

By Todd M. Pence on Wednesday, March 24, 1999 - 10:01 pm:

In this movie, Spock makes a reference to one of his ancestors having once said "If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, how improbable, must be the truth." This is of course a quote from the great Sherlock Holmes! Is Spock stating that Holmes is one of his ancestors? And if so, is it on Amanda's side, or was Sherlock Holmes himself a Vulcan who managed to get to Earth somehow in the late nineteenth century?

By Murray Leeder on Wednesday, March 24, 1999 - 10:11 pm:

Well, since Sherlock Holmes is a fictional character, perhaps he's saying that Arthur Conan Doyle is his ancestor?

By Hans Thielman on Friday, March 26, 1999 - 01:31 pm:

Given the animosity between the Klingons and Romulans, it probably was a diplomatic faux pas to serve Romulan ale at the dinner with the Klingon delegation. It would have been more appropriate to serve Klingon bloodwine or an Earth beverage, vodka for example.

By Charles Cabe (Ccabe) on Friday, March 26, 1999 - 03:54 pm:

Mabye the Klingons like Romulan Ale? During the Cold War, Americans still drank Vodka. Also, what about the animosity between Humans and Romulans?

By D Seven percent Solution Mann on Tuesday, March 30, 1999 - 10:51 am:

So, you're saying Spock comes from a long line of drug addicts?

By Charles Cabe (Ccabe) on Tuesday, March 30, 1999 - 04:46 pm:

All I'm saying is that may like Romulan ale. Besides, it was probably McCoy's ale they were serving.

By Jason on Wednesday, March 31, 1999 - 03:43 pm:

Where did the drug addicts come from???

By ScottN on Wednesday, March 31, 1999 - 04:16 pm:

Sherlock Holmes was a drug addict.

By D Mann on Thursday, April 01, 1999 - 06:27 pm:

Thank you, ScottN. Charles Cabe (Ccabe) and Jason, I was referring to the Holmes thread, not the Romulan Ale thread.

By BrianB on Thursday, April 08, 1999 - 06:20 am:

Re: Uhura's skirt/Valeris's pants:
I would've preferred it the other way around.
The purple blood comes to us courtesy of Barney T. Dinosaur
I don't think anyone, not even the Chief, brought up: How does Marta or Kirk know they are outside the magnetic shield? Did they pass a road sign saying, "now leaving magnetic shield zone"?
The "I'm not Kirk, he's Kirk"-scene: it's a little silly. I believe the real Kirk always wore his ankle shackles, the other didn't, at least most of the time. I may be wrong. That's why I love this guild. Someone will tell me in short order.
Does General Chang remind anyone of Mr. Magoo?

By cableface on Friday, April 09, 1999 - 05:55 pm:

no

By Phillip Culley on Sunday, April 25, 1999 - 10:32 pm:

I'm surprised no-one else has noticed this, but this film has quite a few links to DS9 in it:
1) Rene Auberjonios stars in it
2) Michael Dorn stars in it
3) Brock Peters (Sisko's dad) stars in it
4) There is a shapeshifter (read as changeling)
5) (this one can be debated) In the Rura Penthe prison camp, Kirk has to fight an alien who bears a strong resemblance to a Jem'Hadar.

By Charles Cabe (Ccabe) on Monday, April 26, 1999 - 02:00 pm:

The "Jem'Hadar" in this one is a lot diffrent. He is blue, a lot taller, and has genitals on his knee, but they do look similar.

By B.F. on Monday, April 26, 1999 - 11:18 pm:

Perhaps the "Jem'Hadar" in this movie is one of the many species of aliens the Founders took DNA from to construct a full Jem'Hadar breed. I know its a weird suggestion, but hey -- ya never know.

By B.F. on Monday, May 31, 1999 - 05:32 pm:

Okay, so the DVD vesion of this great (and best IMHO) film in the Trek series is out. I looked at the box the other day and noticed that it has a trailer at the front of it. Can anyone tell me step-by-step how the trailer goes? I vaguely remember it from when I was really little (9 I think) seeing it in the theater. I think I remember it as starting out w/something like: "For twenty-five years..." and we see Kirk looking up at the sky from "The Guardian at the Edge of Forever." I remember seeing the part where Kirk (but it was really Martia) get shot and think: They're going to kill Kirk! NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!

By Richard Davies on Monday, May 31, 1999 - 06:07 pm:

The alien Kirk fights with looks a lot like the Destroyer from the 1989 Dr Who Story "Battlefield". Jem'Hadar is also the name of the villan in the 1991 BBC Children's adventure sci-fi series "Watt on Earth". WOE rips off "Benji, Zax & the Alien Prince(Early 1980's?)" Both have an Alien prince flleing to earth & pursued by creepy agents who travel round in black vehicles, & both alien species need wrist bands to stay alive on Earth.

Another DS9 connection is the guy with weird feet & the magnetic boots in their locker called Dax.

By the way Pudding is almost always means desert in Britain, unless prefexted by Yorkshire or Black. (Pudding did originaly mean guts).

By cableface on Saturday, June 05, 1999 - 05:52 pm:

When Valeris sticks the boot on the locker, there are already scuff marks on the door, indicating it has been several times already.

By MikeC on Saturday, June 12, 1999 - 04:21 pm:

The Romulan Ambassador's involvement hints that the Romulan government is backing the disruption of the peace process (which makes sense). Why, then, do all the Romulans clap when Kirk foils West's shooting of the president?

For that matter, why are the Romulans at Khitomer? They have nothing to do.

By cableface on Saturday, June 12, 1999 - 06:48 pm:

Maybe not every Romulan was in on the plat, just like not every Klingon or Federation admiral was in on it.It was a conspiracy you know.

By TWS Garrison on Monday, June 14, 1999 - 02:02 am:

A better question might be: why is the Romulan ambassador involved at all? He doesn't seem to have had much of any role, and you don't go blabbing about conspiracies to every random alien you meet.

What I've always wondered, though, is why no one in this movie ever tries to bring up the Romulans as a possible cause of the disruptions. After all, the Romulans have the most to gain (and lose) in the process (aside from the Klingons and the Feds, that is): if there is war, the Romulans can either ally themselves with the winning side at the end and get a cut of the prize (Russia in the Pacific, anyone?) or possibly take on the weakened winnner and take it all. If there is peace, while the draw-down of Federation and Klingon military might could ultimately improve the position of the Romulan Star Empire, the short-term consequence would be for the Feds to move their ships from Klingon Neutral Zone to the Romulan Neutral Zone, and the Klingons would behave analogously.

By Meg on Thursday, June 17, 1999 - 11:12 am:

Brian, Why does General Chang remind you of Mr. Magoo? I can't even fathom a relationship between the two.