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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Brain and Brain! What is Brain?, September 10, 2001
Two very different episodes, which underscore the uneven quality of Star Trek's third season, are contained in Volume 31 of Paramount's complete Trek reissue.Spock's Brain is generally acknowledged as the worst episode of Classic Trek ever. Viewing it again confirms this. The concept is inane, the plot medically and scientifically ridiculous, and the dialogue laughably bad. About the only positive aspect of this episode was the installation of a rear projection screen on the bridge set, which allowed for new camera angles. Parts of this episode were brilliantly lampooned on TV's The Wonder Years. As with the episode And The Children Shall Lead, this story is best ignored or saved for gag viewing during a party. Is There in Truth No Beauty? is the antithesis of Spock's Brain. The story is intellectually engaging, and the dialogue at times borders on the poetic. The plot deals with several interesting themes: how non-corporeal and corporeal life would "relate" to each other; love and rejection; beauty/ugliness; and the role of the handicapped in 23rd Century society. The acting is some of the best ever seen on Trek. Leonard Nimoy, in particular, shines during his mind-meld scene with the Medusan Kollos. Diana Muldaur, who has a radiant yet wounded quality, is perfectly cast as Miranda Jones. Some new visuals were created for this episode, and a rarely seen shot of the Enterprise from Trek's 1964 pilot The Cage is used briefly. The sound restoration is excellent. The picture is mostly fine, except for a few instances of wear visible in Is There in Truth No Beauty. This episode also contains a "flipped" shot of William Shatner, which has never been corrected.
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7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
classic trek, November 21, 2001
Two wonderful classic episodes from the original Star Trek series. McCoy delivers the unforgettable line "he's worse than dead -- his BRAIN is missing." I can really relate to this episode as my brain has also been stolen not once but twice (neither time by aliens but by Trekkies pretending to be aliens, but that is another story). Some really marvelous acting here, especially by the ever-wooden Nimoy on remote control through much of the episode. All kidding aside, some of the best SF on American television. The second episode is wonderful as well, with many twists and originality.
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10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Yummy pipin'-hot Trek-cheese!, August 29, 2001
If ever there was a choice slice from the cheese wheel that was the third season of 'Star Trek', the episode 'Spock's Brain' is it! Along with the Space Hippie eppie 'The Way To Eden', this particular (mis)adventure to recover our beloved half-Vulcan's grey matter is proof positive that even during its worst moments, classic 'Trek could still be pretty freakin' entertaining. McCoy's exaggerated expressions of uncertainty and trepidation whilst attempting the brain-restoration surgery is worth at least a rental to see!
Then of course there's 'Is There In Truth No Beauty?', featuring Mr. Spock goin' nutso after gazing on the hideously ugly Medusan Ambassador Kollos without the proper eye protection (you should've listened to the shop teacher, Spock)! It just figures, don't it? You just get your brain re-installed, and alla sudden you do something to get it thrown out of whack. Fortunately, the green-blooded logician makes a full recovery. Another testament to Spock's reputation as the Timex of 'Star Trek': he takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'!
'... No Beauty?' also features actress Diana Muldaur's second guest appearance in Gene Roddenberry's little 23rd-century epic. She's one of only a handful of 'Trek thespian alums to play at least three different characters in this realm of cult TV sci-fi. Aside from this outing, there was her previous appearance as Dr. Ann Mulhall in 'Return to Tomorrow', and her subsequent one-year stint as Dr. Crusher's replacement aboard the NextGen Enterprise. Talk about rackin' up the frequent-flier miles!
'Late
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