MickyG333

8.3 stars.

This is the first episode I've decided to comment upon. I love this series, however this episode is peculiar. It's pretty simple: if you enjoy musicals, you will love this episode. If you do not, you will hate this episode. The producers and the Director were able to seamlessly add music based on a cosmic phenomenon and it functions nicely as a believable story.

Don't get me wrong there are some musicals I cannot stand, however this one was done so well and it's so emotionally impactful that I have to admit I thoroughly enjoyed it. There is just enough dialogue outside of the music, so we can get our bearings and not feel like it was overwhelmingly song driven.

It's basically about the romances sparking between multiple crewmembers, James T Kirk (as a visitor) included, and it was fun. This is a romance episode, like I said, you must distance yourself from the usual Star Trek science mentality and allow your senses to be stroked by a very entertaining musical. Believe me, I've been a Star Trek fan since the 70s. I've seen it all multiple times and this episode is able to fit into the universe just fine.

7.6 stars.

The writer captures the philosophical and existential concerns that should be addressed. Tom Cruise' character asks several esoteric questions as he is fighting to maintain his sanity. He experiences the surrealism of full disability and coming to terms with it. He asks questions like: why are we here, where is God, why can't I be who I was, where did my normal self go? These are the types of concerns that war veterans experience on a daily basis. They can view their true self, but they don't feel the same, as if looking at yourself from a distance, wanting to be whole, but accepting you never will. The way he is treated by his family and friends is so real. The film definitely reveals these aspects of shell shock (PTSD).

Look at the star studded cast in this movie. They were all so young and pretty and so amazing!

One thing that jumps out at me is when he says the military is paying him $1,700 a month for disability. I know this cannot be true, because the equivalence now based on the cost of living increases would be almost $14,000. I don't think so...no veteran had a disability income that exorbitant unless they were perhaps a colonel or higher. I remember high level engineers in the early 70s (my dad) earning about $800 per month. Major errors like this are a spoiler for me, but the film is still amazing otherwise.

7.2 stars.

This film is intriguing because it has sci-fi aspects mingled with mental health and relationships. The theme seems to be about cherishing those whom we love and not wasting any time doing otherwise and spending as much energy as we can on our friends and family. Time is precious, people are a treasure.

I hoped it would be a bit more fantasy and otherworldly, but it's mainly just about an alien who helps people come to terms with pain and sadness. The story implies that aliens from K-PAX share a common agenda to become more emotional and to experience feelings. It seems their species lacks emotion and attachment. That's what I gleaned from it.

A good once over, nothing more, although I saw it 20 years ago and I forgot most of it.