Your opinions ... Classic Sci Fi that isn't dated and dated

[jwyblejr]

I don't see TNG as that dated when the series got out of the 80s.

[Mikey]

On First Contact when Cochran said "don't you people in the 24th century pee?"

Even Cochran made fun of Next Gen

[UnderdogDJLSW]

What then is the definition of dated? I personally can watch nothing but TOS, original Galactica, and Buck Rogers all day long. I think those shows are great and have stood the test of time in keeping to be strong entertainment, but those three shows are definitely a product of their time. I think a show that could do both would be Firefly (although ironically, I'm not a big fan of it).

[thunderbolt]

Buck Rogers had a lot of disco type scenes, Galactica just still feels like 70's tv in space. That makes it feel dated to me. Old Trek does hold up well except maybe the space hippies episode.

[Werewolf]

The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad and Jason and Argonauts have aged well. Ray Harryhausen's movies have all aged pretty well.

[kennermike]

The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad and Jason and Argonauts have aged well. Ray Harryhausen's movies have all aged pretty well.

Amen! all Masterpieces!

[johnmiic]

I actually agree with mike on this. yes, the technology aspects of it and some of the clothing is definately a product of the 60's, but to actually sit and watch TNG, the effects look cheesier than what they did on TOS. the blue screen stuff just has not held up well. I can sti and watch TOS and not feel like I am in a time warp. if I watch TNG i feel like it is 1987 again. just can't sit through this stuff anymore

For the first 4 seasons TNG used blue-screen that was as cheap as what you see in a nightly newscast/weather report. The reason was in the original show it took forever to combine elements in the SPFX. Using cheap-o blue screen saved time and money-but looked crappy. This prevented them from marketing TNG premiere as a feature film in Europe. Around season 4, circa 1990, they started to use digital but it still had that cheapness to it. Took a while to get it right.

[starsky]

buck rogers and galactica practically used the same sets and props.

[HardyGirl]

buck rogers and galactica practically used the same sets and props.

They were both Glen Larsen productions.

[mego73]

I'm kind of looking at it this way .........

If you pulled all the characters off of Next Gen and put them nude in an empty room they still scream 80's (their personalities)

If you did the same with Classic Characters, they seem like they could have came from today.

On a purely technical basis, the shot on film/post produced on broadcast video period that I believe ST:TNG actually pioneered (it was cheaper to composite effects in the video realm instead of on film) is what really dates the show for me. Everytime I see the scene go from film to a video composite of a space scene it just looks so disjointed now. I still love TNG and the other Treks but TOS and TAS being on film and being able to have higher quality transfers makes them much more dynamic (even with the 60's styles, creaky effects
shots and plywood sets) while TNG on are locked into the 80's/90's broadcast resolution for both the filmed sequences and the effects seem so anemic and outmoded on today's HDTV's.

And it's not only TNG, but most TV shows of the 80's on until they started to do them in HD.

[Joe90]

Interesting thread.

I think a lot of the shows mentioned are dated but hold up because the sensibilities of the show are timeless and they come across as well done period pieces. Sometimes shows jump the shark because the players and writers get complacent. TNG is like that. To me a lot of the episodes of TNG were blandly PC, or outright inane. Like how many episodes centered around the holo-deck going awry?

And I badly wanted Roddenberry to slap a red shirt on Wesley...

Personally, I find Lost in Space has held up because it captures the old matinee serial format so well.

One show that really is dated because of its outmoded sensibilities is UFO. I'm a huge Gerry Anderson fan, but the constant drinking and smoking, the Moonbase Camel Toes, fishnet submarine tops, the lingering butt shots and the whole groovy 1970's sexuality thing really get tedious.

[Mikey]

One thing I always hated about Next Gen from day one was the special effects shot of the Enterprise going into warp.

I always thought the classic movie style going into warp (see TMP) was far superior and just plain cooler.

To elaborate, in the movies your point of view traveled along with the Enterprise as it speeds up --- then you just can't keep up anymore and bammmm --- you're left behind and they've gone to plaid

The Next Gen shot is just a warped elongated Enterprise with a little flash boom at the end.
Not very impressive --- especially comparing it classic movie warp outs.

[Hector]

The original Star Wars trilogy, ALIEN, and Blade Runner still look as fresh as ever.

2001: A Space Odyssey still looks pretty good too....albeit a bit boring to many of you...lol.

[jds1911a1]

Timeless - but with the suspension of disbelief on effects and costming that will reflect when it was shot
Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back.
Star trek
Alien
2001
Battlestar Galactica (original series)
Stargate (film)
Highlander (original film)
Buck Rogers 1st season - once you get past the disco scenes the basic stories and chacters stand up
Doctor Who up to about 1983

Dated
Star wars The Phantom Menace
Babylon 5
Star trek TNG - and most of it's spinoffs -
V - plot is timeless but the characterizations are SO 1984
Independance Day
2010
Galactica 1980
BSG
Stargate SG1 & it's spinoffs
Highlander sequels and series
Buck Rogers 2nd season
6 million dollar man
Dr Who 1983 on VERY dated and of it's time plots
War of the Worlds TV series

[Mikey]

I always thought Alien Nation (both series and movie) was very dated today too.

Take away the futuristic and alien stuff and the show resembles a 70's cop TV show.

For Six Million Dollar Man, I think it's dated only because it has likable characters.

Today a show like that would have no likable characters and would be only made to feature CGI effects --- which people would get board with quickly - (see the new Bionic Woman)