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Hell in the Pacific + Star Trek Original Series Devil in the Dark

posted 20 years ago by successor13326
7 replies | jump to latest

"Enemy Mine" reminds me of two other shows I've seen.

One was "Hell in the Pacific" with Lee Marvin and Toshiro Mifune. It was an old movie about two pilots who are stuck on an island during World War II. One is American, the other Japanese, and neither can speak the other's language. They fight at first, but then they must learn to work together to stay alive.

The other was the Star Trek: Original Series episode, The Devil in the Dark, written by Gene L. Coon. In it the Enterprise goes to a mining planet to stop a menacing creature called the Horta from killing miners. At first they think it's a monster and try to stop it. But Spock gives it a mind meld and realizes that the Horta is a mother trying to protect her babies and that the miners were inadvertently destroying her eggs and killing her children.

Both stories involve inability to communicate with another being and the hosility that arises from it. I thought it was an interesting parallel with "Enemy Mine," which features the same problem of miscommunication between two intelligent parties.

[–] bumblers 20 years ago

To take the Star Trek reference a bit further, it also reminded me of the TNG episode (interestingly called 'The Enemy') where Geordie is stranded on an inhospitable planet with a Romulan and they have to work together to survive, and eventually form a bond.

[–] roguegenius 20 years ago

When I saw this movie in the theaters during the first run, I immediately thought of "Hell in the Pacific." The plot is essentially the same. But that's Hollywood. Sometimes you remake the movie, sometimes you just use the same plot and rework the story line a bit.

[–] moviefiend-1 19 years ago

i too thought of Hell In The Pacific when i was watching this, its just like a futuristic version of the movie...i enjoyed it (enemy mine), i dont think it's aged that well but if you appreciate a good sci-fi flick you'll like this.

Hell In The Pacific is a great movie, definatly a sunday afternoon chill out movie...awesome stuff.

[–] madrain-1 19 years ago

I wouldn't say it's impossible, but you must realize that enemies being forced to work together despite their differences was around WAY before Hell in the Pacific. It's nothing new with either film.

I don't know what Star Trek episode that was, though.

[–] contos 19 years ago

This movie reminded me also the Enterprise episode "Dawn", second season, with Charles Tucker (Trip) on an inhospitable world with a reptile-alien where, after an initial contrast, they have to work together to survive, becoming friends...

[–] douglasp 19 years ago

It reminded me of the only good episode of Galactica: 1980 where Starbuck is stranded on a desert planet where he rebuilds a Cylon and they become akin to friends.

Never saw Hell in the Pacific but I'll have to check it out. I have to figure that the original inspiration is a very old story.

[–] EnsignRedshirt 19 years ago

i can't believe that two TREK episodes have been mentioned, niether of which is the closest match.

NEXT GENERATION season#5 had an Episode named "DARMOK" in which an alien that looks unmistakeably like Gossett jr's character has to bond with Picard, as they are alone on a planet.