Too much of everything

This movie is the proof that the world is becoming a sick and dumb place

Your blood may run cold, but you now find yourself pinioned to the story.

The movie is wonderful and true, an act of love in all its contradictions and complexity

The other reviews need to keep in mind that this was pilot. It is a far different premise from Star Trek. It was the first shot at a new show for Roddenberry after Star Trek. This does not include pilot that was also a Star Trek episode, Assignment Earth. Genesis II is told from the point of view a 20th century scientist living in post apocalyptic world. The show had potential for many themes that also ran through Star Trek that Roddenberry was interested in.The networks liked it enough to make a second version called Planet Earth with John Saxon taking the lead roll from Alex Cord. It is too bad that neither show got picked up.

Call me a geek, but I was 13 years old when I first saw this pilot, at a pre-release screening at a Star Trek convention.It exhibits numerous elements characteristic of Roddenberry's finest, including a compelling premise, focus on recognizable human interactions, and some light, thoughtful humor: e.g. a reference to the teachings of "Saint Freud".Sadly, it didn't have quite the kick of some of his better work, but rather plays like one of the weaker episodes of one of them. That is to say the story is pretty good, some of the characters display a potential for significant depth, but it drags a bit. I see it as kind of a "Star Trek - The Motion Picture", without the million dollar light show, or the established relationship with the characters that would have brought us back for Star Trek II no matter how excruciating it was.It ain't easy maintaining the emotional pacing necessary for a "human adventure" while interspersing enough action (and scifi eye candy/gadgetry) to keep the plot moving. I thought it was not just watchable, but endearing in it's way... which is more than I could say for "Planet Earth"; which I thought came across as a rather superficial remake, dumbed down a bit for the masses.

The architecture referred to by another reviewer is actually the campus of the University of California at Riverside. It was filmed while I was a student there, during spring break so no students were around. While I loved the film, it was hard to suspend my disbelief looking at buildings I saw every day. We hoped it would take off as a series, since the campus got a paint job, some landscaping, and a few thousand dollars for our scholarship funds in exchange for letting them film. That "futuristic" architecture was mostly built in the early to mid 1960's. But it still has that "future" look. One of my fond memories of my undergraduate alma mater.

Originally filmed as the pilot for an aborted television series, this television movie from the creator of Star Trek stands as a strong piece of entertainment on its own. It's rarely seen today; there has never been official VHS or DVD release in America, in fact.The movie demonstrates a lot of ingenuity (the sub-shuttle and the idea of Freud as a saint come to mind). It also captures some of the magic of the original series in its themes, but presents them with a 1970s mentality. It also has some of the camp charm of the original Trek (especially in regards to the underground cave set); the futuristic city's architectural style reminds me of a better realization of the planet Deneva from the original series episode "Operation--Annihilate!" The parade of former Trek actors -- Majel Barrett (Christine Chapel), Percy Rodgriguez (Commodore Stone), Ted Cassidy (Ruk), and of course, Mariette Hartley (whose two belly buttons here is a "gotcha" to the censors, who wouldn't permit her belly button to be shown on the original Trek) is also sure to please any original series fan.While the film occasionally lapses into weak moments (the reactions to the nuclear shockwave at the end are among the laughable moments), it is nonetheless indicative of a series with great potential. A rare find, and well worth the watch to catch a glimpse of one of a Roddenberry series that never was. (This film was remade as Planet Earth, another failed pilot, a year later.)