I've been looking back at some of the other 'Scene Description Spotlights' and have noticed that some have Character and Dialogue justified left. Is this just a function of how they translate to the page, or do people actually do that? I now a lot of TV formats run that way - but film?

Don't get me wrong, I like this movie (and the script is great) and if you're gonna write a scene like this, this is the way to do it. A technically fantastic piece of writing. *But*, if you ever wanted a scene that exemplified the decline of modern cinema into tentpole, this is it (actually, there are 3 such action scenes in this movie: this one, the big-ass monster chase on the ice planet and Scotty materializing in the water tube). Totally contrived (I mean they don't have a reserve chute??), it serves no purpose other than to provide a cheap visual thrill and maybe a little comic relief. Does nothing to advance the story and to me feels like it's here to add to the set-piece quota for this film. Contrast it with this movie's opening scene, which is full of true drama, high stakes and consequences. That scene was masterful.