the star trek thread, the place for all trek topics Options

[maneth]

I'm on a Trek high now, watching DS9 on cable every weekday and TNG on DVD.

And I have a Riker crush at the moment...

[herbsinger42]

I'm on a Trek high now, watching DS9 on cable every weekday and TNG on DVD.

And I have a Riker crush at the moment...

Hmmm. I have been indulging in Voyager. New choices for fantasy.
Still... Johnathan is a fine looking man.
As is Avery Brooks... Brooks has the edge when one takes voice into concideration.
As does Patrick Stewart.

They can talk to me any time.

[MikeTheC]

This ST movie is the first one which I am not planning to see. Nemesis was... What it was. This, however, as has already been observed, is another prequel, this time to most of the ST series, with the exception of Enterprise. More fun with mangling the continuity, ignoring the existing canon, and *shudders to use the bad word* re-imagining the ST universe. Again.

And, for what? A chance to portray Kirk and Spock as "teen dream" cover boys? Anybody here remember Nimoy's earliest portrayal of Spock? He was VERY uncool. A younger version, to be accurate to the original, would have to be portrayed in such a way as to present him as a "space spaz." Not an attractive prospect. This never minding the fact that Rodenberry's original pilot didn't even include 1st Officer Spock, but, instead, a female character referred to simply as "#1." One supposes that Kirk might still have met Spock before the vulcan became his science officer, or, that #1's appearance, as an unused pilot, was not canon, but, it's still kinda thin, possible age differences notwithstanding.

Finally, let's say they make this film, in which Kirk and Spock "Wesley Crusher" some great crisis into submission between classes (Hmm... Harry Potter and the Great Bird of the Galaxy, anyone?), with some cameos of other youthful Trek characters for fun. Well, they can't exactly keep making these things; how much can our Starnamic Duo get away with accomplishing while in Starfleet Academy, without stressing the fabric of the believability continuum? It just doesn't make for a good, long-term prospect.

Paramount, et al, have simply gone back to the ST well too many times. They need either to:

A. Let the franchise rest fallow for ten or more years, allowing a new generation of sci-fi viewers to experience whatever they release (can we say ST:TOS remake?) with fewer pre-existing prejudices. One may hope that it would be handled better than Skiffy handled Flash Gordon, but, I digress...

B. Set a new movie/series/webcasts significantly farther in the future of even the most currently advanced ST series, and, leave behind a lot of the baggage of the previous incarnations, except as background history. Of course, handling the ghodlike technological advances might stress the writers, but then, they can always simply ignore the troublesome implications of mass-energy conversion technology (i.e., the hypothetical field of transporter medicine, suppressed by the transporter-phobic Admiral of Medicine McCoy) and other such troublesome elements by simply painting some scantily-clad females green (and, why not some green guys? Gotta keep the distaff demographic watching!), and distracting the audience that way.

or,

C. Can it, and put ST out to pasture, for good. Of course, most die-hard ST fans would not favor this, but, let's face it: If all that will be produced for ST from now until doomsday will be crap, anyway, why bother?

So, no, I don't care about this movie, didn't watch more than a couple episodes of Enterprise, and, frankly, have lost interest in this franchise. Mebbe I grew out of it. I like other sci-fi, but, Trek bores me, has for years, now. It needs freshening, but, I just don't see that coming.

Damn shame, too, considering what ST contributed to the genre.

-Raycheetah ='[.]'=

What Ray said.

[archersangel]

Library Computer: Review - Star Trek 101 September 16, 2008


by John Tenuto ,


Pocket Books has just release Star Trek 101: A Practical Guide to Who, What, Where, and Why, which is different than past ‘companion’ books and more of an ‘Idiots Guide to Star Trek.’




The 101 on Star Trek 101

It has been more than five years since the last Star Trek episode guide from Pocket Books, Paul Ruditis’ Star Trek Voyager Companion. Without a new show and the unfortunate cancellation of Enterprise, it seemed unlikely new episode guide books would be forthcoming. However, venerable behind-the-scenes authors Terry J. Erdmann and Paula M. Block have written Star Trek 101: A Practical Guide to Who, What, Where, and Why.

A big caveat for this review is that "Star Trek 101" was originally written to coincide with the release of the JJ Abrams Star Trek film. It was to take advantage of the increased interest in Trek and help new and casual fans make sense of the sometimes daunting 42 years continuity and history of Star Trek.

With the feature film’s release date moved to May 2009, the book could be labeled a text in need of an audience. That is the challenge faced by Pocket Books with this guide. It doesn’t have the kind of in-depth analysis or trivia of other guidebooks because that would confuse the new fan. Yet, because it lacks that, does it have anything to offer fans already familiar with the show? With this audience issue in mind, to write a review of Star Trek 101, it is really necessary for this reviewer (and professor of Sociology) to adopt a bit of what scientist Max Weber labeled "sociological verstehen." Verstehen means to understand, to appreciate the feelings and experiences of others (it is the real world application of IDIC). I’ll need to look at the book imagining I am from different audiences to really understand its value.

Possible Audience #1: The New Fan

If the audience here is new fans, this is an excellent book. It is amazing that Erdmann and Block could condense more than 700 episodes and movies into a text that is accessible and fun to read. Anyone unfamiliar with Star Trek would indeed get an education as the name of the book suggests. Most helpful to the new fan is the structure of the book and the way it is organized. Each of the six television versions and all ten feature films are detailed, each given its own chapter. The television show chapters include the following sections:

Series Premise: a nice summary of the main themes of the show
The Ship (or in the case of DS9, The Station): a nice look at the starships and its crew with biographical summary of the main crews
Major Aliens: a discussion of the alien governments and characters important to the specific show
The Menagerie: a discussion of the various minor alien species featured
Ten Essential Episodes: this is a helpful section for those who wish to sample various shows before deciding if they wish to watch the entirety of the many seasons
What It Is…: a dictionary of important technology or other Trek argot
Episode Synopses: each episode summarized with narrative details
These sections are very helpful to the new fan as they navigate the world of Star Trek. In this way," Star Trek 101" is reminiscent of the 1979 book "Star Trek Catalog" edited by Gerry Turnbull which was timed with the release of Star Trek The Motion Picture and was meant to help fans learn about the actors and the episodes of TOS. Practicing verstehen, and thinking back to when I was a newbie to Trek, the Catalog was a true gift because it helped me learn about this wild world I had suddenly become passionate about, and "Star Trek 101" has the same potential to help those fans who are now finally seeing the light and the greatness of Star Trek in 2008.

The book is also very helpful to those fans who wish to share their passion with their girlfriends, boyfriends, family, or friends who just don’t get their love of Trek. For example, my wife loves Star Trek and she loves gymnastics. As her husband, I would appreciate a guide to gymnastics because I could better understand the jargon and ideas she tries to communicate to me. There may be audience then for this book for those girlfriends and boyfriends who are trying to practice their own kind of verstehen, understanding their significant others’ passion for Star Trek. Again, for this audience Star Trek 101 is perfect.

For the new fan (including the loved ones of committed fans), this is a VERY recommended title.

Possible Audience #2: The Casual Fan

There is much to like here for the casual fan, too. "The Ten Essential Episodes" sections have good commentary to help fans appreciate why these episodes are important to the themes of Star Trek, and there are many, many sidebars that include factoids and humorous asides that would be appreciated by casual fans. The book is also helpful for those who are fans of one version of Star Trek thinking of starting to sample other Trek shows. Although they do decide to dive deep into a new show, it would be recommended to eventually get the full ‘companion’ book for that series (except in the case of ENT, where 101 is all there is).

Possible Audience #3: The Committed Fan

Committed fans are the one problem audience for this book, which is indeed a problem because it is the committed fan who is most likely to buy a Trek book in the first place. Is there anything here for fans who already are very familiar with Star Trek? Yes, fellow Committed Fans, there is a Santa Claus.

There are several things about Star Trek 101 that give it value for serious fans. First, thank you to Pocket Books for FINALLY giving fans of Enterprise some kind of episode guide. While I will not stop in my tireless, although probably futile, endeavor to get Pocket Books to publish a proper companion to Enterprise (um, Pocket Books, even the Dukes of Hazzard has a companion book released 20 years after the show was canceled), at least Archer’s trek gets some respect here.

The book makes for a useful and handy encyclopedia and reference text. While there are online guides, I tend to agree with Samuel T. Cogley that there is something irreplaceable about books. This text is perfect for sitting next to the DVDs, and could be useful to even the most serious fan. There is also a great deal of humor in the book that serious fans could appreciate.

Bottom Line

Star Trek 101 may have lost its intended purpose, but with verstehen, it is easy to see that the book has utility. While it is best suited for new fans, there is much to appreciate for all kinds of audiences. This isn’t to say there are not problems with the text. Except for the Enterprise photos, most of the pictures in the book for example are often seen. It would have been good to utilize this occasion to include some really unique or unusual photos from the history of Star Trek. Also, the section on the feature films could utilize some improvement with more details. However, "Star Trek 101" is a good holiday gift for a variety of Star Trek fans, or perhaps even their family and friends who wish to learn more about Star Trek.

Star Trek 101, class dismissed.

http://trekmovie.com/2008/09/16/library-co...-star-trek-101/

[archersangel]

Deal In The Works To Bring Back Star Trek The Experience October 16, 2008


by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Conventions/Events/Attractions , trackback



Just last month Star Trek The Experience closed its gate at the Las Vegas Hilton for the last time, but now there is new hope.


Back in July when CBS officially announced the closure they hinted they were working on bringing it back, and it appears that they may have succeeded in finding a new home for Trek’s premiere attraction.

The first word came this morning when Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goldman mentioned in passing at a press conference that a deal was in the works to move The Experience to the Neonopolis entertainment and shopping complex in downtown Vegas. The Las Vegas review Journal confirmed the statement with Rohit Joshi, the developer who owns Neonopolis, who stated there are "very serious negotiation" going on. Originally built in 2002, Neonopolis has struggled since its inception. Joshi purchased the development in 2006 and has since been trying to find ways of turning it around and he sees the Trek attraction as a way to do that. If the deal does go through then Cedar Fair (the current owners and operators) would not be involved, a spokesperson confirmed that their arrangement with CBS ends this year.

When contacted by TrekMovie, CBS would not comment on the deal. However sources have confirmed that the deal looks like it will go through and that material from The Experience is already being transferred from the Hilton over to Neonopolis. No confirmation yet on when The Experience would re-open but hopes are that it would be before the premiere of the new Star Trek movie in May of 2009.

Details are sketchy on what will be retained, but apparently the deal covers everything that was in the Hilton, including all the rides and Quark’s bar. In addition, the staff and likely to be given the opportunity to move to the new location. There is no word on if there will be any additions to The Experience. As noted in the TrekMovie ‘farewell review,’ Star Trek The Experience is showing its age and due for an update. This is especially true with the new movie coming out. As the new images released this week show, the new Star Trek has a new look that is not reflected in The Experience which is focused primarily TNG-era of Trek.

This is a developing story, so keep checking back with TrekMovie for updates, but for now things look good for a comeback for Star Trek The Experience.

http://trekmovie.com/2008/10/16/deal-in-th...the-experience/

This post has been edited by archersangel: Oct 17 2008, 05:42 PM

[Raycheetah]

Well, looks like the whole "academy" thing is out the window, at least from the pics I've seen.

In the crew pic, we have Chekov (WTF?), Kirk, Scotty (WTF?), McCoy, Sulu, and Uhura.

Huh. Anyway, looks like wherever they start this (all together, despite the differences in class at the academy, if that's involved at all), they end up on the Enterprise.

Bully.

Oh, and Khan's comment in The Wrath of Khan about having seen Chekov aboard, despite his not joining the /cast/ until another season, is supported by his part in this. Though from the picture, I have NO idea how Khan would've recognized him.

=^[.]^=

[RaiderDave2112]

I've just read the plot of the film, and WTF, didn't the writers or producers watch Enterprise, as they are using the temporal cold war storyline from the series as the plot of the film, as it worked so well in the series, to be honest I would rather they just did a reboot of the series.

[MikeTheC]

I do not support Paramount's -- nor anyone elses' -- desire to bring Star Trek back at this time. I feel they're just trying to milk a dry cow.

I wish Paramount would just "get it", but then again it is Paramount we're talking about here.

But why you folks are so surprised about any of this is simply beyond my comprehension.

[MikeTheC]

On a completely unrelated note...

Sometime in the recent past a video blog interview was done with William Shatner, who is promoting a book he's recently completed.

Now, normally I wouldn't give two shits vis a vis Bill Shatner, but in this interview he said something which is very, very prophetic and very true. Painfully true of and for all of us, actually. Watch the whole video, but pay particular attention to his answer to the question of what meaning he's found as a result of reconstructing his life from a series of reflections.

[MikeTheC]

Latest from ThinkGeek...



ST:TNG Wall Plates...

[herbsinger42]

Mike-- those are just too cool!!
They're a bit pricey- but then, what memorabilia isn't??
I have a friend that would adore them... ok. One. I can maybe afford one.

[MikeTheC]

I still want to get a sonic screwdriver. They were at one point selling a laser screwdriver as well, and I should have jumped on that, but I didn't. Now the only laser screwdriver they're selling is a sonic/laser screwdriver "laser tag" system for $80. And that, for me -- I dunno about any of the rest of you millionaires -- but for me, that's a bit too rich for my blood at this time.

[Raycheetah]

Star Wars Vs. Star Trek - DMP Edition HQ


Enjoy it for the cleverness of the edits. Go to YouTube to engage in the TrekWars commentary debate.

=^[.]^=

[Raycheetah]

Gene Roddenberry, wife to spend eternity in space

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The creator of "Star Trek" and his wife will spend
eternity together in space.
Celestis Inc., a company that specializes in "memorial spaceflights, "
said Monday that it will ship the remains of Gene Roddenberry and
Majel Barrett Roddenberry into space next year.
The couple's cremated remains will be sealed into specially made
capsules designed to withstand the rigors of space travel. A rocket-
launched spacecraft will carry the capsules, along with digitized
tributes from fans. The Roddenberrys' remains — and the spacecraft —
will travel ever deeper into space and will not return to earth,
company spokeswoman Susan Schonfeld said.
After Gene Roddenberry died in 1991, his wife commissioned Celestis
to launch a part of his remains into space in 1997. She died Dec. 18,
2008.
___
On the Net:
www.celestis.com
Back to top

=-[.]-=

[archersangel]

the thread is pinned now!



https://boldlygo.intel.com


barbies for the new movie

toys based on the new movie

next gen returns to syndication

[Raycheetah]

the thread is pinned now!



https://boldlygo.intel.com


barbies for the new movie

toys based on the new movie

next gen returns to syndication

Yup! Has been for a while, now!

=^[.]^=

[Raycheetah]

Star Trek Bohemian Rhapsody

Watch Star Trek Bohemian Rhapsody  |  View More Free Videos Online at Veoh.com

=^[.]^=

[buffyverseforeve...]

That was ...different.....LOL
Thanks for posting it.


Best wishes,

Scott

[Raycheetah]

What happens when Doc Brown overshoots going Back to the Future:


Betcha didn't know he was a KLINGON, didja?

=@[.]@=

[buffyverseforeve...]

Well,that was....different lol.


Best wishes,

Scott