Trekkie "vs" Trekker

Palomar · 2004-04-08 07:23:51

*I've brought this over from Bill's "Which Would Be Scarier" thread.

Marineris Sauce: "I'm an ole' trekker from way back..."

*Sorry, I still think of liking "Star Trek" (original series) as making one a "Trekkie." Then I have to remind myself, oh...it's Trekker (starting in the 1980s, IIRC). I'm not a *huge* Trekkie (fa! fa! Yes, I still think of it that way, political correctness be damned) anymore, although I do consider myself a solid fan of the original series (I prefer quality story lines to all the flashy razzmatazz special effects of the later spinoffs). About once a year I'll watch a few episodes on my VHS collection ("The Trouble with Tribbles" is a favorite, as is "Operation-Annihilate!").

Mad Grad Student: "Somehow they even got the music from the original Star Trek episode to play during the battle! Has anyone here seen Futurama?"

*I've never even heard of it. :-\ Sorry.

I got my start on Star Trek in the mid-1970s...before VHS and of course long after the series was cancelled. I spotted James Blish's books (mini-novelizations of the TV shows), bought one (around age 10)...wow, was I hooked. I spent many a long rainy afternoon from ages 10 to 13 reading and re-reading those stories. Occasionally I would see articles about the original series in sci-fi magazines, and a few years later a local TV station re-ran ST in afternoons, for about half a year. Trouble was, the station was over 100 miles away, we didn't have cable access, and those old TV antennae weren't all that great for reception. Those were the days!

So I read Blish's books a few years before I was able to see the first re-run on TV. Does that make me a bona fide Trekkie or what?

By the way, "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" is still, IMO, one of the best sci-fi movies ever. Very compelling storyline, etc.

--Cindy

Stu · 2004-04-08 14:09:29

Ok, hands up, I confess, I love all thinks Trek... apart from buying into the time-worn phrase about it portraying an optimistic view of the future, I go for the characterisation. No, honestly, I do. Each series had something different and appealing, and a character clash which made it compulsive viewing. The original series had Bones and Spock verbally fencing each episode... The Next Generation had Data's touching Pinoccio-esque relationship with Picard... DS9's Quark and Odo were one of the best comedy pairings since Laurel and Hardy... Voyager had the "interesting" relationship between Janeway and Seven of 9... and now on Enterprise we have -

Okay, so my theory falls down there. I don't buy the whole Tucker / T'Pol "Moonlighting" sexual tension thing, sorry.

But wonderful locations, beautiful effects (Voyager's opening titles still the best in my opinion) and some very clever and sophisticated writing. Never tire of it.

Anyone want to express an opinion on the "best" Captain? I'd go first, but I'm worried I might get laughed off the board for what I fear might be a "Controversial" choice...

clark · 2004-04-08 14:24:04

Lemme see, the original crew for Star Trek was the most capable, as a team, even though they sent home numerous body bags of 'red shirts', and the Prime Directive seemed more like the Prime Suggestion. Poor red shirts.

Star Trek the Next Generation had the worst crew, what with a useless Betazoid, "feeling anything yet?", a Klingon security officer who always failed to protect the captain or the ship (granted, you don't have many plot options if he was good), a Co-captain who always changed his mind (watch, you'll see), A doctor who just zapped you with a hypo-spray (the transporter and the hypo spray seem to be the solution to all our future maladies), and Data, who just waited around until he was told to fix the problem (or he had to fix the problem becuase he was the only one left).

Voyager? Bleh. Janway was cold and indifferent, and I never could get the tune of Gilligan's Island out of my head once I figured out that they had all become castaways, trying to get home. How is gilligan going to screw up this week? It became too smaltchy for me long before it became truly bad.

DS9? Okay, Star Trek = exploration (in my book). Space Station next to a wormhole? Let's all run around the station chasing this weeks bady, get in a shuttle, go somewhere, go back. Repeat, rinse.

I refuse to watch anymore Enterprise after the first seasons poor showing. And I for one hate the intro. Would somebody please shut that singer up.

Star Trek's The Warth of Khan is by far the best movie of Star Trek. The rest pretty much suck, and the Next Generation movies should have killed any chances of future ones. At least they've lowered the bar on how unbelievably bad the movies can be, so if there are any more made, they at least can't be any worse... I hope.

Stu · 2004-04-08 14:31:23

At least they've lowered the bar on how unbelievably bad the movies can be, so if there are any more made, they at least can't be any worse... I hope.

Unless we get "Wesley Crusher: The Academy Years"...

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!

clark · 2004-04-08 14:34:40

Or, "Wesley Crusher: The Dimensional Hopping with just my brain Super Dude Years...."

I always enjoyed Data in the Captain's chair, so he is my pick. Even if he was relegated to number three in the chain of command. Damn biological prejuidce.

Stu · 2004-04-08 14:36:42

Voyager? Bleh. Janway was cold and indifferent, and I never could get the tune of Gilligan's Island out of my head once I figured out that they had all become castaways, trying to get home. How is gilligan going to screw up this week? It became too smaltchy for me long before it became truly bad.

Ooh, that's a bit unfair. I think Janeway (ok, my favourite Captain... waits for cries of "What?!?!?!?!?" before moving on...) was the most human of all the Captains, the one who worried most about her crew and agonised over the Big decisions. Okay, so she took the exploration thing a bit too far sometimes and was obsessed about poking her nose into things instead of just pointing Voyager's nose towards Earth and keeping going ("Can't wait to get home... have to get home - Ooh, look, aNOTHER lethal-looking spatial anomaly, let's go take a look!") but she was the most believable I think.

Ah. Just me then.

Ok.

clark · 2004-04-08 14:39:50

What?!?!?!?!?

Sorry, didn't want to leave you hanging.

A three hour tour....

Cobra Commander · 2004-04-08 14:41:39

Anyone want to express an opinion on the "best" Captain? I'd go first, but I'm worried I might get laughed off the board for what I fear might be a "Controversial" choice...

Hmm, It's a toss-up between Picard and young Kirk. Old Kirk just couldn't move on, you know. Take the Admiral's bars and work a desk, it's time.

I'm still not sure about Archer, he started out a bit wishy-washy, but his "George W. Archer" mode has potential. ...new life and new civilizations. And kill them before they kill us. ???

Cisco was alright, but not terribly impressive. Janeway struck me as being more like a Democrat Senator than a commanding officer in a quasi-military organization. Except that she wasn't always wrong.

I see now that I've spent far too much time watching Star Trek. But to address Cindy's initial question, I'm not bothered by the term "Trekkie" in the least. But I never went to a Star Trek convention dressed as a Klingon either.

By the way, "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" is still, IMO, one of the best sci-fi movies ever. Very compelling storyline, etc.

I always thought it could have been done alot better than it was. It had some interesting ideas, but the Trek films didn't really do much for me until Khan.

Besides, that whole Voyager probe thing doesn't work for me. The kind of timescale it takes to get these things far enough away for anything really interesting (dramatically speaking) to happen is staggering.

clark · 2004-04-08 14:45:48

Of all the people here, I would have thought Cobra the most likey to wear a Klingon outfit. I just don't know why...

Palomar · 2004-04-08 14:48:55

*Captain Kirk was the best, of course. [No, I won't go into Shatner worship or post any pics of him, don't worry].

I became acquainted with the good Captain before seeing Shatner portraying him. Decisive but flexible, charming, sensual, usually pretty darned fair-minded, just intrepid enough (but no "Rambo").

And best of all: He'll be born in Iowa.

--Cindy [I want to be Yeoman Rand!]

~Eternal~ · 2004-04-08 15:10:22

We are the Trekkies :rant:

bolbuyk · 2004-04-08 15:20:44

Yes, Kirk is my man. Also the original crew I like the most, because it has something predicible. All that nasty space-women, trying to seduce Kirk, while Spock lifts up his eyebrow and McCoy looks like :angry:

The films, I like First Contact (the Borg fascinates me) and also the Nexus (or is this not the right title?).

Palomar · 2004-04-08 15:35:50

But I never went to a Star Trek convention dressed as a Klingon either.

*So, if you -were- to ever go to a Star Trek convention dressed as a Klingon, would you go ala Klingons in the original series (swarthy, smirking and very human looking) or ala later Klingons (rippling with muscles and ridges on the head)?

Just curious.

I prefer the original Klingons.

Although the Romulans get my "most appealing alien" vote.

--Cindy

Cobra Commander · 2004-04-08 15:39:20

The films, I like First Contact (the Borg fascinates me) and also the Nexus (or is this not the right title?).

I think you're refering to "Generations," the transition film.

Odd aside: I went with a friend to see that in the theater on Thanksgiving (so sad ) and about halfway through the movie I start smelling this burning tar stench. After about 15 minutes the movie stops and an usher comes in to tell us they're checking to see what's burning.

Finally we go back in, they start the movie up, and the first thing that comes on screen is Kirk holding a pan of eggs, asking Picard "Do you smell something burning?" :laugh:

Cobra Commander · 2004-04-08 15:49:33

Quote (Cobra Commander @ April 08 2004, 16:41)
But I never went to a Star Trek convention dressed as a Klingon either.
*So, if you -were- to ever go to a Star Trek convention dressed as a Klingon, would you go ala Klingons in the original series (swarthy, smirking and very human looking) or ala later Klingons (rippling with muscles and ridges on the head)?
Just curious.

I'd be like that Klingon spy in "the Trouble with Tribbles," just looking like a stiff in a suit. No one would ever know until the tribbles starting... tribbling.

Although the Romulans get my "most appealing alien" vote.

Except for the impractical uniforms, I agree. All those classical pretensions coupled with the behavior of building enormous, conspicous starships on the one hand and being incredibly reclusive on the other has a certain appeal.

We'll make our ships look cool, but we'll never let you see 'em.

Oh, except the interiors. Hideous.

My wife suggests "Queer Eye for the Romulan Guys" might be in order. I don't think it'll help. ???

Bill White · 2004-04-08 17:48:02

Star Trek's The Warth of Khan is by far the best movie of Star Trek. The rest pretty much suck, and the Next Generation movies should have killed any chances of future ones. At least they've lowered the bar on how unbelievably bad the movies can be, so if there are any more made, they at least can't be any worse... I hope.

The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one. . .

That goofy one about the whales was kinda fun, in a stupid sort of way and I almost find myself thinking GalaxyQuest trumps them all. . .

Palomar · 2004-04-08 19:18:33

[http://www.littlereview.com/getcritical/taslist.htm]Animated Star Trek

*These are good, too. I watched them on Saturday a.m. TV as a kid (to hell with piano lessons!). Actually, I have a few in my VHS collection as well.

-Urban Myth-:

By the way, I was just checking Google for an urban myth I once read years ago, wherein supposedly one of the Apollo (13, I suppose) astronauts, during a crisis, later reported in "closed, classified sessions" that he saw Mr. Spock briefly in the CM, working to restore/repair computer function. Spock then vanished. :laugh:

Has anyone else read about/heard this urban myth?

--Cindy

P.S.: Bolbuyk: All the girls -loved- Jamie. (And Jamie loved all the girls...)

clark · 2004-04-09 09:48:37

That goofy one about the whales was kinda fun, in a stupid sort of way and I almost find myself thinking GalaxyQuest trumps them all. . .

Galaxy Quest was hilarious. I ended up with a copy of the movie, and I inadvertently noticed something about a particular scene involving the tool man. Apparently, there is a particular frame that gives you a rather indecent view of the "Tool Man's" tool... I haven't been able to watch him in anything since.

Chalk it up to another wardrobe malfunction, stinking boxers.

Bill White · 2004-04-09 10:24:10

My favorite GalaxyQuest bit (paraphrased):

"What's that beeping?"

"I dunno"

"Over here, I think its over here."

"Oh uh, I see a red thingee and its moving towards a green thingee and I think we are the green thingee!"

= = =

Or this:

"Yeaww! Now that's just not right. . ."

clark · 2004-04-09 10:30:55

How about Guy (the extra).

"What's my last name?!"

Poor red shirts.

Bill White · 2004-04-09 10:35:09

How about Guy (the extra).
"What's my last name?!"
Poor red shirts.

There are just too many good ones. . .

Right now I am thinking about those con-fans shooting foam darts at the real villian. . .

clark · 2004-04-09 10:44:38

"By <somebody's> hammer, I shall avenge you!"

Haven't seen it in a while, need to revisit it.

If I recall, one of the best parts was when they were running through the ship, and then have to make their way through the fire and mashing devices that exsisted for some reason in the ship. Then, having to rely on the galaxyquest fans to get the proper timing, because they know it, of course.

Too many good ones.

Mars_B4_Moon · 2022-07-26 03:10:50

How not to interfere with an organic animal kingdom
in Japan the people who chase down Whales those fully aquatic, open-ocean creatures, chase some near extinct species into Aussie waters and chase them as far as the South Pole and to the otehr ends of the Earth might strangely enough show Hollywood the way how not to hunt itself into extinction?
Post Covid a lot of movies seem to continue to make flops, or should Holly-weird stop interference on itself?

There goes the 'Prime Directive'

WATCH: New video shows massive whale breaching on boat in Plymouth
https://whdh.com/news/watch-new-video-s … -plymouth/

I feel overall Trek has lost cultural influence
replaced by the latest Bond, or Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman or Top Gun remake or replaced by a Facebook Tik tok meme or video game or the latest Marvel Disney Avengers thing

In real Hollywood universe of fiction and entertainment, will the Trek culture still be relevant in tv show movie Trek culture that spreads into the mainstream?
https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/sci-fi/st … ewsupdate/
‘Star Trek: Strange New Worlds’ plus ‘Lower Decks’ Set Crossover Episode

Star Trek's Robert Beltran: The Prime Directive is 'fascist crap'
https://www.cnet.com/culture/star-trek- … cist-crap/

The "Star Trek: Voyager" star had plenty of misgivings about the futuristic ideals his show portrayed. Still, he had a great time playing Chakotay.

Why Joe Biden is like Captain Kirk’s friend gone bad
https://presscalifornia.com/2020/09/16/star-trek-biden/
Classics historian and political commentator Victor Hanson, a Stanford University professor with the Hoover Institute, has stacks of advanced degrees, ancient language manuscripts and best-selling books in his Palo Alto office.
But the man shows true brilliance ... when drawing from 1960s pop culture to find the perfect parallel for telepromptin’ Joe — an old friend of Captain Kirk gone rogue.

Let's not castigate Biden when the original sin to invade Afghanistan was made by W. Bush. Maybe the US should adopt Star Trek's Prime Directive: Non-interference.
https://bartlbrody.medium.com/lets-not- … 6ba1846b96
And definitely no nation building.

Star Trek Versus Imperialist Doctrine
https://www1.project-syndicate.org/comm … is-2021-08

America’s liberal imperialist doctrine has been responsible for appalling carnage in places like Vietnam, Iraq, and Central America. But America has also produced a liberal anti-imperialist doctrine that remains ensconced in a TV series that has been captivating US audiences since 1966.
ATHENS – On February 9, 1967, hours after the US Air Force pounded Haiphong Harbor and several Vietnamese airfields, NBC television screened a politically momentous episode of Star Trek. Entitled “The Return of the Archons,” the episode marks the debut of the Prime Directive – the supreme law of the fictional United Federation of Planets, and its Starfleet, banning any and all purposeful interference with alien people, civilizations, and cultures. Devised in 1966, as President Lyndon B. Johnson was sending another 100,000 troops into Vietnam, the Prime Directive constituted a direct, though well-camouflaged, ideological challenge to what the US government was up to.

'Star Trek: Prodigy' Creators Tease Admiral Janeway as a "Formidable Foe" for the Crew
https://collider.com/star-trek-prodigy- … -comments/

Why is Trek less relevant because maybe it is less ground breaking
back in the 1960s there was little else

Now you have universes of StarWars, Farscape, BladeRunner, Firefly, dystopia technocracy horror worlds like the illusion of 'The Matrix', a new 12 Monkeys or BattleStar ready to be revamped and relaunched and re-imagined as a franchise.

Also something new has happened with Tv and Movies these past years, the online Streamer platforms allow people to get digital tv beyond the normal route of Cable and DVDs or old VHS, some guy can come with an idea like 'Orville' and sell it to Hulu or Netflix or HBO Max or Apple+ or Pluto Tv Disney Plus or one of those online channels.
Another issue the Hollywood Woke SJW Antifa culture smashing its own creativity while Japanese and South Koreans aren't interested in Woke Cultural Marxism, Japanese and South Koreans seem to connect better to the younger audience and now sell animation, game and movie tv products, sometimes they outsell Western made entertainment in America.

Last edited by Mars_B4_Moon (2022-07-26 03:11:18)

Mars_B4_Moon · 2022-07-31 14:34:18

Nichelle Nichols, Uhura in 'Star Trek,' Dies at 89

https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/nichel … 235330159/

Mars_B4_Moon · 2022-08-06 12:47:05

Why 'The Orville: New Horizons' Deserves More Attention

https://www.cnet.com/culture/entertainm … attention/

they say it has some of that humor and charm which Star Trek seems to have lost over time

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