September 8th, 1966. A day that is revered by Sci-Fi fans the world over. It was the first episode of season one of "Star Trek" (that episode being "The Man Trap"). It also just happens to be my birthday, so "Star Trek" and I are both 42 today. "Trek" lasted only three seasons on TV, but has remained a significant science fiction entity to this very day. Its popularity may have waned over the past several years, but its impact upon society is undeniable. "Beam me up Scotty" is a phrase used by Trekkies (I despise being called a "Trekker") and non Trek fans alike. It brought mainstream social issues into a science fiction setting, allowing its creators to say what they wanted without actually offending anyone. It tackled the issues of war, racism, economics, sexism, the role technology plays in our lives and our dependence on it. One other thing it gave us, is a vision of the future in which mankind is united, something you don't see that much in science fiction anymore. Yes, there were still problems for mankind to face, but they were faced together, as one planet, one race, the human race. The thing that made Trek great, aside from the stories (which were mostly good but had some real clunkers in the mix), was the characters. They were all people we could identify with, even Spock. The relationships they shared with each other, their humor, and their enduring support of one another. I first discovered Trek at the age of 10, watching it occasionally, but found myself not exactly getting some of the episodes, I seemed more drawn to the action oriented episodes. But as I grew up, I began to really appreciate the series for what it was, and by the time "Star Trek:The Motion Picture" came out in 1979, I was excited about it. Sadly, I was greatly disappointed to see that it was a big budget rehash of the episode "The Changeling" from the series. It was great to see Trek finally make it to the big screen, but I wanted something better, and in 1982, I got it with "Star Trek II:The Wrath Of Khan". That movie was not a rehash of an old episode, but an incredible sequel to one ("Space Seed " was the original episode), and it remains the best Trek movie to date. The movies that followed were good, with "Star Trek V:The Final Frontier" being the lone exception, and as bad as that was, it still had some good moments. The torch was handed off with "Star Trek VI:The Undiscovered Country", as it was the last Trek film to feature the entire original cast. The movies that followed were focused on the cast of "Star Trek:The Next Generation" That show may have lasted longer than the original series, but in my opinion, it was never nearly as good as the original. In 2009, Paramount will release the 11th Star Trek feature film, simply titled "Star Trek". This is a big gamble for director JJ Abrams because he is re-casting the roles of the original characters, in their younger versions. Great care needs to be taken in making this movie, because when you re-cast iconic characters, the audience needs to believe that these people are those characters. One misstep, and the movie will sink. The story, the acting, everything needs to be spot on if the movie is to be a success. I know I will be seeing it, as well as my fellow Trekkies who want Trek to return to greatness. So here's to you Trek, Happy Birthday, and in the words of the Vulcans, may you live long and prosper.
If you love movies like I do, this is the place to discuss them.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Happy Birthday Star Trek!!
September 8th, 1966. A day that is revered by Sci-Fi fans the world over. It was the first episode of season one of "Star Trek" (that episode being "The Man Trap"). It also just happens to be my birthday, so "Star Trek" and I are both 42 today. "Trek" lasted only three seasons on TV, but has remained a significant science fiction entity to this very day. Its popularity may have waned over the past several years, but its impact upon society is undeniable. "Beam me up Scotty" is a phrase used by Trekkies (I despise being called a "Trekker") and non Trek fans alike. It brought mainstream social issues into a science fiction setting, allowing its creators to say what they wanted without actually offending anyone. It tackled the issues of war, racism, economics, sexism, the role technology plays in our lives and our dependence on it. One other thing it gave us, is a vision of the future in which mankind is united, something you don't see that much in science fiction anymore. Yes, there were still problems for mankind to face, but they were faced together, as one planet, one race, the human race. The thing that made Trek great, aside from the stories (which were mostly good but had some real clunkers in the mix), was the characters. They were all people we could identify with, even Spock. The relationships they shared with each other, their humor, and their enduring support of one another. I first discovered Trek at the age of 10, watching it occasionally, but found myself not exactly getting some of the episodes, I seemed more drawn to the action oriented episodes. But as I grew up, I began to really appreciate the series for what it was, and by the time "Star Trek:The Motion Picture" came out in 1979, I was excited about it. Sadly, I was greatly disappointed to see that it was a big budget rehash of the episode "The Changeling" from the series. It was great to see Trek finally make it to the big screen, but I wanted something better, and in 1982, I got it with "Star Trek II:The Wrath Of Khan". That movie was not a rehash of an old episode, but an incredible sequel to one ("Space Seed " was the original episode), and it remains the best Trek movie to date. The movies that followed were good, with "Star Trek V:The Final Frontier" being the lone exception, and as bad as that was, it still had some good moments. The torch was handed off with "Star Trek VI:The Undiscovered Country", as it was the last Trek film to feature the entire original cast. The movies that followed were focused on the cast of "Star Trek:The Next Generation" That show may have lasted longer than the original series, but in my opinion, it was never nearly as good as the original. In 2009, Paramount will release the 11th Star Trek feature film, simply titled "Star Trek". This is a big gamble for director JJ Abrams because he is re-casting the roles of the original characters, in their younger versions. Great care needs to be taken in making this movie, because when you re-cast iconic characters, the audience needs to believe that these people are those characters. One misstep, and the movie will sink. The story, the acting, everything needs to be spot on if the movie is to be a success. I know I will be seeing it, as well as my fellow Trekkies who want Trek to return to greatness. So here's to you Trek, Happy Birthday, and in the words of the Vulcans, may you live long and prosper.
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