Let Your Geek Flag Fly!

[Dracoa]

Nothing is so cruel as a computer geeks being forced form cable to dial up. I feel violated.

Ugh.

At any rate stopping by now that I ave connection again, glad to see the posting of such wonderfully geeked out material!

Sure there's something as cruel as that, going from dial up to no internet.

 

[Darkknight2010]

Taking a peek... helloooooooooooooooooooooooooo. Hope everyone is well. Hey, just a few days to the beginning of a geek-movie-month from hell!

 

[Darkknight2010]

Nothing is so cruel as a computer geeks being forced form cable to dial up. I feel violated.

Ugh.

At any rate stopping by now that I ave connection again, glad to see the posting of such wonderfully geeked out material!

Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek! That is a nightmare!!!!

 

[orgamimime]

What's up DK? Ready for Wolverine next week? Or even better, Terminator Salvation???

 

[Darkknight2010]

What's up DK? Ready for Wolverine next week? Or even better, Terminator Salvation???

Whassup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh hell yeah! LOL! Although I"m REALLY waiting for 'Trek'!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[orgamimime]

Whassup!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh hell yeah! LOL! Although I"m REALLY waiting for 'Trek'!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yet ANOTHER great summer flick!

 

[Darkknight2010]

Yet ANOTHER great summer flick!

Duuuuuuuuuuuuude! OMG yes! It looks really, really good! And I'm actually looking forward to 'Salvation'. That looks very promising.

 

[Wings27]

It's pure geek heaven lately, isn't it?

to all.

 

[Darkknight2010]

It's pure geek heaven lately, isn't it?

to all.

Hell yeah. Summer movie season does it.

 

[Darkknight2010]

Just three days to catching 'Trek' with my buddies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[orgamimime]

Just three days to catching 'Trek' with my buddies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That's awesome DK. I finally got to see Wolverine last night and I was surprised that it was pretty good! Not that I thought it would be bad... just didn't know what to expect, really.

 

[Darkknight2010]

That's awesome DK. I finally got to see Wolverine last night and I was surprised that it was pretty good! Not that I thought it would be bad... just didn't know what to expect, really.

Whassup dude.

Did you catch the 'easter egg' past the credits?

 

[Dracoa]

Wolverine was pretty good, I only had a couple of problems with it, one minor and one major. The minor one was that Remy is Cajun, and in the movie he had no accent at all. The big one was Weapon XI, AKA: Wade Wilson, Deadpool. In the beginning of the movie he was quite accurate to the comics, personality-wise anyways. And yeah, his power from the comics (regneration) would be difficult to show in a movie, but to do what they did was just completely screwed up.

On the other hand I am looking forward to Salvation and Rise of the Fallen.

Though I'd love to see a live action version of the first Transformers movie, now that would be mind blowing.

 

[Darkknight2010]

The big one was Weapon XI, AKA: Wade Wilson, Deadpool. In the beginning of the movie he was quite accurate to the comics, personality-wise anyways. And yeah, his power from the comics (regneration) would be difficult to show in a movie, but to do what they did was just completely screwed up.

Yes! He went from being this smarmy, funny guy to... well, Jason Voorhees with two giant swords sprouting from his hands.

 

[orgamimime]

Yes! He went from being this smarmy, funny guy to... well, Jason Voorhees with two giant swords sprouting from his hands.

Yeah, a little too contrived and a bit WAY out there! I did stay after the credits, but was only the drinking to remember line?

 

[Dracoa]

See, I got the Weapon XI post-credits scene, which I guess kinda fits with Deadpools power, but still.

And maybe it's just me, but I didn't see Stan "The Man" Lee in this one. Did anyone else see him in there and I'm just losing it? If that's the case then I blame a wizard. When in doubt, a wizard did it.

 

[Darkknight2010]

See, I got the Weapon XI post-credits scene, which I guess kinda fits with Deadpools power, but still.

And maybe it's just me, but I didn't see Stan "The Man" Lee in this one. Did anyone else see him in there and I'm just losing it? If that's the case then I blame a wizard. When in doubt, a wizard did it.

OMG that's right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Although... ya know, I don't think he was in the 'X-Men' films either... which would SUCK because he should have a cameo in all of them.

 

[Darkknight2010]

Yeah, a little too contrived and a bit WAY out there! I did stay after the credits, but was only the drinking to remember line?

That and the X-11 scene Dracoa are the only two I"ve heard of so far.

And what's got me wondering is WTF is going to happen with 'X-Men'? They left off a LOT of dangling threads at the end of 'Last Stand'.

 

[Darkknight2010]

AND JUST HOURS AWAY FROM SEEING TREK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

... yes, I waited until today. My budds couldn't catch it till today so I waited. Hey, it's more fun with a group of fellow geeks.

 

[Dracoa]

OMG that's right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Although... ya know, I don't think he was in the 'X-Men' films either... which would SUCK because he should have a cameo in all of them.

After some research, he also wasn't in X2, first one he was a hotdog vendor, second one he was a resident in the neighborhood Jean grew up in, he was outside watering something with the hose. I guess I can kinda understand him not being in Wolverine, it... has darker overtones than the previous movies.

 

[Dracoa]

That and the X-11 scene Dracoa are the only two I"ve heard of so far.

And what's got me wondering is WTF is going to happen with 'X-Men'? They left off a LOT of dangling threads at the end of 'Last Stand'.

I think they could do an X4 where you find out what really happened to Scott and Jean (I still maintain that the "Jean" in X3 was really a clone) and we get to see a Marvel Future Earth, that'd be a good way to introduce another X-Men villian, Mr. Sinister. And a movie focused on Angel would be a good way to introduce Apocalypse, turning Angel into Arch-Angel.

 

[orgamimime]

AND JUST HOURS AWAY FROM SEEING TREK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

... yes, I waited until today. My budds couldn't catch it till today so I waited. Hey, it's more fun with a group of fellow geeks.

I expect a full review young man.... without spoilers of course!

 

[Darkknight2010]

I expect a full review young man.... without spoilers of course!

As requested.

A caveat right now. As I edit this I don't think I've thrown any mind-blowing spoilers (OMG Spock is a Romulan spy sent from the future to mess with STarfleet by seducing Kirk!!!!!!!!!!!!) but just the same, if you wanna see this film knowing NOTHING you may wanna side-step this review.

Directed by J.J. Abrams

Screenplay by Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman

Based on the TV series 'Star Trek' by Gene Roddenberry

Cast
Chris Pine as James T. Kirk
Zachary Quinto as Spock
Leonard Nimoy as Spock Prime
Eric Bana as Nero
Bruce Greenwood as Capt. Christopher Pike
Karl Urban as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy
Zoe Saldana as Nyota Uhura
Simon Pegg as Scotty
John Cho as Hikaru Sulu
Anton Yelchin as Pavel Chekov
Ben Cross as Sarek
Winona Ryder as Amanda Grayson
Chris Hemsworth as George Kirk
Jennifer Morrison as Winona Kirk

I'm one of those Trek fans who watched TOS (The Original Series for the non-believers out there. Hehehehehehehehehe!) but GREW-UP on TNG. (The Next Generation. Ditto. Bwahahahahahahahhaha!) I still remember my freshmen year in college, not knowing anyone on my floor, and just happen to look into the right room at the right time. Brian Sullivan and Dennis Link were watching TNG. I asked if I could watch, they said sure, and such was a friendship that lasted a loooooooooong time. Our entire circle which ended up being at it's largest during keg parties ended up being about 10. I've managed to keep up with a few folks sporadically and my buddy Hewlett moved to the Buckeye state to teach. (Whassup Hewlett!)

When you're going from Hilo, HI to Syracuse, NY for school that kind of connection is VERY important. High school can be a merciless place (Even before 'Mean Girls' and the like tried to portray it.) so finding a little sanctuary is a blessing.

As a result Trek isn't just about the parables, the techno-babble, continuity, and the merits of Romulan Ale. It's about fellowship, connection, and community. Sure over time you become kinda anal and quoting dialog and remembering the titles of episodes. All the stuff that makes OTHER folks look at you like you're part of a cult but makes fellow-fans look and go 'OH yeah baby, he's one of US.'

Unfortunately over time that sanctuary got beat up pretty bad. Time passes and things change, creative teams try to capture lightening in a bottle again... and again... and again. Suddenly what seemed to be an invincible piece of pop culture slowly degenerates into a punch-line, and worse into irrelevance.

There will always be fans like myself and my buddies BUT we're like old guys talking about ancient war-stories at the corner store while everyone ELSE is talking about 'Twilight' and 'Harry Potter'. (Or 'American Idol'. Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!)

The sense of fellowship remains though. Huddled at conventions or in comic shops, talking about the shows we loved, arguing over the inconsistencies that were never fixed. Most important wondering if someone would have the cajones to bring the series back.

After 'Enterprise' a lot of us were ready to take a loooooooong break. It seemed like the franchise needed a few years, maybe even a decade, to breath. Time to give the general population a chance to breath and cleanse themselves of 'Voyager' and 'Enterprise'. And more importantly a chance for new blood to flow through the studios so that someone with a new vision could give 'Trek' a kick in the ass.

Enter J. J. Abrams. The guy who managed to avoid being the Next Chris Carter... who also admits at every turn he was NEVER a big 'Trek' fan. Naturally fans shrieked. 'WTF DOES HE KNOW ABOUT TREK!!!!!!!!!' Well, the feeling is understandable. We're talking over 40 years of TV, movies, novels, toys, action figures, STUFF. All of that data to try and make sense of and separate the wheat from the chaff and make something cool again. AND YOU GET A 'STAR WARS' FAN TO DO IT! Set phasers on disintegrate!

But then we're reminded of Bryan Singer and his work on the two 'X-Men' films, Chris Nolan with the Batman series. These guys are NOT comic geeks. They're indie film makers and yet both brought a wonderful perspective which made their films fresher.

At least, that's the HOPE Paramount had as J. J. Abrams sat at the legendary center seat. Could the guy who worked on 'Alias', 'Lost', 'Cloverfield', and 'Mission Impossible 3' bring life to the Enterprise? Yes, he can. No the film is NOT the best of the Trek films BUT he's managed to drag us kicking and screaming into the 21st century.

Abrams and his group of fellow geeks created a GOOD story, but it feels like the film is split in half. The film is an origin-story for the crew (Which unless you've read the novel 'Enterprise' by Vonda McIntyre

http://www.amazon.com/ENTERPRISE-CL...r_1_17?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241966374&sr=1-17

was never discussed.)

The film follows the early life of Kirk AND Spock as they follow their unique paths to Starfleet. Eventually a threat of planet-exploding proportions appears and a crew of newbies, in more ways then one, must come together and save the galaxy. Ok, ok, sounds waaaaaaaaaaaay too familiar, and die-hard fans are having a stroke as they note that the old chest-nut of time travel is used to move the plot forward.

The first half was a great beginning and had me thinking this would be as great as 'Star Trek 2 - the Wrath of Khan'. The film starts not with Jim Kirk but his father, George, in an incredible, emotion and action-packed opening. He's an officer aboard the USS Kelvan which is at the wrong place at the VERY wrong time. A GIGANTIC ship commanded by the pissed-off Romulan Nero appears and attacks the Kelvan. The USS Kelvan is ripped apart like a paper boat in a hurricane by the fusillade of fire from Nero's ship. We watch Kelvan's crew stay calm in the face of death, trying to keep the ship in one piece even as they know the ship doesn't stand a chance. Then the sacrifice by George Kirk to save the crew all leads to an outstanding moment as his wife barely escapes and gives birth to James Tiberius Kirk.

One of my favorite lines in fiction is from Diane Carey's 'Trek' novel 'Final Frontier'.

http://www.amazon.com/Final-Frontie...=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241966596&sr=1-1

(And as you've noticed I'm doing this a LOT, referring to old books and linking Amazon.com to them. Hey, this is MAJORLY geek related so I gotta have my sources noted! Be happy I didn't stick a freaking bibliography on this!)

Spock is opening up in a very rare moment, letting us know what Starfleet means to him;

'... the starships of the federation are the physical, tangible manifestations of humanity's stubborn insistence that life does mean something.'

That line kept going through my head during that sound butt-whuppin' on the Kelvan. However in the end what matters is Kirk's sacrifice helps the Kelvan's crew survive. In that moment of heroism we're reminded of what Starfleet and 'Trek' is about; the will to do what we can in the face of impossible odds for the sake of others.

From there the film follows Kirk and Spock as they grow older and realize they're square pegs trying to fit into the round holes of civilian life. Both are victims of their passions and strengths which need to be honed and nurtured. Unfortunately at this point those strengths make their lives unbearable until they find a common muse; Starfleet.

Naturally both have pretty massive egos (For Spock he would probably say it's perfectly logical for him to have that much confidence in his abilities.) which create some problems in the Academy and cause's their first conflict. Kirk takes on the notorious Kobayashi Maru simulation which was created by Spock(Personally I prefer the solution used in the 'Trek' novel by the same name.

http://www.amazon.com/Kobayashi-Mar...=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241923750&sr=1-2

It's a lot more fun.)and beats the no-win situation by cheating. Oh yeah, great way to get on the good side of the Vulcan.

The second half of the film... well, that's when things don't quite work as well. The reason Trek geeks go gaga over 'The Wrath of Khan' is the film isn't just about sci-fi eye-candy and great space battles. It's about Kirk and his sense of mortality. Suddenly the hot-shot fighter-pilot feels like he's being put to pasture as an Admiral and he HATES it... but he wonders what's left in his life.

This re-boot of 'Trek' STARTS with the grand vision of emphasizing the sense of sacrifice and the importance of life. From the moment George Kirk goes down with guns blazing to Capt. Pike admonishing Jim Kirk for being less then he could be, the film places us on a voyage that is about the potential within all of us. No, we don't need to be Nobel prize winners but we owe it to ourselves and those around us to be the best we can be.

Unfortunately once you get past the half-way point the films loses that focus and starts turning into an action film. NOT a bad one by any means but that gravitas is lost in a hail of phaser fire.

The film ramrods the umpteenth use of time travel as a deus ex machina to move the story forward. And I'm still trying to get it into my skull exactly how this time-travel entanglement worked. And WTF is red matter? Did Revlon give Paramount permission to use this color for 'Trek'? The story isn't as contorted as 'The Usual Suspects' but it's a lot more twisty then it has to be.

Like the story the effects could be stunning... but at times you watch and go 'Um... huh?' The planet Vulcan, the exterior effects with the ships, all are just amazing. ILM out-did itself this time around.

However some of the interiors of the Enterprise were just... odd. The bridge is gorgeous but the engine room looks too much like the boiler room of ANY building or ship. You got lots of pipes, you got lots of stairs, you got lots of stuff that looks like it should have 'Made in Taiwan' stamped on it. This is NOT the cutting-edge engine room of a starship in the 23rd century that runs on anti-matter.

The cast was a huge worry for EVERYONE. Worries about Spock, Kirk, hell EVERYONE abounded when the re-launch was announced. It's like finding someone to take over for Christopher Reeve as Superman. You can find an actor to do it, but can you find someone to BE Superman. We shouldn't have worried. The cast took on the challenge of bringing these characters to life.

The one person who hasn't received enough credit is Bruce Greenwood as Capt. Pike. In the original series he appears in only two episodes, 'The Cage' and 'Court Martial' so you never get a real feel for the guy. IN the film Greenwood makes PIke the perfect grizzled, unflappable captain for the newest flagship for Starfleet.

Everyone from Pegg to Saldana goes a great job of inhabiting their roles. They don't just mimic what their characters were like based on the show. Each actor gives their characters a fresh, new life.

Meanwhile the pivotal roles of Kirk and Spock were perfect. Quito's take on Spock is a joy to watch. As the films with Nimoy progressed Spock went from being someone who was obsessed with becoming the epitome of a Vulcan to being the best PERSON he could be. As he said in 'Trek VI - The Undiscovered Country' logic was the BEGINNING of wisdom. Although Spock never allowed himself to be emotional the human side of him peeked out at times. Suddenly the human half of himself was not longer a hindrance but was just part of who he was.

Quinto begins as a very angry half-breed who wants to prove EVERYONE wrong, that he is the best VULCAN on the planet even as his anger and emotions bubble behind those dark eyes. Like Nimoy, Quinto's Spock slowly realizes his human part is ALSO a strength, albeit one he has to become accustomed to.

And then there's Kirk. All testosterone filled yet occasionally sorta diplomatic and thoughtful, always tactically brilliant... and always with luck on his side as well as an intergalactic hottie.

It would be easy to turn Kirk into even more of a parody but Pine manages to avoid that pretty well. First, however, the running joke of his womanizing is beaten to death. HOWEVER once you get past that you see a young, cocky, at times annoying, but also brilliant and courageous young officer.

Chris Pine does an outstanding job, like Quinto, of giving Kirk balance. He's a hot-heat but he's not STUPID... well, usually. (Unless green hotties are involved. Then all bets are off.) Kirk has a great sense of group dynamics and charisma, yet he's also pretty dang green and too sure of himself for his own good. This all combines to create a character that you can see has the potential for growth and greatness... assuming he doesn't get himself killed in battle.

So what's the last word? Hey, this is opening night material. Is this film perfect? Um, no. The film has a weird Jeckyll/Hyde nature as far as where the story wants to go and there are other inconsistencies which die-hard fans will discuss to the end of days on b-boards. On the other hand the story is still pretty dang fun and the cast runs into the face of taking on pop icons with relish and does them proud. So welcome to the NEW voyages of the Starship Enterprise, as we boldly re-visit where no one has gone before.

 

[Dracoa]

Boldly going where others have gone before. Then again, it could be like Kelly Bundy, boldly going where EVERY man has gone before. Heh.

Although, you know, in a way I do and I don't want them to make a Big Screen Doctor Who movie (you think Trek with it's 40 years is impressive, Who's got 50 to 60 years). I do because, well, it's Doctor Who, and I don't because I'm afraid they'd royally (unintentional pun there) screw it up. I mean I was never a big Hulk fan, but that Hulk movie before this most recent one was a nightmare, and let's not even get into Superman Returns. But, to be fair, if they wanted to finally end Doctor Who, may as well do it on the big screen. But all this is pointless since to my knowledge they have no plans on making a Doctor Who movie.

 

[FloydsDirtyGirl]

S'up, Geeks!

*wiggles and waves* Hey all. I'm kinda new, kinda a lurker...but I love me some geeks, and I had to jump in when the Doctor was brought up.

I have to be honest, I really don't like the look of the new Doctor. From what little I have seen of him, he looks rather like an emo twit. Hard to imagine him pulling off some of the things ******t did.

As far as a motion picture Doctor, the first thing one would have to ask is, who's playing the Doctor? The plot possibilities are endless, and I'd almost expect a flashback of the Time War somewhere, not to mention a butt-load of Daleks....but hypothetically speaking, who would be the Doctor?

-Floyds