Movie Review: Star Trek XI

WARNING: THERE BE SPOILERS BELOW!

Hubby and I saw this movie a few weeks ago on our first non-Baby L outing. I was dying to see this moving last Christmas, but when I had found out that Paramount had pushed back the release of this movie to May 2009, I was a little upset. After all, I would have had a one-month old by then. Nonetheless, Hubby and I managed to swing a date-afternoon, and went. I had high hopes for this movie because JJ Abrams directed this movie, and it was a fresh new angle to a franchise that has been around for decades.

In short, I loved the movie! Great action, great acting, believable plot, despite the fact that they used the time travel shtick yet again. Karl Urban and Simon Pegg I feel were by far the best at imitating the original Bones and Scotty characters. I also like how they gave Kirk`s character more depth. It`s mostly true that you don`t need to be a Star Trek fan to follow along with the movie, you won`t be able to pick up on the subtle references to the Star Trek series, but you can still enjoy the movie for what it is.

While I questioned allowing Spock to show some emotions and having Spock`s mother die (she`s still alive and kicking in an alternate timeline as shown in TNG), I was willing to overlook these discrepancies from the Star Trek series. I know that some die hard Trekkers probably balked at these obvious discrepancies, but I chalk it down to the producers wanting to explore an alternate timeline and possibilities (and my cynical side says to create an excuse for a sequel. As I write, I see an untitled sequel entry in IMDB).

Nonetheless, I give this movie two thumbs up!

New Star Trek Movie! EEEEEEEE!

I know some of you may have seen this trailer already, but I'm putting it up anyways. I CAN'T WAIT for this movie to come out! I think the cast is terrific, but I have no idea who the Kirk actor is. I've seen Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho and Zoe Saldana before, but never even heard of Chris Pine. Apparently, I don't get out often enough any more.

My one beef with this movie is with Paramount. Up until quite recently, I thought that this movie was to be released Christmas 2008, and was all geared up to go and watch opening night. Now I find out it's being released May 8, 2009. I'm going to have a 1-month old baby by then! Boooooo on Paramount! They should have consulted me first!

Star Trek 11

I'm sooooo stoked! Star Trek 11 has just started filming. It's set to be released Dec 25, 2008. Whoo! I'm really looking forward to Zachary Quinto of Hereos fame to play Young Spock, see him above. I'm also looking forward to watching Simon Pegg as Young Scotty. He was hilarious in Shaun of the Dead. I haven't seen Hot Fuzz yet, but I it's definitely on the list of movies to watch.

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The Borg does Jane Austen

Is it wrong of me to get all excited that my favourite Borg Queen, Alice Krige is going to be in the upcoming Jane Austen adaptation, Persuasion? Alice Krige plays Lady Russell, and while I'm not too fond of Lady Russell the character, I LOVE Alice Krige.

Not everyone knows that there are actually two women who play the Borg Queen: Alice Krige and Susanna Thompson. Alice Krige only played the Borg Queen twice, once in the movie First Contact, and again in the final episode of Voyager. The rest of the time, it was Susanna Thompson.

In my opinion, Alice Krige is the better Borg Queen. She definitely creepier and seems more regal and refined for some reason. Just like a queen. In any case, I met Alice Krige a few years ago at the Star Trek Convention in Las Vegas, and she's really beautiful. I even got her autograph. I'm still chuffed that I got to meet her.

In any case, I apparently have to wait for the 2007-2008 Masterpiece Theatre season to start before I see the new adaptation of Persuasion. Boooo.

For all the Jane Austen die-hards out there, they are also doing new adaptations of Mansfield Park, Sense and Sensibility, and my favourite Jane Austen novel, Northanger Abbey (finally!). I can't wait!

KOOKY: Fortnight of Hell

I'm going to be on and off of here the next couple of weeks, so you may or may not see me blog for a bit. Work's going to be hectic for a while, and I actually may not have time to do homework or go to the gym. I'm contemplating taking a couple days off after the hell period to actually get caught up with homework. *Sigh*. Worse is that I've done this before (take time off to do homework that is).

Plus, I'm still fighting my cold, so it's just not going to be a good time for me.

In any case, here's a clip from a Voyager episode, call "The Year of Hell". It's one of my favourite episodes. Hubby particularly likes this one, as he always points out, Janeway has this habit of wanting to self-destruct Voyager, only this time she does. Ha.

Star Trek Freakiness!

Later today, my friends and I will be having yet another Star Trek marathon. What this has morphed into over the years is we as a collective (no Borg activity present! Sorry, bad pun) choose a few select episodes/movies from my vast collection (The entire Next Generation and Voyager series and all 10 movies. Yes, it's a heck of a lot of DVDs) and we watch them. Yes, we are geeks.

This time around, we decided on a time travel theme. I've already made a list, but many times we've tended to deviate from the theme and watch whatever is interesting.

Anyways, IT P/J had earlier this week stumbled upon this coincidence, and interestingly enough, it ties in beautifully with our theme.






Picture of Michael Aron, who plays Jack London in Time's Arrow.











Picture of the real Jack London










The similarities between the actor and the real life (but dead) person are really similar, don't you think? They have the same eyes, mouth, chin and general head shape, although I think the real Jack London's nose is a bit more prominent than Michael Aron's.

Perhaps a great-great grandfather?

The Picard Song: SIMS

IT P/J sent this to me. The dancing SIMS crack me up, and I still pee in my pants every time I watch it, and the original video. Apparently, the original remix was done by Dark Materia, and you can even download the MP3 from the site.



And just for old times sake, the original video:

Star Trek Convention

I really, really, really want to be here this weekend. Every captain will be there, except for Captain Picard. Sigh.

Why am I not there? Money. We're going on a big trip next month, so I have to save up. But more importantly, no time! This weekend will be homework weekend, once again! Boooo! (BTW, for those who witnessed my crying jag over the weekend, I'm feeling much better!).

It's their 40th anniversary, so you know there's going to be lots of people (they're predicting 20,000!) and lots of stuff happening. My sister and I went two years ago, and it was fun, but kooky. (And I thought I'd never wear jeans in 40C weather in Las Vegas!) My sister tried talking me into going this year, but unless she does my homework for me, I'm planting my bum firmly in my seat in front of the computer.

Captain Picard Song

I almost peed in my pants when I saw this. It's really well done!



(If it doesn't download, view it here)