TREK RIDES AGAIN!

I hardly need tell anyone who knows me that I am, and have been, your friend* a rabid Trekkie. My kids used to give me Star Trek books, movies, outfits, mugs, and other memorabilia on every holiday for decades. I own three uniforms. Jennie once said, “I don’t know what we’re going to give you if you ever get tired of Star Trek.” No Chance!

I saw the new Star Trek, Bad Robot for the second time last night, and loved it better than the first time! WOW! Now that I’m able to look past the immediate excitement, of which there was MORE than plenty, I can pick up tons of little IN-jokes and allusions that make this a true classic. (For example, when Kirk, Sulu, and Edwards are commanded to jump out of the shuttlecraft and sky-dive down to destroy the drill that is destroying earth, I instantly noticed – this time - that Edwards was wearing a RED SKYDIVING SUIT! OH NO!! All Trekkies know that the guy in the red shirt is the one who dies. What a hoot for cognoscenti! Also, did you catch the quick passing shot of the previous Uhura – Nichelle Nichols – working a console the first time we scanned the bridge of the enterprise?) The special effects were fantastic! I plan to see it again a couple more times on the big screen. DVD’s don’t cut it with movies this oversized! (But what a dorky title! I don’t recall a single robot in the movie!) (I know, I’m over-exclaiming.)

I trust you picked up on the fact that in creating and going through the black hole, the evil Romulans threw the whole show into a slightly different alternative universe. How clever is that? We have all the original characters and races of beings with all their innate talents and personalities, but NONE OF THE TREK WE KNOW HAS HAPPENED OR WILL HAPPEN! Paramount is free and clear to start a whole new series of adventures!

And MAN, doesn’t Leonard Nemoy look OLD! Well, He’s probably 70-something, (only a few years older than I) but looks every year of the 140 he is supposed to be in the show’s time-line. Rugged living in Hollywood! He should have used sunblock for the past 60 years. It is interesting to me, however, that when Hollywood uses old, tried-and-true stars in new movies, what perfect acting comes forth. The experience of decades pays off! In the movies, especially, we tend to think people’s brains are as rackety as their bodies. They aren’t.

I love the new Spock, Kirk, and McCoy – what great matches! Possibly better than the originals. Kirk is HOT! The actor who plays McCoy has the original’s voice and intonation (and insults) stone cold! If I hadn’t guessed the character when I first saw him, I sure would have the second moment, when he started to complain about space travel, and describe how your eyes will hemorrhage in a vacuum. Scotty is fun, though ridiculously young and a bit frenetic. (note that we have a cute sidekick for him who will be this show’s comic-relief -version of R2D2) Not quite as fond of Checkov or Sulu, though they’ll do.

And Uhura is a whole new ball of wax! Sooooooooo…a romance between her and Spock? A romance for Spock at all!!! I wonder what will happen when he goes into Pon Farr (Vulcan heat). Being several times stronger than humans, it takes another Vulcan’s strength and durability to survive the overwhelming power-passion of mating. A human would be crushed or mauled in the encounter. But then, Spock is half human. Hmmm. (Well, Spock’s mother survived.) I’m sure this problem is about #102,731st on your list of topics to wonder about, although I pondered it upon waking at 5:30 a.m. this morning.

In spite of my daughters’ blog comment, to which I was forbidden to reply, I did not wear any of my uniforms to the movie. ( I couldn’t find them!!  ) I did get a nice photo with this yummy 6 ft 7 inch Klingon who was at the movie, though.

*Trekkies will get this.