The Captain's Chair
Mar. 19th, 2009 04:42 pmAs most of you know, I am a TOS Trekkie but even in my wildest "trekkiness" I don't think I would do this (besides I don't have the space *g*)
The New Star Trek Movie
Nov. 12th, 2008 02:28 pmYesterday I came across a bunch of spoilers for the upcoming "Star Trek" movie. I don't know how well it will do when it comes out - the early reports are the special effects are gorgeous but, for me, the movie is basically going substantially AU from what we know of that time from ST: TOS canon.
( Cut for possible spoilers )
( Cut for possible spoilers )
Writer's Block: The Final Frontier
Oct. 24th, 2008 10:21 am[Error: unknown template qotd]It would be a terrible place. Life was very hard for me when "Star Trek: The Original Series" premiered way back when. It gave me hope that there might be a bright and shining future for me and the rest of humanity, that we'd outgrow our primitive state of neurotic irresponsibility (to quote "Barbarella") so that one day we might boldly go... I still need that hope and so does the world.
The After Xmas Funk
Dec. 28th, 2007 03:36 pmWell the great discard has begun. The day after Xmas I saw my first thrown-out tree on the sidewalk which is actually better than last year when I saw a tree on the sidewalk before Xmas! I know they are actually a crop so no forests were chopped down but what a waste. I read that somewhere in California they attach them to cement blocks and dump them into a barren manmade lake so that the fish have somewhere to spawn and hide. I think that's a neat idea.
The other night I was watching a show on PBS on the pioneers of television and discovered that, while Proust may have his madeleines, I have "The Honeymooners". When I hear its theme music I'm instantly thrown back to being a little girl in our old apartment and watching it with my dad - it was his favorite show. I even had a strange dream about it once where I went through the door in the apartment and found myself in an ornately decorated living room. Upon awakening it struck me that while other busdrivers could support a family on a busdrivers' salary, in the Kramden household there was only Ralph and Alice so where did their money go?
They're doing it again! Someone has decided to make a third version of Dune with Peter Berg directing (read about it here). Is Hollywood incapable of making anything that's original these days? While we're on the subject of originality every time I read an interview about the new Star Trek movie the actor repeats the partyline that the film will be true to the original series' spirit. Yeah right and I have a Grand Canal on Mars to sell you. Speaking of Star Trek, I found a site for Star Trek Insirational Posters. For example: "Expendibility - Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Ensign Ricky are beaming down to the planet. Guess who's not coming back." LOL
The other night I was watching a show on PBS on the pioneers of television and discovered that, while Proust may have his madeleines, I have "The Honeymooners". When I hear its theme music I'm instantly thrown back to being a little girl in our old apartment and watching it with my dad - it was his favorite show. I even had a strange dream about it once where I went through the door in the apartment and found myself in an ornately decorated living room. Upon awakening it struck me that while other busdrivers could support a family on a busdrivers' salary, in the Kramden household there was only Ralph and Alice so where did their money go?
They're doing it again! Someone has decided to make a third version of Dune with Peter Berg directing (read about it here). Is Hollywood incapable of making anything that's original these days? While we're on the subject of originality every time I read an interview about the new Star Trek movie the actor repeats the partyline that the film will be true to the original series' spirit. Yeah right and I have a Grand Canal on Mars to sell you. Speaking of Star Trek, I found a site for Star Trek Insirational Posters. For example: "Expendibility - Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Ensign Ricky are beaming down to the planet. Guess who's not coming back." LOL
Sulu Rides Agqain
Jul. 31st, 2007 12:44 pmThere's a new "Star Trek New Voyages" episode called "World Enough and Time", premiering online on August 23, featuring George Takei as Hikaru Sulu and Grace Lee Whitney as Janice Rand with Majel Roddenberry lending her voice as the computer. Of course it's one of those fan-based shows but this episode was made by a mixture of fans and pros including the special effects. After all these years we finally get a Sulu-centered "Star Trek" - this certainly has been Takei's year considering his new role in "Heroes". Read about it here.
Sort of speaking of "Star Trek" - did you know that Joel Gretsch who plays Tom Baldwin in "The 4400" is married to Melanie Shatner? I wonder what it's like to have Captain Kirk as your father-in-law? The other night Agent Baldwin was tied up with those plastic handcuff strips. If he'd see this he wouldn't have had to rely on help to get free *g*
Sort of speaking of "Star Trek" - did you know that Joel Gretsch who plays Tom Baldwin in "The 4400" is married to Melanie Shatner? I wonder what it's like to have Captain Kirk as your father-in-law? The other night Agent Baldwin was tied up with those plastic handcuff strips. If he'd see this he wouldn't have had to rely on help to get free *g*
First I'm told that tonight's ep of "Heroes" is terrific so be sure to watch it if you're a fan (read about it here).
Here are some pics of what J. Michael Straczynski is up to with the new direct-to-DVD "Babylon 5" movie called "Voices in the Dark" which covers the same 72 hour period of time as Sheridan travels on board a Presidential Cruiser en route to Babylon 5 from Minbar for a celebration marking the 10th anniversary of the founding of the Interstellar Alliance. One part of the story follows Sheridan as he picks up an unexpected visitor on the edge of Centauri space, Prince Regent Dius Vintari, and a warning about what will come afterward delivered by the techno-mage, Galen. The other part of the story is set aboard Babylon 5, as Colonel Lochley summons a priest from Earth space to deal with a problem that may have dark supernatural overtones. The two parts of the greater story intersect at certain key plot and thematic points, so that they overlap and complement each other while telling separate, but simultaneous, stories. Sounds interesting.
For any TOS Trekkie here is an interview with science-fiction author Norman Spinrad called "The Doomsday Machine Reloaded". ETA here is a vid of the new SPFX.
More Star Trek News
Feb. 25th, 2007 12:20 pmThanks to ![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
silveramericanaI found out that there's going to be a Star Trek web-based mini-series called Star Trek: Of Gods and Men with Tim Russ directing and once more playing Tuvok. Also Nichelle Nichols (Uhura), Grace Lee Whitney (Janice Rand), Walter Koenig (Chekov), Alan Ruck (Captain Harriman in "Star Trek: Generations") and Lawrence Montaigne (Stonn) will be reprising their roles. Arlene Martel is also in it so she may be playing T'Pring again. Other Trek alum in it are Garrett Wang, Chase Masterson, Cirroc Lofton and Gary Graham but they appear to be playing different roles then the ones they played in ST. I also saw Celeste Yarnell who played Yeoman Martha Landon in "TOS: The Apple" is in the cast but there's no word whether she's reprising that role or playing a new character. Eventually there will be three parts, each 30 minutes in length, available for download. My gripe is with the title (and possibly the plot) - haven't we had enough gods in Trek? and what about we women? Oh well I'll wait until they come out to see if I even want to watch it.
silveramericanaI found out that there's going to be a Star Trek web-based mini-series called Star Trek: Of Gods and Men with Tim Russ directing and once more playing Tuvok. Also Nichelle Nichols (Uhura), Grace Lee Whitney (Janice Rand), Walter Koenig (Chekov), Alan Ruck (Captain Harriman in "Star Trek: Generations") and Lawrence Montaigne (Stonn) will be reprising their roles. Arlene Martel is also in it so she may be playing T'Pring again. Other Trek alum in it are Garrett Wang, Chase Masterson, Cirroc Lofton and Gary Graham but they appear to be playing different roles then the ones they played in ST. I also saw Celeste Yarnell who played Yeoman Martha Landon in "TOS: The Apple" is in the cast but there's no word whether she's reprising that role or playing a new character. Eventually there will be three parts, each 30 minutes in length, available for download. My gripe is with the title (and possibly the plot) - haven't we had enough gods in Trek? and what about we women? Oh well I'll wait until they come out to see if I even want to watch it.I'm watching "Star Trek: Beyond the Final Frontier" on the History Channel which comes across as one long commercial for the auction at Christies. Gah the amount of stuff Paramount accumulated over 35 years of making the various Treks. OMG they just had some fans sing "Let It Be" in Klingon. LOL.
My guys may have gotten old but they haven't lost their sense of humor as you can see from George Takei's response to Tim Hardaway. Also the latest news is that J.J. Addams (co-creator of "Lost") will helm Star Trek XI, the one set at Starfleet Academy with younger versions of the original crew - sounds awful but who knows?
BTW anyone in England have any old tennis balls? They can be put to good use (see here).
My guys may have gotten old but they haven't lost their sense of humor as you can see from George Takei's response to Tim Hardaway. Also the latest news is that J.J. Addams (co-creator of "Lost") will helm Star Trek XI, the one set at Starfleet Academy with younger versions of the original crew - sounds awful but who knows?
BTW anyone in England have any old tennis balls? They can be put to good use (see here).
I've just seen a couple of re-mastered scenes from the "ST:TOS" ep "Amok Time"(here). I am definitely saving up to buy the eps when they come out on DVD - heck I may even buy them as they come out when they are at the most expensive price. Before "BtVS", before "Babylon 5" and other series, I was a fan of "ST:TOS" and this is making that teenage girl buried within go "squeeee" *g*
TOS Trekkie News
Feb. 8th, 2007 11:40 amTo any TOS Trekkies out there - here are some of the new special effects for the re-mastered version of "The Doomsday Machine". I think I'm going to start saving up my pennies for when they are released on DVD. It really looks like they are trying to spiffy things up while remaining true to the original. The show that really needs an upgrade is "Blake's 7" but since it never was a hit like "Star Trek" I doubt that will ever happen unless some techcapable fans do it themselves.
Fannish Stuff
Feb. 1st, 2007 01:46 pmCame across The Fan Fiction Phenomena - What Faust, Hamlet, and Xena the Warrior Princess have in common. Nothing on our BtVS fanfic but it is an interesting article. I know back in the day when I was reading ST:TOS fanzines at least 2 authors Jacqueline Lichtenberg and Jean Lorrah turned pro. I wonder if one day writers may say they got their start writing BtVS fanfic?
Speaking of TOS, I've been seeing pics of the new re-vamped SPFX versions of it here, here and here. I haven't watched the episodes in years as I've seen them so many times that I know them by heart however I may now decide one day to get the re-vamped versions when they eventually come out on DVD (of course after they've been out for awhile and have become cheaper *g*).
Speaking of TOS, I've been seeing pics of the new re-vamped SPFX versions of it here, here and here. I haven't watched the episodes in years as I've seen them so many times that I know them by heart however I may now decide one day to get the re-vamped versions when they eventually come out on DVD (of course after they've been out for awhile and have become cheaper *g*).
The other morning I caught an ad on TV with William Shatner in full Captain-Kirk-on-the-bridge mode hawking HDTV (I think - I was getting dressed at the time and wasn't paying too much attention). Leonard Nimoy was there in Spock regalia with a bunch of extras in StarFleet uniforms on the bridge set too. I don't mind seeing William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy hawking stuff (they're rather funny) but to me it's a bit sacreligious to have Kirk and Spock shilling things. However I suppose I could imagine them in the 23rd century doing so if they still had ads but I really hope that commercials will be a thing of the past .
Last night I caught on the news a segment about a bear eating fermented apples and becoming drunk poor thing. I read somewhere that a surprising number of animals do become intoxicated on fermented fruit when it's available. AA for elephants anyone?
The other day there was this quote in the lj'verse about how many are more comfortable with men holding guns than hands let alone having sex or getting married. If the conservatives proposed an amendment codifying marriage (heterosexual of course) according to biblical teachings it might go something like this:
Marriage in the United States shall consist of a union between one man and one or more women.(Gen 29:17-28; II Sam 3:2-5.) Marriage shall not impede a man's right to take concubines in addition to his wife or wives. (II Sam 5:13; I Kings 11:3; II Chron11:21) A marriage shall be considered valid only if the wife is a virgin. If the wife is not a virgin, she shall be executed (Deut 22:13-21) Marriage of a believer and a non-believer shall be forbidden.(Gen 24:3; Num 25:1-9; Ezra 9:12; Neh 10:30) Since marriage is for life, neither this Constitution nor the constitution of any state, nor any state or federal law, shall be construed to permit divorce. (Deut 22:19; Mark 10:9) If a married man dies without children, his brother shall marry the widow. If he refuses to marry his brother's widow or deliberately does not give her children, he shall pay a fine of one shoe and be otherwise punished in a manner to be determined by law. (Gen. 38:6-10; Deut 25:5-10) In lieu of marriage, if there are no acceptable men in your town, it is required that you get your dad drunk and have sex with him (even if he had previously offered you up as a sex toy to men young and old), tag-teaming with any sisters you may have. Of course, this rule applies only if you are female. (Gen 19:31-36)
LOL. Read more here. Of course the South has the highest divorce rate in the country so I don't think this would get too far even if someone were to take this seriously and attempt it.
Last night I caught on the news a segment about a bear eating fermented apples and becoming drunk poor thing. I read somewhere that a surprising number of animals do become intoxicated on fermented fruit when it's available. AA for elephants anyone?
The other day there was this quote in the lj'verse about how many are more comfortable with men holding guns than hands let alone having sex or getting married. If the conservatives proposed an amendment codifying marriage (heterosexual of course) according to biblical teachings it might go something like this:
LOL. Read more here. Of course the South has the highest divorce rate in the country so I don't think this would get too far even if someone were to take this seriously and attempt it.
Star Trek Anniversary
Sep. 8th, 2006 10:40 amToday is the 40th anniversary of the premiere of "Star Trek " (TOS). The first episode aired was "Man Trap" and with that showing an awful lot of viewers were trapped, hopelessly hooked. "Star Trek" helped me survive the dark years of my adolescence - it gave me hope that there would be a bright future where humanity wouldn't blow itself up and eventually get its act together and journey to the stars boldly going where no Earth human has gone before. I never cared much for any of the subsequent spin-offs but TOS will forever have a place in my heart.
For more on the revised versions go here.
Lun Lun, TOS and Sarah Connor
Sep. 7th, 2006 10:56 amWell there's been another panda baby born, this time at the Atlanta Zoo, to a panda named Lun Lun. See the newborn here.
More news on the release of the TOS eps with the new special effects here.
There's a new TV series in the making called The Sarah Connor Chronicles dealing with John and Sarah Connor between T2 and T3. Odds are that Linda Hamilton won't be playing Sarah :( and as with all news coming out of Hollywood don't believe it until you actually see it.
More news on the release of the TOS eps with the new special effects here.
There's a new TV series in the making called The Sarah Connor Chronicles dealing with John and Sarah Connor between T2 and T3. Odds are that Linda Hamilton won't be playing Sarah :( and as with all news coming out of Hollywood don't believe it until you actually see it.
(no subject)
Aug. 31st, 2006 10:55 amWell I've just read an article (here) that says that when Paramount releases the original Star Trek series in HD-DVD form they will replace the spaceship shots with new CGI versions and possibly change the score (I hope not too much as some of those themes were lovely and so Trek). I think this is an attempt to get people who are sort of jaded on TOS (like me as I have no plans on getting the current DVDs) as well as attracting young fans who are accustomed to superior special effects. I recall getting into discussions with other fans about the sequel series. I never minded if they liked them better than TOS in regard to plots or acting but when they said they liked the new ones better simply because of the special effects I'd go grr argh as it isn't fair to penalize TOS for lack of the time, money or technology to do better back in the 60s. I'm really curious to see these "improved" versions. Of course with regard to Hollywood always wait to see what actually happens.
Say It Ain't So
Jun. 23rd, 2006 10:25 amAccording to this, Matt Damon is in the running to play Captain Kirk in the new Star Trek project. Now the last I heard this was to be set in the time when Kirk was attending Star Fleet Academy. William Shatner was 35 when the Classic Trek began. Matt Damon is 36 so how can he play a cadet when he's already older than the original? Unless of course they've scraped the Academy idea. As for Spock he may be played by ....Ben Affleck!?! Having been observing the shenanigans of Hollywood for decades I'll believe in this movie when I actually see it.
J. Michael Straczynski once wrote a treatment for a "re-boot" of the original series meaning it would be a variation of the original series with new actors (and maybe Scotty would be played by a woman) plus an arc (which sounds suspiciously as an expansion of "The Chase" from TNG). Read it here.
Beyond Fanfic
Jun. 18th, 2006 08:34 pmOn the front page of today's New York Times there is an article (here) which tells how Star Trek fans are creating, filming and posting online their own eps not just writing fanfic. According to the article, "as long as no one is profiting from the work, Paramount, which owns the rights to "Star Trek," has been tolerant." I can't help envisioning BtVS fans eventually doing the same thing (I've already seen a video of the opening credits done with fans in place of the actors) plus 25 years down the road CGI may reach the point where you can't tell it's not the original actors. Imagine then being able to bring favorite fics to "life" - I have a little list *grin*.
Need a cute kitten fix? Go here
Need a cute kitten fix? Go here
OMG - Star Trek
Apr. 22nd, 2006 12:29 pmI just read in Variety that Paramount is planning to make a Kirk and Spock movie dealing with the early days of the characters at Star Fleet Academy. In March I read an article at Ain't It Cool News that described a script being proposed that could be the script just green-lighted--don't read if you want to avoid possible spoilers. My peeve is the Kirk in the script appears not to be the Kirk that he himself described as "Serious? I was absolutely grim" and of whom Gary Mitchell said "I remember you back at the academy--a stack of books with legs." Of course young Kirk and Spock and McCoy and Scotty would be played by young hunks with a possible cameo by Shatner and Nimoy. To be honest I've never really liked anything produced after The Original Series so I'm extremely doubtful if this will have any appeal for me. And as I've learned about watching the shennanigans in Hollywood I won't believe the movie exists until it actually appears in the theaters.
