Star Trek Tourney Final Rd

Star Trek Tourney Rd 7

Star Trek Tourney Rd 6

RD 5 Star Trek Tourney

Star Trek Tourney Rd 4

  

Star Trek Tourney Rd 3

Star Trek Tourney Rd 2

Star Trek Tourney Rd 1

Here we go with a new tourney all about Star Trek..

All My Favorite Things Of Star Trek

I've been watching a lot of Star Trek of late and decided to list my favorite things of all the series and movies. I broke them down into sections with a top 5 in each. So here we go. This may change after the upcoming new Trek film, Into Darkness later this summer. As you can see, I have much love for the original crew and series. But I think each series has something great about them as well.

MOVIES

1. THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982) - Still the best representation of Star Trek. Everything clicks: the characters, the effects, the story, the villian (a magnificient Ricardo Montablan) and it all comes together wonderfully.

2. STAR TREK (2009) - The franchise is rebooted for today's audiences by JJ Abrams and he does a fantastic job. Terrific effects and a young new cast acquit themselves nicely.

3. FIRST CONTACT (1996) - The Next Generation's second movie and the first where they really get to shine. You mix in time travel with the Borg and you've got an instant classic. Patrick Stewart is awesome as he gets to let loose with some action scenes and some exciting acting as well.

4. THE VOYAGE HOME (1986) - After bringing Spock back to life in the previous entry, the crew are headed back to Earth but get waylaid by this destructive probe and must travel back in time to present day Earth to save the day. This is the Trek film that everyone can enjoy thanks to the emphasis on story and not too much techno babble. Lots of hunor as well.

5. THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY (1991) - The final voyage for the original series crew and it's a great send-off. It's more of a mystery/drama than an all out action spectacle but it still works. Great job guys.



TV SERIES

1. STAR TREK - ORIGINAL SERIES
2. NEXT GENERATION
3. DEEP SPACE NINE
4. VOYAGER
5. ENTERPRISE

CAPTAINS

1. JAMES T. KIRK
2. JEAN-LUC PICARD
3. KATHRYN JANEWAY
4. BENJAMIN SISKO
5. JONATHAN ARCHER

VULCANS

1. SPOCK
2. T'POL
3. TUVOK
4. SAREK
5. SAAVIK

DOCTORS

1. MCCOY
2. THE DOCTOR
3. BEVERLY CRUSHER
4. BASHIR
5. PHLOX
 
VILLIANS
 

1. KHAN
2. THE BORG
3. Q
4. THE DOMINION
5. KLINGONS

Star of the Month - Marina Sirtis

The star of the month is Star Trek veteran Marina Sirtis. The actress portrayed counselor Deanna Troi on Star Trek The Next Generation for 7 seasons on TV and 4 feature films. She was born to Greek parents who didn't want her to become an actress. As soon as Marina completed high school, she applied to the Guild Hall School of Music and Drama secretly. After her graduation, she worked in musical theater, repertory, and television. In 1986, she moved to Los Angeles, California. For six months she auditioned for parts but was unsuccessful. Just before she planned to go back home, she got the part of Counselor Deanna Troi in "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987). In 1992 she married Michael Lamper, a rock guitarist. This bio info provided by Patrick Ceuppens on IMDB.

For the most part Star Trek is where I have seen Marina the most. She has appeared in other sci-fi films and guest appearances on other TV series, but Star Trek is definitely her bread and butter. And while many fans thought her character was kind of iffy, she was my 3rd favorite, behind only Captain Picard and Worf. Marina will be celebrating her 56th birthday on March 29th, two days before my birthday. She looks great and I for one would love to see the Next Generation gang get back together for one more adventure. She has been acting for over 30 years and I hope that more fans learn more about her.

Free Enterprise (1998) - A modern cult sci-fi classic

I love Free Enterprise and have ever since I first saw it years ago. It tells of two friends Mark (Eric McCormack from Will & Grace) and Robert (newcomer Rafer Weigel) who are die hard Trek fans. They have been since childhood and would meet up later on as they grew older. They are aspiring film makers who live in LA and are trying to get this film idea called Bradykiller made. It's plot has a deranged serial killer targeting the Brady girls of the classic sitcom The Brady Bunch. That pretty much sets the tone for this wild and funny movie. They have idolized William Shatner ever since watching Star Trek the Motion Picture in 1979. In fact Robert's flashback of him in grade school is a riot. He is getting pummeled by the class bully and while semi-unconscious dreams of meeting Shatner. Robert asks him "does he know why he's getting beat up?" And Shat responds probably because you're wearing a yellow Trek tunic to school, which he is. Robert tells him no and that the bully says Han Solo is way cooler than Captain Kirk. Shat flips out and responds "Kick the fucker's ass!" Which leads to a funny fight scene that recalls Shatner's glory days on the Star Trek series, complete with soaring music in the background. And even a flying leg kick. Cool. Cut to years later, these two meet their idol William Shatner by chance at a bookstore and immediately strike up a conversation. Shatner kind of blows away their perception of what the guys thought he would be like in real life. They were hoping he would be like the heroic Captain Kirk, but he's not. He drinks a lot, has trouble making conversation with women, likes reading porn poetry and is a little off. He's trying to get his version of Julius Caesar made into a 5 hour film, in which the good captain would play all the parts. Kooky right? While Shatner's storyline makes up a significant part of this film, Mark and Robert also have problems of their own. Mark is freaking out that he is approaching 30 and hasn't made the impact in film that he thought he would have by now. His recurring nightmare of him being placed in Logan's Run world as he hits 30 is a surreal joke that is funny and unnerving. Meanwhile Robert is dealing with yet another break-up with his umpteenth girlfriend because he forgot to pay the light bill. But as she yells how can you remember every title of every episode of the effing show but can't remember to pay your light bill. Things look dour for Mark until he meets the carefree Claire (Audie England) at the comic bookstore and he definitely feels an attraction. While our boys are dealing with grand drama, the action shifts back to The Shat, who agrees to help the guys with their problems if they help him with his. What follows is a a good natured romantic type movie filled with tons of sci-fi references and lots of satire. It all ends with a double celebration of a private birthday screening of the classic Star Trek - The Wrath of Khan for Mark and a reunion for Robert and Claire. Shatner takes center stage for an impromptu rapping session of his Julius Caesar with some rappers backing him up. That scene has to be watched to truly appreciate it in all it's campy glory. It was cool to see William Shatner not take himself seriously and cut loose to remind you how talented this guy really is. If you have never seen Free Enterprise, now would be a good time to check it out. I hear they are close to getting ready to make the long awaited sequel.

Great Television: The City On The Edge Of Forever (1967)

Been watching a lot of Star Trek on DVD recently and one of the featured episodes was the classic time travel story, The City on the Edge of Forever. Now I know a lot of people may not be fans of sci-fi in general or Star Trek, specifically. But this was really good television right here. The story is this: a gas accident causes McCoy to go temporarily insane from accidentally injecting himself with a strong hypo injection, he then escapes to strange planet. There the search party discovers a device left by a superior, vanished civilization, a time portal which plays the history of earth for them- but then Bones jumps through it into the past, causing a change in history important enough to make the Enterprise vanish. So Kirk and Spock must travel through the same portal in hopes of finding Bones first and preventing whatever he causes to change time. They arrive on Earth in the year 1930. America is still reeling from the Great Depression of 1929. Of course the duo draw gawks from onlookers thanks to their Federation uniform. A quick scamper to find themselves some clothes and a run-in with a police officer has the Kirk and Spock on the run. They find shelter in the basement of Sister Edith Keeler (a magnificent performance by Joan Collins). Yes, that Joan Collins of later Dynasty fame. Edith runs a mission shelter and quickly puts Kirk and Spock to work. Kirk is immediately attracted to her, but not in his usual hound dog ways. He is genuinely interested in Edith as a person. So they become close and start to begin a relationship. In the meantime Spock has been able to rig up some equipment using his tri-corder to show significant events in this current timeline. And comes across two different paths that history might take. One showing that Edith Keeler will become a peace ambassador for the world and end up meeting President Roosevelt in 1936. The other shows her dying in an auto accident in 1930. Of course the correct timeline is the one in which Edith Keeler is suppose to die. Kirk is torn about the situation because he has never felt this way about anyone ever. Around this time McCoy finally shows up and Edith takes him as well, nursing him back to good health. But Kirk and Spock doesn't find out about it until the very end. Spock explains to Kirk that Edith Keeler must die..if not the change will cause the Nazis to overtake the entire world. Something about Edith's pacifist ways that allow America to be taken over by the enemies. That is some heavy stuff. And Edith is hopeful about the future: that one day man will travel to other worlds and develop new technology. Kirk is understandably impressed by her thoughts. Suffice to way things must be set right and Kirk will have to live with the decision made for the rest of his life. This is one of the best pieces of television ever created. From the stellar acting by all parties, including a rare stripped down performance by William Shatner, who tones down his usual hamminess and shows that he can be a really good actor when need be. DeForest Kelly gives a gonzo performance as he gets to go off the deep end and play Bones as slighty crazy thanks to the overdose. Leonard Nimoy is solid as usual as Spock. And Joan Collins is positively amazing as Edith. She just radiates a serene quality when on screen. And is totally believable in her role. If you only think of Joan Collins as Alexis from Dynasty, then you need to see her in this episode. This is one of my favorite episodes of Trek. Because it strips away all the effects and techno babble and concentrates on a powerful and intriguing story. I mean if we were in this same situation, what would we do. You can understand the anguish that Kirk is going through with this dilemma. Anyway, just wanted to share this little piece of history and let people know how good this show really was. Even if you're not a Trek fan, I urge you to see this one, as it shows the best qualities of this classic series in full display.

Star Trek History

Spotlight on Nicole de Boer

One of my favorite actresses is Nicole de Boer, who just recently celebrated her birthday on December 20th. Believe it or not this extremely young looking woman just turned 39. Anyway to most sci-fans she is known for 3 distinct roles. First was the indie film Cube (1997) which was a critical hit. Next she would assume the role of Ezri Dax on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Her character inherited the previous memories of the alien symbiont host Dax from departing actress Terry Farrell. Nicole came aboard for what would be the DSN's final season. Then she got the role of Sarah Bracknell Bannerman on the hit show The Dead Zone, which ran for 5 years.

Her personal bio states she was born in Toronto, Canada and has been married to John Kastner since 1999.

They have one child together. She stands 5'5".

de Boer has appeared in a number of made-for-television movies, including Fox's "The Counterfeit Contessa," ABC's "J.F.K.: Reckless Youth," USA Networks' "Kissing Place" and The Disney Channel's "My Date With the President's Daughter." Her films for Canadian television include starring roles in "Heart of Courage," "E.N.G." and "Baby It's You."

In addition to "Cube," deBoer has starred in a number of other independent feature films, including "Jungleground," Prom Night IV" and New Line's "National Lampoon's Senior Trip." A busy stage actress in addition to her television and film work, deBoer has starred in numerous Canadian regional theater productions, among them "Little Women," "Our Town," "Anne of Green Gables," "The Wizard of Oz," "Little Foxes" and "The Father."
Nicole is one of my favorites and she is an excellent actress. Check out her movies and shows if you've never seen her in anything before now. You won't regret it.

Buckle up for high speed fun and adventure in STAR TREK

Saw it opening night on IMAX and it was freakin' AWESOME! Suffice to say Star Trek is the best movie I have seen in awhile. And the audience I saw it was cheering and screaming and laughing the entire movie.

Just saw it for a second time and it was even better hence the higher rating. Trek is one of my top 5 favorites now.

Just recently bought the new DVD and Trek still rocks.......

Alright here is my review of this new classic: Star Trek is the most fun I've had at the movies in a long time. This reboot of the classic series is a wonder to behold and it does not disappoint. And what's cool about this film is that is very accessible to non-Trek fans but at the same time will please Trekkies everywhere. This is the perfect summertime movie that delivers everything the previews promised and then some. Detailing the beginning journey for the intrepid crew of the starship Enterprise, this film explains a lot of history about the characters we have come to know and love for over 40 years, but with a few welcome tweaks. How James Kirk was born on his father's ship amid a raging space battle. And his rebellious upbringing against authority before enlisting in Starfleet. And Spock's childhood is explored as he is constantly harassed by fellow classmates for being half human. Flash forward a few years the duo will meet aboard the Enterprise, which is led by Captain Pike. Along the way we are introduced to the stunning Uhura (played by Zoe Zaldana), Sulu (John Cho) who uses a frigggin' collapsible samurai sword in a battle with some bad guys, Chekov, and the irascible Leonard McCoy (played by Karl Urban). We learned how McCoy gets the nickname Bones and how he despises his ex-wife. Urban kills the part. We don't meet Scotty (Simon Pegg) until halfway into the movie but when he comes aboard it is a very funny scene. As for the two leads Chris Pine is very good as Kirk, and he doesn't play him as William Shatner did. He makes Kirk cocky and horny but also very smart. Of course he is quick to fight too. And Pine just makes Kirk so likable that you can't help but root for the guy to win. But its Zachary Quinto who delivers the most as Spock. He brings a new level of intensity to the part that makes Spock seem dare I say it bad ass. As for the villian which I must regrettably say is the weak link in the movie. As the Romulan Nero, Eric Bana is somewhat wasted. Still this new update rocks with eye popping SFX, cool battle scenes, humor, drama, sexual innuendo, conflict, and a strong return by the original Spock, Mr. Nimoy thanks to a nifty time travel plot. There may be some die hard Treks fans that will take offense to some of the liberties taken by director J.J. Abrams, but I am not one of them. I think he did a helluva job and hope he comes back for the sequel. Trust me Star Trek is solid entertainment. I would not steer anybody wrong about this one. One of my favorite films now. And I don't think any other film coming out this summer or the year for that matter is gonna touch it. Oh, one more thing, when the Enterprise goes to warp speed..........it's sent shivers down my spine...like OH YEAH!! 10/10

New Blog

While my other blog deals solely with classic films and actors, I needed another blog where I could talk about my love of sci-fi, fantasy, horror and comic books and stuff of that nature. The title is called Hero Worship. And my love of all things sci-fi and fantasy, especially Star Trek, makes that an appropriate title. Well, I had to call my blog something and I didn't want to go with some generic title like The Sci-Fi/Fantasy Page. Anyway. I hope to run into several fans and like minded people on here.

Kate Mulgrew Pictures