Science Fiction

The Origin of My Near Lifetime of Being a Trekkie

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I have a problem. I like Star Wars. I also like Star Trek. If asked which one I like better I am really not sure how to answer. I have actually been asked that question. Depending on the context I have given different answers.  Now I simply say I like lots of sci-fi. Memories of both franchises are some of my earliest memories. To some degree the science-fiction things that I was fascinated with as a kid shaped who I am and what I do today. It’s only appropriate that one of the first “origin stories” about my childhood I write will be about my first memories of Star Trek.

This is a topic I have thought about it for a while before sitting down to blog.  Likely I thought way too much on this.  It was great fun to do it. In reality I do not know what my first true exposure to Star Trek was. All I can speak to is what I remember.

My first memories from any version of Star Trek was Star Trek the Motion Picture. I’m not sure if I saw it in the theater or not. There are other movies from around the same period of time that I do recall going to the theater, so its plausable I could have gone. Either way I do remember watching it.  I was pretty young when it came out.  I was 5 in 1979.  That explains why I did not at the time fully understand the movie at the time. I was also too young to get that it wasn’t really that great of a movie.  The visuals were great though. The story not so much.  For a 5 year old that was enough to get me fascinated.  I recall understanding that everyone was coming back together from something else.  I just didn’t know really what.  I hadn’t watched the Original Series.

I am assuming it was part of the story and mainly the effects that made me like Star Trek The Motion Picture so much. I say that I like it because I have strong memories that I was very excited to see Star Trek II the wrath of Khan. That movie I clearly remember going to see. I remember waiting outside what was a two screen theater near Bloomingdale’s and Fresh Meadows to see it with my dad. There was a pretty big line to go see it. Star Trek II is still one of my favorite movies of all time. What is not to like? It’s got a lot of science fiction, great action sequences, and pretty interesting drama. There’s also some great overacting by William Shatner. If I was a bit interested in Star Trek after the first motion picture by the wrath of Khan I was hooked. 30 plus years later I think it still aged well.

My memories of my first viewing of Star Trek III or IV were less vivid. It was very likely I saw them both in the theatres.  I liked both.  I was very disappointed when they blew up the Enterprise in A Search for Spock.  I thought the 4th one was very fun.  Even if not as interesting as Wrath of Khan.  The fact that the Enterprise came back was huge for me.  Each of those movies built up my liking of the franchise and kept me wanting to experience more.  I do not have specific recollection however it was likely around then I would have seen some of the original series.  Not much of it but a bit.

 It was not until I heard that they were making a sequel to the television show that got me excited.  I recall hearing about it and then being excited for months before it came out. I remember watching the first episodes and was drawn in.  I enjoyed the first season.  I think I am in the minority in saying I imagined myself as Wesley Crusher.  I mean who wouldn’t want to be a kid on a star ship making everyone else look less intelligent! I only found out later that I was apparently in the minority and reading Wil Wheaton’s blog he talked alot about the negitivity people had towards that charicter. To heck with that, I wanted to be a kid on a a starship.

By the 2nd season of Next Generation I watched much of it but not all when it came out each week.  I think with the change of Doctors just didn’t fit well with me.  In that respect I think I was in the majority when Crusher came back in Season 3.  Season 3,4,5 were like the golden age of Star Trek for me.  I watched it as regularly as I could.  If I couldn’t watch it I would record it on VHS.  At one point I had most if not all of the episodes on VHS tape.

I was curious about Deep Space Nine.  I watched the first season and then sporadically after that.  It wasn’t until much later when I saw them all I fully appreciated how awesome it was.

I could keep going on about Deep Space Nine, Voyager, etc.  By the time DS9 came out I was in College.  I was already a fan.  Funny enough there were times when I was younger that I was not as big a fan of the franchise vs Star Wars.  So many years later I am not really sure why.  I have theories but they are not worth exploring here.  It is enough for me to know that the first two movies and Season One of The Next Generation are why I am still a fan today.

Battlestar Galactica

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I just finished watching the latest episode of Battlestar Galactica. All I can say is wow, some deep stuff. I know it is a Science Fiction show but it is also probably one of the best drama’s on TV. I can’t wait to see how everything plays out before the series ends. Some stuff that happened tonight I kinda guessed at. The hinted at Ellen being a cylon since we first meet her, but all the backstory that looks like it comes with that revelation was unexpected.

I am not going to recap the show. I am just glad the wait for new episodes was worth it. Lets see how the last 9 go!

Whats Hot And Not on TV (for me)

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As I always say I am a science fiction geek. I don’t care what you think about that. It is not like I have costumes and goto conventions. There was that time at Burson that I ran around with a Star Wars laser gun, but that was more to make fun of Jeffrey M for having it than anything else, but I digress. Being a sci-fi fan I get very happy when I see a real good sci-fi drama. Battlestar Galactica is my latest favorite. it is dark, gritty and has a real feel to it. Granted it is sci-fi but it is at least tries to put a human element in everything it does. The stories are fantastic, and lets face it CGI doesn’t make everything ok. The story is what makes things work. The first season is more than half over. I am already dreading the months to a year for the next 13 episodes to come out.

Season 3 of Mi-5 (Spooks) is still as good as the first 2 seasons. the only problem is that 10 episodes does not a season make. Maybe that is why the british tv calls it series 3? Even the Soprano’s has more than 10 episodes a season. of course if my only complaint of a show is that they make too few of them, then they are doing something right. Even after 2 of the 3 main characters are out this season it still keeps its stride.

For all those people out there saying DVR’s like Tivo with the ability to keep shows forever are killing DVD sales I have one thing to say. I can (and do) burn shows to DVD for person use, as is my right under fare use laws. I had all 10 episodes of season 2 of Mi-5 on my hard drive. I still went out and bought the dvd series, and deleted the perfectly good high quality MPEG-2 files from my hard drive? Why because I wanted the DVD. you are afraid of losing money because of people like me saving files on my computer. If I can get the season’s of stuff on DVD quick I will still buy them. I will let you in on a little secret, I spend more on DVD’s now that I have a DVR than when I didn’t. Buy tightening the reigns on DVR’s you are only pissing me the consumer with $$$ off. Think about it.

I haven’t watched a complete season of 24 since the first season. I just bought that one on DVD a few weeks ago. This year I watched the first 2 hour episode of season 4 and I was interested. I had the Tivo grab every episode. I find that 24 is better to be watched 6-9 episodes at a time. When I was recovering from being sick I sat and watched all the episodes I have up till now. Man can I say action packed. Granted it is unrealistic, but it is a good serial drama. I still have my season pass waiting to capture the remaining episodes. I actually like what fox did and waited to put the show on until January to give it a 23 week run with all first run episodes.

Now I don’t normally admit I know this show exists, let alone watch it, but Gilmore Girls used to be good. I mean you may ask why a 30 year old guy is watching that show? I say why wouldn’t I? I will watch any show on TV now a days with good witty writing on it, decent stories and did I mention hot actress’s on it! So a chick show, maybe, but don’t mock me for it. Did I mention hot actress’s? I blame my friend Jenn for getting started on that thing. Yes Jenn another plug for you:)

Law & Order is another great show. A semi realistic look at crime fighting. Recently I am a fan of the Special Victims version of that show. Just good all around crime show. It is not as good as my all time favorite crime show, Homicide Life on the Street, but it is better than everything else out there now. Now if you never have seen Homicide, you need to go get the DVD. I need to finish my collection of that series on DVD soon.

Some shows that I watch, but I don’t know why are things like Enterprise. Man I really don’t care if that show gets canceled. I am a sci-fi fan, and an off and on again Star Trek fan, but looking back on all the series they made I only like about 1 1/2 of them. I don’t care if you agree with me or not, but some of those people need some spines. I don’t know about you but if I was on a ship (space ship, naval ship, inflatable raft) and I saw/knew a bad guy is coming after me I wouldn’t try to talk. They don’t want to talk to you. You need to show them a whole six pack of wup ass. I need a good show like Babylon 5 again. The good guys don’t always have to be squeaky clean pussies. OK, I feel better now.

Third Watch was another show that used to be good, but it is so over the top now I don’t know why I watch it? I keep hoping it will get better. I don’t know. It is not like I have more time for TV than I did before. I actually have less. I guess I am an optimist sometimes. Of course there was a time that I liked ER also, and now I can’t stand that show. How some shows should be pulled off the air after a while.

Lastly one last good show Arrested Development. Funny, witty, and well written. If you know me you must be wondering why I didn’t mention the Simpsons sooner? The answer is the Simpsons are always good, no matter what I or anyone else says. Mmmm Simpsons… And that is what is on my mind about what is on TV. Just remember this is my opinion. I don’t care what you or anyone may thing about my opinion. I am just writing because I feel like writing about what is on my mind.

There are plenty other shows out there that I can comment on, good or bad. This was just a few that came to mind when I couldn’t sleep last night.

Two Of The Best TV Show’s, Ever, And You Probably Didn’t Know It

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I have mentioned that I got Homicide life on the streets on DVD. Or at least the first and second seasons. It sits in my waiting to be seen pile. I also just got another show on DVD that is also arguably one of the best shows every. It is Babylon 5. I do not deny the fact that I like decent Sci-Fi, and Babylon 5 is a fantastic show. I cannot think of any series that is better. The story was unbeatable and the effects rocked. I recently got Season 3 on DVD. By far the best season of the 5 years of the show. I am nearing the end of the DVD set, and just probably watched 3 or 4 of my favorite episodes. I like special effects like anyone else, but some of these stories were crazy, or so deep it makes you stop and think. A fantastic show that not that many people ended up watching. Too bad, but at least they are making it on DVD. Why is it that some of the best made stuff is not even close to popular? Both shows I mentioned in this blog entry were never popular, and always had to fight to get renewed. Then you have shows like ER, that used to be good but are way past there prime. That show needs to be put out of everyones misery. I used to like it, but now it is painful to watch.

While on the subject of my TV habits I would like to mention another new show that I have started to watch. MI-5 on A&E. It is a rebroadcast of a BBC show. It is actually really good. I also like the British filming style, not a hollywood version of a british agency. I have my Tivo set to grab it.

DVD’s

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I don’t hide the fact that I am a fan of Science Fiction. I like it. In this day and age it is ok to be geeky!!!! Now I draw a fine line between liking sci-fi and dressing up in a costume and going to some convention. That is just weird to me, but to each their own. Just don’t classify me in the weird category. I have enough trouble with languages that are actually spoken in this country, so I am not planning on learning made up sci-fi ones! With that being said I can discuss DVD’s.

I just finished watching season 2 of Babylon 5. That was a great show period. Well done, great stories, and good effects. In my opinion one of the best shows I have ever seen. Now that I am done I need to wait for season 3 to come out. That was probably the best season they had. Until then I am trying to catch up on other DVD’s I have gotten. I am getting season 3 of Star Trek Deep Space 9 while I am away. Now for some reason I keep buying these Star Trek DVD’s but I still can’t stand the dam series. The action is so fake. Who would stop and want to talk through a problem when the enemy is actually shooting at you. Come on, blow the bastards up already. But I still buy them. At least in the deep space 9 series they do get down to some fighting. I refuse to buy any other Star Trek series. This is the last.

I heard that the simpson’s season 3 is coming out after the summer. Now that I will get. The simpsons is also one of the best series ever made in my opinion. That show is funny on so many levels. By season 3 it started getting great. I was not a huge fan of the first 2 seasons.

The last of the “best series I have ever seen” front would probably be Homicide life on the streets. They haven’t made that into DVD yet, but I would get that in a heartbeat if it came out. It was always underrated but it was a great show.

Ton’s more I want to get on dvd. Including the family guy, band of brothers. Both are out already but I am trying to budget my DVD spending.

More on my useless DVD opinions later. The train is in the tunnel to Penn station. That is my signal to wind down my writing…

Sunday, lazy Sunday

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I did some lying by the pool sunday, its indoors. Then I did more website work. I also vegged out in front of the TV and caught up on some DVD’s I had. I am working my way through the second season of Babylon 5 right now. Then I want to revisit the matrix, and maybe Mission Impossible. Not sure, but I have an urge to see that movie again.

I am also looking at what movies to bring for my week off next week. I am going to be so out of touch with reality. No cell service, no pagers, and no internet access that I know of. I may have some modem access but I am not sure yet. It is good and bad, this lack of access. I need a nice long week off, but I also like doing some stuff on the computer to relax. My last big vacation was to Baton Rouge for the 4th of july in 2001. I actually helped my friend’s jayson and joe out with some computer work while I was down there. I enjoy doing it. When their is no pressure it is relaxing. When I was in london I liked to take an hour a day and just surf the web and check mail. Then we went out. I just like staying connected. This will be interesting because I probably won’t be able to stay connected. We shall see.

I need to look into where they offer scuba diving near where we are staying. I don’t know exactly where we are staying so I need to find out from my sister. The whole family is going to a house in Barbados, but where in Barbados I have no idea.