Monday, May 27, 2013

Memorial Day Movie: Star Trek Into Darkness

Happy Memorial Day!

Huge apologies to all for being gone longer than expected. Apart from revisions, the month started out with two weeks straight of having a kid home sick (you know how bugs do their rounds). Resistance is futile when you're stressed out. Tragedies in the news really get me down. From the Boston Marathon to more recent tornado devastation...it's too much. My heart goes out to all the victims and their families.

Also, we got two female guinea pigs in April and I'm now positive they came to us pregnant (totally unexpected and due any day). I've been off the net due to daily overload, but I'm all caught up now and to celebrate Memorial Day weekend, last night I took my kids to see Star Trek: Into Darkness.

Tremendous movie. Extremely well done in so many ways. I think it's perfect for Memorial Day and if you sit through the credits, you'll read an appropriate dedication.

Confession #1: I'm a Trekkie.

You'll love the movie whether you're a Trek fan or Trek virgin, but if you've seen the original movies, especially The Wrath of Khan and Star Trek 2009, you'll have a deeper appreciation for the significance of certain lines and scenes. I have two boys who are Trek addicts. After seeing this movie, my oldest son is now a Trek convert...and he's a super tough critic.

And to all you lovers of romance, it may not be the focus, but all the Trek series explore relationships of all kinds, including romantic ones. After all, Star Trek the original series is famous for television's first interracial kiss. It was the romance between Riker and Troi in Star Trek The Next Generation that initially drew me in, but after an all night original Trek movie marathon (rented them all and watched them back-to-back), I was hooked for life. An official Trekkie.

I'm sentimental about all the romances in Star Trek, but what really makes the series so incredible is its depth of characters and stories that boldly explore moral, ethical, relationships and political issues. For the writer, there's an incredible amount to be learned from Star Trek (as a whole) about story telling. I think that could be analyzed to no end.

 Confession #2: How Trekkie am I?


1. Okay, so I haven't actually dressed in costume for a convention (though I was a Deanna Troi wannabe), BUT I did make a Halloween Trek costume for my middle kid when he was in fourth grade.

2. I've been to two conventions, which by some fan standards is pathetic, but hey. I did get a  comic drawing of me as captain done at one of the conventions (see photo above). I had very short hair back then (college days). You can also see the wrinkled water damage since this, and some other collectibles, were in our basement when it flooded a few months ago.

3. I have posters, t-shirts, original fan photos, Federation drinking glasses, Christmas tree ornaments of Captains Kirk and Picard (he made bald sexy), an antique original series lunch box, gold plated communicator pin, books on the metaphysics of Star Trek, a three-dimensional chess set and so much more...

PLUS, since all self-respecting writers need their reference books, I have....(drum roll)...

4. a Klingon dictionary

I kid you not. They actually 'made' an entire language, grammar, vocab and all. No. I'm not fluent in Klingon, but it's cool to have ;). Sigh. Worf and Dax...another awesome romance.

I love all the movies, but I have to say that Star Trek: Into Darkness is epic.

So...are you a Trekkie? To what degree? Which Star Trek romantic couple is your favorite?

8 comments:

  1. Glad you're back! Hope your bunch stays healthy.

    Not a Trekkie. But I'd say you definitely are. It's fun to immerse yourself in things like that :)

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  2. HA! That is great! I had no idea. LOL

    I'm not really a Trekkie although I have seen quite a few movies and really want to see this new one! But I have been to a Dr. Who/Star Trek convention once in Philadelphia. (My dad took me)

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  3. Hey Carol! Definitely fun. I updated the list to include a 3-D chess set (trekkers know what I'm talking about). It was given to me as a gift, as were many of the items. I'm not the kind of trekkie who could quote exact episode numbers or star dates, but I still love it :)

    Hey Jennifer! You'll love the movie! Most of my stuff was done/collected back in my younger college days. It's great that my kids are getting into it. That way I know they'll appreciate my collection when they eventually inherit it :)

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  4. I can relate to the sick kid part. My daughter was home to do after being sick in the middle of the night.

    I'm not a trekkie at all, though I did like the Next Generation when it was on.

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  5. :raises hand in Vulcan salute: Hubby and I are both Trekkies. I've been waiting for him to return so we can see the movie together.

    Can't wait for date night!

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  6. Hey Stina! You know they're really not well when it's bad enough to wake them in the middle of the night. Poor things.

    Hey Maria! Live long and prosper :)What a perfect date night...nothing like sharing a Star Trek movie with someone else who gets it to the core ;)

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  7. Definitely not a trekkie. But I have enjoyed reading everyone's post about it and would probably watch it with daughter when she comes over during the weekend.

    Nas

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  8. Hey Nas! Great to see you! Hope you enjoy your mother/daughter time no matter what you see :)

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