Paramount Drops Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy has been cancelled after only two seasons. Starfleet Academy was a little beacon of hope for the future that has been snuffed out by the merger of Paramount Skydance & Warner Bros. Sure, there was a cowardly upswing of toxicity with bot attacks and review bombings towards the show, but I’d bet a cargo holds worth of gold-pressed latinum that pleasing the monsters who will give the yay or nay to the merger is at the core of this warp-core breach.

It does not bode well for the future on several levels; for Star Trek of course and, more directly, for accessibility to information that isn’t from the unofficial state-run ‘Department of Truth,” that this merger will usher in. "1984" was not supposed to be a user manual, yet here we are. The Paramount/Warner merger is a blow to the First Amendment, to Journalism, and to any voice that does not genuflect to the powers that be and the idiocy that they bring in their wake. I did a quick Google search and the ACLU from Arizona encapsulates this point succinctly…

“Freedom of the press, protected by the First Amendment in the U.S. Constitution, ensures that media can report, publish, and disseminate information without government censorship or intimidation. It is considered a cornerstone of democracy, essential for holding officials accountable and informing the public. Key principles include the prohibition of prior restraint and the right to investigate government actions.”

Journalism and shows like Star Trek & The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (also owned by Paramount who owns CBS) are in the process of being dismantled. Their crime? Showing and telling truth to power. When a Paramount falls in line with the powers that be they sacrifice the truth for the favor of an emperor who is wearing no clothes. A false king whose insanity & greed has brought us to war and sacrificed any good standing we had at one time not all that long ago with the entire world.

“But the new Star Trek is woke!”

Stop. The “woke” gripe against any Star Trek series holds no water. If you think #StarTrek is “woke” then you have watched Star Trek, but you have never really seen it. No, the simple beauty of Star Trek isn’t the technology or the science, it is in the idea that we, humanity, learn to live together and move forward together into that undiscovered country, the future. There is a well known quote about Star Trek from Gene Roddenberry…

“Star Trek was an attempt to say that humanity will reach maturity and wisdom on the day that it begins not just to tolerate but take a special delight in differences in ideas and differences in life forms. If we cannot learn to actually enjoy those small differences, to take a positive delight in those small differences between our own kind, here on this planet, then we do not deserve to go out into space and meet the diversity that is almost certainly out there.”

I read my daughter that quote and, heartbreakingly, she said, “We do not deserve the stars.”

So, why bring the axe down now? Starfleet Academy was smartly written. They told a full story in one season’s time. This story must have ruffled feathers due to the narrative of the battle of ideologies between Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter) & Nus Braka (Paul Giamatti). Ake, the voice of reason & Braka, the voice of chaos. Braka wants to destroy the Federation. He’s a loud, obnoxious, man-child, lying, bullying, tyrant of a leader who through manipulation & violence gains power. In the end he makes his case as to why he should be the leader of the new galactic order & destroy the Federation.

Ake using facts proves that Braka is wrong & makes the case for facing the future without fear or terror to worlds of beings. To the various space-faring races in attendance & to the galaxy, who is watching the proceedings, Ake says in her closing argument, “Who do you want to go into the future with?”

Braka & Ake

As a sixty year old franchise, Star Trek has always used allegory to tell stories about issues of the day that historically effect us all. Paramount cancelled Star Trek for being Star Trek. And, in all reality, this is what cancelled Star Trek. Paramount wants to please Trump’s administration so that their merger with Warner Bros. goes through, make them nearly a monopoly to shape the message of what people read, hear, & see. They would be the mega-corporation condoned voice of the state. In the show the galaxy sides with Ake, in reality, Paramount sided with Braka – a Trump proxy, all for greed & power.

It does not bode well for the future of Star Trek, at least with its present masters at the helm. The “Star Trek: Year One” concept, which would have been a wonderful pickup from “Strange New Worlds” would have been worth seeing come to fruition since we are owed two more years on that initial five-year mission. Star Trek Legacy, and any other potential projects including movies or anything else franchise related will, much like Kahn’s crew on the Botany Bay, be put into stasis.   

When Star Trek is gone from Paramount Plus, I will not be far behind. I will drop it like an overheating phaser. They have proven to be poor stewards of what they had and now that I see what they want to usher in to the world… well, no thanks. I’ll put my $15.00 a month towards other things. I encourage you to do the same. The only thing corporations care about are dollars. I’m almost done giving them any more of mine. You see, I know who I want to go into the future with and that has nothing to do with the chaos that the current administration and their toadies at Paramount are willing to sow.

To the cast & crew of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. Thank you for carrying the torch of Star Trek further. You have much to be proud of. I am looking forward to season two and know that your contribution to the narrative of Star Trek – of the future, has been indispensable. One day, I firmly believe, that we – humanity, will be worthy the stars. You have helped light the way and I am grateful. 

LLAP

Happy 54th Birthday, Star Trek.

 

It was a show that ran three seasons and launched a narrative that is still expanding.  It premiered today, September 8, 1966.

I was born during the original series run and truly discovered it by watching reruns in syndication with my dad.  Star Trek had a startling impact on me and generations of others, too.  We were born into it.

The real promise of Star Trek lies not in the technology, or the intergalactic travel, although those are great, but that’s not it.  No - the real promise that Star Trek presents is a world where people have learned to live together and constructively move into the future united...as one.  It is a future that is there to be explored and understood for the good of all peoples - whether they hail from Earth or not, whether they are human or not. 

So many of the technological predictions have come to pass as reality - communicators to cell phones, tricorders to iPads, high capacity computers that run starships to laptops at home.  BUT the real promise of the future is a sociological one.  A promise that has yet to become a reality.  That promise is our capacity, as a species, to work together, unselfishly, for the good of all.  A world where all races and creeds are all part of a human family, united.  A future where the needs of the many are more important than the needs of the one.  A future that has learned from our successes and from our failures. That is the real promise of Star Trek.  The promise of a future worth having. 

I hope that we boldly go towards such a future …someday.

Happy 54^th Birthday, Star Trek.  May you live long and prosper.

Betting on the Super Bowl

 

“So what do you say we up the bet?” my friend from my place of business asked me.  “I’m tired of betting the usual.”  On such occasions he and I usually bet a single, solitary paperclip.  [NOTE: yes; we are both well aware that this is lame.]

“Well, what should we bet?” I asked. 

“How about a Schwartzie!”  A, “Schwartzie” is a corned beef hoagie with coleslaw & Thousand Island dressing from Primo Hoagies an awesome sandwich franchise from Philadelphia, PA.

“Ok, so if you win I buy you a Schwartzie and if I win you buy me a Nonna’s Veggie.”  A “Nonna’s Veggie” is an eggplant, sharp provolone, broccoli rabe & roasted red pepper hoagie that I have fallen in love with.

“I don’t know… who’s playing?” I asked.  I am not a sports fan.  I prefer the commercials and movie trailers to anything that’s happening on the field. 

“Baltimore & San Francisco,” he said.  “What do you think?”

“Well, Baltimore are the, ‘Ravens’, right?”

“Right.”

“Edgar Allan Poe is one of my favorite writers and Baltimore obviously cares about him too.  Still, Jack Kerouac spent some time in San Francisco…  Ya know, I’ve gotta go with Poe.  I’m for the Ravens.”

“Good!  Do you want to bet a point spread?” my friend asked. “I’ll go 27 – 20, San Francisco.”

“No.  I’m confused enough already.” I said meaning every syllable. “Let’s just stick with who wins the game.  If the Giants win then you get a Schwartzie and if the Ravens win then I…”

“The 49ers.” My friend corrected me.

“YES, of course; the Gold Rush!  It all makes sense now.”  We went on to ‘seal the deal’ with a fist bump.  Win or lose, Primo Hoagies is in my future.  I’m hoping for victory on Super Bowl Sunday!

We shall see. 

What I’m really looking forward to are the tent-pole movie trailers and the commercials.  The Super Bowl charges upwards of 4 million dollars for a 30 second spot.  This is where the corporations with deep pockets come to display their wares to the public.  Being a member of the public and a purchaser of wares I might watch on a lark; however, from a psychological and advertising standpoint I find it fascinating.  These corporations are firing across the bows of ALL demographics when they advertise in this game.  There are hits and there are misses and each shot that is fired costs between 4 – 5 million dollars.  Those are expensive cannon balls.  This is what makes the spectacle interesting to me, the much larger game of demographics & advertising.  The studios and corporations are betting on US, the hearts & minds of the viewing public, to consume and invest in their wares. 

Making movies is a gamble in itself and there is no guarantee that a movie or a product will prove worth the commercial investment.  Here’s a brief breakdown for the tent-pole movies advertising during the Super Bowl from USA Today: http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2013/01/31/movie-super-bowl-ads/1878365/.  Disney is betting on two offerings with, “The Lone Ranger” and “Oz: the Great and Powerful”.  That’s 10 million dollars for two 30-second spots.  Those are high stakes.  For the studios and corporate entities that advertise it must be worth the price of admission.  That is the big game behind the Super Bowl.  That is what I find fascinating. 

I’m betting a hoagie but the big boys are betting on a whole lot more than that.  So, Gentle Reader, enjoy the Super Bowl for whatever reason you’re watching it.  For yours truly that reason is rumored to happen during the second quarter when the new Star Trek trailer is unveiled.

Go Poe!

 

Movies Post-Mayan Apocalypse 2013 Edition

Fairy tales do not tell children the dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children the dragons can be killed. – G. K. Chesterton

I am a fan of the story.  I am madly in love with it and the various vehicles in which a story is told.  One of my favorite story delivery devices is film.  I love the movies.  That said, Gentle Reader, here are some of the movies & films that are of particular interest to yours truly in this coming year.  Some are downloads (legal, of course) or Redbox offerings but some… some are worth the price of admission; some, dare I say, are worth 12:01 viewings in a darkened arena with 200 or so fellow fans who appreciate the joys of the story. 

The right story is worth that. 

There is a Hopi Native American saying that goes, “The one who tells the stories rules the world.”  Robert McKee, who makes his living training others in the art of storytelling said, “Stories are the creative conversion of life itself into a more powerful, clearer, more meaningful experience. They are the currency of human contact.”  Muriel Rukeyser, is credited for saying, “The universe is made of stories, not atoms.” 

They are right.

The craft and art of the story is taken very seriously in this dojo.  I can remember screaming at the end credits of films that squandered the chance for greatness due to filmmakers who fumbled the opportunity that they were given or studios that wanted to cheap out, grab a big opening weekend and fall off the face of the earth.  Rest assured, there is a responsibility when it comes to storytelling.  Care, or lack of care, for what has been entrusted to you shows.  I can only hope that the following list of movies and/or films, which are going to be released in 2013, take it, the art of the story, as seriously as it deserves to be treated. 

NOTE: the dates that I’m about to provide are subject to change.  Heck, the movies too; “The Great Gatsby” was supposed to come out Christmas 2012 but now is set for 5/10/13, smack in between, “Iron Man 3” & “Star Trek: Trek Into Darkness”.  We’ll see how that move works out for the studios as time unfolds.

SO NOW, without further ado, here is what is on eChicken’s radar…

1/11 – “Zero Dark Thirty”.  In 2008, Kathryn Bigelow beat out her ex-husband James Cameron who made, “Avatar”, for best director and best picture with, “The Hurt Locker”.  She knows how to tell a modern warfare story and she is an excellent choice to bring the hunt for Osama bin Laden to the big screen.  People in high places are shivering a bit at the film’s portrayal of the use of torture in the hunt.  I don’t know, I haven’t seen it.  That said, it’s on my list.

1/25 – “John Dies at the End”.  As per IMDB, “A new street drug that sends its users across time and dimensions has one drawback: some people return as no longer human. Can two college dropouts save humankind from this silent, otherworldly invasion?”  This intrigues me – well, there’s that and it has Paul Giamatti in it and the guys is awesome.  I’d like to see this while its in theaters.  It’s good to support strange and soon-to-be cult cinema when & while you can.

2/14 – “A Good Day to Die Hard”.  You know the premise.  This time John McLane has his son with him.  Bruce Willis is a hometown boy (he’s from South Jersey) and, therefore, I have a soft spot for him. 

3/8 – “Oz the Great & Powerful”.  I love Mr. Sam Rami.  He has given the world some great cinema including, “Evil Dead I & II”, “Army of Darkness”, Spider-Man” and “Spider-Man 2”, he is a storyteller worth following.  So just how did Oz get over the rainbow to the Emerald City?  This film will answer that question.  I need some answers and Mr. Rami is gonna be providing them.

3/15 – “Carrie”.  This is a tough one for me.  You see, the original still holds water for me.  Sissy Spacek’s 1976 performance in the title role still sends shivers down my spine.  Throw in a young John Travolta and base it on a novel from Mr. Steven King and you’ve got a winning combination.  IMDB says about the 1976 version, “A young, abused and timid 17-year-old girl discovers she has telekinesis, and gets pushed to the limit on the night of her school's prom by a humiliating prank.”  The same can be said for the 2013 version.  I think I’ll rent the original – although, I may be surprised.

4/5 – “Jurassic Park 3D”.  Twenty years ago one of my all time heroes, Mr. Steven Spielberg gave the world, “Jurassic Park” which, for the time, set the high water mark for digital effects and its use in film.  Come April, it will be back in theaters given the 3D treatment.  This is one of my daughter’s all time favorite films so chances are I’ll be going to the theater to see it on the big screen again.  THAT is a good thing.

4/12 – “The Evil Dead”.  This is a remake that scares me for all the right reasons.  Instead of being frightened that there is a re-imagining of a cult classic produced and staffed by a studio looking for a quick buck & throw away, teen-of-the-week cast I take heart in knowing that Mr. Sam Rami and Mr. Bruce Campbell (‘Hail to the King, Baby’) are producing it.  These two care about this project.  It’s their baby.  Early spin says that this is going to scare the pants off a lot of people at the movies.  Who needs pants?  I’m in.

4/19 – “Oblivion”.  There appears to be a resurgence of Science Fiction at the movies and that makes my geek heart smile.  Mr. Tom Cruise stars as a repair man from the future who stumbles upon a conspiracy.  I like Tom Cruise and when he is in the right role and firing on all cylinders it’s something to behold.  Mr. Morgan Freeman is in this too.  It looks interesting and I like an interesting time at the movies.  Here is the synopsis, “One of the few remaining drone repairmen assigned to Earth, its surface devastated after decades of war with the alien Scavs, discovers a crashed spacecraft with contents that bring into question everything he believed about the war, and may even put the fate of mankind in his hands.”  It’s as I said, interesting. 

5/3 – “Iron Man 3”.  Make Mine Marvel.  Mr. Robert Downey Jr. is the embodiment of Tony Stark.  They are adding the Mandarin (Mr. Ben Kingsley) to the mix this time out.  Mr. Shane Black is at the helm.  Downey and Black worked on a great little picture, “Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang” and the two are going to raise the stakes for old Shell Head.  Synopsis from IMDB, “Tony Stark uses his ingenuity to fight those who destroyed his private world and soon goes up against his most powerful enemy yet: the Mandarin.”  This will also set things up for the next phase in Marvel movies and, ultimately, “Avengers 2”.  I will be at the theater opening day. 

5/10 – “The Great Gatsby”.  F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel of the roaring twenties comes to the big screen again, this time with Mr. Leonardo DiCaprio in the title role.  IMDB’s synopsis, “Nick Carraway, a Midwesterner now living on Long Island, finds himself fascinated by the mysterious past and lavish lifestyle of his neighbor, Jay Gatsby. He is drawn into Gatsby's circle, becoming a witness to obsession and tragedy.”  Fitzgerald’s book is not an easy read and it is not a ‘feel good’ story.  That said, it is an important one.  I hope that the studio reconsiders it’s placement in the summer line up.  This film may be worth exploring but it is sandwiched between two juggernauts.

5/17 – “Star Trek Into Darkness”.  Mr. J.J. Abrams gave us a retooled Star Trek that I continue to put in the Blu-ray player once or twice a year.  I love Star Trek and I’m not alone.  There is a reason that Star Trek has lived as long as it has and has prospered as much as it continues to do.  I am so looking forward to this next trip to the 23d century.  Still, I have questions, is Benedict Cumberbatch playing Gary X or is he playing Khan?  It is a very small circle that knows the answer to this question and on 5/17 those answers are opening up for the world to behold.  I will boldly go to a theater at 12:01 AM for this one, Gentle Reader.  Boldly go.

6/11 – “After Earth”.  Mr. M. Night Shyamalan is at the helm and Will Smith and his son, Jaden are, as the IMDB synopsis says, “After a crash landing, a father and son explore a planet that was evacuated by humans 1,000 years earlier.”  I really want this to work.  I hope it does.

6/11 – “Much Ado About Nothing”.  So what project does Mr. Joss Whedon the man responsible for a BILLION dollar franchise (I’m looking at you, “Avengers”) choose for his follow up?  Why the Bard, of course!  Lest there be no doubt, I love Joss Whedon.  He knows how to tell a tale and this looks like a breath of fresh air.  To the IMDB! “A modern retelling of Shakespeare's classic comedy about two pairs of lovers with different takes on romance and a way with words.”  This will be golden.  I think that Mother Hen & I will sneak out to see this one.  It will shine or be shiny for all you Whedon fans out there.

6/14 – “The Man of Steel”.  Mr. Zack Snyder is at the helm of this retelling of the Superman story.  Already in that last sentence I have given two reasons why I will be in the theater opening day (if not 12:01 AM), Zack Snyder & Superman.  Mr. Snyder gets sequential storytelling.  This is the man who did what no one thought could be done, he brought, “The Watchmen” to the screen and he did it well.  He is an excellent choice for bringing Kal-El to the big screen again.  DC / Warner has a lot riding on the success of this film.  If all goes well, this film will be the tent pool that the rest of their movie universe stems from.  They want a Justice League movie and the only way to do it right is to follow Marvel’s example of having stand-alone films and team assembling spectaculars.  This will be the beginning.  I want to be there.

6/21 – “World War Z”.  I was so happy when I heard that Max Brooks book was coming to the big screen.  When I heard that Brad Pitt and his company, “Plan-B” were attached I still didn’t lose hope.  Then I heard of the massive rewrites and I got scared.  Why would you mess with such a winning formula?  Just shoot it documentary style and you’re not only true to the source material you also have the opportunity to make a thinking person’s zombie film.  You have a chance to say something.  Then I saw the trailer and I’m not convinced ANYONE attached to the movie read the book.  I truly hope that I’m wrong.  Brooks’ story deserves much better than that.  Here’s hopin’.

6/28 – “Kick-Ass 2”.  Bring on Hit-Girl!  IMDB synopsis, “The costumed high-school hero Kick-Ass joins with a group of normal citizens who have been inspired to fight crime in costume. Meanwhile, the Red Mist plots an act of revenge that will affect everyone Kick-Ass knows.”  Theater?  Perhaps.  With so many films being released vying for my pocket change I’m gonna have to be choosey. 

7/3 – “The Lone Ranger”.  I remember seeing Clayton Moore in a stage show in Vineland, NJ, of all places, back in the eighties.  He must have been close to his eighties himself at the time but it didn’t matter because, the Lone Ranger was standing right before my eyes.  The original stared Mr. Moore as the title character and Mr. Jay Silverheels as the other half of the team, Tonto.  This is a project that needs to be handled with care and, like a spark, fanned into life.  That task has been put to Mr. Gore Verbinski, Johnny Depp, & Armie Hammer.  Gore & Depp gave the world Captain Jack Sparrow.  Now they are heading westward.  Depp is Tonto & Hammer is the Lone Ranger.  IMDB synopsis, “Native American spirit warrior Tonto recounts the untold tales that transformed John Reid, a man of the law, into a legend of justice.”  Will I be at the theater?  Who am I to mess with a legend, Kemosabe?

7/12 – “Pacific Rim”.  Giant monsters verses giant robots.  Sounds like a huge slice of cheese until you mention the fact that Mr. Guillermo del Toro is at the helm.  Mr. Del Toro is another one of my heroes – the man knows how to tell a story.  Further, he knows how to make the impossible and the fantastic real.  He will make you believe and, Gentle Reader, I want to believe.  This is the film that he made when the studios in an amazing display of short-sightedness pulled out of, “At the Mountains of Madness”.  Now I ask you, who else in the entire world would you hire to bring H. P. Lovecraft to life on the big screen other than Guillermo del Toro?  My ranting aside, this is an opening day picture for me.  Did I mention giant monsters verses giant robots?

7/19 – “R.I.P.D.”.  Based on a graphic novel that I have not read that stars Mr. Ryan Reynolds & Mr. Jeff Bridges.  I have a soft spot for Mr. Bridges ever since, “TRON”, “The Big Lebowski”, and the remake of, “True Grit”.  IMDB has this to say about the movie, “A recently slain cop joins a team of undead police officers working for the Rest in Peace Department and tries to find the man who murdered him.”  It’s billed as an action – comedy.  It sounds like it might be fun.

7/26 – “The Wolverine”.  Mr. Hugh Jackman is back in the title role of one of fandoms favorite mutants, Wolverine.  The man is amazing; he does it all, he sings, he dances, he has claws & a mutant healing factor – really, he does it all.  The last studio foray, “Wolverine: X-Men Origins” was a disappointment for the producers and anyone else who has even remotely brushed up against a comic book or saw any of the other “X-Men” movies.  Mr. Jackman wants to make amends and I think he’ll do just that.  This outing finds Wolverine in Japan where he trains with a samurai warrior.  I’m not sure what era this takes place in but I’m more than ready for my healing factor to kick in and move forward with this character & series.  “The Wolverine” just may be worth the price of admission.  

8/2 – “Red 2”.  I liked the first one on Blu-ray.

8/2 – “300: Rise of an Empire”.  I liked the first one on Blu-ray.

9/13 – “I, Frankenstein”.  Ok, I’m a sucker for a good Frankenstein story.  Whether this particular film is a good Frankenstein story remains to be seen; however, Mr. Aaron Eckhart is playing the role of Adam (the Monster) and Mr. Bill Nighy is in the mix too.  Those are two good players.  The synopsis makes it sound like an Underworld story and, who knows; maybe that’s not a bad thing?  “Frankenstein's creature finds himself caught in an all-out, centuries old war between two immortal clans.”  We shall see what we shall see.

10/25 – “The World’s End”.  I need to go on record.  I love Edgar Wright, Simon Pegg, & Nick Frost.  There – I said it.  Confession is good for the soul; still who couldn’t love the team that brought the world, “Shawn of the Dead” & “Hot Fuzz”?  “The World’s End” is the third and final film in the Blood and Ice Cream trilogy (BOOM: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Flavours_Cornetto_trilogy).  There is humor and more than a little heart in what they do.  Mr. Martin Freeman is a part of the cast this go round and that sounds wonderful.  IMDB synopsis, “Five friends who reunite in an attempt to top their epic pub crawl from 20 years earlier unwittingly become humankind's only hope for survival.”  Will I be there at the theater for this one?  NO DOUBT.  My oldest daughter would kill me if we didn’t go see it. 

11/1 – “Ender’s Game”.  Based on the book from Orson Scott Card, Harrison Ford & Ben Kingsley take a gifted child and turn him into a destroyer of worlds.  It is a great story that I hope makes a good translation to film.  Here is the synopsis, “70 years after a horrific alien war, an unusually gifted child is sent to an advanced military school in space to prepare for a future invasion.” 

11/8 – “THOR: The Dark World”.  This is the second Marvel film in 2013 that lays the foundation for “Avengers 2”.  Mr. Alan Taylor is at the helm.  From what I can gather he has done a pretty jaw-dropping job of directing a half dozen episodes of, “A Game of Thrones” and it was because of this that Marvel sought him out to direct the new THOR movie.  They are looking for storytellers who can make the fantastic real.  That suspension of disbelief is integral to authenticating imaginary worlds.  Here is the IMDB synopsis, “Thor battles an ancient race of Dark Elves led by the vengeful Malekith who threatens to plunge the universe back into darkness after the events of The Avengers.”  My fanny is in a theater opening day.  Make Mine Marvel.

12/13 – “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”.  Today, the very day that I am writing this particular blog Mr. Peter Jackson’s, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” world wide made half a billion dollars.  That’s enough to buy second breakfasts for the whole of New Zealand and Middle Earth combined.  Mr. Jackson knows Middle Earth.  He’s been there.  He’s had the good tilled earth between his toes at the Shire and has smelled the seed cakes baking in Bilbo’s oven at Bag End.  He knows Middle Earth.  Fortunately, Mr. Jackson also knows how to tell a story and, it is my joy to say, the world if richer for it.  The cast that he has assembled for “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy were simply spot on and practically lifted from that special place in the ether where authors and readers meet.  “The Hobbit” is pure wonder and joy on the big screen.  J.R.R. Tolkien would have been proud, Mr. Jackson ~ the same can be said for the cast & crew.  He would have been proud.  The IMDB synopsis is as follows, “The Dwarfs, Bilbo and Gandalf have successfully escaped the misty mountains, but Bilbo has gained the one ring. They all continue their journey to get their gold back off the Dragon, Smaug.”  Wonder & joy; and you know, the world needs more of just that.  I will be in a theater seat with my entire family at 12:01 AM.  There is no doubt in my mind.   

<<<>>>

So that’s what’s on my list for 2013.  Did I miss something?  That’s easy to do.  So tell me, Gentle Reader, what’s on YOUR movie list for 2013?

Christmas 2009

Let me go on the record and say the best Christmas Present that I got this year has got to be the Star Trek, Phaser Type-1 unit Hallmark ornament with three settings. I love this thing. It’s got a cool trigger mechanism and a setting dial for beam intensity. I’ve been carrying this death-ray with me wherever I go. One never knows when there will be an attack from either the Klingon or Romulan Empires. It’s wonderful. I can now annoy my kids in a variety of new and exciting ways.

“Dad, my food is cold.”

“No problem, honey.”

ZAP!

Man, I love that thing.

Merry Post Christmas, Gentle Reader. I hope that you and yours have a wonderful Christmas season and a Happy New Year!

Blue-Ray Dossier - Volume 3.0

This is a busy time of year for yours truly. November is National Novel Writing Month, the holidays are right around the corner, I’m collaborating with a friend of mine on a screenplay, I’m still blogging, and then there are all of those wonderful Blu-ray movies that keep popping up.

Gentle Reader, all thought there are shenanigans aplenty, I humbly want you to know that I am still fighting the good fight; I’m still watching movies – Blu-ray movies that is. I rate movies on a one – five star, two round system; round one is all about the story and round two is all about the Blu-ray. The more stars the better. Here’s what has been on the menu…

“Beetlejuice” 4 Stars / 3.5 Stars. I love Tim Burton. Say what you will but the man has a unique vision when it comes to creating worlds on film. He has an eye for telling stories. Beetlejuice is no different. What’s not to like about this Tim Burton film about a Bio-Exorcist (a ghost who gets rid of the living for you)? You have a recently deceased, naive couple that is trying to rid themselves of the obnoxious new owners of their home. They can’t do the job themselves and when the regular lines of bureaucracy in the afterlife fail them they call on Beetlejuice adeptly played by Michael Keaton. Brilliant stuff. You will giggle. The Blu-ray aspect is not as good as it could have been but I believe it is only a question of technology. “Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland” is being released in 2010 and I have no doubt that when that hits Blu-ray my jaw will drop. Beetlejuice is retrofitted but worth your time.

“Monsters Vs. Aliens” 3 Stars / 4 Stars. This is a cute movie. Reese Witherspoon voices Susan, a woman whom on her wedding day becomes the 50 Foot Woman. She is captured by the government and then is united with a group of monsters that have been hidden away since the fifties. It’s light, it’s entertaining and the kids loved it. There you go. The Blu-ray factor is better. Watching the Golden Gate Bridge get destroyed was a feast for the eyes. When the President of the United States is attacked by the giant robot the detail was gorgeous. This was worth the rental and you may want to pick up a copy if you have little ones.

“Up” 5 Stars / 5 Stars. I do not think that I have ever seen a better picture about the human grieving process than “Up”. There is a lot of symbolism in this one. Pixar can do no wrong. Be warned, this is a tearjerker that has mortality and adventure at its heart. You will be moved. The wizards at Pixar are able to accomplish more with a well-told, heartfelt story via computer animation than a lot of flesh and blood directors and actors can on film. It is brilliant storytelling and yes, I cried. The joy of this film is that Pixar never once treats you, the viewer, like an idiot by making the characters anything less than flesh and blood. Simply brilliant. The Blu-ray factor will knock your socks off. The balloons and the detail on the Tapui mountain tops… spectacular. This is not in my collection yet but it will be.

“King Kong the Extended Edition” 4.5 Stars / 5 Stars. Peter Jackson is one of my favorite guys to watch in the business. Not only is he a great storyteller but also he is a fan. This is at once an homage and a digital upgrade to one of my all time favorites, 1933’s RKO Pictures, “King Kong”. This film is a love letter to the original and Jackson delivers. He used some of the actors from his Lord of the Rings trilogy so you may see one or two familiar faces along the way including Andy Serkis (Golem from the Lord of the Rings Trilogy) who plays Lumpy the cook and does the motion capture work for King Kong himself. The trouble with doing a remake of a legend is that everyone already knows how it ends. Still this one is worth your time just for the action that takes place on Skull Island alone. The Blu-ray factor is mesmerizing. Your jaw will drop. The detail is startling. If you are a fan of Kong you probably already own this one. If you are not the Extended Edition (emphasis on the ‘Extended’ at over 3 hours and 20 minutes) is most certainly worth your time.

“G.I. Joe” 2.5 Stars / 3 Stars. I went into this one prejudiced. I went in thinking preconceived and assumed bad things about the movie, which is not entirely too fair. I should approach unseen movies / films with an open mind instead of being closed off to the possibility that I may actually like a project and that, perhaps, it can stand on it’s own merit. I should aspire to be a better Evil Chicken. What can I say? I was wrong to be so heavy handed. It was better than I thought it was going to be. They took a toy line and cartoon from the eighties (they ignored the G.I. Joe that I grew up with minus a “Kung Fu Grip” nod) and put it on the big screen with aplomb. This being said, “G.I. Joe” is not Shakespeare or Spielberg – It’s “G.I. Joe”. Don’t go into this movie thinking it’s going to be a film and you’ll have a good time. I liked the

“Star Trek” 4.5 Stars / 4.5 Stars. J.J. Abrams and the new crew of the Enterprise deliver BIG TIME on this resetting of a cultural and science fiction behemoth, Star Trek. I am a fan so it was important to remain as fair and balanced as possible. Mr. Abrams and company know what they are doing. This crew from a universe just next to ours take an over 40 year cannon of stories and flip it on it’s pointy ear. That is no easy feat. What’s old is new once more and sacred cows are the first things to be slaughtered. Anything goes in this new universe. Kirk and Spock hate each other, a major federation planet implodes and Captain Pike does not BEEP! Oh, it is a good time to jump on board the Enterprise. Speaking of the Enterprise; she looks beautiful in Blu-ray. There is a special section on disc two where you can investigate the Enterprise. Do so. I have always loved the design of this vessel and J.J.’s starship is a wonder to behold unto itself. I can’t wait to boldly go where no other Star Trek has gone before… back to the beginning – this is not wrote, it’s new and anything can happen. I own this one and you should too.

So there you have it, Gentle Reader, Volume III of the Blu-Ray Dossier. I’ll see you in line at Blockbuster!

On Teaching Star Trek

I had the pleasure of teaching a course on Star Trek to give or take 13 kids this past week at the Cumberland County College’s Summer Kids Camp. For how all that came about see this: http://evilchickenscratch.blogspot.com/2009/05/college-camp-class-final-frontier.html, it’s got all the gory details.

There were adventures and misadventures, crafts and conversational Klingon, some young fans and some kids who were just signed into the class because it was open. At the class’s heart; however, was Star Trek and, therefore, hope – and YES I am aware how cheesy that sounds. As I said on the first day of class, standing in the glow of a PowerPoint presentation, “Star Trek is a lot of things, science, history, technology, sociology, exploration; but at it’s core is hope; hope that we don’t destroy ourselves, hope that we learn to live together as a people, hope that we can live in an age of exploration where people Boldly Go into that great and final frontier. I was hired to teach Star Trek and that’s exactly what I did. Of course, when one is hired to teach such a class it really is a history of the future and the history’s future is being written right now and in the last 43 years of history. This is how I approached this class. Case in point; the words, “To boldly go where no man has gone before,” were lifted from a brochure that President Kennedy’s office prepared for congress to make the case for going to the moon. How did we get to the moon? It was through hard work and determination – the Saturn 5 rocket and the Eagle Lander. How was it possible to understand how the rocket would take the men to the moon? The scientists involved with launching such a (dare I say) enterprise had to have a firm knowledge of mathematics, physics, and science; they must have understood Newton’s three laws of motion, Copernicus and Galileo’s controversial heliocentric theories. No doubt the men, not only on the moon 40 years ago, but the scientists who helped put them there had some inkling of an idea who those men were.

After the Star Trek class so did my kids.

But what about now - the Space Shuttle program is ending in 2010, what’s going to replace it? Well if Sir Richard Branson has his way anyone will be able to go into space as long as they can afford a ticket ($200,000). As I am typing this he is building the worlds first consumer oriented spaceport. The V.S.S. Enterprise (Virgin Space Ship) from Virgin Galactic is reportedly 60% completed. Branson based his design off of the X-Prize winning Space Ship One which now hangs in between the X-1 (the plane that first broke the sound barrier) and The Spirit of St. Louis (the first plane to cross the Atlantic ocean) at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. Of course NASA has plans too. The Ares program will replace the Space Shuttle in 2020. The Ares rocket will be able to put payloads into orbit such as the new Orion Spacecraft, which has been designed to be a big part in our return to the moon and for our first trip to Mars.

Any parent who asks their child what they did in the class can point to these two very real programs that will take place in the very near future – in their lifetimes and say that they heard it first in Star Trek class.

“Yeah, but did you cover anything Star Trek related?” you may ask.

Have you not been listening? We are outlining the history of the future here! Of course we covered Star Trek but you must understand that Star Trek is based on the world we know – the world in which we live. We are just pre-warp drive society... for now. Other things covered in the class were our solar system & galaxy; how long a year is on Mercury as opposed to right here on Earth, robotics & androids (such as Mr. Data), conversational Klingon (such as Hab SoSlI' Quch! “Your mother has a smooth forehead!”), and just where each of the student’s would sit on the bridge of the Enterprise. We were going to cover dangerous alien species such as targhs, tribbles, & Ceti-eels and have a guest speaker but the guest speaker from an organization that will remain nameless (who is not the SPCA or any of the local zoos) never showed. I choose to believe the no call no show was due to a miscommunication just one or two levels above the woman who told me she would come if it was cleared with her supervisor (whom I also spoke with). Another possibility is that this organization heard that they would be presenting to a Star Trek class and failed to see any connection with what they do. I had an alternate lesson just in case; just in case happened so Plan B went into effect. The kids now know more about robots in today’s world than they do about dangerous animals.

Such is life.

The class was a blast. Still I was surprised at how many non Star Trek fans I had in the class. In my naivety I assumed that I would have a class full of Trekkies; this was not the case and the majority of my kids were just signed in because there was something open. Even though this was the case I think that they enjoyed it too. In my adventures this past week I have discovered a new respect for the profession of teaching. Seriously. It takes a LOT of work to feel comfortable teaching on any topic with any degree of legitimacy. Star Trek I knew I could handle; the science behind it was another story. I stayed up a lot of nights perfecting my PowerPoint presentations and the You Tube animations to back them up.

I hope that the kids had a good time. I think that they did. The last day we checked out an episode of Star Trek the Next Generation, “Hide and Q”, talked about the Ares program and had the Massive Multiplayer Trivia Challenge and it was fantastic. I laughed so hard that I still grin just thinking about it.

It they will have me back at the Cumberland County College’s Summer Kid’s Camp, I would gladly, NAY – Boldly Go! What can I say? It was a hoot.

Live long and prosper, Gentle Reader.

More Reasons to see Star Trek Again

Go for the Easter Eggs!

“Huh?”

The Easter Eggs; you know, intentional props, people, and personifications slipped into a motion picture as acts of homage? Well, J.J. Abrams slipped a lot of Easter Eggs into the basket that is “Star Trek”. Did you see R2-D2, Randy Pousch’s cameo, 1701-D’s logo on Kirk’s duffle bag, or the how the bottle of Saurian Bandy was used? …No? Well, me neither (hence why I must return to the multiplex).

The folks over at Trek Movie have compiled a list and where you need to direct your attention. That list is here: http://trekmovie.com/2009/06/11/location-of-r2-d2-easter-egg-revealed-more-star-trek-easter-eggs/.

Who doesn’t like an Easter Egg every now and again?

College Camp Class… The Final Frontier

So I’m mowing the lawn – an abhorrent activity that sucks away about an hour and a half – two hours of my life on a laborious and weekly basis this time of year, and I notice out of the corner of my eye Mother Hen. She was wandering in my direction when the engine stalled. The stalling of the engine is nothing new in the weekly sentence of cutting the grass but having Mother Hen outside while I am mowing the lawn is.

“Would you be interested in teaching a class on Star Trek?” she asked.

“What?”

“Yeah, you heard me. The college is hosting summer camp classes. They are looking for a Pokemon instructor and someone to teach a class on Star Trek. Would you be interested?”

“You’re kidding.”

“Nope.”

“Sure!” I said with a smile. “How cool is that?”

“Yeah, I thought you’d like that.” She said with a smile and she went back inside leaving me to tend to the rest of the greens. I primed the engine and started the mower once again – now my thoughts were on the class and all of the wonderful possibilities that it presents instead of the lawn; and I was all right with that.

And that’s how it happened, Gentle Reader; that is how yours truly became the instructor for the summer course on STAR TREK! Let me just say, I can’t wait. I am going to be sharing one of my passions with others, getting paid for it, and, my youngest daughter, Chicken Little (Chick 3.0), can take the course for free! I still don’t know how many kids will be in the class but I’m really excited about getting underway. When its over I want the kids to know what to do in case of a warp core breach, just how Zephraim Cochran ushered in the age of warp technology, and the dangers of mind melding with a Horta. More importantly, however, I want them to be aware of a great story that happens to unfold in the 23d century and that they can appreciate the historical, scientific, technological and social context of that story as well. I can’t wait.

“The Human Adventure is Just Beginning.” I will keep you posted on how it goes this August.

Star Trek

Let me cut to the chase. Go see this movie. It deserves to be the 900 lbs Gorilla of the 2009 summer movie season. Star Trek is BACK! Bring an uninitiated and unwashed non-Trek fan with you and you will BOTH have a great time at the movies. Be warned, Gentle Reader, whether you think you are or you aren’t a fan of Star Trek – you WILL be after you see J.J. Abrams take on the legend. You may want to tell a friend about the great time you had at the movies seeing the new “Star Trek” movie. This friend of yours may say something like, “Star Trek” and wrinkle their nose as if they have just stepped in something they wish they hadn’t. Take heart – the stereotype pendulum swings both ways. They probably do not deserve to enjoy the wonderful bounty and feast for the eyes that the new “Star Trek” film is. Come to think of it, chances are you need better friends anyway.

But enough about your friends, THIS is about STAR TREK.

A little note about me and not to beat a dead horse but one could say that I have more than a passing interest in Star Trek. More to the point, I am a fan; mostly of the Original Series and The Next Generation with a little Deep Space Nine thrown in for good measure. Treks after that – and with all due respect to Seven of Nine, no thanks, I’ll pass. Now you know where I stand. If you want to know further where I stand I recommend checking here: http://evilchickenscratch.blogspot.com/2006/04/reenergized-part-i-of-ii.html, here: http://evilchickenscratch.blogspot.com/2006/04/re-energized-part-ii-movies.html, and here: http://evilchickenscratch.blogspot.com/2009/04/enterprise-project.html.

Now that’s out of the way let’s get down to business… Scratch that. I should also say that there will be mild SPOILERS ahead so if you with to remain pure stop reading now. See you next time and thanks for stopping by.

Ok, NOW let’s get down to business.

J.J. Abrams has delivered. He has re-launched the entire franchise by making a Star Trek movie that everyone can enjoy. Not since “Star Trek II – the Wrath of Kahn” has this feat been accomplished. In fact, STAR TREK is even more accessible to the general populous due to the fact that the story itself is like pressing a giant reset button. This is the cadet crew of the starship Enterprise – but they exist inside an altered timeline. In other words that which was old is new again – in a BIG way. Accepted truths from the original series are now no longer set in stone. The characters are, at their core, still the same it’s their future that is WIDE OPEN. This altered timeline sacrifices sacred cows and promises that it will continue to do so into the future. I love this turn of events in the Star Trek universe. Suddenly, I’m not the only one who can hope that “Voyager” and the last few Star Trek movies with the Next Generation cast just never happened.

Telling a story on film is a collaborative art. The director and the cast has to have a story that they can hang their hats onto. Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman are the ones who helped lift the “Star Trek Movie Curse” (only the even numbered ones are good). Although this STAR TREK has reset everything, technically it is the eleventh in the series. The curse has been lifted. They did not forget that anything with the title of Star Trek should foster hope.

“Hope?”

Yes HOPE! Hope for a great many things. Hope that in the future we don’t blow ourselves to kingdom come, hope that the future is one where people have learned to get along – as human beings and, in a greater a scope, in a universe that is teeming with life, and hope that humanity has a place in the cosmos. Star Trek is about a great many things but, rest assured, the greatest of these is hope. Orci and Kurtzman used this to their advantage. I hope that they continue to do so in the future.

The cast is superb. Going into the multiplex, as a fan, you hope for the best, well, the best was what this fan got. In an odd way this film is like welcoming back old friends. All of the principals nail the dismount here. Christopher Pine’s James Tiberius Kirk unites arrogance with ability. Zachary Quinto’s uncanny performance as Commander Spock underlines the emotions of the emotionless and the loneliness of being the character he is. Zoe Saldana’s Uhura is just a joy to behold. Karl Urban channels DeForest Kelly as Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy. John Cho is the folding Katana wielding Mr. Sulu. Anton Yelchin is the 17 year-old math whiz, Ensign Pavel Chekov. Simon Pegg is Engineer, Montgomery Scott. Pegg’s “Scotty” is a force to be reckoned with. Pegg chewed up every scene he was in and made his role, somewhat of a memorial to James Doohan. There is a scene where Scotty is sitting next to another man in the transporter room – that other man is Jimmy Doohan’s son. Brilliant. Then there is Leonard Nimoy as an older Ambassador Spock from the future. I’m smiling as I type this because I know that the director, writers, and actors must have had a great time with working with Mr. Nimoy and the Older Spock character.

I could go on but you should really see it for yourself. The curse has been lifted. STAR TREK is BACK! “The Future is Beginning” at a theater near you.

The Enterprise Project

Yep. I am a Star Trek fan. I bleed GEEK. So when I heard about “The Enterprise Project” I gushed a bit. It’s pop art through the eyes of pop art. As per the website…

Respected graffiti, FX and pop artists from all over the world have designed their interpretations of the USS Enterprise. These 34-inch-long replicas of the USS Enterprise from the upcoming film were cast from the 3D digital models created for the film by Industrial Light & Magic. These models will begin touring the world in March – see the location details on each ship to find its current location.

People such as Jim Lee and Robert Rodriguez each have submissions. It would be fun to see them all together in one place for now, however, you can check ‘em out here: http://www.startrekmovie.com/modelgallery/. There will be more Enterprise interpretations coming soon.

This might be able to hold me over until the first 12:01 showing on May 8. We shall see…

The New Enterprise

Here’s a look at the new Enterprise from J.J. Abram’s new Star Trek movie. Entertainment Weekly had the shot and now, you too have seen it, Gentle Reader.

The Star Trek 11 trailer is attached to “Quantum of Solace” the new James Bond film. Now I’ve got two reasons to go to the theater; Trek & Bond.

BTW, Daniel Craig is an amazing James Bond. I had my doubts before seeing “Casino Royal” but I was wrong. I hope that he’s the man for the foreseeable future.

I’m falling incredibly far behind in my word count due to simply unbelievable circumstances that have cropped up. Oh well, keep typing – hack now, edit later.

See you at the movies.

File Under G for GEEK

March 6th – 8th in 2009, in Cherry Hill of all places, a Star Trek convention will take place and yours truly, Gentle Reader, will be there. Gory details: http://www.creationent.com/cal/stnj.htm#events. That’s right – I said it; I’m going to a Star Trek convention. I don’t know who will be appearing yet but it will be worth the visit for the experience alone.

“Have a good time.” My wife said.

“Oh come on – it’ll be fun.” I said.

“I’m sure you’ll have a good time.” She replied.

“Don’t you want to go and see the sights – share the experience?”

“No.”

“Yeah but…”

“No.”

“How about the…”

“No.” That was three ‘NO’s – the official telemarketers cease and desist bugging me at home while I’m trying to eat dinner notice. Oh yes, I’ll play at your clever ruse – for now. Who can resist the siren call of a good Star Trek convention? It’s like the seductive dance of a green Orion Slave Girl or spelunking to a Horta or reproducing to a Tribble – it’s manna to any geek worth his or her salt.

I haven’t given up on her yet.

I think the kids will dig the experience. How often do I get a chance to embarrass and emotional scar my progeny by geeking out at a Star Trek convention? Not very often (well, at least at a Star Trek convention). Oh, who am I kidding? They’re gonna love it. Be it genetics or osmosis or proximity they are geeks too!

I am so proud.

I would like to go on record as saying that I have never owned a pair of pointy ears nor a Starfleet uniform. Costumes are not my bag, baby – at least at Star Trek conventions. There are those who do enjoy it but that’s not my scene. I’ve been more than content to watch them though; Orion Slave Girls, Vulcans, Andorians and the ever-present representatives from the Klingon Empire. Instead of the costumes, I have always been drawn to the story – the whole ‘human adventure is just beginning’ thing? I enjoy hearing the tales of those who bring the legend to life. I find it fascinating. As a guy who likes to write there are those dream jobs on projects that you would like to have a hand in helping to move forward – writing for Star Trek is one of those dream jobs. That’s pretty cool, in a geek like fashion, to hear what these guys have to say about moving the story forward.

You know, perhaps I’m looking at this whole ‘get my wife to a Star Trek convention’ thing the wrong way. Maybe I’ve been looking at this whole costume thing through jaded eyes – maybe I should learn the seductive dance of the Orion Slave Girls.

Hmmm, now where did I put that green paint?

Christopher Pike on the Big Screen

The original Star Trek “The Menagerie” is coming to theaters. Check it – http://www.fathomevents.com/details.aspx?eventid=685. You remember that episode… Captain Christopher Pike was the beeping guy in the wheelchair, Spock highjacks the Enterprise and Kirk has to defend his actions? Sure you have… good times, good times. Well it’s been digitally remastered and new special effects will be in theaters (even New Jersey theaters!) on November 13th AND 15th. Below is a list of theaters here in Jersey that are going to have the goods.

Burlington Stadium 20 Burlington NJ 08016
Clifton Commons 16 Clifton NJ 07014
Hamilton 24 Hamilton NJ 08619
Hamilton Commons 14 Mays Landing NJ 08330
Commerce Center Stadium 18 North Brunswick NJ 08902
Pohatcong 12 Phillipsburg NJ 08865
UA Washington Township 14 Sewell NJ 08080
Hadley Theatre Stadium 16 South Plainfield NJ 07080
Cross Keys Cinema Stadium 12 Turnersville NJ 08012
Cumberland Mall Stadium 14 Vineland NJ 08360

Am I going to be there? BEEP! (if memory serves that’s affirmative.)

Casting Thus Far…

Zachary Quinto (Heroes) as a certain young Vulcan.

Anton Yelchin (the kid from Hearts in Atlantis) as Pavel Chekov

Chris Pine (Princess Diaries 2) as James Tiberius Kirk [although the ink has not dried yet on this deal.]

Zoe Saldana (Drumline, Pirates of the Caribbean – Curse of the Black Pearl) as Nyota Uhura.

John Cho (Harold and Kumar go to White Castle) as Hikaru Sulu.

Leonard Nimoy (Star Trek TOS) as an elder Spock.

... And now…

SIMON PEGG (Shawn of the Dead, Hot Fuzz) as Montgomery Scott!

Lest there be no doubt… I will be camping out for this one.

It will be wrapped up for a Christmas release in 2008.

Life is good.