Star Trek is better than everything

[Mr. Hooper 2,055]

Sorry, I can't resist...

 

 

 

[Andy 4,307]

Maybe. 
 

But this (absolutely awesome) photo from Joe Sikoryak via Lukas Kendall’s blog tells a different story from the same time. 
 

 

This is an early Trek convention photo from 1974.  The thing that struck me, beyond how amazing these costumes are, before anyone called it “cosplay” (God, I despise that term), is that most of them are female.  And fairly attractive by conventional standards by the looks of it too. I guess they’re still what people would call Nerds, but if I were the right age in ‘74, this is exactly where you’d find me trying to meet the Rand to my Kirk. 

[Sweeping Strings 2,435]

The girl directly behind what I'm going to go ahead and call the Walrus Dog looks like she's just remembered that she left the stove on or something.

[Jurassic Shark 12,288]

Isn't that the expression of most Star Trek characters?

[Andy 4,307]

Pretty much, yes. 

[Mr. Hooper 2,055]

Who else heard the classic two-note "surprise" music when looking at these? lol

 

[Tallguy 3,587]

On a heavier note:

https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-john-trimble

[Mr. Hooper 2,055]

22 minutes ago, Tallguy said:

On a heavier note:

https://www.startrek.com/news/remembering-john-trimble

Wasn't aware of this part of Star Trek history... Back when letter-writing campaigns could actually make a difference.

 

But for a second there, I thought David Letterman had passed away!

[Nick1Ø66 4,932]

On 21/4/2024 at 7:21 PM, Andy said:

Maybe. 
 

But this (absolutely awesome) photo from Joe Sikoryak via Lukas Kendall’s blog tells a different story from the same time. 
 

 

This is an early Trek convention photo from 1974.  The thing that struck me, beyond how amazing these costumes are, before anyone called it “cosplay” (God, I despise that term), is that most of them are female.  And fairly attractive by conventional standards by the looks of it too. I guess they’re still what people would call Nerds, but if I were the right age in ‘74, this is exactly where you’d find me trying to meet the Rand to my Kirk. 

This is f*cking awesome.

[The Great Gonzales 5,493]

On 21/04/2024 at 8:21 PM, Andy said:

before anyone called it “cosplay” (God, I despise that term),

We have Japan's to thank for that one apparently:

 

Quote

The Japanese term, Kosupure, anglicized as Cosplay, is a portmanteau of the English words costume play.  The creation of the term is often attributed to Nobuyuki Takahashi of Studio Hard, who may have coined the word after attending the 1984 World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) in Los Angeles, California.

https://libguides.lib.umt.edu/cosplay

[Tallguy 3,587]

Gotta say "cosplay" beats the hell out of "garb".

 

8 hours ago, Mr. Hooper said:

Wasn't aware of this part of Star Trek history... Back when letter-writing campaigns could actually make a difference.

 

I'm not sure if I ever met John, but I met Bjo just before TNG went on the air. (I might have met both of them at the same time. But she was the one who had written a book.)

[The Great Gonzales 5,493]

4 hours ago, Tallguy said:

Gotta say "cosplay" beats the hell out of "garb".

Garb is elegance.

[Tallguy 3,587]

1 hour ago, Faleel said:

Garb is elegance.

 

Clearly you've never smelled an SCA camp.

[Andy 4,307]

Cosplay just sounds like bedroom roleplay.  I hate it. Now if I was a Furry, then it might be appropriate. 
 

As a former 501st member, I liked the use of the word “Trooping”, as in “you Trooping that event on Friday?”

 

or

 

Indiana Jones costumers have it right. It’s Gear. “I threw on my Gear for the Con.”

[Mr. Hooper 2,055]

2 hours ago, Andy said:

Cosplay just sounds like bedroom roleplay.

Bring on the "cosplay" then, I say!

 

By the way, as the big signs at Fan Expo say: "COSPLAY IS NOT CONSENT!"

[Sweeping Strings 2,435]

A chap can end up not knowing where to look at a convention (and then gives up and looks anyway) ... some of those female cosplayers, HOT DAMN. 

It can be a strange experience finding yourself in a vast conference space on a Saturday morning realising that if you don't stop staring at Poison Ivy's ass soon, somebody's gonna notice. 

Allegedly  . 

[Edmilson 7,706]

Uh oh.

 

[Mr. Hooper 2,055]

On 27/4/2024 at 6:30 AM, Sweeping Strings said:

A chap can end up not knowing where to look at a convention (and then gives up and looks anyway) ... some of those female cosplayers, HOT DAMN. 

It can be a strange experience finding yourself in a vast conference space on a Saturday morning realising that if you don't stop staring at Poison Ivy's ass soon, somebody's gonna notice. 

Allegedly  . 

That brings back a memory of being forced to follow in a line behind a girl in a revealing outfit that, shall we say, revealed more than you wanted to see...

 

I'll just say "cottage cheese" and leave it to your imagination.

[Sweeping Strings 2,435]

If I remember the appearance of cottage cheese correctly, I think you're saying she had a big ol' cellulitey ass on her.  

[Naïve Old Fart 9,805]

On 30/04/2024 at 4:05 PM, Mr. Hooper said:

I'll just say "cottage cheese" and leave it to your imagination.

 

LMFAO! 

 

Oh, no!

I've just realised that I am laughing at this girl's misfortune. Of course, it's not her fault that her ass was the size of Poland, and that it looked like the surface of The Moon. Her diet of pizza and ice cream is a direct result of the abuse she undoubtedly suffered at the hands of the monster of her father. Nor was it her fault that she was wearing a revealing outfit that emphasised this. Society no doubt forced her into these attitudes. The fact that @Mr. Hooperlooked, is completely unacceptable!

I can only apologize profusely, for any offence caused to the po' girl, her friends, and all of womankind. 

 

Spoiler

Of course, I don't mean a word of it, but that's the kind of stance that people are expected to adopt, these days. For fuck's sake.

 

[Tom Guernsey 2,361]

42 minutes ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

 

LMFAO! 

 

Oh, no!

I've just realised that I am laughing at this girl's misfortune. Of course, it's not her fault that her ass was the size of Poland, and that it looked like the surface of The Moon. Her diet of pizza and ice cream is a direct result of the abuse she undoubtedly suffered at the hands of the monster of her father. Nor was it her fault that she was wearing a revealing outfit that emphasised this. Society no doubt forced her into these attitudes. The fact that @Mr. Hooperlooked, is completely unacceptable!

I can only apologize profusely, for any offence caused to the po' girl, her friends, and all of womankind. 

 

  Reveal hidden contents

Of course, I don't mean a word of it, but that's the kind of stance that people are expected to adopt, these days. For fuck's sake.

 

Eh I think there’s a difference between being respectful and not sexist and judgemental.

[Mr. Hooper 2,055]

10 hours ago, Naïve Old Fart said:

The fact that @Mr. Hooperlooked, is completely unacceptable!

I wasn't given much of a choice. But maybe I wouldn't have noticed, nor made a remark about it here, had I been riding high enough on my horse. 

[Tallguy 3,587]

TIL that the singer of Brazil (from the film Brazil) is Geoff Muldaur, the sibling of Diana Muldaur, of Star Trek and Star Trek: The Next Generation fame!

[Jay 37,609]

On 13/03/2024 at 12:29 PM, Jay said:

‘Starfleet Academy’ May Not Arrive Until 2026; Alex Kurtzman Talks Bringing In New Star Trek Fans

 

‘Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’ Series Casts Holly Hunter in Main Role

[Tallguy 3,587]

Where is that "you have my attention interest whatever" thingy?

[The Great Gonzales 5,493]

24 minutes ago, Tallguy said:

Where is that "you have my attention interest whatever" thingy?

[The Great Gonzales 5,493]

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock Returning To Cinemas For 40th Anniversary – New Poster Exclusive

 

 

[Groovygoth666 757]

My local Vue cinema is showing TWOK then TSFS the following week in June, so definitely will be seeing both! 

[Andy 4,307]

I’m jealous!  Supposedly, it’s UK only?

 

Such an underrated film. 

[Tallguy 3,587]

Damn. That's REALLY good. It manages to be gorgeous and still evoke the original poster.

 

And it IS an underrated film. I think people bent it so that it could fit the "odd numbers are no good" myth. I mean, it doesn't apply to 1 either, but at least that one has SOMETHING behind it. (Wrong, but still something.)

[Unlucky Bastard 7,873]

The only odd numbered one you could class as mediocre is Hiserection. TFF is a good movie, let down only by some production issues that make little difference to the film.

[Brock Lovett 6,546]

Insurrection just isn't very good. They took a relocation/Prime Directive storyline from the TV show and just screwed it all up. JG didn't get the memo that it was a lemon, thankfully, and whenever Jonathan Frakes does appear in it, he seems convinced it was turning out to be a good movie.

[Andy 4,307]

Insurrection is my favorite TNG feature film. 

[Tallguy 3,587]

I'm sure I've been drinking the kool aid but there is SOMETHING good in every Star Trek film. Heck, I despise Into Darkness and I've seen that opening teaser dozens of times. Before SNW came out I said it was the best Star Trek episode since TAS wrapped.

 

There's some good bits in Insurrection. Probably a lot of them. But something keeps it from making the leap from "Really Big Episode". OTOH, what's so wrong about a Really Big Episode of Star Trek?

 

Oh, and I've said it before but hearing the End Credits of Insurrection live with the Ba'ku Village middle section was heartbreakingly beautiful. Dear great bird that man could write!

[Unlucky Bastard 7,873]

Gerry Goldenstein? He was good

[Nick1Ø66 4,932]

11 minutes ago, Andy said:

Insurrection is my favorite TNG feature film. 

 

That's because it's the film that plays like a TV episode, and TV is where Star Trek belongs.

[Andy 4,307]

Mmmm I’m not sure I agree with that. Star Trek made the cinematic leap pretty successfully .  You could also say Voyage Home is like a TV episode. Or TFF.  But they’re still grand cinematic entertainment. 

[Brock Lovett 6,546]

I don't dislike any of the original movies, but I rank Insurrection fairly low on the list. Over the decades I've criticized Nemesis, but at some point I realized I watched it plenty on Paramount Widescreen DVD, Special Collector's Edition DVD, Blu-ray and now UHD. I mean, why have I watched it so many times on so many formats unless I just like it?

[Unlucky Bastard 7,873]

All I have are my personal feelings!

[Mr. Hooper 2,055]

2 hours ago, Tallguy said:

There's some good bits in Insurrection. Probably a lot of them. But something keeps it from making the leap from "Really Big Episode".

I guess because I watched the original run for seven long years, and the transition to the Big Screen happened right after the series ended, I had trouble seeing TNG movies as more than "big episodes" with better production values and darker lighting.

 

I liked 'First Contact' well enough, and the Borg Queen was a worthy villain (Alice Krige was great), but Frakes' direction lacked finesse, and it still ended up feeling like a two-part episode.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,873]

And those weird anamorphic disortions that weren't present in any of the previous flicks. It gave them that authentic 1990s look.

[Schilkeman 1,024]

I still think Star Trek is kind of fundamentally a TV franchise. It works best in 45 minute increments. I have a pretty easy time just ignoring the movies altogether, even if I like a few of them.

[Tom Guernsey 2,361]

7 hours ago, Mr. Hooper said:

I guess because I watched the original run for seven long years, and the transition to the Big Screen happened right after the series ended, I had trouble seeing TNG movies as more than "big episodes" with better production values and darker lighting.

 

I liked 'First Contact' well enough, and the Borg Queen was a worthy villain (Alice Krige was great), but Frakes' direction lacked finesse, and it still ended up feeling like a two-part episode.

I know what you mean. The original movies had the benefit of being a sufficient number of years after the original series, along with leaps in FX technology which meant they looked and felt appreciably different to the original show. I guess with TNG they needed to keep up the momentum so a wait wasn't an option. I do think some extra time to write some more impactful stories would have been good. First Contact is great (I thought the direction was good), but it's still quite a small, insular movie. Even The Best of Both Worlds on a movie budget would have been a more epic story to tell. I guess that's what they tried to do with Picard S3 but the story was a bit messy in a way that wouldn't have worked for a movie.

 

4 hours ago, Schilkeman said:

I still think Star Trek is kind of fundamentally a TV franchise. It works best in 45 minute increments. I have a pretty easy time just ignoring the movies altogether, even if I like a few of them.

I would definitely concur with the first half of that sentiment. It just seems to work better on TV somehow. Having said that, I do enjoy many of the movies, but mostly the original 6, if nothing else, because they inspired such terrific scores.

[Tallguy 3,587]

7 hours ago, Unlucky Bastard said:

And those weird anamorphic disortions that weren't present in any of the previous flicks. It gave them that authentic 1990s look.

 

Well, they were authentic 1990's films.

[Unlucky Bastard 7,873]

No they're 24th century films.

[Pellaeon 594]

The funny thing about TOS is that the episodes (at their best) felt like completely standalone movies, whereas the feature films had more of an ongoing story.

[Nick1Ø66 4,932]

I still think the best one is ST:TMP, which to me captures the "feel" of Trek the most. Certainly flawed, but damn that film is beautiful and ambitious. And...and...that score.  

[Mr. Hooper 2,055]

17 hours ago, Faleel said:

Damn! That's a beautiful poster!

[Nick1Ø66 4,932]

13 hours ago, Mr. Hooper said:

I liked 'First Contact' well enough, and the Borg Queen was a worthy villain (Alice Krige was great), but Frakes' direction lacked finesse, and it still ended up feeling like a two-part episode.

 

Yeah. I know people love First Contact, and consider it the best of the TNG films, but I think it's sort of...OK. As @Tom Guernsey points out, the film feels small to me.  The tone is all over the place, and the attempts at humour just feel weird. I don't like the silly portrayal of Cochrane, and I think the Lily character is superfluous, mainly giving someone for Patrick Stewart to play off. Which frankly should have been Troi, and it was a missed opportunity to give Sirtis something to do. And they should have put Riker on the planet and Picard on the ship, but that was apparently changed at Stewart's insistence, which began the unfortunate (and deeply misguided) trend of trying to turn Picard into an action hero.  

 

Some of the Borg Queen stuff is compelling, but I do think it marked the beginning of the Borg being less mysterious and terrifying...and they were never so terrifying as they were in Q Who and Best of Both Worlds. The Queen definitely adds a kind of drama, but essentially turned the Borg into just another villain.

 

It's certainly better than some of the weaker entries in the series, but IMO a bit overrated. 

 

 

[Schilkeman 1,024]

I say this with love, because I like Search for Spock, but I wish it was a better movie.