If I see one more article purporting to contain exclusive news about the latest director, actor or other talent NOT involved in Star Wars: Episode VII, I swear I'm going to swear off the internet.
Admittedly I've never been a huge Star Wars fan. For me, it was Star Trek all the way. And though a love for one of the above doesn't necessarily preclude some fondness for the other, I tend to think these things are set in stone when one's stone is still soft — which is to say when you're young.
As a kid, in an odd intermingling of idiocy and innocence, I imagined the people who made Pepsi and Coca-Cola hated one another, and thus, the people who drank one soft drink had nothing to do with the enemy beverage. The same went for Snickers and Mars bars, fast food from McDonalds versus Burger King, and Star Wars vis-a-vis Star Trek.
I was a Coca-Cola kid. I also enjoyed Snickers, McDonalds and Star Trek. I dutifully avoided the other in each of these fields, with sometimes fundamentalist fervour, such that even now I have mixed feelings about Mars bars. Seriously, why no nuts?
In any event, then came the realisation that Star Wars fandom was essentially inextricable from the friends I found myself making, so I gave the original trilogy a shot. I gave it a couple, at that. But each time, I came out of the experience as cold as I'd gone in. The films seemed cartoonish to me. Simplistic, and sometimes silly.
This is particularly rich coming from a Trekkie, isn't it? Believe you me, I'm well aware!
But back to the matter at hand: feeling my years even at age 11, I concluded that I should have sat down with Star Wars sooner. Because by the time I did, it was too late. I was new to double digits, but still too old for A New Hope.
I felt this way because Star Trek had my heart. There was just no room at the inn for another love. And I dare say it's still fully booked.
So the news of three more Star Wars movies leaves me... unmoved. I don't doubt that this is huge for some of you. But do we really need to blog about the infinite number of directors that don't plan to direct Episode VII? Each and every actor that may or may not return to reprise their roles?
No.
Tell you what, though. Star Trek Into Darkness looks fantastic. :D
I was going to see The Hobbit at the cinema this Christmas one way or the other, but the recent news that the IMAX print of it comes complete with nine minutes of the Star Trek sequel, has me reconsidering my mixed feelings about movies on those massive screens.
So where do you folks fall? Are you die-hard Star Wars fans, or Trekkies like yours truly? More to my meanderings, is there anyone out there who'll swear by both series?
I think I'll always love the original Star Wars trilogy, (the non Lucas fucked with version) but I couldn't care less for any of the new Star Wars material. At this point I can't say that I'd be all that interested in any new material that comes out from that franchise. (As Jim Morrison said: Cancel my subscription to the resurrection) I guess I'd be slightly more interested in new Star Trek stuff as I have a bunch of friends who are Trekkies and it'd be fun to watch with them.
ReplyDeleteI can always count on you to bring prog. rock into the equation, can't I Ryan? :P
DeleteIncidentally, I don't know that I've ever seen the original Star Wars trilogy without George Lucas' infamous edits and additions. That's probably not the problem, but given the reputation they've gotten, I can only imagine this hasn't helped...
I'm really looking forward to Star Trek Into Darkness :) I never got into Trek as a kid, so I'm a neo-Trek fan since the Abrams versions. I'm very apprehensive about the new Star Wars movies; they sound like cash cows more than anything else.
ReplyDeleteJamie
Don't they though? After the evil prequels, it's hard to imagine why anyone anywhere would want these films to exist - other than the mad monies they'll invariably make.
DeleteI wonder: have you been reading the ongoing IDW comic book? In my younger years The Next Generation was enough for me, thus I've never had much love for original Star Trek, so this series has been a great way to catch up on some of the classic stories by way of the current continuity. I think you might just enjoy it, Jamie.
You know, I've tried and tried and tried to get into Doctor Who - I feel like it should be right up my street - but still no dice to date. Perhaps I need new eyes to see old things through. :)
ReplyDeleteWhile I'd hesitate to say that I am for Star Wars, I have seen all of ten minutes of a Star Trek episode and have never entertained an interest in watching more than that. I did watch the reboot when it came out and I really enjoyed that film, but I will not be going back to watch the television series.
ReplyDeleteAs for Star Wars, I am more interested in the gaming side of the franchise than the movies, but I have seen all of them and am moderately interested in the coming sequels (especially now that Lucas is not writing/directing).
And nuts are disgusting. Not all candy bars need be tainted by them.