A Star Wars Fan's Reaction to Star Trek

[Kruge]

Forgive me for my rant, but I can't help it...

I saw Star Trek on opening night May 7th, and I really liked it, so I dragged a buddy of mine from work to see it again last week (his first time)

We had a good time, imitating Shatner while we made fun of the previews, yelling "KHAAAAN!" when the movie started..and I think that, despite what he says, he liked it...

What annoyed me is that this guy is an admitted Star Wars fan, and throughout the film he kept saying things like "That's Hoth" (for Delta Vega), or "Nimoy sounded like Yoda", or that the polarilla was a wompa (or a bandark or a chazzwozza or whatever the hell they call those creatures in Star Wars - Don't know and don't care)

"The action sequences were fast-paced, like Star Wars!" "The warp drive looks like hyperspace! "

Okay then..isn't that what all those Star Wars fans have always said made those films better than Trek? More action? More funny-looking ice monsters? More whiz-bang space battles and planets 'sploding?

So why then are they (and I'm referring to the handful that I know personally, not a blanket statement) complaining? Shouldn't that make Star Trek exactly the kind of film they would enjoy?

I don't get it..maybe I'm way off base...

To anyone who read this, I owe you two minutes of your life back

 

[Feofilakt]

Similar experience with two of my close friends who are Star Wars fanatics. They loved this movie but generally dislike Star Trek. Why did they like this movie? Probably because it is very, very akin to to Star Wars (or really something far more primitive, like Flash Gordon).

I know there are some Trekkies here who deny the Star Wars connection, but I'm seeing Star Wars fan after Star Wars fan either slamming the film, or praising it, because it reminds them of Star Wars.

 

[Kruge]

Similar experience with two of my close friends who are Star Wars fanatics. They loved this movie but generally dislike Star Trek. Why did they like this movie? Probably because it is very, very akin to to Star Wars (or really something far more primitive, like Flash Gordon).

I know there are some Trekkies here who deny the Star Wars connection, but I'm seeing Star Wars fan after Star Wars fan either slamming the film, or praising it, because it reminds them of Star Wars.

Why can't they admit they liked it? Is that a rule for Star Wars fans? "Thou shalt never admit to enjoying a Star Trek film"? I really, really, really never cared for Star Wars, but I still think Empire Strikes Back was a fantastic movie...

Swallow your pride Jedis! Lucas is not the only man on earth capable of creating a decent sci-fi film!

"HAAAAAANNNNN!!""

 

[scotthm]

I've heard a few people from work (who aren't big Star Trek or Star Wars fans) comment that it seemed like just another Star Wars movie.

---------------

 

[Zeppster]

There are some similarities but the acting is actually good unlike Star Wars and the story was about the characters. In Star Wars the story is really the only thing that is significant about the movies.

 

[Kruge]

There are some similarities but the acting is actually good unlike Star Wars and the story was about the characters. In Star Wars the story is really the only thing that is significant about the movies.

Didn't Harrison Ford say something like "Dammit George, you can type this shit, but you sure can't say it!"?

I think that's the only possible gripe for my Star Wars loving friend..."Dammit! The acting wasn't wooden enough? And where were the wipes between the scenes? And what the hell kind of redundant opening crawl was that!"

Ah, its good to vent!

 

[Jeri]

I loved Star Wars; it's the only movie I saw 20 times at the theater first run. But this movie is Trek.

The reason Star Wars fans don't see it, is that they don't know Star Trek; they know Star Wars.

Someone who knows neither wouldn't think it's like Star Wars.

 

[Kruge]

I loved Star Wars; it's the only movie I saw 20 times at the theater first run. But this movie is all Trek.

The reason Star Wars fans don't see it, is that they don't know Star Trek; they know Star Wars.

Au contraire...my friend actually has watched Star Trek...mmhmm, yes, that's right, and guess what his favorite series was?

Enterprise! (he got the Archer reference, and even noted that one of the ads before the film began starred the guy who played Malcolm Reed..Sir Reginald Whatshisface)

Yeah, that says it all..

 

[Jeri]

I loved Star Wars; it's the only movie I saw 20 times at the theater first run. But this movie is all Trek.

The reason Star Wars fans don't see it, is that they don't know Star Trek; they know Star Wars.

Au contraire...my friend actually has watched Star Trek...mmhmm, yes, that's right, and guess what his favorite series was?

Enterprise! (he got the Archer reference, and even noted that one of the ads before the film began starred the guy who played Malcolm Reed..Sir Reginald Whatshisface)

Yeah, that says it all..

Yeah...sorry, my edit crossed with your post. The important thing is that people who know neither are not going to think it's like Star Wars.

 

[buzzknox]

Part of it is conditioning that comes from being a fan. If you see an ice planet and think it's Hoth, that's because you are conditioned to do so, and you've ignored the appearance of ice planets in film/television before 1980 (including two in Star Trek). If you see a creature on said ice planet and think it's a Wampa, you've been conditioned to do so (and have ignored the fact that the creature in question was a quadriped while the Wampa was a biped). If you think Spock was Yoda, there again is conditioning (and ignorance of Spock's similar character in the movie era and TNG).

There are elements of Star Wars in this film, simply because Star Wars has influenced a vast number of movies and moviemakers. That's the nature of the business and of life. That's why model makers put (or tried to put) homages to Alien in Star Trek, why Serenity has an homage to Forbidden Planet, and why the Star Wars franchise has the 1701 flying around in one movie. The people making the movies tend to love even the competition and borrow bits and pieces they like or they want to honor.

 

[Kruge]

I loved Star Wars; it's the only movie I saw 20 times at the theater first run. But this movie is all Trek.

The reason Star Wars fans don't see it, is that they don't know Star Trek; they know Star Wars.

Au contraire...my friend actually has watched Star Trek...mmhmm, yes, that's right, and guess what his favorite series was?

Enterprise! (he got the Archer reference, and even noted that one of the ads before the film began starred the guy who played Malcolm Reed..Sir Reginald Whatshisface)

Yeah, that says it all..

Yeah...sorry, my edit crossed with your post. The important thing is that people who know neither are not going to think it's like Star Wars.

Indeed...something to be thankful for

All I have to say is that we've got another film comming up in 2011, and no end in sight!

Star Wars has...nothing...

HAW HAW!

 

[Jeri]

I loved Star Wars; it's the only movie I saw 20 times at the theater first run. But this movie is all Trek.

The reason Star Wars fans don't see it, is that they don't know Star Trek; they know Star Wars.

Au contraire...my friend actually has watched Star Trek...mmhmm, yes, that's right, and guess what his favorite series was?

Enterprise! (he got the Archer reference, and even noted that one of the ads before the film began starred the guy who played Malcolm Reed..Sir Reginald Whatshisface)

Yeah, that says it all..

I like ENT, and I watched Star Trek on NBC in 1966. But I don't think your Star Wars -preferring friend knows much about Trek if he thinks there wasn't enough Trek in this movie.

 

[Kruge]

Part of it is conditioning that comes from being a fan. If you see an ice planet and think it's Hoth, that's because you are conditioned to do so, and you've ignored the appearance of ice planets in film/television before 1980 (including two in Star Trek). If you see a creature on said ice planet and think it's a Wampa, you've been conditioned to do so (and have ignored the fact that the creature in question was a quadriped while the Wampa was a biped). If you think Spock was Yoda, there again is conditioning (and ignorance of Spock's similar character in the movie era and TNG).

There are elements of Star Wars in this film, simply because Star Wars has influenced a vast number of movies and moviemakers. That's the nature of the business and of life. That's why model makers put (or tried to put) homages to Alien in Star Trek, why Serenity has an homage to Forbidden Planet, and why the Star Wars franchise has the 1701 flying around in one movie. The people making the movies tend to love even the competition and borrow bits and pieces they like or they want to honor.

I think you're absolutely right...Star Wars was probably his first intro to sci fi...I can dig that, alot of people were young back in '77 or '80 or '83 (or even nowadays in 1999), and they have fond memories of Star Wars in the theatres, playing with the toys, dressing up for Halloween...

All I can say is that I grew up with both, and just can't enjoy Star Wars... I fell asleep during Attack of the Clones in the theatre, and never looked back..

 

[Jeri]

The original movie is still the best one, IMO. I think I've only seen two of the prequels; they were interminable.

 

[Blue_Trek]

I was Star Wars fan, before I was a Star Trek fan, I like both series equally, but if you force me to pick one I have to pick Star Wars.
Sorry guys I hate to say that on a Trek board.

But this is why all Star Wars fans should not be jealous of the success of the new Trek movie

Many of you have already seen this, but just in case you haven't

http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1910892

 

[KimMH]

^^^you're most welcome to keep your Star Wars. I've seen all the originals and and like the prequels because despite the acting (or lack there of) I find the trilogy as "The Redemption of Annakin Skywalker" much more intriguing than the ACTION! PACKED! first trilogy. And I do like the CLone Wars and find much to like about Mr. Lucas' universe. It's silly to argue which is better, some simply prefer one to the other. You're in the fora where most posters prefer StarTrek. Stay long enough and we may convert you!

 

[Kruge]

^^^you're most welcome to keep your Star Wars. I've seen all the originals and and like the prequels because despite the acting (or lack there of) I find the trilogy as "The Redemption of Annakin Skywalker" much more intriguing than the ACTION! PACKED! first trilogy. And I do like the CLone Wars and find much to like about Mr. Lucas' universe. It's silly to argue which is better, some simply prefer one to the other. You're in the fora where most posters prefer StarTrek. Stay long enough and we may convert you!

You're right on this one...apples and oranges...

As for converting, well, as long as he stays the hell away from TFF, then resistance is futile..

 

[Franklin]

For me, it's just the opposite. I was a big Star Trek fan for a number of years before I saw Star Wars in the theater in 1977. The movie was nothing magical to me. I kept comparing it to Trek in my head. The SW world was almost clownish to me. Silly robots, fighter planes in space, light sabers. I'll admit it may be my loss that I couldn't enjoy Star Wars for what it was. But, long story short, I've not seen any SW movie other than the original that one time back in 1977. None. Zero.

So, if a SW fan doesn't care for Trek, I guess I'll have to give him a pass. (As long as he doesn't pee in our Cheerios. )

 

[Kruge]

The thing is, he DID like the movie, but wont admit it, because apparently that's against the Jedi code or something...

I dont care anymore, I liked the movie as well, I just wonder why there's antipathy between two series that really doesnt need to exist..

 

[Franklin]

The thing is, he DID like the movie, but wont admit it, because apparently that's against the Jedi code or something...

I dont care anymore, I liked the movie as well, I just wonder why there's antipathy between two series that really doesnt need to exist..

C'mon. You know why. Trek has penis envy. It will never be bigger than Star Wars, and that's bothersome to it. Especially since it knows it's better.