I really need some advice

[Kruge]

I am so glad that I joined this forum when I did, and I really need some help...

I purchased by tickets for Star Trek weeks ago, and on May 7th, my wife and I are going to the 9:55 PM IMAX showing...

Problem is, my wife is not a Star Trek fan, and I want her to at least get some familiarity with the characters and the overall story before we go...

I was exposed to Trek piecemeal, starting with TNG when I was 4, and working my way backwards...I am certainly no expert on TOS, although I have seen every episode and every Trek movie

I do not make a lot of money, so I can't really afford to buy the entire box set of TOS or the films just for the purpose of introducing her to the series...she has a VERY basic understanding of the series, but does anyone out there have any advice on what episodes/movies would be good...maybe a handful to get her acquainted with the premise so she gets the most out of the new film? I mean, I forced her to watch First Contact, and she was like "Wow, that was really interesting! A very good movie! But what the hell???"

Any advice? Maybe a compilation DVD of a couple of classic episodes, or maybe rent a few movies? And which ones?

Please help!

 

[Borgminister]

My advice: It'll be self-explanatory. The more you try to foist history on her, the more she may resist. Let her say the same thing after this one--a very good movie. Then, if "what the hell" follows, introduce her to the backstory.

 

[indranee]

show her a smattering of th best eps from all three TOS seasons, then STTMP through STIV. make sure you show her the Menagerie and Where No Man Has Gone Before.

then show her Generations. (she might hate it, but it might be a good idea).

I'd leave it at that.

 

[Kpnuts]

1. Watch Star Trek (2009).

2. THEN introduce tv series episodes, if she's still interested.

 

[Kruge]

My advice: It'll be self-explanatory. The more you try to foist history on her, the more she may resist. Let her say the same thing after this one--a very good movie. Then, if "what the hell" follows, introduce her to the backstory.

Wow good point...thank you so much, you're right...we don't need resistance , and I don't want her to be more confused going in

I suppose this will be a good test if Abrams Trek is truly accessible to newbies as well as fans

 

[Kruge]

show her a smattering of th best eps from all three TOS seasons, then STTMP through STIV. make sure you show her the Menagerie and Where No Man Has Gone Before.

then show her Generations. (she might hate it, but it might be a good idea).

I'd leave it at that.

I'm sorry, you make some excellent points, especially about the episodes you've listed, but there is no way I am ever showing her TMP unless she wants to see it.

The simple fact is, and I will probably be attacked for this, but TMP is my second favorite Trek movie...yeah, I know, The Motion Sickness, Where Nomad Has Gone Before, Warp Speed to Nowhere...honestly, I love this film, I think it's a great sci-fi film, I don't think the Enterprise has ever looked better, and I think the effects (not the costumes or hairstyles, or Decker's obvious erection) stand the test of time

That being said, I have had zero success getting anyone to watch this film and not either fall asleep or curse me forever afterwards!

 

[Kruge]

I'm starting to think that Save the Whales might be a good primer, along with KHAAAAAANNN!!!...given the fact that I have my three year old daughter running around the house yelling "Khaaaan!", it might be nice to at least show my wife the source of her endless torture (and my endless amusement!)

 

[RAMA]

Honestly, the movie is a good place to start on its own.

RAMA

 

[Sector 7]

^^You are lucky mom does not shoot you for teaching her that!
I think you should just let her see the movie and make her own assessment. Hopefully she will like it enough to want to see more Trek; if not, maybe she will be a NuTrek fan.

The worst thing you can do is force it on her.

 

[Kruge]

^^You are lucky mom does not shoot you for teaching her that!
I think you should just let her see the movie and make her own assessment. Hopefully she will like it enough to want to see more Trek; if not, maybe she will be a NuTrek fan.

The worst thing you can do is force it on her.

Its funnier when she runs up to my aunt and yells "KHaaaaan!!", because my aunt thinks she made it up!

 

[Kruge]

NuTrek....

Like New Coke...it's here to stay!

 

[indranee]

show her a smattering of th best eps from all three TOS seasons, then STTMP through STIV. make sure you show her the Menagerie and Where No Man Has Gone Before.

then show her Generations. (she might hate it, but it might be a good idea).

I'd leave it at that.

I'm sorry, you make some excellent points, especially about the episodes you've listed, but there is no way I am ever showing her TMP unless she wants to see it.

The simple fact is, and I will probably be attacked for this, but TMP is my second favorite Trek movie...yeah, I know, The Motion Sickness, Where Nomad Has Gone Before, Warp Speed to Nowhere...honestly, I love this film, I think it's a great sci-fi film, I don't think the Enterprise has ever looked better, and I think the effects (not the costumes or hairstyles, or Decker's obvious erection) stand the test of time

That being said, I have had zero success getting anyone to watch this film and not either fall asleep or curse me forever afterwards!

just show her the first half and tell her the second half sucks. THEN show her TWOK

 

[Sharr Khan]

Honestly, the movie is a good place to start on its own.

RAMA

Which is indeed the (stated) point of it aside from its entertainment value.

Sharr

 

[shapeshifter]

The Cage.

 

[Cakes488]

Honestly, the movie is a good place to start on its own.

RAMA

I agree with this statement....if she likes the movie then take if from there. Didn't little JJ say that this movie is for everybody and you don't have to know jack about any of the backstory? So there ya go..if you want to verbally fill her in that would be acceptable too but don't show her the ORIGINAL kirk/spock or that may just ruin the movie for her .

 

[Kruge]

I'm starting to come around...my wife was not a Batman fan, never read the comics, but she really liked Batman Begins and absolutely loved The Dark Knight...she understood the stories easily, without having to go into any real background...

I'm hoping that Star Trek, as a supposed "reboot", will be equally as entertaining and self-explanatory, although she does understand that there are two Spocks and can pick out Nimoy rather easily