A little Bond, a little Star Trek, some Fifth Element, a dash of Firefly, and absolutely no cohesion. This felt like a 2-part pilot episode that was turned into a movie. As hard as they tried to not be Star Trek, it was only the Star Trek elements that were interesting.
Score: 0
Characters
The characters were interesting and I’d love to watch them grow into more than pithy stereotypes.
The acting was way better than the script demanded and honestly each actor could have hammed it up but managed to play it straight and I’m impressed.
Score: 1
Dialogue
The dialogue spoken by lesser actors would have been laughable, but most of the time it worked. I particularly liked the “chaos gremlin” jokes.
Score: 1
Visuals and Music
The visuals were very clean and the special effects were great. The fight scenes were chaotic and used way too much shaky-cam.
Overall the music was good and I like the use of modern music in Star Trek when it’s used well. There’s one song that sings about a phone and it really knocked me out of the story.
Score: 0.5
Fun
It was predictable but I liked the characters so I did enjoy it.
I do have a continuity issue with it, however. Georgiou was sent from the 32nd century back in time. According to the star date at the beginning this happens in 2324. However, Georgiou originally came from season 1 of Discovery and that was in 2256. There’s sixty some years between them but San doesn’t seem to have aged 68 years. So how did he come to the future and how did he know she was going to be there? It really bugged me.
Score: 0.5
Overall
An interesting start to a series, but as a movie it lacks depth and originality. The only thing that saves it is the quality of the actors.
Both an homage to time travel movies and old Hollywood. The movie balances its gimmicks and the actual romance extremely well. Also, in a reversal of the standard holiday movie, it’s the guy who gives up everything for the girl.
I love the parallels between the characters in the movie and those in the movie inside the movie.
Score: 1
Characters
The characters are vague stereotypes that are elevated by both the quality of the writing and the acting.
Score: 1
Dialogue
Although corny and sappy, the dialogue works extremely well, and I like that they point out when she says things that are out of time.
Jonathan Frakes’s tour guide voice is straight out of Believe it or Not.
Score: 1
Visuals and Music
As good as the movie was, there were a few scenes that feel like they were only added to showcase the location, and that made it a little awkward and feel amateurish. That being said the location was spectacular.
A lot of great touches with the lighting differences between time periods, the costumes, the sets, and some creative camera work.
The music was okay but nothing stood out in the score.
Score: 0.5
Fun
This was pure time travel and romance fun. Just enough angst for flavour but not enough to be annoying. Everyone in the family loved it.
Score: 1
Overall
One of the better Hallmark movies with a gimmick, it pulls off both the time travel and the romance while being clever, sappy, and witty. I’m going to want to rewatch this next year for sure.
Today we’re talking about the 1999 film Galaxy Quest.
Story
The story is simple, but has wonderful layers. The nods to Star Trek, Star Wars, and Alien are great. I like the nods to Nemoy’s books and the drama behind the scenes while still keeping the spirit of classic science fiction. I”m impressed at how well it holds up after twenty-three years.
That being said, it glosses over or outright ignores the socially progressive nature of it’s influences. I like the diversity of the cast, but it doesn’t reference or push any of the same boundaries that Star Trek did 33 years earlier.
Score: 0.5
Characters
The characters are great amalgams of the Star Trek characters and caricatures of their actors. Each one could have been annoying, but ended up being very endearing.
Score: 1
Dialogue
The dialogue is believable and wonderfully tongue in cheek. I liked the technobabble and the wonderful freak outs by Guy.
Score: 1
Visuals and Music
The special effects stand up extremely well and have a great mix between cheesy and impressive. I liked the practical effects and wonderful camera work.
The music was spectacular. Absolutely epic and I liked the melding of the score with the music from the show in the show.
Score: 1
Fun
The movie was action packed, fun, and had lots of great visuals. I greatly enjoyed it.
The kids were glued to the tv and everyone loved it.
Score: 1
Overall
One of the greatest parodies and an excellent science fiction in it’s own right. This movie checks almost all the boxes and is an excellent romp.
Not only did this cosplayer match the mask to the dress, but they made the dress themself!
Stunning work!
Please note that this series of TARDIS pictures from Ottawa Comic Con 2022 will have the background as blurred as possible. Not only was there art across the aisle from us, but the art was…riské.
Do you find yourself wishing you could go back to a time that was simpler? Do you wish life was like it was before? Do you want the things from your childhood?
I think we should probably rename us Millennials as the Nostalgics. Wanting to escape to our past isn’t a new concept, but wow have we rolled with it. Obviously a large part of it is the big corporations seeing the profit in reviving, rebooting, and re-imagining old properties.
I mean, I could do without the cold war coming back, but overall, nostalgia isn’t that bad.
Don’t get me wrong, as someone who grew up in the 80’s and 90’s, they weren’t great. As much as I like Stranger Things, it’s not for the 80’s. It’s possible to capture the feel and joy of those movies in the modern day. (Finding ‘Ohana is a great example.)
There is nothing wrong with the comfort of media that we consumed at impressionable ages. It’s comforting, familiar, and fun. However, it’s important to be critical of it. You can’t love something so much that you ignore it’s faults. Ghostbusters is awesome, but there’s a lot of questionable ethics and uncomfortable moments.
This unquestioning devotion to a property is destructive.
Ignoring the overwhelming quantity of bigotry in modern fandoms, the strict adherence to a nostalgic perfection is the most messed up thing.
There isn’t a new version or movie that doesn’t get hit with constant complaints. Maybe it’s just the internet, but I watched the Star Wars Prequels with nerds when they came out. I think it’s a natural reaction to want to protect both the emotions and the preciousness of our favourite media. The most simple example is that everyone hates a cover unless it was the first version they heard or it’s done by an artist they like.
I mentioned it was destructive. It is. Not separating new and old means you get aggressive and frustrated. This leads to making the people who like the new stuff feel attacked. All of it ends in a polarization that is unhealthy.
Next time you see that they’re making a new version of your favourite media, remember that it won’t replace the original. Your feelings about the new one can and shouldn’t affect how you feel about the original. (No, they’re not ruining it. The original will not self-destruct.)
Spite isn’t a good look on anyone, especially not a fandom.
As for the bigots? They really need to shut up, but they are definitely the loud minority. If you find yourself agreeing with them, think about your position and decide if attacking your favourite media and its new fans is the best way to love it.
Loving something should never mean insulting, demeaning, mocking, or otherwise being a jerk to others.
There are, however, quicker ways to piss me off. The following phrases need to be forgotten to history and absolutely guarantee making me mad.
5. I’m Just Playing Devil’s Advocate
Movie poster for The Devils Advocate 1997
If you’re not Al Pacino or Keanu Reeves, I don’t want to hear it.
This is the preferred phrase for people who know they’re going to piss you off for fun. It’s a tell that they are arguing for the sake of arguing and that they don’t care about your feelings.
Don’t. Just don’t.
4. Do Your Research
Sherlock Holmes from the Sherlock BBC show saying, “I’m not a psychopath, Anderson, I’m a high-functioning sociopath. Do your research.
Just like the image above. This phrase is used by people who fundamentally missed the point. Their idea of research is a good emotional Netflix or Youtube propaganda film or some conspiracy site. It’s not just an annoying phrase, but an indication that you’re probably dealing with someone with a huge ego that truly believes the bullshit coming from their mouths.
Don’t say it unless you want me to picture you with a foil hat. (and probably block, unfriend, etc.)
3. Survival of the Fittest
Sign that reads, “Please do not lick the walls” from a background image in Good Omens 2019.
Survival of the fittest is a bullshit name for an incomplete theory that people have taken to mean that it’s okay if people die.
Evolution and survival are not streamlined to only the strong. It’s messy and random.
This phrase has been co-opted by business and competitions. More recently by jackasses that are trying to push a Eugenic point of view with regard to Covid-19.
Seeing as most of my friends and family would be considered weak by these people… Just don’t use the phrase.
2. We Have to Consider Both Sides
Photo of Patton Oswalt with dog. Quote on the side reads: You’ve gotta respect everyone’s beliefs.” No, you don’t. That’s what gets us in trouble. Look, you have to acknowledge everyone’s beliefs, and then you have to reserve the right to go: “That is fucking stupid. Are you kidding me?” The Full quote not shown on the image continues: I acknowledge that you believe that, that’s great, but I’m not going to respect it. I have an uncle that believes he saw Sasquatch. We do not believe him, nor do we respect him!”
There’s so much emphasis on balance and respect when it comes to arguments. Not people, but arguments. There are extremes ON BOTH SIDES, you have to understand BOTH SIDES, BOTH SIDES are entitled to their opinions.
Stop, just stop. Yes, there are arguments that have complex issues where you need to look at both sides. But the moment someone starts to devalue another person’s life, I refuse to listen to both sides.
Giving a Nazi, or an Anti-vaxx person the same podium to speak validates their opinion. By saying, “Their are good people on both sides” you tell the world that it’s okay to hate others and want them dead if you’re nice about it.
The value of human life should not be a political issue.
1. Calm Down / Don’t Get Emotional
Photo of Captain Picard, Chief Engineer Laforge, and other crew members looking at Data who is lying on a console. Text reads: “Install an emotion chip they said / You’ll act normal they said”
There’s a great theme that runs throughout Star Trek. That of the importance of balancing logic and emotion. We see it with Spock, Data, the Doctor, Odo, T’Pol, Burnham, and Spock again.
Wild unchecked emotion is destructive, unfettered logic is cold and heartless. But it seems that when talking to people about something you’re passionate about, the phrases ‘calm down’ or ‘don’t get emotional’ are the quickest way to dismiss your passion.
When talking about something you love or feel passionate about, you will be emotional and, in my opinion, you shouldn’t be calm.
It’s also a wonderful way to make anyone angry. It’s dismissive and condescending.
What common phrases do you think we should stop using?
