Star Trek Blogfest & Conan Review

Today is Ellie Garratt’s Star Trek Blogfest!

While not geeky enough to ever dress the part, I am a Trekkie and proud of it. So I have chosen to list my top five favorite episodes, choosing one from each of the series. Enjoy my snarky descriptions!

Star Trek: Deep Space 9 - "Trials and Tribble-ations" Season 5 Episode 6
This episode merges DS9 with the classic Trek episode "The Trouble with Tribbles.” The episode has so many great moments and scenes. In particular, Worf attempting to explain why his Klingon brethren look so different. Hilarious!

Star Trek: TNG - "Cause and Effect" Season 5 Episode 18
The Enterprise becomes trapped in a causality loop and keeps repeating the last few hours before the ship is destroyed. This is Trek at its best, combining time travel and déjà vu. The writing is sharp and the episode plays out like a great mystery.

Star Trek: Voyager - "Timeless" Season 5 Episode 6
An experiment with a faster-than-light drive causes Kim and Chakotay to make it back to earth in the Delta Flyer, but Voyager crash lands on an ice planet and everyone dies. Talk about an opening that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This episode deals with Kim and Chakotay trying to alter the timeline that has tormented them for so many years. A really great time paradox story and the appearance of Geordi La Forge (Directed by LeVar Burton) make this one of the best.

Star Trek: The Original Series - "Operation: Annihilate!” Season 1 Episode 29
One of my all time favs, this episode introduced an intelligent hive-mind society of creatures hell bent on destroying the universe. As a youngster, my version of aliens always revolved around bipedal entities. This episode blew all of my preconceived notions out of the water with these creepy flying sac creatures. Not just a creature feature episode, these guys had purpose and plan.

Star Trek: Enterprise - "Bound" Season 4 Episode 17
What is it about Orion Slave Girls (the green chicks in the bikinis) that I find so attractive? Well, this episode sheds some light and reveals that they are not the meek servants they appear to be. Funny and sexy, this episode will make you think twice about approaching a hot Orion girl at your local watering hole.

Conan the Barbarian
To quote Conan – “I live, I love, I slay.”
Yes, that pretty much sums up the movie. Conan was everything I expected – great sets and scenery, swordfights and battles, sorcery, and a few half-naked women. This version is nothing like the Schwarzenegger movie and moves at a faster pace. If you dig Conan or sword and sorcery, you’ll enjoy it. No, it’s not deep. No, it’s not great. No, it won’t change your life. But for two hours, you get to live a kick-butt life through Conan. (And ladies, not only is he shirtless for much of the film, you get to see him naked – so there’s eye candy for everyone.)

Anyone else see Conan? (I’ll be hitting Fright Night this coming weekend. Or maybe Don't Be Afraid of the Dark?) Any favorite Star Trek episodes or characters? Are you still wondering what the heck’s a Tribble…?

Thanks, Technology, and August Movie Preview

Thanks to everyone who commented on CassaFire's cover and synopsis HERE! I just found out the release date has been bumped up a bit – February 28, 2012. I have six months to panic…

Today’s Fantastic Friday Writers topic is technology.

It’s a given that science fiction involves technology. Whether set in present day, the future, or a distant galaxy, new devices and gadgets will appear. Some people revel in technology. Some want it simple so the story moves along. Others shy away from it.

It’s no secret I dig computers, tech toys, and gadgets. Heck, I’ve hooked up so many components to the TV, my wife doesn’t even know how to turn it on! But since I work with it every day, I didn’t want to focus on it in my writing. Sure, there are spaceships and teleporters, but I don’t delve into the details. I put in just enough to make it plausible. It’s there, just simple.

Besides, I have no idea how a teleporter works, do you?

Check with my FFW partners Elizabeth, Anastasia, J. D., Deirdre, M. Pax, and Jeffrey, and Charlene for their take on technology.

Time for August movie releases! It’s a quiet month for movies, so I threw in two DVD releases as well. All descriptions courtesy of the IMDB.

2 -

DVD - Rio
Very colorful and fun animated flick. I reviewed it HERE.



5 -

Rise of the Planet of the Apes
Director: Rupert Wyatt
Stars: James Franco, Andy Serkis, Freida Pinto
The Plot: In present day San Francisco, a scientist (Franco) looks for a cure for Alzheimer's disease by experimenting on a chimpanzee named Caesar. The development of animal intelligence brings about a war for supremacy between humans and apes.
Not impressed with the trailer - the CGI apes do not look real. I also don’t buy that there are enough apes in San Francisco to take over the city. This one will need outstanding reviews to get me into the theater.


16 -

DVD - Priest
“Eh” reviews meant I skipped it in the theater, but will catch on NetFlix.



19 -

Conan the Barbarian
Director: Marcus Nispel
Stars: Jason Momoa, Ron Perlman, Rose McGowan
The Plot: Muscle-bound warrior Conan the Cimmerian (Momoa) seeks to avenge the murder of his father and the slaughter of his village.
Conan the Barbarian. Momoa from Stargate:Atlantis. Need I say more? Oh, and it’s rated R - can’t have a PG13 barbarian film! They do it right, this could be the start of an awesome franchise.

Fright Night
Director: Craig Gillespie
Stars: Anton Yelchin, Colin Farrell, David Tennant
The Plot: Teenager Charley Brewster (Yelchin) guesses that his new neighbor Jerry Dandrige (Farrell) is a vampire responsible for a string of recent deaths. When no one he knows believes him, he enlists Peter Vincent (Tennant), the opportunistic host of his favorite TV show, to help him take down Jerry and his guardian.
The first Fright Night was fun. This remake is going to have to do something really awesome to even come close, especially without Roddy McDowall. Again, a wait and see what the critics think…

Cowboys and Aliens this weekend! Who's with me? And what movies catch your interest? Or are you still confused about the technology...?

A Day of Conan

Last night was Conan O'Brien's last time to host The Tonight Show.

After ripping NBC all week, his parting words were honorable. I was just amazed. He took the high road and said nice things about his 20 years with NBC.

If you want to read what he said, go to the CNN article. Or watch it on Hulu!

However, I am NOT Conan - so NBC and Jay Leno? You suck!!!

No reason to watch The Tonight Show now...

In happier news...

Jason Momoa of Stargate: Atlantis fame has been crowned the new Conan the Barbarian! He's perfect for the part - can't believe they were even considering the kid from Twilight!

Filming begins March 15th!