Yeah, I guess I do really think Star Trek has made a difference, but I find that people won’t believe what you tell them. If they think they’ve come up with a notion on their own, they’re more willing to accept it.

Now, you’ve made me post on the wrong article. Oh, well, Treknobabble needs as many comments as it can get.

Rachel, I thought you had been run over by an automobile, and thus allowing McCain to become President. But I guess the timeline has been restored.

It was good to hear your remarks. As for the films you haven’t seen, your stubbornness is more perverse than mine.

I had to look up what “bukkake” means. Wow, I’m making it the Film Junk word of the day. I’m going to get Jay to use the word on the next Film Junk podcast.

There are other omissions that to my eye are glaring. Movies like “Contact” with Jodie Foster; “Forbidden Planet” (an inspired futuristic re-telling of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”); or in the less-serious category, the vastly entertaining “Independence Day”.

I too, have long felt that it is a general return to the mysterious…to ideas…to interesting, different places, people & concepts that expand & fire the imagination…that will be the salvation of science fiction films. As Sybok replied to Mr. Baldie McField-Of-Dry-Holes in “The Final Frontier, when asked what he seeks:

“What you seek……what all men have sought since time began…ultimate knowledge.”

It is that desire to know the unknown (and perhaps unknowable) – to grow, that strikes an unquenchable spark within humankind to explore, in real life and through storytelling. It is this same innate desire that compels us to ever reflect on who we are today, and what we can become. We cannot resist exploring our world or our selves, especially given the fact that we have so many questions. It’s why we go to see films.

The endless oversaturation of horror and bukkake-style destruction in an ever-increasing number of movies has been borne out of a lack of ideas. It is difficult to create and easy to destroy…and so film has resorted to the well of violence again and again. Violence *can* play an important part in storytelling – but when it is being used as it has been – due to a dearth of ideas, and because it requires the least effort of all – it loses much of its value.

I don’t know what else to tell ya, man. It would seem that some people just don’t get things. A lot of people like crap, if “reality” television is any indication. I tend to distrust the majority tastes for these reasons. For example, I’ve never seen any of the Terminator films, or any of the Alien films…or even any of the Back To The Future ones. I have never seen Titanic (not a sci-fi, I know – I’m just perversely proud of not having seen that film). Nor do I have plans to see any of these anytime soon.

Do I still believe that the science fiction film will be saved? Oh yes, I have hope. My faith is secure. It will happen as soon as a new generation realizes it would much rather eat a gourmet meal, than eat out of the trashcan. Kind of like how a new generation has united to vote for new, real, positive change in America, after 8 years of eating from the trashcan.

In the meantime, I am abstaining until at least later this month (after the new trailer comes out) from saying anything new on the the upcoming Trek film. *hugs* Hope all is well with you Reed! Thanks again for the neato blog.

Fondly,

Rachel