Top 5 Star Trek Episodes

Star Trek was a T.V. series ahead of its time. Creator Gene Roddenberry and his group of writers gave us an optimistic and exciting glimpse at what our future might hold, and they did it with compelling stories and memorable characters. While there were some cheesy 1960's elements within the show, Star Trek was groundbreaking. Here now are my picks for the best episodes- in no particular order.

MIRROR, MIRROR

Kirk, Scotty, McCoy and Uhura get accidentally transported into a savage mirror universe where Spock has a beard, the crew moves up in rank by assassination and everyone wears sparkly sashes. They have to get back to their own Enterprise before they are discovered to be frauds by the evil mirror people. This is the classic alternate universe episode that spawned many copycats in later Star Trek series. Best Moment- Kirk still manages to get some mirror universe poon while trying to escape.

SPACE SEED

The Enterprise comes upon a sleeper ship carrying a ripped, bronzed superman and his followers. That swarthy superman is Khan, a tyrant from the 1990's. When Khan isn't charming the ladies, he's trying to steal the Enterprise and murder Captain Kirk. Kirk eventually bests Khan and maroons him on Ceti Alpha V, but I have a strange feeling we'll see him again someday. Best Moment- Kirk and Khan's fist fight in engineering. Those aren't stuntmen, people. (Those are stuntmen.)

THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER

A young hottie named Joan Collins guest stars in this classic episode. McCoy goes insane and Kirk and Spock must use a talking portal named the Guardian of Forever to travel back in time to rescue him. In the process of rescuing McCoy and saving the space/time continuum, Kirk falls in love with Edith Keeler (Collins). McCoy is eventually saved, but not before a tragic ending. This is one of the sadder, more moving episodes in the series. Best Moment- Spock builds a radio.

JOURNEY TO BABEL

This episode introduces us to Spock's parents, Amanda and Sarek. The Enterprise is taking various diplomats to a conference on the planet Babel, but there is a murderer on board who targets Sarek and then Kirk. Both men are seriously injured and Spock is torn between his duty and saving his father via a transfusion. With the ship under attack things get messy, and Spock must make a sacrifice. What happens? Watch it and find out. Best Moment- Spock's daddy issues.

THE TROUBLE WITH TRIBBLES

One of the funnier episodes, The Trouble With Tribbles follows the crew as they are carrying a cargo of grain to the K-7 station. Things go awry when the Klingons show up, and when fuzzy fur balls called tribbles take over the ship and the station and eat all the grain. Tribbles may be cute, but don't feed them, kids, you'll be sorry. Best Moment- The tribble hates the Klingon.

Movie of the Week

This Week,

STAR TREK IV: THE VOYAGE HOME (1986)

Starring- William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan

For many, especially non-Star Trek fans, this film is known as, "the one with the whales." It is also one of the best Star Trek films. My favorite is Star Trek II, but I have a special place for this, the funniest installment in the series, in my heart. It was a conscious decision by the filmmakers to make this movie lighter in tone than the previous two, which had been darker and rife with conflict. Originally, the studio wanted to put Eddie Murphy in the movie as a 20th Century con man, but that was scrapped early on. The story instead centers around an alien probe that comes to Earth with a message, but the message is destructive to the planet and it is not known what the message is, or who it is for. It is up to the Enterprise crew to figure out how to solve the problem.

Kirk and Co., who are facing Court Martial for their actions in Star Trek III, discover that the probe's message is for the extinct species- Humpback Whale. The only way to get whales is for the crew to go back in time to the 20th Century to get them. Thanks to help from the newly resurrected Spock, the crew gets back to 1986 and finds the whales, but encounters unforeseen difficulties as well. It is so funny to see how the crew is out of their element in the present day, and because of that fact this film was entertaining to many who had never seen Star Trek before.

If I am hoping to get someone new involved in Star Trek, this is the movie I show them because of its humor and the great message it has about humanity's effect on the world. Star Trek IV is particularly relevant in 2010 because of the way in which we are changing the climate every day, and that what we do may harm the world in ways we cannot yet comprehend.

Like all great Star Trek stories, this film has an optimistic message and is driven by the iconic characters. Each member of the crew gets a moment of their own in which to shine. Among my favorites are Scotty and McCoy at the Plexiglass factory, and Spock and Kirk's argument over Italian food. Trekkie or not, you will be entertained and enlightened by this story. Happily for the audience and the crew, the end sets up yet another sequel as the new Enterprise warps off into space, going where no man has gone before- again.

Things to watch for-

Nuclear Wessels
George and Gracie
7th Heaven's Catherine Hicks as Gillian
Shatner's stunt swimming
Scotty talks to the computer
A punk gets Vulcan nerve pinched

"One damn minute, Admiral."

March 20th- Day of Kings

Happy Birthday to me! March 20th is a special day, not just because of my birth. I also share this day with some great birthday buddies, as well as some important historical events. In addition to being the first day of Spring much of the time, March 20th is a pivotal and awesome 24 hour period. Here now is the evidence.

Tunisia became independent on March 20, 1956.

The Dutch East India Company was established on March 20, 1602.

Napoleon entered Paris after his escape from Elba and began the "Hundred Days" on March 20, 1815.

Albert Einstein published his general theory of relativity on March 20, 1916.

The U.S. began the war in Iraq (So dumb) on March 20, 2003.

ALSO BORN ON MARCH 20-

Napoleon II- Ruler of France

Henrik Ibsen- Norwegian Writer

B.F. Skinner- American Psychologist

Carl Reiner- Comedian and Film Director

Fred "Mister" Rogers- Children's Show Host

Hal Linden- T.V.'s Barney Miller

Jerry Reed- Country Singer, Played Snowman in "Smokey and the Bandit"

Pat Riley- Basketball Coach of the Lakers, Knicks and Heat

Spike Lee- Film Director

Jon De Lancie- Actor who played Q on "Star Trek: The Next Generation"

Holly Hunter- Actress

Ronnie Brewer- NBA Basketball player, formerly of the Utah Jazz

Liz Elliott- The Lizard, Member of the Trifecta

Justin Samuels- Skier, Member of the Trifecta

See, March 20 is a pretty cool day.

The Nominees Are...

I know you have all been anxiously awaiting the nominations for the Conor Awards, well here they are. I have expanded the awards this year to include not only Best Picture, but Best Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress and Director. I have seen most of the 2009 films of consequence, and feel that these represent the best of the year. The most notable snub is Avatar, which got 0 nominations. While it was a very beautiful film, and showed what is possible with filmmaking, it left me wishing James Cameron had spent part of the $300 million budget on a writer. Watching Avatar was like being given a beautiful car, and not being allowed to drive it. Sure, it's nice to look at, but who cares if you can't get behind the wheel? Sorry, James Cameron it just wasn't your year for a Conor Award. Maybe you can get a nomination for Avatar 2: The Search for More Money.

2009

BEST PICTURE-

Star Trek

The Hurt Locker

The Hangover

Up In The Air

District 9

BEST ACTOR-

Robert Downey, Jr.- Sherlock Holmes

George Clooney- Up in the Air

Jeff Bridges- Crazy Heart

BEST ACTRESS-

Meryl Streep- Julie and Julia

Meryl Streep- It’s Complicated

Sandra Bullock- The Blindside

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR-

Alec Baldwin- It’s Complicated

Zach Galifinakis- The Hangover

Christoph Waltz- Inglourious Basterds

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS-

Maggie Gyllenhall- Crazy Heart

Diane Kruger- Inglourious Basterds

Anna Kendrick- Up in the Air

BEST DIRECTOR-

J.J. Abrams- Star Trek

Kathryn Bigelow- The Hurt Locker

Neill Blomkamp- District 9

Please leave me a comment if you disagree with my picks. The award winners will be revealed on the Saturday before the Oscars, so you have time to lobby me for who should win.

Top 10 Villains of All Time

The movie industry has given us some great villains over the years, and I feel compelled to recognize the ten that I think are the best. Here they are...

10. KHAN NOONIEN SINGH

Star Trek's best and most memorable villain gets us off to a great start. Khan is a genetically engineered genius who is hell-bent on revenge. It is Khan's determination that makes him a great villain, and his use of brain burrowing, mind controlling eels on his enemies doesn't hurt either. (Played by Ricardo Montalban in Star Trek II)

9. HARRY LIME

Perhaps the most charming villain on this list, Harry Lime is a criminal mastermind. His plot leaves many people dead or terminally ill, and he feels no remorse. He is a product of World War II and its aftermath, but that is no excuse for his sadistic behavior. (Played by Orson Welles in The Third Man)

8. CAPTAIN BLIGH

This is the only villain on this list who actually existed in real life. Captain Bligh is a cruel disciplinarian that forces his crew into mutiny because of his evil and irrational treatment of his men on the H.M.S. Bounty. Bligh has been played by many men, but make sure to see the 1935 Oscar winning version of Mutiny on the Bounty for the best and most villainous Bligh. (Played by Charles Laughton)

7. BRICKTOP

You might look at this guy and think, "Who's this old dork?" But while you're thinking that, he'll be planning to kill you and feed you to his pigs. That's right, he's a mob boss who kills his enemies and those who displease him and feeds them to his pet pigs. Don't cross Bricktop, he's a tough customer. (Played by Alan Ford in Snatch)

6. HARRY POWELL

There's nothing more villainous than a bad man who pretends to be good. Harry Powell claims to be a minister, but he is really a thief and a murderer. Worse than that, his target is two children who know his true intentions. I'll never hear the hymn "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms" and not be creeped out. (Played by Robert Mitchum in The Night of the Hunter)

5. NURSE RATCHED

This woman makes mental hospitals less appealing than they already are. Her manipulative hold on her patients makes her a very evil villain, and responsible for more problems than she cures. She's also not willing to be challenged, and will use any means necessary to stay in control. (Played by Louise Fletcher in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest)

4. ROSA KLEBB/RED GRANT

These are the two best villains that James Bond creator Ian Fleming ever gave us. They get paired together because one is the brains and one is the braun. He's the most dangerous assassin SPECTRE has, and she's the creepy mastermind with poison knives in her shoes. 007 has a hard time getting the better of the these two. (Played by Lotte Lenya and Robert Shaw in From Russia With Love)

3. THE JOKER

Completely unpredictable, ruthless and sadistic, The Joker is in a class of his own. The fact that he believes in anarchy might make him the most dangerous villain on this list, and his wicked sense of humor only adds to his menacing personality. Wanna know how he got his scars? (Played by Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight)

2. DR. HANNIBAL LECTER

This guy is a genius psychiatrist who eats people. He eats people! What else do you need to know? Maybe that he's always two steps ahead, and that he's really charming and manipulative. The Silence of the Lambs is scary as shit, and 99% of that is because of Dr. Lecter. (Played by Sir Anthony Hopkins)

1. DARTH VADER

You cannot think villain without picturing Darth Vader. He is the epitome of evil, with his force chokes, his light saber skills, the black helmet and that deep voice. I don't know if any villain before or since has made as big an impact as the Dark Lord of the Sith. (Played by David Prowse and James Earl Jones in the Original Star Wars trilogy)

Movie of the Week

This week,

STAR TREK (2009)

Directed by J.J. Abrams

Starring- Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Leonard Nimoy

In this reboot/retcon of the original crew's adventures, we see new actors attempt to fill the shoes of their famous counterparts. As a lifelong Trekker, I was very skeptical about the absence of Shatner and the other original crew members in the key roles, but J.J Abrams and his people put together a great cast that honored and expanded on the beloved characters. This film was not perfect, but it did have enough good parts and performances to make you eager for the planned sequels.

The film is really the story of how the original crew came together to their familiar positions on the Enterprise. Abrams uses time travel to great effect to craft his story without having to remain fiercely loyal to Star Trek canon. This technique frees the franchise from the constraints of having to match up with the original T.V. shows and films. In addition to the crew's formation, Star Trek tells the story of a rogue Romulan named Nero (Eric Bana) who to sets out to get revenge on Spock from the original timeline, played by Leonard Nimoy. The two stories merge bringing Nero into conflict with Kirk, Young Spock and the rest of the crew. With old Spock's help, they defeat Nero's destructive plans and begin a new five year mission together.

Some moments of the film are very reminiscent of the classic films and episodes- especially Karl Urban's turn as 'Bones,' certain lines of dialogue, Sulu's fencing, Chekov's mispronunciation of w's and v's and Chris Pine's chemistry with Zachary Quinto as Kirk and Spock respectively. There were other elements that were new, but very welcome including- Bruce Greenwood as the avuncular role model Captain Pike, a re-vamped Enterprise, a decent score by Abrams regular Michael Giacchino and some good old school special effects. Finally, certain things could have been scaled back or eliminated like- the Spock/Uhura love story, the scads upon scads of lens flares and Eric Bana's scenery chewing villainy (leave that kind of acting to Ricardo Montalban).

All in all this film puts Star Trek on the right course for the next decade. I look forward to adventures with the crew as they continue to boldly go where no one has gone before.

Things to watch for-

A toothy Winona Rider as Spock's mom

The tribble

The cool new transporter effect

Tyler Perry as an Admiral (Medea Goes to Starfleet)

"I like this ship. It's exciting."

Movie of the Week

This week,

STAR TREK II THE WRATH OF KHAN (1982)

Starring-

William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Ricardo Montalban

This is, hands-down, the best Star Trek movie. All real Trekkies agree that this film captures all that was great about the original series. I love introducing this film to non-Trekkies who say, "I like the one with the whales," only to have them recant after seeing Khan. Sure, "the one with the whales" (Star Trek IV) is good, but nothing beats Khan vs. Kirk in an all-out space cage match.

Since the release of the latest Star Trek film, which I like, I have gone back to look at the old films to see if they still hold up when compared to the shiny, lens-flarey new one. To answer myself, they do, and Star Trek II most of all. What I hope to see in the sequels to the latest Trek is the depth of character and engaging plot that we saw in Khan. Certainly special effects have come a long way since 1982, but Star Trek was never about the effects, they were just a means to advance an interesting story.

Star Trek II's story is about an aging Kirk who feels worn out and useless, but he's quickly thrust into a battle with his old nemesis Khan Noonien Singh for his life and the secrets of the Genesis device. Genesis is the planet transforming weapon developed by Kirk's son and baby mama, which adds even more depth to the story. This film is as complete as it gets, and has a great many memorable moments. Let's also not forget the ear slugs, a sultry, pre-metric ton Kirstie Alley as Saavik, Khan's chest and the battle in the Mutara nebula. Oh, and Spock dies.

No matter what J.J. Abrams does with the future of Star Trek, we can be assured that it reached its cinematic peak in 1982.

"KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!"