Star Trek: Vanguard - Open Secrets by Dayton Ward

This is Book 4 of a series set at Starbase 47, aka Vanguard. The series takes place during the same time as the original Star Trek's five-year mission. But Stark Trek: Vanguard is much more than a TOS DS9. For starters, the starbase has a number of starships assigned to it at all times, so you have not only the cast of Starfleet officiers and civilians that work and live at Starbase 47, but the crews of the starships as well.

The thing I really love about series like ST:V is that almost none of the characters are bulletproof. The three exceptions in this case are Dr. M'Benga, who hasn't yet transferred to the Enterprise, T'Prynn, who shows up in later Star Trek: The Lost Era books (although after what was happening to her in this book I was starting to wonder if I had my timeline mixed up), and Admiral Nogura.

Admiral Nogura's previous Star Trek history is only as a reference in Star Trek: The Motion Picture; he's obviously Admiral Kirk's superior, and obviously a tough leader, but that's all we know. Here we get to see that legend built as he takes command of Starbase 47.

Vanguard continues to be full of surprises and big changes.

The Day the Earth Stood Still (2008)

I finally got to watch this, and I have to say, it's much better than I expected. When I had heard that the theme of the movie had been switched from mankind's capacity for nuclear annihilation to mankind's destroying the Earth through global warming, I didn't think it would work. But it did, and it felt really natural. Klaatu's line that"If the Earth dies, you die. If you die, the Earth survives. There are only a handful of planets in the cosmos that are capable of supporting complex life" totally tied it all together for me.

And I really liked that the "Earth Stood Still" moment comes at the end with no resolution. Yes, it throws mankind back to the bronze age, but it also gives us another chance to get it right this time.

And I did hear the "Klaatu Barada Nikto." It comes right after Klaatu has been shot and Gort starts to attack the army. And, just like in the original, it's the command for Gort to stand down. It was so distorted and mechanical sounding that the only part I made out for sure was "Klaat...Nikto," so I had to rewind it and put on the subtitles to make sure I was right; had I been in the theater, I wouldn't have been positive.

My only real complaint is that Klaatu didn't get to address the UN and make his speech, like he did at the end of the original. I suppose Jennifer Connelly, Micah, and John Cleese will get to relay his message to the world later, but it would have been better for mankind if they had heard from Klaatu themselves why they came so close to extinction.

Overall, I think I still prefer the orignal, but this was an enjoyable enough remake.

Fer's Summer Movie Wrap-Up, Part 1

You know, when I first started this post back on May 22, I thought that with the exception of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen I was done with my movie-watching for the summer. But I still haven't seen Up, which is bugging me more and more, and I really want to see Bruno, and I just discovered the incredible website world of District 9 at www.d-9.com. So that's at least four more movies that have become "must-see" movies for me this summer. So instead of being the complete wrap-up, this has become Part 1.

So without further ado, here's my reviews:

MONSTERS VS. ALIENS

Okay, technically this is a Spring movie, but I saw it the week before Wolverine, and I've been wanting to mention it, so it counts.

In short: I expected to enjoy this movie. I did not expect to LOVE this movie as much as I did! Sure, I could tell the characters were going to be funny, but I didn't expect to have so many cool monster battles that actually felt like they come out of a Japanese Godzilla movie! They even go so far as to make the giant bug guy a direct tribute to Mothra. Plus, this is the first movie I've seen using the new 3D technique, and I can't believe how good it is. (It made me want to go see Battle for Terra, but that barely played a week, and it was a very busy and trouble-filled week for me. Ah well.)


X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE

Now, I will confess I have read very little X-Men since the 1980's, back when Wolverine still had no idea what his history was. Rich has kept me up to date with some of the details from the "Origins" comic, so I had a general idea.

And, knowing the general ideas, I was very satisfied. I have no problem with the adamantium bullet scrambling Wolverine's memories, although I will agree with Rich that it was a bit much for the General to assume that was what would happen. And I thought that Deadpool getting Cyclops power was a bit much. But other than that, it all worked great for me.

Speaking of Deadpool, his part in the beginning I absolutely LOVED. I can see why people like this character so much, and I'm glad there are plans to do more with him.

STAR TREK (2009)

Well now. I really wished I'd blogged about this at the time when it was all fresh in my mind. But the bottom line is: Damn near perfect.

I say "near" because when I first walked out of the theater, the way that the super nova was used really, really bugged me as poor science. Okay, either Romulus's sun itself went nova, in which case it would have destroyed Romulus right away and the Red Matter wouldn't have helped anyway, or a different star went nova, in which case it wouldn't reach Romulus and not been a threat. And a super nova will always reach a limit, so it can't be a "threat to the entire galaxy." That's Astronomy 101, and hearing such mangled astronomy come out of Leonard Nimoy's mouth is even more painful.

But the "Star Trek: Countdown" comic, which shows all of those events as they happened in the "prime" universe, explains this away with one simple line of dialogue: This is something new, a super nova that doesn't burn out or collapse back in itself, but actually grows stronger with everything it consumes. As such it could stretch to other stars, causing them to go nova as well, fueling itself even more. Now that is a threat to the entire galaxy. It fits, it makes sense. I realize this movie wanted to get away from the technobabble (and thankfully so), but it shouldn't be at the sacrifice of basic astronomy.

So, when I rewatched it the second and third time, I had the comic's apologist explanation in my head and I was very, very happy.

The whole alternate universe approach was the perfect way to handle this movie. It opens it up to being anything they want it to be, makes history start anew (well, except for "Star Trek: Enterprise," anyway) yet still preserves our original timeline. And it was a damn enjoyable story to boot. Zachary Quinto is probably the best non-Nimoy Spock I've ever seen, and Karl Urban was FANTASTIC-- he really made me feel like I was watching a young McCoy. The rest of the cast were fine, and I could accept them as new versions.

It's kind of funny, Rich and I kept telling ourselves this was "Ultimate Trek" so we wouldn't get hung-up on nitpicky continuity issues. Not only where we righter that we realized, it was practically "Crisis on Ultimate Trek!"


TERMINATOR SALVATION

Again, for the most part I found it very enjoyable. There were some stretches of disbelief (open heart surgery in the middle of the desert? Skynet can track the noise of a radio playing but can't tell when the resistance is bombing the hell out of their lawn?) but any inconsisitancies with other Terminator stories I could just shrug off to the timelines constantly shifting. But I've only seen each Terminator movie once (I may have seen T2 more than once, but I don't really remember). Just call me the Lowest Common Denominator on this one.

Fer's Easter Basket of Fandom Goodness

DOCTOR WHO: PLANET OF THE DEAD - Really cool!

RED DWARF: BACK TO EARTH - Really smegging cool!!

FARSCAPE (4-issue comic book mini-series) - Really frelling cool!!

TRINITY issues 20-45: WOW, was that cool! This is what Final Crisis should have been.

TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES Season Finale - Hmm. That was pretty cool. I hope that's not how it ends.

...more if I get the time.

I *SO* Cannot Wait for This to Come Out.

My daughter is a HUGE Monopoly fan. Monopoly helped teach her to count and do math. In fact, we were just playing the "Planet Earth" edition that Danielle so generously bought for her.

I'd seen the solicitation for this upcoming Star Trek "Continuum Edition" in Previews last month, but there were no pictures available, so I didn't know for sure what it covered. I've passed on the previous Star trek Monopoly sets, partially because Mylene hadn't been born yet so we didn't play Monopoly all the time, and partially because I wanted a set that wasn't just TOS and TNG. Well, this one goes all the way, baby. Classic Trek, Next Generation , Deep Space Nine, Voyager, Enterprise... they're all here. I can't wait. (Mylene, on the other hand, isn't quite as excited about it as I am.)

More details are available at the manufacturer USAopoly's site. All I can say is... get ready for game night, gang!

Battlestar Galactica - "Daybreak"

Well, MAJOR FRAKKIN' SPOILERS, obviously. (Oh, and what's up with that KFC "Can't Say Fr*k On TV" promotion? They can't say frak in a commercial but they can in a TV show? Has it really crossed over into the mainstream so much that it's now considered a real curse word? Do teachers have to punish their students if the say frak in school? And here I used to get beat up in school because I used to say "frak" and it just made me look geeky. Timing is everything. But I digress.)

This is a slightly expanded version of the post that I left on Darth Mojo's blog. For those of you who don't know, Mojo works on the CGI effects for Galactica.

I loved it all. That final battle was breathtaking. I literally got off my seat and started watching it on the floor to get a better view.

And I found the ending to be very satisfying. The discovery that the Earth we saw before was not our Earth answered any leftover questions I had about that. Part of me can't help but compare it to the Golganfrinchams in Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, but what Douglas Adams did in jest they pulled off here with a wonderfully serious tone.

The only thing I felt wasn’t explained was how Kara was “the harbinger of death and will lead humanity to its destruction.” She did lead humanity to it’s end… but that was more of finding them a home than their destruction. Am I missing the angle I should be interpreting this? Anyone help me out here?

There's been a lot of griping about the "angel" aspect to the visionary versions of Baltar, Six and of course now Starbuck. I don't have a problem with it, but I don't think they were "angels" in the sense that they lived in Heaven with God. Only Baltar called them angels, and even he said "God, Gods, Angels, a higher intelligence, call it what you want." The “angel” Baltar also said “You know he doesn’t like it when you call him [God].”

No, I think Rich had it right all along-- they were this show's equivalent of the Crystal Barge.

Just as in the original show the Crystal Barge brought Apollo back from the dead, in this version they brought Starbuck back from the dead. Only in this case they brought her back as one of them, and her pristine Viper was the equivilant of her white uniform. Baltar seeing his own private Six and Caprica Six seeing her own private Gaius Baltar was to the new show what Apollo seeing his own private John was to the old show. Not really God, not really Angels… just another form of life that’s a higher intelligence. And It Has A Plan. ;)

It almost makes me want to go back and rewatch this show from the beginning, knowing what I know now.

...Almost. Maybe in a few years.

Smallville - "Infamous"

I'm watching this episode and pausing it to make lunch. I've decided to blog my feelings on it as I go. All times are as marked by my DVR, which includes commercials.

30 seconds in: Hey, no visual or audio clip when referring to Lana! She must not be in this episode. Whew.

2 Minutes in: Ah, an old villain returns threatening to expose Clark's Secret. Yawn.

6 minutes in: Wait a minute... Clark's talking sense. Exposing himself before someone else does. Stepping up to the plate! But he'll never become Superman in this show, so what are they getting at...?

15 minutes in: OMG, he actually outed himself to Lois. Okay, either she's being brought into the fold, or she's going to have amnesia by the end of the episode.

17 minutes in: Wow! This makes sense for Smallville! No flights, no tights, but in this version, everyone knows he's Superman! Sure, he may never have the name, but it's time for him to go public, and since he's never tried to wear glasses for more than one episode, that's not going to work anyway.... just have it all out in the open!

18 minutes in: Wait a minute. Is this a dream sequence? The newspaper stand man was believable, but the little kid dressing like Clark is a bit much. This can't be real...

19 minutes in: Ah, Chloe doesn't remember the stuff she did as Brainiac, including unlocking Davis's Doomsday side, so they're having yet another one of those "Oh, you're talking about this but I think we're talking about that because I have no memory" conversations. Man, this show should be used as a public service announcement for Alzheimers. But wait a minute, Clark wouldn't know about this conversation, so he couldn't dream it. Maybe the time line will get altered?

24 minutes in: Now the angst comes in. Clark's had to come to terms with the fact that he can't save everybody before, but now that the people are saying "Why couldn't you save so-and-so?" we get a fresh wave of guilt. For what would Smallville be without angst and guilt? (Hmm, I guess it would be "Lois & Clark.")

I'm done with my pizza but still hungry. I think I'll make a sandwich.

30 minutes in: Further indication that the timeline's going to get changed: Clark's house is getting shot up. However, at least he's seeing what I always thought-- he was always so worried that TPTB would stick him in a lab somewhere if the ever found out about his abilities, but I would yell back at the screen, "How are they gonna CATCH you first? You're freakin' SUPERMAN!" And by the way, Clark didn't tell people that Krypton exploded and that he's the only survivor? I hope they explain why he held that little piece of info back...

Done with my sandwich, but still don't feel full. Dessert, maybe?

31 minutes in: Clark's now a fugitive? A statewide curfew?!? Oh, come on! Here's where it all goes sour, and I bet Clark will run off to the Fortress of Solitude to ask Jor-El to change time again.

30 minutes, 55 seconds in: Okay, so it's the Legion Flight Ring and not Jor-El. I still called it back at 19 minutes.

35 minutes in: "The world isn't ready to accept someone like me." Ugh! Bastards.

I found a chilled Smores Pop-Tart in the back of the fridge, it seems to have done the trick.

42 minutes in: Ahh, Linda Lake has the Legion Flight Ring. Man, it would be so cool if the ring gets destroyed in the fight that's sure to come, and Clark has to deal with everything... we could spend the next few episodes with Clark going to court to prove he didn't kill Lex, see the people of Metropolis be split between those who rally behind him and those who are afraid of him, watch this blooming relationship with Lois really mature... this could be a real turning point for the series!

47 minutes in: BASTARDS!! Those stupid muther-^%*&%ing (%%^(*%-sucking god-damn BASTARDS!! Gawd, not only do they erase the best possible turning point this show has ever had, they (1) have to make sure it's done so that Clark prevents himself from learning about Doomsday, and (2) WHY THE HELL DIDN'T CLARK JUST RELEASE HIS STORY ABOUT LINDA LAKE'S MURDERS AND DISCREDIT HER IN THE REGULAR TIMELINE?!? GOD, HE IS SUCH A FUCKING WUSS!! WHY DO I WATCH THIS SHOW?!? AAAAGGGGHHHH!!!

59 minutes in: Ugh.

Oh Boy! Toys!

I don't feel like reviewing TV shows this week.

I found some cool toys on Monday. I found a Spider-Man from Hasbro's new Marvel Universe line, and an X-Men Origins: Wolverine "Comic Series" figure of Wolvie as he looked back when I read the X-Men. Now normally I'd pass on Marvel super hero action figures, but these are in my favorite scale - 3 3/4."


Spidey takes out his frustrations on one of those pesky Jawas.

I was already thrilled about Mattel's DC Infinite Heroes action figures. My favorite scale, and doing characters like Black Adam, Adam Strange and Guy Gardner right off the bat! I became a little less thrilled at the generic sculpting and poor articulation, but they were two bucks cheaper than my Star Wars figures so I was willing to accept the trade off. But now, I can't find anything after the first wave, even though they've been all over the internet for months. Not very encouraging for me to build the entire DCU.

So the idea of being able to build the entire MU to go along with it is a little bittersweet now, because I suspect I'll never get to complete my Justice League to stand toe-to-toe with my Avengers. I even considered not buying them after all... until I found one.

A Stormtrooper is distracted from his duties by Starfire's boobies.

These figures are nice. Hasbro's been doing a great job with the Star Wars figures over the last few years, and Steve tells me they've been doing just as good with the GI Joe figures. Well, they've applied it all to the Marvel Universe line. Fantastic detailing, individualized sculpting (no cheap-out sculpting here, unlike the DCU line) and tons of articulation.

Wolverine's got his quarters down and Green Lantern Hal Jordan waits
for Grand Admiral Thrawn to stop hogging the Pac-Man machine.

So I'm hooked. I really hope I'll still be able to build the DCU with it, but even if I don't, I'm such a sucker for the 3 3/4" scale and they've done such a good job with these figures that I can't bring myself to pass them up.

Star Trek: The Next Generation - "The Big Goodbye"

I remember this as being one of the best episodes of the first season at the time. In rewatching it, it's still good, but it's amazing how 21 seasons of Next-Gen era stories can change your perspective.

Picard is completely amazed at how realistic and detailed the holodeck is. At the time, we were seeing it for the first time as well, so we relate to his enthusiasm. Nowadays, it's just the holodeck. Of course it can do all these things, what's the big deal?

There is a line of dialogue where Dr. Crusher says to Picard that the new upgrades to the holodeck are complete, so he should go try them out. So presumably holodecks just weren't this advanced before, and the holodeck as we saw it in "Code of Honor" would seem to back this up. As long as we don't have a prequel show to TNG, it should hold up.

The other interesting thing is how, once the holodeck characters discover they are simply holodeck characters, they begin to wonder about their existence. It sets things up nicely for the EMH Doctor on Voyager.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars "The Hidden Enemy"

This was a great episode, that raised some interesting points. One of the clones in the group is a traitor. What could make a Clone Trooper turn against his own? The answer is a great one-- he feels the clones are nothing more than slaves of the Republic. And really, he's right. Do the clones get asked to serve? No, they're pre-programmed to when they're being created. If a clone wants to leave the service, is he allowed? I hope they do more to follow up on this particular point of view, because it raises some great points that haven't been addressed before in any of the Clone Wars media I've seen. (Granted, I haven't read any Clone Wars era books yet.)

The only thing I didn't like is that when he's caught, Rex and Cody are asking him how he could justify actions that endangered his fellow clones. They weren't just endangered-- we saw a bunch of them get killed. They double standard of how we can show characters getting killed but we can't acknowledge it in dialogue has always annoyed me.