Would it be really bad if I sneaked out this Mother's Day weekend to see the new Star Trek? My wife doesn't really want to see it, she wouldn't mind, right?
Wrong! As much as I'd really like to see how close the producers and director come to reincarnating the magic of the 'old' series, my focus will be striclty on the home front this weekend.
But what is it about the old series that still casts a spell over me? In hindsight, and maybe I'm reading too much into what was the mind of a child at that time, it had much do with the intoxicating combination of fantasty, science and recognition and acceptance of human frailty.
Kirk didn't have all the answers all the time, and maybe I was a bit envious of his alien seductions despite the risk they represented, but together with his well-disciplined, quixotic yet complementary team he always managed to live to tell the tale.
There have been many books written about Star Treks longevity, and the franchise's spin-offs have done well, though Capt. Picard was a bit too 'cold' and methodical to replace the also intelligent yet spontaneous and ever-flawed Kirt. However, this is the first time there's been an attempt to resurrect the original.
Here's a clip:
From what I've read, it sounds like a lot of fun and maybe I'll take a chance and sneak out. But I'm no Kirk, so maybe I won't. But if you do, let me know what you think -- and what it is about Star Trek, and 2000 A.D. (the comic series) and even X-Men that keeps us coming back for more. Have a great weekend.
