I have a friend who is a very nice person. She does not swear, she is fair minded, she wishes the best for others, and she is a devoted friend. There is something though: she is such a huge prude, and she hates sci-fi. She refuses to watch Star Trek or anything like it. Her explanation: "I was made to watch the old Star Trek, and I didn't like how all the men were made to look so good and the women were only there to look sexy."
What?
OK, so there was probably no need for Uhura to wear a dress THAT short, but that was more a style of the times than anything else. Sure there is some old sci-fi books, stories, movies, shows in which the women are only sex objects, but I hope that we have moved beyond that.
Let us look at Major Samantha Carter. A normal woman. Sure, she's pretty, but she is there because of her advanced degrees in science. She is a soldier, trained in combat and survival.
How about Dr. Beverly Crusher: Also smart, but a great model of a successful working mother.
Capt. Kara "Starbuck" Thrace: A skilled pilot and determined leader. Sure she has a high libido, but why not show women with such a libido. It is not so far off from being accurate.
So I presented to my friend that things have changed in sci-fi. Women are not presented the same way.
She thinks that they are.
Sure, all of these women are good looking. They have been known to wear skimpy clothing or use their female sexuality, but try to find a show or movie that does not do the same.
Her answer: "That's why I don't watch much other television either."
You just can't argue with that.
20090129
20080620
BSG
Almost done with season three in Battlestar Gallactica. AWESOME!!!!
The study of humanity searching for a place to exist while in conflict with a vicious enemy is timeless, but they have somehow taken a new turn on it. You never know who is going to be a cylon next and who will be fracking whom.
I like the religious aspect of it because I like religions, but also because it gives the characters soul and makes the message timely. There are some aspects of it that seem to reflect current events of the Iraq war. Other episodes have touched on stem cell resesarch and abortion. They don't dwell and they don't get preachy. They lay out the facts, state their views, and move on by the next episode. Life goes on, but we learn lessons from it. Nice.
Looking forward to seeing season four; I'll have to wait awhile for it to come out on DVD. It's still playing on Sci-Fi network.
Looking forward to more Starbuck tonight.
Real-life Sci-Fi story.
While in Wal-Mart with BF. I see him standing staring at something. I walk up to him. He says, "Look at her tattoos. Look at the one on the inside of her arm." She was standing in line with her back towards us. She had tattoos all up her arms, and her boyfriend had those grommets in his ears. I wasn't quite sure what tattoo he meant, so he said, "That ship. Isn't that a Viper." As soon as he was saying it, I saw it. Sure enough, it WAS a Viper. She even had a Starbuck haircut and color. It was really cool, and that is a hard-core fan to be sure.
sigining off
GeekChick
The study of humanity searching for a place to exist while in conflict with a vicious enemy is timeless, but they have somehow taken a new turn on it. You never know who is going to be a cylon next and who will be fracking whom.
I like the religious aspect of it because I like religions, but also because it gives the characters soul and makes the message timely. There are some aspects of it that seem to reflect current events of the Iraq war. Other episodes have touched on stem cell resesarch and abortion. They don't dwell and they don't get preachy. They lay out the facts, state their views, and move on by the next episode. Life goes on, but we learn lessons from it. Nice.
Looking forward to seeing season four; I'll have to wait awhile for it to come out on DVD. It's still playing on Sci-Fi network.
Looking forward to more Starbuck tonight.
Real-life Sci-Fi story.
While in Wal-Mart with BF. I see him standing staring at something. I walk up to him. He says, "Look at her tattoos. Look at the one on the inside of her arm." She was standing in line with her back towards us. She had tattoos all up her arms, and her boyfriend had those grommets in his ears. I wasn't quite sure what tattoo he meant, so he said, "That ship. Isn't that a Viper." As soon as he was saying it, I saw it. Sure enough, it WAS a Viper. She even had a Starbuck haircut and color. It was really cool, and that is a hard-core fan to be sure.
sigining off
GeekChick
20080401
British actors
While watching the new Masterpiece theater version of Persuasion by Jane Austen, I saw the names Anthony Head and Alice Krige in the cast listing at the beginning of the movie. "I wonder," I mused, "if this is Anthony STEWART Head." Sure enough it was: Rupert Giles of Buffy fame. It was nice to see him in something else. I did see him in an episode of Dr. Who recently, but I've never seen him in a period piece. He was the stuck-up, stuffed shirt Sir Elliot, the father of the heroine. Alice Krige played the heroine's friend and godmother, Lady Russell.
I'm also watching Angel, and I'm on season five. Almost through, and there have been some good story lines, but I don't like it as much as I liked Buffy. The next sci-fi show I have on Netfilx is Battlestar Gallactica, but it's a little ways down the list. So many other movies to watch.
Funny and true sci-fi life story
I went into my class yesterday, and one of my students said to me, "I didn't want to come to class today because there was a marathon on that I wanted to watch. But since it's a marathon, I'll catch some episodes later."
"Oh yeah, what was it?" I asked.
"Battlestar Gallactica. I can't help it, I'm a big geek," he explained to his classmates.
"What?! If I had known that that was on, I wouldn't have come either. I'd have called in sick."
GeekChick
I'm also watching Angel, and I'm on season five. Almost through, and there have been some good story lines, but I don't like it as much as I liked Buffy. The next sci-fi show I have on Netfilx is Battlestar Gallactica, but it's a little ways down the list. So many other movies to watch.
Funny and true sci-fi life story
I went into my class yesterday, and one of my students said to me, "I didn't want to come to class today because there was a marathon on that I wanted to watch. But since it's a marathon, I'll catch some episodes later."
"Oh yeah, what was it?" I asked.
"Battlestar Gallactica. I can't help it, I'm a big geek," he explained to his classmates.
"What?! If I had known that that was on, I wouldn't have come either. I'd have called in sick."
GeekChick
20080208
Everyone's a critic
So here it is so far. I've been watching the Star Trek movies over the past week. Here are some thoughts.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture--Good premise on the lost 20th century technology. The best lines in the movie:
Kirk-Who is V'ger?
Ilia-V'ger is the one who seeks the creator.
Kirk-Who is the creator?
Ilia-The one who V'ger seeks.
This was probably my favorite so far, and I'm halfway through with Star Trek VI. I like how Spock couldn't find what he needed where he thought he would; he had to travel back to be with those he loves.
Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan
Maybe I would have liked this better if I had seen TOS, but I didn't like this at all. It seemed silly, but I liked the idea of the Genesis project. The best line was when Spock assures Lt. Saavik that he did not lie, "I exaggerated." This started the whole "nobody's perfect" joke between Spock and Bones that went on through to the fifth movie.
Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock
This seemed more of a bridge between ST2 and ST4 than its own movie. I proved that Kirk and Spock were best friends. The best line in the movie: "The needs of the one outweighed the needs of the many." That is true sometimes. This would be one of the instances in which I could use ST to teach the compassion of human nature and true love and friendship.
Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home
So many wonderful moments in this movie. Scotty on the factory floor, Chekov looking for "nucleer wessels," and Spock saying "the Hell I do so" and the like. A great message about ecology, and I liked how Gillian got to go and live in the future.
Star Trek 5: The Final Frontier
This just proves how weird Shatner is. I've heard that this is not a favorite, but I didn't hate it. I think that the first movie was a much more subtle way to approach the subject of God though. The best line in the movie is Spock telling Kirk that "I have been observing you for awhile and...the climbing record is in no danger of being surpassed." Also Spock's line of "You cannot show me my pain, I know who I am" was a great comment on the human character.
Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country
Much more intrigue in this one: I like that. The best line is when Martia tells Kirk (after he beats up an alien in Rura Pente) "not everyone keeps their genitals in the same place." Classic.
A nice dichotomy between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. All in all, I like this one.
Star Trek Generations is next.
Star Trek: First Contact
One of my favorites because of the history of how warp drive was invented. But we can't forget the fun that Data and the Borg Queen had together: "Don't be tempted by flesh, Data."
Star Trek: Insurrection
I love this one because its premise is that of people returning to simplicity. "We've taken a lifetime to discover that it doesn't have to take a lifetime." These people had wonderful technology and they gave it up in order to discover the souls and lives that they lost because of the technology. I think that when most Terrans discover this, I will be dead and gone and unable to partake in those times.
Star Trek: Nemesis
This one truly scared me, but it was good insight on Romulan culture. I found it scary, but I had a hard time believing in the validity of Picard's clone/son. I liked Data's singing and sacrifice in this though, true love of mankind.
This is merely my two strips of latinum worth.
Geek Chick
End Log.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture--Good premise on the lost 20th century technology. The best lines in the movie:
Kirk-Who is V'ger?
Ilia-V'ger is the one who seeks the creator.
Kirk-Who is the creator?
Ilia-The one who V'ger seeks.
This was probably my favorite so far, and I'm halfway through with Star Trek VI. I like how Spock couldn't find what he needed where he thought he would; he had to travel back to be with those he loves.
Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan
Maybe I would have liked this better if I had seen TOS, but I didn't like this at all. It seemed silly, but I liked the idea of the Genesis project. The best line was when Spock assures Lt. Saavik that he did not lie, "I exaggerated." This started the whole "nobody's perfect" joke between Spock and Bones that went on through to the fifth movie.
Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock
This seemed more of a bridge between ST2 and ST4 than its own movie. I proved that Kirk and Spock were best friends. The best line in the movie: "The needs of the one outweighed the needs of the many." That is true sometimes. This would be one of the instances in which I could use ST to teach the compassion of human nature and true love and friendship.
Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home
So many wonderful moments in this movie. Scotty on the factory floor, Chekov looking for "nucleer wessels," and Spock saying "the Hell I do so" and the like. A great message about ecology, and I liked how Gillian got to go and live in the future.
Star Trek 5: The Final Frontier
This just proves how weird Shatner is. I've heard that this is not a favorite, but I didn't hate it. I think that the first movie was a much more subtle way to approach the subject of God though. The best line in the movie is Spock telling Kirk that "I have been observing you for awhile and...the climbing record is in no danger of being surpassed." Also Spock's line of "You cannot show me my pain, I know who I am" was a great comment on the human character.
Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country
Much more intrigue in this one: I like that. The best line is when Martia tells Kirk (after he beats up an alien in Rura Pente) "not everyone keeps their genitals in the same place." Classic.
A nice dichotomy between the Federation and the Klingon Empire. All in all, I like this one.
Star Trek Generations is next.
Star Trek: First Contact
One of my favorites because of the history of how warp drive was invented. But we can't forget the fun that Data and the Borg Queen had together: "Don't be tempted by flesh, Data."
Star Trek: Insurrection
I love this one because its premise is that of people returning to simplicity. "We've taken a lifetime to discover that it doesn't have to take a lifetime." These people had wonderful technology and they gave it up in order to discover the souls and lives that they lost because of the technology. I think that when most Terrans discover this, I will be dead and gone and unable to partake in those times.
Star Trek: Nemesis
This one truly scared me, but it was good insight on Romulan culture. I found it scary, but I had a hard time believing in the validity of Picard's clone/son. I liked Data's singing and sacrifice in this though, true love of mankind.
This is merely my two strips of latinum worth.
Geek Chick
End Log.
20071108
Season 9 and Eureka
Loving Stargate season 9. I've only seen the first DVD (I'm waiting on the 2nd one from Netflix today), but it's great so far. I didn't think that I'd like it with Richard Dean Anderson gone and Beau Bridges in charge, but I like the turn it has taken. All things must change, and for better or worse, this world has. Although Ben Browder's Cameron Mitchell (grrrawh! what a hottie!) is essentially the same guy as John Chricton from Farscape, Claudia Black's Vala is wonderful. In the episode "The Ties that Bind" where she is "joined" with Daniel Jackson, someone suggests that unless the bracelets can come off, the best thing for them to do is get married. To that she answers with a cheesy grin, "Let's have BAY-bies." It was so hilarious, I had to watch it about three times.
I've been watching the first season of Eureka as well. I started with the beginning of the second season, but Sci-Fi played a lot of first season episodes yesterday morning. I recorded them and watched the pilot and second episode. It's great to see how it all started. It is now my hope to be Eureka's dumbest resident. There's got to be something I can do there. Perhaps they need a yarn shop. Hmmm.
Signing off,
Geek Chick
I've been watching the first season of Eureka as well. I started with the beginning of the second season, but Sci-Fi played a lot of first season episodes yesterday morning. I recorded them and watched the pilot and second episode. It's great to see how it all started. It is now my hope to be Eureka's dumbest resident. There's got to be something I can do there. Perhaps they need a yarn shop. Hmmm.
Signing off,
Geek Chick
20070905
SG-1 Season 7 commentary
I've been watching plenty of Stargate Season 7, but no writing whatsoever.
I bought the latest issue of StarLog, and it had a large article about the SG finale. For the past five years or so, they've all been ready to pack their bags on a moments notice, and it finally came. It's so hard for a cable show to get good ratings these days. Any show really. A lot of people have DVR, and they don't want to watch the commercials. I've been spoiled because I've seen all the other seasons on DVD, so I can just crunch them out in no time.
I'm loving season 7! Samantha has a relationship, Daniel is back, Teal'c has a sense of humor, and O'Neill's humor is sexy as he refers to "playing one on TV." There are these wonderful quips everywhere about how they are all just playing a game. In the episode where Sam gets a boyfriend, she's humming the theme song in the elevator! I love it.
The episodes "Heroes" are good because of their humanizing soldiers and making the front lines real. Saul Rubenick is great as the filmmaker who sticks his nose where it's not welcome, and the whole performance by everyone was great.
Looking forward to Seasons 8-10,
Geek Chick
I bought the latest issue of StarLog, and it had a large article about the SG finale. For the past five years or so, they've all been ready to pack their bags on a moments notice, and it finally came. It's so hard for a cable show to get good ratings these days. Any show really. A lot of people have DVR, and they don't want to watch the commercials. I've been spoiled because I've seen all the other seasons on DVD, so I can just crunch them out in no time.
I'm loving season 7! Samantha has a relationship, Daniel is back, Teal'c has a sense of humor, and O'Neill's humor is sexy as he refers to "playing one on TV." There are these wonderful quips everywhere about how they are all just playing a game. In the episode where Sam gets a boyfriend, she's humming the theme song in the elevator! I love it.
The episodes "Heroes" are good because of their humanizing soldiers and making the front lines real. Saul Rubenick is great as the filmmaker who sticks his nose where it's not welcome, and the whole performance by everyone was great.
Looking forward to Seasons 8-10,
Geek Chick
20070622
Stargate Finale
Tonight was the series finale of Stargate SG-1. Although I am a recent convert to the show and am only on season five disc 4 (0f 5), it's still the end of a great show. Sci-Fi is planning on releasing two movies next year though. If Dish Network doesn't fix the problem with my satellite, I'll stick to using the library for the series and Netflix for the movies.
Yes, I'm behind on my Sci-Fi show watching, but it wasn't until recently that I had no shame in expressing my geek-ness. And a lot of the loss of shame was with help and encouragement from Chuck. xoxo to him. In the past year and a half I caught up on Deep Space 9 and Voyager; watched Firefly and Serenity; finally saw all of the Superman movies (number 1 is the best, number 3 sucks, watch the Richard Donner cut of number 2); have gotten through all of Farscape, including the movie; saw the first 5 seasons of Stargate SG-1; dressed as Trillian to an event with my co-workers (with Chuck as Arthur Dent); have researched going to Cons; and started this blog. I'm doing pretty well.
Next on the viewing list is Buffy and Stargate Atlantis.
Long Life and Prosperity,
GeekChick
Yes, I'm behind on my Sci-Fi show watching, but it wasn't until recently that I had no shame in expressing my geek-ness. And a lot of the loss of shame was with help and encouragement from Chuck. xoxo to him. In the past year and a half I caught up on Deep Space 9 and Voyager; watched Firefly and Serenity; finally saw all of the Superman movies (number 1 is the best, number 3 sucks, watch the Richard Donner cut of number 2); have gotten through all of Farscape, including the movie; saw the first 5 seasons of Stargate SG-1; dressed as Trillian to an event with my co-workers (with Chuck as Arthur Dent); have researched going to Cons; and started this blog. I'm doing pretty well.
Next on the viewing list is Buffy and Stargate Atlantis.
Long Life and Prosperity,
GeekChick
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