–films
Pineapple Express

–tv
Star Trek: The Next Generation
The Daily Show
The Colbert Report

–music
Asobi Seksu (live! @ SXSW)
Cursive (live! @ SXSW)

–knitting
Lemongrass Cardigan (40%)
Lace Ribbon Scarf (55%)

–spinning
~400 yds

–research
Topics, Tropes, and Musical Idioms in Star Trek (1966–69)
analysis of George Crumb’s Ancient Voices of Children, no. 2, “Me he perdido muchas veces por el mar”

–big stuff
SXSW this week in Austin, pra fun
ordered an Ashford Kiwi spinning wheel
relaxed a bit too much during Spring Break, am now regretting the lack of school work I did
hit 10 hours on Wii Fit; time piggy bank turned golden!

Today is the last day that a feature film will be part of my Ten Days of Trek. I’ll get to why in a moment.

Star Trek Generations

I’ll forgo bullet points so that I can just rant for a minute. The movie started out like the rest of the Star Trek films up until this point, which was awesome, because I like the Star Trek films. But then it turned into a prolonged episode of TNG, which was really boring. And then Kirk ended his Trek tenure in the worst way EVER. I know everyone and their grandmother has complained about it, but that’s not stopping me. I mean, really. The only thing I’ll give them is that they stuck with what he said in Undiscovered Country. That he’d die alone. And he did, considering that McCoy and Spock weren’t there. Also, neither of them were in the film at all, and were only briefly mentioned.

A brief point about my reaction to this film. Did I cry for Kirk? No. Did I cry for the Enterprise? No. Did I cry when Data found Spot? Yes. Like a little baby. So there you have it.

I also decided that I was going to stop re-watching the Trek films at this point. It really was the final send-off for the original cast, even if it was a disappointing send-off. So for the next three days I will highlight my favorite episodes. Tomorrow will be #3, the next day #2, and I’ll end with #1, my favorite and arguably the best episode of the original Star Trek series. Because I know how much you all want to know.

As a heads-up, there is a strong possibility that my judgment will be swayed by episodes parodied by Futurama. Just saying.

The last film to feature the entire original cast. Sad.

Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

Thoughts:
- Spock was so interestingly out of character in this movie. Interestingly because Nimoy helped write the story and produce to the film.
- Kim Cattrall? Hilarious!
- For such a mighty race, I find it quite entertaining that Klingons have bright pink blood.
- I got really confused by Colonel Worf. They only call him Worf, so naturally I thought of the Worf we all know and love from TNG and Voyager. This Worf is even played by Michael Dorn, although the ridges in his forehead are different. Apparently he is supposed to be Worf’s grandfather. I kept thinking during the film, “this was released in 2001, after TNG had been on tv for four years. Wouldn’t this be confusing?” I guess it’s okay to have this film overlap TNG, even though it’s supposed to have happened well before Picard took over the Enterprise-D. I’d look into that further if … I cared that much. Which I kind of don’t. Maybe that makes me a bad Trekkie?
- I’m glad they dropped the whole Uhura/Scotty thing. I was not a fan.

Now we get into where Trekkies say the odd movies are poo.

Star Trek V: The Final Frontier

I really only have two things I want to say about this film.
1- People seem to really hate the tongue-and-cheek jokes of this film. I, for one, find them refreshing. The film knows not to take itself of the franchise too seriously. At this point why wouldn’t you point out there age or some of the oddities of their lifestyle? They’re the cowboys of outspace, and cowboy films and cowboys are comfortable with poking fun at their lives. Why should Star Trek be any different?
2- Everyone always seems to think that Kirk is a womanizer or whatever. But take a look at this film. It was co-written by Shatner and directed by Shatner. There was no love interest for Kirk, even remotely. I realize that Shatner =/= Kirk, but for the man that played the part for so long, wouldn’t you think he’d include that angle if he thought it was important to Kirk’s character? I do think, though, that Kirk is mostly interested in his friendship/relationship with Spock and McCoy, and I think the focus on those feelings is more in line with Kirk’s character than any romantic fling.

I had to skip yesterday because of the holiday. Worth it, though, because I watched two football games, ate tons of fantastic food, spent time with great friends, and played many hours of Rock Band 2.

Back to business, though.

Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home

Thoughts:
- Nuclear wessel.
- Whale biologists are lame. See Futurama “Three Hundred Big Boys” for further proof.
- Kirk and Spock are absolutely hilarious when trying to be inconspicuous. See Star Trek “The City on the Edge of Forever” for further proof.
- Scotty is still pretty much my favorite, Sulu pretty much tied, but I also really love Spock’s dad for some reason.
- I have a cool idea for an article about the music of this movie, and Star Trek in general. No spoilers about it yet, though. That might be my project over break.

Oh yes, the shows go on.

Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock

Thoughts:
- They used five difference actors to play Spock.
- Scotty is pretty much my favorite ever.
- Well, Sulu too.
- Essentially everyone that Kirk loves ends up dead at some point. Rough life. How melodramatic.
- The adventure goes on …
- … OH! Some other actress playing Saavik? Weak, guys. Weak. Seriously all the things she did that probably kept Kirstie Alley from being in this movie were crap.

Tonight’s viewing is:

Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan

Who would have thought?

Notes:
- Totally forgot Kirstie Alley was in this movie. Hilarious.
- She’s a Vulcan? Or a Romulan? I didn’t think Romulan-Federation interaction had been solidified by that point, or if they ever were. Maybe I’m forgetting a later episode of Star Trek that dealt with that. Or supposedly she’s Vulcan-Romulan? Whatever.
- Watched “Space Seed” on cbs.com before watching this to make sure I remembered Khan’s origins correctly.
- As such (see last bullet point) I was really mad when Khan said he recognized Chekov. Damnit! Canon, people. CANON!

Today’s viewing is Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979).

Star Trek: The Motion Picture

Comments about the film thus far:
- Kirk/Spock OTP
- Dr. McCoy looked like a total pimp when he first came aboard
- Spock is going through major acclimation issues. He’s been away from humanity for too long.
- Spock looked hilariously incredible with the long hair.
- I really hope that whatever our version of the Earth Federation is will end up being will be HQ’d in San Francisco.
- TNG stole the entire soundtrack of this film.

So I’m finally watching Death Rides a Horse, a spaghetti western from 1968 directed by Giulio Petroni. There are a few reasons I’m watching it:
1- The score was composed by Ennio Morricone.
2- The film co-stars Lee Van Cleef.
3- Other actors include Mario Brega and Luigi Pistilli.
4- The script was designed by Luciano Vincenzoni, who also helped writeFor a Few Dollars More, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, and Fistful of Dynamite/Duck, You Sucker!.
4- It’s a spaghetti western … duh.

So I’m paying more attention to the music than anything, and am noticing that Morricone recycled some old music in this film. There are two pieces I’m recognizing: “Poker d’Assi” from For a Few Dollars More, and some incidental music from For a Few Dollars More.  I don’t really have an explanation for it, it’s just something I’ve noticed from working on those other movies for so long. Maybe because he had so many movies going that he ended up borrowing from himself?

As an aside, I see quite a few similarities between Death Rides a Horseand Kill Bill, particularly the plot. Bad guy is taken advantage of and incarcerated (Ryan sold out by his gang and spends 15 years in jail, The Bride/Beatrix tries to leave but is hunted down and shot, spends four years in a coma), then hunts down and slaughters everyone that turned on them. In most cases the people they are hunting down are in higher places in society (wife/mother, politician, rich estate holder, etc.). The Bride almost seems like an amalgamation of Bill and Ryan. There are also similarities between Death and For a Few Dollars More, mostly the master/apprentice relationship between Bill/Ryan and Monco/Mortimer (hard to avoid seeing this due to Van Cleef being in both films). Some of Morricone’s music from Death Rides a Horsemen is used in Kill Bill (I think “Man to Man”).