Star Wars: The Last Jedi (Spoiler-Free Review)

When Kathleen Kennedy took over Lucasfilm, and with it the task of creating a new Star Wars trilogy, she approached J.J. Abrams to helm the then-yet-untitled Episode Seven. To everyone’s surprise, Abrams declined, but Kennedy got him to reverse course by asking him a single question: “Who is Luke Skywalker?” According to Abrams, that question intrigued him enough to get on board and direct “The Force Awakens.” And while the answer was teased at in Abrams’ film, Rian Johnson (Looper), writer and director of the anxiously-awaited follow-up, works to drive it home in “The Last Jedi.”

The ultimate question is: will “The Last Jedi” answer all the other questions posed in “The Force Awakens”?

Continued

Svengoolie to present original Star Trek pilot episode

Fans of both Star Trek and b-movie horror host Svengoolie will enjoy the show this weekend when MeTV airs the original pilot episode “The Cage” hosted by the Chicago Television legend!

When I heard the news, I reached out to Sven’s alter-ego Rich Koz for comment: “As a longtime Star Trek fan, who watched the shows when they first aired  -yeah, I’m that old- getting to present the original pilot is a real kick for me -especially this remastered, full color version. Still blown away by the scene where Spock finds something amusing and breaks out in a big smile!”

Which begs the question, will the rubber chickens be set to stun?

****

From the MeTV YouTube Page:

On Saturday, September 10, 2016 Svengoolie presents the original, unaired ‘Star Trek’ pilot, “The Cage,” at 10PM | 9C. Also, at 9PM | 8C, tune in for the first ‘Star Trek’ episode to air on broadcast television, “The Man Trap.”

Visit the MeTV website for programming info!

“Trouble with Tribbles” Writer David Gerrold talks about the heritage of Star Trek

With Star Trek marking its 50th anniversary this week, all of fandom has been celebrating the launch of the television series that inspired generations of science fiction lovers and created a lasting legacy.

As part of the celebration, CBS Home Video is releasing a special collector’s edition blu-ray set that gives Star Trek fans a look at the series as they’ve never seen before. (I’ll be posting my review of the set in the coming week. There’s a LOT to check out!) They also had original series writers D.C. Fontana and David Gerrold doing interviews with different media outlets to talk about Trek and the new blu-ray set.

I was able to get a few minutes with Gerrold, who I must admit being a fan of for decades. In addition to writing “The Trouble with Tribbles”– considered one of the most popular Star Trek episodes ever – he’s also written the Hugo and Nebula Award winning novella “The Martian Child.” But I really became a fan when I got hooked on his “War Against the Ch’Torr” series, a tale of alien invasion that this geek discovered in high school after reading an excerpt in “Starlog Magazine.” (Gerrold informs me that he has finished the 5th book and is awaiting edits.)

Gerrold spoke to me by phone as he was on the road doing the Star Trek convention circuit:

Geek To Me: Have you had a chance to look at the set, and if so what do you think about it?

David Gerrold: I’ve looked at some of it. It’s 30 discs, you know, it’s going to take a while to get through the whole thing. But I am so jazzed by the blu-ray remasters. If you have a good TV set – and most of us have 42 inches and up now – you’re actually seeing Star Trek better than it’s ever been presented before.

I remember we would get the dailies for Star Trek the original series, and it was a 35 millimeter print, the same you would go to the movies (to see). It was crisp, clear, there was no grain, no jumping around, no scratches, and it was on a high quality projector, right?

What you’re seeing on the blu-rays is as if you’re seeing (the dailies) but it may be even better because it’s been digitally remastered. For instance there’s a shot in “The Trouble with Tribbles” where Leonard Nimoy has some coffee on his velour at lunch. And you can see it, the coffee stain. Nobody ever noticed that before.

So, I am so excited to actually have this high-quality version of Star Trek. Because Star Trek is iconic. It’s just one of the very best things that American television has ever created. As a science fiction fan, how can you not be enthralled?

I’m excited, did I say that?

More after the jump!

Getting paid on the Enterprise: How does money work on Star Trek?

The latest episode of Geek/Countergeek has Keith Conrad and I discussing Star Trek’s 50th Anniversary, the new blu-ray collection, and how money – or more specifically commerce – works in Gene Roddenberry’s utopian future.

Just how much do garbage men make in the United Federation of Planets?

FOLLOW KEITH CONRAD on TWITTER!

FOLLOW GEEK/COUNTERGEEK on TWITTER!

Marvel Comics seeks to inspire minds with STEAM Variant covers

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Marvel is Proud to Introduce STEAM Variants this Fall
November Variant Campaign to Promote Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math

New York, NY—Aug 22^nd, 2016 — Marvel’s best and brightest heroes are stepping to the head of the class for a series of special variant covers! Marvel is pleased to announce 5 special STEAM Variants coming to some of your favorite Marvel titles this November!

“Our characters have been exciting fans for ages,” says David Gabriel, SVP Sales & Marketing, Marvel Comics. “With our new STEAM Variants, we plan to continue to motivate our fans to explore their passions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and math and present these disciplines through some of our favorite young heroes who are doing just that – following their dreams and preparing for the challenges that await them ahead.”

We are excited to reveal the following STEAM Variants by some of Marvel’s great cover artists:

• S (science) – MOON GIRL & DEVIL DINOSAUR #13 by Joyce Chin
• T (technology) – SPIDER-MAN #10 by Pasqual Ferry
• E (engineering)— INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #1 by Mike McKone
• A (art) — CHAMPIONS #2 by Pascal Campion
• M (math) – GWENPOOL #8 by Will Sliney

Through Marvel’s STEAM Variants, this campaign plans to ignite the spark of creativity and innovation that fuels and empowers the very heroes that have helped inspire generations around the world.

This November, join Marvel at your local comic shop as we continue to inspire champions of education, seekers of enlightenment, and the next generation of visionaries with Marvel’s STEAM Variants.

To find a comic shop near you, visit www.comicshoplocator.com or call 1-888-comicbook.

Andy Samberg is a POPSTAR in new comedy on Blu-Ray/DVD

Ever since he left Saturday Night Live, Andy Samberg has done a pretty good job of staying in the pop-culture limelight, breaking out like other former SNL cast members in new television and film projects. Now the Brooklyn Nine-Nine star has a movie coming out on Blu-Ray and DVD where he plays a pop star who is trying to remain relevant.

The film is a comedy called POPSTAR: NEVER STOP STOPPING and it was written by Samberg and his Lonely Island homies. I’ve got the details about the Blu-Ray/DVD release in the following press release. And I’ve got digital copies to give away to a couple lucky Geek To Me readers!

Check it out:

 AN OUTRAGEOUS NEW COMEDY FROM THE LONELY ISLAND AND ‘TRAINWRECK’ AND ‘40-YEAR-OLD VIRGIN’ PRODUCER JUDD APATOW

POPSTAR: NEVER STOP NEVER STOPPING

AVAILABLE ON DIGITAL HD AUGUST 16, 2016, ON DEMAND AUGUST 30, 2016, AND BLU-RAY AND DVD SEPTEMBER 13, 2016 FROM UNIVERSAL PICTURES HOME ENTERTAINMENT

“Insanely funny!” – Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Universal City, California, July 12, 2016 – Andy Samberg stars in this hilarious comedy as a former boy-band member trying desperately to salvage his failing solo career, coming to Digital HD on August 16, 2016, On Demand on August 30, 2016, and Blu-rayTM and DVD on September 13, 2016, from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. This side-splitting comedy goes behind the scenes as music sensation Conner4Real (Samberg) finds his popularity plummeting after a disastrous album release, leaving his fans, sycophants and rivals all wondering what to do when he’s no longer the dopest star of all. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping on Blu-rayTM and DVD comes with over an hour of outrageous bonus features, including deleted scenes, a gag reel, celebrity interview outtakes and more!

(More info and contest details after the jump!)

Thelma & Louise returns to movie theaters Aug. 21 & 24

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“Let͛s Keep Going!” 25 Years Later, THELMA & LOUISE Ride Back into Cinemas Nationwide on Aug. 21 and 24 Only

Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis Star in Ridley Scott͛s Oscar®-Winning 1991 Outlaw Adventure, Which Also Introduced Movie Audiences to Brad Pitt

July 21, 2016 – Twenty-five years ago, in one of the greatest road movies of all time, Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon rode to everlasting fame as two women who embark on a crime spree across the American southwest in THELMA & LOUISE – and on Aug. 21 and 24, they’re journeying back to more than 500 movie theaters across the country.

For two days only at 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. local time, audiences can take the wild ride with Thelma (Geena Davis) and Louise (Susan Sarandon) all over again in a special THELMA & LOUISE 25th Anniversary celebration, presented by Fathom Events, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Park Circus.

This special two-day-only event also includes an exclusive all-new introduction from movie critic Ben Lyons.

Tickets for the THELMA & LOUISE 25th Anniversary can be purchased online beginning Friday (July 22) by visiting http://www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theater box offices. Fans throughout the U.S. will be able to enjoy this event in more than 500 select movie theaters through Fathom’s Digital Broadcast Network. For a complete list of theater locations, visit the Fathom Events website. (Note that theaters and participants are subject to change.)

Directed by action master Ridley Scott (The Martian, Black Hawk Down, Gladiator) from an Oscar-winning screenplay by Callie Khouri, THELMA & LOUISE is an exhilarating, full-throttle adventure hailed as one of the best road movies of all time. Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis star as accidental outlaws on a desperate flight across the Southwest after a tragic incident at a roadside bar.

With a determined detective (Harvey Keitel) on their trail, a sweet-talking hitchhiker (Brad Pitt) in their path and a string of crimes in their wake, their journey alternates between hilarious, high-speed thrill ride and empowering personal odyssey … even as the law closes in.

(Read more after the jump!)

Eating Crow: The Star Trek Beyond Review on “Geek/Countergeek”

In this latest edition of “Geek/Countergeek” Keith and I offer our reviews and reflections on the new Ghostbusters movie. How did it hold up next to the original films?

And, after lamenting how Star Trek has lost its way with the recent movies – and even giving poor Chris Pine grief – I have to eat my share of crow after seeing Star Trek Beyond…

Now I’m looking forward to the new television series!

What did you think about Star Trek Beyond?

Can you guess “What’s in the Box?”

Every Friday on “Pretty Late with Patti Vasquez” we play a game called “What’s in the Box.” In the game, callers are read online reviews for different products and must guess if it is for an appliance or an adult toy. The game makes for some very funny moments, and in this round, one of the Marines in attendance asked that I read one of my reviews as Yoda.

7/29/16 What’s in the Box?

Give it a listen and have a laugh!