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Complete Shatner Scenes from Star Trek script
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Nov 17 | Originally hired as co-executive producer to help with the second half of the show's first season, Kevin Murphy has now taken the reins of Caprica, the Battlestar Galactica prequel on Syfy, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He now serves as an executive producer along with Ronald D. Moore, David Eick and Jane Espenson and oversees the day-to-day functions of the show.
Nov 12 | Star Trek star Zachary Quinto is loosely attached to star in the romantic dramedy Whirligig, reports Risky Business.Quinto would play the lead role in the independent Canadian film, which is aiming to shoot early next year. The movie centers on a man who, in a misguided attempt to woo an older woman, befriends the woman's adopted son.Chaz Thorne is directing the pic, based on a screenplay by Michael Amo, creator of the Canadian supernatural series "The Listener."
Nov 11 | The CNS Foundation, is hosting an on-line charity auction at www.charitybuzz.com. One of the items they are auctioning is a signed movie poster of the new Star Trek movie which has all the cast members and writers. The president of our organization is Carol Abrams, JJ's mother, and she arranged for the donation from Bad Robot Production Company. J.J. Abrams is also a major donor to their organization. The funds raised will go to help find a cure to neurological disorders in children. The auction link is here.
Nov 10 | Candice Bergen, Charles Lisanby, Don Pardo, Gene Roddenberry, Tom and Dick Smothers and Bob Stewart have been selected as the next inductees into the Television Academy's Hall of Fame. They will be honored at a Jan. 20 ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel. "This year's inductees have challenged and shaped popular culture, changed television for the better and entertained us royally while doing so," TV Academy Chairman-CEO John Shaffner said. More info at the Hollywood Reporter
Nov 08 | Unreality-SF.net has interviewed Star Trerk author James Swallow about some of his upcoming projects. He talks about Titan: Synthesis and Seven Deadly Sins: The Slow Knife, as well as some forthcoming Doctor Who and Stargate stories.
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By GustavoLeao / 08:07, 18 May 2009 / General Star Trek
STAR TREK: OF GODS AND MEN (2008 / 2009)
Reviewed for TrekWeb.com by Bill Williams
1 disc / Running time: 87 minutes
Year of release: 2008 (online) / 2009 (DVD)
Introduction:
Ever since the 1970's, fan films have consistently been considered ways to celebrate and capitalize on the success and notoriety of a popular movie. The first one that comes to my mind is HARDWARE WARS, a low-budget romp that used hardware and kitchen appliances to lampoon the then-popular STAR WARS. Since the 1970's hundreds of fan films have emerged in the fan community to those fans of popular films and TV series, too many to even name.
The first time I heard of a STAR TREK fan film was around 1986. Starlog Magazine reported that a fellow by the name of Stan Woo had produced a short film entitled YORKTOWN II: A TIME TO HEAL, which featured George Takei as Hikaru Sulu and was set in the timeframe prior to the events of the first feature film. Since that time fan films have taken off like never before, and today it's possible to check out all sorts of fan films for STAR WARS, STAR TREK, THE MATRIX, etc. on the Internet. Where TREK is concerned, there are quite a number of fan film series out there, including the NEW VOYAGES/PHASE II series, HIDDEN FRONTIER, and STARSHIP INTREPID, as well as audio fan series such as EXCELSIOR, DEFIANT, ERAS, and THE CONTINUING MISSION. Even several fan films were included on the TREKKIES II DVD release back in 2004.
The most ambitious fan film to date has to be the three-part tale OF GODS AND MEN, which was recently named by the SyFy Portal Genre Awards as the top web project of 2008. Ambitious in scope and scale, this saga brings together many top talents in the STAR TREK universe for an epic tale through space and time itself. Produced by Jack Trevino (who has worked on the NEW VOYAGES/PHASE II series and DEEP SPACE NINE) and Sky Douglas Conway (who also produced the hilarious 2004 fan project RODDENBERRY ON PATROL), and directed by Tim Russ (reprising his role of Tuvok from STAR TREK: VOYAGER), OF GODS AND MEN not only brings together creative talent behind the camera but also in front of the camera as well.
In OF GODS AND MEN, twelve years have passed since the apparent death of James T. Kirk. Starfleet captains Pavel Chekov (Walter Koenig), Nyota Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), and John Harriman (Alan Ruck) have arrived to attend the christening of the U.S.S. Enterprise-M, an exact museum replica of the original Constitution-class starship. But a distress signal lures the crew to a distant world code-named M-622, which turns out to be the world of the fabled Guardian of Forever. Because of the actions of Charlie Evans (William Wellman), who has returned from Thasian space to exact vengeance upon Kirk, the three captains suddenly find themselves in an alternate universe of total domination.
In this parallel universe of evil, Harriman finds himself in command of the starship Conqueror, serving a mysterious "supreme being" bent on total domination of the universe. Under his command are equally devious crewmen, among them security chief Garan (Garrett Wang from VOYAGER), first officer Koval (J.G. Hertzler from DEEP SPACE NINE), and the Orion communications officer Xela (Chase Masterson from DS9), all of which are equally bent on serving their ultimate master while secretly plotting their own means of seizing control of the Conqueror. When Harriman unleashes a devastating weapon that destroys the planet Vulcan, the entire planet's populace finds itself scattered in different directions, while Uhura and Tuvok find themselves captured by Harriman's forces. Also imprisoned are two rebel soldiers - freedom fighter Ragnar (Gary Graham from ENTERPRISE) and Kittreck (Koenig) - with their own agenda in mind for defeating Harriman. Yet somewhere locked in Uhura's memory is the truth behind this universe.
What unfolds from there is an epic tale of adventure, betrayal, and redemption on a grand scale that hasn't been seen in STAR TREK in quite a while (at least not until J.J. Abrams' recent film). Granted, if you've not seen OF GODS AND MEN I don't want to spoil it for you, but let me just say this: now THIS is a STAR TREK adventure! It's fast-paced, with strong storytelling and character depth that gives each of the main cast members a chance to shine. I have to give special kudos to Walter Koenig, who not only adds depth to his portrayal of Chekov but also brings a very intense side to his alternate universe character of Kittreck that we haven't seen from him since "Mirror, Mirror" four decades before. Alan Ruck furthers his development of John Harriman from his previous appearance in GENERATIONS, giving us a more confident character rather than the uncertain and guilt-ridden Cameron-like portrayal from fifteen years prior. (Talk about going from killing his father's Ferrari to commanding a ship where the most legendary captain died to this - this is enough for any three shrinks to handle by themselves!) And Nichelle Nichols' portrayal of Uhura is the glue that holds these people together. There are also wonderful appearances from other TREK notables including Ethan Phillips, Grace Lee Whitney, Lawrence Montaigne, Cirroc Lofton, James Cawley (creator/producer of NEW VOYAGES/PHASE II) - even Herbert Jefferson from the original BATTLESTAR GALACTICA makes an appearance as the leader of the rebel forces. And there are more than plenty of TREK references to make even the most die-hard fan slack-jawed with wonder!
At 87 minutes, OF GODS AND MEN is briskly paced and brimming with action, and the precise attention to production detail is such that rivals the previous series. While the CGI visual effects are of budget scale, it's not a distraction as there is plenty of action to keep fans on the edge of their seats. It's a well-made film from start to finish, one that rivals some of the best officially produced episodes from 40 years before. If anyone should be hired to develop and produce the next TREK TV series, Jack Trevino and Sky Conway should be given the chance. Their love and appreciation for the franchise is highly evident throughout this film.
The DVD Presentation:
OF GODS AND MEN is presented as a single-disc release, with the three chapters re-edited together from their 30-minute segments into a single cohesive film. It's not necessary to have any recaps throughout this film; rather the 87-minute production is tightly held together and doesn't overstay its welcome.
The film is presented in a matted widescreen presentation simulating a 1.78:1 widescreen picture. Colors and blacks are sharp and crisply detailed, particularly in the live-action sequences, though the picture quality does shift a bit where the visual effects are concerned. Sound is limited to Dolby Digital 2.0 surround sound only with no subtitles. The menu designs are very simple and basic, relegated to main menu, chapter, and bonus feature options, with CGI animation taken from the main action sequences.
The Extras:
The extras on OF GODS AND MEN are limited to only a pair of trailers - a short 90-second teaser and a longer five-minute trailer - and a photo gallery of 81 production photos on set. In addition, at the end of the film there is an outtake/blooper reel showing the cast and crew's fun on the set, flubbing lines and playing practical jokes on one another. Finally, the DVD is packaged with an extensive credits booklet highlighting the entire team who worked on this film.
Final Thoughts:
The DVD version of OF GODS AND MEN is available only through Renegade Studios' website and is free with any purchase of a signed photograph, lithograph, collector's posters, or other products. While you're there, you can also purchase the film's soundtrack, scored by Justin Durban, as well as Conway and Russ' previous project RODDENBERRY ON PATROL on DVD. While you're there, be sure to check out other exclusive online videos of cast interviews and the behind-the-scenes production shoots.
Take my word for it: if you've seen the three-part series online, you'll enjoy the DVD presentation. If you're like me and you've never seen it before, only heard about or read about it in magazines, don't miss this opportunity to check it out. If you like pure TREK action, you'll be glad you did.
Rating: 5/5 stars
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