Throwback Thursday: HAPPY 50TH ANNIVERSARY, STAR TREK!!!

On this day September 8th 1966, a man named Gene Roddenbery created and launched one science fiction television show that dared to utter the words "Space... The Final Frontier" and chronicle the adventures of a crew that explored strange new worlds, lives and civilizations out in the cosmos. The audience would then be treated to three seasons of that weekly sci-fi adventure, featuring the crew of the U.S.S Enterprise and their mission to "Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before"...


That show was STAR TREK, and it has been 50 YEARS since it began and spawned an entire legion of dedicated fans that are affectionately known by many names - most commonly "Trekkies". From visiting alien homeworlds such as Vulcan to confronting hostile races such as the Klingons and Romulans, the show made great use what the imagination could create, as well as injecting human drama and adventure in a interstellar setting that held an untold number of dangers and mysteries. Following the exploits of Captain James T. Kirk, First Officer Spock, and the rest of the crew of the Enterprise, the series had a cult following way after its cancellation and spawned its own set of feature films continuing the adventures of the legendary crew after their five-year mission in the series. Soon afterwards, spin-off shows were formed and led to the creation of the Star Trek franchise - which includes the other notable shows "Star Trek: The Next Generation", "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", and "Star Trek: Voyager".


More spin-offs and explorations in media followed the Star Trek franchise through the years, but interest in the series was arguably renewed and peaked thanks to the "Abramverse" or "Kelvin Timeline" that was introduced with the 2009 Star Trek film - featuring an alternate reality of the Original Series created after an incident involving the original older Spock played by Leonard Nimoy.

The new movie timeline introduced new actors into the familiar roles of Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the Enterprise, and two sequels were released in 2013 and 2016 respectively. The latest one released last July was "Star Trek Beyond", which was directed by Justin Lin and featured a new adventure set in the middle of the rebooted five year mission of the Enterprise set in that alternate reality.


Finally, a new series called "Star Trek Discovery" is slated to debut on January 2017, set a decade or so before the events of the original series. What the future may hold for the Trek franchise is anyone's guess... But definitely the adventure continues for anyone who dares to explore the great unknown.

Happy 50th Anniversary, Star Trek!

Star Trek Beyond: Complete set of character posters released

Hitting theaters this July and just in time for the 50th Anniversary of the franchise, Paramount Pictures has released a nice set of character posters for the next chapter of the semi-rebooted Star Trek film franchise with "Star Trek Beyond" - which will be directed by Justin Lin of the Fast and Furious film series.

Featuring the main cast of the U.S.S Enterprise crew as well as the two new alien characters played by Idris Elba and Sofia Boutella, you can check out the entire set of character posters via Coming Soon.net.



Star Trek Beyond hits theaters on July 22.

Star Trek Beyond: 2nd Theatrical Trailer released

It's been a quiet promotional run as far as the next Star Trek film is concerned, as there has only been one theatrical trailer released for "Star Trek Beyond" - the Justin Lin directed follow-up to the two J.J. Abrams Star Trek films that semi-rebooted the franchise and started a new alternate timeline featuring the young team of the original U.S.S. Enterprise.

Now after the chaos Benedict Cumberbatch's Khan did in 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness, Captain James T. Kirk and his crew embark on their 5-year exploration mission in space... And are about to encounter a new enemy that is not only more menacing and relentless, but also destroys out the Enterprise and forces everyone to fight beyond their capabilities.

Meant to be the film that honors the 50th Anniversary of the Star Trek franchise this year, here's the new trailer to Star Trek Beyond (with a new poster via Collider too).


Star Trek Beyond Trailer #2

Star Trek Beyond hits theaters on July 22nd.

ICYMI: Star Trek 3 is officially "Star Trek Beyond"

It's official: The next Star Trek film will be called "Star Trek Beyond", as director Justin Lin of "Fast and Furious" franchise fame confirmed via his Twitter post, accompanied by a first official set photo of a Starfleet insignia on a uniform.

Let the next Starfleet voyage begin! #StarTrekBeyond #LLAP pic.twitter.com/VZh9YvJgqA

— Justin Lin (@trailingjohnson) June 29, 2015

The timing for the announcement is apt, considering that Beyond is scheduled to be released next year and just in time for Star Trek's 50th Anniversary. It will also be the first Trek film to come after the passing of the late great Leonard Nimoy, so this should be a fitting tribute to the man we all know and love as Spock.

Star Trek Beyond will be released on July 8, 2016.

Farewell Mr. Spock - Leonard Nimoy passes away at 83

"Of all the souls I've encountered in my travels... His was the most... Human." - Admiral James T. Kirk giving a eulogy for Captain Spock in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan

As a life-long Star Trek fan... It certainly is hard to lose one of your heroes, let alone arguably the most popular and iconic member of the original cast of the original Star Trek television series created by Gene Roddenberry.

This past February 27, the world was shocked over the news that beloved actor, director, and Mr. Spock himself Leonard Nimoy passed away at the age of 83.

Post by Star Trek.

The official Star Trek Facebook page updated fans with the sad news... With literally thousands responding and remembering this fine actor.

In addition to his credentials as the famous half-human, half-vulcan second-in-command and first officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise, Nimoy is also known to pop culture fans as the voice of Galvatron in Transformers: The Movie, as well as Sentinel Prime in Michael Bay's 2011 Transformers film "Transformers: Dark of the Moon". Besides Star Trek, he's also starred in various television shows like The Man From U.N.C.L.E, Dragnet, and Mission: Impossible. As director, he directed Star Trek III: The Search For Spock and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, and even reprised his role as the aging Spock in the new generation of Star Trek films in 2009's Star Trek and its 2013 sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness.

If this scene from Star Trek II is any indication of how sorely he will be missed by the world.


Live Long and Prosper Spock... And Rest In Peace, Leonard Nimoy. :(

Throwback Thursday: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock turns 30 Years!

It's time for another Throwback Thursday entry, and it celebrates the 30th year of one of the most memorable Sci-Fi films I've been lucky enough to witness and see for my generation!

One of the most decorated franchises in Science Fiction media, TV, and Film history has definitely got to be Star Trek, and Gene Roddenberry's brainchild was truly a concept ahead of its time. Teaching many to "Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before", the series started out in 1966, following the voyages of the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise under the command of Captain James. T. Kirk (William Shatner), which would include decorated officers like Spock (Leonard Nimoy) and Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (DeForest Kelley) among the cast. The series would run for 3 years, and it's popularity would be explored anew in a short lived animated series, as well as other shows over the decades that featured another generation of explorers and facets set in the universe the original show introduced.

However, one of the most memorable experiences of most Star Trek fans including myself was with the films released by Paramount Pictures, the first six of which prominently featured the The Original Series crew, including Shatner, Nimoy, Kelley, and of course George Takei, James Doohan, Nichelle Nichols, and Walter Koenig back and continuing their adventures well beyond their younger days and five-year mission to explore strange new worlds. Beloved among them was is easily considered to be the unofficial "Spock Trilogy" - which started in June 4, 1982 with "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan". Kirk and his crew not only had to face a deadly enemy from their past who returned to unleash havoc, but also had to deal with the consequences of their victory... Namely the death of their Half-Human/ Half-Vulcan friend, Captain Spock.

To note everything in a nutshell would be challenging, but this post is here to commemorate the 30th Anniversary of one of the most important sequels in Trek history, which challenged the beyond and set upon Trekkies the return of one of the most important characters in the series - Star Trek III: The Search For Spock.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock - Trailer
Released in June 1, 1984, The Search For Spock was directed by Leonard Nimoy - the legendary actor who played the part and immortalized the role himself. intended to undo the heart-wrenching conclusion that its predecessor had by resurrecting Spock and reuniting him back with his dear friends. Unfortunately, the path to his second chance at life was both mind-boggling and difficult to comprehend, as Admiral James T. Kirk and his loyal crew of the Enterprise had to go through great lengths to complete that task. Before he nobly sacrificed himself to save the ship for destruction, Spock mind-melded with Dr. McCoy and imparted his Katra - "his living spirit" onto his other good friend, ensuring a part of him would be remembered and passed to his father, Sarek. Unfortunately Kirk and his crew did not know that, and also left Spock's body in the newly born planet Genesis, which was to be his final resting place after their battle with the madman Khan Noonien Singh.


Spock's Death in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Despite Spock's passing due to excessive radiation exposure from the Warp Core, his body miraculously "became one" with the Genesis planet. This effect is noted by Kirk's son David Marcus, who created and goes to the newly born world aboard the U.S.S Grissom along with Saavik. This "miracle" however is overshadowed by the fact that the illegal "Proto-Matter" used is slowly causing the planet to wither away and combust, and the convenient intervention of a group of Klingons led by Kruge, who believe Genesis is a weapon by the Federation against the Klingon Empire and intend to steal its secrets for themselves.

The Destruction of the U.S.S Enterprise
Following suit, going against direct orders, and stealing the Enterprise to go to Genesis and reclaim Spock's body, Kirk faces Kruge and the Klingons and is able to succeed in retrieving his old friend who is rejuvenated and back among the living. Unfortunately this is not without great costs, as the Enterprise is destroyed to prevent it from falling into Klingon hands and David is killed while trying to protect Saavik. The noble sacrifices made however ensured Spock's resurrection though, as his Katra is reunited with his healed physical self, much to the joy of his family and friends in Vulcan.

If you enjoy Science Fiction and fantasy, I would definitely recommend watching "The Spock Trilogy", and the Star Trek films of that era truly showed that travelling into the great unknown and facing overwhelming odds is what makes it exciting to behold. The J.J. Abrams 2009 reboot and it's 2013 sequel draw lots of inspiration and literally make nods to the films, and arguably they wouldn't have existed without the success and fandom they have enjoyed through the decades. While Wrath of Khan was LITERALLY the epitome of what a fantastic Trek movie should be, The Search for Spock is the sequel that carries things forward and brings us to a new chapter in the lives of the crew of the U.S.S Enterprise.

Happy 30th Anniversary, Star Trek III!

Star Trek Into Darkness: Spock character poster revealed

Following up on the recently released "Uhura" character poster and "Enterprise Crashing" one sheet, Paramount Pictures and Bad Robot Productions have released yet another character poster, this time showing Zachary Quinto reprising his role as the Enterprise's executive science officer and second-in-command, Mr. Spock!


Released by the official Star Trek website, the new one sheet is a shot taken right from the cliffhanger prologue sequence that aired in IMAX theaters months ago, in which Commander Spock is seemingly left to his fate in a volcano that is about to erupt in an alien planet he and the crew of the U.S.S Enterprise are trying to save. No doubt we'll find out what happens to Spock when the movie hits in May, but for now bask in the danger and suspense to come in the next adventure helmed by director J.J Abrams! For more information, visit the source post at the official Star Trek website!

Star Trek Into Darkness warps into IMAX 3D on May 15 and conventional theaters on May 17!