Saturday, April 21, 2012

Star Trek or Star Wars

As a writer, my A to Z challenge is going to be about books, characters, TV shows and movies that have impacted me somehow. Enjoy! Be sure to check out Lee’s blog to find more bloggers taking on this challenge!
Star Trek, Star Wars
How to choose??? I encountered Star Trek first. I loved the possibilities in that series. It was my first taste of science fiction. I’ve loved all of the series and most of the movies (there are a couple of read duds in there though!). I wrote my first scripts (albeit in my head) about Star Trek. And then George Lucas came along. Star Wars was so ‘big’ when it came out. Lucas is brilliant and we’d never seen anything like it on the screen. My favourite characters were always the nonhumans – Chewie, R2D2, C3PO, Yoda. Well Han Solo too - of course! What’s not to love? So, I'm going with 2 this time - I can't choose! 
So, which do you prefer: Star Trek or Star Wars?

66 comments:

Denise Covey said...

Hi Jemi. I'm not a huge sci-fi fan but I enjoy both these movies/tv shows.

Denise

RHYTHM AND RHYME said...

A good write but for me Star Wars and Srar Trek are not for me. My late husband loved them, I watched with him but not since he passed away.

Have a great week-end.

Yvonne.

JeffO said...

I grew up on Star Trek and loved it. Then Star Wars came out and it absolutely blew me away, I was totally caught up in Star Wars mania. But you know what? When the dust cleared, I'm still a Star Trek kid at heart. I still love Star Wars, but it's Star Trek for me.

What's really odd? As old and cheesy as the original Star Trek is, it seems less 'dated' in some ways than the first Star Wars movie. I think it has to do with the hair. Star Wars hair (at least on Luke and Han) is much more rooted in time than Star Trek hair.

Jemi Fraser said...

Denise - the do both appeal to pretty wide audiences :)

Yvonne - they do usually appeal more to men. Not in our house though! My hubby hates them both :)

Jeff - I never thought about the hair, but you're so right! In Star Trek, the hair cuts are much more timeless - for the men anyway. The women's hair, not so much :)

Anonymous said...

Have to admit I'm not a big follower of wither series. They're okay and I have a lot of fun spoofing them on my blog. I like them, but that's about it. Spaceballs is a classic!

Jemi Fraser said...

Stephen - Space Balls is a classic! :) There are a lot of non-fans out there ... including the rest of my family! Everyone has their own thing - which is what makes it so much fun!

T. Powell Coltrin said...

Give me both, but I grew up on ST and my children grew up on SW's.

Yay for Sci Fi.

Teresa

Unknown said...

I like both of those series. SO ahead of it's time.

Jemi Fraser said...

Teresa - yay for sf for sure!! :) They're both so much fun :)

Clarissa - they really were ahead of their times. Rodenberry & Lucas = genius :)

Mary said...

Star Wars!! But I do love me some Star Trek, too. Still--STAR WARS is first in my heart. I think it's that rogue Han. He steals the show for me.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Start Trek came first for me. While the first three Star Wars will always be a part of my youth (the second three will hopefully be forgotten in time) Star Trek has been there my entire life, with five series and eleven movies. Star Trek conventions are everywhere, the show inspired almost every astronaut, and led to the best spoof ever - Galaxy Quest. Star Trek for me!

DL Hammons said...

If I had to pick one...I would go with Star Trek. It has more depth and breadth to me. Especially after the latest Star Trek movie....that totally ROCKED! :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Mary - Han really is enough all by himself to sway the vote!

Alex - Galaxy Quest is such fun! I've also read a lot of Star Trek novels, but the SW ones never did it for me for some reason.

DL - I really liked the new ST movie too. I'm hoping they're well on the way to a whole new series of movies. they should be fun!

Elizabeth Spann Craig said...

Not so much my genre, but I'd think that Trek has more to love since it has so many episodes and movies!

S. L. Hennessy said...

It's Star Wars all the way for me. Well, the original trilogy. Those are some of the best movies of all time.

Jemi Fraser said...

Elizabeth - sf isn't for everyone. I'm the only one in my family who enjoys it!

SL - I love the original trilogy - the newer ones not so much :)

Precy Larkins said...

Star Wars, hands down! My 4-year-old boy loves Star Wars so it's been fun watching the movies with him (I get to reminisce on my childhood while I watch with him. :D )

Jemi Fraser said...

Cherie - my son was little when the new movies came out so I know exactly what you mean! So much fun :)

Patricia Stoltey said...

My husband is the Star Trek fan, and I'm the one who loves the Star Wars movies. I haven't revisited them in quite a while though.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Roddenberry had a such a vision for the future and created such a complex world. I would pick Star Trek over Star Wars any day of the week.

DEZMOND said...

every sf fan, as you've seen in the comments above, will tell you - STAR TREK :) And I mean the shows, not the old movies and the classic one.
STAR WARS was more for younger audience and kids :)

Unknown said...

Star trek, definitely.

Lynn Proctor said...

i am not a space fan--but would have to pick star trek--unless "lost in space" was in the running--the only space show, i loved--great post

Jemi Fraser said...

Pat - I watch them every time they're on - at least for a few minutes each :)

Diane - Roddenberry was a true genius. I love his vision and hope we see it some day!

Dezzy - I love both, but if forced to choose, I would go with ST as well - the heart of the franchise is without parallel :)

Damyanti - thanks!

Lynn - I loved Lost in Space!!! Danger, Will Robinson! It was a great show :)

Leslie S. Rose said...

Okay, I'm cracking up. Guess what my "S" is - yep Star Wars. Hop over and you can geek out with me. I have a soft spot for Star Trek. I even have Star Trek checks (that's because the Star Wars checks were discontinued). I really love the new Star Trek movie by JJ Abrams, but my heart will always belong to Luke Skywalker.

Margo Berendsen said...

I did science fiction for S, listing my top ten favorites - and Star Wars and Star Trek tied. There is no way, like you, I could choose between them. I love how both have filled my world with fun, excitement, cool ideas, bravery, and sharing lots of quotes and laughs with friends (fellow nerds!)

Jemi Fraser said...

Leslie - I just came from there! Too funny - we even used the same clipart :)

Margo - it's really hard to choose! They're both so awesome in such different ways. I just wish my hubby liked them even a little bit. :)

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I have to go with Star Trek, but I remember when Star Wars came out. I must have gone to the theater to see it ten times at least.

Jemi Fraser said...

Susan - it was such a HUGE movie!! The scope of the movie blew my mind. Lucas really is a genius :)

Anonymous said...

I prefer Star Trek, by default since I haven't seen Star Wars.

Rosalind Adam said...

Star Trek for me every time. I loved the characters in the original series.

Jemi Fraser said...

Medeia - the original series of SW movies are awesome! Great characters - fun plot and incredible visuals!

Rosalind - I loved them too - and love them all over again in the new movie. I hope they make more! :)

Stephanie Thornton said...

Star Trek, hands down! Especially TNG!

Although I will say I love the new Star Wars ride at Disneyland. Pretty cool special effects!

Jemi Fraser said...

Stephanie - TNG was my favourite series too - it's the one I really got to know. :) We've never been to Disney - one of these days... :)

Golden Eagle said...

Star Trek. I'm nowhere close to have seen all of it, but between watching season one of TOS and the original SW trilogy, ST appealed to me more.

Helen Ginger said...

That's a hard choice to make. Loved watching Star Trek on TV, then went on to watch the movies, of course. And also loved Star Wars. I remember my husband and I standing in line for the opening show of the first Star Wars.

Julie Musil said...

Oh, you are so funny! I just ducked for cover when I commented on my friend Leslie's post that I've never been a Star Wars fan. WHAT??? I know, I know.

Shelley Sly said...

I can't choose! Please don't make me choose!

I was the opposite; I was a Star Wars fan for a few years before I ever saw any of the Star Treks. I really do love them both, though. Star Trek (particularly TNG) is more logical and even inspirational, but Star Wars is so epic and awesome!

Lynda R Young as Elle Cardy said...

I like the originals of both best of all. I couldn't pick which I prefered.

Jack said...

I agree, both are tied. I love both the same too!
And, I've finally read a book you've mentioned 8-D My cousin and brother and I read Ranger's Apprentice.

Jemi Fraser said...

Golden Eagle - I think ST probably has a wider appeal. SW had a huge impact on us when it first came out because it was so different from anything we'd seen at the time!

Helen - I dragged my then boyfriend (now hubby) to see it too. He wasn't as impressed as I was!

Julie - Leslie's great! I bet she didn't even throw anything at you :)

Shelley - great description for the 2. They really are both so awesome!! :)

Lynda - I definitely prefer the original SW, but I think TNG was my fave ST :)

Jack - yay! Loved Ranger's Apprentice - such a great adventure series :)

Beth said...

Star Wars for sure! I'm a big fan of the first three movies and have watched them all more than once with my kids. I never really got into Star Trek.

Jemi Fraser said...

Beth - I loved the original SW movies too! New ones, not so much :)

Anonymous said...

I've seen movies from both and they are about equal to me.

Talli Roland said...

I'm gonna have to say Star Trek! I had a mini-crush on Captain Kirk.

Jemi Fraser said...

Susanne - It's fun to see who loves, who hates and who is indifferent! :)

Talli - good choice! Although I always thought Spock was more ... fascinating :)

Karen Strong said...

Hmm...this is a hard one because I love them both. But if I must choose I would have to say Star Trek.

storyqueen said...

Can't choose either, really, but Star Wars DID change my life.

Shelley

Jemi Fraser said...

Karen - If I was pressed and forced to choose, that'd be mine as well. :)

Shelley - SW did that for a lot of people. It was so BIG in so many ways when it came out. Lucas is brilliant :)

J.L. Campbell said...

I used to watch a lot of Star Trek as a kid. Dunno if I've ever seen Star Wars.

Jemi Fraser said...

JL - I got caught up in ST as a kid too - it opened up the world of fantasy and sf to me. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh the memories of my friends who were obsessed with both!
Me... Neither have grabbed my attention :)

Sharon K. Mayhew said...

I really liked Star Trek. Star Wars didn't do anything for me.

Jemi Fraser said...

Michelle - neither did much for my hubby either - definitely not his thing! :)

Sharon - I love all the incarnations of ST - but the scope of SW really drew me in to. :)

Laura S. said...

Star Wars Episodes IV, V, VI!!! R2D2 is my favorite! He's so freaking cute and I wish I had an R2 unit. :)

I remember watching The Next Generation with my dad, which was a cool show. I preferred Star Trek: Voyager, though! I thought it was too cool to finally see a woman be captain of the starship.

But the original Star Wars is definitely my favorite!!

Jemi Fraser said...

Laura - Love R2!!! We should definitely get a unit :) I was thrilled when ST finally got a female caption - Janeway was great! :)

Susan Fields said...

Definitely Star Wars, and I have to admit, Han Solo has a lot to do with that. :)

Jemi Fraser said...

Susan - Han Solo is an awesome reason to be a fan! Such a great character :)

Nas said...

I enjoyed both the movies. Thanks for this post!

Jemi Fraser said...

Nas - me too! Such incredible creativity!! And heart :)

Francene Stanley said...

I love Star Trek. I'll watch it as long as the repeats run.

http://francene-wordstitcher.blogspot.com

Jemi Fraser said...

Francene - me too! It's one of those timeless shows that I will watch forever :)

LD Masterson said...

My sons grew up on the original three Star Wars movies so I'll always have a soft spot there but for me, it's Star Trek-TNG - Jean Luc and the gang.

Jemi Fraser said...

Linda - Love TNG - great cast of characters in that one. :)

Theresa Milstein said...

Star Wars! (But not those awful prequels.)

Jemi Fraser said...

Theresa - agreed! The prequels were definitely not my thing!