Theatrical Release Date:February 15, 1997 Release Date:January 22, 2010 Availability:Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Synopsis:
From a TV series that barely lasted three seasons in the 1960s, "Star Trek" has grown into a multibillion-dollar industry involving several spin-off series, numerous movies, and countless merchandise items. This phenomenon is due to the show's legions of rabidly devoted fans, popularly known as "Trekkies". "Star Trek" actress Denise Crosby provides an affectionate and humorous look at some of these people, who demonstrate how "Star Trek" has affected and even shaped their lives. Several members of the show's cast and creative team also describe what the series and its fans mean to them. Get ready to beam up to a galaxy where autograph hounds abound, dentists drill in Federation garb and the debate over "Trekkies" vs. "Trekkers" rages on. Denise Crosby of 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' hosts this often-hilarious documentary about the Star Trek "fan-nomenon." Interviewing hundreds of devoted fans and such Star Trek cast members as Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig, Kate Mulgrew and Brent Spiner, the film creates an entertaining and endearing potrait of the landmark series that has touched the lives of people around the world.
The complete spectrum of Star Trek fandomFebruary 26, 2010 Charles Ashbacher(Marion, Iowa United States(cashbacher@yahoo.com)) The Star Trek fans featured on this tape range from the simply serious fan to the fan that needs to seriously get a life. Some of the people are so devoted to the show that they have lost track of what is real and what is imagination. Those scenes are a bit disturbing, but that is offset by the interviews of some of the people that played the major characters. Their memories of Star Trek and the force it has been in changing world culture offset any negative impressions.
One of the best segments is when James Doohan discusses his relationship with a suicidal fan and how she credits him with saving her life. As he says it, "That was the best thing that I have ever done." Ironically, the two main characters of William Shatner and Patrick Stewart are never interviewed, although Leonard Nimoy and DeForest Kelly appear several times.
The Star Trek fan base is an extremely wide one, from those lost in an alternative reality to those that just love it for the positive messages it sends. You see all of them on this tape, which is the way it should be. In the Star Trek universe, everyone is valued and equal to everyone else.
Where no fan has gone before...June 7, 2008 Amaranth(Northern California) 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
"Trekkies" is a fun,affectionate documentary about dedicated Trekkies. Denise Crosby (related to Bing,who starred as Tasha Yar) narrates. It's a whimsical travelogue in the world of Star Trek fandom. These Trekkies not only collect the movies- they want to live as members of the Federation of Planets on Earth.
There's the Whitewater juror who came every day to the trial in her Star Trek uniform. There are people who study Klingon. There's a dentist whose office looks straight off the Enterprise. Denise Crosby and Brent Spiner (Data) are surprised-and a little flattered- when they discover erotic depictions of their characters. (We also learn that Spiner is a Texan,complete with Southern drawl) Slash fiction gets an interesting sidenote. A middle-aged woman,with her face shaded as if she were in the Witness Protection Program,talks about writing erotic stories about the escapades of Kirk and Spock. Times have changed. One wonders if,thanks to Frodo&Sam,Capt. Jack Sparrow&Will Turner,as well as Angel&Spike,this woman would've been "out and proud."
"Trekkies" is an enjoyable excursion into the Star Trek subculture. Pop in the dilithium crystals, hit warp speed, sit back and enjoy!
Funny stuffFebruary 19, 2008 K. Swanson(Austin, TX United States) 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I like the original Trek series for the camp value, and the occasionally great scripts in the early shows. The new series never did much for me.
That said, I found this hilarious and weirdly touching. Sad that so many millions base their lives around loving an old tv show, but hey, it beats being a puppet of organized religion or the military and hating and killing people you don't know, so wtf.
Some hilarious moments here. Get it for any trekkies you know.
Informative and entertainingJuly 28, 2007 Cheryl A. Khan(Cape Coral, FL USA) 1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This movie is a must for trek fans (from those with little interest to full out trekkers). The DVD includes scenes from trek conventions, interviews with cast from all the series, and interviews with fans. You learn alot about the kind of people that are interested in star trek as well as the views and opinions of the cast members. I highly recommend this movie for star trek fans young and old.
An entertaining, but so-so documentaryJune 25, 2007 ninjasuperstar(Iowa) 2 out of 3 found this review helpful
I am not a fan of Star Trek, nor have I watched any of the movies or many episodes of any of the series; I'm not even sure how many there are. I am familiar with many of the characters, the actors who portray them on TV and in the movies, and, largely thanks to Futurama, I have some knowledge of the world of Trekkies. This is a film documenting Trekkie culture and life.
I locate Star Trek fandom and subculture alongside Stars Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and those who participate in anime "cosplay" (a term formed by slamming together "costume" and roleplay"). Trekkies tend to entrench their lives within the context of the Star Trek narrative, merging their reality with Gene Roddenberry's fantasies. For some, it's as simple as wearing Star Trek uniforms outside of convention settings, forming groups, holding meetings, and speaking with the terminology and languages borrowed from the series and movies. For others, it's hard to tell where Star Trek ends and real life begins.
James Doohan (Scotty) is by far the most endearing of the cast who appear in this documentary. His recounting of a life-changing event with a fan is particularly moving. Leonard Nimoy is both amused by Trekkies and grateful for the success that the show has afforded him. Patrick Stewart doesn't appear in the film at all, not even in archival footage. Cast member responses to Star Trek are as varied as fan responses.
I have a feeling that the film is not altogether unbiased. There are moments when fans make self-criticizing statements, seemingly without a hint of irony. There are some suspicious editing techniques as well. I don't think the film explicitly mocks Trekkies, but it does suggest that all Trekkies exhibit extreme and strange behavior. And so, yes, this is a documentary about Trekkies, but it's not about the millions of Star Trek fans who watch reruns of the show in jeans and a T-shirt.
