Although the special effects are now somewhat dated, the “Star Trek” original series has always occupied a special place in my geeky heart. What the show may have lacked in budget, it more than made up for with great characters and good storytelling. Captain Kirk, Spock, Uhura, Dr. McCoy, Scotty and the rest of the original Enterprise crew have become some of science fiction’s most beloved characters. Though we never got to see the end of their five-year mission, they’ve never completely faded from pop culture.
However, back in early 2009, the “Star Trek” franchise as a whole wasn’t faring too well. The most recent film “Star Trek: Nemesis” wasn’t a huge hit, and the most recent TV show “Star Trek: Enterprise” was canceled in 2005 due to low ratings. The franchise was in need of a shot of adrenalin — and it received a major one, thanks to J.J. Abrams’ explosive and exciting 2009 reboot, titled simply “Star Trek.” Continue reading
“Big man in a suit of armor — take that off, what are you?”
At first glance, Jack Harper doesn’t seem very different from other average, everyday Americans. Each morning, he wakes up, travels to work, comes home, eats dinner, goes to bed, and then wakes up and does it all over again.
I’ll never forget the first time I watched “Jurassic Park.” It’s an intense, harrowing experience — and one that continues to make me jump, no matter how many times I’ve watched it since then. From the moment the characters first land on the ill-fated island where dinosaurs have been brought back to life, to the end where the survivors barely manage to escape with their lives, director Steven Spielberg doesn’t give viewers much of a chance to stop and catch their breath. If the T. rex isn’t terrorizing the characters and trying to rip apart their SUV, then the vicious velociraptors are on the prowl, and by the time you realize you’re being tracked, it’s already too late.
All film fans have their guilty pleasures: movies we know fall short of cinematic greatness, but for whatever reason, we still love them anyway. Maybe it’s the over-the-top alien invasion movie “Independence Day” with its endless explosions, or maybe it’s “Armageddon,” featuring Bruce Willis and Co.’s quest to destroy a giant asteroid headed for Earth. For me, one of my favorite film guilty pleasures is 2009′s “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra.”
Friend of the station, Ron Fortier returns with another Pulp Fiction Review.
RUNNING THE VOODOO DOWN
The ESO crew takes a look back at the year that was 2012 they only way they know how – by strapping it down to The Geek Seat! Mike, Mike, Bobby and special guests William Faber, Niki Rau-Baker, Josh Wilson, and The Phantom Troublemaker deal the skinny on the highs and lows of the year that was. Plus, reveal their hopes and dreams for 2013! We also chat with Ciara Powell about the upcoming Swampcon event in Gainesville, FL.
By Ashley Bergner
