Geek Wars I: Star Trek vs. Star Wars

[joshuapalmatier]

OK, I realize that by bringing this up it will create an uproar and perhaps infighting among the ranks . . . but I'm evil and I like infighting. It weeds out the weak.

So, which of the two do you favor: Star Trek or Star Wars? I'd like to say that I put them in alphabetical order . . . but that would be a lie. I prefer Star Trek. I'm not sure why--I like them both--but if I had to choose between the two and say which is my favorite, it would be Star Trek. I like the movies (even the bad ones), I like the TV shows (even the bad ones), I like the ships, the phasers, the cultures, etc, etc, etc. I just . . . like it.

This probably came about because my dad watched the TV show (the original series) and so I was exposed to Star Trek at an early age. So that's one reason I think I enjoy it more. But another reason is that I like the characters better. I can associate with them better or sympathize with them more than the Star Wars characters. I also like the universe better. Perhaps because the idea is that it's a direct extension of our own universe, whereas Star Wars is set in a "galaxy far, far away". That makes it more removed to me for some reason. And finally, I like the story lines and plots better. Star Trek makes an attempt (not always succeeding I grant you) to say something about our own world and human nature. I don't see that in Star Wars.

So, those are my initial thoughts on the two. Brought to you by the upcoming Star Trek movie in which Hollywood hopes to "resurrect" the Star Trek franchise. I wasn't aware that it had died in the first place (I'm still buying the books and the DVDs for example). But where do YOU fall? Who's side are YOU on?

Let the infighting begin!

Comments

Re: HH in Space

[vespican.livejournal.com]

Maybe my age is showing some, but I like the original series (and most other TV shows of it's era because each episode stood alone. Other than the basic set up or premise of the show, each could be watched and enjoyed by itself. Order in which they were viewed didn't matter. From a writing viewpoint, I suppose a season's worth of shows, or even the entire run of a show could be considered like a collection of short stories, perhaps with the same characters, yet totally separate from one another. In the later versions of Star Trek, and many of the shows now on Television, there is more continuation. It' more like reading a novel or watching a new chapter fall into place each week. I'll agree that it can provide for a more complex and interesting plot line and character development, yet sometimes I long for the simplicity of 60's television.
Dave