MovieChat Forums > Trekkies (2002) Discussion > ummm, okay.......

ummm, okay.......

posted 21 years ago by I_am_not_a_crook
19 replies | jump to latest

I don't know if the review of this will change by the time anyone reads this but I had to make mention of it. I quote.........

Making fun of people and presenting it as comedy, is just plain terrible. It doesn't matter if these people seem weird to you, no one has the right to ridicule them in a movie like that.

I wanted to see 'Trekkies' because I wanted to see the craziness of the fans, just like watching a documentary about a rock band. Perhaps the telling of a selected number of extreme incidents. What I saw was a very specific number of people, becoming an object of ridicule.

Even though it might appear otherwise, I don't care for political correctness - I believe it's fascism, but 'Trekkies' is beyond that. It's about lack of respect for other people's lives, when these people are completely harmless. I don't care if my neighbor is a trekkie, because it doesn't affect me at all.

Making a 14 year old boy become the leading guy, in a movie that portrays him as the village idiot, is at least irresponsible. By the way, his little project 'Nemesis' is now the title of the new Star Trek movie. How funny is that?

I am totally shocked that this film was promoted as 'the funniest movie since There's Something About Mary'! Anyone who laughs at those people is a heartless, uncaring idiot, with no life at all. Because let's face it: who says that being a fun of a TV show is ridiculous? This means that the rest of the world is serious? Have you been outside lately?

It is obvious that this movie is another product to satisfy the hunger for voyeurism of some sad individuals. Watching other people's lives and laughing at them, since the viewers' lives are even sadder and scarier.

I am quite sure that these people were tricked into appearing in the movie, probably being told that this would be a documentary. No animals were harmed during the creation of this movie. Well, what about people?

Didn't anyone care about these people getting hurt, after they watched their lives being told as a joke? These fans didn't cause any harm, but still Hollywood had the nerve to make fun of them.

They should be ashamed...

0/10

Does anyone else think that maybe, just maybe, that this movie hit a bit to close to the mark for this person? They missed the point big time. They just turned the cameras on and thats what was filmed. Nevermind the fact the the people that were the focus actually had to give clearance for the movie to be released, so they though it was okay.

Mind you, the 14 year old boy? He bitched about the stitching on his uniform! His father turned the car into a shuttle! Does that not seem the least big insane?

[–] jediadia 20 years ago

I didn't mind the movie. It was okay over all. That's because I didn't take it seriously. But I do have to say that I've been a Trekkie for 17 years (most of my life, btw) - since Next Generation premiered. I consider myself a pretty serious fan of Star Trek, (even though I don't have a uniform or starship models and all that. Part of that's because I don't have the money, but that's another story) and I know a lot of people who like Star Trek who are the way I am. We're not all like those people in the movie. There are some people who are like that, yes. But I don't really see anything wrong with it, as some have suggested. Everyone has their own way of following their fandoms. This movie could have done a better job of covering the lives of Star Trek fans, yes. But it didn't bother me. It's just what got caught on tape.

"She's gotta dream up the world she wants to live in...she's gotta dream out loud."

[–] snucker 20 years ago

i saw about half of this film, and from what i saw, i don't think it rediculed the "trekkies" there is a bit of absurdity in these people's obsession with star trek and how they take themselves so seriously, so you can't really completely avoid poking fun at them. but i thought the film was affectionate towards these mega fans, and a lot of the people on camera are articulate and shameless about what they love. there's a lot of obsessive fandom in anything popular, but none as dedicated as these trekkies and you feel some admiration for the amount of time and talent they dedicate to their beloved show.

[–] I_am_not_a_crook 20 years ago

I am all for fandom, I am a huge sci-fi fan and go out of my way to see certain shows and movies. My point was the review for this doco that I high lighted refused to look at things like a man dressed as a nurse from the original series, singing a Klingon war song and not realizing that person willingly put himself in that position.

Certain things would have been lost in the editorial process, but you can't deny that core of what we saw.

[–] FuzzyCerts 20 years ago

As far as I know, this movie was made *by* Trekkies *for* Trekkies.... The rest of us are just lucky that it became the relative success it did - if it hadn't it would just have been a home video made by Star Trek fans.

'Thank you for flying Church of England - cake or death?'

[–] Cleon 20 years ago

I think the movie gave a very balanced view of the uber-fans. Some, like the dentist and his family, were very benign friendly people most of us would be happy to know. Others, especially the guy who was dressed as the teacher who died in the Challenger tragedy, were kind of scary people. Also, notice that all of the stars they interviewed had very positive things to say about the fans.

I myself enjoy the show, but have never been to a convention, worn a uniform, or even bought a Trek DVD, but I would be more rather than less inclined to visit a convention after watching "Trekkies"

[–] theboyk 20 years ago

I personally found the documentary funny.

As for that 14 year old, I use to talk to him a lot in the online Star Trek roleplaying group we were in (this was about 8 years ago, we've both long since left) and talked to him on and off after that. Last I heard/saw in pictures of him, he was some sort of graphics person (making around 150K per year), knew lots of people in the Trek industry, and had quite a cute wife.

So, don't feel too sorry for him! Hehe.

[–] 20 years ago

[deleted]

[–] doubleofive 20 years ago

I just watched the film, and I have to say that I found it to be completely fair to every person featured. If the producers really wanted to make them look bad, they could have done so much worse. They featured some extreme fans, yes, but they also really focused on how Star Trek is shaping/has shaped life in general.

I found parts of it funny, but only parts that were obviously meant to be funny, like the casts' recollection of fan encounters. I certainly didn't find it to be the "best laugh generator since There's Something About Mary", but then I didn't find Mary funny either, so maybe its just me.

Anyway, I think that the cameras were just turned on and what came across, came across. There were some that I was sad to see their extreme devotion to a (admittingly good) TV show, but mostly I came out with a good feeling about what the future holds for all of us, Trekkies or not.

[–] AdrianwithaW 19 years ago

I totally agree. The way this was shot, it was the trekkies that made it funny (if you laughed) the film makers haven't made fun of them in any particular way. I found this as funny as I would actually meeting any of the people in it and having them tell me about this kind of obsessive fan material. It's kind of a case of 'they bring it on themselves'. Talk about obsessive fans.

[–] madamebrad 19 years ago

Yeah, I agree. It is amazing how very few people can see themselves honestly. I think this was a case of looking at themselves through a new perspective on not liking what they saw. The knee jerk reaction was to attack the filmmakers.

Personally, I laughed so hard in this film that I almost cried.

[–] banders46 19 years ago

They weren't laughing at them as much as with them. I thought most of the people presented in this film had a good attitude and sense of humor about their hobby. I think the film also does a fairly respectable job of giving voice to those who believe Star Trek is much bigger than a TV show or a series of movies, in terms of the philosophy and inspiration that it provides. (And I'm not really a Star Trek fan.) As for those who might want to tell these people to "get a life," I say they already have a life; it just happens to include obsessing over Star Trek. As long as they enjoy it, I say good for them.

[–] madamebrad 19 years ago

I agree with you.

I think the people that had such a bad reaction to the film were people who weren't really comfortable with themselves to begin with. I mean, I'd be laughing as hard as anyone if someone pointed out some hilarious stuff I do in my own life (I know there's just as much material to work with as in a "trekkie's" life...)

I just think sometimes the people having the hardest time laughing at themselves are the people who have less of a hold on reality.

[–] jtpaladin 19 years ago

I thought the film simply covered the "Trek" scene and no matter how you cover it, it's going to be funny simply because fans by the very defintion go over the top in their feelings towards a particular subject. Yes, Trekkies was funny only because it was a film that covered the everyday life of people who's central focus in life is Star Trek.

Heck, I'v been to ST conventions when I was younger and always had a good time. That didn't mean we didn't laugh at each others' antics. Of course we did. It was fun and we all had a good time. The film simply filmed all this fun and allowed non-fans a chance to laugh at our infatuation. Nothing wrong with that.

[–] laurenapaterson 19 years ago

I honestly think this person can't find any humour in their lives. I mean big deal.... it is a tv show ultimately. I have to admit I have watched most of Next Generation and I have to explain the plot to most people I meet.... specifically my roommate. I mean to anyone who has been to a convention,and asked themselves why someone spent so much time devoted to recreating a tv show, hearing these people speak for themselves and be shown for who they are is really interesting. I mean sure there are funny bits that are at the expense of the people in the film ("A girl even came to our party this year...") but all is meant in good fun.

Loosen up, it is not the end of the world if someone thinks you look funny for wearing full klingon make-up and uniform to a fast food restaurant. Big deal.... The film still shows that these people have big hearts and are just trying to help out.

The Gabriel kid was pretty strange though.... that phone call with his buddy seemed pretty set-up, but that could be just me.... Plus it looks like he wrote his own biogrophy in his profile on imdb

[–] koryan222 19 years ago

You should see the credits of Trekkies 2. It has random people (some from the second and first movies) discussing what they thought of Trekkies. Some felt the same as you did but Gabriel (the 14 yr old) basically said that if you can't laugh at parts of yourself then there is a problem.

[–] odinownsyeall999 19 years ago

Those extreme nerds needed to be made fun of. That movie was hilarious.

If you don't agree with me, you're wrong!

[–] TracesOfLove 19 years ago

I don't think it was as funny and sad as Grizzly Man or American Movie. Grizzly Man is especially so hilarious that you know you're going to hell for laughing!

Cousin Cheryl, I don't think the family REALLY knows you.

[–] kjwilliamslcsw 11 years ago

"need to be made fun of" You, my friend, are the reason we will never get rid of bullying in the USA.

I think I am taking all of this rather well.

[–] specterkev (117) 6 years ago

I love this movie being a nerd myself,... but i do agree with alot of your points.. it is sad they portray these passionate fans like this.