TheFrog said:

So do .

dorgish said:

It ain't real?

BlueNote

BlueNote said:

The science philosphies and theories being used in Star Trek are real.

Hotlegs said:

Um, yeah--that's why people flock to these franchises. How "real" the philosphies and theories are.

Bottom Line: In 2005 Star Wars ate up the box office like the moster it is--and even the critics couldn't shit on it this time. Star Trek just got cancelled and it's worst show ever just limped off into rerun hell.

Question: Which franchise is more successful?? Star Wars.

Which has more memorable characters? Star Wars.

They are really apples and oranges. One is Sci Fi, one is Space Fantasy.

That being said-

Nothing is Star Trek is as cool as a lightsaber. No one is a badass as Darth Vader. No ship is deadlier than The Death Star. Nothing is more powerful than The Force and nothing is dorkier than geeks debating about Star Wars and Star Trek.
[Edited 6/21/05 10:59am]

TonyVanDam said:

Musically (and in every other way too)

Star Wars.

although Captain Kirk is a legendary swordsman.

Marrk said:

Cocksman.

I really don't like most of the SF that's out there today. The older stuff from the heyday in the 1940s and 50s is the best. It was all about ideas and creativity and less about mindless effects. Make no mistake about it, I like movies that are able to create an entire new worlds with effects, but they're only fully enjoyable for me when used to enhance a great story.

A good story in film is so rare these days, and that applies double to SF films. David Twohy's first big film, The Arrival, is a good example. I loved the science and the creativity behind applying that science to the global warming trend and its possible link to extra-terrestrial life on earth. It was a great movie. Unfortunately, he followed it up with two run of the mill effects pieces - Pitch Black and Chronicles of Riddick.

Anyway, I really am revealing much more of my nerdling side than I need to here. Moving on...

OdysseyMiles said:

Exactly. He even shagged disgusting green aliens, but not Yoda.

Marrk said:

Well, at least he shagged instead of staying celebate and shagging himself like Yoda probably did.

Hotlegs said:

Shag himself, he does.

Hotlegs said:

Oh my god.....

Does every thread have to turn into a duurty one? LOL!

Choooh0 said:

excuse me
Nobody beats Q

JohnP said:

New Hope, which is the first one for all non geeks is a classic, but jedi is average.

Empire is the best

skywalker said:

The borg is just as cool as vader man.

lilgish said:

Damn Right!

Comparing Star Wars and Star Trek is like comparing apples to kiwi fruit. Star Wars is primarily an homage to the classic Flash Gordon films and morality adventure plays of the 1940's and 1950's, and early space alien films of the 1950's as well as classic westerns, while Star Trek is bascially an attempt to project what we hope our society would advance to at some point into the future.

Even the opening credits of each franchise spell out the differences. The opening of every Star Wars film begins...

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...

It never mentions how long ago the events in Star Wars take place in relation to Earth. It could be the 1950's, it could be around the Civil War, it could be around the birth of Christ, it could be when the first living creatures rose from the primordial goo that covered the earth billions of years ago. In fact, it may not even matter, because Earth never figures into the storyline of Star Wars.

The opening credits of the original Star Trek, and of The Next Generation, imply that the explorers are coming from Earth and are seeking out life beyond the home galaxy.

Space...the final frontier
These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise
It's five year mission (Star Trek: TNG, it's continuing mission)
To explore strange new worlds
To seek out new life, new civilization
To boldly go where no man has gone before

Though it was not mentioned in the credits, it was later mentioned that the events of the Enterprise which began the Star Trek series took place in the 23rd century.

The other big theme in the Star Trek franchise has to do with the crew members of the Enterprise adhering strictly to the Prime Directive. The Prime Directive specified that, while the crew may make contact with alien planets and races, they are not allowed to take any action which would alter the natural course of that alien society's development. Basically, they had authority to contact any planet, but if one alien race (e.g., the Klingons) were to go to war with another alien race (e.g., the Cardasians), it wasn't the job of the Enterprise to get involved unless they were specifcally asked or ordered to do so. This was different from Star Wars, where the Galactic Republic/Empire and Jedi Council could insert themselves into other planets' affairs at will.

The other difference between the franchises had to do with the enemies and their threats. In Star Wars, the evil enemy was the evil Emperor Palpatine and Annakin Skywaler/Darth Vader, though both people started out with good intentions. Star Wars basically dealt with how good people and goverments go bad and how they needed to be redeemed or overthrown. In Star Trek though, the most notable enemies were Khan, who Captain Kirk banished to a deserted prison planet in the TV series, and the Borg. The Borg was an especially fearsome enemy because they attempted to assimilate every alien race into one big collective, and the Federation crews initially had no defenses against them. For all its noble purposes, Star Trek did show that, at times, there were evil aliens out to get us.

A full in-depth anaysis of the two frachises could be the subject of several books and would be too long to mention here. What's surprising to me is how these two sci-fi fantasy franchises managed to stay in the public consciousness for so long and weren't challenged by other series or movies like the Alien movies, Battlestar Galactica, Dr. Who, Babylon 5, Stargate, The X Files or The Matrix movies.

728huey said:

The Jem Ha'dar and the founders were pretty fierce.


I thought X-files was goona contend with these, we need the x-files nowadays

Q????? I mean, yeah he's a good villain but he is nowhere near iconic, famous, or downright scary as Darth Vader. Ask the average jo blo who "Q" is and they'll maybe guess the guy who makes James Bond's gadgets. Darth Vader wins hands down.

skywalker said:

just geeking around

lilgish said:

Welcome To The Sci Fi Org Club!
[Edited 6/26/05 18:02pm]

LOL @ Yoda shaggin' himself

Another difference is that while Star Trek's ideas are based more in western philosophy, (with the possible exception of the Vulcans), Star Wars, (specifically Jedi) philosophy tends to be more eastern oriented. George Lucas was heavily influenced by his experiences with Joseph Campbell and it shows.

I love both franchises, but if forced to choose I'd go with Star Trek.

Babynoz, (proud sci-fi nerd and old skool Trekkie).

babynoz said:

MsLegs said:

Omigawd! We need one of those.....


I wanna join!!! I wanna join!!!

Hey, maybe there should be a thread about this.....

kiss85 said:

That sound like a great !.
[Edited 6/27/05 23:10pm]

Star Trek!! Even tough I enjoy SW too, it's absolutely no contest for me

Soulchild82 said:

The Sci Fi Org s Rule!

Soulchild82 said:

I am indeed a nerd. I ain't scurred to admit it!