Saudi Ministry of Education to showcase innovations at 2025 Geneva International Exhibition    7,523 violators of residency, labor, and border security laws deported in a week    Video contradicts Israeli army account of deadly March 23 strike on Gaza paramedics    Saudi Arabia spends over $241 million to implement de-mining projects in 3 countries    Italy's Meloni government approves controversial security decree expanding police protections and penalties    Egypt submits new Gaza ceasefire and prisoner exchange proposal: Report    'Everything is possible' — Ronaldo focused on titles, not 1,000-goal milestone after Riyadh Derby win    Saudi, US military leaders discuss enhanced defense cooperation in Riyadh    King Salman Global Academy for Arabic Language launches program with Indiana University    Ronaldo brace powers Al Nassr past Al Hilal in Riyadh derby thriller    Ed Sheeran weaves Persian music into new song, Azizam    Al-Jadaan: Crown Prince's directives confirm government's ability to bring back balance to real estate market    Veteran Bollywood actor Manoj Kumar dies at 87    Foreign investors are allowed to engage in real estate business outside Makkah and Madinah Commercial speculation should not be the purpose of real estate transaction    Aubameyang fires Al Qadsiah into King's Cup final with stoppage-time winner over Al Raed    Musk's X is suing India, as Tesla and Starlink plan entry    Tesla sales plunge after backlash against Elon Musk    Danilo Pereira fires Al Ittihad into King's Cup final with dramatic stoppage-time double    Screen time in bed linked to insomnia, study finds    Mexico bans junk food in schools to fight childhood obesity epidemic    Sweet sales surge ahead of Eid as Saudi chocolate imports top 123 million kg in 2024    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Star Wars vs. Star Trek: Why can't fans just get along?
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 05 - 12 - 2015

"May the Force be with you" vs. "Live Long and Prosper," lightsabers vs. phasers, warp drive vs. hyperdrive. The fan debate over which story, technology, space ships and characters are superior started a long time ago.
To casual moviegoers, there is not much difference between "Star Trek," the sci-fi franchise that launched on television in 1966, and "Star Wars," which debuted on movie screens in 1977. Yet to hard-core fans the differences are as significant as those between tribbles and droids.
"Star Trek" fans think "Trek" is better because it portrays a complex, science-based technological future where diverse species unite for the betterment of all. "Star Wars," many believe, is a simple adventure with ray-guns and walking carpets, the good guy wears white, the bad guy wears black, and there's a magic "Force."
"Star Wars" fans think "Star Wars" and "The Empire Strikes Back," are "The Godfather" Part I and II of science fiction films — a perfect original followed by an equally great sequel. They can tell you exactly where they were when they first heard "No, I am your father," as a seminal life event. "Trek," for many, is boring techno-babble, everything gets talked to death over tea, Earl Grey, hot, whereas a Jedi with a lightsaber and a rascal with a ship that can make the Kessel Run in less than 12 parsecs will always save the day.
YouTube videos debating and lampooning the rivalry abound. Fan polls from the last few years indicate a fairly even split, and for many Hollywood stars the choice is far from unanimous. Josh Hutcherson of "The Hunger Games" picks "Star Wars," as does "Captain America" star Chris Evans. Reese Witherspoon, and Ryan Reynolds pick "Star Trek," according to a 2012 IGN Entertainment video.
Even if the fan base cannot agree, the fathers of the respective franchises admired each other's creations. In the 2013 DVD release of documentary "Trek Nation," George Lucas said that "Star Trek" had "softened up the entertainment arena so that 'Star Wars' could come along and stand on its shoulders." In the same documentary, "Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry said, "I like 'Star Wars.' It was young King Arthur growing up, slaying the evil emperor finally. There's nothing wrong with that kind of entertainment. Everything doesn't have to create a philosophy for you, for your whole life. You can also have fun."
At the box office, "Wars" is to "Trek" what the Death Star was to the planet Alderaan. "Star Wars" has six live action and one animated film cumulatively grossing over $4 billion worldwide. That's more than double the take of all "Trek" movies combined, despite "Trek" having nearly twice as many feature films.
But if you're using amplitude and frequency modulation (the colloquial term is television), then "Star Trek" dominates. With five live-action, one animated TV series, and a new streaming series coming in 2017, there will have been at least one "Trek" series in each of the last six decades.
Is there anyone who can settle this debate? Someone who has attained Kolinahr, with the wisdom of a Jedi Master, who can unemotionally, yet boldly, make this decision? Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is perhaps the closest geeks have to a rock star-type hero. Here's his verdict from an October 2015 Rolling Stone interview: "I'm 'Star Wars' fluent, but I'm a bigger 'Trek' fan. There's a promise of actual science going on in 'Star Trek' but not so much in 'Star Wars.'"
When all the fizbin cards are down, for most fans resistance is futile. There's usually something about the other franchise they actually like. And just like "The Force," it appears this debate will be with us, always. — Reuters


Clic here to read the story from its source.