Customer Reviews

Trekkies 2

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In 1997 the movie "Trekkies" caused outrage among many fans that felt that the film put too much emphasis on `extreme' fans to the detriment of all Star Trek fans. "Trekkies 2" provides a broader and more balanced look at fandom and it's lots of fun to watch. Sure the film introduces us to even more people who had me shaking my head in wonder but it also provides a fascinating look at the multicultural diversity within Star Trek fandom as the filmmakers travel around the world.

"Trekkies" focused on fans in the United States but as you watch "Trekkies 2" you get to globetrot with the filmmakers as they film at conventions in Europe, South America and Australia. The United States isn't neglected though and one of the things that director Roger Nygard choose to do is to revisit some memorable characters from "Trekkies" and see not only what they currently up to, but how appearing in "Trekkies" affected their lives. The memorable Gabriel Koerner, who is now in his early twenties with a wife and a successful career as a special effects modeler, took a lot of grief for his appearance but you can't help but admire his confidence. (Koerner did the opening graphics for the film.) `The Commander', Barbara Adams is back as well.

One of the most amusing segments is the chapter on Star Trek themed bands whose music will be featured on the upcoming "Trekkies 2" soundtrack CD (due out Oct. 5th). Those bands are just as diverse as the fans themselves and play different styles of music but the one thing they all have in common is that they don't take themselves too seriously.

Among the actors who comment on fandom in "Trekkies 2" are Nana Visitor, Cirroc Lofton and Casey Biggs from Deep Space Nine. Ethan Phillips is the lone Voyager regular but the cast of Enterprise is well represented with Vaughn Armstrong, Dominic Keating, John Billingsley and Connor Trinneer.

This film has a much sleeker look than it's predecessor and the special features include almost an hour of deleted footage. Too bad some of this wasn't included instead of all the fan film stuff, my one grumble with this film was that it has too much about fan films. There is also an optional commentary track that features director Roger Nygard, Denise Crosby and producer Michael Leahy.

"Trekkies 2" is so fun and entertaining to watch because of the quirky and interesting personalities and individuals it allows us to meet. It's a shame that the more extreme is what some people will focus on and remember but that isn't what really stood out for me. What did stand out was the theme of acceptance and hope that those interviewed projected so well. One fans comments about Star Trek fans being like a big family sums it up perfectly, "Every family has the nutty Uncle you know. We just have a few more."

The first "Trekkies" film managed to dig up some rather odd characters to give the average person an idea of what makes up a fan of "Star Trek" and all of its offspring. It gave us a cross-dressing dude who explains and performs a little "filk" for everyone. We were introduced to the lady in Arkansas who was made famous by attending Whitewater scandal jury duty in her Starfleet uniform and, alas, who could forget Gabriel Koerner. He was perhaps the uber-geek out of the whole bunch. The film also showed how the fans are very involved in their communities and world.

More of the same is offered up in "Trekkies 2," though this one was a little more emotional than the first. Denise Crosby bounces across the globe in search of more Trek fans. Once again we visit some pretty strange folks, but we are also shown how something as simple as "Star Trek" can have so much meaning to a group of people when Crosby goes to Serbia. Those people were so touched and amazed at how the characters in "Star Trek" lived amongst each other in relative peace even though they were pretty much all from different races, religions, etc. It was heartwarming to listen to these people talk about how their newfound freedom took on a special meaning through "Star Trek." I also noticed that out of all of people in this film, the Serbians seemed to be the least to play "dress up" as their favorite characters, holding more to the ideals of "Trek" and not so much the whiz-bangs and Klingons of it all.

There's one fellow who converts his house into a replica of the Enterprise. We get a better and perhaps more disturbing look into the world of "Filk" music and some of the bands in that genre. We also get a few nice clips featuring stars of the later "Trek" series and how many of their fans reacted to meeting them, funny letters, tattoos, etc.

The most fun part of this flick was when we get to look back on some of the more popular characters from the original film. We catch up with the guy who dresses his dog up in "Trek" costumes. We see Whitewater juror Barbara Adams interact with a group of people who question her about her motives for dressing up in a Starfleet uniform for court, and one individual gets pretty rough with her. Finally, we get to catch up with Gabriel Koerner, and learn that he is married, has steady work as a digital model builder for such shows as the new "Battlestar Galactica" and seems to have stepped back from, just a little, his love for "Trek."

In the end, if you enjoyed the original "Trekkies," you'll like this second helping. It might go overboard with a few of the fans, especially with the "Filk" singers, but we are shown that most Trekkies, Trekkers, etc. are primarily good folks with very big hearts(and many have graduate degrees).

Some folks collect baseball cards, some collect CDs, these folks just love their "Trek." Is that so wrong?

After loving Trekkies I, we ordered Trekkies 2, an obviously PC response to fan backlash from the hilarious portrayal of Trek fans in Trekkies I. Trekkies 2 is a yawn...slow and boring with very few colorful fans other than updates on megafans featured in Trekkies I.

This documentary trumps the first one in a major way by ignoring the main Star Trek actors. We don't have the millionth interview with Uhuru telling her Martin Luther King story and we don't have to watch the cast of the original series looking sicker and sicker (Rest in Peace Bones and Scotty) but we do still have the "Star Trek=World Peace" argument, but surprisingly less noxious as the Yugoslavian Trekkies talk about Star Trek as their relief from the rampant nationalism that led to some of the worst genocides of the 1990s.

The international Trekkies are delightful. The addition of Filk music (don't ask) and fan-made movies are great. And the kid from the first movie is there, supremely embarrassed by his screen presence in the first movie but ready and willing to make more gaffs (when he's not apologizing for the first movie mistakes) but he's definitely more entertaining in the second movie sitting next to his wife and wondering how he could have been so obnoxious at 17. (We all were. We all were. Just most of us didn't have a camera crew filming us.)

Like the first one, the main strengths come from the fact that these people are funny in their own right (and most of them know that they are funny) and the director never condescends to them. However, as the movie continues one gets the feeling that the filmmaker was simply milking the Trekkie universe. Denise Crosby has given up by now and knows that her main jobs will be in these kind of projects. The Trek = World Peace argument is rather stale.

However, there are quirky scenes that still make the movie worth watching. The erotic poetry is worth the purchase price alone. It's hilarious. those Star Trek theme bands rock. I'm not talking about the filk singers (eh, never my thing) but the San Diego based bands whose lyrics might be silly but they play some solid sets. Death metal needs Klingons.

Sadly, the movie has not held up with time. One of the major reasons for the staleness is the popularity of science fiction conventions especially with Comic Con. It's one thing to go to these conventions and go "aren't these people so weird" as if you're in a fringe group and sociology experiment. However, when every news magazine has a reporter at Comic Con, the novelty has worn off - for both Trekkies (who can see themselves any time) and for curious viewers. We know that people go to these things dressed up. However, we also know that there are several science fiction conventions throughout the world and most of them are not Trek related. If there's a new Star Trek movie out, you'll see a lot more Trek costumes than usual, but since science fiction and fantasy is a lot more popular than ever, fandom is much more diverse than Star Trek.

You have to hand it to the Trekkies....they love their Star Trek. They love it to the point of obsession, as in the case of the lady in Arkansas who goes to court in her uniform! This movie was good, but not as hilarious as the first outing. I do like how they showed Trekkies from all over the world though. It gives one a good sense of just how large the phenomenon is. Denise Crosby is great as the host too....she's just weird enough to be very entertaining. This is definitely great cheesy entertainment. Watch it...love it...live long and prosper!

As a self proclaimed TREKKER I love these Trekkies documentaries. It puts me at ease to know I'm one of the regular geeks:)! Cause the people in this movie are just a little too much! And for anyone who ever liked all the Star Trek franchises, check out the first Trekkies and this movie. You are definetly going to have a great time watching! Live long and prosper!!!!

Trekkies 2 seeks to understand the phenomenon of Trek, much like the first Trekkies did. Only this time, Denise Crosby (Tasha Yar of ST:TNG) takes her camera and charm to Europe and interviews fans from Germany, France, London and - perhaps most movingly - Serbia. Those of us Trekkies who love Star Trek and live in America pretty much get it. Star Trek and Captain Kirk are as American as Star Wars and Han Solo. Star Trek is two-fisted action and pop-philosophy in a lava-lamp colored universe that splits the difference between scientific inquiriry and skirt gazing. This was nicely explored in the first Trekkies. But what does Trek offer the Europe side of the planet? Well, firstly, it offers Star Trek, The Next Generation. One of the things I was struck by was how Americans gravitate to the original show and most Europeans love The Next Generation. Actually, this makes sense ... after all, Jean-Luc Picard is so Eurpean, we think of him as both English and French. -- It seemed to me that Europeans are drawn to the more complex universe presented in Next Gen. Whereas original Trek was broad strokes and lovely women and flying fists, Next Gen offered the world we hope ours evolves into. This was especially true in Serbia where Star Trek isn't just for giggles, but a real message of what humans can turn into if we'd only just stop being so human. Trek for the people of Serbia (at least those interviewed by Crosby) is a beacon -- a look at what we are capable of. The fans still love a good convention and a little dress up, but they approach their love with some gravitas. Star Trek isn't just action figures and collectibles -- it's a schematic for human evolution (and really, who doesn't want to evolve into Jean-Luc).
Denise Crosby does some follow up visits with stars from the first Trekkies, notably Gabe Koerner and Barbara The Commander. They're both doing great and still digging their Trek. Trekkies 2 reveals the loves and fanaticisms of the average Trek lover (I'll leave you to quantify "average"). They're great people, no matter what language they speak or which incarnation of Trek they love best. And for the record, it's Trekkies, not Trekkers. Wave your freak flag high, and you have the bridge Number One.

I loved Trekkies - by far my favorite documentary ever. I'm not sure what this says about me...maybe I need to take a good, hard look at my life to see where I went wrong. I can't help it, though, Trekkies actually turned me into a Star Trek fan. Trekkies 2 is not as...erm...provocatively geeky as Trekkies 1, but it does a great job of doing the "where are they now?" questions that naturally arise from watching Trekkies 1. And where are they now? Largely living normal - but Star Trek-influenced - lives. Geeky boy meets geeky girl, they have a Star Trek wedding and get busy making baby geeks. It's very endearing, honestly.

I love Star Trek in all it's various incarnations, and I have to admit...I love making fun of Trekkies (who doesn't...really?). I loved the first movie for the focus on the extreme fandom (makes me feel just a little less geeky)...but this movie is even better for the great balance. It shows the funny and bizarre side of extreme fandom, but it also shows the the human side of being Trekkies - and what happens when you're a fan in a war torn country.

While not as side-splittingly funny as the first one, it can be argued that this is a better movie because of the way it highlights the Trek fandom throughout the world. The chapter on the Trekkies from Serbia is simply heartbreaking, and makes you realize how lucky we are to have all that we have.

I knew that this movie was going to be my new favorite when it highlighted the Star Trek tribute bands (you'll love No Kill I). However, for me, the best part of this DVD, are the EXTRAS. Included are FAN MADE TREK MOVIES. Get the popcorn ready, because this will entertain you for hours on end!

If you watched the first movie for the humor (let's face it, it really was hysterical), you'll love this movie too...the extras are really priceless. However, if you wanted a little more from the first film - a more balanced view - this sequel definitely delivers.

The first "Trekkies" was hilarious!! Who could forget the kid sporting the mullet talking about the collar width on his homemade uniform? What about that goofy guy running down to the store driving his homemade Captain Pike motorized wheelchair? And of course you had that little woman from Arkansas who served on the Whitewater Jury wearing her Trek uniform and whom everyone called "Admiral". The first flick was quirky and fun.

"Trekkies 2" just doesn't capture the same vibe found in the first film. "Trekkies 2" travels around the globe to various "Star Trek" conventions from Italy, Serbia, England, Austrailia, France and back to the USA. It is amazing to see just how far the Trek universe stretches, and you do have to ask yourself what is it about "Trek" that compels folks from Germany to Los Angeles to not only dress up, learn made-up languages, but to also sink MILLIONS of dollars into creating Star Trek Apartments, Fan Films and form Star Trek themed bands?

The film makers do re-visit some of the characters in the first film. The mullet boy from the first film is now married and the Whitewater juror is still making copies at Kinkos. We are introduced to a few new fans in this film, but none have that quirky charisma that made the first film so enjoyable. It's like the film makers went out of their way to present a normalized view of Trek fans, and by doing so sacrificed quite a bit of the fun.

Still, if you are a fan of Trek, or if you simply love to people watch, you will probably enjoy the film. Though it doesn't have the laught out loud moments of the first, it's still a fun 90 minutes.