Trekkies (1997)

In just under 90 minutes, this dynamic documentary manages to boldly go where a lot of Star Trek fans have gone before: into the heart of Star Trek fandom, where humanity blossoms into its most endearingly odd and bracingly positive manifestations. Are "Trekkies" (or "Trekkers") just a bunch of geeks, loners, and societal outcasts who've found their niche on the fandom convention circuit? This delightful film proves that the stereotypes are simultaneously valid and woefully myopic, because the people introduced here are only as strange as you make them. We could just as easily embrace them as ideal citizens of the United Federation of Planets, living Gene Roddenberry's fictional future on present-day Earth. Who's to say theirs is not a better world than ours?

Superbly directed by Roger Nygard and hosted by Denise Crosby (who played Tasha Yar on Star Trek: The Next Generation), the film offers splendid interview segments with all of the original Star Trek cast, and many from later Trek series, but the real story here lies with the devoted fans who are profiled with an equal balance of fascination, bemusement, and respect; they're a bit weird, to be sure, but these die-hard Trekkies are never unduly patronized. Instead, Crosby and Nygard respond as all Trek insiders have in the past: with astonished affection.

Filmed in 1996-97 at a variety of locations and conventions, Trekkies visits a vast array of Trekkers, Trekkies, and just plain folks who love the series and its pop-cultural progeny. Uplifting, thoughtful, comprehensive, and frequently hilarious, this good-natured film (sanctioned by Paramount without being subservient) is guaranteed to entertain fans and nonfans alike, and a proposed sequel would be wholeheartedly welcomed. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com essential video

Where no fan has gone before...

"Trekkies" is a fun,affectionate documentary about dedicated Trekkies. Denise Crosby (related to Bing,who starred as Tasha Yar) narrates. It's a whimsical travelogue in the world of Star Trek fandom. These Trekkies not only collect the movies- they want to live as members of the Federation of Planets on Earth.

There's the Whitewater juror who came every day to the trial in her Star Trek uniform. There are people who study Klingon. There's a dentist whose office looks straight off the Enterprise. Denise Crosby and Brent Spiner (Data) are surprised-and a little flattered- when they discover erotic depictions of their characters. (We also learn that Spiner is a Texan,complete with Southern drawl) Slash fiction gets an interesting sidenote. A middle-aged woman,with her face shaded as if she were in the Witness Protection Program,talks about writing erotic stories about the escapades of Kirk and Spock. Times have changed. One wonders if,thanks to Frodo&Sam,Capt. Jack Sparrow&Will Turner,as well as Angel&Spike,this woman would've been "out and proud."

"Trekkies" is an enjoyable excursion into the Star Trek subculture. Pop in the dilithium crystals, hit warp speed, sit back and enjoy! June 7, 2008

Funny stuff

I like the original Trek series for the camp value, and the occasionally great scripts in the early shows. The new series never did much for me.
That said, I found this hilarious and weirdly touching. Sad that so many millions base their lives around loving an old tv show, but hey, it beats being a puppet of organized religion or the military and hating and killing people you don't know, so wtf.
Some hilarious moments here. Get it for any trekkies you know. February 19, 2008

Informative and entertaining

This movie is a must for trek fans (from those with little interest to full out trekkers). The DVD includes scenes from trek conventions, interviews with cast from all the series, and interviews with fans. You learn alot about the kind of people that are interested in star trek as well as the views and opinions of the cast members. I highly recommend this movie for star trek fans young and old. July 28, 2007

An entertaining, but so-so documentary

I am not a fan of Star Trek, nor have I watched any of the movies or many episodes of any of the series; I'm not even sure how many there are. I am familiar with many of the characters, the actors who portray them on TV and in the movies, and, largely thanks to Futurama, I have some knowledge of the world of Trekkies. This is a film documenting Trekkie culture and life.

I locate Star Trek fandom and subculture alongside Stars Wars, The Lord of the Rings, and those who participate in anime "cosplay" (a term formed by slamming together "costume" and roleplay"). Trekkies tend to entrench their lives within the context of the Star Trek narrative, merging their reality with Gene Roddenberry's fantasies. For some, it's as simple as wearing Star Trek uniforms outside of convention settings, forming groups, holding meetings, and speaking with the terminology and languages borrowed from the series and movies. For others, it's hard to tell where Star Trek ends and real life begins.

James Doohan (Scotty) is by far the most endearing of the cast who appear in this documentary. His recounting of a life-changing event with a fan is particularly moving. Leonard Nimoy is both amused by Trekkies and grateful for the success that the show has afforded him. Patrick Stewart doesn't appear in the film at all, not even in archival footage. Cast member responses to Star Trek are as varied as fan responses.

I have a feeling that the film is not altogether unbiased. There are moments when fans make self-criticizing statements, seemingly without a hint of irony. There are some suspicious editing techniques as well. I don't think the film explicitly mocks Trekkies, but it does suggest that all Trekkies exhibit extreme and strange behavior. And so, yes, this is a documentary about Trekkies, but it's not about the millions of Star Trek fans who watch reruns of the show in jeans and a T-shirt.
June 26, 2007

Some People Just Prefer Living on Other Planets....

And can you blame them?

This documentary is a peek inside the universe of the Star Trek Fan (I believe they refer to themselves as "Trekkers" and not "Trekkies"), directed by Denise Crosby, who performed in the first two seasons of "Star Trek: The Next Generation."

Particularly noteworthy are the dentist and his wife whose dental office is made up like "Star Fleet Dental" (very original - if I lived in Florida, I would go there). The dentist and his dental assistant wife wear Star Fleet uniforms as they work on your mouth, and the dental office is filled with Star Trek paraphernalia. Also worthy of note is the Klingon language school, where people go to learn how to say "Ka-Plagh!" with the right intonation and spirit. They're serious about it, too. No "la plume de ma tante" stuff for these folks. I didn't see whether or not they ate live Gagh (worms), though. I wouldn't put it past them, these folks are dedicated.

God bless them all, every obsessive one. Blue-skinned and scaley-skinned and in and out of uniform. And may they all be reincarnated on the planets of their choice. Make it so. May 30, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...