Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Trek movies, worst to first


I read an article
yesterday giving one person's list of the Star Trek movies, from worst to first.

I think he listed "Nemesis" as worst, with "The Voyage Home" first. "Wrath of Khan" was fifth. "Insurrection" was down the list. I'm watching it now, and it's one of my favorites.

With my own list, I'd pick "Generations" as my least favorite. James T. Kirk got killed in that one, and I hated the mundane way they killed him off. I have a copy of that video, but I have not watched it in years.


I'd put "The Final Frontier" and "The Undiscovered Country" in 10th and 11th place, respectively. "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" is probably ninth; too slow. They spent more time with graphics than they did with story and characters.

Next comes "Star Trek Into Darkness", the one where Benedict Cumberbatch plays Khan. I hate the reboots, and "Wrath of Khan" was enough for me. I didn't need another Khan.

"Nemesis" is seventh among the 12 Star Treks I've seen. They wasted a great opportunity, and Data deserved a better grand finale than that.

The first J.J. Abrams movie, "Star Trek", was OK in some ways and terrible in others. Abrams played fast and loose with the Trek mythos (I hated that), and, frankly, I wouldn't have that James T. Kirk pilot a wheelbarrow, much less a starship.

"First Contact" and "Insurrection" come next. I actually liked James Cromwell as Zefram Cochrane in "First Contact"; he was interesting, and Glenn Corbett was boring in the original series. I hated it, however, when Picard went nuts with the machine gun in "Contact"; out of character. I liked "Insurrection" because of F. Murray Abraham, plus Data's relationship with the kid. And I liked Picard's lady.

I actually like "Search for Spock", and it comes just after my No. 2 pick, "Wrath of Khan". I think the latter movie is the best Trek movie ever, but I'm picking MY favorites.

And, frankly, "The Voyage Home" is my favorite. The story line — going back in time to get to humpback whales to save the future — is implausible, but I can get past that. This is the funniest and most human of all the Treks. I love the part where they broke Chekov out of the hospital.

I just saw "Star Trek Beyond", and I'm not sure where I'd rank it between "The Voyage Home" and "Generations". I need to think about it.

I will say, though, that the part where Enterprise was ruined was torture.

Live long and prosper... And let me know what YOU think.


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Sunday, July 24, 2016

Links to LAS VEGAS RAIDERS websites

(NOTE: Just click on the name of the web site.)



Team page (NFL)

Raiders team videos (Raiders.com)


Twitter account

PLAYERS

Ken Stabler background (KenStabler.com)

Ken Stabler bio (Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Ken Stabler bio (Wikipedia)

Ray Guy (Pro Football Hall of Fame)

George Blanda bio (Pro Football Hall of Fame)

George Blanda bio (Wikipedia)

Willie Brown bio (Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Jim Otto bio (Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Daryle Lamonica bio (Wikipedia)

COACHES

Jack Del Rio bio (Wikipedia)

Current coaches (Raiders)

John Madden bio (Pro Football Hall of Fame)

Tom Flores bio (Wikipedia)


OWNERS

Mark Davis bio (Wikipedia)

Al Davis bio (Raiders web site)

ARTICLES

Dolphins' Steve Ross only owner to vote against Raiders' move to Las Vegas
(Sun Sentinel)

It’s Time For Mark Davis To Sell The Oakland Raiders (Just Blog Baby)

Oakland Raiders owner is worth $500 million and still uses a 2003 Nokia phone and drives a minivan (Business Insider)

The Raiders Move: What’s In It for Las Vegas? (Sports Illustrated)

Raiders’ move to Las Vegas looks like a certain bet (San Francisco Chronicle)

EXCLUSIVE: Roger Goodell paints bleak picture for Raiders fans in letter to Oakland mayor (East Bay Times)

Raiders coach Jack Del Rio’s contract has been ‘torn up’ … and replaced by a new one (FOX Sports)

Details of Oakland’s Hail Mary stadium bid to keep Raiders (SF Gate)

A Football Life: Ken Stabler (Raiders.com)


Remember When: George Blanda played until he was 48 (CBS Sports)


Raiders mailbag (Yahoo! Sports)

How the 2016 Raiders were built (Raiders.com)

YOUTUBE VIDEOS

Ray Guy: The Specialist | Road to Canton | John Madden, Tom Flores

Mike Mayock Previews 2020 NFL Draft Class at Scouting Combine | Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders 2020 Free Agency: 9 NFL Free Agent CBs The Las Vegas Raiders Could Sign & How Much It Costs


Josh Jacobs Delivered as a Rookie | Las Vegas Raiders


Driving The Las Vegas Strip to Raiders allegiant Stadium Live


Film Study: How the Raiders shut down Khalil Mack

Film Study: Josh Jacobs is a monster

Michael Irvin reveals real reason Raiders released Antonio Brown

Sports century Bo Jackson

Sources: AB says no football without old helmet (ESPN)

Football Gameplan's 2019 NFL Team Preview: Oakland Raiders

Raiders legend Jim Plunkett has health worries after career

MEDIA OUTLETS

The Mercury News page

Oakland 247 page

Las Vegas Sun page

Sports Illustrated page

ESPN page


FOX Sports


CBS Sports page

SB Nation page


Bleacher Report page


Yahoo! Sports page

Yardbarker page

MORE MEDIA OUTLETS

Pro Football Talk page

Silver and Black Pride

Reddit page

Chat Sports page

MORE WEB SITES


Links to articles about sports

EMAIL: tgilli52@gmail.com  TWITTER: EDITORatWORK


BLOG ENTRIES FROM THE AUTO RACING JOURNAL
(a book of great stories about the Intimidator)
(the book of great NASCAR stories)

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