Just got back from a late matinee showing, by the way... Good stuff. The contrasting character play between young Kirk and Spock is really tasty.
‘Star Trek’ Movie Sparks Massive Nerd War On Political Internet
You may have read on the Internet that this week’s big movie release is the “new” original Star Trek movie, and it is going to make millions of dollars. It is the latest manifestation of Hollywood studios’ race to abandon all creativity: after a popular movie series like Batman or Superman has run its course, just start over and make the first one again. Critics then praise the director’s “new vision,” and political writers note that all of the characters are famous politicians, secretly, in real life. Everyone remembers last year’s important Wall Street Journal column, “George Bush Jr. Is The Bat Man.” This year’s version? “Barack Obama is the Spock.” Steady yourself…
The best Obama/Spock political column thus far has come from Salon, in a piece quite comically titled, “Obama is Spock: It’s quite logical.” What the author, Jeff Greenwald, is implying with this headline is, “LOOK, just hear me out for a sec, I’ve really thought about this.”
Like Spock, part of what makes Obama so appealing is the fact that although he’s an outsider — “proudly alien,” as Leonard Nimoy once put it — he uses that distance to cultivate a sense of perspective. And while we’re drawn to Spock’s exotic traits — the pointy ears, green blood and weird mating rituals — we take comfort in his soothing baritone, prominent nose and ordinary teeth.
FAP FAP FAP *clap* *clap* *clap*
The early Spock’s only real vice was sardonic ire (often directed at McCoy). But this was also one of his most appealing qualities — because Spock, as Jenkins gleefully asserts, is “someone who can bitch slap you with his brain.” It’s an ability shared by Obama — who, unlike Spock, doesn’t employ that superpower recreationally. His brilliance isn’t a defense (or defended by sarcasm). While Obama embodies Spock’s passion for reason, he adds the element of warmth.
Don’t know if we’re more scared of Barack Obama or Jeff Greenwald right now. Let’s just move onto Newsweek’s presumptuous contribution, “We’re All Trekkies Now.”
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http://wonkette.com/408433/star-trek-movie-sparks-massive-nerd-war-on-political-internet