OTF's Blue Publication May 2013
This month's issue is jam-packed with content, so I will keep my introduction short and sweet. You may notice that we are trying something new this week with movie reviews. If you have a Sci-Fi/Fantasy movie or game review of your own you'd like to submit, please send them to me at dsattich@gmail.com.
In honor of Star Trek: Into Darkness releasing later this month, this edition of the Blue Report has a Star Trek theme. Below we have a preview for the new Star Trek movie, April's Caption Contest Winner, Richard invites you to the 2014 Philadelphia Union, Richard also announces The Unions Team's flyer contest winner, Numbers was kind enough to answer a few questions about Star Trek Online, T'Pel has written a comic for everyone to enjoy, Richard reviews Iron Man 3, Cameron has his monthly chatsaves, and I have my monthly memes.
Before I leave you, I'd like to remind everybody that our own Cameron is leading an event of his own conception on the forums, "The Wedding of Thor." Please go check it out when you have the time.
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Star Trek: Into Darkness, releasing May 17th, is the new film directed by J. J. Abrams. The screenplay was written by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, and Damon Lindelof. This sequel to 2009's Star Trek looks like it promises to be a thrilling sci-fi action adventure. Early reviews of the film have been positive, with critics saying it was a "rousing adventure" and "a riveting action-adventure in space". Below, I preview the plot and the cast of the new movie, so only read on if you don't mind minor spoilers. |
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Plot "After being called back home, the crew of the USS Enterprise find a seemingly unstoppable force which has attacked Starfleet and left Earth in chaos. Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise are tasked with leading the deadly manhunt to capture the party responsible and settle an old score. " - IMDB |
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Cast Chris Pine reprises his role as Captain James T. Kirk, with Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin, Simon Pegg, John Cho, and Bruce Greenwood reprising their roles from the previous film. Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Weller and Alice Eve round out the film's principal cast. |
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Benedict Cumberbatch, star of the British series Sherlock, and voice of Smaug in the upcoming Hobbit sequel, was the source of many rumors on the internet leading up to this movie. When the first trailer revealed him as the villain of the movie, many claimed he was playing Khan from Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan. This was justified by the above screenshot from the trailer which showed what was an obvious nod to Wrath of Khan. |
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A later trailer revealed that Cumberbatch wears a Starfleet insignia in some scenes, leading people to rethink the role of the villain. Many speculated that Benedict may be playing one of two characters from The Original Series, Gary Mitchell and Garth of Izar, who were both former Starfleet members, turned villain. |
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Later, Cumberbatch revealed in an interview that his character's name was John Harrison, and little else. But, if you go to the IMDB page today, Cumberbatch is still listed as Khan. Who knows what all of this means. It could just be cover up and the director would like to keep Benedict's role a secret. I guess we will just have to watch to find out. |
Over the past several weeks, I’ve been conducting a contest for a new Outpost 10F Flyer. This flyer will be available for members of the Outpost to download and to pass out at events like Star Trek Into Darkness.
The winner of the flyer contest is DeBoe, who sent in a visually superior revision of a previous contest entry. Gabriel created the original, DeBoe cleaned it up for 2013 and make it look awesome. Congratulations DeBoe!
Thanks to everyone that sent in a submission. We’ll still be receiving submissions for Star Wars Episode VII and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. It may be low tech, but at least we’ll have a captive audience to get the message out to.
Please consider printing out a few of these and publicize our chat and get some new blood flowing into the rooms.
Here is the winning entry:
You can download it here:
We had a chance to sit down and ask OTF's own Mr. Numbahs a few questions about Star Trek Online, a game that many of our members enjoy. He also has information about joining OTF's STO fleet.
What do you like about the Game?
Well I've been a Star Trek Fan since childhood, infact my first words ended up being Kirk and Spock. When I started to play video games I immediatly got into the Star Trek Armada Games, but when I heard about Star Trek Online I had to make the switch. WHen I did I was immediatly submerged into immense personal control of ground combat and glorious space combat that in my mind is to this day unparralled.
Why should others play it?
Well at first it did cost money to play. But after popularity grew it became free to play. Since it's free to play and still awesome, and even getting better, there really is no reason to say no this superb game that is a perfect mix of MMORPG and the wonders of Star Trek.
Who Leads the Fleet?
The actual leader is CL5 Jarek. However since work was getting in the way and such. CL5 Hydra and myself were appointed as Co-Leaders to keep the fleet alive for the High King Jarek while he worked and such. It's kinda neat to run a Fleet,per say, that folks don't see. It's like working behind scenes to make sure everyone in the fleet has a fun time and gets the best out of the game and it's a really awesome thrill to see the fleet grow when we go to our Starbase or Embassy and visually see the progress of everyone's hard work, it truly is amazing.
Who all is in the Fleet?
Well the fleet has 26 Members currently and we are growing all the time. All members are also members of OTF which opens up the possibilities of playing with your fellow OTFer. Sometimes, even laugh and enjoy as the other falls into traps in space or ambushed on ground missions and knowing your there to save them. But working as a team with fellow OTFers outside of projects on the site is really fun, sometimes it's fun too for a classic match against each other. You don't truly know someone until you fight them, as the saying goes.
How can I join?
Joining the fleet is actually easily. Just meet up with someone in OTF who's in the Fleet or a person in-game that you know is in the fleet and ask to join. That person will meet you in game (unless you're looking right at them in game). They find you, gives you the good ol MMO right click, invite to fleet, and you'll see a pop-up window asking if you wish to join. Of course,hit accept, and BAM-POW-ZOOM--- Welcome to the Fleet.
(For all intents and purposes, OG stands for original.)
OG Kirk: *takes up his seat with a box of popcorn* I don’t Understand how you can’t find this of all movies “fascinating”.
OG Spock: *quirks a brow* Why is it you find it so?
OG Kirk: It’s a story about us! How we boldy go and all that. Come on, Spock. You will enjoy it.
OG Bones: Will you both shut up.
OG Kirk: It’s just the commercials, Bones. It isn’t like you are missing anything.
From in front of them: Will you all shut up? I am trying to watch the dancing girls.
OG Spock: Jim…look.
OG Kirk: *looks and eyes widen* Spock…do you know…
OG Spock: Yes, Jim. I believe that is indeed Chris Pine sitting in front of us.
OG Kirk: *leans forward and taps Pine on the shoulder* Hey, Chris. I wanted to say you guys did a good job on the last movie. I am looking forward to this one.
Pine: *Turns and nods, blinks when he notices who is speaking to him* Uh…thanks. Captain. *smirks* I aim to please.
OG Kirk: Is that what you told the Orion girl from the first movie? *chuckles and winks*
OG Spock: *sighs and looks to Bones*
OG Bones: Don’t give me that look you pointy eared devil. I can’t control his libido any better than you can.
OG Spock: The movie is beginning, so you two may bond over your conquest of women after. *eyes both Kirk and Pine*
OG Kirk: *chuckles* Fine fine…*stuffs his mouth with popcorn as the lights darken*
What can we expect from Tony Stark aka Iron Man in the third installment of the franchise? Well when we first see Stark he is a raging ego maniac who morphs into a quasi responsible person over the course of IM2 and Avengers. At this point we see a more vulnerable Tony Stark than we've seen before. He's dealing with relationship issues with Pepper, anxiety after the mission in New York, and a terror threat that literally hit him where he lives. He doesn't know how to deal with things and even though he's a super hero, he had to deal with these issues just like the rest of us.
I was impressed in how this movie wove together an impressive tapestry of story and action. There are parts of the plot that hit you right away, and just when you think you have it figured out, another string is woven that puts things in a completely different perspective. I liked how the plot zigzagged around and kept you guessing. There are also some surprises that pop up and you don't know if what is revealed is going to be permanent or if it is just a bridge to something else.
I wouldn't be Iron Man or a really good movie for that matter, it the hero didn't face some kind of adversity along the way, and I feel safe in saying that Tony faces LOADS. It seems that he is repeatedly wacked with a 2X4, and you find yourself wondering if he is going to get back up again, but in true Iron Man fashion, he comes back and blows away those who would stand against him, and this time he has help taking out the bad buys.
The ending was a complete surprise for me, which is always good since you don't want it to be too easy to figure out and spoil the experience. While I honestly don't think this film was on the level of The Avengers (nor was it meant to be) I definitely think IM3 is a must see flick. It is very suspenseful, packs a good punch several times over, there is just enough humor, and it is great. There isn't much that you can find fault with. Not even the scene after the credits.
The acting was great all around, the story was awesome, the soundtrack really lent to the picture. You know tony is going to win the day, but you have a great time watching him get through all the peaks and valleys along the way. If you haven't seen it, you are doing yourself a disservice. This movie is 130 minutes of escapism at its finest. I'm going to give Irom Man 3, 4 out of a possible 5 Outposts.
