Star Trek

Ok, this isn't a full in-depth review of JJ Abrams reboot of an ailing, once-popular franchise.

Short review is that - it rocks! Yes it's a little more action-oriented than some of the navel gazing entries in the film series which ended with the ponderous Nemesis, but this is a fantastic entry into the series - it serves to both reboot and reinvigorate the series to great effect.

Great effects, for the most part a decent story (meanders a little in the middle as the writers join up a few dots but it's executed with such pace and panache it's hardly noticeable) and, JJ's trump card - an excellent cast. Pine's Kirk is nicely nuanced, Quinto, as a young Spock, looks like he will grow into the - admittedly large - shoes once worn by Nimoy, Uhura is played as fiercely intelligent, almost bookish and beautiful (ok she had no choice on that one) by Zoe Saldana, Cho underplays Sulu effectively, Urban channels DeForest Kelley marvellously, and Pegg does a modern Scotty ok - sure he is utilised a little to comic effect but he does get the biggest laugh - in Scotland at least - when he tells Kirk and Spock to 'get tae'! JJ even finds room to give Bruce Greenwood the chance to portray an exceptional Captain as the stoic, courageous Pike.

Nero - well as a Baddie his motivations could be a little more mapped out - apparently some of his footage was cut due to running time concerns, although Bana does his best to portray a very alien, determined foe. If you've not seen the film yet - then I urge you to source a copy of the prequel comic which is a decent story in itself, and greatly fills in Nero's character background, motivation, and explains his hostility and hatred of Spock, whilst also setting up events that follow in the movie.

So yes - it's an unqualified success.

So, the point of this ramble? Well I wanted to discuss the 'complaints' and 'barbs' that the film has still managed to attract from hardened 'trekkers'. Now, my family are all big Trek fans - we've even gone so far as to have a Birthday Party for my Brother where everyone dressed as characters from Star Trek - and I've even dressed as a Klingon. In the early days of Sky TV we would religiously gather every evening at 10pm for the latest episode of The Next Generation.

Yet, despite this, I knew that a reboot was needed (in all honesty I though Star Trek was probably spent entirely) - Enterprise the series was turgid and bland, shedding most of it's audience before improving towards the end, and Nemesis was dreadful. The franchise was on it's knees. Paramount knew this, and took the gamble of rebooting the series AND trying to engage a new, young audience - the blockbuster viewers - at the same time. Ambitious - certainly, and a huge risk which has paid off - the film already on course for a +$200 Million domestic gross, being easily the most popular film of the year.

Is it this success that has alienated some of the hardcore Trekkers? Quite possibly - this was 'their' baby - the previous films did not do anything near the reboot's figures with Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home being the only one to break the 'blockbuster' 100 million dollar mark. So it was their secret and now 14 year olds are discovering, and taking ownership of, their franchise. Like a slighted woman, they do not like giving up their obsession to anyone else.

Is it because the film-makers, writers etc set-out to alienate the hardcore fans? Well in a word - no. A second viewing shows the writers bending both ways in order to make a movie with the epic feel of Star Wars yet going out of their way to accommodate the fans. Don't believe me - well a second viewing shows this little list of nods to classic Star Trek (some minor spoilers ahead):

• Bones "dammit Spock, I'm a Doctor not a physicist"
• Kirk - marooned, alone and weaponless - on a barren planet v a BIG monster
• Learning the origin of James T Kirk's terrible middle-name
• Orion slave girl...
• ...Uhura & Spock, finally (see Plato's Stepchildren)
  
• Captain Pike still ends up in a wheelchair
• Kobayashi Maru...
• ..and Kirk with apple (see Wrath of Khan)
• Red Shirted Crewmember!
  
• Sulu fencing (see The Naked Time)
• Tribble on Scotty's desk
• Admiral Archer's beagle

I'm sure there are many more, but really it's churlish to decry this movie as not having the Trek 'ethos'. We see people, strangers even, thrown together by a huge threat who learn to work together, to save both themselves and others, in the finest tradition of Starfleet, they overcome insurmountable odds, to assume their destinies - what's not Trek about that? Hell, they even try to redeem the baddie before the inevitable.

Gene Roddenberry would have approved.

Traquair Medieval Fayre 2009

Now normally I would be on the other side of the ropes but a knee injury and a bout of clinical depression saw me drift away from the re-enactment scene - I haven't picked up a sword in about 2 years, which is a sad state of affairs.

However, I knew that my mates from my (lapsed membership of) re-enactment society The Northmen (www.northmen.org.uk) were performing over both days of the Fayre held at Traquair House, near Innerleithen in Scotland.

This was too good an excuse to get the landrover wheels dusty, fire up the K20D and head down to Innerleithen via one of my favourite runs - the B709 from Heriot on the A7 - right through a fantastic sheep infested valley (a truncated glacial valley methinks). A brilliant route - with rough camping spots and a cyclists dream - 13 miles downhill (trust me, I cycle-camped that route once).

On the left, Andrew of The Northmen during the parade.

I was a bit rusty with the K20D having not got out much with it this year (and truth be told I am still to master it having only got it in December) - so that, using legacy manual focus lenses as I was too far away from the action for my fav 16-45mm, horrendous bright sunshine, and the crowd being determined to get in my way at every opportunity made for a difficult shoot as my stuffed up exposures will testify!. Enjoyable nonetheless.

On the right, Phil & Rob of The Northmen.

Robert of The Northmen leads the Parade as King James IV's Herald

As one has come to expect of The Northmen, they put on some excellent displays of weaponry skill and, more importantly, delivered some entertaining fights for the large crowd.

Gary shows the speed and power of the much-maligned staff

The humble staff - about all a conscripted working man would be able to afford, is often laughed at during battle re-enactments, often combatants refuse to even acknowledge a 'hit' from this weapon. However, it is a much more accurate weapon of the period - you just would NOT see common foot-soldiers wielding swords - at best they would have pikes, staffs, axes & hatchets (I use the 'excuse' that I earned my own sword by protecting my commander bravely during battle and being allowed to retrieve one item from the spoils recovered from the field of battle after a victory!). It also would just as effectively break bones, deflect sword strikes and prove very effective at keeping one's enemy at bay given it's length and range.


But, anachronism's aside - we all know the crowds come to watch Swords, Shields and Armour clash together!

A Knight and lightly-armoured footsoldier fight for the King's Honour!
(Knight equipped with buckler, pike and longword)

NB: Exposure stuffed up by yours truly, not the K20D!

Gary & Chris do a long-sword demo


Chris prepares to wallop Gary during a free-form fight which was very entertaining

So it was a fun day out and I got to experience these events from the other side of the rope. If you get a decent view the fights are more enjoyable to watch than I had expected from being a participant, but I'm now seriously hankering to return to the battlefield!

The K20D performed well although I learned 3 things - 1 - rtfm! 2 - despite normally shooting wide, I need a fast long-range zoom & 3 - don't move once you have a decent shooting position.

Jarvis - my SIIa was a joy again with the big perkins lump upfront proving frugal even on twisty, challenging B roads. Oh, and the ice cream we had in Innerleithen was just amazing!

Oh, and a final note for the re-enacter that growled me out for taking a small short-cut through camp. Yes, that's frowned upon, Yes, I completely forgot I was in civvies and should NOT have cut through the camp, but NO - that type of aggressive, arrogant and almost abusive approach to a member of the public will do nothing for the re-enactment scene - and not one of The Northmen would ever speak to a member of the public in anything other than a cordial and friendly manner - even if explaining the dangers of the encampment.

Landies at play

My Brother-in-law Johnny is another mad petrol-head and, in particular, a total landrover nut. He has both a cracking TD5 pick-up and a fantastic ex-mod SII 109". He was working in Edinburgh in Oxgangs where they are knocking down the old flats and building proper houses with gardens etc in an attempt to modernize and revitalize a notorious part of town.

The opportunity to take the landies for a spin on this wasteland, and for me to indulge some photography at the same time, was too good to miss. There was a nice high, steep mound that had been created whilst clearing the site, which we just had to drive up.


The local neds even stopped their daily tasks (which appear to be stripping anything sell-able from their new luxury council houses!) to watch. I took the opportunity to shoot a couple of shots of the TD5:

Beautiful, isn't it?

One final meeting of old and new:

Next bit of off-roading definitely has to include some water and some real mud!

Landrovers

I've wanted a landrover for ages and got one in January, a nice vintage SIIa - it's older than me!

However, it has been fantastically looked after - the previous owner is a great welder and the chassis is perfect. The clincher was that a Perkins diesel engine had been fitted that had barely been run-in - this will give 30+ mpg and run forever! The steering has all been sorted and even the leafsprings have all been cleaned and greased and work - as you will know when you bounce 2' in the air over a small speed bump!

As someone who is more comfortable with a precision screwdriver in his hand whilst fixing or building a PC, learning to maintain this old beast has been a steepish learning curve. However, I'm getting there - I've checked all the oil levels in the gearbox, transfer box and overdrive, fixed the wipers, replaced the duff windscreen water pump, replaced a seriously worn universal joint in the front propshaft, replaced the rear UJ at the same time although this only had slight play - it would only get worse. Next repair is to fix/replace the slightly leaky bung on the fuel tank.

So, your maybe wondering what the appeal is of these old, noisy, slow, drafy, leaky vehicles? Well, apart from their go-anywhere ability (off-road even the old Series vehicles are peerless), ability to tow anything and their iconic style, well it's the ability to customize these vehicles unlike any other.


Some mods and changes I've made so far:

• Fitted 12v power sockets (cigarette lighter & usb)
• made overhead console and fitted stereo into roof area
• made and fitted central cubby box between front seats
• fitted rear bench seats, seat backs and head-rests
• utilized space under bench seats (which sit on frames atop the metal seat boxes) to store variety of tools
• fitted hi-lift Jack to front of seat-box
• made false fronts to the seat boxes to store additional tools, inverter, oil, hide jack etc
• fitted rear work-lamps
• fitted full length roof rack complete with front-spot lights and ladder (bought off a very nice chap in Perth)
• constructed and fitted home-made raised air intake
• carpeted inside
• fitted gearbox/transmission tunnel soundproofing
• fitted mini compressor
• fitted full size defender mirrors (the current mirrors were absolutely useless)
  

Next job is to construct a second battery tray and install a battery + split charger to run the inverter. Also on the agenda is to partially floor the roof rack with chequer plate, chequer plate the wings to allow standing on to load front of the rack, fit a steering guard, fit rear speakers into false seat box fronts, line the roof, and fit some cab lights front and rear.

Long term mods are to fit solar panels to trickle charge the batteries and fit a rear reversing camera and build a PC into the truck as well - with an lcd screen fitted on a pivoting arm in the rear cab.

This may all sound like overkill but when finished I will have a go-anywhere vehicle that is completely fitted out for camping, for photography, will have mobile internet on a decent-spec fitted PC, has enough tools to be a mobile workshop or for on the road repairs.

Why? Well lots of reasons. 1 - I love camping so having such a capable vehicle which can charge my camera battery/mobile etc and eventually support a roof-top tent is just perfect. 2 - it will allow me to reach places that would take ages by foot, to let me shoot photos from different places - and I can use the roof rack as a raised viewing platform. 3 - my ambition is to go on an overland adventure into Arabia and Africa!

So there you have it; not everyone gets landrovers, but at least that's a glimpse into what you can do with one.

Yester Castle and the Goblin Ha'

On Saturday, on the suggestion of the intrepid Dakota, and also in the company of Four Eyes One Lens from the Flickr East Lothian Group, we set off from Gifford, East Lothian, Scotland to Yester Estate in the search of Yester Castle and the Goblin Ha'.

From the gates to Yester Estate it took us well over an hours ramble to find the ruins of Yester Castle. We passed Yester House which was built by the architect James Smith (1645 - 1731) for John Hay, 2nd Marquess of Tweeddale, being completed in 1717.

After yours truly had led us down one wrong turn - spoiling Dakota's excellent interpretation 0f some emailed directions he had procured, the optician amongst us used his clarity of vision to point us on the correct path.

The ruins of Yester Castle do not dominate the skyline or make themselves apparent in the distance, infact you could easily pass within 10 metres of the ruins and miss them entirely - they are situated on steep banks and shrouded from view by overgrown trees and thicket.

Getting a clean shot is difficult due to the trees preventing a distant shot - however what remains is still spectacular - with an arched room revealing the construction technique of the low roof, and a stone fireplace, chimney and tower all still intact.

However, it was the second part of the Castle that we were most interested in: The Goblin Ha'. This is a vaulted subterranean chamber which remains intact and was a place where Sir Hugo de Giffard was thought to practice magic and became known as the Wizard of Yester, with the hall itself thought by locals to have been built by hobgoblins. The Goblin Ha' was referenced in the novel Marmion by Sir Walter Scott.

Having exhausted both ourselves and any possible shots, we returned by retracing our route, minus my silly detour, taking some shots of the ornate bridges and flora that we passed on our way back to Gifford.

The morning turned into afternoon and was rounded off in the comfort of the Goblin Ha'Inn where well-earned refreshments were taken and plans for our next trek to seek out another hidden-gem were formed. My thanks to my two muddy companions for their company, particularly D'akota for the idea to seek out the Goblin Ha' in the first instance.

National Treasure - Book of Secrets

The first National Treasure movie came out of nowhere and rather stole the Da Vinci Code's thunder by weaving a tale of masonic conspiracies into a fun treasure hunt.

This sequel - Book of Secrets, follows a similar template - this time crafting a conspiracy around an American Civil War confederate plot to discover the City of Gold in order to finance their efforts to secure victory. In this treasure hunt, Cage's character is not only in pursuit of unimaginable treasure but also seeking to clear his Great Grandfather's name as Thomas Gates has been smeared as a conspirator in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln (Presidents play a big part in this film) by Ed Harris' antiquities collector whose motives for doing so are not yet clear.

The annoying sidekick Riley returns, not quite so annoying this time round, as do Gate's girlfriend played by Diane Kruger and Jon Voight as his Dad. As with the rule of sequels - (same + more) - Gate's Mother comes along for the ride (Helen Mirren) as she is needed both to decode an ancient Incan inscription and as a hostage for Ed Harris who, it seems, wants his hands on the treasure.

It's the equal of the first film for the most part - the action scenes are much crisper (even the oldies in Voight and Mirren get to do some action stuff!), and the clues mostly make sense - with the involvement of the US President and the final reveal all following the same logic. A sequel is also nicely set-up.

Loses some minor points for some lazy stereotypes when Gate's hunt for clues takes him to Paris and London ('Gor Blimey'). And, with the cast being bigger this time round, there is not a lot of good lines for the supporting characters who simply are there, at times, to help solve clues and push the plot/hunt along. Oh, and I can't not mention the hairpiece poor Cage is saddled with - it nearly comes a cropper in a few of the action scenes. Guess Hollywood can accept having older actors and bad guys who are receding / thin haired / bald but not their leading men!

I'm a big kid at heart and love adventure films - particularly treasure hunts so this hit the spot nicely. If you have trouble suspending disbelief it might be a film to steer clear of, otherwise it's two hours of light-hearted fun entertainment.

Quantum of Solace - Teaser Poster Out

Staying on a Bond theme, the Teaser Poster for the next Bond (no 22) - Quantum of Solace is out. I like it - it's nice and stark.

To celebrate this small step towards the release of Quantum of Solace in November, I've made a wallpaper from the teaser poster, links below should you want it.

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