This question pops up from time to time when meeting new people* and was definitely a question my sons asked when they were younger.
They, of course, were firmly in the Star Wars camp; as are a number of my close friends.
Me? i’ve been straddling the fence for years having grown up with Star Trek being burned into my DNA through my weekly cathode ray exposure. I had my socks blown off as a young adult when Star Wars hit the cinemas. What a revelation!
When given the challenge of picking one camp over the other though, I tended to lean towards Star Wars - especially after Empire Strikes Back staked it’s claim on my heart and bought a lot of leeway for Luke and the team in the years that followed.
But now, after all these years of straddling, I have a firm answer for you: Star Trek.
This hasn’t been an easy answer to come by because I do love both franchises. I’ve recently watched the Star Wars movies from A New Hope forward. I'm still a Star Wars fan and looking forward to Rogue One next year, and the Han Solo anthology to come but Star Trek: Beyond has sealed the deal. As I write this the movie is playing for the second time this weekend (it's Saturday morning) and I expect at least one more viewing (if not more) if I can sneak it by those I share my living spaces with.
I love this movie. I am in love with this movie. I love the way it looks. I love the references to the past TV and cinema releases. I love love LOVE that Simon Pegg (with Doug Jung) rewrote the screenplay - Pegg’s life-long love and knowledge of the series shines through. I love how (spoiler alert!) the crew is split up and the story is fractured within it self. I love that the Enterprise itself is a character in this instalment. I love the subtle look of the outrageous science fiction. I just love these iconic characters and the new actors who rejuvenated them.
Beam me up Scotty Montgomery: I’m on board the Star Ship Enterprise.
What about you: Star Trek or Star Wars?
*Yeh well that might signpost my social-circles.
PS: I keep seeing the alignment of the characters with our incredible team at work but I’ll spare you that self-indulgent matrix today.
UPDATE: a sequel is planned *ssquueeee!