I saw the first "Trekkies" movie and wasn't particularly impressed. I assumed the film would talk about how strange some of the Star Trek fans were but was surprised with the film's theme that these are normal folks--which some clearly were NOT! I had no intention of seeing this sequel film, but after watching William Shatner's new documentary "Get a Life" on Netflix, the next film recommended to me was "Trekkies 2" and I thought I'd give it a try. And, interestingly, the theme of "Trekkies 2" IS, at times, what I thought the first film should be--as it not only shows a WIDE variety of fandom (especially fans throughout the world) but also actually asked 'how much is too much?'. I appreciated this discussion about what the difference is between healthy and unhealthy obsession (such as the lady who dressed up in a Star Trek uniform for jury duty). They ask 'what is a NORMAL fan'--and I appreciated that. The film also bounces around the world and visits with fans and conventions on several continents.Now this is not to say I was in love with "Trekkies 2"--it had a few problems. The film was VERY episodic and bounced around too much. Had it stuck with one or two themes, the film would have been tighter and more meaningful. Often, the film looked like a lot of fans just talking and talking without unifying narration or an overall plan. It could have also used some editing. It also would have benefited from EITHER exploring the psyche of the fans OR discussing the fandom around the world and doing both (plus several other themes) was just taking on too much. As a result, the final product looks more like a fan film and less like a documentary to interest the average viewer. Because of these factors, I MUCH prefer "Get a Life"--it was more compact and focused and recommend you see this one.

For those who could not get enough of TREKKIES, here comes TREKKIES 2. Denise Crosby travels the globe to speak to Trekkies, who insist on being called Trekkers, which makes them sound even more loony than they already are. One Trekkie makes it very plain that Trekkies are a disenfranchised lot as a whole. Actually, this sequel is pretty dull and has nothing on the first film, which makes me wonder why anyone bothered with a sequel. Trying to find something I could enjoy about this documentary, I focused on one older woman with a butch haircut and no makeup who wears a Star Trek jersey everywhere she goes, and vociferously defends her right to do so. Her, I could get into. She reminded me that many years ago, my wife and I ran into a Trekkie on a bus ride to Florida, and this was pretty much before people started labeling themselves Trekkies. She had horrible body odor and halitosis, and suckered me out of the cost of a meal at one stop. She said she was headed for one of the first Star Trek conventions somewhere. Hey! Maybe this little old lady in the movie is the same gal we ran into four decades ago. If so, she still owes me for that meal. Skip this puppy. As one guy states in TREKKIES 2, STAR WARS has a lot more going for it than STAR TREK ever did. Amen, brother. Even though I used to love STAR TREK (at least the Captain Kirk version).

The original Trekkies was a raw, politically unconcerned look into the lives of followers of the greatest TV sci-fi franchise, and one of America's great marketing successes. It was fun, Trekkie/Trekker- friendly, and yet not entirely uncritical. Trekkies is much more of a fan movie, and despite the fact that some of the scenes are actually better than most of what appeared in the original, this isn't half the film the original was.There are many directions Trekkies 2 could have gone in. It could have been a rebuttal of the Star Trek mythos - perhaps engaging some of the writings of Robert Justman and Herb Solow. It could have dealt with the themes of the series directly and engaged their commercialization and their near abandonment after the cancellation of DS9, or perhaps the hiring of sex symbols as a way to boost ratings once the writing team began to fall apart. It could have focused on sociological issues within Trek fandom - such as the somewhat schizophrenic politics of the older and newer generations of Trek fans, or the amazing marketing of the franchise. Instead, Trekkies 2 is mostly more of the same stuff we saw in Trekkies, with a few nice new stories (the segment on Trek-based punk rock and metal bands was the highlight of the film for me), and a lot of plugs for the now defunct Enterprise series.Don't get me wrong, as one of the original Trek fans (from TOS in its original run to the present), I love this film. I just can't in good faith, recommend it to any non-fan. If you're not a Trekkie, see the original Trekkies. It's a lot more fun.

Trekkies 2 is the logical continuation of Trekkies, as it follows the Star Trek phenomenon outside the borders of the United States, to the far reaches of the civilized world. Which makes me wonder why they focused as much as they did on the United States as well…I think I would have preferred the international angle exclusively. That said, it is still an enjoyable, and at times touching, look at a fan experience that is both benign and in many cases, beneficent. What this documentary has to offer is the striking realization that Star Trek (in its various incarnations) has become a mythology and even a religion for the disaffected of much of the world, and that its influence seems to be expanding, despite the concerns of fans as to the future of Trek. Substitute a belief in an afterlife with a belief in a better future, and you have a group of acolytes who have faith that they'll get there, if they embrace the precepts of Trek. There are no agnostics when it comes to Star Trek. Either you're a believer or not. As of this writing, the fate of the latest Trek show has been sealed, and the future of the franchise is in doubt. But those of us who have loved Trek since its inception in 1966 know better. After some time off to re-group and re-think, we know that Star Trek cannot die, just as faith in the future cannot die. Just wait and see.