If you are as excited about the release of Star Trek: Renegades as I am, you should definitely watch Star Trek: Of Gods and Men (ST: OGAM) until you can finally get your hands on the pilot of the potential new Star Trek series.
“Of Gods and Men” is a feature-length fan fiction movie, planned for the 40th anniversary of Star Trek in 2006. Filmed on a micro-budget, the movie is a present from fans to fans (yes, this means you can watch the movie for free), featuring a really impressive cast. Nichelle Nichols, Walter Koenig and Tim Russ starring as “themselves”, while other actors from TOS, TNG, VOY, DS9 and even ENT star in different roles. To mention just a few, you will see Cirroc Lofton, Garrett Wang, Chase Masterson, Ethan Phillips and J. G. Hertzler as well.
I also suggest watching the Episode “Charlie X” (TOS) before you devour “Of Gods and Men”, just to get back into the swing of things. I will not spoil the surprise for you: just watch the movie. It’s been called the “most ambitious fan fiction movie out there” and I have to agree whole heartedly.
12 years after the death of James T. Kirk, the old companions Captain Nyota Uhura and Captain Pavel Chekov are reunited. Together with Captain John Harriman (Captain of the Enterprise B in Star Trek: Generations) they meet an old acquaintance (yes, I told you to re watch TOS before you watch OGAM) and this changes everything. Charlie Evans travels back in time and with that, everything you ever knew about Star Trek, changes. Set in this parallel universe, the movie unfolds and simply draws you inside.
Sure, the special effects are not “top of the pops”. But let me say this much: it doesn’t matter. At all. The storyline is great, the cast is simply gorgeous, and the movie proves once and for all that Trek isn’t about SFX, but about the interaction between characters – about loving, laughing and suffering with the characters.
Producer Sky Conway, DS9 story writers Jack Trevino and Ethan H. Calk created the story of ST: OGAM, Tim Russ directed the film. All people involved did a simply amazing job on a paper-thin budget.
I admit, I was sceptic at first. I refused to watch the movie for some time, but now I have to say, I deeply regret not having watched it earlier. “Star Trek: Of Gods and Men” has everything a Trek movie needs. And seeing all the stars from five TV series of Trek united was simply amazing. Yes. I am in love with this movie. Deeply so. And after watching it , the time until FedCon 24 and the première of Star Trek: Renegades (brought to you by the same team that created “Of Gods and Men”) seems even longer.
