Astra's actionfigures in Action

You know what is really funny? Ever since I started to watch the original Star Trek two years ago (because I had watched one of the new movies with Benedict Cumberbatch) I keep reading that Kirk is like Horatio Hornblower. All this time this name meant nothing to me. Never heard of him before. Wasn't part of my upbringing in East Germany.

A few weeks ago I finally started to watch "Forever" just because that Ioan Gruffud guy I equally never had heard of also was supposed to be at Comic Con Germany, and I did not want to regret afterwards to not have taken a picture with him. I had heard of "Forever" in our "Torchwood" group, that this guy was like Jack Harkness and always comes back after death, but never checked it out. Well, sadly he cancelled, as I am enjoying myself immensely with this series right now. Too bad there is only one season.

So again (when will I ever learn?) I made the mistake to look up Ioan Gruffud on youtube. Turns out I HAVE seen him before in the "Amazing Grace" movie that I once watched because of Benedict Cumberbatch. And this, ladies and gentlemen, is the way I watch TV! Wasn't much interested in the "Almost Human" series with a cop and his robot partner, then someone told me that this was actually Karl Urban, you know, how could you not know this... and bam!

So, just now I found this. It's not so much a series, more like 8 TV movies, and from the few clips I saw so far, it looks amazing. Can't wait to watch it properly. Why do I always find these things way past midnight? Can someone tell me?

So, if you are an Ioan Gruffud fan (he plays the main role of Hornblower in case I did not mention that) or a Kirk fan that wants to get educated, here is the first part.
And I just looked who else is in there. Now where have I heard the name Jamie Bamber before? Right, he was in "Star Trek Continues" once... ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IFPe24ebnfo



(see alumfelga I can do it just as well as you!)

For those not in the know, this weekend is the big 50th anniversary Star Trek convention in Las Vegas with pretty much everyone there.
I just want to share three really nice pictures.

Chris Doohan (Scotty in "Star Trek Continues" and son of James Doohan) and Simon Pegg (Scotty in the new Star Trek movies):



Chuck Huber (Bones in "Star Trek Continues" and Karl Urban (Bones in the new Star Trek movies):



And just an hour old - like father, like son.
Adam Nimoy, Rod Roddenberry, Chris Doohan:



And now everyone: Awwwww!

Okay, let's start at the beginning. The first picture I took, with Karl Urban. Somehow I managed to not be aware of him until about a year ago, when I started to watch the new Star Trek movies. Didn't take long for me to succumb to his rough charm. I loved especially the sadly very short lived series "Almost Human". I haven't yet watched "Lord of the Rings", still thinking about whether it will be worth it. One day.

I seriously have no idea why so many are complaining about him. Not everyone is a stage hog.

I loved his panel, great questions, very charming answers, we laughed a lot. At the autograph table, I asked whether he could say something in German to me and got a "Bis später!" (till later).

I only regret that I totally forgot to mention my tweet he had liked a week ago. That may have been a conversation starter!

Poor guy apparently had jet-lag (flew in from New Zealand to Germany), hay fever and also apparently his suitcase got lost. I hope he gets it back. The first panel right after the opening ceremony was cancelled sadly.

A few bits and pieces of the panel we got: He knows a bit of German and used it with "Guten Abend" (Good evening) und "Wie geht's" (How are you). He told us that there had been only one unit for "Almost Human" instead of the usual two, that meant 17 hour days for six months and as sad as it is for the fans who wanted more of this wonderful series, he is glad he doesn't have to do it anymore.

A quote about "The Loft", where one day he filmed all the sex scenes with different women they brought to him: "I felt very cheap but enjoyed the day".

He told a funny story how JJ Abrams went to the set towards Leonard Nimoy but stopped in the middle of his way, turned and went back. Later Karl asked him: "Did you really just go and wanted to give Leonard Nimoy directions on how to play Spock?" LOL Apparenlty Leonard Nimoy also told him that he cried when he first saw his Bones on screen, as it reminded him of his lost friend.

I feel it is time for another flail post. So much going on this year that a fan can look forward to. Where to begin?

Star Trek:

- I have preordered and paid the new 1:6 scale QMX Kirk and Spock. Now I just need to wait for them to arrive in July. The story behind those is wonderful. In 50 years of Star Trek no company ever made 1:6 scale high end collectors figures. The ones that were out there were rather toys, and the faces and clothes just did not look good. So a fan took it up himself during the past years, making the best figures ever, and now they are officially sold by Quantum Mechanix and he's got a new job with them. Sometimes dreams come true!

- Equally I look forward to the Mezco figures. Those are 1:12 scale, but with real clothes and also lots of accessories, in Spock’s case even a head for changing. I am super excited for these, as that picture shows a bridge setting so I hope to get a full bridge one day. They already teased pictures of working on the Captain's chair. Already up for order are Spock, Kirk and Sulu. I hope good ol’ Bones will be next!

- If you had told me one year ago that I would be looking forward to the new Star Trek movie at the end of the year, I would’ve called you crazy ;) Funny how an attitude can change. I hope I can find a cinema with English language. When the trailer leaked at first it was only the German version and it just isn’t the same without Karl Urban’s original voice.

- I’m also looking quite forward to Fedcon, where hopefully William Shatner will be, if they don’t really un-invite him again. But I am also looking forward to Vic Mignogna, the Captain Kirk of Star Trek Continues. The sixth episode will have its pre-premiere at Fedcon, before it will be officially released at the end of May. To see it on the big screen and with a room full of people instead alone at the computer will surely be awesome. I won’t miss that!

Doctor Who:

- In May my Big Chief Studios tenth Doctor’s TARDIS will arrive. The eleventh Doctor’s TARDIS is shipping to fans right now, and their enjoyment is palpable. That thing is huge! 11 kilogram they say. I kinda regret having changed the shipping address to my work place (it was necessary as Fedex did not give it to a neighbor)

- The Ninth Doctor figure supposed to ship in October.

- Still waiting for the Jack Harkness figure going up for pre-order. I guess it will take till the end of the year, they’ll do Rose and the War Doctor first. Just as well, my purse can use a break.

John Barrowman:

- The official DC Malcolm Merlyn Comic that John and his sister Carole have written, is coming out every two weeks digitally and in July as a book

- John will also be in an episode of Reign, where he is another bad guy and uses his Scottish accent. I think that is a first in a TV role? I’m super excited for that one. Somewhere in Summer I guess. For some odd reason episode 17 isn’t listed on IMDB.

- They are also still working on The 49th key and bringing Hollow Earth to the screen but these things take time to develop I guess. It’s hard to be patient though.

Matt Bomer:

- Matt was at the Paley festival the past weekend and it was announced that he will be back in a role for the sixth season of American Horror Story. Much to my own surprise I did enjoy the fifth season very much, even though I am usually not into horror. Matt missed going to a Justin Bieber concert the same weekend – maybe he just took the role so he didn’t have to LOL

- Walking Out has filmed in December, if you haven’t read the short story, you can read it here
It is a movie for film students, I hope we’ll get to see it in a way!

- He’s hopefully also still working on Monty, the movie about Montgomery Clift. I can’t wait to see that one. It’s time that our Matt gets a main role!

- There will be also soon The Nice Guys and The Magnificent Seven coming out, but it sounds as if his role in these will be rather small. I bet he’s dying again. He seems to do that a lot…

Did I forget anything? What are you flailing about this year? Tell me!

So *looks around* Any Karl Urban fans among us? I only knew him as Doctor McCoy in the new Star Trek movies so far, but have started watching "Almost Human" now and love it. I also plan to get "The Loft" from the library next week. That sounds like an interesting movie.
And yes, I know he also was in "Lord of the Rings", and no, I still don't plan to watch it. We'll see how long that lasts...

Today I watched episode 4. They said they were going to a cabin. As soon as they said it I knew there is only one cabin in Vancouver which has been seen in many movies and TV series - here is a screenshot from the episode:



And here is a picture I took in 2008 while being in town for Gatecon, as I know this cabin as Jack O'Neill's cabin in Minnesota in "Stargate":



And just for fun a picture of Karl Urban from Episode 3. So yeah. As I said: Any fans of him around here?