How to Prepare for the New Star Trek Movie

Whether you're a long-time Star Trek fan or simply into Chris Pine's good looks - the much hyped, upcoming Star Trek movie is calling to you. Want to get maximum enjoyment out of the movie? Your challenge is to prepare yourself.

Movie director JJ Abrams is known for his complex characters, thick plots, and 'Easter eggs'. These mystery prizes and hidden features in his shows and movies often create more questions than they answer - but they are only rewarding if you're paying attention.

Study your TOS

Watching (or re-watching) all three seasons of Star Trek: The Original Series will help you remember the classic episodes and character traits that are most likely to appear in the new Star Trek movie as 'Easter eggs'. If you are an overachiever, you might also want to pick up Star Trek: The Animated Series.

Read the Magazine

Star Trek the Magazine is an absolute wealth of Trek news and reviews. Whether you're into cast and crew member's recollection of filming their favorite TV episodes or notes of the newly released Star Trek toys and promotional items - you'll enjoy this magazine. It's carried at my neighborhood Barnes & Noble, so you should have no trouble finding a copy. If you're an overachiever, other non-show specific science fiction magazines will give you glimpses of Star Trek news from a different perspective.

Movie Review

Plan a movie marathon of the first 10 Star Trek feature films. You'll want a fresh mental image of Chekov wandering around modern day California looking for 'nuclear wessels' when meeting the character as a very young man in the new motion picture. If you're an overachiever, you'll want to get into the groove of watching a Star Trek full-length film versus the standard 60-minute episodes made for television.

One Kids Meal Please

Keep an eye peeled for Star Trek promotions. Burger King will be offering Star Trek toys in their Kids Meals once the movie is released. Kellogg's is also offering a variety of mail-order Star Trek promotions like a USB wristband and a Star Trek shirt. If you're really an overachiever, you'll buy a box of Apple Jacks just for the plastic light up Communicator Badge inside the box.

Fill Out Your Star Trek Timeline

Check out the Wikipedia article online regarding the Star Trek timeline. Knowing when and where key events like the Kittimer Conference and Zephram Cochrane's first Warp Drive space flight occurred will help you figure out where the Star Trek characters are going and where they've been. If you're and overachiever, you'll print out a poster-sized Star Trek timeline for your bedroom wall so you can attempt to memorize it while you are drifting off to sleep.

Enjoy your Trek preparations, and I will see you at the new movie this May. Live long and prosper!