The Truth Is in the Stars

In recent years, William Shatner has make several documentaries through which he and others talk about how "Star Trek" has effected them, society, science and more. "The Captains", "Reflections on Spock" and other documentaries have starred him as he interviews many famous folks and in his latest, "The Truth is in the Star"...he interviews A LOT of folks. While the general theme is the future, the documentary really goes all over the place as he interviews a huge Trek prop collector (Be Stiller), actors who have played guest spots on the various Trek series (such as Jason Alexander, Whoopi Goldberg and Stephen Hawking) and a variety of others...astronauts, scientists and the like. All of these interviews, though not obviously related, tend to be very interesting...especially since Mr. Shatner's style has gotten a bit quieter, a bit friendlier and a bit more 'nice'. Overall, well worth seeing.

Yes is it random ... I mean yes it is random! But it's also fun and light and is about a few things. It is probably about questions you have or thought about. There might be questions you didn't have, but one thing is for sure: there won't be too many answers overall. Not definitive ones that is, because there is still so much we don't actually know.

Truth is out there ... just where exactly is there? The documentary is fast paced, has many segments and has a lot of wit. Which makes it more than watchable. It makes it kind of refreshing. When you have a former Captain of the Enterprise (ok technically future, but you know what I'm saying) at the helm - no pun intended - who doesn't take himself seriously ... well you kinda can guess that it will be a fun ride (or is it flight?)

I believe in the positive future. That all is possible. I can explain it in an easy way. I can also explain in it in complicated terms. The truth is in the stars as well as in the imagination. Melding the human heart with the logical laws of the universe. I loved this documentary. Energy and mass are only separated by the giving and receiving of the human heart. May your enterprise go on forever.

A fan, Samuel Massaro

Although perplexed at first and somewhat sluggish, this personal journey to discovery showed a genuine desire to learn and understand by William Shatner, aka Captain Kirk. He was sincere and open minded, like a child finally getting to the real questions, and getting deep answers. What a wonderful piece. Some of my favourite people were interviewed in this one, too.

For example, I really liked this quote from Neil deGrasse Tyson: "In the 1960s, we had a Cold War with the Soviet Union, and a hot war in Southeast Asia, and the civil rights movement, and here's Star Trek portraying Earth where all the countries of the world were at peace.

Who makes tomorrow come, if not the dreamers and the scientists and the technologists who enable it?

So, this is an occasion to not feel separate from life, but to feel one."

What I came away with, was that humanity fundamentally needs dreamers, and an optimistic view of the future.

Listen, I've been a Star Trek and general sci-fi fan for many years and have pondered the 'big questions' about life and the universe etc. all my life and that's why I thought I'd like this, but man, did Shatner ever phone it in on this one!

The show starts off with an aerial view of his farm and his horses and I kid you not; the first thought I had was "I hope this isn't just some dumb show he's done to help pay for his horse addiction", and unfortunately, that's exactly what it is. He goes around asking various people like Seth MacFarlane and Ben Stiller their take on the universe but more importantly, WHAT would they ask Mr. Stephen Hawking if they had the chance. So you're thinking 'COOL' he's going to ask Hawking all these great questions! How exciting!.... but then he goes to Hawking's house, and just... turns into a giddy, star-struck school girl and doesn't end up asking Hawking ANYTHING at ALL!! It's truly UNREAL. I was SO disappointed after this huge buildup and then he just completely drops the ball.

So there you have it - he was one of the last people to see Hawking alive and was going to ask him all these deep questions, but all he could do was blush, act silly and get all emotional. It's too bad Leonard Nemoy couldn't have been there to slap some sense into him.