Let Kirk Stick Around

Re Dale Griner’s anti-Kirk Saturday Letter (“Let Kirk Be Gone,” Oct. 15): The new “Star Trek” film “Generations” was re-shot to include more footage of Capt. Kirk in response to test audiences’ strong indication that Kirk is the character they wanted to see.

Griner’s letter notwithstanding, true “Star Trek” fans want to see more of Kirk, not less. And, with William Shatner getting on in years, it is only a matter of time before the top brass at Paramount reintroduce the characters of Kirk, Spock et al. played by younger actors in the new “Star Trek: The Early Voyages.”

Only the original “Star Trek” and the second film were truly good. “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “Deep Space Nine” are cheesy, New-Agey bland copies of the original. The writing, the sets and costumes, even the guest starlets, had a whole lot more entertainment value than do the lame modern shows with their huge budgets. The original “Star Trek” didn’t take itself so seriously.

Just look at the cast for the new “Star Trek” series “Voyager.” They look like a bunch of geeks. There is no more visceral energy or wit or sex to “Star Trek.” Trekkies, oh yes, Trekkers, have squeezed the thing they love so tight that they’ve strangled the life right out of it.

JEFF SOFTLEY

Los Angeles