About eight years before George Lucas' Star Wars phenomenon, Gene Roddenberry created a show called Star Trek. The series only lasted a few years, but it nevertheless became a huge phenomenon as well. In fact, Trek reached such a cult status that twenty years later, it has spawned a highly successful film franchise and three new Star Trek television shows--one of which also became a film franchise (Star Trek: The Next Generation).

When The Next Generation TV series was in the casting stages, a little known actress named Denise Crosby signed on as an officer named Tasha Yar. Little did Crosby know how crazy her life would soon become.

This brings us to Trekkies, a nifty little documentary in which Denise Crosby serves as a tourguide into the crazy life of avid fans of Star Trek (a.k.a. trekkies). The film also offers terrific interviews with the many beloved characters involved in the numerous films and TV shows.

In her early Trek seasons, Crosby admitted that she was quite creeped out by trekkies, but later became receptive and quite fascinated by the sometimes over-bearing fans. Some of the things these fans do are quite crazy; such as, having their ears surgically altered to look like a vulcan--and that just scratches the surface!

I am a Star Trek fan, but am by no means a fanatic. As this film started, I was shocked and disturbed by the great lengths some of the trekkies go to prove their devotion to Trek. But as the film progressed, it became a poignant display of a phenomenon that has brought so many people together. These fans love Star Trek and have found family in each other, no matter what culture, color, or lifestyle--a message that Trek has always tried to deliver, but comes across in spades in Trekkies. On a sad note, DeForest Kelley (known as Dr. McCoy) died last week--but he will, no doubt, live long and prosper in the memory of his many fans.