The list gets serious with this 1999 comedy. Galaxy Quest tells the story of three intertwined groups. First, the cast of a cancelled science fiction television show who now work the convention circuit to earn their keep and maintain their celebrity status. Second are the Thermians, an alien race who are coming to ask the actors for help, believing the satellite transmissions of the show they received were real historical documents. Third, the evil reptilian warlord Sarris and his army who are hell-bent on using the Omega 13 device to wage a genocidal war on the Thermians. A parody of Star Trek and the culture that has developed around the show, Galaxy Quest is an epic film that delivers laughs, action and a spot on send-up of its subject matter. On the Blu-ray edition of his Star Trek reboot, J.J. Abrams called Galaxy Quest one of the best Star Trek movies ever made and the film took several awards from prestigious science fiction institutions including the Nebula and the Saturn. The reluctant hero, the insurmountable odds and the raising stakes of all sagas are tucked in right beside the poorly-designed 'Chompers,' the Beryllium Sphere and the interspecies tentacle-love. Not normal. Still epic.
David Wagner is an author/musician who splits his time between Oakland, CA and Istanbul, Turkey.
David has published two novels, both available on his website, and as a fan of movies, comics, and genre television, he is happy to be working with WhatCulture as a regular contributor.
