The very proposition of unleashing the mind behind Kill Bill and Pulp Fiction on the Star Trek universe tickled a part of my Trekkie brain that I didn’t know existed. But there was a second part to the rumour – something that anyone who knows Tarantino’s work could have expected: the film would be R-rated. But does the series really need that?
Star Trek always possessed an optimism that made it an outlier in the world of science fiction. Star Wars has ‘war’ in the name, a conflict still ongoing 40 years later. Alien shows space as a place filled with inaudible screams. Even in Wall-E, humans live in a dystopia. But the Star Trek universe was hopeful. The entire show rested on the premise that humanity had overcome its base failings – war, poverty, reckless consumerism – and joined into one human family, a member in a greater alliance called the United Federation of Planets. Characters still had demons (see ‘The Enemy Within’, TOS Season 1 Episode 5), and Klingons and Romulans would always prove troublesome. But humanity’s future looked bright. That gave Star Trek a perspective that has become scarce in modern sci-fi.
Esta historia es de la edición July/August 2020 de Popular Mechanics South Africa.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición July/August 2020 de Popular Mechanics South Africa.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Can a retired rocket engine take us to Mars?
The space shuttle's main engine was mothballed with the programme in 2011. Now NASA believes it's the future of interplanetary travel.
6 metre waves. All engines on fire. 1 500 Km from land.
How Flying Tiger 923 and its 'miracle pilot' made an impossible ocean landing.
Land Rover Discovery D300
A FEW MONTHS ago a $2 billion lottery jackpot was won in the United States. It’s fun to sometimes ponder outrageous winnings like that, and how I’d spend it, even if it’s completely detached from reality.
Volkswagen Taigo R-Line 1.0 TSI
The compact proportions make this a delightful daily commuter.
Mazda CX-5 2.2 L De Akera AWD
Floor the pedal and overtaking is achieved easily and safely.
Making the most out of your grinder
THE HUMBLE BENCH GRINDER IS A STAPLE of the handyworker's home shop, largely due to its versatility. But, while you can employ one to remove metal from just about anything, the traditional kind may not provide the precision you need for every grinding operation. Here, we shed light on the best ways to use the different types of grinders, gleaned from our testing.
Unlock your devices' full potential with a USB-C hub
AS NEW TECH SHRINKS EACH YEAR, essential ports such as USB-A, HDMI, and ethernet are being replaced by the slimmer USB-C.
WE BUILT THE WORLD'S FIRST V-8 TESLA
THE RICH REBUILDS TEAM HAD A DEAD MODEL S. THEY FIXED IT WITH A CAMARO ENGINE.
I bought a GHOST TOWN
This abandoned California mining village once had 400 buildings. Now I'm restoring the 20 that remain.
F1 taught me that speed starts with comfort
AS A FAN OF MOTORSPORT, I'M ALWAYS fascinated with the finer details that go into Formula One racing. Piloting the fastest racing cars on the planet subjects drivers to savage forces - up to 6 G's under braking which has led to an almost endless pursuit of comfort.
