It’s safe to say that 1989’s “Star Trek V: The Final Frontier” isn’t the most beloved film in the long-running science-fiction franchise. But it’s the only Trek movie directed by Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, and he’ll be providing a live commentary on the movie Sunday at GalaxyCon in downtown San Jose.
Shatner, 93, has often said that he’s too self-conscious to watch his own performances and that fans often know much more about a scene, TV show or movie he made during his decades-long career than he does — whether it was Kirk, ’80s cop T.J. Hooker or Denny Crane, the irreverent attorney he won Emmys for portraying on “Boston Legal.”
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But it should be fascinating for fans to hear Shatner’s current thoughts on making “Star Trek V,” a movie that seemed to have all the ingredients for a good Trek film but misfired nonetheless.
San Jose City Councilmember Omar Torres, far left, and San Jose Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei, far right, pose with “Star Wars” cosplayers at the ribbon-cutting event for GalaxyCon at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center on Friday, Aug. 18, 2024. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
Mike Broder, founder of GalaxyCon, said the screening — hosted by “Inglorious Treksperts” podcast co-host Mark A. Altman — will be the first time that Shatner’s done a live commentary on the movie. The 4:30 p.m. screening will take place at the Grand Ballroom of the San Jose McEnery Convention Center and requires a separate ticket from GalaxyCon admission.
“He has some things to say because that film had challenges and he’s never talked about it,” Broder said. “He’s always looking toward the future and doesn’t love talking about the past because he doesn’t like to dwell. So I asked him to do it as a favor to get it out of his system.”
Fans stream into the main exhibit hall after the ribbon-cutting event for GalaxyCon at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center on Friday, Aug. 18, 2024. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
Broder welcomed thousands of fans who flocked to GalaxyCon’s first day Friday, kicking off with a ribbon-cutting that included San Jose Vice Mayor Rosemary Kamei, San Jose Councilman Omar Torres, a few “Star Wars” droids, San Jose Barracuda mascot Frenzy and even the longtime voice of “Super Mario” himself, San Jose-born Charles Martinet.
“I love being back in downtown San Jose,” said Martinet, who voiced the famous Nintendo character in video games from 1994 until 2023. “When I was with the San Jose Rep, I would stand on the streets trying to get people to come to the shows.”
“Super Mario” voice actor Charles Martinet poses for a photo after the ribbon-cutting event for GalaxyCon at the San Jose McEnery Convention Center on Friday, Aug. 18, 2024. (Sal Pizarro/Bay Area News Group)
There are a plethora of celebrities attending from the worlds of sci-fi TV and movies, anime, Disney, and more including John Cleese, Weird Al Yankovic, Rachael Leigh Cook, Wil Wheaton, Denise Crosby and Xzibit from MTV’s “Pimp My Ride.” The convention runs through Sunday and includes cosplay meetups, costume contests and late-night events aimed at the grown-up crowd.
Tickets and schedule information is available at www.galaxycon.com.
