Star Trek Universe vs. Star Wars Universe

During the past 30 years or so, there has been an ongoing debate between the two juggernaut science-fiction universes...which is better...Star Trek or Star Wars?? Now, before I begin, let me start off by saying that I am well aware that there are many similar articles out there; however, I believe I am sort of expert on the topic. Why? Well, I love both franchises.

In my humble opinion, there is not a single article that provides a fair assessment or a definitive clear-cut answer of which of two, star trek or star wars, is better. Most authors tend to be very biased and one-sided or they 'cop out' with something to the affect of "each universe has its own feel and rules that make their fan base comfortable." Bologna!

Personally, I am not only a big fan of both worlds, but I also have a lot of invested interest with both franchises. I know a lot about the history of star wars and about the star trek universe. I love the characters, the story lines, the movies, and the TV shows (even the animated Clone Wars series). Therefore, I believe I can at least make a fair attempt to answer this grueling dilemma. It's a big space out there, but only one can story can prevail.

"In a galaxy far, far away."

For starters, Star Wars is an international phenomenon:

When Star Wars hit the scene in 1977, it was not only an instant success, but it also changed cinematography forever. With it's spectacular special effects and booming sound systems, Star Wars dazzled moviegoers and the world. It paved the way for future sci-fi films such as the Terminator (a pioneer series in itself) and Aliens.

For the first time in history, a science fiction film (Star Wars) was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, only to be snubbed by the controversial and very long-winded Annie Hall. (Yeah, I saw that horses' ass of a movie made by Woody Allen. Talk about a typical Oscars decision! I mean Annie Hall was a good movie, but it was no Star Wars! And just to throw this out there, AFI consistently ranks Star Wars 15-20 spots higher than Annie Hall.)

Secondly, Star Wars overall appeal and popularity:

To date, the Star Wars movies alone have grossed over 4.2 billion dollars. If one factors in the merchandising such as toys, posters, dvds, books, books on tape, etc., then Star Wars is the champion. Star Wars is meant to be enjoyed by all genres, specially children...selling an endless array of toys ranging from Lego’s, to light sabers, to action figures, you name it. So, the built in fan base is forever embedded for all children to enjoy throughout the world.

Thirdly, Iconic characters and an epic story:

Star Wars has the ultimate villain! According to rotten tomatoes, dvdtalk.com, and hollywood.com, Darth Vader is the number one movie villain of all time. And in other sources, such as AFI, Vader is continually ranked in the top 5. The reason Darth Vader is so popular is because he is a dominating force. Like any great epic, the villain must be feared by all and demand respect just on mere presence alone.

Star Wars has the coolest protectors of the universe...The Jedi! These warriors, called knights of the republic, are fearless heroes who possess wizard-like powers, bending their wills through the ‘force’ that binds and controls everything in the universe.

One of the most beloved Jedi was Luke Skywalker, the protagonist of the feature films. His journey began as a common farm boy, with just his dreams to set him apart from his dull reality.

Luke's overprotective uncle continually held him back from joining the rebellion, until fate changed his destiny forever. He learned the ways of the force, became a Jedi knight, and eventually killed the number one movie villain of all time...Darth Vader.

"To boldly go where no man has gone before."

Much like Star Wars, Star Trek is also an international phenomenon. Although, Treks' journey to greatness started on an entirely different path.

It all started with TV shows. As of now, Star Trek has run five different television programs that include the original series, The Next Generation (TNG), Deep Space Nine (DS9), Voyager, and Enterprise. Each show experienced success with The Next Generation leading the way. TNG was on air for seven years, winning 18 Emmy Awards, 2 Hugo Awards, and 1 Peabody Award.

The heart of each show focused on the a Starfleet Captain and his/her crew. With exception of Deep Space Nine which was aboard a rather large outpost space station, each Star Trek TV series was aboard a space ship, such as USS Enterprise and Voyager. Whichever venue the series took place, be it on a space station or a ship, the crew members were unique and possessed very real, humanistic qualities that allowed the viewer to relate.

Star Trek The Original Series (tos):

The most famous, and arguably the most popular of all the Captains, was Captain James T. Kirk. Captain Kirk represents the ideal man’s man. He doesn’t back down to any fight, he will never give up his crew or his ship, and he goes in guns blazing! Kirk is pure emotion! He’s charismatic, confident, bold, and heroic...He represents the ideal warrior, in a technological world.

Along side Kirk was his complete opposite, his conscience and loyal friend, Spock. Spock, half Vulcan and half human, looked at every situation in a very rational way. Whenever Kirk allowed his emotions to step in the way of his decision (which was basically every time) Spock interfered and offered another logical solution.

Scottie (by far my favorite Engineer Officer) was the most entertaining character in all the Star Trek series. He was jolly and fun, and provided comic relief.

Star Trek Next Generation (tng):

The next best Captain (although he is a personal favorite) was Captain Jean-Luc Picard. He, unlike Kirk, represented Starfleet (Earth’s military) in every way. He was precise, calculated, cool under pressure, and made timely decisions saving his crew over and over again. He rarely used emotion to figure things out, but rather analysis and logic.

He was one of those characters that demands respect as soon as he entered a room...not because he commands it, but based on his actions. An example of this is in star trek first contact when he stand up to the borg to avenge his troubled past.

Commander William Riker was Picard’s trusty right hand man, "Number One". Riker possessed attributes that could not be taught...bravery, courage, heroic, and loyal. He was by far the best executive officer anyone could have.

Data was a computer or better known in the Star Trek universe, an android. If Picard needed raw information, Data could tell him the answer immediately. If the information was unknown, Data had the ability to find out faster than anyone else aboard the ship did. So, needless to say, he was a very valuable addition to the crew.

Worf was the first Klingon to be a member of the USS Enterprise. He was a cunning warrior and brave. In fact, Picard once said, "I think you are the bravest man I’ve ever known."