New Trek Game To Be ‘A Whole New Series’ - But With Some Cameos November 30, 2006
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Games , 24 comments
If you haven’t heard of it yet, ‘Star Trek Online’ is a new MMORPG (Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game) being built by Perpetual Entertainment. The game allows players to create characters and ‘live’ in the Trek Universe. One of the big decisions was regarding where exactly to set the game in the centuries-long Trek timeline, and the designers decided on 25 years after ‘Star Trek Nemesis’. This is a different approach than other licensed games, for example the ‘Star Wars Galaxies’ MMORPG is set between episodes IV and V of the saga. In an interview with STO Galaxy the executive producer for the game, Daron Stinnett, explains that they chose the post Nemesis era to allow themselves artistic freedom to create new Trek stories.
Some HD Remastered Trek Showing Up On XBox Live November 29, 2006
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: TOS Remastered , 31 comments
We reported a few weeks ago that Microsoft was touting ‘remastered Star Trek episodes’ as part of the offering for their new TV download service with XBox Live. Now that the service has gone live we can report that there are a total of 2 HD versions of the remastered Original Series available: ‘Miri’ and ‘The Naked Time’. These two remastered HD episodes are mixed in with the 27 other non-remastered SD versions of the entire first season of the Original Series. All episodes are uncut and cost $2 with the HD versions taking up a signficant 2.5 gigabytes of the 20 GB hard drive (the SD versions take up half a gig). To make things even stranger, the two HD TOSR episodes have the expected ‘pillar box’ for all live action shots, but all the new effects (including the opening credits) are presented in 16:9. This means that the black bars on the left and right appear and disappear as you watch. Sources in CBS seem to be just as confused about all this as we are, and it is unclear if this is the way they want it to be shown and if more episodes will become available. So far only two Star Trek films are available (in SD): ‘The Wrath of Khan’ and ‘Generations.’ Regardless this still makes XBox Live the only way to get TOSR in HD for now, but due to the storage and availability limitations it is hard to recommend buying an XBox 360 just to watch Star Trek.
TrekMovie.com will continue to keep track of XBox Live and will report any changes.
Abrams To Direct Episode Of ‘The Office’
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Abrams, Uncategorized , 5 comments
Star Trek XI producer JJ Abrams remains coy about whether or not he will direct the next Trek feature, but he has committed to do some directing in 2007. Abrams is already slated to direct an episode of his hit series Lost this season and according to TV Guide will also direct an episode of the NBC comedy ‘The Office’ in January. TV Guide reports that Abrams is a big fan of the show. TrekMovie.com can confirm this, in fact we got him on tape saying so during our recent interview with him.
First Image from Remastered Menagerie Part 2 November 28, 2006
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: TOS Remastered , 163 commentsCBS has sent over an image of Mojave City from "The Menagerie Part II".
Captain Pike and Vina get a brand new background matte painting
Review of The Menagerie Part 1 Remastered November 27, 2006
by Dennis Russell Bailey , Filed under: Review, TOS Remastered , 74 commentsYou say ‘yes,’ I say ‘no…’
The Enterprise visits Starbase 11, ostensibly because Spock has received a request from his former captain - Christopher Pike - to divert there. Right away we learn two important things:
- Uhura’s not a gossip. There’s been "subspace chatter for months" about the fact that Pike was crippled in an accident, yet she’s never passed that information on to anyone aboard the Enterprise (except, apparently, Mr. Spock)
- Morse code, binary digital computing, and the game "Twenty Questions" do not exist in the "Star Trek" universe. As a result, although the otherwise mute Pike can signal in two distinct ways - one beep for "yes" and two for "no" - it’s considered virtually impossible to get specific or complex information from him (like, say, the answer to the question "is Mr. Spock lying to us?").
McCoy, for one, considers Spock lying to be "absolutely impossible." Embarrassingly for him, then, Spock tells a few more whoppers and steals the Enterprise in order to return Fleet Captain Pike to Talos IV: "the one forbidden world in all the Galaxy." When Kirk and Commodore Mendez catch up and put Spock on trial, his defense consists of making them watch an old “Star Trek” rerun. Luckily for them, it’s a good one that they haven’t seen.
Trek XI Scribes Invited Innovative Input Session on Transformers Script November 26, 2006
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Orci/Kurtzman, Uncategorized , 17 comments
TrekMovie has reported how Star Trek XI co-writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have sought out fan input for their Transformers Movie script. The LA Times is now reporting that they also used an novel approach to get peer feedback on the script as well. Apparently in May (right before shooting began) they held a ‘brainstorming session’ with a number of other writers to help give the script a final polish. From the article:
Kurtzman and Orci’s dream team included David Ayer ("Training Day," "Harsh Times"), Rawson Marshall Thurber ("Dodgeball"), stand-up comedian Patton Oswalt ("MADtv"), Jon Hurwitz ("Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle"), Lona Williams ("Drop Dead Gorgeous"), Jeff Nathanson ("Catch Me If You Can") and Don D. Scott ("Barbershop"). While all of the screenplay’s major elements — structure, plot, characters — were locked down, these writers were asked to double check its logic and help squeeze whatever additional humor they could from potentially comedic moments.
“The Menagerie” (Part 1) Screenshots and FX Video [Updated] November 25, 2006
by Matt Wright , Filed under: TOS Remastered, TOS-R Screenshots/Video, Uncategorized , 196 commentsUPDATED: sorry for the delay…here are the screenies (as usual click for full size)
Remastered Menagerie Part 1 Airs Today
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: TOS Remastered , 20 comments
Spock hijacks the Enterprise for his old pal Captain Pike
(sorry no preview this week…blame the holiday)
/ Local Station & Showtimes /
More at Memory Alpha
The Menagerie is Trek’s only two part episode which cleverly uses the (at the time) unaired pilot ‘The Cage’. The enhancements to expect:
- new Starbase 11 matte paintings
- new Starbase 11 planet and new Talos IV
- various new shots of the Enterprise
- a new (seen for the first time) shuttlecraft
- tracking zoom-in shot of Pike’s Enteprise (with CGI crew transitioning to live action crew)
- various view monitor shots
- …and look for tiny versions of the Trek Remastered Producers and Effects Team in the background at Starbase 11
Find Files For Fan Films Featuring Familiar Faces November 24, 2006
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Fan Productions, Of Gods and Men , 36 commentsTwo of the big fan film projects have new releases out, both featuring original series talent. Star Trek New Voyages has the full episode of ‘To Serve All My Days’ featuring Walter Koenig in an episode written by Trek vet DC Fontana. And the web miniseries project ‘Of Gods And Men’ has an extended 5 minute trailer now available. OGaM features Koenig along with Nichelle Nichols and a myriad of other Trek luminaries behind and in front of the camera. Both STNV and OGaM aspire to become officially sanctioned Trek projects, but for now remain ‘fan films’. Although both still fall short of TV budget production values, they both are raising the bar for ‘independent’ Trek films.
Click the the images below for their respective download links…
Frakes OK With Trek XI As A Prequel, Not OK With TOSR Edits
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Star Trek (2009 film), TNG, TOS Remastered , 16 comments
The man who directed two out of the 4 TNG era Trek films seems OK that their reign is over. In an interview with the Indiana Star Jonathan Frakes (TNG: Riker) admitted that he doesn’t know anything more about Trek XI than what is rumored, but didn’t understand those fans who are against a Kirk & Spock prequel:
Seems like a perfectly good idea. . . . (The movie’s producers) just need to remember Gene Roddenberry’s vision
It is good to see that he hasn’t joined the chorus of other TNG actors (Sirtis, Spiner and Dorn) who are slamming Star Trek XI for its rumored premise (and presumably for not including them).
Abrams Gushes Over Nimoy and Shatner
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Abrams, Star Trek (2009 film) , 100 comments
3 months ago TrekMovie confirmed that both William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy have some sort of contractual involvement in Star Trek XI. In the latest issue of Dreamwatch Magazine, producer J.J. Abrams talks up how happy he is to have them around…
the involvement of William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy means a great deal to us on many levels, not the least of which is just the respect of who they are and what they do. They are the carriers of this torch and, without being too reverential; we want to show them the kind of appreciation and admiration they deserve.
Bennett Sees Parallels With His Star Trek VI and Star Trek XI November 23, 2006
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Feature Films (TMP-NEM), STXI Plot , 22 comments
Harve Bennett was the producer for the golden age of Star Trek films back in the 1980s. After the lackluster performance of Star Trek V in 1989, Bennett (along with writer David Laurie) developed a script called ‘Star Trek: The Academy Years’ which was to reboot the franchise with younger actors playing Kirk and Spock at Starfleet Academy. In the end the studio decided to give the original cast one more go and Bennett left the franchise. Earlier this year when Variety broke the first news about Trek XI and used the word ‘Academy’ in their brief plot outline many thought that Bennett’s script was back. Even after J.J. Abrams called the Variety article ‘not entirely accurate’ many still speculated there was some link, including Mr. Bennett himself.
Happy Thanksgiving from TrekMovie.com
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: TrekMovie.com , 14 commentsThis Thanksgiving us Trekkies have much to be thankful for. Just a year ago you could easily conclude our favorite franchise was dead or at least dormant. Now in 2006 we have seen Trek return to both gaming and comics. We have also seen the original series reborn in Trek Remastered. And last, but not least, the film franchise has been handed off to a new team to bring us Trek XI in 2008. It appears our 40 year old franchise has a few more tricks up its sleeve…and for that I am thankful
Review of Space Seed Remastered November 22, 2006
by Jeff Bond , Filed under: Review, TOS Remastered , 35 comments
In addition to its place of honor as the inspiration for what is usually considered to be the best Star Trek movie ever made, the first season episode "Space Seed" displays many of the virtues that got me hooked on Trek in the early Seventies: cool spaceships, great music (albeit tracked from other episodes here), exciting action and most of all the match-up of Trek’s always interesting cast against guest stars who were their (and especially William Shatner’s) equals in magnetism and theatrical power–people like William Windom, Ted Cassidy, Morgan Woodward, and of course, Ricardo Montalban. Montalban’s Khan Noonien Singh is the quintessential Trek heavy: superpowered, superintelligent, but ultimately humbled by his own arrogance. His scenes opposite Kirk and Leonard Nimoy’s Spock are some of the most dramatically charged, well-written in the series, and his passionate romance with comely historian Marla McGivers (Madlyn Rhue) shows off the series’ full-bodied embrace of adult sexuality, something the latter-day Trek shows always shrank from.
Fixed Mirror Mirror Replaced Space Seed In Some Markets November 21, 2006
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: TOS Remastered , 6 commentsLast week we reported on how there was an errant editing goof in ‘Mirror Mirror’. This is something that CBS readily admitted and committed to fixing. In fact they sent out the fixed version to all of their affiliates right away. Unfortunately some of their affiliates mistook this fixed version of Mirror Mirror as the episode that should air next. TrekMovie has received a number of reports that say the fixed ‘Mirror Mirror’ was shown instead of ‘Space Seed’. Unfortunately there really isn’t anything CBS can do about this, this was done by a handful of affiliates. Producer Mike Okuda recommends that if you didn’t see Space Seed last weekend to contact your local station and ask them to use Space Seed for their second broadcast (many stations repeat episodes on the following weekend). For the rest it looks like you will have to wait until March 7th when ‘Space Seed’ is repeated.
Regardless it can’t hurt to call your local affiliate and tell them you love the show, and if you get it in an undesirable timeslot let them know that too.
Behind the Scenes at CBS Digital November 20, 2006
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Interview, TOS Remastered, Uncategorized , 117 commentsThe folks at CBS Digital were kind enough to let TrekMovie.com visit CBS Television City to get a behind-the-scenes peek at how they are breathing new life into Star Trek.
Getting chosen as the effects house to create the new CGI effects for the remastered Star Trek was quite the coup for CBS Digital. As Craig Weiss, Director of CBS Digital says "it is huge deal - the biggest thing we have done so far.” Every single one of their twenty artists does at least some work on Trek, with over half of them dedicated full time. CBS had to bring on about 8 new people in order to meet the rigorous work schedule. Most of the new people are crowded into a single dimly lit (to avoid glare) room that used to be called ‘the morgue’. It is quite a thrill to look around the workstations and see the various bits and pieces of recognizable Star Trek elements being worked on. It is clear from just a quick visit that each member of the team is dedicated to their craft and to digitally recreating the magic of Star Trek.
Takei Wants A New TAS - Will Appear on NBC’s Heroes [update: also wants in on Trek XI] November 19, 2006
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: TAS , 26 comments
As part of the promotion for the DVD release of Star Trek: The Animated Series StarTrek.com has a new interview with George Takei. The original Mr Sulu talks about his experiences working on the animated show, and speculates on the potential of doing a new TAS based on the Original Series
…the original is what is undebatably the most popular of all the series. So yeah, I’d like to see our generation of Star Trek revived in animated form. And, our voices more-or-less still resemble what we sounded like 40 years ago, so I think the original actors couldbe brought back for that.
“Space Seed” Screenshots and FX Video
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: TOS Remastered, TOS-R Screenshots/Video , 94 commentsTake a look at Star Trek’s ‘Space Seed’ Remastered…
As usual click pics to see full size, click more to see the rest and the video
Star Trek: The Animated Series DVD Set Review November 18, 2006
by Matt Wright , Filed under: Review, TAS , 52 commentsIt has been my pleasure to review TrekMovie.com’s pre-release copy of Star Trek: The Animated Series on DVD. The animated Star Trek will always hold a special place for me. As a kid I can remember renting the video tape volumes from my local video store. Here was the perfect fusion of cartoons and Trek for a young fan. The Animated Series is the last bit of the Star Trek franchise to be released on DVD and it is a worthy addition to any classic Trek fan’s collection.
Read on for more…
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