Star Trek’s $112M Global Opening Weekend + Quinto,Nimoy & Pine on SNL + More Tidbits May 10, 2009
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Great Links, Star Trek (2009 film) , trackback
Judging by our current poll and the reader reviews Star Trek has has a great opening weekend for the fans, but it looks like that elusive mainstream audience are also on board. We have the numbers below [UPDATE: w/ Int'l returns] Plus there is video of Quinto, Pine & Nimoy on SNL and more interviews and opening weekend tidbits, including ‘Star Trek The Sneakers’ and much more.
Star Trek shows Paramount the money
According to Variety and Box Office Mojo, Star Trek will bring in $76.5M in its domestic opening weekend (including early shows on Thursday), which is more than initial studio and industry expectations. Star Trek scored $27.4M on Saturday and is expected to bring in $18.3M on Sunday. Variety notes:
J. J. Abrams’ reboot of the classic sci-fi franchise came in on the upper end of expectations, and all but guarantees that Par will pursue a next installment. “Star Trek” took a bite out of 20th Century Fox holdover “X-Men Origins: Wolverine,” which debuted to $87 million last weekend, the best opening of the year.
UPDATE: International numbers – Trek #1 overseas too
Variety is now also reporting that Star Trek brought it an additional $35.5 Million in 54 overseas markets, which they describe as "solid rather than spectacular." Specifically the big countries for Star Trek were: the U.K. with $8.8 million, Germany with $4.6 million, Australia with $3.4 million, France with $2.8 million, Russia with $2.3 million, South Korea with $2.2 million and Spain with $1.6 million. Paramount noted that this foreign return was 3% ahead of Batman Begins opening weekend in 2005, and that film finished with $167 overseas. All past Star Trek film have made most of their money domestically. Star Trek has yet to open in some overseas markets (including Japan), so it is too early to tell how close they will get to parity this time.
MORE TIDBITS
Pine, Quinto & Nimoy drop by SNL
The new Kirk and Spock, along with Spock Prime, were surprise guests during ‘Weekend Update’ on last night’s Saturday Night Live. The bit was another riff on the ‘Trek fans’ joke. In my opinion, the Onion thing and Nimoy’s Top 10 were better, but here it is:
Star Trek Sneakers
We have had Star Trek The Spork and Star Trek The Cereal, are you ready for Star Trek The Shoes? 140 pairs of specially designed Airwalk Star Trek sneakers went on sale in New York at ReedSpace on Friday. (via SneakerNews)
Wear your Trek
NYT: Dowd’s Take on Trek
More proof that Star Trek is again part of the mainstream culture (even the cultural elites), New York Times Op Ed columnist Maureen Dowd has taken the new Star Trek movie, the notion that the President is a Vulcan, and the decline of print journalism, and put them all together in a dream:
I dreamed that Spock saved our planet, The Daily Planet of journalism.
Instead of swooping in to figure out the dimensionality and logarithms to rescue the world from red matter, as Spock does in J. J. Abrams’s dazzling new “Star Trek,” I imagined Spock rescuing read matter for the world.
Newspapers are an “endangered species,” as John Kerry called us in a Senate hearing last week, just as the Vulcans are in the new prequel.
I know Barack Spock likes newspapers. An aide told me during the campaign that Mr. Obama would get cranky if he didn’t have some time set aside during the day to read The New York Times. …read the rest
This is the actual photo illustration at the NY Times
NEW INTERVIEWS
Nimoy and Quinto at Newsweek’s ‘Spock on Spock’
Orci & Kurtzman with Collider
Whoopi Goldberg (talking new movie) on Larry King
More
- Quinto on his Pittsburgh roots (KDKA) [VIDEO]
- Former ENT and TOS-R Producer Dave Rossi talks at length about his views on the new movie in the latest Zero Room Podcast
- JJ Abrams in Der Spiegel (in German)
Finally: Get Shatner’s premiere Tickets + Bill’s fave episodes
William Shatner is selling his unused tickets to the Star Trek premiere on Ebay (for charity)…he has signed the envelope
You can own Shatner’s tickets
Speaking of Bill, YouTube has a video of him talking about his favorite episodes to promote how they have all of Star Trek The Original Series available online.
Thanks to Paul D, Paul C, Russ, and Kevin
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Comments»
Better get busy on the sequel, Messrs. Orci and Kurtzman! :-)
STAR TREK LIVES ON!!!
wow thats a lot of money’s – now lets give them $200 million for the sequel :D
Movie was sooo great! nice work!
Ive always held Star Wars as my favourite franchise (with Trek a close second), but after this film i think Star Trek is now above Star Wars for me.
Bring on more films! Even a Abrams directed TV sereis with this new universe crew!
Wow! We may well see Trek repeat as Number 1 next weekend.
The numbers are fantastic! Just saw the movie, job well done guys!
Great chat between Nimoy and Quinto!
15 years ago, when ‘Next Gen’ was at it’s peak (yes, a LONG time ago) I used to always say, ‘nothing is as good as it used to be. Except ‘Star Trek”.
Well, now we can say that again.
It’s good the wheel has finally turned.
God bless you, J.J.
I want a TV series centered on the USS Kelvin set in the Prime Universe. I want more Robau!
I enjoyed that Newsweek clip. Nice little chat with the 2 Spocks. And I’m proud to say that 14 of those Thursday night dollars were mine. I very much enjoyed the movie. Sure, I had a couple nitpicks, but overall it was a lot of fun…and a great breath of life into our beloved franchise.
All I can say is thank you to all the fans and future fans who turned out to watch this film! I sat in amazement with how well these characters were played. When i went the first night i was on the edge of my seat and some scenes even brought tears to my eyes and the second time was just like the first!
I mean i get goose bumps tallking to others about this movie! JJ and company has done an awsome Job and i bet the next film will be even better!
Live long and Prosper ……
I am proming myself that I will see the movie again this week and next weekend. :-) That’s certainly something to look forward to.
It looks likely, if the trend continues (and, thank the Great Bird of the Galaxy, it looks likely that the trend will continue!), that TrekMovie.com will have much to cover about Star Trek 2011 (assuming that the sequel will be out in two years). That’s two more years of anticipating another great installment of Trek. (If that seems like a long time, I remember sixteen months ago, and when the Christmas 2008 opening date was moved to May 2009, how long the wait seemed to a lot of people; I was one of those who simply relished the fact that we had just that much more time to anticipate the goodness that was to come.)
Good things come to those who wait.
That said, bring on the next Trek movie! (Knock wood!)
To quote Nimoy on SNL those who do not like it would be dickheads. lol
not really but I have some friends that didn’t like it and are trying to discourage people from seeing it. if you didn’t like it it’s your opinion. don’t try to make others share it before they experience the movie.
5 – Doubt it with Angels & Demons coming out, unless it flops spectacularly.
However, if we see a drop of only, say, 60% (vs. Wolverine’s 70%), it’ll still bring in about $30 million next weekend too which, combined with the Monday-Thursday numbers, should push it darn close to, if not over, $120 million for 10 days…not bad work.
And I think I noted this before…the numbers actually went up from Friday to Saturday. Now, some of that might be Trekkers who saw it Thursday instead of Friday, instead of watching it Saturday, but it’s still a good sign. We’ll also have to see if numbers drop the full 33% from Saturday to Sunday too. If they don’t, it could, conceivably, hit $80 million over 4 days.
is the curse reversed in this new alternate trek universe, a universe where odd numbered films are better than even numbered films?
“More proof that Star Trek is again part of the mainstream culture …”
People were making these Obama/Spock comments from the beginning. More proof that Star Trek has _continued_ to be part of the mainstream culture, at least for making certain types of jokes and comparisons. This has never changed.
It’s all about the shoes! I gotta have me some of those shoes!
14. Josh
I actually think there is the real possibility that Trek could be #1 next week. While I’m sure Angels and Demons will do very well, I don’t think there is the excitement or the awareness of it like there was with Star Trek. I also think that Angels and Demons just isn’t the DaVinci Code, a movie that was riding high on the huge wave of the book. I also think that Trek will show great legs and will attract an older audience as well as youngsters.
Saying all that, I still think Angels and Demons will open at #1 and that Treks opening weekend will seem small after Terminator. I can’t imagine Angels and Demons pulling in the younger demographic, however, so I think that next week will really be Trek’s weekend to take in the cash before Terminator.
On a side note, how great is it to finally have some movies coming out that aren’t based on comic books? Man, I hope good Sci-Fi and Sci-Fi Action films are making a comeback this year. I don’t think I can take another movie about superheroes any time soon.
Wonderfull news :D
I so hope these numbers will continue to rise… and at least 4 times do went on my account ;)
Variety says trek Made 35 million overseas.
This whole media obsesion with Spock/Obama thing has got to stop. That picture was crazy to say the least. The Newsweek thing was sickening.
President Obama is a human being with real work to do in this country. I’ll give him the respect he deserves, but please, for the love of all that is holy, stop comparing him to a fictional alien hybrid with life-long identity crisis issues. :)
I went to 2 showings of the IMAX and one regular showing and loved it every time. The little things you notice each time around. Scotty’s friend (whom I thought was awesome) wearing a red shirt, and Dr McCoy calling for Nurse Chapel were cool things.
Trek is back!!!!!!
Star Trek (in general) has ALWAYS been great, and I’m glad this movie reminds people of that!
I gaffawed when Kenan Thompson did the evil eye hand gesture using the Vulcan salute fingers! CLASSIC!! LAWL!!!
But poor Chris Pine… he REALLY needs to get some cosmetic surgery on those acne scars before the next movie… IMAX and HDTV are not his friends.
Oh, brother, here we go again…
Let me say, up front, that I love William Shatner, I really do. That said, he’s made such a childish spectacle over the decision to use a Spock from a timeline where he’s been crushed by a bridge that it’s starting to get embarrassing. First it was the he said/he said media fights arguing with JJ Abrams, then it was George Takei. Then, thankfully, it all died down. Now it’s back to Trek again, and how though he is admittedly being quieter about it, he’s still running around, telling reporters that he’s devastated or some such thing. I know the man is sad that he couldn’t do another, but he needs to understand WHY the plot wouldn’t have supported it. I’d love to see him back in uniform again, but not if it is an excuse to use Shatner as stunt-casting.
But this business of hawking his unused tickets online disgusts me. If he wants to raise money for charity, he could’ve auctioned them off BEFORE the premiere and given two lucky winners a chance to see the movie. But now it’s “I’ve got these tickets I didn’t use because I’m not in the movie just lying around. Hmmm… no kidneystones, I’ll sell these instead.”
Given his history with this project and his hurt feelings over not being asked back (did we hear Nimoy make this much noise over “Generations”, though? He addresses it with Newsweek, but there’s no anger or hurt feelings there, just an “oh well” attitude), I totally understand him not attending the premiere. But to advertise and sell his “unused” tickets online? That’s not charity. That’s a pouting child. I’m glad the media is steering away from him during all of this, actually. This movie needs to be celebrated for what it is — a breakthrough film that introduces a smart, fresh, younger cast and crew. Let them have their moment in the spotlight.
Honestly, I do love the man, and forever he’ll be James Tiberius Kirk and Denny Crane, and so much more to me. But with this little stunt, when put together with all of his 2008 public bickering, on TV and online, he’s also becoming an embarrassment to me.
Flame on.
After all these years, Whoopi is still a class act.
She’s ever so gently telling long-time fans to have an open mind about this new canon. And she’s doing it in a very polite and respectful way.
Because I first saw the movie at a special showing almost two weeks ago, I’m glad I can now talk freely about elements in the film. (I’m the guy who can’t keep the good stuff to myself.) This was a great film, and all the actors were great, but Bruce Greenwood as Pike was fantastic, and the guy who played Kirk’s father was incredible; in fact when I saw it for the second time in an IMAX theater, I felt a tear roll down my cheek when he sacrificed himself to give his crew a chance to escape.
My only qualm was that academy graduates can now become captain the minute they leave the building? I’d rather have had a scene with McCoy and Kirk flying a shuttle to San Francisco when McCoy asks, “Did you enjoy your experience on the Enterprise?” Kirk wyould look out the window and we’d see a reflection of the ship. “I have a feeling we’ll see her again,” Kirk would reply, and we’d have the basis for the second movie.
Regardless, I give it three and a half stars (!) and am enjoying the renewed interest in my favorite franchise.
Live long and prosper, Star Trek.
Sour grapes for Mr. Shatner? I hope he did not go because he was upset…
Okay… so what next? Some thoughts:
I would like to see something along the lines of an animated Trek miniseries based in the Alternate Reality, but not specifically based on Kirk, Spock, Bones, Uhura, Scotty, Sulu, or Chekov. I want to retain the anticipation Trek has generated concerning these AR versions of the Big 7.
An animated series based on the same era, but with non-canon-based storylines might just fill the bill.
Here is a suggestion: Start commissioning a limited miniseries to run in mid-2010 based on the USS Excelsior, commanded by Gary Mitchell. Instead of being simply a lieutenant assigned to the TOS Enterprise, in the AR, the events of ST2009 (the current movie) have advanced Mitchell to his own command.
Mitchell has been forewarned to avoid his fate by his Academy classmate (or friend — perhaps this hasn’t changed) James T. Kirk, thanks to Spock Prime’s knowledge about the events of “Where No Man Has Gone Before” (which, coincidentally, features Delta Vega!). However, as part of Starfleet’s exploratory mission, Mitchell is selected at his own insistence to track down the origins of the mysterious force that caused his death in the Prime Reality. Over the course of the animated miniseries, in which only Kirk makes an appearance (and then only a cameo), Mitchell goes forth to discover the true nature of the Galactic Barrier, and in the process, uncover one of the greatest threats the Galaxy has ever known….
[Please feel free to use the above ideas.]
Here are some advantages to using the animated format: Low budgetary requirement and no need to find an actor who looks like Gary Lockwood. Other advantages of this idea: (1.) Mr. Lockwood is still alive, and he can make a voice cameo. (2.) This idea involves Kirk without having to actually bring him into ths story. (3.) This could touch upon various philosophical issues (nature of interference with the timeline, etc.). (4.) This could involve lots action as Mitchell tempts fate and becomes part of the mysterious force in an effort to understand him, and directs his energies (literally) every which way. (Is he an ally or an enemy of the Federation, in the end?) (5.) Interest in Trek overall would be sustained until the next new movie comes out.
The success of such an endeavor would depend on smart writing and great production values as well as savvy marketing. The model for this would the Clone Wars.
Gary Seven would also be an candidate for animated series ideas.
I have added the int’l numbers and changed the headline
As a kid, favorite TOS episode was “Miri”.
As a pubescent teenager, my favorite was “Elaan of Troyius”.
And then as I grew up a little more, I think probably my favorite became “Day of the Dove”.
That’s the fun of Star Trek. If it’s cerebral, it’s never static and you can always come back and see something new, or feel something different. I don’t believe it’s possible to have a single favorite episode forever. But there’s nothing new to see or feel in pure action — remember that Orci and Kurtzman!
25, I am of the opposite opinion. It’s SO awesome that Shat didn’t go to the premiere and is putting an exclamation mark on it by selling the ticket on ebay. I would not go, either. You GO Shat-you were dissed by the producers. Maybe they will find a way to put him in the next one. If Quinto can stand the scrutiny of a direct comparison to Nimoy, why can’t Pine be in the same movie as Shatner?
I am not a hater of the movie. I saw it a second time and it grew on me a little. I do hate that Shat was not in it and even more hate what they did to Scotty. Other than that, not so bad a job.
76 million opening – wow compare that to the openings for Batman Begins (47) and Superman Returns (52) – way way more
i think its on a par with the Da Vinci Codes opening actually (in 2006 – still its not that long ago)..
Star Trek #1 boxoffice. Bob Dylan #1 album sales. HOPE is in the White House. The 60’s have finally returned.
I took a 7 hr flight, to see it in IMAX, Glad I did. When I get home I will see it again 2 or 3 times in a regular Theatre.
Yep, can’t wait for Star Trek 12
Hay Anthony, Will Trekmovie.com continue?
Been reading since day 1, has it been 3 years?
Thanks for all your imput, and interviews.
:)
I’m still a fan of TOS, and now I can add to that!
also Casino Royale ‘only’ did $40m opening
A few revisionist thoughts about my own Gary Mitchell story at 29:
Problem: There may be an issue with the plausibility of someone Mitchell’s age attaining command of a starship; Starfleet is simply not that desperate, despite the loss of seven or eight ships and much of Kirk’s cadet class in the Narada incident. (The prime fleet is unaffected, since it was in the Laurential System.) Also, Gary Mitchell’s re-administered psych profile, ordered by the authorities now that his Prime Reality god complex is known, might disqualify him from command.
Solution 1.: Just as the Enterprise-AR (Alternate Reality) launched a dozen or so years after the TOS Enterprise did, it is clear that some things could be different in the AR. Simply make Gary Mitchell a favorite instructor of Kirk’s, or a mentor, at Starfleet Academy so that he is of suitable age and rank. Also, assume that Mitchell somehow passes a readministered psych eval.
Solution 2.: Okay, so no command of the Excelsior. Instead, Gary Mitchell goes rogue and gets his own privateering ship in an effort to figure out what “happened” at the Galactic Barrier in the PR. We could always bring the Excelsior in under some other command … perhaps Pikes?
These are some work-arounds. If the basic storyline is good, minor issues can always be dealt with.
33 – you would be correct. The Da Vinci Code made $77 million it’s opening.
And I’m still not sold on Star Trek falling 33% from Saturday to Sunday. If it only drops, say, 25% (comparable to something like Monsters vs. Aliens), and we’re still dealing with estimates, not actual numbers (Wolverine lost about $2 million from it’s estimate to actuals while Batman Begins gained $2 million), I still wouldn’t be shocked if we say a number that hit $80 million for the first 4 days.
BTW, I’ll stop with the story ideas now. I don’t want to go off topic. The purpose of these ideas is to show that there is just so much that can be done now.
There are always … possibilities.
:-)
@25. Telly1138
re: Shatner selling non-usable premiere tickets.
I also love the Shat, but he’s really looking like a petulant child about this. I suppose in terms of ‘press’ he’s keeping his name out there. Yet, I think he could accomplish the same by having taken from Nimoy’s example of embracing the young actor who is interpreting his character for a new generation. It would be the classy thing to do. I like my Shatner classy. please.
Now Zip, THAT is dedication!
Anthony, please keep this site alive and kicking. After all, you had it going for two years before this movie premiered… hopefully it won’t be more than two years before the next installment! :)
Congratulations to Orci, Kurtzman, Abrams and everyone else in the team. There were a few things the perfectionist in me didn’t love, but the fact is that you made Star Trek viable again and any fan should appreciate what that means even if they didn’t dig this new one, which in a spot of luck seems to be a minority, if a vocal one.
The movie was a disappontment for me, promoted from farm boy to captain in 3.5 years? Give me a break
The engine room with manually operated gate and globe valves 300 years from now?? (i’m an engineer) You gotta be shitting me
Some how they all get promoted and forced together is beyond unlikely
Oh and yea, just a little extra boost by the all too funny Scotty and they escape 3 feet from a black hole? Who the fug do you think your kidding?
Kirk just happens to run into the old Spock? and don’t tell me he knew, it’s a different timeline remember
The whole movie is conflugrated bullshit
“Variety is now also reporting that Star Trek brought it an additional $35.5 Million in 54 overseas markets, which they describe as “solid rather than spectacular.”
Hmm. How much did Wolverine make overseas in its first weekend, I wonder?
Homages – to the original MOVIES
TMP:
-Neros vger like vessel
-Kirk and Bones first seeing the Ent (similar to Kirk and Scot)
-Admiral Pikes uniform at end
TWOK:
-Khan like villian – driven by revenge (for spock this time)
-Nero going “SPPOOOOCCCCK!!” (like “KHHHHHAAAAAN!”)
-The whole Kobiashi Maru test – Kirk eating an apple during it (like when he talks about it in TWOK), ‘i dont believe in the no win sceario’ etc
-’I have been and always shall be your friend’
-Ceti Eel type creatures used on Pike
-Spocks end VO
TSFS:
-the same as II really ‘I have been and always shall be…’ was repeated by spock in a similar fashion to how he does it in III
TVH:
-opening with young spock learning on the computer
-Vasquez Rocks as Vulcan again
TFF:
-Ice climbing (like the rock climbing)
-Kirk catching Sulu (like Spock catching Kirk)
-Kirk hitting his head seemed like a nod to Scotty
-The affair between Spock and Uhura seemed like an homage to Scotty and Uhura in V
TUC:
-Spock line ‘whatever remains must be the truth’
-similar end with the ship riding off into the distance with the ‘where no ONE has gone b4′
GEN (not an TOS movie but still…Kirk was in it):
-orbital skydrive (although that was deleated)
-planet destruction (similar to Veridian IIIs)
-Nero was sort of similar to soran – driven by grief and wanting to destroy planets
also:
Time Travel permantly changing past events (FC) and Neros ship was like a big version of Shinzons and Scotty ‘pet‘ was very similar looking to the aliens Picard, Worf and data unconter on the planet(NEM)
44 – Variety says Wolverine opened at $73.1 million overseas, but I didn’t see mentioned in how many markets. If it opened in, say, China and Japan while Star Trek didn’t, that would be a big reason it did better.
Yes, #43, funny isn’t it? A Star Trek movie where the harder you think the stupider it gets … hehe. First time for everything I guess.
Thanks, Josh (46). Interesting.
@20:
I’d well believe it, I saw the film with a few friends thursday afternoon in a pretty full room and that was at 2pm before most get out of work, school etc. Also I saw it in the most popular cinema in Dublin, there was wall to wall Trek promotion and they’re running showings every half hour from thursday till today using the 5 main screens. Nearly all the other cinemas around town were the same and that’s just over here in our little corner of the world.
45 – ha! I had forgotten about Kirk eating an apple while talking about the Kobyashi Maru. Nice catch on that one.
Anyone notice the Borg panels on the Narada? They were mostly out of focus I think, but I”m pretty sure I saw some green glowy Borg-looking stuff on his ship. I was almost hoping he would mention the Borg (not that Kirk and Spock would know what he was talking about) but alas.
Hat Rick:
Great thoughts.
An animated series is key to the next step for Star Trek.
But I think the Kirk/Spock/McCoy dynamic is key to its success. They are, on board the Enterprise, the “brand.” And they are the heart and soul of TOS.
Trek, animated, should focus on what makes Trek great: Characters. Kirk, Spock and McCoy especially.
If it’s a show for all of us, as well, bring on Gary Mitchell, Lee Kelso, and Dr. Boyce. There are many good stories to tell.
This is awesome!! Long live Trek!
@50
the countdown comic reveals that the narada get’s modified with salvaged borg tech that the Romulans got their hands on.
53 – Yeah I know :D Another reason why I suspected it was Borg technology I was seeing. I’d just been cool for it to be more directly referenced, I thought, just because it would create an ever stronger link to the “prime” timeline, but that’s just me *shrugs*
Impressive numbers! The success of the movie is definitely beyond anyone’s expectations and that’s fantastic news. Now can anyone PLEASE post a link to the SNL snit that EVERYONE can see no matter where they live??!! This is just sooooo frustrating…
Shatner has given many different answers, in many different contexts and levels of sincerity, to the favorite episode question over the years. I’m glad he gave a wholly respectable serious answer in “The Menagerie”, which really is one (two?) of the best-written episodes in all Trek.
18.3 million on Sunday ?
That sounds a bit improbable. I’m expecting more like… 20-23 million.
@54
I agree, it would have been cool just to have even Nero reference it and have Kirk and Spock with a WTF?! look on their face wondering what the hell he was on about.
That actually just reminded me of The Shat’s “The Return” novel where he said that V’Ger was rebuilt by The Borg which when you think about it, looking back on TMP, is pretty cool.
Hopefully Pocket Books will give us a few Kelvin novels, I know they were told to stay away from TOS for about a year or so but hopefully they can get working on something.
Anthony, Hi! I’ve got to say a wonderful job you’ve all done keeping us alive for the whole run up to this and I only hope you stay and keep us all afloat in the future.
ENT References:
- Archer
TOS References:
- Kelvin Bridge = TOS Bridge
- Kelvin Uniforms = Cage and WNMHGB colors.
- Kelvin communicators = TOS communicators
- McCoys “salt shaker” medical tricorder
- Klingon Warbirds – YES the name is now Canon…D7 Battlecruisers…
- Alien planet sound on Delta Vega – first introduced in the Cage for Talos IV…
- TOS warp sound
- TOS transporter sound
- TOS phaser and photon torpedo sounds
- Closing credits “original opening theme”
- Kelvin shuttlecraft = TOS shuttlecraft
- Narada = Doomsday Machine
ST 2 References:
- Kobayashu Maru Sequence has Klingon Ships in both films…
- Enterprise hiding in Titan’s atmosphere – hidden from Narada = Mutara Nebula.
- A Miranda Class style ship in the Armada heading towards Vulcan…
- Enterprise escaping from the destruction of the Narada and subsequent explosion from Black Hole = Escape from Reliant Destruction and Genesis explosion….
TNG References:
- Wrecked SF ships near Vulcan – Battle of Wolf 359 Debris Field
- Unification
- Klingon armada getting destroyed, not seen but heard about = Battle of Wolf 359
- Narada entering and leaving through time black hole = USS Enterprise C leaving and entering temporal rift….causes events to change – however now change to timeline is permanent….
#43 & 47-I kinda feel sorry for you, but I’m thinking like Kirk did about Nero…if you aren’t wanting our assistance (aren’t on board), FIRE!!!!! (just teasin’)
If memory serves me, that’s the best opening weekend for a Star Trek movie…ever. All the naysayers and obsessive fans who’ve been hating on this movie are probably at home gnashing their teeth and hitting themselves with painsticks. JJ Abrams may have been the best thing to happen to the Star Trek franchise in 20 years.
55, try:
http://www.deadlinehollywooddaily.com/
It’s really nice to see some of our Trek faves, although the skit itself was just sorta … okay.
Hat Rick – While I appreciate your enthusiasm, I skipped past your posts as soon as you mentioned story ideas for the next film including an AR……….
Can’t we just appreciate the new film, and it’s success, for now?
And all the AR stuff leaves me cold. This is a new (old) Star Trek. If they go back to using 40-year old TOS stories for ideas using marginal characters, we’ll be back to Nemesis type boxoffice. And the death of Star Trek, again…..
They have set themselves up for a great new string of films, free of the strangling canon, but respecting the original idea and concept. We, as fanboys (yes I’m one) may love to see the old stories from 40 years ago replayed and expanded, but we are in the minority of movie goers…….
I’m excited about this new (old) Trek. Kinda like I was 40 years ago. To boldly go where no screenwriter (or TV writer) has gone before.
Franchise Box Office Records are falling – the best opening day and best weekend records held by FC have now fallen !!! Watch out ST 4 the Voyage Home :)
Plus this is the BEST reviewed Star Trek Film EVER !!! I think this is the BEST Trek film ever…. 4/4 Stars….
Heck this is now Star Trek !!!
Noticed in the movie they NEVER mentioned B&B Trek…..except maybe Archer….
Mostly TOS and maybe a little bit of TNG….
Another cool connection = The Klingons are enemies of the Federation again in the NEW Timeline and the NEW canon….That is so freakin’ SWEET… I have always loved the Klingons as the villans…. Plus the Klingons seen in the Nero escapes from a Klingon Prison planet deleted scene pic…those “ridgeless” Klingons wearing ridged Helmets to retain their honor have the same ridge designs as the Klingons from TMP !!!
Did anyone else catch this in the film…when Kirk is fighting one of the romulans on the Narada – one of them stated that he did NOT expect humans to be such a weak species…OMG that Romulan was from the 23rd century and has never encountered a human before face to face….probably a recruit from the Klingon prison planet….
I love this Film…bring on the DVD !!!
I agree with #25 – Shatner is an embarrassment. I think as Trek fans we have to face it – while he was great as Captain Kirk and is a good actor (as his recent Emmy awards and Golden Globe demonstrate, but as many of his performances as Kirk demonstrated over the years), he is an egotist. He fought with Leonard Nimoy for screen time during Star Trek’s original run (as he himself admits in his most recent book), he bullied his co-stars (which he now disingenously claims he “doesn’t remember,”), and this whole “I am not in Trek 11″ thing for the past year was just childish.
But as karma would have it, now he has to deal with the fact that Trek has been reborn spectacularly without his involvement. I guess he is having a bad weekend!
The international figures don’t include China (opening May 15) and Japan (opening May 29). Although the Star Trek fan base is heavily concentrated in North America and Europe, I imagine it would do at least as well as Wolverine did in the Far East. The final numbers from overseas should be fairly solid.
And with $76.5 million in domestic earnings over four days and a 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, I’d say the people in this country have spoken clearly and loudly.
Change has come to Star Trek.
@ 32
Then tell me, where would you put Shatner in that story? The action of the story takes place almost 2 decades after Kirk was buried on Veridian III.
How would you rewrite it to include him? Nero’s issue with certain people has to come from a time frame set well after “Nemesis”, or we open up a canon issue of immense proportions.
Due to the unintentional nature of his time travel, Spock could’ve have made a pitstop in the 23rd century to grab Kirk after “Star Trek V” or “Star Trek VI”. Having that era be the jumping off point would also raise canon issues, given the above-mentioned necessity of a post-”Nemesis” timeframe.
Spock visiting a “Star Trek V”/’Star Trek VI” timeline where the last living Kirk was previously would gut a fascinating (pun intended) new adventure for him, as well as being as unethical as Nero’s pollution of the timeline.
Were this a story where “Kirk Prime” could have feasibly been written in and been a logical, fundamental part of the story structure, I could appreciate Shatner’s being upset over this omission. I would have been FURIOUS if Shatner could have been added to this storyline and wasn’t. But the facts are the facts here: it would not have made sense to include him in the story I saw this weekend. Sad, yes, but those are the cold hard facts. I’ll take the film we got over one where obvious plot holes surrounding the involvement of “Kirk Prime” abound and anger/confuse the audience.
So I have been without internet for a while, but I saw the movie on Friday and loved every waking moment of the whole thing!!! My friend had never seen Trek and about 40 minutes in, turned to me and said, “Wow, this is pretty good!” Such a fun and good movie and I want to see it again NOW. I’ll post my review in a little bit.
Oh look Maureen Dowd the dried up spinster uses the movie in a self serving plea to save her sorry ass paper!
-cs™
Great news on the money front! My wife and I just went and saw it for the second time today, and the theater was absolutely packed.
On a side note… there were some things the second time that bothered me more than they did during my first viewing. After walking out today, I really boiled everything down to absolutely LOVING all the cast and the writing, but being a bit annoyed at some of the direction, editing, and science. They shaky-cam (especially during the Kelvin scenes) annoyed me more this time around, and the editing I actually thought was quite poor. There were some scenes that I feel needed more room to “breathe” than they were given IMO. “Sloppy” is a word that came to mind.
I still had a great time though, I feel the SUM of the movie is greater than its parts. The humor especially works, and I hope the next movie also embraces that aspect (although I wouldn’t mind a different director next time around).
I plan on seeing it again this week with my son, who I’m sure will love it!
Shatner has become a parody of Shatner. A satire on Shatner playing Kirk/Kirk playing Shatner. Anybody seen his priceline commercials? Including his schtick in this movie would have killed it. An icon, yes. a good actor…..um….no.
y is it always about the money, there has been too much coperate thinking behind this movie there isnt enough trek for me, wheres the searching humanity, i mean i dont care how spock and kirk became friends.(the film is wrong they went to SFA together not Bones and Kirk)
And y break continuity for this film, honestly???
AJ (51), thanks for the compliment. Great thoughts from you, as well.
I would have no objection to having the Big 7 portrayed in such an animated series, but I’m just nervous that if such a new series flops, it will tend to tarnish their perceived appeal. Otherwise, it would be a fantastic opportunity to see more of them.
Right now, there are many characters in the Clone Wars series that apparently have developed a following apart from Anakin and friends. Further, I think it’s the storyline and the facets identified with the Star Wars universe that makes Clone Wars appealing. Part of the appeal of Trek, apart from the main ones relating to the character, is the idea of a wide-ranging Federation with its optimistic vision of humanity and its use of technology. Expanding the Trek universe via an animated series, even if it’s by using AR versions of characters like Gary Mitchell, could fill the bill.
Other candidates, besides Gary Mitchell and Gary Seven would be Number One.
However, one could also develop an animated miniseries based on Montgomery Scott’s life. Remember that we are at a point in the AR, after ST2009, when Kirk has just assumed command of the ship. Scotty has had a colorful life, it seems, and it might just be possible that, in between this point and the point at which Kirk is (presumably) assigned the AR 5-year mission, Scotty could take a sabbatical to help Starfleet with exploration of the universe through his new transwarp beaming technology. Scotty needs to be around in case it’s necessary to help fix the new transwarp tech that’s being installed everywhere in the Galaxy. It could be a Starfleet Corps story, perhaps. Or we could combine the various ideas and have Scotty’s adventures intersect with Gary Seven’s. In these kinds of plots would be story possibilities, character arcs, and treknology galore — without affecting the main AR storyline with the Big 7.
All this would take place in the Alternate Reality, of course.
Enough with the ideas, however, in this thread….
Perhaps this is a project for market research.
Wow, some of these posts. This is starting to resemble AICN talkbacks. I thought we were better than this.
Still, can’t wait to here what Governator thought!
- 43 “conflugrated bullshit”.. is something you seem well versed in… going by your post…
64, by AR I meant the timeline or reality with Chris-Pine-As-Kirk. That’s the way it’s being used at Memory Alpha, which I sometimes consult. I’m not sure if you understood that.
Please understand that the animated miniseries wouldn’t affect the plotline of the live-action movies, but would be stand-alone projects, much like JMS’s Crusade or RDM’s Caprica. (Yes, I know that Crusade didn’t do very well. But even so….)
Further, there is a wealth of good storytelling in TOS — the one that gave birth to them all — that should be revisited and we shouldn’t be so quick to dispense with it as a treasure trove of characters, plots, and classic storytelling approaches.
I would like to see him in it again. I still think he is what it’s all about, and including him in a major way would produce a film I would enjoy. Probably not other people and they probably won’t do it. But it would give a great many of us a great deal of enjoyment for Old Kirk to come back somehow.
#47:”Yes, #43, funny isn’t it? A Star Trek movie where the harder you think the stupider it gets … hehe. First time for everything I guess.”
This is you first experience with that?
*Really*? LOL
-78.. Agreed, I would love to still see the Shat in the next one… some how, although I love this film… don’t get me wrong.. to have the Shat appear would make the next (that and maybe some appearence of an elderly Archer)… Niether of which will happen.. but one can hope.
Hey folks. Not a trekker here, but saw the movie and just wanted to stop by and say great job. Seriously, the Star Wars people could learn a thing or two about prequels from this one.
#81… Welcome to the fold… and well said sir!
60 – also:
TNG:
Pavel Crusher (cmon he was basically playing Wesley Crusher)
Where No ‘One’ has gone b4
Cardassian sunrise
Bald Captain and the Kelvin – in a way i felt the kelvin and its crew were kinda representative of TNG abit…the bald diplomatic captain…the TNG like suits …riker like first officer…funny looking alien crew members..even the ship was a little similar looking to a TNG style ship etc… it was as if the film was saying – ok that version of star trek is getting nuked…
DS9:
The Morn look-a-like sitting at the bar when Kirk was chatting up Uhura.
ENT:
Admiral Archer and his beagle
Kelvins uniforms are sorta similar (very mildly)
also other films:
GALAXY QUEST:
the Kelvin uniforms didnt look all that different to the GQ ones
inside of Sarris ship – similar to Neros
The way Tim Allen reacted to Sarris first time was similar to Kirks attitude during the KM
Pike being tortured lying down…same thing with Tim Allen
SUNSHINE:
the sun flares and everything bathed in sunlight (kelvin, neros ship) etc
the strange blip like noises and the silence (also any space film or tv show that dealt with space the same way – new BSG, 2001 etc)
STAR WARS:
Some resemblances in kirks parents being separated during his birth and camera jumping between them – like Luke and leias birth in Ep3…
Torturing a person by demolishing their home planet while forcing them to watch, Alderaan anyone?
Something about Scoty’s pet and the way we are first introduced to him reminds me of the ugly dwarf pig man things on cloud city in Ep5 (Ugnaughts)
sequence on ice plant when monster saves kirk from smaller monster, very similar to the “bigger fish” scene in Ep1
initial battle was VERY much like revenge of the Sith (visually/styalistically)
“Punch it” – direct referance
Ice planet and monster sequence reminiscent of Ep5 Hoth and the Wampa cave
Spock Primes spaceship is very similar in design to the Gungan sub in Ep1
Enterprise in Hyperspace view like Star Wars one plus the way the ships disappear into warp
kirk as a kid – luke as a kid…(Luke gazing at the suns…kirk at the enterprise) – older mentor putting Luke/Kirk on right path (obi wan….pike/old spock)
Sulus ‘Lightsaber’
blasters for hand phasers/ship phasers (no longer long streams)
opening shot of Kelvin (similar to opening Star Destroyer)
bar scene
Darth nero
Im chuffed with news of these figures. Im glad its done well over $100 million and i hope it goes on to be a Massive hit which im sure it will be. Im seeing it twice this week, once with about 10 people from work and then again with some family members.
cant wait.
Greg UK
- 73.. .Hate to break it to you.. but… it’s about the money, as that is why film studios make films… to make money! not to keep fans happy.
As for you saying “wheres the searching humanity, i mean i dont care how spock and kirk became friends.”.. Can you not see the contradiction in what you say there? Where is the humanity, and then in the same breath, oh I don’t care how two of the lead characters became friends.. I would say that is somewhat a tale of “humanity”… freindship…
I went to see it today (going tomorrow in IMAX & next weekend with friends) and I have to say that it was absolutely fantastic! The writing and acting were solid. There were a few moments that made me tear up and laugh. Chris Pine put in a stellar performance as Kirk. All the others were solid in their roles. Urban channelled DeForest Kelley for sure. Well done JJ and gang… can’t wait for the sequel!
Free merchandising ideas (please use!):
We already have Trek cologne and now Trek sneakers. We know that Trek is branded for automotive racing, at least in that one race that TrekMovie covered. (WARNING: The following contain spoilers.)
What about Trek-branded motorcycle helmets? We see helmets that look very much like motorcycle helmets in this new movie (ST2009).
Other ideas: Unfolding play swords based on Sulu’s katana. (Someone surely has thought of this before.) Model play swords, with safety blades, for adults (in the tradition of bat’leths). Can you imagine the fun that … ahem .. kids would have folding and unfolding those swords?
It’s a sad fact that a lot of kids of a certain age don’t want to play with anything unless it has some kind of violence associated with it (phasers, swords, light-sabers, blasters, etc.). But it’s a fact nonetheless.
Also, what about shuttles? We see a lot of them in this movie.
Since Hot Wheels already markets die-cast Enterprises, why couldn’t it market a special ‘Vette in the Hot Wheels line, calling it Kirk’s car?
For the girls, dolls based on Uhura and the retro-Sixties look.
Yes, I realize there”re only so many resources and that choices have to made. But some of them could be lucrative.
#83… So in a round about way (and cutting to the chase after just wasting ten mins of my life reading your post)…. you didn’t like it then? LOL
You need to watch this movie a second time. The first time I liked it, but my brain was fighting expectations and comparisons to the previous body of work.
The second time, I found myself more in the flow of the moment. I just got a lot more out of it emotionally. I went from liking it to loving it.
PLOT DISCUSSION/SPOILERS:
I think a couple of extra lines of dialog could have made this movie even better. Something like this between the old and new Spock at the end of the movie would have been more satisfying:
NEW SPOCK: Where will you go now? Will you attempt to return to your timeline? Where Vulcan and the Federation that you know still exists?
OLD SPOCK: I am a peace that the people and places I left behind are well. The Universe will unfold as it should. However, in this timeline, there is much work left for me to be done.
____________
Regarding the improbable odds of Kirk running into Old Spock on the ice planet, a couple of quick lines could have fixed this one.
Either a line of dialog could have been spoken on The Enterprise where they have identified lifesigns on the surface, and Spock orders the pod to land in the vicinity.
Or, on the planet, Old Spock could have said a line or two more of dialog that indicated that the timeline (or fate, or destiny) is trying to self-correct — hence it is probably not an improbability at all that they have met there.
But all in all, I’m happy with the movie. I hope it does well, and I hope for a sequel. I think the second movie with this prodution team and cast and crew could do even better the second time out.
HEY!
did anyone notice the Janice Rand look a like in the last transporter scene( the 3 from 2 to 1 scene where scotty is all excited)??
you only saw the back of her head, but the hairdo was UNMISTAKABLE!!
was that a Bob Orci wink and a nod..?
I thought that was tickling!
also, i just saw it for the 3rd time, and i must tell you this movie really does get better and better with each additional viewing!
Wow! Great numbers!
Congrats to EVERYONE involved in this project… MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
Thank you so much for everything!
Da Vinci code the book — stupid but fun.
Da Vinci code the movie — stupid yet boring.
Angels & demons the book — beyond stupid. SO bad. Didn’t finish.
Angels & Demons the movie?
Feces.
As Captain Picard once said, “Well… it seems we’re truly sailing into the unknown”.
One of the many great things about this movie is not only it has the concept of “This is not your father’s Star Trek”, while still being “your father’s Star Trek”. The movie is not one big homage to the original series, but flows with not only the original series, but the entire legacy as well. And as any good Star Trek film, or any good sequel/prequel/installment, you don’t need to know any of the other movies to understand it.
From a Trekkies point of view, that even the course of Star Trek history has been changed drastically, it doesn’t have the “screw the original series” feel, but rather that we are now boldly going where no one has gone before, and what is to happen with Star Trek with these drastic historic changes.
Nelson (he of Trafalgar) commanded his first vessel aged 20. It is not as unusual as you think
#15 I think Nemesis killed the odd movie curse.
#2: It would be cool if Paramount ups the budget to around $225M to $250M for _2_ more films shot back-to-back. Since a lot of the basic sets, costumes, cg models, etc. have been created, that should be completely doable I would think.
I would enjoy seeing what Kurtzman and Orci do with a larger canvas.
(Just thinking ahead to the trilogy box set…) :)
One word! Amazing!!!
I am a fan and i was waiting for a trek like this, it’s cool for once, it was always good, ( except movies for me , i have them all , but they suck, at least half of them do) But this one is cool , thrilling , emotional , it never stops , it’s funny, and for once the production value is good and jj did a great job. I loved it! BUT!!! Some technical things bothered me a little and just a little. THe pasers both on enterprise and hand held where pulsed ( like star wars) It should have been more laser like, thought i did appreciated the pulse cannons on the kelvin the ships did look to have more fire power.. That i loved , the scale i loved , the humor i loved , the characters where in my opinion very well written and prepared a very good basis for the sequel. Yes they went went from cadet to the main crew but it is a movie and it still worked , for me anyway’s. The transporter effect i have to get used to … but it’s still looks cool… like if it were more real. The bridge and the ship looked great … enginnering… not sure , but realistic, like a naval ship would, the lower decks are not as cumfy. Overall an amazing ride, Btw i was with a group of 8 at imax and there was 2 non trekkers with us, one of them was my girlfriend and the 2 n-trekkers were almost laughing about going to see it… Thers were not laughing at the end… in the first ten minutes my girlfriend was crying and they both loved the movie……. TREK IS BACK AND COOL!
89 – I had the same experience. I also think it seemed much better paced the 2nd time. I thought it flew too fast the first time, and while I still think it has some pacing issues in some areas, it was a lot better the 2nd time around.
I was going to wait until Monday to see it a second time, but decided that it would probably be OK to brave the 10:45am screening today. Though now that’s gotten me in a mode to watch it yet again. I’ve never gone to see the same movie twice in the same day that I can remember lol.
I hope that Messrs. Abrams, Orci, Kurtzman, et al. never forget that, along with action, adventure, and character, Star Trek is about the future we can all build. Much as it pains me to do so, I will quote from something I wrote a little while ago:
“We’re forced into making better spears, rather than better lives, because so many of us hate each other. We hate this tribe or that, and we fear this group or the other. We stockpile weapons we can never use, to rot away and disintegrate into radioactive dust. All that energy, all that effort, condemned to reinventing better and more efficient ways to kill off the human race.
Are our fears legitimate? Yes, they are, and that’s the tragedy of it. We have legitimate fears, and we haven’t resolved them because we haven’t resolved the problems leading to the threats that cause them.
So long as we waste our lives in the futile technological pursuit of absolute safety, it will always elude our grasp. So long as we keep our eyes low to the ground, looking out for threats and keeping what is ours, the stars will be forever beyond our reach.
As each generation is born and prospers, it needs to ask the fundamental questions of war and peace and seek to pursue what is genuine and to avoid what is futile.
It has been said before, and now it is again: If not us, who? If not now, when?”
These questions can be well addressed in the sequel that I hope we will see in two years — or less.
From: http://hatricksblog.blogspot.com/2008/04/gene-was-right.html
60, not all of those are references. And for the record, the Kelvin’s bridge doesn’t look like anything from TOS.
And Stephen Decatur became a USN captain at 25 during the campaign against the Barbary Pirates
Did anyone notice the blooper? I know TOS was full of them but this movie has been in the can for months. It makes me feel like it was thrown together , that something so obvious isn’t caught. Or is it an homage ?
94, 101 – And I doubt either of them saved the planet from a nearly unstoppable enemy before getting there either…
How much has the new movie made in the Canadian market? I am just curious.
When I was watching the movie I was already predicting the outcome. because unfortunately Trek had become predictable especially with this time travel business. Half way through I was like yeah yeah they will go back and fix the time line blah blah blah …they always do. But as it became clearer that was not going to happen I was really enjoying it.
Trek had also become safe, there never seemed like there was ever any true peril and none of the characters we loved would actually die.
There are to be sequels to come and it also got me thinking maybe this will still play an important story arc for a series of films. Also they could still come up with and or use a reset button later on fixing the timelines etc.
Another thing that got me thinking is wow I want to see what was happening in the TNG era with Romulus being destroyed? That is crazy to think about.
#89:
Yeah, my theory was that there must have been a cut scene explaining Spock Prime tracking down Jim on the planet. It could have been either of those things you mention, or…
…maybe a mysterious hooded figure, who has been living in the vicinity of the Federation outpost, watches the pod fall onto Delta Vega, and tracks it through the snow. Then maybe in the editing stage they thought that was too close to the Hoth stuff from “Empire,” which the movie already evokes.
89 and 106,
My understanding, reinforced by Spock Prime’s pleasant surprise of meeting both Kirk and Scotty, is that the universe comes to be so affected by the actions and lives of the enterprise and its crew in the coming decades that it self-corrects to ensure that those characters will always end up together on that ship no matter what happens in any reality.
Huge Trek fan here.
Just saw the movie for the first time today.
Loved it.
Watch the new movie then go home and see Wrath of Khan.
Then, you’ll get it!
Made me want to watch again IMMEDIATELY after it was over.
That speaks volumes, agree with No.97.
Geo-blocked AGAIN! Curse you corporate lawyers and your insane greed for ownership of all you have not created.
Spock on Spock:
Nimoy: “Every time we come back to do Star Trek again… I’ve had to go through a process with the people that were making them– certainly if it’s a new person– because not only is there a craftsmanship involved but there’s an amount of artistry involved. And if the shape isn’t right, it gets me crazy sometimes. That’s not the way it should look!”
Quinto: “How were these ones for you?”
Nimoy: (discomfort) “I… think there were okay” (nodding) “they worked.”
Well! Not exactly a glowing compliment for the ibridge or the uggoprize or the camera flares and the shakycam. The truth comes out.
Btw, saw the movie. It was more than I could hope for, and I can’t wait to go again and again. In fact, I intend to buy a Blue-ray and HDTV just for the home video release.
Thank you Supreme Court, from the bottom of my geeky green-blooded heart.
Mr. Nimoy, according to you, I’m a dickhead. I saw the new movie once and did not like it. This is not to say that I hated it either. But I feel no need to see it again until the Blu-Ray DVD comes out.
This Trekker, not Trekkie as the two yahoos in the bit mentioned, was not blown away by the movie as I was hopping.
To begin with, the music was not epic or memorable. It did not inspire the way Jerry Goldsmiths’ did. Perhaps they should consider using it in the next movie.
The new Enterprise design was also not awe inspiring as the STMP ship was. They also didn’t show it enough to grow on me. The Supreme Court apparently doesn’t realize that it is as much a character as the rest of crew. For the next movie, show the ship. The blurry warp drive shots of it just will not do. We need to get a sense of size and urgency by seeing the ship and realizing our heroes are inside it in the unforgiving dangers of space.
The Enterprise engine interiors reminded me of the Queen Mary. I kept expecting to see boilers and some one shoveling coal into them. Should have modernized. Remember it’s supposed to be the 23rd century.
Spock getting nookie? Enough said.
I’m still trying to figure out why Nero was so pissed off or so formidable an opponent. He didn’t get the memo that Spock was trying to help, so naturally blames him for his planet destruction. Bana and Nimoy were seldom seen making them band aids in the plot to keep things moving along. Not so good when the bad guy needs to drive the movie.
Overall, the plot was very flimsy. Full of coincidences and illogically convenient turn of events. Kirk’s ascension to the Captains’ chair reminded me of an AM/PM mini mart commercial where a mail room guy gets promoted to a large office with all the perks for no apparent reason. Too much, too soon without a price to pay. Not earned, but hey, in this time line, that the way it’s done.
With this being an “origin” film as well as an odd numbered entry into the Star Trek movie series not to mention the fact that JJ and Co. decided to go with rebooting iconic characters instead of introducing a new crew, they had a lot to overcome and as far as I’m concerned came up just short.
Lastly, I know Nimoy was joking.
Nimoy was pretty good in this skit. He’s been spry and active lately; could he have a career renaissance like Shatner did with the Negotiator, Denny Crane, and a well-received album, “Has Been?”
Nimoy shouldn’t sing, no, but come back to acting!!! Please!
BTW, it’s been 3 days since I saw the new film, and I still love it despite the insanely bad science, distance/time, etc…. So did my diehard nephew. It’s got tons of problems, logical flaws, etc., but WE DON’T CARE…it’s FUN!
Enjoyed the movie, Enjoy the comments! Great Film :) Go Trek
110 – hes talking about the ears, not the movie.
112. No he wasn’t.
115 – yeah really, nothing like pulling something out of context to make Nimoy say something he wasn’t saying.
Saw the movie on Saturday with my grandson and we both enjoyed the movie.
It was a great science fiction epic to say the least, but it was not the Star Trek I remember. However, I realize that is the intent of those in charge of the property now.
I’ll simply accept it as it is – an alternate reality version of TOS.
I really do hope that the sequel moves away from “the Earth is in danger” premise of so many previous outings and gets back to an exploratory mission.
I wish people would stop bashing Mr. Shatner for converting his unused premier tickets into charity. I’m sure he realized if he had been at the premier he would have to rehash the fact that he’s not in the movie.
BTW I would have enjoyed the film more if he had been in the film in some fashion or another. Now that I’ve seen the film, I realize why he didn’t make an appearance at the end. And since he apparently did not have access to the entire script he would also have not known why he did could not be worked in as well.
Now the question is why did Mr. Shatner get so much flack for his “get a life” joke about Trek fans and no one seems to have a problem with Mr. Nimoy calling Trek fans “dick heads”?
Overall, I’m happy with the film. I wanted to take my grandson to the Imax version, but it was sold out. So we will be seeing it a second time in Imax the next week or so.
Regards.
:D number one at the box-office, it’s making a ton of cash, and there’s a lot of positive reviews… never thought I’d see the day! bring on the sequel! ^_^
Wow, great box-office performance! Anyone still think Paramount should have released ‘Star Trek’ last December? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller? ….
My wife and I went again today.
Congrats on Trek making a BIG BANG at the box office.
It was funny, watching President Obama, joking around last night trading barbs…he said he would rather not be here…he REALLY wanted to be watching Star Trek!
I surely hope he has seen the movie!
Again, congrats to all it is a great movie…very fun. The only thing bad was I ended up eating 2 large buckets of popcorn over the weekend…ugghhh!
Did anyone notice the CB antennas attched to the small viewscreens between Conn and Ops on the bridge of the Kelvin?
Very nice touch indeed!!!!!!
112 –
“The new Enterprise design was also not awe inspiring as the STMP ship was. They also didn’t show it enough to grow on me.”
I thought we got a couple good looks at it, especially when we first saw it and at the end. Frankly, and I know I’m probably in the minority here, I always found that scene in TMP as horrifically boring. OK, yes, it’s the Enterprise. Yay! Moving on!
“The Enterprise engine interiors reminded me of the Queen Mary.”
I’ve heard the engine room as one of the big complaints. However, having it be a major thing that breaks the movie seems silly, considering how little we see it. I can’t speak for Abrams, but I”m guessing the thought is that Engineering has always been, and to him, always will be one of those “dirty little spaces” on a ship, if you will.
“Spock getting nookie? Enough said.”
He can’t?
“I’m still trying to figure out why Nero was so pissed off or so formidable an opponent. ”
a) Because he’s acting irrationally
b) Because he has a ship which is quite advanced even by 24th Century standards, to say nothing about compared to ships in Kirk’s time.
“Overall, the plot was very flimsy. Full of coincidences and illogically convenient turn of events”
Because that’s never happened in Star Trek before.
“Kirk’s ascension to the Captains’ chair reminded me of an AM/PM mini mart commercial where a mail room guy gets promoted to a large office with all the perks for no apparent reason.”
Because apparently saving Earth is “no reason” to promote someone to Captain.
Look, I don’t mind people saying they didn’t like the film because they just didn’t like the film, but probably 75% of the reasons people have been giving are either irrelevant items (the Enterprise doesn’t look EXACTLY like it did before! WTF is up with the engine room!) or misses, overlooks, or ignores obvious points (like Kirk being made captain for “no apparent reason” comment above).
I’ve seen a lot of these are complaining by people who either went in determined to not like the movie or had expectations so high that they were impossible to meet.
Who is young Kirk’s friend Johnny supposed to be? The kid walking down the road while Kirk is joy-riding in the car?
Scotty’s little friend and the pipes in Engineering reminded me of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
Very fitting for a miracle worker.
JJ, Orci, and co. are very imaginative.
We’ll be digging up similarities for years folks…
T.’.
OK, I just saw it, and it exceeded my cautiously optimistic expectations. I must admit, the idea of Trek ‘canon’ being blown to bits, liberating future writers from all that has preceded us, and the entire storlyline being re-set to its fundamentals is damn liberating. Forget the complicated explanations regarding alternate timelines, universes, etc., etc., ad nauseaum; this universe is Star Trek, without qualifications. All of its basic elements are ready for use, but new, without hours of complicated and often self-contracting continuity weighing them down. That the writers figured out a way using the oldest and most troublesome Star Trek trope of all, time travel, to both answer questions related to ‘canon’ and to ultimately obliterate it, was not only clever as hell, but raises the standards of Star Trek narrative. Congratulations are in order for the cast and crew and for the founder and contributors to this website, the best Trek news site on the web, which helped us all to see and appreciate the years of development, work, and anticipation that brought our beloved Star Trek back.
T.’.
112 — Yeah, I agree about the ship. They almost treated Enterprise like the alien in Alien: little glimpses throughout, never REALLY revealing it long enough for our eyes to linger…
Or maybe I just lost her in the lens flares. ;p
Peace, people! :)
125. I thought he said Sammy, which I assumed meant his brother.
all: So I am the only one with a blooper problem?
Well, I read that the movie made 76.5 million at 3PM today on my cell-phone while I was sitting in the theater waiting for it to start at 3:30. The theater was just as packed today at 3:30 as it was on Thursday night at 7PM.
I have a feeling it will earn a little more than they predict.
It’s just a fun movie and people like fun movies. That’s all there is to it.
“Saving” newspapers is not logical. They are an outdated form of technology, and have their glory days behind them. If there’s no market, they must be allowed to fade away and be replaced by their superiors — oh, by the way, does anyone know where I can buy a buggywhip? I’ve been looking EVERYWHERE for one.
Maureen Dowd is the Queen Mum of the babbling class. She ought to retire and end her parody of Barbara Trenton’s brilliant Twilight Zone study.
Still waiting to see this movie. It’s not easy to clear the books with an expectant wife and a two year old to consider, as the IMAX showings fill up quickly! Still my brother liked it although he says Kirk is a jerk and Abrams has an obsession with the age-old “destiny vs free will” argument. He thought he liked Milton’s take on it rather better, but enjoyed it enough to see it twice.
Sincerely,
C.S. Lewis
Loved the movie btw. My only plot question has to do with why Nero doesn’t try to save his planet from the supernova, now that he has found himself back in time, with 129 years to kill.
I know that Orci/Kurztmann’s view of time travel has it that the explosion is impossible to prevent. But Nero, as an ignorant miner, doesn’t know that.
What if Nero waited 25 years for Spock to show up, thinking he could force Spock to help him save the star? Then Spock tells him it’s impossible, so Nero goes nuts and decides to blow up Vulcan…
I wasn’t crazy about it. The engine room was horrible, a bad joke, but none of the design work in this film was all that good. The ships, equipment, etc… have all been done better. I was relieved to find out Kirk’s brother was supposed to be in it. They butchered the notion of the Academy and officers progressing in rank.
That said, I hope it makes a ton of money. I want Star Trek to live, even if it’s in a form I’m not crazy about.
124 -
Glad you enjoyed the film to the point of overlooking all its many flaws.
Living in Nirvana must be good.
I did expect more.
116 -
It’s past your bedtime.
I didn’t need a 15 minute lovefest with the Enterprise in this movie like we got in TMP. I thought he beauty shots we got were PLENTY. It worked well in the context of the movie.
I’m glad they didn’t stop the movie to show us ever angle of the new ship.
BTW, I was NOT a fan of the new design at first, but like it after seeing it in the movie.
She’s a beauty.
124. Exactly. Absolutely right when it comes to Star Trek coincidences. Some of these folks act as if they’ve never seen star trek. For Christ’s sake look at Voyager. What were the odds of Janeway and Co. running into Amelia Erhardt on the other side of the galaxy? Or how about the time they ran into those klingons? Give me a break. You can only realize how few holes the new movie actually has when you stack it up against other trek. This one is by far the least outlandish. Think about it…in TWOK Chekov goes to the wrong planet, THE WRONG PLANET, by accident! Did someone misplace the star charts on that one? And don’t get me started on “the great barrier,” or traveling to the center of the galaxy in a few days.
I also agree with what you said about the TMP Enterprise flyover. When I watch that with non-trekkers I can literally watch their eyes roll. Don’t get me wrong, I love looking at the Enterprise…but it shouldn’t have more screen time than Kirk and Spock.
Star Trek 2 : The Re-Wrath of Khan
This New film is just Messy and lazy writing, also film-making.
The Delta Vega problem is one thing most trek-fans are puzzling about.
Delta Vega in this movie is a ice world (moon?) by vulcan in which old spock, Scotty (just happens to be too) and kirk (just happens to be also) thrown on.
The Delta Vega problem is that Delta Vega is NOT an ice-world nor is it be by vulcan.
Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman’s Messy and lazy writing is in action here.
The Delta Vega problem is an major error by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.
They used the wrong name for the ice-moon by vulcan.
Even in the new timeline of this film, Star Trek: Enterprise is still canon (hell even scotty talks about Archer in the new film) because the alternating of the timeline is 100 years after the event of Star Trek: Enterprise.
The ice-moon by Vulcan is Andoria and NOT Delta Vega.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andorian
See Messy and lazy writing.
@ 112…
I admit, the film isn’t without faults. But it stands up there, shoulder to shoulder, with the best of them, especially considering the recent track record of Trek overall.
So… where to begin
Mr. Nimoy, according to you, I’m a dickhead.
Dude, you invited the jokes yourself there.
To begin with, the music was not epic or memorable. It did not inspire the way Jerry Goldsmiths’ did. Perhaps they should consider using it in the next movie.
Well, you’ll have to convince his family, because you can’t exhume him without their permission. I agree the music could’ve been better, but it could’ve been worse. Far worse. “Star Trek IV” worse.
The new Enterprise design was also not awe inspiring as the STMP ship was. They also didn’t show it enough to grow on me. The Supreme Court apparently doesn’t realize that it is as much a character as the rest of crew.
Well, the ship wasn’t shown as much because there was a damned movie to be told. I’m glad they didn’t stop the entire film to show us every intimate detail of the ship like your precious TMP did. I didn’t need to see each screw and bolt and the ship’s taint to appreciate it. Want a good look at the ship? A really good, 10 minutes look? Go buy the toy.
For the next movie, show the ship. The blurry warp drive shots of it just will not do. We need to get a sense of size and urgency by seeing the ship and realizing our heroes are inside it in the unforgiving dangers of space.
I dunno, my entire row shot back in our seats with that sonic blast of a warp effect. Better than just stretching the stars. That and, oh, I don’t know, he’s gonna blow up Vulcan — that’d give you a sense of urgency.
The Enterprise engine interiors reminded me of the Queen Mary. I kept expecting to see boilers and some one shoveling coal into them.
You finally got the point. There’s supposed to be a visible difference between the clean, polished corridors everyone has bitched about and the dirty, cluttered engine room that everyone has bitched about. Since this is an alternate timeline, maybe Nero also killed the guy who created the clean, shiny engine room concept, and they had to go with the second contractor there.
Spock getting nookie? Enough said.
Because Vulcan’s don’t have romantic relations. Sarek doesn’t have a human wife. Sarek’s father never had a wife. Vulcan’s don’t have sex. The Vulcan stork beams the babies down into a special chamber you’ll complain about when you see.
I’m still trying to figure out why Nero was so pissed off or so formidable an opponent. He didn’t get the memo that Spock was trying to help, so naturally blames him for his planet destruction. Bana and Nimoy were seldom seen making them band aids in the plot to keep things moving along. Not so good when the bad guy needs to drive the movie.
Wow, where you got the point with the rusty engine room, you totally missed it with Nero. He was pissed because HIS GODDAMN WIFE WAS BLOWN UP! Romulus was blown up. He was royally pissed, yes. Why was he mad at Spock? Spock is part of the Federation, and he blames the Federation for hot helping him.
Overplaying Nimoy woulda been a bad idea. That and, short of him coming aboard the ship and pretending to be the old Vulcan crewmember Spock didn’t know about, what else was there to do? Did you want Spock and the crusty Oompa Loompa playing 3-D chess? Nimoy was used just enough to make it special and important. And he was used far more than I’d expected. As for Nero, there’s only so many shots of him asking “are we there yet” they could do. I doubt he and Ayel were playing Guitar Hero while they waited to get to Vulcan.
Overall, the plot was very flimsy. Full of coincidences and illogically convenient turn of events.
Of course it was full of coincidences. It’d be a boring movie if Kirk hadn’t found Spock on Delta Vega and he died from exposure because Spock was a dickhead and unaware of the ship’s brig. Equally, it’d be a bit strange to call it “Star Trek” and have Spock captain, Uhura at comm, and a bunch of people we don’t know in the other posts because it would be too convenient that these same 7 people would be destined to serve together.
Kirk’s ascension to the Captains’ chair reminded me of an AM/PM mini mart commercial where a mail room guy gets promoted to a large office with all the perks for no apparent reason. Too much, too soon without a price to pay. Not earned, but hey, in this time line, that the way it’s done.
As mentioned above, saving the planet Earth, preventing the near extinction of Vulcan by rescuing at least some of the population, including the Federation Ambassador to Vulcan and numerous members of the ruling class… these aren’t captain-worthy things. Oh, he also disabled an almost impenetrable alien ship from over 100 years in the future, capable of destroying planets, and destroyed said ship’s dangerous crew and rescued Christopher Pike from certain death.
With this being an “origin” film as well as an odd numbered entry into the Star Trek movie series not to mention the fact that JJ and Co. decided to go with rebooting iconic characters instead of introducing a new crew…
Because the USS Nigellus, crewed by Captain Tuvok, Commander Robin Lefler, Doctor Selar, Chief Engineer Reginald Barclay, Lt. Cmdr. Nog, and Lt. Harry Kim… that would have brought in $76 MILLION dollars in three days. The TNG crew peaked with “First Contact” and just turned out episodic turds from there-on out. DS9 is too complex a narrative to make into a film, and the general fan consensus is that Voyager and Enterprise were abysmal mistakes.
… they had a lot to overcome and as far as I’m concerned came up just short.
I just e-mailed JJ Abrams of your disappointment. He’s retired.
Lastly, I know Nimoy was joking.
I’m not sure he was >:)
135. Thats original…
139. This movie is now canon…wikipedia isn’t.
139
Messy and lazy writing cleared up by clean and clever writing that says that anything past George Kirk smashing the Kelvin into the Narada means nothing, so any number of stars could blow up, changing planetary axis and, thus, changing their climates. As for its location, new astronomer, new nomenclature.
HOLY F-WORD! I really want to see you complainers write a 138 minute film that blows this one out of the water.
144. here here
133 – I guess the argument for that is that “his” planet (ie, the Romulus in the timeline he came from) blew up, and thus he doesn’t really care about the AR one. Though I guess that can be contradicted by him saying that he’s trying to “save” it by doing what he’s doing.
Of course, one has to realize that he’s no longer acting rationally either.
Did anyone in Starfleet know for sure that Nero was Romulan? Since this was before “Balance of Terror” or when it would have occurred, why did Spock know of the Vulcan genetic similarity with Romulans?
The Shat Man’s just jealous that they didn’t need him anymore. They already had a giant red ball in the movie. But seriously, he does seem like a big baby for doing crap like that.
135 – Of course, part of my point are that many of the “flaws” you site either aren’t flaws, or aren’t things major enough to impact whether I did or didn’t enjoy the movie. Most of the flaws in the movie I saw were flaws that commonly appear in Star Trek movies, which is why I had little problem with them.
And of course, you say “you expected more,” but don’t actually explain what you expected, only nitpicking this thing or that thing. Or would getting a better look at the enterprise and a “futuristic” engine room do it for you?
Negotiator – come on mate, everyone understands not everyone will like this movie but i gotta say some of your reasons for not liking it are a bit picky – i mean this Star Trek has always been billed as something that is primarily for new fans.
You’ve had 40 years of Star Trek to enjoy and can still enjoy it on DVD – can’t you just accept that whilst this movie is as faithful as anyone can be to a 40 year old series – that this movie wasn’t intended for you…
Also, i fear that Nimoy did mean what he said – and i applaud him for saying it because someone needed to. I don’t mean to sound insulting because i regard myself as an obsessive fan but i think Nimoy is completely right because many fans can’t enjoy Star Trek without picking it apart in the most ridiculous ways – it is just a movie at the end of the day and it’s full of things to really enjoy – isn’t that what Star Trek should be?
Whilst i understand why some fans might be miffed at the sight of a Spock and Uhura relationship or the redesign of the Enterprise – it isn’t as though you don’t have 40 odd years of Star Trek to enjoy. Let’s understand and lets accept that this HAD to happen because younger people SHOULD learn about Star Trek – it’s a great thing to get into, What right does any fan have in getting upset or angry about this movie after 40 years of Star Trek made for them…
Xai and closettrekker!! You guys didn’t tell us you would be in the front row this week at SNL!!!
61. JimJ – May 10, 2009
#43 & 47-I kinda feel sorry for you, but I’m thinking like Kirk did about Nero…if you aren’t wanting our assistance (aren’t on board), FIRE!!!!! (just teasin’)
———————————
JimJ,
so you are saying “if your not with us your against us”.
Well, if Bush/Anakin-like thoughts or actions are apart of the new star trek fan base for this new film, I’m not on board too.
I guess allot of the star trek fan base have turn to the dark-side of fandom just like allot of the star wars fan base has after the SE and Prequels.
140 – Well said!
Also, the people who are so upset about Kirk’s ascension to the captains chair were probably always willing to accept the fact that no matter how old the crew got, they always seem to end up back on the Enterprise in the same seats. I guess they are accustomed to the old Starfleet were it seemed no one advanced. Sulu did finally did manage to escape in ST VI. And of course there is Worf always showing up in the TNG films, even after he moved on to greener pastures on DS9, he always seemed to end up at tactical on the Enterprise when there was a big adventure to be had.
140 -
You’re so right! In every point. Wait, let me put down the cool aid.
How dare of me to have an opinion. Worse yet, not like the new movie.
You must be an out of work Bush administration flunkie since you’re so good at simplifying and rationalizing nonsense.
I simply went to see the movie and did not like it, didn’t hate it either.
Perhaps you should spend your time telling the rest of us why the movie is so wonderful and enjoyable and stop putting others down for sharing their opinions, pro or con.
As the apparently now hated Shatner once said, get a life.
A lot of people appealing to the reverse appeal to probability fallacy on here…
(for those who don’t know it…it’s a fallacy where someone argues that, since something is improbable it is therefore impossible, which is the reverse of the appeal to probability, which is a fallacy in which it is argued that something that is probable means that that thing is certain)
#94 “Nelson (he of Trafalgar) commanded his first vessel aged 20. It is not as unusual as you think”
Nelson started out as a midshipman at 12. after some service taken the lieutenants test. During that time it would have been possible for him to take temporary command of a small vessel, such as a prize, to take to a port. By the time he would have been awarded a captaincy of a ship, he would have some years of experience under his belt.
but this is a movie and is fiction and it was an enjoyable film. Good Job JJ.
139 – do you even know what you’re talking about? Andoria is a moon of Vulcan? I don’t think so (unless what you’re typing is a joke). Besides, they’re already stated that this Delta Vega is different from the one in TOS:
http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Delta_Vega_(Vulcan_system)
I’ll finally be able to go see it Monday, so I guess I can stop being jealous of those that have all ready seen it.
I’ll see it at the Denver Continental on a screen 4x the size of IMAX but billed as the IMAX Experience. And their DLP processors/computers are said to add a third more resolution.
Hope this does not make the Blue Ray DVD look like normal Tube type TV in resolution.
I’ve used a friends 30″ Apple screen at 2560×1600 now if they could only make a 72″ with that resolution. I know 60fps will help make the resolution look more real.
If their is any flaws or dislikes I’ll let you know.
RE: Nimoys comment…It’s funny ’cause it’s true.
Did it occur that with all the planets there might be more than one with same same name? How many Springfields are there in the US ? How many Main streets ?
I hope no one misses this movie because of the dickheads out there. Potential new fans are always welcome in TrekTown.
As good as the new Star Trek is (I really love it), and as good as it did in its opening weekend, the movie will need some really good legs to break TMP record for total US box-office, $240 million in today money. The average total box office for any movie is 2.7 times its first weekend. That would translate to roughly $200 millions for this new ST, not enough to break the record. Actually a rate of 3.5 would be necessary to reach $250 millions. I think that would be possible if the good word of month continues and the sub-25s come to see the movie. Batman Begins got a 4.2 multiple a few years ago, so everything is possible.
But I think even $200M would be pretty good, because this movie will do a ton of money in home video, and even more money with the sequel(s), just like Batman and James Bond.
158 -
I hope you like the new movie.
If you don’t and have the balls to share your thoughts, get set to get torpedoed by people that have forgotten what Star Trek is about or used to be.
Today’s “young crowd” is about Britney Spears and the Jonas Brothers and will argue until blue in the face that they compare to the Beatles and the Stones.
You have been warned.
161. I hope spockish enjoys the movie also. Why do you assume he doesn’t have any balls ?Your posts are getting more ridiculous IMHO.
OH jeez…
this forum is beginning to remind me of being in beginning cinematography class where everyone is a beginning filmmaker and critiques everything down to the 1/2 stop over-exposure.
I could have called up the IMAX whose film header broke and pushed back the showing 30 minutes and given them a piece of my mind abou the blobs of dirt running across the screen which I found most distracting but I didn’t.
I enjoyed the movie AS IS and stopped complaining. Let’s let the filmmakers, writers, and everyone else credit for making a great film.
It isn’t perfect, but nothing is. I am sure all the complaining TREKKIES out here could have made a better film given you had a track record which supports a 150 million dollar budget.
JJ and company did a great job!
Many Kudos!!!
TC
Hey Anthony, any word if a script for filmmaking / academia will be available…could you ask Bob or someone. Oh, and I was serious about the lecture thing even if you did delete my previous post about it.
Trust me I am not a “fanboy.” I am a serious-minded film student who will have a BS this December, although I am passionate about Trek. I saw it when it was born since I am 44 and it is 43…I was there when it first aired…lol. That IS not being a fanboy…lol.
:)
TC
162 -
You’re still up?
If anybody knows about ridiculous posts, I guess it would be you.
Good night.
yknow whats funny? reading these posts. I see that everyone who loves the film, does not say why they like it. no one points out a really great scene or anything, they say things like..’it rocked!’ ‘it was awesome’. almost like they are trying to convince themseves that they liked it
yet those that didnt like it can state specific scenes and areas of the film that had problems
Obviously, some people are gonna TRY to trash this film until their last breath, but the stats are OVERWHELMINGLY in favor of it. Surely, this MUST mean something, eh (apparently Paramount thinks so, since we’ll be getting a sequel)?
One can argue the matter of what is “good” as being subjective and personal, but, IN THIS WORLD, what matters is numbers… people numbers and dollar numbers. The bigger the numbers, the greater the “success.” The new Star Trek movie — in its very first weekend alone — appears to be a success. Can anyone tell me, then, what the hell is the point in continuing to argue that this movie is “bad,” or the plot is “bad,” or the writing is “bad,” or the actors are “bad…” (other than just the enjoyment of seeing your negative attitude on the internet)????? The majority of people seeing the film ALL ‘ROUND THE WORLD is freakin positive… It just seems logical to me that the opinion of the many outweighs the opinion of the few…. or the one. So far, the opinion of the many is that they really like this film. I continue to be defensive about this matter simply because the makers of this film really don’t deserve some of the crap being flung their way… flung by people who, most likely, couldn’t make a film if their lives depended on it… JJ & Co. did a spectacular job of fulfilling everything that needed to happen to Star Trek. Most of us are thanking them for it. The rest of you should be grateful there is still a Star Trek to watch… geez………..
148 LOL big red ball!
You know what? Screw all this bitching shit.
The movie was well written, well acted, well directed, well “special-effected,” and as a whole, VERY well recieved.
Bottom line: It was ENTERTAINING. That’s what’s it’s all about. Period.
I intend to see it far more than once.
Paramount: All is forgiven.
PS Imax is overrated. Don’t bother. Save your $$ for the DVD.
SNL skit,,, Be it pass? Or be it fail?
IT BE PASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I mean, it’s no “Get a life!” But it’s a start!
@158
i disagree about the IMAX. It’s pretty, it’s big, but if you have BIFOCALS, and can’t see well, it’s just lipstick on a pig.
I found my best viewing experience on a traditional stadium theater….much like an IMAX but it is more easy on the eyes and neck. You don’t miss half of the things and also the PACE is slower.
Funny how screen-size can make things “feel” faster in today’s action movies…it relates to Media Effects….trust me on that HUGE IMAX screen the media is larger and processing that size of media can make the movie seem very fast paced when it isn’t.
:)
BOBORCI
Bob, it’s Gary from Venezuela!
Great movie, great story! I know you are out there reading!!! Look, is it possible that you could tell us how big is the enterprise?
Great movie, really, Took 8 friends to the premiere and they all want to watch it again, and tomorrow there is another group of 6 that want to watch the movie!
People asked me when was the sequel! ;-)
Great Work
Negotiator…are you ok? I really liked the movie. I’ve been waiting for it for years. But I can only imagine how pissed I’d be if I hadn’t liked it. The sequel will probably pick up where this one left off, so you might want to just avoid it altogether. Seriously man…I’m not being sarcastic, I was really worried I would like it. My biggest concern was whether I would believe the characters where who they were. By the time Kirk says, ‘get a couple more guys and it’ll be a fair fight,’ I was sold.
Just out of curiosity, aside from the coincidences and ship design, you liked the acting at least, right?
154
I do not ask people not to have opinions. Just that they state them in a clear, logical manner, and be able to back them up with something more than “I think” or “in my opinion”.
As for “what Star Trek really is”, let’s not get too high and mighty.
The same Gene Roddenberry that envisioned a multi-racial future and produced episodes such as “The City on the Edge of Forever”, “A Private Little War”, and “Plato’s Stepchildren” also created the IDIC as a scheme to sell pendants through his mail-order company, was a notorious lech who enjoyed making costume suggestions while the actresses were wearing said costumes, and cast his mistress in three roles.
I love the series and the actors that have come before or since, but everytime I hear “Gene’s vision”, I remember that in the end, he was an ex-cop making money by writing and producing a TV show set in outer space.
So while we allow you to make your comments about the film, allow us to have a differing opinion and also state it.
As for your lambasting of Spockish… THAT WAS GODDAMNED UNCALLED FOR! He is not part of our little back-and-forth difference of opinions. He is not commenting on the film, disagreeing with you, or being a miserable complainer.
I say that Spockish deserves a apology from you, because you attacked him for no reason. You complained about Nero being a weak villain because, in part, he went apeshit on Earth and Vulcan for no reason. Well, my friend, you just recreated that here on another poster who only talked about TVs. You have a beef with me for poking holes in your grammatically incorrect post, you take them to me. Leave the rest of the board out of this.
On second thought, don’t take them to me. You’ll only piss me off even more.
Now I so want a shirt that says “Nimoy was right”. For both of us.
I’m with josepepper. I guess I’m just old fashioned and like movies where you can actually see what’s going on.
Anyhow, I saw it is San Francisco today. I’d say there were 40 in a theater that seat 300.
All in all I give it one meh. Don’t worry kid’s they’ll be plenty more where that came from.
165 Yep your Mom lets me stay up as late as I want!
I agree about IMAX. I’ll go to regular theater for my second viewing.
166. rob
I love the film and I can tell you exactly what is great about it:
The story. The story is one of the most pure sci-fi stories in Star Trek lore, well written, utilizing the characters to a degree that several previous Trek films failed to do, pumping the film with an emotional content that maintained its grip on my attention throughout, and drew me deeply into the plights of Kirk and Spock, in particular… which is exactly what I believe was intended.
The characters. The characters (especially Kirk and Spock) were extremely well developed, and they each had very specific journeys to undertake. I found myself getting teary-eyed when George Kirk sacrificed his life so that his crew — and his wife and son — had a chance to survive. And when Spock lost his mother… and later when Sarek told Spock, “You once asked me why I married your mother. I married her because I loved her…” That scene, in particular, was unexpected but made perfect sense, since Sarek was certainly aware of Spock’s emotional condition. The scene where elder Spock told young Kirk they were (or would become) great friends was also very moving. The scene where Uhura pleads with Spock to talk to her… again, very moving.
I do not think I need to go on, although I could. What convinced me that I liked the film was MY OWN INNER FEELING. That was a pretty good indicator. When people say “it rocked,” etc. is because the film hits at an emotional level that is difficult to translate into a ton of words. Just enjoy it and stop analyzing every grain of film….
@166
Hey Rob…
Right on!
The reason why I like it is because we got too boxed in by what was “BEFORE.” Trek ran itself into a corner like a ROOMBOT trying to clean up but was going nowhere…it ran out of gas…nothing new…same ol’ stuff different stardate.
WHY I LIKE IT:
I like it because I like things to be shaken up a bit…I am a rebel at heart…when things are too conventional, the best thing to do is innovate yourself out of the complacent crap and create something new. This is the axiom of the human experience.
The reason we create “new” art is to be creative and make money…when things get stale and people sit around copying the same thing over and over, people lose interest, and money.
Sometimes you have to shake it up to get the fruit. I like it because of the way things are now. The universe is different but the same. We are no longer boxed in to the “old ways.” The main reason why Trek fan film like James Cawley’s Star Trek Phase II production is and will be popular is because they went and did something people wanted, they innovated something new from the old and thought outside of the box…thank you James, and thanks to CBS and Paramount, who graciously let them do it, have given more to the fanbase than ever before.
Gosh I remember when in the mid 90s if you even posted a photo of Trek, you would get a nasty note to take it down…alot of websites were shut down, but now, it’s different. Thanks to JJ and company with the STAR TREK WEBMASTER PROGRAM, they are taking Trek into a NEW and IMPROVED universe with TWICE the content and storylines we had before.
That is why I like the new movie so much, it represents something I DESIRE, WE DESIRE…and from the numbers TREK made this weekend…even NON-FANS desire.
This movie resonated with the multitudes who WANTED CHANGE and we got it. There are so many parallels in the new movie to so much that is going on right now it isn’t funny, but no one seems to see that aspect. Jeez, people, lets look at the BIGGER PICTURE.
Thank Goodness JJ and Company see that…and I humbly THANK THEM for it and giving you and me a new movie that totally ROCKS.
Thanks for thinking out of the box guys!
TC
161 – I think that post fully shows why I think what you’ve been saying is silly. I doubt you would find ANY new band as good as the Beatles and Stones, just like you would find any new Star Trek movie, no matter what, not as good as “the original” and thus are guaranteed to be unsatisfied just because you have impossible expectations.
166 – I’m pretty sure people have stated many things they liked about the movie. yes, there have been a lot of “it rocked” but it’s not like no one has said why. Also, I think part of my point is that if you have to pick down to “specific scenes” to come up with reasons why you don’t like the movie, then that suggests you’re dissing the movie for the sake of dissing it. I’m sure everyone can find a scene or two that they don’t like or thought could be done better. That doesn’t make the movie bad, however.
I agree #178…I think we had a mind meld going on or something…
HEY GET OUT OF MY HEAD…lol
#161
And you wonder why you get ‘torpedoed’. Disagreeing is one thing, saying that anyone doesn’t share your opinion has ‘forgotten what Star Trek is about’ is quite another. How about offering your opinion without insulting everyone?
I’m fully aware of what Star Trek is about (I’ve been a fan since birth, practically) and this movie was Star Trek through and through. My father even thought it might have been ‘too’ Star Trek, and that they should have tweaked it even more. Go figure.
175 -
Time to take your meds.
It’s only a movie. You loved it, I din’t. Life goes on.
If Spockish was offended in any way, shape or form by anything I wrote, I apologize from the botton of my heart.
177 on the other hand, can suck it.
112. Negotiator – May 10, 2009
I agree with all your points and will not list any in addition and only say this. As far as the soundtrack goes, there was no sound track. Jerry G. can rest easy.
Oh my Q… Chris Pine doesn’t know what a *Heisenberg compensator* is?
We’re screwed. We are ALL SCREWED. This. Is. A. Disaster.
I enjoy going back and reading some of the OLD posts in the Star Trek 11 category, and seeing all the cries of doom when word first came out that it would be a prequel.
#182
i agree with you about folks who are non-trekkers, they too would find it more appealing if the new movie were changed even more…
I can see that perspective. I guess that is what years and years of folks running around with their star trek uniforms on or dressed up as Klingons at a movie theater will do to the masses perception of what Star Trek is.
And you know what? Not one person was even remotely wearing anything at the movies this weekend. No Spock ears, no uniforms, and no oddly made up Klingons.
I might dress up on Halloween but to go see a movie…I found the “lack” of geekiness…very refreshing….
Alas, Trek has matured and so has its audience…or so it seems.
I did hear that a couple of people dressed up as Skywalker and Wookiees with TAPE on their mouths…lmfao and saw the new movie…now aint that a kick in the head…?
183 Now you’ve gone and hurt my feelings. I hope you are pleased with youself. :(
166- well, let me spell it out for you. For my money, I received a well paced adventure, at the center of which was a character piece for two of the greatest characters in American mythology, Kirk and Spock. I got genuine surprises, despite all the spoiler material I had been unable to avoid, including Spock losing his mother, and the eventual fate of Captain Pike. I received a modernization to my beloved Trek on par with 1982’s TWOK, and 1987’s Star Trek: TNG. I got to share the experience with a group of people of all ages, and everyone was enraptured enough with the movie I didn’t have to argue with anyone about being quiet.
As far as specific scenes, I loved the open disdain with which Kirk treats the Kobayashi Maru. He’s not cheating because he wants to win, he’s cheating because he feels Starfleet cheated him by making a test you can’t pass- he’s going to show them how that feels. I loved Spock Prime’s immediate belief Kirk must have shown up just to save him. I loved Pike showing up in Admiral Jammies from TMP. I loved the references to other shows, such as Admiral Archer’s beagle and Scotty being in the 24th Century.* I loved the smolder in Spock’s eyes during this inquest at the Vulcan Science Academy. I loved the fact Uhura has Spock whipped. I loved the fact Spock Prime’s mind meld with Kirk gives him the empathy he was missing from Kirk Prime, and brings it all full circle.
There were problems- some shaky science, a Scotty who was a lot more Simon Pegg than Scotty, not enough TOS aliens in the background. Overall though, the film gives Trek the shot in the arm it needed, is an entertaining romp with a heart and mind which I am watching spark interest in TOS on the part of former haters, and gives me more toys to buy.
In short, it rocked.
* See, even early in TNG there was no Warp transport. You had near warp (for a minute I thought I was in that wall over there) and warp if the ships’ speeds matched (O’Brien getting aboard Phoenix). So, if Scotty came up with the equations to do it, he had to do it AFTER the TNG episode “Relics,” when he’d been exposed to 24th Century tech! After all, how do you know he dinna invent the thing?
The main thing I find VERY VERY VERY INSULTING ABOUT TREK:
I grew up when a fan of TREK was called a “TREKKER.”
This changed to being a “TREKKIE.” THAT’s INSULTING!
IT WAS TREKKER…SPELL IT…VWEETOR VWEETOR
T-R-E-K-K-E-R
No A, B, C, or Bloody D….(IE) ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR
Dammit Jim, I am a Trekker, not a Trekkie.
Just came back from the movie. Was ok. Liked most of it. The thing that really throw me off was the bombastic score… BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM, BOOM….
Giacchino is no Goldsmith.
Ran
#176 Mr Mugato – “Anyhow, I saw it is San Francisco today. I’d say there were 40 in a theater that seat 300.”
Really? Because I was in theater #13 at the Metreon today, and there were about 20 empty seats. And it’s showing in 4 theaters. And IMAX.
Somehow, I don’t think Metreon management is crying about anything excep their IMAX screwup/refund situation on Friday morning.
Maybe you were in the theater showing “Obsessed”? Did you see any space battles in your movie??
I would say that Abrams and co pulled it off and that Trek is back with a vengeance and that Hardcore trekies who wanted it to fail didn’t get their wish. And based on the the box office the mainstream audience liking the finished product. If they can kep this up we might just get some sequels. Who knows might even tv series in the future, now wouldn’t that be cool.
146: Some of us talked about this over pizza tonight and came to the conclusion that Nero might have felt he could “save” the AR Romulus by destroying the Federation first, so that the Romulans had plenty of other planets to colonize…
…maybe it’s just Romulan thinking :)
187. There were a few folks in uniform when I went but the vast majority of the crowd was 30-50 and pretty normal looking.
188 -
This ani’t about hurting feelings or getting personal.
It’s about sharing opinions.
Pro and Con.
I can PROVE IT WAS TREKKER
Remember the old Be a Pepper We are A Pepper too Dr. Pepper commercials…
TREKKER was coined from that….then they perverted it into TREKKIE…INSULTING
Taken from the late 60’s early 70s…See what yall can learn from us old retired Starfleet Command Admirals?
SEE even Nimoy agrees…stop using TREKKIE
Some Star Trek enthusiasts prefer the term “Trekkie”, while some others self-identify as “Trekker”. Self-identification as a “Trekkie” became even less popular after a famous national television parody in 1986 (see Parodies below); several self-described “Trekkers” were quoted as saying they “had a life” (contrasting themselves from “Trekkies”).
In the 1991 TV show Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Special, Leonard Nimoy attempts to settle the issue by stating that the term ‘Trekker’ is the correct one.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trekkie
Stupid wikipedia…Trekker redirects here…
Someone ask JJ and Bob “can we be Trekkers instead of Trekkies?”
LOL…having fun guys…don’t detonate any torpedoes on me now…
So, the mibbit is down,
http://vampire.webchat.org/
The channel is #arg, user and password, whatever you want,
also can be used with mIRC
196 Agreed. You stop telling me to go to bed and Ill stop making inuendos about your mom.
all. nobody has mentioned the edit blooper with Ayels gun.Did I dream it?
Of course because this is an alternate timeline things can happen again, (Space Seed) but it’s fun to theorize about episodes that can’t happen (at least not exactly) because of the altered timeline.
-Kirk never serves aboard the Farragut because it is destroyed, and that episode with the honey smelling gas might not occur.
-Journey to Babel definitely doesn’t start at Vulcan, nor is Amanda in it.
-Amok Time does not happen, and T’Pel is probably dead.
-Balance of Terror probably does not happen exactly the same since UFP knows who the Romulans are.
-The Menagerie and the Cage probably don’t happen.
-Are there any others????
So, the Shat might be still alive???? JJ bring old Kirk back…
Oh Conscience of the King probably doesn’t happen, because Kirk was never on that planet when he was younger
Who cares that Shatner didnt go to the premiere. Jesus people, he wasnt in the damned movie. Maybe he was busy. Maybe he just didnt want to see a movie that he wanted to be a part of but wasn’t. Good God, he’s said nothing but positive things about the movie and JJ and Chris Pine.
Get over it already.
Saw it a 3rd time today, with the whole family, this time on a ‘normal’ screen. Somehow it gets a little better each time. This time around I finally noticed the tribble (including cooing), McCoy’s call to Chapel (and her response), and Chris Doohan at the transporter console with Scotty. I suspect this is it until BluRay, but you never know, I might sneak in one more on IMAX next weekend…
202 – Amok Time could happen on the new Vulcan homeworld I suppose.
Obviously Star Trek III runs into some snags as they can’t go back to Vulcan though, again, I suppose it could occur on said new Vulcan homeworld.
Of course, Saavik and Tuvok are probably bye-bye, unless their ancestors (and in Tuvok’s case ALL of his ancestors) happened to be off-planet at the time.
Some of the Klingon episodes might not occur either, or occur differently, depending on who was wiped out in the battle with Nero. The Klingons definitely took a hit, which means that a) their expansion is probably greatly slowed and/or b) they’ll become much more agressive due to their losses
And did anyone else notice that the mentioned the Neutral Zone. At first I thought they meant the Romulan one, but then I’m pretty sure they said near Klingon space. I thought the Neutral Zone wasn’t created until the Organians imposed it on the Federation and Klingons.
I suppose it could have been a portion of the Romulan Neutral Zone, but just near the Klingon border too, I suppose.
How has this “Trekkie/Trekker” debate gotten so big? Can’t we just use both? In the Star Trek magazine recently (not the brand new one but the last one) someone on the main team (I think) said it was proper to call a Trek fan a Trekkie. This is because if you’re a “Lost” fan, you’re not a “Loster” but a “Lostee” – it fits better. I prefer Trekkie. Now let’s just leave this alone!
Oh, and this “$112M” globally – does that break the $109M for Trek IV, or was that just US figures?
204- Dear God, it’s true… Kirk never falls off a bridge!
192. Robert Saint John – May 10, 2009
I don’t see how you have the right to address me in that manner.
207 Josh
Yeah, those are good ones, Tuvok and Savvik might’ve never existed!!
Jonathon Frakes, Brannon & Braga take notes when you watch the new ST movie.
THATS HOW you make a Star Trek movie!
washed up hacks!
I’ve always said that I am a Trek fan because of the stigma associated with trekkie. Then I heard trekker and thought that was OK. This trekker has to work tomorrow so Ill say goodnight to all the trekkies still posting LOL. =/\=
guess this means Tuvok won’t exist to save Janeway from that away mission in the Delta Quadrant that was mentioned in “ENDGAME”.
Obama a Vulcan? Forget it, he’s more Mugato than Vulcan.
#152-I said i was joking…thanks for totally not reading that part of my post. GADS!!!!
There are alot of others Morn…
So….
Of course because this is an alternate timeline things can happen again, (Space Seed) but it’s fun to theorize about episodes that can’t happen (at least not exactly) because of the altered timeline.
Who knows if the Enterprise will be in the same place in space to intercept or detect the Botany Bay? It could have gone off course or have been lost or destroyed?
-Kirk never serves aboard the Farragut because it is destroyed, and that episode with the honey smelling gas might not occur.
The gaseous cloud entity probably exists but the Farragut doesn’t interact with it and neither does Kirk. Some other Starfleet vessel might encounter it. Good material for an episode in a series.
-Journey to Babel definitely doesn’t start at Vulcan, nor is Amanda in it.
With Vulcan gone, the Vulcan, Tellerite, and Andorian conflict could be all but nonexistent, unless the Andorians decide to be a warrior race as they are and finish off the handful of Vulcans on the new colony. I assume this is decided on the political / military leadership of Andoria. Great stuff there.
-Amok Time does not happen, and T’Pel is probably dead.
Vulcans still go through the 7 year itch…T’Pring still might exist, but that would depend on if Spock (younger) was betrothed to her at the age of 7. Sarek and Amanda might not have done this….or it could be an alternative Vulcan female in T’Pring’s stead.
-Balance of Terror probably does not happen exactly the same since UFP knows who the Romulans are.
The Romulan commander probably still exists, not much blocking the mission he was on, unless the Klingons are the deciding factor. Who knows what they are like in the new timeline.
-The Menagerie and the Cage probably don’t happen.
Talos IV is still there. Who is to say that Kirk replaces Pike, since he is in command and encounters them and what they are like in the new timeline. Vina and her expedition still might have crash-landed on Talos IV with Kirk and crew intercepting the distress signal. This could be great story material…much potential there.
-Are there any others????
Yes there are a multitude of others out there…anything that pike did commanding the enterprise on that 11 year mission before kirk could be different. Kirk got command early…so that means Pike was disabled earlier….alot can happen in those years there.
The mission with the USS Intrepid in “The Immunity Syndrome,” with a crew of only Vulcans…since Vulcans no longer exists, logic suggests that with only 10 something thousand that exist, would you send that much of your genetic pool to serve on a starship? I don’t think that is logical.
Alot of new and interesting conflicts exists to put our great heroes in…ALOT of things …it’s great storytelling to say the least.
211 – More importantly, is this before or after Sybok was banished? In a twisted sort of way I hope it was before…
169-you are so right!!!it was very entertaining!!!!end of story.
You have not guessed the whole entire thing, the new movie, the alternate timeline, the “whole kit’n'kaboodle” were to fix the one thing that handicapped a great deal of TOS – The Organian Peace Treaty is TOAST! Break out the champagne, the Klingons can be bad and the Federation can go kick their ass or vice versa. You may now celebrate!
220 – Yeah! I wanna see fleet vs. fleet action in the next movie!
I remember when I was younger and people used to say “oh, you’re from India? There’s a kid at my son’s school, he’s from India. Do you know him?” Uh, yeah lady, we all know each other on a personal basis. But in this case with the Vulcans it’ll probably be true, lol.
And we’ve never had “Messy and lazy writing, also film-making” in Trek before? Do yourself a favor and watch STV, TMP, that awful Star Trek Halloween special and every episode where the crew just happens to meet an actual historical figure.
Also, your assertion that Delta Vega is a unfounded as an alien visiting our planet and landing in Times Square and saying “wow, this planet must be a giant city with HUGE coke bottles on billboards”. No one ever said that Delta Vega is an ice world. How do we know that Kirk didn’t land during an ice age or on a polar cap or even a harsh alien winter?
You don’t like the film? Fine. Just don’t make things up just to support why you don’t feel like everyone here or like the majority of film goers in May of 2009.
You, and other kinds of fundamentalists have one thing in common: you focus on things that support your opinion, while conveniently ignoring anything challenges your beliefs. It sounds like you wanted new Trek to be created in your own image.
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139. Darrksan – May 10, 2009
This New film is just Messy and lazy writing, also film-making.
The Delta Vega problem is one thing most trek-fans are puzzling about.
Delta Vega in this movie is a ice world (moon?) by vulcan in which old spock, Scotty (just happens to be too) and kirk (just happens to be also) thrown on.
The Delta Vega problem is that Delta Vega is NOT an ice-world nor is it be by vulcan.
Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman’s Messy and lazy writing is in action here.
The Delta Vega problem is an major error by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman.
They used the wrong name for the ice-moon by vulcan.
Even in the new timeline of this film, Star Trek: Enterprise is still canon (hell even scotty talks about Archer in the new film) because the alternating of the timeline is 100 years after the event of Star Trek: Enterprise.
The ice-moon by Vulcan is Andoria and NOT Delta Vega.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andorian
See Messy and lazy writing.
Yeah Whoopi!
Get that lady in the sequel! Nothing stopping it….. Kirk vs Guinan!
Think of the banter
I suspect that Nero was a rogue element of Romulus…he was a miner…suggesting he was far removed from the Imperial Senate of Romulus…if he was a high-ranking Senator, why be off in space on a mining vessel?
Remember Archer’s missions and the Earth-Romulan war still happened….the encounter with Kirk and the Romulan Commander of the Warbird could play out differently, very differently. Instead of the Romulan Commander attacking the Outposts, who is to say that Kirk doesn’t do something different. No one ever said HOW MUCH knowledge Kirk gained in the mind meld with Spock Prime. Kirk could know more than he admits to anyone, even Starfleet.
Great material to put together…I admit the “lack” of structure of canon is very very intriguing and it is nice for once to not have to be bound by it so intensely.
218 Josh, HAHAHAHA I like Star Trek V, but it’s funny that now it might’ve never happened either!!!!
Ok, I’ll just say this:
As a prop collector and tech geek, I really did not like the hand phasers not firing beams. (Blue beams, for that matter.)
Instead they seemed to squirt pellets of “energy” or something. Very wimpy.
And that is this purist’s only complaint, oddly enough.
227 – If that’s your only complaint, then I’d say they did a good job lol.
LOVED it!!!
Well, depending on your point of view, the ENT timeline was already corrupted by the Borg from FC. If you follow the novelizations of ENT post series, Trip’s fake death was to have him assimilate into the Romulan popluation and he discovers the Vulcan/Romulan kinship angle so that the “new” AR may not be truely beginning with the arrival of the Narada.
We may have been experiencing an AR since FC/ENT and that is the universe that is invaded by the “PRIME” characters just pulling them out of the established timeline thru the end of VOY.
For the canonistas, you have to accept the existence of at least one parallel universe in the Mirror Universe, no matter how silly some of the DS9 episodes became (TALK ABOUT COINCIDENCE = Lazy Writing).
SO, why cannot there be another reality in which the TOS crew experience a different formative event. The really interesting thing to watch or what could be new is the dovetailing of two disparate universes (PRIME and the new AR) merging to form the PRIME universe we are all familiar with. Can the ripples (butterfly effect) work in reverse?
How ’bout that kind of pure SF conceit of “What IF?”
Just something to chew on for a Sunday night……
you guys…lol
Stop thinking two dimensionally…
Everything that happened in the old timeline is still there…it’s like the mirror universe…there are many alternate universes out there…
TOS with Shatner and all the TNG stuff is in the alternate timeline…it is there and carries on as it did…
The only thing different is the NEW ORCIVERSE where Spock Prime exists….who is to say that Starfleet Command and The Vulcan (yes Vulcan is still in the alternate timeline universe,) doesn’t decided to send an away mission to find out WHY?
Remember the singularity that was created out of the supernova is in the old alternate timeline. I can very well see Starfleet Command sending ships to investigate it and find out what happened to Ambassador Spock.
Don’t you guys see this yet?
WILL BE RETURNING IN 30 YEARS, PLEASE ALERT STAR FLEET
Saw it again tonight with a full house filled with all demographics. My nephew is 18, not really into Trek, but loved the movie. Two friends are more casual Trek fans, love the show but couldn’t tell you who Mister Leslie is. They both were blown away and grinning ear to ear afterwords. In fact, there were smiles plastered all over as people exited the theater. Even the young girl who was holding the door open for people exiting the theater was humming the closing theme and informing her fellow employee that the song was from the original series. Mission accomplished JJ, mission accomplished..
MY WHALES BETTER BE ALIVE WHEN I GET THERE IN 35 YEARS
LMAO @234….
DEAR JIM,
If you come across a derelict spacecraft with frozen genetic supermen in it, just blow it up.
I’ll explain later.
@43 &47 How does it feel to be in the miniscule minority of haters? I would like to know. No, not really. Nimoy said it best refering to you haters of Trek 09: ” to not like it would make them dickheads”. Enjoy your DVDs, Dickheads, since that is the only Trek that you will ever enjoy again.
232, 234 – lol
Borg: Yo! I’m still gonna be wiping out some Neutral Zone colonies in 100 years or so!
It’s not the ORCIVERSE, it’s the Kurtzman-Abrams-Orci-subsequent Universe, a/k/a the KAOS-VERSE. ;) See, that ties it into Get Smart! which of course links it all through FRINGE. :)
Then again, we could call it the DORITOVERSE, but that’s too corporate…
awesome movie. superb. Want much more to come!!1
I just ahd another thought…man I sure hope Paramount / CBS makes another TV show…we got some great stuff here…the hard part is already done…the writing for the TOS shows can be a template to use and make NEW STUFF or throw it out and do something radically different…
Ain’t it nice to have the ENTIRE TREK UNIVERSE at our feet to wonder and come up with great stuff w/out being tied to canon?
That is what made the “Mirror Universe” a constant thrill for writers in TOS, DS9, ENT….I am so glad JJ and company had the balls to EXPAND it and do this …lol.
@ 239
Daoud, I disagree….
I repeat:
Ain’t it nice to have the ENTIRE TREK UNIVERSE at our feet to wonder and come up with great stuff w/out being tied to canon?
That is what made the “Mirror Universe” a constant thrill for writers in TOS, DS9, ENT….I am so glad JJ and company had the balls to EXPAND it and do this …lol.
I almost forgot 112. “I know Nimoy was joking.’ Wahtever helps you sleep at night dickhead.
Canon can be cliche if you let it
Example
Cliche:
Taking a rose to a cemetary tombstone and placing it and wiping a tear from your eye…THAT IS CLICHE…ORDINARY…IT SUCKS
Not Cliche:
Taking a rose to a cemetary tombstone and placing it and wiping a tear from your eye….then taking the metal chair you were sitting on and putting it on the lowermost branch of a tree and leaving it there.
This is an example but since it has been done it puts it firmly in the cliche category.
HOW MANY TIMES HAVE THINGS BEEN DONE THE SAME WAY IN TREK? TOO DAMNED MANY, ADMIRAL.
IT’s Time for NEW STUFF…it’s time …way past time and I embrace it…
LOL Only Nixon Could Go To China and ONLY JJ ABRAMS and Company could reboot TREK successfully…LOL.
now why did I hear Beyonce singing “gotta get an upgrade” just then?
i hope in the sequel poor little Porthos finally rematerializes on the Enterprise!
On the subject of bringing in charismatic charactors from previous shows for the sequel of the latest movie..
John DeLance – Q
(Hope I spelt that correctly)
His charactor well scripted and delivered as well as John did, I’m certain there’d be plenty of spice in whatever storyline the writers come up with next now that we’ve re-opened pandora’s box!
Remember, it’s all only limited by our imagination.
I just read another negative review at Wired.com. The writer points out the contrived and flimsy plot points. Roeper didn’t mince words either calling the film “goofy”.
Judging by the response I saw at both of my viewings, I think we naysayers are in the minority.
However, in all honesty and fairness, I was quite disappointed and disenchanted by the new film.
I be damned…
@230
You are a genius…or I suspect a great screenwriter…hmmm. Vedek…I agree…it is intriguing to think that the TOS we knew was a “ripple” which leads us to ST11…the “real” timeline.
Either way both are transpositional …Either one can be independent or dependent depending on which end of the timeline you look at them from….nice:)
Very nice:)
@ 241. TC Jones – May 10, 2009
re: I just had another thought…man I sure hope Paramount / CBS makes another TV show…
I want to agree with that, but I’m ‘if-y’. IF it’s possible to have sky-high production value, yes.
IF it’s not a racehorse right out of the gate, no. please no.
I pity the staff who would be tasked with taking the NEW vision and making a TV show work. We’ve become accustomed to Star Trek series lasting 7 (?) seasons…didn’t work out so well last time, eh?
But, yes…I would like to have a weekly injection of Star Trek in a new series – maybe have two or three different casts (some planet bound, some in space) and have their stories interweave, but not have the same crew every week. Just mix it up :)
Just got the Countdown graphic novel- better late than never.
HIGHLY recommended to all new fans of the movie.
Well, the Prime timeline and all of its elements ….ENT, TOS, TAS, TNG, DS9, VOY and the 6 TOS films and 4 TNG films Still exist….they are still very relevant and respected….
If it wasn’t for the Prime timeline we would not have this movie….since FC led to ENT and finally the shift to this new Alternate Universe/Timeline….due to the Narada entering the timeline and changing everything for good…. Plus Spock Prime, Nero and Spock from this timeline ACKNOWLEDGE that the Prime timeline existed, and shifted to this new timeline…
So, this movie starts in the Prime timeline and has flashbacks from the post Nemesis era – ENT was the prequel to this movie and of course the 21st century events of FC and even Nemesis…. the Narada enters from the post NEM/TNG era and everything is changed…makes sense… The future is uncertain and unknown…a fresh start…a pseudo reboot….
This is STAR TREK….the future is unwritten :) What a bold and new exciting way to start a brand new adventure :)
Just like the pre-Beatles and Stones generation(s) criticized rock and roll music because, gosh darnit, rock and roll isn’t civilized, like the Big Band music that we danced to in our day…
I’m guessing that you were a Tween when the Beatles and Stones were on the charts in the 60s? If not, your analogy is a bit off.
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161. Negotiator – May 10, 2009
158 -
Today’s “young crowd” is about Britney Spears and the Jonas Brothers and will argue until blue in the face that they compare to the Beatles and the Stones.
You have been warned.
Has anyone caught the hour long REEL TIME with Orci and Kurtzman on the XM radio channel Cinemagic. i listen to Cinemagic all the time, and first heard it today, very in depth, lots of music also!
110 — I usually don’t care about the comment section but taking thing out of context is a pretty big pet peeve of mine. If you watched the rest of the clip (and I’m sure you did, but forgot to add the next line) it’s very clear Nimoy is talking about the ears. Not the rest of the sets or cinematography. Don’t extort one of his comments to fit your dislike of the movie. Find the balls to support your critiques yourself.
I’m a ST purist. I liked the movie, I am not hung up on canon, etc. But, because I love the “old timeline” too much to let it go, here’s what I’d like to see in the sequel: in the “future” of the “new” timeline, when Pine’s Kirk is an old man, he comes to realize that the timeline is screwed up and needs to be set straight (much like Picard was forced to realize, and act upon, at Guinan’s behest in Yesterday’s Enterprise. There was another episode like this, too, in one of the other shows. Enterprise maybe?). Pine’s old Kirk will then do whatever he does to ensure that Nero’s ship doesn’t make it through the black hole to destroy the Kelvin. In the end, he succeeds and the “old” timeline is back. Of course, we now have this awesome new cast to bring us a second sequel, set in the original timeline, perhaps in the early days of the crew’s careers or in the early days of Kirk’s command, which can be every bit as good and fresh in the context of what we’ve grown to know and love over the past 40+ years. You don’t need a new timeline to make good new Trek. JJ can do it!!!
Oh, and did I mention that Pine’s old Kirk will be played by Shatner? Now that it’s a new, screwed up timeline, Kirk doesn’t die on that dumbass bridge collapse. Instead, he lives a nice long life, and saves the timeline in his old age.
Come on!!!!
#18 NOT A CHANCE!
Trek has surpassed expectations because the fans liked it and the mainstream audiences, with nothing new to see, liked it. However, Trek did NOT BLOW ANYTHING OUT OF THE WATER, falling far short of the excessively optimistic projection of $100 mil.
You may not care for ANGELS & DEMONS, but DA VINCI CODE has made over 3/4 of a BILLION DOLLARS.
ANGELS & DEMONS is a MUCH AWAITED SEQUEL which will strip all of the mainstream audience likely to see Trek next weekend away, leaving mainly the Trek fans who have not seen it and repeat viewers as well as kids who could care less about an adult drama like A&D.
Trek has almost $300 Million to recoup on Star Trek and I think it will before it leaves theaters worldwide. But that is not the performance it needs in order to get a boost in the budget, or indeed the same budget.
Also, the fact that Abrams ran out of money to build an engineering set, with a $160+ million budget, shows that he shouldn’t be given a single dime more than the official budget for the first film.
3D Vector graphic animation. Actors whether dead or alive can be reborn with the techology we now have. Like I said before, its all just limited by our imagination.
Imagine seeing DeForrest Kelly appear in the next movie as a thirty YO old man? Surreal and too wierd, but possible!
68-This movie starts a whole new timeline in case you weren’t paying attention. Kirk did not necessarily die. If Vulcan is destroyed, if Amanda Grayson dies, almost anything is possible in this Trek. The writers could have begun with the idea of having Shat’s Kirk as an integral part of the story. The fact is, they CHOSE not to. You would not have to stick with this script and shoehorn Shat in. You begin with a story that incorporates Shat from the beginning. It was lame to exclude him like that. I am sorry, but I am not of the body. I was not absorbed. My resistance to the exclusion of Shat is obviously futile, but I don’t have to be a sycophant sheep, either.
Good Lord, this has turned into exactly what I feared it would be: A Civil War Among Trek Fans.
@257 Gray re: 3D Vector graphic animation.
While I LOVE the new tech which allows infinite storytelling (without all the budget concerns…construction, etc.) but, I prefer my Star Trek to be Flesh & Bone.
I would enjoy some animation shorts — as was done for the Matrix, but if studio money is vested in ways other than the sequel, I’d prefer live action. just my two cents. :)
#253-Heard it on Friday. It was great. Loved how the interviewer had really gotten into the movie, loving it!!!!
I keep reading rants about Delta Vega and Elder Spock seeing Vulcan be destroyed. What many have forgotten, if I may dip a little into TOS Canon, is the episode “Immunity Syndrome”. Spock was staggered by the destruction of a Vulcan-crewed starship, which he sensed while the E was light-years away. He explains that he “heard the death cries of hundreds of Vulcans”, apparently through some type of telepathic/empathic link that can reach great distances.
Knowing this, it would be a simple intuitive leap to recognize that when Spock heard the death cries of *6 billion* Vulcans in the destruction of Vulcan, it was so intense that it forged a mental image of the destruction sequence. Intense experiences create pictures; you mention 9-11 and many react with a mental ‘picture’ of the burning Twin Towers. Such narratives of imagery are an integral facet of memory retention and cohesion.
Remember, Spock’s remembered experiences are being communicated during a mind-meld scene, and we all know and accept that imagery during such an experience isn’t limited to the empirical sensorium, per canon. Spock even admits that strong emotions cannot be suppressed during his mindmeld with Kirk, and apologizes when Kirk is staggered by what he sees.
Obviously, the imagery of Vulcan being destroyed is representational rather than actual. The imagery of the destruction of Romulus envisioned during the mindmeld is also the result of a similar noumena process. Nero, as a Romulan, could easily have known that Vulcans experience a telepathic empathy as a quality of species; knowing this, he could have stranded Spock anywhere in the quadrant and Spock would have felt/witnessed the catastrophe with an experiential similitude.
Extending this premise a little further, let’s assume that Romulans have the same telepathic-empathic trait. This would go a long way to explain Nero’s maniacal thirst for revenge, because he felt the death cries of all the Romulans. Unlike Spock, his culture didn’t have Kohlinar or other mediating processes of logical/metaphysical restraint to reign in the powerful emotions. Consequently, he had a breakdown due to extreme psychological trauma, which rendered him insane and irrational and is the source of why he wants to destroy the Feds and why he blames Spock.
library computer end transmission.
#256 – It is unwise to act like you know what you’re talking about when you clearly don’t have a clue. Sorry.
Star Trek has already done what it needed to do. It reignited a franchise. It doesn’t really even matter if it just breaks even (and it will do far more than that once all the Box office, DVD, merch sales, etc. are taken into account) in so much that it’s relaunched the franchise and launched it into the mainstream.
The notion that mainstream audiences went to see this just because the had nothing better to do is silly to the extreme. They saw it because of marketing and great reviews. That’s why people will keep seeing it. I’d be surprised it Trek stays at #1 but to try to undermine what it’s already accomplished flies in the face of reality and really demonstrates a lack of understanding about how the movie business works.
260. T’Sal
Yes I understand.
If there are issues with huge production costs by where certain elements have to be compromised (eg: 23rd century starship engine rooms looking like something from a 20th century cruiseship’s engine room), the practical solution is to fabricate digitally. This doesn’t mean to exploit actors to the point of obsolete, but simply combine resources where everyone wins and no short cuts need be made in production.
Fancy running out of money on a multi-million dollar big budget movie. I have to scratch my head with that one. Weren’t the sums done first or am I that nieve to think there’s no such thing as lateral thinking when preparing to construct a large project of any kind?
Isn’t this is a great time to be a Trek fan!!!
Trek is getting more attention within the fandom than it has in years. A civil war among Trek fans may be a good thing for the movement, as long as it remains civil LOL.
Trek is being jammed into the mainstream and is obviously picking up new fans. Trek has been translated into the cultural context of the early 21st century without entirely shedding its 60s roots. Trek is no longer ossifying, which many in the community readily admit as corresponding with it’s decline. Paramount is raking in the green energy, which will amply finance a sequel without having to resort to cardboard stage sets. The idea that Trek is a “B-movie” franchise has been forever silenced by this movie, like it or not.
Remember, TOS was canceled because people couldn’t see the value in it, except for the first-wave fans. Now, the inverse is true: a significant segment of established Trek fans can’t see the value in this new iteration of Trek, as represented by this movie. To those who feel that way, I totally honor your opinions and feelings. But all I would ask is that you give it a chance…not just the movie, but the movement it is evoking/inspiring.
The adventure is just beginning…
Woohoo, the timeline has been rewritten. It’s a shame that we’re not going to experience the alternate reality where Shatner doesn’t do those stupid Priceline commercials. I would give anything to swap places with my other self.
@258
Ya know Tim, I feel for the exclusion of Bill Shatner, but the writers had to work with what previous writers did…they killed Bill’s character off in Generations…it was great drama back then but short-sightedness by the writers which, I assume, wanted to transition from TOS to TNG…and we know how it all went from there…TNG had to end…and it did.
It is still possible to write Bill in…but since they had Nimoy’s character, which was staged perfectly to do what they did in ST11, well, it was only logical that the writers did it that way.
I really dislike using the timeline plot device in upcoming films, it is cliche now to the degree it was used in ST11…I doubt the fanbase or other folks would take it seriously or allow any serious connection with any characters if they wrote it in to the degree it is in ST11. I don’t really want to see another “TIMELINE” movie.
The “timeline” farted and let’s move on to another aisle. There are more compelling stories to be told than that. Basically, this allows the writers to “cherry-pick” from the best of the best of what is Star Trek. They can now do what they do best…which is tell a great story and make it believable.
As for TV or another series. I would hope that the “powers that be” decide to utilize every avenue and media out there. We have the web for webisodes, we have Star Trek Online, we have ARGS, we have short film, we have TV movies….until we have the new sequel. I would hope they utilize all of those outlets to their advantage. I doubt I will sit and wait on a blog for tidbits of information for 3 years for nothing. I seriously hope the webmaster program is expanded to include an inclusive and broadly expanded version of itself. There is so much potential here…it has to be used and used correctly.
New Media demands we have multiple media channels and to make them effective, we have to use them efficiently and to the advantage. Public Relations and “buzz” about things are most important. I spend the last 3 years studying Film and Mass Communication and ways to express it in the “New Media Paradigm Shift,” but until the convergences of industries and technologies are finished. We have to work our butts off to get it there. Star Trek 11 signaled a new era and we better well be ready for it unless we wake up and see that someone else has already beaten us to it.
262. Hawaiowa – Not a bad explanation at all. I’m gonna stick with this explanation!
@ 264 Gray re: If there are issues with huge production costs by where certain elements have to be compromised (eg: 23rd century starship engine rooms looking like something from a 20th century cruiseship’s engine room),the practical solution is to fabricate digitally.
I wholeheartedly agree. (I’m a graphic designer, but I don’t do 3-D) and I certainly see the advantages of the ‘digital’ – yet, I would say that such expertise still costs a boatload of money. Further still – contracting a studio that does exquisite work, every time.
I took your original post as meaning there should be a new series done entirely in CG. I prefer actors, but I’m open to the idea of mixing all types of media — just as long as it’s top notch. :)
I saw the film and thought it was really great but there was one thing that really bugged me. The changing of the timeline kind of makes certain events not happen in the Trekverse. I do not want to give anything away for those who have not yet watched it but can anyone talk me down on this? Could anyone on the Trek Supreme Court talk me down on this?
@269 T’Sal aren’t you glad we have OpenEXR…makes it a hell of a lot easier….and cheaper…I agree…crappy CGI is that…CRAP. I like to see real actors too…how I connect with them…unless the storyline is so compelling I can’t tear myself away from a cartoon.
@262 I agree with you as well…I can see film instructors lecturing on this for decades…great material…Hey Anthony, any news about how we can get a script yet…lol.
#267
Did anyone read the novel The Return?
Written as an alternative story from the movie Generations. Kirk’s dead body is transported by a cloaked Romulan ship overhead and then with the collaboration with the Borg’s technology has nanites put through it bringing him back to life. An amazing story and would have made a brilliant movie. There are follow up books from that one which go deeper into the Romulan/Borg alliance and then the arrival of Tiberious, Kirks alternate self. this also is a gripping and exciting book which would have made a brilliant movie. Why they weren’t produced is probably because of Shatner’s age and the demands on actor’s physicality. Can’t hold that against him, everyone gets old. This is where digital technology can step in and animate the charactor. The actor can still do the voice over as professional courtessy but not entirely neccesary.
Have seen it twice now and enjoyed the second viewing as much, if not more, than the first. Going to be making it 3 times on wednesday- which I think will be my limit!!
Ya know TC, you are stating the obvious. My point is that if the timeline was to be messed with, why not include Shat, who freaking owns part of Star Trek? It may well be past the point where Shat can be credibly put into any sequel. Hell, he is not getting younger. But if the producers could ignore continuity/canon, whatever you want to label it, why not have him in to reintroduce the original characters?
And I do not agree that they necessarily “tell a great story and make it believable.” For example, how is it that the whole of Romulus would put the only hope in saving their planet in Spock, an underworld character? How is the ancient Spock chosen to deliver the “red matter” over younger, more vigorous Vulcans or Romulans?
And please, the fact that you apparently had 3 years of film school does not qualify your opinion as more valid than that of others. I for one have been watching Star Trek decades before you were born. So please attempt to be condescending with someone else, k?
@271 TC Jones
TC, I gotta tell ya…my 12 year old daughter is really into anime…and I’ve watched enough vids with her to know that even 2-D can be AMAZING if done with artistry.
Who knows where Paramount will take this “boost”? Animation wouldn’t kick me out of interest – but I would find it less compelling. Geez, would J.J. add another TV series to his “to-do” list? I kinda doubt it.
Who would you hand the torch to?
To those who complain about the Enterprise being ignored…I would point out that there three beauty sequences (probably more) in the movie. Yeah, I would have loved to see more of the E, but what we did see was sheer novelty:
1. The shuttlecraft flying over the saucer gives an idea of how massive the ship is (3x the size of the canon 1701), and theres a very prominent cinematic emphasis on the lettering “Enterprise”. Brought a tear to my eye.
2. The upside-down sequence was something I’ve never seen in sci-fi, and it’s definitely a beauty shot of the E.
3. The E rising from the atmosphere of Titan, to me, is probably the greatest ‘reveal’ sequence ever devised in Trek. I remember the TMP ‘reveal’ of the E, and this one truly rivaled it. When I saw it come up out of the clouds, all I could think was “OMFG, they did it right!”
4. When the Jellyfish is in peril, the ‘guns-blazin” appearance of the E blasting into realspace out of warp is definitely on par with several of it’s prior ‘rescue’ sequences, cinematic and otherwise. To me, it suggested First Contact with 1701-E flashing into the battle scene, rescuing the Defiant.
5. As a trump card, I’ll mention the Riverside IA construction site, which has some gorgeous shots of the underside of the Enterprise.
The E may be possibly underutilized, but definitely not ignored or understated in this movie. As far as this fan is concerned, they outdid themselves on the Enterprise in this movie, far exceeding my expectations. Of course, ILM gives Trek the red-carpet treatment and really worked hard under the constrained budgets of earlier movies to give good SFX.
Given this, I do hope that the next two sequels don’t wind up with the ‘TNG movie syndrome’ where the leads are getting paid $10M salaries and the SFX is greatly underfunded as a result. If they want megabucks for the ensemble cast, I hope Par has the common sense to ‘not rob Peter to pay Paul’ and instead simply increase the movie’s budget to accommodate the increased salary demands.
#273
No, I haven’t read that book…it’s difficult enough to do academics at my age…(44) with bifocals…lol.
Sounds intriguing none-the-less but with Spock Prime and Spock being in the new universe together, don’t you think bringing in two Kirks would be slightly overkill?
Unless some kind of story like Janeway / Admiral Janeway could be developed like the last episode of Voyager…now that was classic. That one is my favorite Voyager episode and every bit of it worked for me.
IMHO, something like that, written flawlessly, would work….what do you think?
@273. Gray re: using previous actors in voice overs for #-D animation
…you may be on to something there….in terms of satisfying the “Shatner must be included folks”. Why not have some peripheral stories, animated…thus allowing The Shat and any number of previous characters to live again.
I just don’t know how that format would be presented. As shorts? as a DVD release?….a quarterly internet download? There are so many roads to take…but I’m guessing the studio will only walk down the one marked “money”. :)
#206 roobydoo
I’ve also seen Star Trek 3 times now and it does get better the more you watch it. Where was the tribble? I keep missing it. I love this movie to death and am going to keep seeing it as much as possible.
i found this “poll” entertaining
guess it would help if i posted the link too heh
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0458525/board/thread/137554836
#277 Hawaiowa
Couldn’t agree with you more. I was skeptical when I saw the 1st pictures of the Enterprise but man did this movie change my mind. The Enterprise reveal and the shot of it rising out of the titan atmosphere gave me goosebumps. ILM knew exactly how shoot the big E like we’ve never seen before. A+ ILM.
@279
There are always possibilities…who knows …perhaps if Bill Shatner were to guest-star on an episode of Star Trek Phase II like George Takei and Walter Koenig, it would “grease the wheels?”
I am not sure if Bill Shatner would do that though, unless it was done with a top-notch screenplay.
It is an alternative none-the-less…would make a great webisode:)
I mean c’mon folks we know people have to make money, but really, to only do one thing in today’s times, is pricing yourself out of a job. Sometimes you have to cross-train or work-for-free to get the ball rolling…at least it’s how I think of the economics and maintaining some kind of success-level.
#(Various) TC Jones … were you in the same IMAX Channelside viewing I was in Saturday? Was actually inferior to normal 70mm presentation on East Bay / Clearwater Friday night. Until the IMAX(R) footage comes back from the camera the Space Shuttle Atlantis is taking up – a REAL Imax film – I’m staying out of those things. If you were such a great film-making genius, couldn’t you have taken some “off” uptairs? That wasn’t dirt on the lens. Those were light-loving gnats and moths that for the most part at 18″ in size on the screen were more fun to watch than NERO.
I’ll watch the 3rd time on DVD. But honestly, it was great in the normal theatre 70mm presentation.
Mr. Orci, now that most secrets are out of the bag, I only have one question for you … isn’t it ironic that the only Star Trek series now considered Canon in the new timeline is the new Star Trek version, and ENTERPRISE?
Hey @280
About the Tribble:
Don’t look for it…LISTEN for it.
HINT: PILOT
LOL anymore and I will be giving it away
… is that picture James Coburn or Obama? If Obama, why did they shrink his ears?
#278 – 279
Briefly (when anything is important enough, one finds the time, whatever the schedule). I am 52 and a senior designer for NewsCorp. I have been in advertising and marketing for over 3 decades. Attention to detail is a way of life in all dimensions.
This IS all about money, or they wouldn’t bother.
How lovely something looks is one thing, what it earns is a whole different ball game.
There are so many factors to be considered when discussing something of this magnitude. Unless I was directly involved in future events regarding Trek syndication I would certainly be considering the real experts (the fans) before making any decision regarding storyline. Then getting quotes on how to produce it before picking up a hammer or moving a mouse. It goes on and on.
To clear up the “war” on whether or not Delta Vega in the movie is the same one as in TOS, check out the article at Memory Alpha. The writers have the ultimate lame excuse for messing with canon.
http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Delta_Vega_(Vulcan_system)
@285
This one was in Little Rock, Arkansas..John…yours had gnats too? I am not sure what the “blobs” were on mine but they acted like they were blowing from the center to the edge of the screen by some cheap fan…it did it all the way through the film…I really felt those damned things threw me out of the movie….so I went to see it again Saturday on a “traditional” stadium theater…lol …it was much better.
I liked the 16000 watt sound in the IMAX…I felt the “traditional” sound system didn’t feel as great as the IMAX. Neither of those were anything related to the film….it was the theater.
Make sure to copy and paste that whole thing. Clicking directs you to the wrong article.
@289
Hey Speed24601
Someone should give Memory Alpha the explanation from HAWAIOWA’s explanation of the Delta Vega scene…it works for me and I like it….IT’S EXCITING!
“Obviously, the imagery of Vulcan being destroyed is representational rather than actual. The imagery of the destruction of Romulus envisioned during the mindmeld is also the result of a similar noumena process. Nero, as a Romulan, could easily have known that Vulcans experience a telepathic empathy as a quality of species; knowing this, he could have stranded Spock anywhere in the quadrant and Spock would have felt/witnessed the catastrophe with an experiential similitude.
Extending this premise a little further, let’s assume that Romulans have the same telepathic-empathic trait. This would go a long way to explain Nero’s maniacal thirst for revenge, because he felt the death cries of all the Romulans. Unlike Spock, his culture didn’t have Kohlinar or other mediating processes of logical/metaphysical restraint to reign in the powerful emotions. Consequently, he had a breakdown due to extreme psychological trauma, which rendered him insane and irrational and is the source of why he wants to destroy the Feds and why he blames Spock.”
Source: http://trekmovie.com/2009/05/10/star-treks-765m-opening-weekend-quintonimoy-pine-on-snl-more-tidbits/#1812282
Wondering about Scotty’s little buddy on Delta Vega in THE VULCAN SYSTEM? Turns out his name’s Keenser, and he’s played by the Oompa Loompa from Tim Burton’s version of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005).
http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Keenser
He looks like a midget Jem’Hadar to me.
‘Star Trek’ Writers Talk Shatner, Kirk, Spock & Terrorism
June 28, 2007
by Anthony Pascale
“In a new interview with MTV, ‘Star Trek’ writers (and executive producers) Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman respond to the recent rumors that William Shatner is upset that he will not appear in the film. “We were very surprised about that” said Kurtzman. Orci followed up saying “We’re certainly hoping to include him in the shoot, because we have nothing but reverence and awe for the man.” If true and if ‘in the shoot’ means ‘in front of the camera,’ then it could be inferred that the final draft of the script has a part for Shatner (although that does not mean it would be playing Kirk necessarily).”
Shatner: No ‘Star Trek’ Cameo For Me
October 29, 2007
by Anthony Pascale
“In case you were wondering, William Shatner is still not happy that he has not been asked to be in the new Star Trek film. When asked by MovieWeb if he had a cameo role he denied it, and went on to say:
‘I would be reluctant to do something that had so little value as to be a cameo.’”
Several of the original cast members refused to do “Generations” because they felt it was gimmicky. It think it would have gimmicky to have Shat in this film, with his Kirk overshadowing Chris Pine’s. It’s also very well known that Mr. Shatner has a “difficult to work with” reputation in Hollywood. None of the folks on this board really know what happened in preproduction to keep Shatner out of the film (except Mr. Orci), but we do know that Kirk is dead at the time where Spock leaves the Prime timeline and therefore cannot come back with him, period. This film was about getting the original characters onto the bridge of the Enterprise and it did. The icing on the cake was Leonard Nimoy giving the Abrams Trek his blessing.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
258. Timncc1701 – May 10, 2009
68-This movie starts a whole new timeline in case you weren’t paying attention. Kirk did not necessarily die. If Vulcan is destroyed, if Amanda Grayson dies, almost anything is possible in this Trek. The writers could have begun with the idea of having Shat’s Kirk as an integral part of the story. The fact is, they CHOSE not to. You would not have to stick with this script and shoehorn Shat in. You begin with a story that incorporates Shat from the beginning. It was lame to exclude him like that. I am sorry, but I am not of the body. I was not absorbed. My resistance to the exclusion of Shat is obviously futile, but I don’t have to be a sycophant sheep, either.
@288
I agree Gray…something I went back to college to realize at 44…and still, I am not done…but it makes sense…alot of sense.
One thing I gripe about with my younger academic friends…the era of “point and shoot” and producing top-notch film is just being lazy…and then they come back with: “Oh, I am a guerilla filmmaker.”
I just want to strangle them, especially when they pull that line on me after I ask them about not filling out a production shot list or audio form.
Very frustrating…documentation is the first lesson…lol.
I am glad I have the years on them…makes it alot easier.
277-
You’re absolutely right. When it comes to special effects, Lucas and company are the best in the business. But they don’t work for free. The problem was never ILM’s ability to perform. It was Paramount’s penny pinching, ultra-conservative approach to the franchise. There’s little room for boldness and creativity when you have Berman looking over your shoulder all the time (calculator in hand no doubt).
I love the look of the starbases and ships in this movie BTW. They remind me of the Starfleet Battles series from the 1970s and the Starfleet Command video games in the late 1990s.
@292.
Did you read the Countdown comics? Nero is angry at Spock because Spock promised the Romulan Senate that he could save Romulus and he was too late. When Romulus was destroyed, his vendetta was a personal one with Spock. The Federation came as a secondary concern.
Also, I disagree with the assessment by HAWAIOWA. Sure, everyone knows Spock, being Vulcan, is a touch-telepath. Regardless of what is said in TOS, which is often contradictory of itself since no one could’ve envisioned the level of nit-pickiness of us future fans, I don’t think the image of Vulcan is is Spock Prime’s mind. Bob Orci and Alex Kurtzman clearly state in an interview that they moved Delta Vega to the Vulcan Star System for name recognition from “Where No Man Has Gone Before.”
Just listened to Mr. Rossi’s podcast and I hav t say that I disagree with a lot of what he and the other guys had to say regarding the film.
HOWEVER, they did bring up an interesting point amidst their moot bundle of ranting and raving that I think should be adressed for a sequel.
Perhaps for the next go round, we could get a story that isn’t afraid to have relevance. I LOVED the movie. It had all the Trek ingredients, minus this need to be relevant to society. The story was compelling, the direction fantastic, the actors spot on. But Star Trek is more, or at least it can be. Its more than just its characters, its designs, its catchphrases, and its mythology. Its an idea. There was intellignece, not relevance, and that is the ONLY complaint aside from minor quibbles you will ever hear from me regarading what is otherwise one of the best if not the best Trek movie ever. Thank you J.J., Bob, Alex, and the rest.
I’m awaiting the DVD for deleted scenes of Nero in Rura Penthe. Perhaps his plan to destroy the entire Federation to ensure the survival of Romulus was hatched while in prison. Also, if Nero had been able to destroy the Federation, the Planet Killer would still eventually have found its way to the Alpha Quadrant. Also V’Ger would’ve returned to find the “Creator” had been destroyed, not to mention the “Whale Probe” from ST:IV would’ve returned. If Romulans were the only force in the Quadrant, how would they have dealt with those situations? They might have ended up being destroyed anyway.
@298
I stand corrected. After re-reading some of Countdown, I see Nero was Primarily angry at Spock, but also angry at the Federation for seemingly “doing nothing” while Romulus was destroyed.
@296
Sorry, I could not find the Countdown Comics editions here…I looked but really time was a factor.
Well, that explanation doesn’t make sense from an original timeline perspective.
I like Hawaiowa’s explanation better, it fits better with how the scene translated by watching the film….IF you haven’t seen or read the comics…alot of folks wouldn’t have known that aspect of it, like myself.
The pain Spock had on his face as he watched Vulcan implode could be interpreted as literally watching it or experiencing it as Hawaiowa stated.
Personally, I would not have named it Delta Vega…to avoid that very issue. I would have used some generic Erandanii Beta or something…those things rise up and bite you on the arse if you get it wonky.
TC Jones,
Respectfully, I don’t know what part of the Trekverse you come from, but I don’t remember hearing the word Trekker referencing ST fans until well into the 70s.
The first fancons I attended in 72-3 (not including the local Trek ‘raves’ where we’d swap fanzines and such)…the debates we had during the original series…the Lincoln Enterprises mail-order flyers…the sci-fi cons…*all* referenced Trek fans as Trekkies. *Every* fan that I met between 1966-73, (my best guess is several hundred), called themselves Trekkies. The word “trekkie” is culturally contexted from the word “hippie”, again that was the label we the Star Trek fans gave ourselves in the TOS days as a flavor of the decade. I’ll reread David Gerrold’s two books, but I don’t remember the term “Trekker” appearing in either one. A perusal of the several dozen fan mags I have from 1969-71 don’t have a single mention of the term “Trekker” on their faded and yellowed pages. The Dr. Pepper connection…I’ve never heard of it, and I’ve never heard a fan who’s heard of it (other than the subtle cameo soda-machine endorsements in ST IV and Godzilla 85).
Skip Google and Wiki and read “Star Trek Lives” to get an interesting and accurate snapshot of Trek fandom ca. 1975. Not a single mention of the word “Trekker”.
Finally, when NBC received thousands of letters during the 1969 “Save Star Trek” campaign, they referred to the fanbase as “Trekkies”. I know this because I was there.
I also wrote seven of those letters.
…as a true admiral who was there at the start…
I know it’s just a comedy show, but ‘dickheads’ ?? Way to treat the people that gave you your fortune, shmuck ….
Disregarding canon entirely, it’s just not a very good film. Not bad, not terrible; in fact it’s quite entertaining and brilliantly presented. But at a bare bones level, it’s not so great. Critical thinkers, by and large, are not dickheads …..
Whingy Star Trek fans, on the other hand …. Woah!
Hey, #178, you want to hear something crazy? What you just mentioned as things you appreciated about the movie, I feel exactly the same way! I would agree with every single point you made. In particular, I was incredibly moved by George Kirk’s sacrifice.
But I honestly did not like the direction of the film, to the point that I was uncomfortable watching it. I don’t know, did the flares and the shaking and the constant motion and blurs over the images irritate you? I thought they should have popped it a Ritalin! Even the guy running the projector, he put it out of focus three times because I think he was trying to correct the visual slop. What was your take on these things?
I have never in my life been so irritated by a movie– oh, wait, no. Sorry. I take that back. Timecode was worse. But that’s still not saying much.
Well, Hawaiowa, In My part of the TREKVERSE…I never called myself a Trekkie…although my parents and other folks did…I was a Trekker…I remember having a T-shirt that said:
KEEP ON TREKKIN’ that’s where that comes from…remember the first TOS pajamas that looked exactly like kirks?
The first book I read was “Spock MUST DIE” which illustrated Nimoy’s frustration and also illicited hate mail from fans due to it.
I assure you…I am a TREKKER…I was there when the first episode aired…”The Corbomite Manuever” yes I was 2 years old…and I remember it…in fact it is my FIRST memory…It had to some from somewhere…and with limited branding back in the late 60’s and early 70’s trust me I didnt make it up.
I know BJO Trimble started that campaign to save Trek back then along with countless others…during the time I was content by watching TAS…until it was syndicated in the late 70s…
You think I am making all of this up? I Assure you I am not…I was born in 65 and remember it well…and “TREKKER” is part of it.
No offense…but I had every TOS Toy ever invented and even made some of my own…lol.
You can be a trekkie if you wish, but I am a “Trekker,” and always will be.
Live Long and Prosper and no offense…
I will now stand down from Red Alert….but the shields will STAY UP!
wait i was wrong…the book was “I am not Spock” which made people go nuts…
That James Blish novel was one of the first ones I read…it was red paperback and I had to get it because of the red cover…it caught the eye!
PARDON for the mistaken title…
@294
How do you propose bringing back Shat-Kirk from the dead and then bringing him back in time? You would need another movie before this one to explain that.
Ummm…
That weekend update that NBC posted is not the same one that aired.
Do they do a weekend update for both the east and west coast?
star trek is FOREVER
Hawaiowa
I assume you are or were from California? Here in Arkansas, to be a “Trekkie” was something which was “absolutely wierd” back in the 70’s.
I endured many days of torment, much like Spock, by the “other kids” due to my devotion. I have had my share of ridicule for being a “Trekkie.” And now you know why I refer to myself as a “Trekker.”
When I heard the term, back in those times, I instantly adopted it. While the other kids played baseball, I put together my AMT model kits. Yes, I used the short-cut method of scotch-taping the nacelles together before the glue dried just to play with the model. Forgive my impatience.
I was so proud of those models, even with the mis-aligned decals and over-glued joins, it still was perfect to me. When the model of the Galileo model came out, I was in “Star Trek Nirvana.” The first model was the Spock with the 3 headed serpent with phaser in hand. Secondly, was the “Big E” herself, then the Galileo.
I almost cut 3 portholes in it to match the one on the TV but didn’t. The first one I had to mothball, Testor glue back then would soften your plastic if you put too much glue on them, which I did and the nacelle caps ended up looking like raisins. So after much begging, my mother let me get another.
I think I was around 7 then, early 70’s, with the “Big E” and Galileo in hand…boy was that a good time to be a “Trekker.” Until my baseball playing cousins saw me outside. I should have known those “Klingon” minded cousins of mine were up to no good. They invited me over to their house to “SEE” my precious models. Happily, I carefully carried them two blocks over and then it happened.
I was ambushed by 5 other kids, they had decided to ambush and commandeer my “Big E” and Galileo 7! I was helpless, since the model kit of the AMT Communicator, Phaser, and Tricorder hadn’t been release yet. I was no match for the older and bigger “Klingon” minded gang of thugs lead by my two cousins. They were intent on destroying my models and I was helpless to stop them.
They quickly and brutally barraged my precious “Big E” and Galileo with landscaping rocks like huge meteors while I was helplessly restrained and prevented from engaging in evasive manuevers. I sat and watched as the hulls were broken and shattered. I was wracked with knowing I had failed and all was lost. I attempted to perform a last-ditch rescue, so I appropriated a few landscaping rocks and decided to give them a taste of the same armageddon which they brutally had given those models.
Unknown to me at the time, the other members of their party armed themselves and forced me into a position of having to climb a nearby tree to escape the onslaught of rocks. It was a very rough and tumble battle. I felt I was at the point of no return and one more hit on my shields would certainly breach the hull and all would be lost. So I called out in distress and just as I feared the Commander In Chief arrived. There was my aunt, who instantly disarmed the raiding party with one look of the eye. I was ordered to stand down from my position in the tree.
Everyone was charged with insubordination but as I tried to object and plead my case about the damages incurred on Federation property, I was informed that I shouldn’t have brought those models over in the first place if I didn’t want them torn-up. I was heart-broken. Until the next time I went to the store…I swore this time, no ship of mine would leave Federation Space without an armed escort.
This is a true story…but I hope you see how being a “Trekkie” caused more than a few skirmishes in my part of the “Trekverse.”
TC Jones
Author
Good grief!
I think a lot of the criticisms here are getting out of hand.
Financially, the movie IS overperforming, whether certain posters here like it or not. The 76.5 million domestic is above original estimates and at the high end of the revised ones, and the foreign take is also encouraging. And it is being driven by good word of mouth and also nearly unanimous positive reviews and press.
Quality wise, this is an outstanding movie. About the only thing one can hold against it is it is not a “message” movie first and foremost. This is not to say there are NO messages though.
For example, the whole Pike-Kirk relationship is about the merit of pushing yourself to excel and also of growing up, so to speak. Spock’s plotline is all about personal honesty, in this case being able to objectively evaluate his own motivations and realize that he was not suited to be in command at the time – it takes a fistfight for him to get there but he gets there.
Then there is Nero, whose character shows us that allowing yourself to become bitter and vengeful ultimately leads you nowhere. When he got tossed back in time he had a golden opportunity to try to prevent the events that destroyed Romulus, but instead was so enraged by his loss that he lashed out and set himself on revenge.
And these characters do develop as well. It was classic Trek that after all the combat Kirk tried to save Nero, note how the reckless and cocky Kirk has grown, that he offers mercy to his enemy.
The ships were also done well (the new warp effect is terrific) and the underlying tone of the film – optimism even in the light of disasters – is a wonderful break from today’s excessively nihilistic tendencies in filmmaking.
As to canonicity…..OH WELL! (now watch certain posters say I am not a real Trek fan).
To me, getting the core elements of Trek positioned to give us great future stories and creating a new and exciting universe to set them in is more important than making sure canon is honored. And I suspect that if they were still with us Mr. and Mrs. Roddenberry would concur.
It does seem a little weird, even if this movie stays successful, there will be 2 more films at most with this cast and crew. Then what happens? I would love a television show, but if they do it, it will not be done with kirk and crew so u can’t have a tos timeline show because, u can’t have another flagship that would always be inferior to the enterprise. I am just really curious about the long term star trek , because 3 movies just isn’t enough for me, i would rather have a series and see it every week.
and kirk still will need to get some whales and stop v’ger from destroying earth, because these events should still happen. so they can remake both those movies lol
#263. – really? Then you should take a page from your own notes. In particular try NOT to infer something when it has not been explicitly stated. Nothing I wrote implies an attempt to undermine what the film has accomplished and nothing was written about what the goals of the film were. In fact it is clear you failed to read the original post I was responding to. The fact is, a mass audience is NOT interested in Star Trek as a franchise. They are interested in Angels and Demons. Who gives a flying f**k how good Paramount’s marketing arm was? I wasn’t discounting their hard work or its effectiveness. A mass audience would not have even shown up to Star Trek without it. So really, what was the point of replying to my post? Simply to pick a cyber-fight?
I had to laugh out loud when reading about Shatner’s premiere ticket going on sale for charity. It’s such a classic Shat maneuver; that guy really shows some backbone. Love it! :D
Yours truly,
I.
- Dickhead Association -
Good Grief…you guys are too uptight…sounds like a bunch of executive producers hemmed in by contracts you can’t get out of without chewing both your arms off.
All of this posturing and bitching should be done on internal confidential memoranda, not public fora.
Go have a drink or a couple of valiums…life’s too damned short for this mess…
STAR TREK IS SUCCESSFUL
IT MADE MONEY
THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS SPOON-FED BY HOLLYWOOD
What else do you want to know?
JEEZ!
#24: “But poor Chris Pine… he REALLY needs to get some cosmetic surgery on those acne scars before the next movie… IMAX and HDTV are not his friends.”
Gee, was that comment really necessary? It kind of reminds of the unnecessary catty remarks about William Shatner.
Grow up!
I loved it and am going to see it in IMAX and take as many friends as I can to see it.
For you see, I am a fan of Star Trek. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a Trek movie in a theater and a long while since I’ve seen good Trek TV. I welcome a new look at a classic.
I’m not going to insult my fellow Trekkers, nor am I going to tell JJ Abrams he ruined my life because the movie he made in relation to a television show I love is not what I think it should be, because I’m a grown up, and no matter how much I love Star Trek, it’s still just a television show. If any of you get something more out of it than that, I will not make fun of you for your opinions. It’s okay to be disappointed with the movie, it’s not cool to tear someone up for not agreeing with you.
Stop fighting, you sound like Star Wars fans.
Liked the movie. Characters were great and felt like the old characters. Visually, the best looking movie of the bunch. By the end, my wife hated hearing the same theme over and over and over again, though.
Problems.
Why did Nero let Prime Spock go? He couldn’t watch Vulcan’s destruction from Nero’s ship?
Instead Spock was left on Delta Vega to watch the destruction of Vulcan, a mere 14 kilometers from a Starfleet outpost. Why did he just stay there, and not try to go to the outpost to try to find a way to warn Vulcan? And after it happened, why did he stay there even longer? Did he somehow know KIrk was coming? Why didn’t he try to escape Delta Vega instead of wait around, letting Nero complete his revenge on other planets?
Did the Enterprise not have an Engineer? A starfleet outcast (Scotty) beams aboard, awol from his post and suddenly heads up engineering? Where was everyone else? Why was Scotty tagging along at all? Most of the others took their posts because of ship deaths, etc. Maybe he came because he REALLY wanted that sandwich?
Why didn’t Nero give his advanced technology to the Romulans? Or… he had 23 years to wait, why didn’t he try to stop the original destruction of the Romulan homeworld? They weren’t able to use Spock’s plan in the TNG era because they ran out of time, now with all the time in the world to try it again and the red matter in hand, why didn’t Nero try to prevent the Supernova from ever happening at all by preemptively creating the black hole? 23 years is plenty of time to destroy Vulcan, enhance Romulan technology with his own from the future, save his planet, and still get revenge on the Federation as he makes Spock watch Vulcan’s destruction from his ship.
When he attacks Earth, Nero doesn’t have his shields up? In the middle of an assault? And earth has no other ships around? No orbital defenses? Then whole starfleet was at the Laurentia system? Why? No reason was given. Maybe the ‘plot requires it’ was the reason. Didn’t anyone back on earth think to check on the fleet sent to Vulcan?
These are simple things an ordinary person would do, let alone Starfleet’s best. I felt I had to turn my brain off to get through the movie. And just because it happened in previous movies as well is irrelevant. Crap surrounding crap is still… well, crap. I was expecting somemthing LOST quality wise.
Things I liked…
I think the first 15 minutes were SOOOO GOOD, it made the rest of the movie look bad. I cried when I saw it. AR or not, I love this Kirk birth story.
One of the films greatest flaws was that the rest of the movie didn’t live up to this. Strangely enough, the film suffered in comparison to… itself.
Hey Geo,
Re-read my post, I’m not at all for bringing Shat back as James T. Kirk. I, for one am a big proponent of never using time travel in Trek again. The time travel thing needs a break and so does the reset button.
>>>>>>>>>>>
307. Geodesic – May 10, 2009
@294
How do you propose bringing back Shat-Kirk from the dead and then bringing him back in time? You would need another movie before this one to explain that.
Has anyone considered that the original timeline does exist. Think about this for a minute, is there any proof in the film that the Black Hole didn’t just go through time but through to another universe?
This red matter could have created a black hole from one universe, one time to another universe another time. The original timeline my exist and if they want to interact with it somehow this could be the way to explain its existence if a story needs it.
movie is the worst piece of crap ever. hope it eventually flops.
My preference would be to do something about Spock Prime’s role. It was very ill defined, Nimoy’s performance betrayed the uncertain nature of what he was asked to play. Over the years one thing Nimoy has always stated is his characters motivations driving his performance.
e.g. during ST TOS 3rd season he constanty drove the producers to improve the declining quality of the scripts re: Spock’s behaviour and motivations – his script here wouldn’t pass muster either.
@319…
14K on Delta Vega…
Kirk learns that from his escape pod. SpockPrime does not have that info.
Chiefengineer…
The engineer was Olsen, who got killed by the drill…
Nero was imprisoned by Klingons after he attacked the Kelvin. He did not have the time to come up with a plan to save Romulus. Plus he is a pretty traumatised guy out of his depth…
Nero attacking the Bay Area…
That is right. After Scotty established ENT as canon via Archers dog, there should be some pretty tight network of planetary defense…
Hey TC, that was a great anecdote that brought back a bit of nostalgia and a smile to my face as I read it. You had it rough being a fan, didn’t ya? I remember the nacelle breakage on the E and the portway breakage on the D7 Battlecruser…obviously the guys weren’t thinking modeling when they designed the ships! Someone stole my Galileo, btw. I loaned my Making of ST book to a friend and it came back all marked up with notes and doodles. Guilty secret…when I got my second ‘big E’ to replace the first one that broke, in my haste to build it I glued the exhausts where the Brussards were supposed to go, so that nacelles were basically backwards.
Anyway, this is all off topic to the intent of Anthony’s site, but plz don’t get the wrong idea…I appreciate your thoughtful posts here, and you or any Trekfan can call themselves whatever they want. I was just going off on a possible misread of your post as I thought you were speaking for the whole Trek movement when saying that “Trekker” came before “Trekkie” historically, as far as the Trek mov’t en masse was concerned. If it was me that was facing bullying like you did, I’d call myself Trekker too…and then say “live long and prosper” like Spock said it in the movie. I dropped the Trekkie self-label after ST II, because it was unhip by that point even within fandom.
Who knows, maybe the new infusion of Trek fans might come up with a new name for themselves.
The movie has to be a movie, it can’t be like Voyager and take the whole first season to sort out who fits what role on the ship. Hate it or love it, I can probably safely say that none of us ‘old admirals’ ever imagined in the early days that TOS would see the light of day in the 21st century, either in reruns or movies. The fact that it has, both with the movie and the remasters, proves that the miracles aren’t just confined to Scotty’s work in the Enterprise’s engine room.
I love being a Trekkie, Trekker, Treknut, Trekfan…whatever!
Ah i thought Negotiator and the rest of the people who didn’t like this movie were bigger than their pathetic insults directed to the movie and the people who’ve given them rational opinions on how they’ve acted.
The thing i don’t understand is why after they’ve seen the movie and have not liked it, the feel the need to post about their dislike of it and then continue to post their dislike for it until it just turns into one liners like
183: “time to take your meds”
and then goes onto say this is just a movie… well Negotiator if it was just a movie why was your opinion of it full with irrelevant points that have really nothing to do with the quality of the things that actually do matter in a movie and more to the point if you didn’t like it, why are you still here.
I think the fact that in countdown the prime universe still exists after nero’s ship passes through kind of suggests prime keeps going.
also i am glad to see i am not the only one who thinks shatner acted like a baby.
^ very true, i think Shatner is being an utter baby.
I don’t understand the fans who cry over the complete non-truth that the prime timeline comes to an end – Trekkies out of anyone should understand that this is an alternate timeline which doesn’t effect the prime timeline – it’s a way of respecting the old timeline and beginning again without pushing the reset button on it.
giddi #322 “movie is the worst piece of crap ever. hope it eventually flops”
Worst.prediction.ever
# 45
You forgot Spock giving Scotty his own formula, like Scotty gave that plastics engineer in ST IV
-122.. Mr. Nimoy had you spot on, -322… Ahh nothing like some intelligent feedback (and that was nothing like intelligent feedback, twat)
262. This was my opinion as well. Its what I first thought when seeing the movie.
This is incredible news! STAR TREK is going to be the highest grossing film in the franchise by far!! :)
I’ve just seen it at IMAX (4th time all up) and it was an amazing experience to watch it on a screen that big! The Enterprise and Nerad looked spectacular so I’m really glad that I had the opportunity to see it at IMAX!
The film is pretty good…but being the purist I am…this is not your daddy’s Star Trek…which is their advertising motto which pisses me off…because it should be your daddy’s Star Trek…or our Star Trek…I think Trek fans are the mainstream audience and not some exclusive nerd club. Chris Pine is good but could have done some Shatnerisms in his delivery without destroying the credibility of his performance or the film…they could have parted Karl Urban’s hair on the same side as Deforest Kelley’s for god’s sake…and they could have put a toupee on Simon Pegg to look more like Doohan. Bridge is overly lit. Simplicity of technology displayed in orignal series seems more high tech to me. New film is justifiably criticized for “brewery” look of engine room for one thing. Nimoy is good as Prime Spock but I found it hard to believe he recognized Chris Pine as Kirk. Nimoy’s diction has deteriorated due to his oversized teeth or dentures or whatever…you can hear this on the SNL and Fallon segments that aired this week.
Nimoy and Quinto are great. They’re almost like father and son in that clip.
German box office numbers in the Spiegel…
http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/kino/0,1518,623997,00.html
#334 “Nimoy is good as Prime Spock but I found it hard to believe he recognized Chris Pine as Kirk”
Kirk and Spock served aboard the Enteprise since they were young. Why shouldn’t the elder Spock have recognized his best friend, even if he is younger?
#256
I agree with much of what you say – there’s no doubt Angels and Demons will be number one at next weekend’s box office – the first Da Vinci movie took $750m. Expect Trek to take at least a 50% reduction in second weekend box office (typical for blockbusters, although positive word of mouth may have some effect). Angels will only need to take about $40m to take top spot – which shouldn’t be a problem for a heavily-hyped summer movie.
Trek’s never opened as big as this and has never been as critically lauded as this – I felt you were a bit sniffy with your comments about ‘it’s not blown anything out of the water’ and that it didn’t get $100m. Par’s prediction was for $45m-$50m and Box Office Mojo predicted about $70m, so don’t know where you’ve got your $100m figure from. Transformers 2 will get over $100m, but Trek was never going to be in that league.
It’s true, there’s a way to go before this movie makes a profit – with a budget this size, we need to at least gross $150m in the US, no mean feat with the competition coming up.
Now lets get the shat in part 12
This morning Box Office Mojo has Star Trek at $72.5 million. Based on a chart provided in their article (comparing similar-producing movies), one would assume that the movie will make at least $200 million at the box office.
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/weekends/month/?mo=05&p=.htm
I see quite often where people will quote a film’s budget and compare it to the box office and determine if it made money or not. But a movie has to make far more than it’s budget to show a profit.
For starters, a share of the box office reciepts goes to the movie theaters. It used to be half, but I think now they split it differently. Then, they spend a huge sum of money on advertising and promotion. Sometimes just as much as what it cost to make the movie.
My uneducated guess is the Star Trek will have to make at least $300 million (or more) to break even. Like most movies, it probably won’t show a profit until several years of DVD sales, television rights, and pay per view.
It still is a big mystery to me how Hollywood can spend a couple of hundred million on a movie, then it bombs and only makes $50 million — and yet they still have the money to go out and do it again. They must really take the long-term view on how they recoup their investment. Because it would seem that one or two bombs would put every studio out of business.
#280 Jonathan
To see the tribble, look at the top-right corner of the screen when you see Scotty for the first time. (It appears in one of the first few shots while he is sitting at a desk.) You should also be able to hear the tribble cooing softly a few times.
#262 Hawaiowa
I had precisely the same thoughts. I think this rationalization for the ‘Spock seeing Vulcan destroyed’ shot should be adopted as canon. Wonder if ADF did something similar in the novelization?
All of the backstory to Nero and Spock are explained in the “Countdown” prequel comic. Buy it and all your questions will be answered..
Well, I saw it twice and loved it both times. But what a load of fun, eh?
It wasn’t perfect, and I wish the plot made more sense in the second half. (Kirk and Spock just HAPPEN to wind up in the same cave on the same planet? Just. . . like. . . that?) It all moved a bit too fast for me. And I’m wondering whether red matter was explained in the Countdown comics — was it?
But really, I had a great time. I thought the new cast was spot-on; I truly believed I was watching Kirk and Spock in action. I loved all the tidbits and injokes thrown in for the fans.
Best of all, I can still go back and watch the original episodes with the original cast — any ol’ time I want. They’re classics. And they aren’t going anywhere.
343 Fred, you posted same time I did. Maybe you can tell me whether red matter’s explained in the comic books.
I’m not sure what you mean by ‘explained’ but it shown in the comic, so it doesn’t come out of left field as it does in the film.
#340: Locke for President: My guess is that Star Trek will follow the patterns of Iron Man and the last Indiana Jones. Those movies made a 3.2 multiple of their opening weeks. So that would place Star Trek at around $350 worldwide, still behind TMP in adjusted US dollar. However TMP didn’t have the commodity of a home video market back in 1979, so Paramount can possibly do another $200M in video. But more important, they reenergized a moribund franchise, and I am sure the sequel is going to make a lot more money than that with probably less money spent on promotion.
Box Office Mojo, in my experience, is usually fairly balanced in reporting a film’s Box Office take without editorializing.
Here’s what they said after mentioning the US 72.5 + 4m +world record IMAX take for the weekend:
“The “This is not your father’s Star Trek” line of the ad campaign, while accurate in its description of the movie itself for better or for worse, was not only puerile but unnecessarily insulting to the previous Star Trek incarnations and the audience base. One doesn’t have to alienate the fans in order to broaden the appeal (even if most will take the abuse and still see the new movie anyway). The Batman and James Bond franchises were successfully rebooted without openly attacking what came before (and Batman had more to apologize for after Batman Forever and Batman and Robin).
Overshadowed by the flame-out of the later movies and television series, the popularity of Star Trek has been underrated, and the franchise certainly has a better batting average than J.J. Abrams, the director of the new movie who was given the keys after his first picture Mission: Impossible III disappointed and after his television series were either heavily-marketed non-starters in the ratings (Alias) or saw their audiences dwindle (Lost). While no Star Wars, Star Trek: The Motion Picture broke the opening weekend record nearly 30 years ago, amassing $11.9 million at 857 theaters or the equivalent of over $34 million adjusted for ticket price inflation, and its final tally of $82.3 million would equal nearly $240 million today. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Kahn also set a new weekend benchmark in its debut, and the average total gross of the previous Star Trek movies, including both the respected entries and the clunkers, is close to $150 million adjusted. ”
Brandon Gray (the author) must be a fan of ‘Star Trek’ but that little review seems decidedly aimed at both deflating Abrams as a factor in the film’s success, (and him as a success in general) and making a plea that Star Trek never really died, despite the crap of the last few years. Star Trek is more important than JJ Abrams.
The fact that this film is here now, and that it’s mostly good, are great things. JJ was the captain of a dedicated crew of writers and photographers, and was up there directing the superb cast. the FX, and then shlepping around the world to sell the thing. His pay-off is that he now has a true career as a film director. He’s in New York now directing Harrison Ford. The buck stopped with him, so he gets the credit for success, or the blame for failure.
What’s clear is that “Star Trek” as a brand needs to be fixed. Paramount/CBS shut down Enterprise after the best season of Trek since Locutus, and said ‘we’re sorry, it sucks’ after bleeding the base with Founders, Delta Quadrants, dune buggies and snarky Vulcans.
Trek has always been cool, and right now, it’s totally cool. Paramount should run with it.
By “explained” I mean given context and definition, however briefly. Is an invention? Some new element with time-warping properties? As much as I enjoyed the movie, it bugged me that the entire plot rested on these little red mystery blobs.
Boborci: In case you are reading this thread, I have two questions, if you don’t mind (but first of all, thanks for this wonderful movie. I saw it twice already and plan to go again. I am sure that I will be entertained for the next couple of years at least, while I wait for the sequel)
Ok, for the questions:
1) I read somewhere in this website that Marc Okrand is listed in the movie credits as a Vulcan and Romulan consultant. However not a single line in alien language is heard in the movie(or did I miss something?). IMHO that’s too bad because I always thought that the use of alien languages in ST movies increased realism (though I understand that some dramatic moments are better left in English). Anyway, what happened? Were the alien lines recorded but never used (I understand that most ST movies inserted them during post-production). And in case they were recorded, any chance of adding them to the movies when it is finally released on Bluray?
2) I read that a sequence showing Nero escaping from a Klingon prison was cut from the movie. That changes the open question “what was Nero doing during his 20 years wait for Spock” to “how did the Klingons manage to capture him (considering that the Narada seems indestructible)”. So, in the original script, were we going to see how (or why) the Klingons ended capturing him or was that left open?
Thanks a lot for your time. :)
I should have said (in 349) that I was referring to post # 346 / RM10019.
I know this will be burined and not read, but i’ll post it anyway. Loved the movie but absolutely HATED the engineering set. I mean come on, you could see beer vats and concrete walls!
349. Trek Nerd Central – May 11, 2009
-
The red matter was just a plot device, would it really have mattered if he just drilled the hell out of the planet then dumped a bunch of photons into the core? Probably would have destroyed Vulcan too.
The red matter does make it easier to explain away the black hole that causes the time travel.
I would say that significant effort has been made not only to ensure that the prime universe is not altered but to also be true to the history we already know.
The movie is “open” enough to allow many different conclusions as to how we got to the ending, without having to explain every little detail to us along the way. If JJ did explain everything to us, then the movie would have flopped.
352. Horatio – May 11, 2009
-
I agree that engineering was almost too busy looking, it was an effective set. Concrete is one of the best materials to use for huge structures, look at modern overpasses, bridges, high rises, etc… I don’t see any reason why it couldn’t be used in a star ship… for that matter it would likely take far more of a beating than conventional steel alone.
#319 and #350: Some good points.
I hope Bob O pops by and perhaps clears up some of those things.
I mean, the movie was great yes, and some fleshing out would be nice too.
304. cagmar
Personally, I did not find anything disturbing about the direction, the camerawork, the cinematography, etc. This is representative of a newer, modern style of direction and film-making that is designed to convey a particular look and feel. I do not believe this film would have had quite the impact it had if it had been directed in the style of, say, “2001,” with long, unmoving shots.
In addition, this film is also designed to appeal to the younger crowd, brought up on (what I believe was referred to as) the “MTV look.”
I thought some of the CG-work had an amazing look of realism, and some of the exterior shots of the ships was amazing. We got to SEE things in this film we have never seen before, in any other film… and that is part of the overall effect of the film. Yes, I know there are many critics of the lens-flare, rapid-motion type of look we see here, but that is a matter of preference. I think it worked well for this film. There was just as much “ordinary-looking” stuff in the film, so it wasn’t JUST the other… sorry if I’m not being clear…
If the sequel is directed by someone other than JJ, we might see an entirely different look… who knows? Just as a songwriter “hears” the entire song finished in his head before it gets recorded, a director “sees” the entire film finished in his head. Then you work with others to try to bring that vision into reality. Sometimes things work out exactly as you envisioned, sometimes not, and sometimes what you get is better than what you expected. There is no way to transfer the mind directly onto the screen, in any case.
I believe when one truly considers the MASSIVE undertaking that making a film is, humility is in order. I have nothing but respect for the people that made this film.
#347 opcode: I hope you’re right about the movie getting over $350 million. But I don’t think Star Trek will have the foreign box office like Indiana Jones or other big summer movies, based on the Star Trek movies’ prior track records. However, perhaps the big marketing push overseas will make a difference this time.
I’m sitting here in a coffee shop working on my laptop, and a couple of the regulars were talking with me about the movies out there right now. Both people have teens, and both said that their kids are really pumped to go see Wolverine, because it is “exciting” and “really cool.” When I mentioned about Star Trek being really fun and exciting, they looked at me like I was speaking Klingon. It just did not compute.
My girls are 11 and 9 and they never could sit through a Star Trek DVD with me at home, but I dragged them to the theater because I told them this one was different. And they both loved it. My oldest wanted to go see it again, she was really pumped. But it took having a father for a Star Trek fan in order to get her to go see it.
I just don’t know how many 17-25 year olds out there are going to go see this movie. Right or wrong, they are the core of the movie-going public. And while fans here are fighting over what the engineering section looks like, that’s not what the core group of movie-goers are going to be looking for. They are looking for an entertaining movie, which is what this one was.
They aren’t sitting there on Monday going, “Well wait, how did that Kirk dude end up running into the same cave as that old wrinkling dude with pointed ears? And they aren’t sitting there trying to figure out all of the time travel and alternate reality scenarios.
No, they are thinking, “Wow, that was a fun and exciting movie. That Kirk guy was cute and the explosions were awesome.”
I’m not saying I agree with this, but to have a successful movie in 2009 you need to reach that segment of the market. The key is to have enough meat for the more intellectually-evolved like us, while still reaching those who just want the fun and excitement.
The SNL was hilarious.
Here’s a cool article about the sequel, http://cinemablend.com/new/Star-Trek-The-Next-Charting-A-Course-For-The-Sequel-13094.html
353. Navy, I’m not saying I wanted a dissertation on red matter. Just one measly line of dialogue would have helped. It’s the sort of thing the original series did all the time.
I should emphasize again that I loved the movie, absolutely loved it, despite its flaws. And I appreciate the brilliance of re-setting the timeline.
I completely agree that everyone is entitled to an opinion, so allow me to give mine.
For those who say this movie doesn’t discuss the human condition, doesn’t have a message, whatever: I became a fan when I was 9. At that age I surely couldn’t understand all the social commentary (though I am sure that I could understand the plots), because I was too young, that was the 70s (not the 60s), and I wasn’t living in the US. Back then Star Trek was the fun of the adventures and the characters, the sci-fi settings. Of course as I grown older, I started to enjoy the social commentary too. Now before someone says that I am a minority, from the top of my mind I can think of three fan favorite episodes that don’t have any kind of social commentary or discussion of the human condition (and please feel free to correct me if I am wrong): The Trouble with the Tribbles, Amok Time and Balance of Terror. I am sure that there are more, but I am lazy today… :)
So I think this movie bonds pretty well to the above. It makes me fall in love with Star Trek all again for the same reasons I got into it 30 years ago. Sometimes I wonder if we Trekkers haven’t create this whole “Star Trek is social comment” thing just to make us believe that Star Trek is more relevant than other forms of entertainment, more relevant than it really is. Perhaps the NBC execs were right, perhaps The Cage is indeed boring and too much cerebral. It seems to me that the same group that once labeled TMP, the zenith of the Roddenberry vision, as boring and slow paced and praised TWOK for being more exciting and action-oriented, is now saying that this new Star Trek is a mindless action movie. IMHO the new movie is the closest to the spirit and fun of TOS. It’s how I remember Star Trek: Kirk was a womanizer, he was a “shoot first and ask questions later” kind of captain, always brawling with the villain of the week. The transport and all the gadgets were cool, the occasional creature of the week was frightening, and the Enterprise was an exciting ship to be.
OK…Ok…on Kirk attaining the rank of captain straight out of the Academy…
I suspect that there is a bridging scene where the original Spock has a “talk” to Starfleet Command regarding this one genius cadet that needs to command his own ship…RIGHT NOW! Becuase his has the universe to save a few dozen times over.
That would also explain Spock’s sudden presence on the balcony overlooking the Academy auditorium.
We’ll see if such a scene exists and is added to the DVD.
157. Josh – May 10, 2009
“Besides, they’re already stated that this Delta Vega is different from the one in TOS:
http://memory-alpha.org/en/wiki/Delta_Vega_(Vulcan_system)”
Nice of MA to clean that up. But that was not the intention of the writers. In an interview on this site they said:
AP: It is a cool reference, but didn’t you also fudge canon by ignoring that Delta Vega was way out next to the galactic barrier.
Orci: True. Yeah we did. We moved the planet to suit our purposes. The familiarity of the name seemed more important as an Easter egg, than a new name with no importance.
Here’s the link: http://trekmovie.com/2009/04/30/interview-roberto-orci-alex-kurtzman
361 – I’m still amazed that people are discounting the fact that, you know, saving Earth is a rather large and important thing on Kirk’s resume to be captain…
Pike already said Kirk could “have his own command” in 8 years PRIOR to joining the academy, which means Pike thought Kirk could normally get a command 4 years after leaving the academy. Getting a 4 year jump based on the events of the movie doesn’t seem THAT farfetched to me. Besides, he obviously had Pike on his side as well.
How are they going to approach the 2nd film I wonder? The temptation is there to explore alternative versions of existing stories (have heard rumours about the return of Khan!) but I feel this would be a cop out and we need to see something NEW and fresh now the new crew are in place and ready to do some serious “where no man has gone before” exploring…
Trouble is, are they going to begin a 5-year mission like the original crew did? If so how can they get around the fact that the films can only be made one every 2 years or so, and the actors will quickly grow older too fast? Makes more sense to me to have this new film segue into a big budget television series, which lasts for 5 seasons – one season per year of exploration, before this new castr get too famous too quickly and then will demand salaries way above what a TV budget could allow. And then witness a proper bridging between the series era and the movie era.
Personally I’d rather see a 5 year series featuring this new crew, using proper sci-fi writers, rather than a movie ever 2 years or so, if we’re lucky.
Thoughts???
364 – some thoughts
1) I pretty much agree with you that “revisiting” old stories would probably be bad. Maybe the only exception might be some episode that gets forgotten by everyone that is made better and expanded…maybe
2) I think part of the thinking of the 5 year mission is that…we’ve already seen a lot of it. Much of the Enterprise’s experiences aren’t going to change because the events of the movie. Sure, some of them will, but many if not most of them won’t. Will they occur EXACTLY the same? Maybe not, but Khan, the Doomsday Machine, etc. are all still out there.
As a result, I think movies could just be new experiences within the ones we already know about within the 5 year mission.
364. I, Mugsy – May 11, 2009
“Personally I’d rather see a 5 year series featuring this new crew, using proper sci-fi writers, rather than a movie ever 2 years or so, if we’re lucky.
Thoughts???”
That could be cool, but it ain’t gonna happen. Star Trek is the goose that laid the golden egg once again at Paramount. They’ll keep making movies with this cast.
But the good news is that because of the success of this movie we probably will get a new series sooner rather than later. Maybe not before the next movie, but possibly in three years.
360:
opcode:
Wow.
“Balance of Terror” is one of the better-executed series takes on racism.
Stiles hates the Romulans in that ship because some other Romulans they don’t know murdered his father. In a war years ago. Stiles, upon viewing their Vulcanoid features, experiences race-hatred towards Spock, his superior officer, and a pacifist. Despite the Romulans’ nefarious plan, Kirk almost befriends their commander, as he tries to understand his motivations. He’s able to second-guess the Romulan, but at the end, he respects him as an equal.
“Amok Time” is about the value of friendship and family, and what it means in relation to all the crap that we, as humans, juggle as important issues in our lives. Kirk says, about Spock: “He’s saved my life a dozen times over. Isn’t that worth a career?” as he decides to violate orders to save his friend’s life. He did it again in TSFS.
“Trouble with Tribbles…” Well, I’ll give you that one. Maybe the message is ‘give hell to bureaucrats,’ or ‘keep your food processors clean.’
I always liked Capt. Pike…and the wheelchair at the end was a very nice touch. I also wonder if he’s permanently disabled (if so, gotta get Bones on that)!
Good that he got a much brighter “future” than even the Talosians could provide in TOS.
Another nice touch would have been some original Spock/Pike dialogue…let’s not forget that this is the man who cared so much for Pike that he mutinied and stole the Enterprise! Once again, I wouldn’t be surprised if the DVD has an added Pike/Spock Prime scene…now that would be cool…and would also explain the age at which Kirk was promoted! “Because Admiral Pike says so…that’s why!”
According to an online, unscientific readers poll conducted at CBSnews, 44.08% of moviegoers plan to see Star Trek (summer movies).
Here’s their breakdown:
Star Trek: 44.08%
Wolverine: 12.04%
Harry Potter: 15.82%
GI Joe: 00.00%
Angels & Demons: 12.24%
Transformers: 9.05%
Terminator: Salvation: 4.68%
Inglorious Bastards: 00.09%
Public Enemies: 1.29%
Interesting, but I think not totally reliable. But I do like the results, at least as far as Star Trek is concerned.
WIth the new movie being a hit, the creative team will definitely need to be creative to propel the next story to the screen. The bar is set and they cannot afford to relapse into a story that has already been told. They will need to definitely think outside the box to come up with a story that will strike an accord with the fans and the mainstream. One of the early reviewers mentioned about a trilogy. I think is a good idea. But, the creative team cannot use an idea similar in the past. I would like them to consider to look at some of the books and get ideas for this new movie.
334. really? you’re complaining about what side they parted bone’s hair? thank god this star trek is mainstream. hopefully it will drown out nitpicks like this.
the film was spectacular, and maybe even far better than anything gene could have ever pulled together. he was a great man, with amazing ideas. JJ is a storyteller, and he’s taken Gene’s world and given it life.
The advantages of a new TV series would be the thrill for older fans to know that from time to time the crew would encounter familiar foes/problems and could solve them in different ways to that of the original crew, in addition to providing good excuses to visit stories that were hinted at but never happened (i.e. characters backstories and so forth). It could all be fleshed out so much more.
The problem with a film based series is – as already stated – one story only every 2 years or so. Which means each story has to be action packed and bombastic to keep the multi-plex crowd happy. There’s little room for more subtle character driven episodes as there is in a TV series.
Lastly, sticking with films, we can probably expect 5-6 films at the most? 6 episodes is nothing is it, and that would entail large gaps between each film which would be filled if it were a tv series… or bunch of larger budget tv movies.
I realise this is all the stuff of dreams Paramount will undoubtedly stick with motion pictures for now, but I think Star Trek is best suited to the smaller episodic adventures to create a richer tapestry for story telling.
- Mugz
Okay, what is the big deal about the new development of the Spock/Uhura relationship (mind you, I have some problems with it, but not for the more obvious reasons)?
Sarek married a human woman, Amanda Grayson, so why should it be unthinkable Spock and Uhura could not have developed feelings for one another?
My problem with the relationship stems from the fact that this would be a breach of student / teacher ethics… or the fact that Spock was a superior orfficer, again a breach of ethics (however, there can be a somewhat awkward solution getting around both scenarios).
I helped the film’s take seeing it 3 times! How’s that for boosting the cause? Twice on reg. screens and once on Imax.
I think Trek will overtake Wolverine very soon on overall take and keep it’s first place standing next weekend, before the other films opening dates.
Minor Question:
In the fiim it was stated that Kirk’s father…in the “normal” timeline…lived to see Kirk take command of the Enterprise.
Was this ever truly established anywhere? I only ask because I thought Kirk was orphaned due to the events described in “The Consciense of the King”???
Nerd Alert!
I just found something cool on Memory Alpha. It says Tuvok was born in 2264, so that’s six years after Vulcan was destroyed. But it also says he was born on Vulcanis Lunar Colony. So maybe Tuvok survived in the Alt. Timeline
Not that I really liked much of Voyager, but it’s plausible he’s out there.
Maybe that’s the colony the Spock Prime was staking out at the end of the movie.
End Nerd Alert.
374. RichR – May 11, 2009
“In the fiim it was stated that Kirk’s father…in the “normal” timeline…lived to see Kirk take command of the Enterprise.
Was this ever truly established anywhere? I only ask because I thought Kirk was orphaned due to the events described in “The Consciense of the King”???”
No, it had never been addressed. In fact i don’t think Kirk’s father was ever mentioned on screen before. It was a nice touch to create some new canon for the Prime Timeline. Actually my favorite bit in the movie.
375 – interesting. I didn’t know Tuvok was that old. But yes, if he wasn’t actually born on Vulcan, then he may actually exist in the new timeline after all.
#166 – The movie rocked, is excellent and outstanding for the following reasons:
- A character driven story that focuses on our core characters and NOT FX or the main villain.
- A group of actors who have chemistry and gave new life to the beloved characters while making them their own.
-A good share of Trek references that didn’t clutter the movie, but were great nods to us longtime fans.
-Excellent special effects and music/score.
-Leonard Nimoy.
I have waited a long time for a Trek movie of this caliber. I actually choked up a few times at (what I consider) the beauty and grandeur of the movie.
boborci – EXCELLENT JOB TO YOU AND EVERYONE.
I have never actually posted here (mostly because all the points are often covered extensively without my input), though I am an almost daily visitor.
I have to say, I had mixed feelings coming out of the theatre. I loved most aspects of it, but it took a couple of days to compute it all, and to balance my misgivings about the changes with my immediate love of the new actors and their portrayals of the characters we’ve all come to know (and that some of us grew up with).
My nitpicks were actually quite few (considering that this is the birth of an alternate universe, different in many ways from the one I have grown up with), but sincere and, i felt, important. My initial nitpicks were: the destruction of vulcan (and the subsequent loss/negation of all of the great stories involving that planet that we have all seen), the mysterious relocation of delta vega coupled with the coincidental (magical?) nature of Pine and Nimoy’s meeting there (way to beam him down right at the entrance of spock’s cave!), problems with the new spock in general (though he seemed a perfect balance of “the cage” and the rest of TOS), which I have now attributed to Quinto’s other famous character unfairly coloring his performance, and the cutting of Nero’s story during that 25- year chunk of time that just zips by (i also would’ve like to have seen more of the countdown story make it into the movie)–I think he would’ve been a more powerful and compelling antagonist if this had been included.
Today, however, these nitpicks are no longer an impediment to my full and complete enjoyment of the film. After some thought, I can honestly say that I really liked the movie. I will echo another reviewer’s opinion that I was indeed left wanting more (my only remaining gripe, if it could be called one). I look forward to a sequel that is more measured, and perhaps a little more profound. I’ve had my cake, now I want to eat it too, and be full.
I also look forward to enjoying what this universe has to offer alongside the one that already exists, and has existed for 40+ years. There is room for both. I hope others feel the same so that it doesn’t end here. There is a certain sort of excitement I feel for the new stories that will come (and new character developments) for this old crew.
-P
Don’t forget, the outbreak of Swine flu has pushed back the release of the film in Mexico till later tis month(TBD).
Wonder what the (SPOILERRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) destruction of a certain planet will mean for Spock and the Pon Farr – will Spock now go mad???!?
Answers on a postcard please
;)
#29:
An animated series? Set in this new timeline but not the same characters? Why? Animated in what crappy, schlocky for-TV way? We’d never get ‘Avatar’, that’s for sure. And, what’s the hook? The Apple Store/brewery floor technology? The fact that there is no Vulcan? How many stories can we squeeze out of that?
As far as I’m concerned, STAR TREK has, over the years, devolved with the addition of new series and characters. This movie proves to me that the original characters are the truly credible – not to mention mythic – and that it FINALLY does not matter what actor is playing them. If we’re going do more STAR TREK, keep it here with Kirk & Crew. I’d rather see a new live-action series with even new actors playing the parts (yes, imagine trying to get Pine & Co. on TV now) – and hopefully J.J. will executive produce – than watch more universe-tampering, like ‘Enterprise’ was doomed to.
There are so many people I know that want to see it but haven’t yet. They do say they plan to this next weekend or soon thereafter. Here’s hoping for at least one more week at #1 with some big bucks!!!
372:
MC1 Doug:
It is not a “breach of ethics” for two people to fall in love on the job. It happens all the time.
When you spend extended time together with the same people, it is inevitable that relationships are formed. In “The Next Generation,” they flirted with families on board, and even in the new film, George Kirk’s wife was most likely a lower-ranking officer.
In the workplace, it is a ‘breach of ethics’ to create an atmosphere in which a valued co-worker is made to feel personally uncomfortable due to sexual harassment or abusive treatment. I don’t think Nu-Spock and Nuhura met that way. Seems like the like each other. Alot.
381. I, Mugsy – May 11, 2009
“Wonder what the (SPOILERRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) destruction of a certain planet will mean for Spock and the Pon Farr – will Spock now go mad???!?”
Seems like Spock is getting all the Pn Farr he needs from our Communications Officer.
Also, scratch my comment about maybe the colony that Tuvok is born on is the same one that Spock Prime was talking about. It’s a paradox. It doesn’t work… or does it?
294-The new movie altered the timeline. It does not matter when Spock went back in time. The altered timeline does not have to result in Kirk’s presence on the B when he disappears into the Matrix, and it does not have to result in his death.
I am fully aware, having visited this site for more than a year, about Shatner’s refusal to do a cameo. My only point in all of this is that the original concept should have included Shatner. He should have been more than an afterthought. Who cares if he is difficult to work with. That’s why producers, actors and directors get paid the big bucks. They deal with it.
One massive nerd thing to add: please re-design engineering. I know it isn’t THAT important, and the Star Trek is about the characters, ideas, etc., but I don’t think that duct tape on a giant vat of BEER should figure in anywhere in the design of a brand new federation flagship. That took me out of the movie, as did a couple of the excessive lens flares. I’d like to see a new cinematographer as well. Handycam action was fine, but the lens flares were not. Nerd hat off.
-P
386 – you mean the Nexus?
And Kirk still went into the Nexus and died in the timeline Spock came from, so I’m not sure what your point is, unless you wanted to bring in Kirk from yet another different timeline, just because.
Here’s a nerd comment:
Why was it necessary to drill to the planet’s core to drop the red matter? From the dialogue in the movie, all it needs is something to ignite it, and detonation on planet Vulcan’s surface would have been equally destructive yet probably more horrific to deal with. Nero’s ship was compromised and destroyed by it (without drilling), but I suppose it was for dramatic effect.
Ok, so I watched the movie twice, bought the Star Trek for iPhone game, bought the new Enterprise model from Toys ‘R Us, and am on preorder for the Blu-Ray when it comes out. I hope that helps drive your numbers, guys. You really deserved it.
389 – but we wouldn’t be able to see Vulcan implode on itself if he just released it on the surface! lol
Has anyone talked about the 800 people that George Kirk saved on the Kelvin?
Seems like a lot of people on that ship. The original Enterprise only held a little more than 400 during Prime Kirk’s five year mission. And in Prime Pike’s time it only had 200.
The Kelvin looks like it’s supposed to be smaller than the Enterprise, so where are all these people coming from?
Wait… don’t tell me, they just evacuated a colony or something before the movie started. I guess that could work for me.
You couldn’t have included Shatner credibly in this story concept. You would have to have created an *additional* coincidental meeting to explain how Spock Prime meets New Kirk *AND* in some similar vein figure out how Kirk Prime meets, say, either New Kirk or Kirk Prime. And how on earth do you magically resurrect “Kirk Classic” from the dead such that you can then manufacture a way he and Spock Prime can work in concert to get back to New Kirk’s timeline?
I think Abrams was spot-on in his belief that any sucy effort would have been an obvious appendage to the story. The story was very tightly wound IMO, and worked perfectly well without Kirk.
If you want to blame someone, don’t blame Abrams. Blame the Berman crew for the gratuitous killing of Kirk in the first place.
389. Raphael Salgado – May 11, 2009
“Why was it necessary to drill to the planet’s core to drop the red matter? From the dialogue in the movie, all it needs is something to ignite it,”
LOL! Because it was cool looking? Actually, let’s not talk about it.
I really don’t understand the doubt about going from farmer to captain in 3.5 years. Lots of my friends in college were farmers and between 4-H and the drive to get the hell out of the farmlands they tended to excel like their butts were on fire.
Regarding criticism of manual valves on the Enterprise, I work as an Engineer in high tech and have been involved in the design and productization of plasma and chemical reactors. Things like 2-valve isolation of dangers and manual gate valves and interlocks so people don’t get killed doing maintenance and sometimes so someone has to intentionally go down to open a valve are very important from a Safety Complaince standpoint. In chip manufacturing fabs like Intel and Samsung, Clean Rooms have robotic vacuum systems, wonderful filters and bright lighting, but the pumps, water flows, etc. are in an area called the sub-fab or grey area that looks (but for the electronics racks) like a fall-back to the 19th century in terms of the water tubing, pumps, etc. I think the presence of these areas is not that surprising or unrealistic.
367: AJ:
One can come up with moral messages like that from anything on TV, even reality or wrestling. “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” tackles racism, Balance of Terror is just a recreation of submarine tactics in space, but it is fun anyway. We are introduced to the Romulans and the Neutral Zone.
Don’t get me wrong…I love Karl Urban’s doctor…
But for some reason I kept flashing back to Dan Akyroid from the original ST skit on SNL…which was also a pretty good imitation!!!
394.
At least for me, it wasn’t the valves that got to me so much–I actually liked them. I think it was the flashes of the corrugated metal ceiling and the duct tape around the storage tanks (full of quadrotriticale no doubt; maybe the duct tape was there to cover holes chewed in the tanks by tribbles?) that were distracting. Even my non-nerd g/f noticed the duct tape–it made her chuckle, which is OK since it was a “funny” part of the movie anyway, but still. CG that ceiling if you have to kids, this is the flagship.
-P
With all the TOS references in this movie I wonder why the writers didn’t choose the obvious choice of Dr. Boyce or Dr. Piper for chief medical officer of the Enterprise?
The death of Dr. Piper would have been perfect to explain the reason for McCoy showing up in the series after Paul Fixx’s less than exciting stint on Where No Man has Gone Before.
398. Star Trackie – May 11, 2009
“With all the TOS references in this movie I wonder why the writers didn’t choose the obvious choice of Dr. Boyce or Dr. Piper for chief medical officer of the Enterprise?”
I’d have traded that for the Delta Vega nod that made little sense.
#392 “You couldn’t have included Shatner credibly in this story concept. ”
Sure you could. All you would have to do is add it in the mind meld sequence where PIne’s Kirk could be gathering brief glimpses of his alternate life and future through Spock’s memories. A huge role, no, but a glimpse would have been easy and judging by the way the crowd reacted to Nimoy’s appearance, a similar appearance by Shatner would have been just as enthusiastically recieved.
#348: ““The “This is not your father’s Star Trek” line of the ad campaign, while accurate in its description of the movie itself for better or for worse, was not only puerile but unnecessarily insulting to the previous Star Trek incarnations and the audience base. One doesn’t have to alienate the fans in order to broaden the appeal (even if most will take the abuse and still see the new movie anyway).”
Why does this alienate and anger so many people? I just don’t get it. Is it an insult that Oldsmobile used that same slogan for years and years without offense?
I’ve seen the film twice now. And he film is unlike any TREK film to date, I see nothing wrong with using an intriguing ad campaign to draw in new views…
“Abuse?”
(huh? I don’t recall being abused)
Whoa, pardner, take your phasers off disintegrate and chill!
For those who seem to be angry at Paramount and JJ Abrams et al for tinkering with ST’s format, my advice is go see the film, enjoy it.
401. MC1 Doug – May 11, 2009
“Abuse?”
You’re right the Oldsmobile thing seems minuscule now that we’ve been called dickheads by LN himself.
Just jokes. I thought the SNL bit was side-splittingly funny.
YES!
this is GOOD news.
ABOUT TIME!!!!!
It’s so amazing how most people see Star Trek for what it is, a fantastic entertaining family film and franchise. Yet, some act like it’s their baby doll or security blanket that someone just ran through he washing machine (HOW DARE THEY!!).
#395 Oh Opcode … one episode, one topic is that it? Perhaps racial profiling would be more apropos for BOT here? EIther way, all of those episodes had some social or political commentary however slight. If you can’t see any of this, then there truly is no hope of trying to explain it … ST strived for high ideals even in the silliest of topics. Even Spock’s brain attempted to tackle inequalities between the sexes.
#391. 750 Mang , the Fleet ships seem generally to be bigger. I think the Kelvin was around the size of the prime Enterprise, and the Orciprise is truly gigantic. I’d say about 2000-2500 feet, judging by the shuttles, and thus larger than the Galaxy class…
395:
opcode:
“BOT” was pretty obvious, IMHO, and is hailed in “Trekdom” one of the more brilliant commentaries on racism, whereas “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” is accused of spelling it out in ten words or less.
BOT was also a lot of fun. The combined Earth crew was important to the show-runners to show that diversity is a strength and not a weakness.
And stupidly, I forgot to comment that BOT, your “submarine tactics in space,” is also a cold-war, or just a war, allegory.
During World War One, German, French, and British troops used to stop fighting on Christmas in local cease-fires to celebrate together, or at least to sing, and see whose caroling was louder on each side of the front.
BOT was about that possibility.
I expect Closettrekker, who is a historian, to plop in and correct, and annotate this information.
#400 – That is exactly the kind of cameo Shatner WOULD NOT DO. Talk about diminishing Shatner’s role in Star Trek.
Putting Shatner in the sequel would be a huge mistake for a mass audience and not the best idea for fans either. The reboot needs to get on with telling their own stories not re-visiting alternate characters from another universe (from the new film’s perspective). It would be bad story-telling, bad movie-making and a huge mistake, especially in the sequel that follows. Mass audiences would shake their heads wondering if every film is going to shoe-horn in an old-fart from the original series, in some confusing time-travel, multi-universe paradox twist.
Besides, Shatner had the opportunity to bow out in a bigger fashion, or NOT, and he signed off on the script and made his swan song. He does not get to do it again at the expense of the success of the re-boot of the franchise, simply because he has had second thoughts, or the fans didn’t care for the choice (and don’t kid yourself, Shatner held all of the cards in Generations) Shatner made for the character.
Chris Pine is the second chance at death that Shatner should never get.
Or would you prefer some ridiculous story where “Prime” Spock, lonesome for his old friend figures a way to extract Kirk from the Nexus and the two shack up on Delta Vega together reliving old memories, waiting on their annual visits from their alternate counter-parts? Oh brother … as it is, Prime Spock is likely to die peacefully in bed in some newly established Vulcan colony. And frankly it is best we never see him again either, though with two Spocks tooling around the universe, I suppose we are doomed to see a deathbed scene with Quinto and Nimoy. In which case, perhaps the retelling of some moment between prime Kirk and Spock would be acceptable, prior to Prime Kirk’s death.
406. That Nutty Fanboy – May 11, 2009
“#391. 750 Mang , the Fleet ships seem generally to be bigger. I think the Kelvin was around the size of the prime Enterprise, and the Orciprise is truly gigantic. I’d say about 2000-2500 feet, judging by the shuttles, and thus larger than the Galaxy class…”
I hear ya. But the Kelvin has got to be a lot bigger than the Prime Enterprise because the crew compliment was roughly double. Or at least Pike says that George Kirk saved 800 lives. So…
I’ll say it for the rest of you, “nerds get a life.”
One other observation — at the end of the movie I found it a little surprising that cadets could still fill up the entire auditorium at the academy. The must have lost a few thousand cadets during the encounter with Narada over Vulcan.
411. RoobyDoo – May 11, 2009
“One other observation — at the end of the movie I found it a little surprising that cadets could still fill up the entire auditorium at the academy. The must have lost a few thousand cadets during the encounter with Narada over Vulcan.”
I figured only the graduating cadets were sent to the armada headed to Vulcan, plus there were a lot on the Enterprise.
I thought it was weird they they were all back in their red cadet jumpsuits.
It was all shot on the same day as the Kirk Trail scene. I know they had to get Tyler Perry in and out fast, but a costume change may have been nice.
Damn nit picky Trekkie.
Wow I cannot say enough how much I LOVED this movie.. the ACTION!! the SUSPENSE!! When Kirk looked over in the transporter pad and saw Spock getting his groove on he was like: “Yo Spock that’s how we DO IT!!” And when Nero’s ship was falling appart Spock was all Rambo-like “I wouldn’t normally say it buuuuuuuuttttt KILL em!!” BRILLIANT!!! I wonder if the new Dr. Marcus will be green skinned :P
“When Fortuna spins you downward, go out to a movie and get more out of life.”
— John Kennedy Toole (A Confederacy of Dunces)
WHOA!! HEY!!
I’m not sure if my nerd side is comfortable with a 1701 that big at the start. I’m OK with a fairly large Kelvin as it seemed to be an old, over-crowded, plodding, almost aircraft carrier type of ship (as evidenced by the veritable squadron of shuttles escaping the ship). It actually reminded me of the Stargazer a bit, which seemed to have a rather large shuttle bay door. If you count the ships shown in Enterprise, we’ve already seen fairly large ships roaming around as early as the 22nd Century, so I’m honestly OK with a large Kelvin. The 1701, on the other hand, seems a bit sleeker, slimmer, faster and an altogether more compact design. If it were galaxy class size, that would make the nacelles almost laughably huge. I would guess it is a little larger than the TOS enterprise, but the two rows of windows on the front of the saucer preclude it being as massive as the Galaxy class. Nerd hat off.
-P
#350
The Narada’s computer system speaks in Romulan at various points in the film, and I remember Ayel delivering a brief line to Nero in Romulan as well.
Also, we’ve seen Vulcans enter Pon Farr without returning to Vulcan and they survived. I think it’s more about the mating than the location :)
#409—”Putting Shatner in the sequel would be a huge mistake for a mass audience and not the best idea for fans either. The reboot needs to get on with telling their own stories not re-visiting alternate characters from another universe (from the new film’s perspective). It would be bad story-telling, bad movie-making and a huge mistake, especially in the sequel that follows. Mass audiences would shake their heads wondering if every film is going to shoe-horn in an old-fart from the original series, in some confusing time-travel, multi-universe paradox twist.”
Happy to agree with you there.
Trick,
I can’t defend duct tape or the ceilings. There’s no reason the rooms shouldn’t have similar ceiling, lighting in the different areas of the ship and the CGI should be fairly cheap for something like that.
Regarding next movie plot, I’m hoping they find something more cerebral in terms of a premise and avoid revisiting too much characters from the original timeline (Gary Mitchell). I’d love to see Gary or other characters thrown in if it makes sense, but I don’t think the movie should focus on it.
Instead, I’d rather see something like a big budget version of a classic show and not the universe at stakes but (based on the decisions) their survival, success, and morality.
I think if you look at Solaris and Forbidden planet together with successful horror films (even Cloverfield) it’s possible to have action and adventure without having to save the universe. I think they’d have to throw something in in terms of space battles (Klingons in the beginning as they approach the planet and at the end on their way out). The rest of the focus should be on the planet itself. I think if you want to have a culturally current and poigniant statement, the dillema of the federation allowing a community to preserve their believes while at the same time trying to arm them to protect themselves AND support the Federation’s security. is an interesting thing, especially if you go back to the Klingons of TOS who will use any advantage to defeat an opponent, without compassion or remorse. I think it’s very realistic to make 2 films back to back with an arc, with Klingons as the badies in each.
i wish i had andy kurtzman’s beard growing ability.
418.
For sure on the ceiling and duct tape. I’m guessing they just ran out of money and really wanted that scene in for added humor, so they did it on the cheap. I can understand this, but I would like to see a serious crack at the engine room for the next time out.
I am in agreement with out on a “smaller” story for next time. I actually enjoyed that aspect of Insurrection–it was a smaller story with a bigger, if slightly muddled at times, message. I would like to see Klingons as well, but with a little more depth than STIII, and a little more ruthlessness than TNG. Maybe a Kor type character.
419.
I have it, and then some. Be careful what you wish for–mach 3 razors are not cheap, nor are electric trimmers. Having to take both to your face on a daily basis is not all its cracked up to be.
-P
410. 750 Mang, the Kelvin is a good deal older, and 800 people on board is all but inconceivable, considering an aircraft carrier of these days would be manned by five thousand (IIRC). Plus, I’d wager the Kelvin has actually more usable volume than the old 1701, so 800 climbs all the more into the realm of possibility, especially with families. I’m more wondering how they stuffed all those into the shuttles. ;)
And why should a Nutty Fanboy get a life? A Nutty Fanboy, that’s an aspiring VFX artist, nonetheless? I thrive on such information ;)
Star Gains nearly $3 million on weekend actuals, now up to $79.2 million for Thursday-Sunday.
wow, so close to $80!
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/weekend/chart/?view=&yr=2009&wknd=19&p=.htm
421. That Nutty Fanboy – May 11, 2009
“And why should a Nutty Fanboy get a life? A Nutty Fanboy, that’s an aspiring VFX artist, nonetheless? I thrive on such information ”
lol.
So do you think the new Enterprise holds more or less than the Kelvin.
Letting my geek flag fly.
#408—-100% correct on the unofficial ceasefires. It was also common then for opposing forces to stop and allow attending medical treatment for the wounded. WWI was an overlapping mess of romanticism about war and the introduction of modern weaponry and wholesale slaughter.
As for BOT, I have a few comments. First, the commentary on race is far better than other treatments of the subject in TOS. I think on some level, it pokes fun at human nature in suggesting that human beings have moved beyond predjudice among themselves, but some have simply moved on to applying it to non-humans. Whether that was intentional or (far more likely) merely a side effect of using human vs. alien bigotry to comment upon racial issues closer to home in the mid-late 60’s—-it works well.
BOT attacks the issue on two levels.
Styles proves that still bigotry exists in the 23rd Century, even if it has moved on from skin color to planet of origin. Kirk even acknowledges it quite easily, telling the officer to “leave it in his quarters”, rather than insulting the intelligence of the audience by giving him a lecture on its lack of value.
While the audience watches Styles learn a personal lesson as the story progresses, the real fruit of the story is learning that the enemy is not so different than our heroes. The Romulan Commander faces tough decisions, and answers in the best way he can. In addition to adding something to the commentary on race, this also serves as an allegory to the realities of Cold War politics. After all, those on the other side of the “Iron Curtain” were just trying to get through life as best as they could too.
As AJ points out, “Let That Be Your Last Battlefield” shoves the issue in your face, and is therefore less regarded as any kind of thoughtful entry. Similarly, “The Cloud Minders” falls short in this regard too, although it is probably a rant against classism more than racism.
I do like Uhura’s throwaway line in “The Savage Curtain”, however, which (IMO) places both sides of the issue in its best context—- (paraphrasing)”But why should I be offended?…in our time, we’ve learned not to fear words”
423. 750 Mang – May 11, 2009
“So do you think the new Enterprise holds more or less than the Kelvin.”
gut instinct, I’d say about 50% more despite advances in machinations and automatation.
Trick,
I think you’re right re: them throwing the scene in w/o budget– especially if they decided late in the day to pull 20 minutes of Nero and needed some filler… I would also love to see what the Engine Room looks like under Scotty’s command.
Re: Klingons, I think they’ve got an incredible warrior race, but I see flaws in every depiction. In TOS, they’re at heart cowards and didn’t have the budget for prosthetics. In Trek III they’re stupid. In TNG they tried too hard to create a backstory and arc for Worf and in the process ended up explaining the culture to the point it wasn’t scary and in wierd ways made them inconsistent and one-dimensional– also their viciousness was always too soft in that show.
I would love it if they don’t try to explain the Klingons but instead made them vicious warriors with alot of intellect and a rich heritage more akin to that of the bedouins. The viciousness would have to be palpable in their actions and not explained away. I would frankly research into the poetry of the nomadic bands that ultimately spawned the Khanates of the middle east and India and depict in the films simple poetry readings or other cultural forms not inconsistent with a strong warrior race, but not focused entirely on battle and carnage, so the depth of their culture is hinted at.
I would love to have a nemesis for Kirk akin to the Saladin character of Kingdom of Heaven lurking in the backgrounds behind the mystery and/or challenge that faces the Enterprise crew.
Okay, so are we to assume that the appearance of the Narada and destruction of the Kelvin scared the hell out of Starfleet and so they made greater technological advances than occurred during the same period in the Prime Timeline?
Again, not trying to be overly critical, just trying to make the ends meet in my little brain.
Geek flag at full staff.
LL&P
man, TOS Youtube episodes dont work im my country :((
I love this Film! I have seen it twice so far! will go see it with my yonger Cousins later on this week! Trek will Live long and Prosper! Thanks for having such a great Recourse as this site Anthony !!!
What happened with Kirk Rescuing PIke? I saw the scene at the Thursday night showing but not the one I went to on Saturday! The movie rocks I will see it many more times!
I have come down from my canon mountain, after a couple days of digestion…after which I can make a much better judge of a theatrical release.
I enjoyed the movie thoroughly, but the canon/nitpick moments are the most I’ve ever seen in a Trek film. I am still lot into Uhura/Spock, even more perturbed with the destruction of Vulcan and Romulus (stop blowing up worlds this ain’t Stink Wars!), and still sad that they chose a new continuity). Oh, and still wish Shatner was involved, if nothing more than to read the “Space, the final frontier” at the end.
That said, the nods to the TOS were many, which I loved about Manny Coto’s Enterprise writing. The characters and actors/actresses were fantastic.
The funny thing is, between the nitpicks and humor, this movie felt like Star Trek V: The Final Frontier on steroids! I know that film is frequently tarred, but it is one of my favorite movies ever. It is the first Trek movie I watched over and over again on HBO, and it sold me on the franchise. I think this will sell the franchise on many new viewers, who hopefully will go back and watch the series and movies of the past.
So after many months on this website, living and dying with all the new information, I can finally say I am 100% relieved the film is out and done with. I would like to congratulate the cast, crew, Bob and Alex and Damon, and J.J. for a very fun film. I don’t think I can rank it as a favorite quite yet, but I look forward to sequels that further this new story.
#428
They will work in your country if you use a proxy, just try this site:www.startunblock.com
once there, type in http://www.youtube.com in the spot that says, “Enter The Website You Wish To Anonymously Browse”
From there you will have a familiar youtube website with an extra banner ad at the top. Browse as usual to find the Star Trek and start watching.
PS. This site is a US-based proxy site that accesses youtube for you, and relays it back. In turn, any passwords you might type in are relayed through the proxy before they hit the site you are viewing. For this reason, it is NOT secure, so do NOT type in anything sensitive.
I loved the new movie, but I sincerely hope that in the next installment the story focuses on our heroes just saving their “own” asses instead of whole planets or the universe. Franchise’s tend to get greedy after their initial success and create bigger and bigger stories (ie-James Bond, Doctor Who, Superman) until the believability goes out the window and the characters get lost in the scope of the so called BIG story. In the 1970’s, Superman (comic version) was tossing planets like marbles! Unfortunately we lowly humans cannot relate to such strength, and it’s impossible to create any serious drama for such a powerful figure, so where do you go from there?
I really enjoyed the movie however and look forward to more.
: )
433:
i agree on the story scale part. why does it always have to be saving the galaxy? can’t we have a really scary and really creepy monster on board? that’d be cool and scary.
like ST:ENT: in a mirror darkly part 2, the bit with the Gorn on board was really nifty IMO… and that didn’t deal with anything but stealing a starship. i think star trek can really go into Alien(the movie) territory and be scary, or into Bond territory and make Spcok and/or Kirk be secret agents spying on romulans or what ever.
Trek is such a broad canvas that it would be a shame to just do a Wrath of Khan remake.
Im sorry, but the bottom line is they messed with the freaking timeline and and rendered the old timeline nonexistent. That breaks the promise JJ made to the fans that he would not mess with canon. Had I known they were going to wipe out the history of Star Trek completely, I would have begged them to alter little things instead. Just think of all the events that never happen because of this movie. In Star Trek 3 and 4 the crew used Vulcan as a refuge. What about all the other Vulcans that have been featured in other films and the shows? I am really surprised that fans have gone along with this. I do not think Gene Roddenberry would have approved of the canon destruction either. Now I cannot watch the other Treks and see them the same way again without thinking that this event cant happen or this event cant happen either. I had no problem with Kirks father dying, I thought that was part of the story anyway but when they destroyed Vulcan they went way too far. I understand that they wanted to appeal to a broader audience but they could have done it without changing everything. And I was not crazy about the Spock/Uhura thing either. That was utterly rediculous. In my mind Shatner should be happy that he was not in this movie because everything he has done to make the character of Kirk has now been voided.
Aloha all,
#383 Mark Achterberg, you made a good point about the risks of an animated ST. Although I somewhat disagree with your assertion that a TV spinoff should stick faithfully to the TOS cast or contiguity (reboot or original), as I would rather a new series with novel characters for diversity’s sake, I totally agree that something should be done in the interim between now and 2011/12.
If Par wanted to *really* hook the youth audience, they’d contract Trek out to a Japanese studio like Kodansha, Geneon or TV Tokyo and have a quality production house like Madhouse animate it anime style, with a totally new storyline. Manga/anime are still hot in the US, although the novelty has worn off in the past several years and sales no longer are growing exponentially.
So here’s a thought. Assuming Par is going to do a project in the interim between movies, I would hope they’d take a serious look at allowing Japan to have a go at an anime Trek with a manga tie-in. It would bring in droves of fans (a lot of anime fans xover with Trek), and if done properly, would shore up int’l recognition of Trek. For example, Mahou Sensei Negima is published in over 20 countries, each with its own translation done by a major publisher. The US licensee for Negima manga is DelRey, which is no slouch when it comes to publishing power.
Anyone questioning the marketability of anime/manga may want to note that there are over 30 mangaka in Japan whose worldwide sales total over 500 million published books/tankouban *each*. That’s 15 *billion* editions sold just by 30 mangka/circles. Of course, some of these mangaka have published multiple series with 10-30 vols over a period of 20-30 years (ie, Rumiko Takahashi). But the market potential for an manga/anime Trek is enormous, if it is done right.
Matrix went anime, trying to get in on the early phases of the anime craze in the US. There are currently two Trek manga, but the art quality/story scripting on these is abysmal compared with most of the mainstream manga. A better example of a manga adapt of an American hero/icon would Kia Asamiya’s Batman: Child of Dreams. I would love to see a manga or anime production of Trek with that kind of quality. Again, I would like to cite PlaneteS as reference; a typical well-done ’space’ based anime. It’s so good that I often link it with Trek as a sort of ‘preamble’ to what Trek’s about, as it takes place in 2070 and has a very similar ‘activist’ questioning of cultural consciousness.
The point I would assert is that a Trek done ‘Japanese-style’ would be radically different than what we’ve had, and would fit right in with the image re-boot we’ve experienced with the new movie. I could LOL it and suggest a starship captained by Sulu and crewed by a predominately Japanese crew, which would be totally cool. Believe me, there is a distinctly different ‘voice’ in anime/manga that redefine Trek in a flavor with int’l appeal.
If they go with US animators, odds are that we would get a low-to-medium quality series, certainly not on the level of Avatar the Last Airbender. If they go US, then I would hope they take a close look at what Lucas has done with SW and work on a cgi Trek.
A concern I have, triggered by the mention of Apple, was that Trek as a property would suffer from the ‘Apple effect’. In the 80s, if the owners of Apple wouldn’t have been so tight-to-the-vest with the licensing of their Mac products and softwares, we’d all probably be using Macs rather than Windows/Linux-based PCs and OSs. If you look at the marketing between ST and SW in the past ten years, Trek is definitely losing ground. This is a chance to turn it around, since Trek is ‘in’ as the flavor of the month, so to speak.
Anyway, I too am wondering what’s next with Trek. I’d hate to wait 2 years for the next iteration of Trek. Then again, I waited 10 years between TOS and ST:TMP, so two years isn’t so daunting. Like someone else noted, Trek is *cool* right now…and I hope Par doesn’t let it’s ‘coolness’ thaw out.
#436 and the like.
If you look at series films like LoTR, Star Wars, Harry Potter, Bond, and Iron Man; you see a frequency that is managable in terms of films so that the DVD comes out 6 or more months after the movie, the TV debut is just before the movie and, what a coincidence, another movie in the theatres. As a side project (experiment) things like anime are feasible in the context of marketting (just as with the comics) but not as the major event.
I’d rather they focus on a series of good live action films that last the test of time.
#427
Here is how boborci explained it over at the AICN trek talkback:
TallBoy66 asked:
“I’ll take any fanboy throwaway reference as to why the tech in this timeline is so advanced compared to the original TOS timeline, and how Nero blowing up the Kelvin changed that. Any explanation that works within the confines of Nero traveling back in time would do. Thanks a lot.”
boborci replied:
“Certainly one would expect that the fleeing shuttles carrying survivors would also carry whatever telemetry was recorded by the Kelvin in its final moments ( like an airplanes BLACK BOX). Imagine the wealth of information that Starfleet was exposed to from scans of the Narada.”
Trek took in over 7 mil on Monday. Total: $86,706,315 – From Box Office MoJo
I started reading all – gave up for now around eighty-something and jumped here to the end. So if my comment is a repeat I apologize.
#435
I know there are a lot of people who are not JJ fans. I am neutral on that. Some things I like, others I do not. I love the new movie. Now then…have you heard of this little show called “Lost”? Have we not learned something about alternate realities from that show? The original timeline may not be dead. The original timeline continues upon it’s own path. The new events of the altered past create their own timeline.
I have read the Prequel books. There is a movie or an animated movie there if anyone chooses. Since the prequel shows that the characters are from Next Gen…..if those actors wanted “a few bucks” in their pockets…there are additional movies that can be made. Hopefully infused with the new blood this movie is bringing in. But let’s be real for a moment. Our reality. ALL the actors are getting older. TOS, TNG There is an opening there to create more with new, younger, stars. Who, at least for some, would have to be related to Piccard, Data (what?!!), Geordi and so forth. OK , just wacky ideas.
To Webmasters … “that Elusive Mainstream Audience” is on board. Duh! I HATE SCI-FI! But I LOVE Science. So again, when the **** are you going to post Science Friday? We’re still waiting!
… and reading from top to bottom I see that a lot of people state that Canon was messed with and that JJ had promised not to do that. Actually, the old “canon” does precisely exist, and it lives in the life of Nimoy’s Spock, who remembers that canon just the way we all do. That Spock remembers the Galileo 7, Pike on Talos 4, the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A, and all the rest. Nothing destroys that canon, because it will exist because Spock knows that before Nero arrived back in time, it did exist.
GOD KNOWS I hate the new starship. GOD KNOWS that I find Kirk promoted to Captain in so few years to be only less probable to a “Community Organizer” in Chicago becoming the President of the United States. I hate to even admit it could happen, or that it did happen, but it did happen.
Now I would really have a problem with these characters being the “real” ones, and I think that when Spock meets that young punk in the cave and says “You are Jim Kirk!” that means that if that Spock from another time and timeline recognizes Kirk, and then Scotty, perhaps that is a canonical admission that we should, too. Nothing that we remember of the old Star Trek excapes Spock, so our Star Trek is alive with him, as both of us try to navigate the new one.
And as someone who REALLY loves Star Trek: Enterprise’s Season 4 – the least watched Star Trek series ever, no one is happier than I am to learn that THIS is canon in the new Star Trek, while TNG, DS9, and VOY are not.
GOD KNOWS I was VERY skeptical about this movie, but after having actually watched it, I admit there are MANY missing pieces … like WHY build a Starship in Iowa and not in space, and is Kirk now someone who is born in space and works in Iowa? HOW DID that canyon get in Iowa? Why does Iowa look so much like Arizona? Was the Enterprise built in Iowa out of a political decision to bribe Iowans because the Primary Caucuses begin there? And how exactly did they overcome the problems of manufacturing with gravity and the imperfections that are caused by building on a planet surface? And how did they ever get that spaceship up into orbit? Lots of questions, and I’ll have to read the book to find the answers. I know Alan Dean Foster won’t let me down – I hope.
I’m just REALLY glad that the Star Trek prequel kicked ass on all 3 Star Wars prequels! In your face Lucas, you money-grubbing sell-out.
Great movie. Deserved every penny it got, plus any money coming in the following week.
“GOD KNOWS that I find Kirk promoted to Captain in so few years to be only less probable to a “Community Organizer” in Chicago becoming the President of the United States. ”
While I totally agree on the Kirk promotion issue with you, don’t think the President analogy holds since there really isn’t a training program to be President. (You can have a ton of seemingly relative experience and still suck; or have little and do a good job.)
“HOW DID that canyon get in Iowa?”
There’s a funny story behind Lou Dobbs Canyon…