UPDATED: Star Trek’s Surprising 7th Weekend At Box Office + More ST09 Tidbits June 22, 2009
by Anthony Pascale , Filed under: Great Links, Star Trek (2009 film) , trackback
[UPDATED w/ weekend actuals] The weekend box office data has come in and Star Trek did something amazing, it made more money than it did last weekend! Details below. Plus we have interview snippets from Leonard Nimoy, Chris Pine, JJ Abrams and Alex Kurtzman. All that plus a little Star Trek showing up on Top Gear.
Box Office Update: Star Trek surprises in 7th weekend
[UPDATED w/ weekend actual numbers]
For its 7th weekend Star Trek was expected to be in 8th place with around $3.5-$4M, but in reality was in 7th place and made $5.5M, which is actually 1% more than it made last weekend, a rather rare box office feat.
| Film | Weekend | Total Dom. | Wks | |
| 1 | The Proposal | $33,627,598.00 | $33,627,598 | 1 |
| 2 | The Hangover | $26,753,473.00 | $152,817,015 | 3 |
| 3 | Up | $23,492,677.00 | $226,268,932 | 4 |
| 4 | Year One | $19,610,304.00 | $19,610,304 | 1 |
| 5 | The Taking of Pelham 1 2 3 | $12,034,899.00 | $44,067,224 | 2 |
| 6 | Night at the Museum 2 | $7,807,185.00 | $156,459,744 | 5 |
| 7 | Star Trek | $5,511,434.00 | $240,255,340 | 7 |
| 8 | Land of the Lost | $4,358,945.00 | $44,055,510 | 3 |
| 9 | Imagine That | $3,290,227.00 | $11,541,605 | 2 |
| 10 | Terminator Salvation | $3,284,230.00 | $119,727,528 | 5 |
The original estimates for Star Trek had the film making $4.7M (which would still be pretty good), but when the final data came in, it showed that Star Trek did much better on Sunday than originally thought. In fact Star Trek came close to Night at the Museum 2 on Father’s day.
Internationally Star Trek brought in $2.4M for a overseas total of $122,729,658, giving it a global total of $362,984,998 (based on estimated domestic weekend). Star Trek has now passed Wolverine and moved into 3rd place on the 2009 chart of worldwide grosses.
Nimoy talks Trek success
Spock Prime (aka Leonard Nimoy) will be attending TrekExpo in Tulsa, OK next weekend. He has an interview in Tulsa World promoting the event, here is an excerpt:
Michael Smith: considering the overwhelmingly positive reaction to the new film, why do you think it has connected with new fans as well as satisfied the veteran fan base?
Leonard Nimoy: It’s a film that stands on its own as a terrific adventure with great heart at the center. You don’t have to be a fan to enjoy it, but it has elements that the fans recognize.
Michael Smith: What is the key element to Star Trek’s storytelling that, if you retain that element, the world of Star Trek and its characters will always be relevant?
Leonard Nimoy: The essential ingredient is the team of professionals working together to solve problems. All of the team are highly trained and competent. What is the key element to Star Trek’s storytelling that, if you retain that element, the world of Star Trek and its characters will always be relevant?
Abrams praises Pine anti-star + Pine talks anti-heroes
The LA Times has an interview and profile of Chris Pine focusing on his new play Farragut North. The article also quotes JJ Abrams on why he cast Pine:
[we were looking for] a relative unknown who had to behave as if he were an experienced movie star without any of the negatives of being a big movie star. He had to treat the cast and crew in a way that would make the other actors feel safe and the crew feel appreciated. And he was impeccable.
Pine told the LA Times that he is especially proud of his work playing a skinhead in Smokin Aces, and he interested in playing both heroes, and also anti-heroes. noting:
I don’t ever want to be so precious to eschew those kinds of roles because I’m on some mission to be the artiste in Hollywood. But I think there’s a closeted Peter Lorre inside me that loves to play the fun, darker, weirder roles that hopefully I’ll get the chance to play as I move ahead in my career.
Pine at rehearsal for Farragut North
Kurtzman’s praise for Hemsworth – A whole movie about George?
Chris Hemsworth’s time as George Kirk in Star Trek was brief, but the buzz contributed to his being cast as the lead in the upcoming Thor movie. Over the weekend the LA Times listed him as one of 10 ‘rising names in Hollywood’ and Star Trek co-writer heaped praise on the young Australian, saying:
So many people seemed to marvel at the fact that they cried in the first 10 minutes of ‘Trek,’ and that’s directly a result of the amazing work Chris did. As long as he plays the part, there could be an entire ‘Star Trek’ movie devoted to the heroic adventures of George Kirk.
Maybe not a whole movie, but could there be a George Kirk flashback for the "Star Trek: Something Something" sequel?
Star Trek (music) on Top Gear
On this weekend’s edition of the UK’s popular car show Top Gear, they used music from the Star Trek movie in one of their segments. (You can hear parts of "Nero Sighted" starting at around 5:50).
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Comments»
Trek is rocking. So much money and everyone loves it. Trek is So Back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Long live Trek!!!!
looking good pine
I like the idea of bringing back papa Kirk in the Something Something movie. His time on screen was too short and I really liked his character.
Maybe they will do a comic book detailing his life and backstory.
I am going to predict that Trek will hit 400 Million total. I just do not see how it can’t make it. With trek doing better then expected and of corse people like me seeing it 10 plus times it will make it. Wish i could be there in Tulsa to see mr Nimoy in persone but Alas. Pine is a great actor and J.J Did it perfect in casting him. Would loove to see a Movie or a Tv Series on the Adventures of the U.S.S Kelvin with George Kirk. But maybe have that one in the Prime Universe where George Kirk Lives.
Great News!
Now, about XII…
This was great week. On Friday I finally went to see Star Trek.
And on Sunday I watched my favourite Top Gear with Trek music background…
i just wish that UP wasn’t going to pass up Trek in the next two weeks. I was hoping Trek could hold on to that top spot.
Frankly, I’m impressed Pine knows who Peter Lorre is. Knowledge of cinematic history is noteworthy these days.
Love that Pine’s in a play with “Farragut” in the title.
Who here thinks Star Trek will hit 400 million worldwide ?
…unless some of that green is coming my way, which it is most suredly not, I could really care less how much the film makes. There’s already going to be a sequel or two…so I don’t even see where it would matter to us.
Chris Pine: “But I think there’s a closeted Peter Lorre inside me…”
Yes, but can you do the EYES?
(o) (o)
#7: “i just wish that UP wasn’t going to pass up Trek in the next two weeks.”
Huh? Why? You got something against UP?
The fact he even knows who Lorre IS buys him cred in my book.
i cried so much during the opening i coughed blood
And the number one spot this weekend goes to “The Proposal”, for which Orci and Kurtzman have executive production credits.
I’m sure that “Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen” will also debut at number one.
And of course, “Star Trek” has legs.
Pretty good Summer, eh boys?
#3: For the love of all that is holy, please no more comic books. I have looked at the Trek ones from time to time and I’ve always found the stories to be as juvenile as the popular opinion of the genre would have it. I’ve yet to see a Frank Miller-esque Trek comic that transcends the limitations of the genre, and probably never will. Countdown was mildly interesting for speculative data, though much of it (using a *telescope* for current stellar information? A Shakespeare pun understood and appreciated by Romulans? No woman ever less than a D cup?) is silly.
Personally, I’m with whoever suggested a TV series set on the Kelvin. (I think it could work if set in the Prime Universe so we’d not be saddled with a lack of suspense knowing what ultimately happens to the ship.) However, with Chris Hemsworth doing Thor, perhaps a move to television might not work (in the same way they’d never be able to afford to to an Alternate Universe TV show, Chris Pine would be too expensive now that he’s the next hot thing).
I would love to see Faran Tahir in the center seat on a weekly basis.
@ 17. So the Shakespeare reference in Countdown didn’t work for you? I take it you were not keen on the numerous Shakespeare references by Klingons in The Undiscovered Country?
I would totally watch a George Kirk movie. With Captain Robau. (Which I guess would make it a prequel to the prequel/sequel.)
Both Chris Helmsworth and Faran Tahir were awesome in Star Trek!
Thursday’s the last night for Star Trek to be playing locally – (domestically in the US?) So those who haven’t better see it while you can! I hope to catch it on the big screen one more time before wearing out the DVD.
#12 –
But, why do I crave Buffalo Chicken Wings?
#15—My wife cried both times she saw it. And she has never cared for anything before with the name “Star Trek” attached to it. It was just a wonderfully acted and directed sequence, with great accompanying score attached to it as well.
Of course, Giacchino makes my wife cry at least two or three times a season on ‘Lost’…It’s amazing what the right score can do to a scene. Although his are not the type you leave the theater whistling all the way home, he always seems to capture the right emotion in a scene, IMO.
#15 – LOL!!!!
On George Kirk heroics movie, I think we saw it. It lasted 12 minutes.
#20-HUH? Star Trek will be playing domestically for a much longer time yet. I’m guessing it’ll be August or September at the earliest, before it disappears completely. This thing has legs and several more millions to make. Not so long ago I predicted $400 million worldwide…then kinda backed off from my prediction. I hope my earlier thoughts of $400 million ARE correct. This movie rocks!!!!
24. Was planning to see it Friday, but Fandango is only showing availability through Thursday. Just called my local theater, and they said Thursday was the last night for it to play. I don’t understand it, myself.
#25—-Perhaps that theater just doesn’t have the screens. Where do you live? Is it a small town?
WOW! The weekend actuals just came in and Star Trek was actually POSITIVE over the weekend coming in with $5,511,434. Why, oh why is this film not back in more IMAX theaters?
I live in a smallish US city, it’s true, but there’s two larger cities nearby, with more theaters and more screens. I’m trying to find one that will still be showing Star Trek after Thursday. The problem may be with Fandango. I’m calling around. (And checking with friends in other areas.) But I’m hearing that Thursday’s the last night for a couple of smaller cities I have lived in or visited.
Well I have done my part, just seen it for the fourth and final time (until the DVD comes out). I must say, I did spend an inordinate amount of focus this time on noticing the size of the windows! That is how you know you spend too much time on Trekmovie.com.
OK, so I noticed that the bridge has floor-to-ceiling windows. Does that make the announced size more bearable for the “why it is longer than the Sovereign”-ists?
You know…at the risk of over-exposing Trek…is there any reason there couldn’t be more that one movie every 2-3 years? (That’s a long time to wait between flicks.) OK, so the “core” movies come out on a regular cycle…but why not fill in the gaps with the exptended Trek family? How about movies featuring:
- George and Winona Kirk
- Capt Robau and the USS Kelvin
- Admiral Pike (Talos IV any one?)
- Starfleet Academy
- Spock Prime and the Vulcan refugees/colonists
Let’s make some assumptions; the quality holds up, you need new/extended creative teams overseen by the Supreme Court, budgets are reasonable (but no reason they have to be $150mm each time to tell great, intimate stories about exploration) and we don’t push into overkill (sorry, no Scotty and Keenser misadventures.)
Make it so! (Oops! Wrong era.)
#30
As neat as some of those ideas are (I would certainly embrace stories about George Kirk and Richard Robau), it’s not really feasible, methinks. Perhaps a TV series could deal with that stuff, but let’s not overdo it with the movies.
Trek doesn’t need to get all Marvel Comics in the multiplex….
#7
If any movie’s going to surpass Trek, it may as well be UP….
Let’s look at it this way, though: Top three for the year? Heck yeah, that’s nothing to sneeze at.
If ‘The Hangover’ out-grosses Trek, then the world has serious issues….
Actuals are over $5.5 million! ST is a phenomenon!
Top Gear is awesome!!!! :D and they always choose fantastic music, using Trek’s music was very apt – i hope we hear more.
Star Trek lost 331 theaters to new movies this past weekend and still made a little MORE than it did the weekend before. Can you believe it?!! It’s picking up steam!
Congratulations to all involved!
Wow! Just…Wow!
I don’t know Third…Marvel seems to have a pretty solid model going for them. Of course, time will tell once they have 2-3 movies a summer coming out.
I thinking more like once a year for a Trek-related flick.
I have updated with actual data, looks like lots of dad’s went to see trek on father’s day.
As for $400M, that still seems unlikely. Star Trek would have to outperform the final weeks of films like Transformers, Star Wars Ep. III, and Iron Man. I still think it will end up around $380
4. Capt Mike of the Terran Empire
18. CraptainAmerika
20. TrekkieJan
YES!!! Bring on the Star Trek: USS Kelvin TV Series!!! Prime Universe!!
EXCELLENT!!! George Kirk and Capt. Robau ROCK!!!
Chris Hemsworth should KICK ASS as Thor also!! =)
#38-Thanks for the update. I just love the fact that this movie keeps surprising everyone (myself included). WAYYYY back when, I stated that this movie would breathe life into the franchise or be the final nail in the coffin. Heck, there isn’t even a coffin around anymore. This thing turned the coffin into firewood!!!!! I’ll say it again, I LOVE this movie!
#38
Yes, I agree with you about Fathers Day. Sunday was the first day that Star Trek beat Iron Man’s daily numbers in quite some time. Still, it’s exciting!
Star Trek XII: So very tired
its a shame overseas has let the BO down….so much so that despite completly blowing Wolverine, T4 and A&D away domestically – its still only gonna come up level/just beat Wolverine, T4 and has been well beat by the A&D yawnfest
a big A list star is needed for the sequel methinks (Hanks, Cruise, Ford, Arnold, Crowe etc)….to help sell it in Japan, France, China etc
#25 –
I’ve noticed a lot of theaters don’t announce their films/schedules until later in the week after they have decided what to drop. Check back in a day or two. For instance, when I looked for showtimes for Trek in my area for next weekend I got the notice “there are no showtimes for your selected film in your area”. And i know that’s not true.
id settle for $380 million and my guess is so would paramount. it is not far off the magical $400 million i was hoping for, but there is still a shed load of money to come from DVD sales etc. i recon this movie, taking in merchandise, will rake in about $450 million when all is said and done.
Greg
UK
Wow! $5.5 M! Better than the estimates, which were better than the expectations. $250M + domestic is probable, as is $380M + worldwide. Maybe more?
Can we finally put the TMP comparison to bed? That would be fitting, since it usually puts me to sleep! ;-)
I am worried as soon Star Trek loses IMAX theaters to Transformers the gross will diminished very fast.. any info how long Star Trek will be in IMAX?
Hey 46, I’m sure RD isnt ready to do that just yet. He doesn’t think this film has done all that much. Silly rabbit!
Okay, not a movie about George Kirk. Give us a SERIES! Maybe exploring the Kelvin in the Prime timeline? ;-)
#24, #26, #36, #44 – Thanks for the reassurances, guys! I’m glad it’s still playing in some (larger?) theaters – it doesn’t make any sense for it not to!
Sorry if I alarmed anyone, but those of us not in major metropolitan areas might want to check and not miss out.
Was hoping to see it again on my birthday in July (within reasonable driving distance) and maybe I will!
I hope it continues to live long and prosper.
As for a spin-off – I don’t think it will be an over-extension if it’s anywhere near this good.
#46. ST.TMP still has overall edge over Star Trek. It grossed approx:410 million worldwide, also note worthy it ended in 3-4th place domestically in 1979 and most likely in top 5 in overseas market..
Star Trek can probably end in 5th place domestically but it will not reach top ten list overseas market. One thing is clear, ST:TMP and Star Trek are the 2 kings of Star Trek franchise at the box office.
#50-This dude is PLANNING on his 43rd birthday being spent in a theater watching Star Trek (and my birthday is July 28th)!!!! Heck, maybe I’ll see it twice, just for kicks.
Star Trek started off in about 4000 theaters domestically, but is now down to 2300, which is pretty wide release for a 7 week old film. It will probably go below 2000 next weekend (and continue to decline each week). But it will still be in release in some theaters into August.
Top Gear is my absolute favorite show.
I loved the Stig’s reveal, and yes, I recognized the Star Trek music.
the next film deserves a A list star in it.
From Kurtzmann’s mouth to God’s ears. Make it so!
#55 TOM CRUISE:)
#51 –
LOL! $410M worldwide? I’ve see the $404M figure thrown out there, and even RD recently conceded that was a bit high. Probably more realistic in the $380 – $390M range.
#48 –
I guess he’s not the only one! No bedtime for TMP!
It is amazing that Star Trek XI has made 200 million dollars MORE than the Star Trek movie that preceded it.
I don’t blame that Next Generation cast or fatigue for them in particular, but rather Trek fatigue due to poor writing on Voyager and Enterprise as well as lackluster story-telling in every TNG movie (First Contact excepted) and the awful direction provided by Stuart Baird, which Rick Berman can be blamed for as well. I think Michael Piller wrote a great script for Insurrection that was tempered by the producers and John Logan’s Nemesis script may not have been as bad as what landed on screen, but these were not great films when they showed up in theaters.
Star Trek XI was. Look at what Star Trek can do when it’s good. And when it respects itself. I’ll forever be amazed at how these writers made a movie that appealed to brand new fans but also thrilled Trekkers. Nero, in a sense came back and threatened the universe we knew and loved and followed for so many years and Nimoy Spock and the young crew of the Enterprise had to put it back together. It was just about perfect.
The two things I would have liked that didn’t happen were having the NCC-1701 commanded by Captain Robert April open the movie instead of the Kelvin. It was have been even more emotional to see the TOS Enterprise destroyed because of Nero and the new design elements of the new Enterprise would have made even more sense. It would have cemented April’s role in Trek history as well. But the studio nixed it because they didn’t want the Enterprise destroyed.
The other thing I wish could have happened was the Shatner appearance at the end via Spock Prime’s holographic message, along with Shatner doing the voiceover that ends the movie and leads into the future of this crew. That voiceover would have made his appearance MORE than a cameo.
How is no-one here talking about Top Gear, the best show on television ever (I’ve been on it, I guess I am a little biased), and one of the best episodes of it! (Being a steam locomotive fan, I guess I am a little biased)?!?!?! Didn’t notice the soundtrack bits though! Have now!
I am glad ST has an amazing set of legs! I’d love a Kelvin spin off, I LOVED the bridge of the Kelvin, and Hemsworth was cracking!
Glad Shatner wasn’t in it, he has gone bad, and IMO he doesn’t even look or sound like Kirk anymore…just my opinion, would of ruined the film with too many cameos! I think the film worked as it did perfect! Loved it!
I have seen it once and will wait for the DVD. When I get it and lay on the couch to watch it and don’t fall asleep, I will proclaim before Garth of Izar it is a better movie than any before it.
Don’t get me wrong, I love all the TOS related movies but do to chemical imbalances in my system in the past and generally somewhat boring storylines I found myself falling asleep watching all of them except in the theater during their initial run.
To this day if I want to take a nap I will slap in STTMP original cut!
#59-I would have liked it if the original Enterprise (from the TV show) would have been in the Kelvin’s place with Captain April in command, but, I have 3 questions:
1. Would that have been right with the prime timeline, having the Enterprise around during that stardate?
2. Do you really think some die-hards like me would have been happy with this new Enterprise (which I am dealing with quite well, thank you!) IF they had showed our “old girl” get blown to bits in the first moments of the movie?
3. Would you have put George Kirk as first officer on that ship so you’d have the drama at the beginning of the movie?
Points to ponder……I like it as it is. Obviously! But I would give ALMOST ANYTHING to see our old girl from the TV show on the big screen, just once. When they showed the remastered “The Menagerie”, it wasn’t shown near here. :( Much sadness….
Why are people so surprised that Chris Pine knows who Peter Lorre is? *LOL*. He comes from a family of actors and has been involved in the industry since he was a kid. I think he’s pretty much already proven that he’s actually a smart and educated actor and not just some pretty boy of the moment. :)
I too wish that Star Trek will remain on the top spot. But if it’s gonna get overtaken by another movie, I’m glad it’s gonna be overtaken by something as great as “Up”. Still hoping Trek holds on, though.
I loved Lorre in 20′000 Leagues Under the Sea-his camaradie with Kirk Douglas’s character was classic… I just got my Kelloggs Star Trek wrist band flash drive its pretty cool-has a windows/mac screensaver and photo files of the images on the trek website-too small for me to keep on my wrist haha-also got my signed and numbered star trek movie novel hardcover from premiere collectibles and it is awesome-in a sturdy cardboard box with srarfleet logo and title plus authorization cert. that it was signed by Alan Dwan Foster–excellent gift for trek fans very high quality and i got it by clicking on the icon ad here at trekmovie.com!
I was thrilled when Pine got the role. Always liked his dad in things!!!!
I know this Chris Hemsworth has been cast as Thor, but he looks a lot more like Captain America to me.
#66 D’ya think Karl Urban as Thor will work? :)
Proper Trekkie #60
“Glad Shatner wasn’t in it, he has gone bad, and IMO he doesn’t even look or sound like Kirk anymore…just my opinion, would of ruined the film with too many cameos!”
What do you mean he has “gone bad”?
It would be rather unusual for Mr. Shatner to have not aged in the over 40 years since the debut of ST. Mr. Nimoy looks different than he did when the original ST aired. I don’t think anyone could say that he didn’t add a lot to the new film.
William Shatner in a ST film is always a good thing no matter how old he is.
Question. Why can’t characters age in the ST universe?
P.S. J.J. Abrams has already mentioned that Shatner may be in the next film.
#68- Where did you get your info on Shatner being in the next film?
In my interview with JJ Abrams, he said Shatner is a ‘possibility’ for the sequel. He later said the same to MTV, but don’t read into that anything more than that.
Remember back in 2007 he said they were ‘working really hard’ to get Shatner into the first movie.
This could almost declare my insanity but it has been said that ST XII needs stars to attract over seas audiences, how about President O’Buma (as I call him) work out a deal where his children be child stars in the next movie. His son could hot wire a shuttle craft to escape from the space station that the Klingons distroy because one of their political fugatives is hiding on it as the kids nanny. The Klingon fugitive could even have gone through the genetic change that takes place in the ENTERPRISE series (the explanation as to why now days klingons do not look like 60’s klingons, I’ll have to replay the DVD’s to refresh my brain on the details). And to level the political field you could have the kids learning about American History and the on screen educational film could be President Reagan saying Gorby tear down this wall. This last part added just because at the time I was typing this, the clip of history was being played on the NEWS dealing with IRAN.
Yes, we did spot the Trek music being played on Top Gear and got very excited about it. I’ve got the sondtrack and its in places a lovely score indeed.
And what a great idea- a whole movie about George Kirk! That would be great. I’m informed that he is ‘quite a hunk’ apparently!
Chris Hemsworth looks perfect to me as Thor – that is, the only Thor worth looking like – the classic Kirby/Colletta version! All other versions weren’t even worth reading. That means no beard, no Beta Ray Bill, no furs, no crows.
I hope the Thor movie doesn’t wimp out like the Fantastic Four movies – they need to go full-on 60’s Kirby Kosmic. I wanna see wing feathers on that shiny helmet. I wanna see a rainbow bridge. I want Odin decked out in full Kirby Kostume. They better not make Loki an evil corporate executive or something cliche and mundane like they did with Doctor Doom.
71 Spockish-
No one here is more conservative or a bigger Reagan fan than I, but yes, your post demonstrates that you are, in fact, insane.
15 – I agree with you completely. The moment when George realized what he had to do and softly told his wife, “Honey, I’m not going to be there,” was absolutely gut-wrenching. It’s too bad that the movie universe’s Jim Kirk never got the chance to grow up with and be inspired by such a heroic man.
haha Odkin #74–i hear ya about the new thor movie with george kirk in it-the ff movie also wimped out about galactus as well-i am not sure an original kirby kosmic komic could be done in a movie-what an amazing imagination that artist had-co-creating most of the marvel universe-he also said that hollywood would be beating down their doors a decade before it happened-i sure wish someone would have given kirby money to make an animated movie-just imagine what kirby woulda come up with-sigh–
The movie I fear Trek competing with is Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I know Potter-heads (I AM a Potter-head) and they are crazy! Plus, we’ve been waiting for years for this next one. The year is still young.
I find Hemsworth and Pine look remarkably similar. EXCELLENT casting there. Though, it did lead me to ponder if they ever have issues with each other… going up for similar roles and the like. I’m assuming their careers have been different thus far, but now that they’ve been thrust into Sci-Fi and action, it should be interesting…
71 – His son? You do know Obama has two daughters, right?
George Kirk is the kind of man i’d LOVE to have in the family lineage.
An ENTIRE movie devoted to his heroics? A little too grandeur for me.
A Kelvin series? THAT could get somewhere in the Abramsverse. Series finale would be Killer.
A Phase II-like Webseries?
Perfect for the 21st-stuck-to-their-computer-screens-with-Myspace-Facebook-tweeter-and-trekmovie-Century.
The more I read about him, the more I like this Pine kid. Do you think he’d do a remake of “M”? (Talk about “weird” and “dark” — possibly the most disturbing film I’ve ever seen).
I remember spotting him in “Smokin’ Aces.” It was one of those “who-IS-that-guy?” moments. I didn’t know his name at the time and couldn’t even remember where I’d seen him. When I checked IMDB, I realized I’d seen him in “Princess Diaries 2,” and I couldn’t believe it. The same freaking guy?! No way!
Then, when I heard he’d been cast as Captain Kirk, I knew the part was in good hands.
Nimoy: “The essential ingredient is the team of professionals working together to solve problems. All of the team are highly trained and competent. What is the key element to Star Trek’s storytelling that, if you retain that element, the world of Star Trek and its characters will always be relevant?”
Yeah, I don’t know. That would make CSI: Miami a Star Trek spin-off. hehe… Love you Nimoy!! .. but Star Trek is definitely more than that. You shouldn’t be able (or allowed) to solve every single plot twist in a ST movie with your fists.
#22
Spot on about the score. It’s been criticised in some quarters for not being ‘Golsmithian’ but I think it fits the movie perfectly, has a great central theme and you’re right, the music around father’s death/son’s birth is just beautiful. One of the most powerful scenes in Trek history.
As for hitting $400m globally – I’d love it to, but can’t see it. $375m -$380m is more realistic as Trek’s very reliant on the US market, we’ve been out for nearly two months in most markets now and it doesn’t have another $40m left in it.
Going up one per cent in your seventh weekendto $5m isn’t bad tho!!
Sorry, that should read ‘Goldsmithian’ – a reference to the late, great Jerry Goldsmith.
your top gear link’s not working now. Here’s a working link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Vg0dDVJHHY
59/62 – while it wouldve been great to open the movie with the NCC 1701 (imagine the bit when ‘April’ would say – ‘your the captain now Kirk’ – everyone would think ‘omg its captain kirk!’) in the prime timetine the Ent dosnt get launched until 2245 – so it wouldnt have worked.
Shatners ‘cameo’ at the end…and doing the end VO….wouldve been cool
#84: Exactly my point. It wouldn’t have worked because the dates wouldn’t have been right for the ship or the ages of the people. The Kelvin was the way to go. By the way, I love how some die-hards can’t get over the fact that the non-prime Enterprise was built in Iowa. They say there is no truth that the ship Kirk looked at was the Enterprise. Wanna bet? Look closer when the shuttle leaves the Riverside shipyards. They fly right by part of it with the NCC-1701 in view. As an Iowan, I think it’s cool. Riverside is now the birthplace of prime Captain Kirk and birthplace of the non-prime Enterprise. A double honor!
@84
Doesn’t matter whether or not the ship was the Kelvin or TOS Enterprise. There was confusion when George Kirk was introduced. I heard a lot of people in the showings I went to saying…Oh! That’s young Capt Kirk?” during the Kelvin scene.
As mcuh as I would have liked to see April and the original E, they probably made a good choice not do it. Can you imagine in the fan backlash!? “We knew it!! The Supreme Court couldn’t wait 12 minutes before they raped our childhoods. They blew up our memories just so they could start their obvious re-boot! THIS IS A DISASTER!!” :)
#81/82-I am a HUGE Goldsmith fan, but this thing has really grown on me. I only wish he’d had a tad more variety throughout the movie, rather than using some of the same note sequences for MOST of the things. His music for the opening is fantastic, however, and I also enjoy his music as the Enterprise is revealed (also used for the opening “Star Trek” graphic). Frankly, I am very glad that they did not use Goldsmith’s theme for Star Trek. Better that they used the even more recognizable Courage theme, at the end. A perfect ending, kinda like whipped cream and a cherry on top!
#86-Again, exactly my point. Frankly, I liked that a lot of people were confused about George Kirk being Captain Kirk. Made it more dramatic. Also, I love it when Spock prime makes his first appearance. Always gets a lot of mummering in the theater. Good dramatic moments.
#87
I agree – Goldsmith’s TMP motif wouldn’t have fit, much better to use Sandy Courage’s legendary piece. Some people have complained that his music should’ve been used earlier in the film (actually it was for a few bars on two occasions), but I think it was right to save it to the very end, when all the crew were finally assembled on the Enterprise and they were about to embark on their mission.
Nimoy’s ‘Space the final frontier’ speech with the original fanfare in the background, which then lapsed into the fullest performance of TOS theme music out of all the films brought a tear to my eye – and was confirmation that, at last, Star Trek was back.
7. Garen… “i just wish that UP wasn’t going to pass up Trek in the next two weeks”
I’m just glad that the movie Trek will pass the baton to as the year’s top box office draw will be “Up” and not drek like “Land of the Lost”, a gloom-fest like “Terminator IV”, or a sophomoric comedy like “Year One”.
“Up” is a terrific movie, completely deserving of the title.
#87, #88, #89
I totally agree with you on that. I almost cried on 2 occasions: The Kelvin opening and the end credits. As #89 said: When the end credits rolled, I knew ST was back.
ITS BACK BABY!
86 – true i sensed people in the audience thinking George Kirk was JTK until the baby was born…great scene
i guess they couldve retconned the Ent 1701 so it was launched much earlier than 2245 and had it open the film but since they adherred to stuff like Kirks birthyear etc – itd have been a bit much ignoring what had been established (obviously in novels etc…but was it ever established onscreen that the ‘prime’ Ents launch was 2245?…maybe in The Menagerie – spock saying how long he served on the ent or something?)
#92—-” …was it ever established onscreen that the ‘prime’ Ents launch was 2245?”
Only if you consider TAS “The Counter-Clock Incident” to be canon.
The 2245 launch date came from TAS, “The Counter-Clock Incident”, as did the notion that the Enterprise was first commanded by Robert April. Although I do not recall that 2245 is actually mentioned in the animated episode, it is suggested that April ended his five year mission in 2250, when he was apointed “Federation Ambassador-at-large”.
However, many fans (including myself) have never viewed this as canon, reserving that status for what is either shown or referenced in live action Trek productions only. Using that standard, Robert April is a somewhat enigmatic figure in the Star Trek Universe. At no point in 5 live action series and 11 feature films is he (or a 2245 launch date, for that matter) ever referenced. The only Captains of the original NCC-1701 referenced or depicted in live action Trek are Pike, Kirk, Decker, and Spock.
“…maybe in The Menagerie – spock saying how long he served on the ent or something?)”
What appears on the viewscreen during Spock’s court-martial is suggested to be 13 years prior to the events depicted in “The Menagerie”, which takes place in 2267 (at least those elements of the story not shown on the viewer), suggesting that the first Enterprise visit to Talos IV takes place in 2254. Since Spock (Prime) claims to have served with Captain Pike for a time period of approximately 11 years, this seems to also suggest that Spock had only recently been assigned to the Enterprise at that point.
Well, no matter what, had I seen my old girl (TOS Enterprise) blown up to start the film, I’m thinking I would have had a harder time swallowing things. Just my opinion.
I really loved the Kelvin scenes, but I don’t think a Kelvin movie would be a good idea. If there was a new TV series, it would be great to have a flashback episode or two set on the Kelvin, but, alas …
But I would like to read some Kelvin-novels to pass the time until the next movie. Novels set in the “normal” new timeline would almost inevitably collide with what the next movies will set up as canon (this was a problem with those ST-novels that were written very early during the run of TNG and the following series, before the characters were really fleshed out). But with the Kelvin crew, the only canonical characters are Captain Robau, George and Winona Kirk. The “Enterprise” crowd are toddlers or not even born; Chris Pike is possibly a teen. So good writers (Peter David or Keith deCandido come to mind) could invent a lot of recurring characters – and marry them, kill them or turn them into plastic cubes at will! I wish Pocket Books would do such a series of books.
I have seen this movie over 10 times I love it! I would like to see a tv show set at Starfleet Academy!
I actually saw this movie for the fourth time, and the first time since the first week. I was planning on waiting for the Blu-Ray but it was hot on Friday afternoon, and I figured that the movie theater would be a good place to spend it.
I agree with the idea for a George Kirk movie – also with Winona Kirk and Capt Robau. I sort of thought that if Pike did his paper on George Kirk, then there has to be a little more backstory to him.
I think that if Paramount was on their toes fully, then when I go to see Transformers 2 tomorrow, then there should be an attached trailer for Trek which touts the critcal acclaim and points out that it is the same writers as Transformers and Transformers 2. There will be a lot of people seeing Transformers which haven’t seen Trek and it would be a good time to hit them up to see it.
#95—-It’s actually an area where stories could be told which would be common to both the “prime” and altered timelines, since the events described would occur prior to 2233.
I would read something like that.
93. Closettrekker – “The only Captains of the original NCC-1701 referenced or depicted in live action Trek are Pike, Kirk, Decker, and Spock.”
Quite correct. But there’s one thing in The Menagerie that has always left me wondering. If I recallthe dialogue correctly Kirk mentions that he met Pike when Pike was “promoted to Fleet Admiral”. He does NOT say “when I took command of the Enterprise”.
In contemporary navies, I don’t know it is more usual or UNunusual that one Captain directly relieves his predecessor. But if it is MORE usual, then we may be able to infer another Captain commanding the Enterprise between Pike and Kirk. That of course is pure speculation, not directly borne out by any onscreen dialogue, etc. It also has nor particular bearing on the case of Captain April.
#21 Steve 2 “#12 – But, why do I crave Buffalo Chicken Wings?”
Hunh? I think whatever reference you intended went zooming right past me at about Warp 10.
George Kirk is still alive in the Prime Universe, right?
#99—”In contemporary navies, I don’t know it is more usual or UNunusual that one Captain directly relieves his predecessor.”
Actually, it is standard practice. In fact, there is even an official “Change Of Command Ceremony”, in which a Captain relinquishes responsibility for the vessel to his successor after the orders are read.
“But if it is MORE usual, then we may be able to infer another Captain commanding the Enterprise between Pike and Kirk.”
That would seem to be precluded by Spock’s claim that he served with Pike for a total of around 11 years (unless he followed Pike somewhere else after the Enterprise, only to return when Kirk was given command), coupled with the fact that the events depicted on the viewscreen occured 13 years before the court-martial, which takes place in 2267. VOY “Q2″ establishes that the five year mission under Kirk ended in 2270, which in turn suggests that Kirk took command directly from Pike in 2265.
Moreover, Pike’s promotion to “Fleet Captain” likely occurs on the same day as the change of command.
What doesn’t make sense is Commodore Mendez’s question in the first place. It seems unlikely that he would not know that Kirk succeeded Pike in commadning the Enterprise, which would suggest that they would indeed have met before.
#102. An interim captain is also precluded by Kirk’s subsequent comment that he “took over the Enterprise from him”. So I think there is no question about that. The dialogue is just poorly written and not well thought out. Mendez’ comment that “He’s about your age” makes no sense given the time scale mentioned, making Pike roughly 20 during the Cage. Since we know Mendez was as illusion from the shuttlecraft onward, once has to wonder how much of the events on the starbase were illusion.
And explain how those numbers line up again: The Cage happened 13 years before the Menagerie, Spock served with Pike for 11 years before Kirk took command, so despite this being an early 1st season episode, it is actually taking place during the 3rd year of the 5 year mission, or Spock served with Kirk for 2 years before the 5 year mission started?
#103—”And explain how those numbers line up again: The Cage happened 13 years before the Menagerie, Spock served with Pike for 11 years before Kirk took command, so despite this being an early 1st season episode, it is actually taking place during the 3rd year of the 5 year mission, or Spock served with Kirk for 2 years before the 5 year mission started?”
Conventional wisdom among canonistas (and Memory Alpha) is that the events depicted in “The Menagerie” take place in 2267. The method behind this is simple. Add 300 years to the production date of a TOS episode, and there you go.
2265-2266: 1st year
2266-2267: 2nd year
2267-2268: 3rd year
2268-2269: 4th year
2269-2270: 5th year
For example, “The Deadly Years” was produced in 1967. Kirk is born in 2233, and in TDY, claims to be 34 years old. 2233+34 years=2267. “Space Seed” was also produced in 1967, therefore TWOK takes place circa 2282 (2267+15 years=2282).
Since Spock’s court-martial, as depicted in “The Menagerie”, takes place in 2267, 13 years prior to that (the events depicted on the viewscreen) would be 2254.
2254+11 years (approximate time Spock spent serving under Pike)=2265 (the start of the 5 year mission under JTK).
I took my dad to see it on Monday for a Father’s Day gift and he LOVED it. He called the best cinematic ride since “Raiders of the Lost Ark.”
104 – wow i never realised that about just adding 300 years onto the years TOS was made!…yeh those years would really go against the NCC1701 being in the opening in 2233…