TrekMovie previously reported that JJ Abrams has completed a first rough cut of his Star Trek movie and now it appears that he is showing it off. Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back director Kevin Smith was a guest on KROQ’s Kevin and Bean show this morning and the subject of the new Star Trek movie came up with Smith giving a positive review of the movie, but in a roundabout way.
Kevin talks about what he can’t talk about
Although it was never said explicitly, it appears Kevin Smith was given an early viewing of Star Trek, but he was very much trying to deny that he had, or at least not come out and say anything that would break the ‘cone of silence’ around JJ Abrams ultra-secret project. Early in the show when Kevin joined in, one of the hosts said "somebody’s seen the new Star Trek movie, I understand?" At which point Smith sardonically dismissed the question. Then much later in the show, after recounting his thoughts on his early screening of the Watchmen movie, Smith was asked if he has seen anything else. Here is the exchange:
——————
Host: So thumbs up on The Watchmen, what else you got?
Smith: I saw a movie last night that I cannot talk about.
Host: Was it good?
Smith: It was phenomenal.
Host: Any stars, any break out stars, and do they trek?
Smith: The stars absolutely trek in this film. It is fantastic. Anybody who was worried doesn’t need to be worried–about this film I cannot talk about…It was in very capable hands. The director did a phenomenal job–the director and his crew. Top notch cast and the guy that plays the lead is an instant star. That dude is going to be so famous. He is so wonderful. He picked up a role that I would say is pretty challenging for someone to step into the shoes of, because it is a role that has been played before many times by the same guy.
Host: How do you out Shatner, Shatner?
Smith: I don’t know what you are talking about.
Host: I was just saying that as an expression.
Smith: Yes, absolutely, in a world of expressions, I would agree with that…I am so not good with this game, you are going to bury me man.
Host: We had you on before The Dark Knight and I remember asking you if you could direct a movie like Dark Knight and you said ‘hell no’ it was so far out of your sphere…but I bring that up to preface this. Let’s say a franchise like Star Trek, not that you have seen the movie or we are talking about the movie, but we are talking about it for example. That is something that is so dangerous to attempt. Is that the kind of project you would like to do? Would you like to be the guy who gets to do a movie like that?
Smith: I would not like to be the guy. In the case of something like Star Trek, it would take a really insanely talented filmmaker–storyteller. Like in the case of Star Trek, JJ Abrams. So leave it to the people who are best equipped for it. I am just the guy who should be watching those movies.
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You can listen to the exchange yourself, by CLICKING HERE (from the kevinandbeanarchive)
Thanks to Thomas and others who sent in this tip
Bonus Abrams Smith video: Smith hosts dinner with JJ and Luke Skywalker
Three years ago Kevin Smith stepped in for regular host Jon Favreau and guest-hosted the IFC show Dinner For Five, with guests Jason Lee, Stan Lee, Mark Hamill and JJ Abrams. This was while Abrams was making Mission: Impossible: III and before it was announced he would be making Star Trek. The group discuss Alias, MI:III, Tom Cruise, Star Wars, Chasing Amy, Comics, screenwriting, and more. The entire episode is available on YouTube, check it out below.
“phenomenal”!
“Anybody who was worried doesn’t need to be worried”!
and this is without over half of the effects?! as if I wasn’t already insane excited…..
Whatever happened to free speech?
Not being able to talk about something seems un-American!
@2
It’s called signing a non-disclosure agreement.
Rule of Acquisition #17: A contract is a contract is a contract.
(But only between Ferengi.)
;-)
I think Smith was referring to Quinto as Spock, rather than Pine as Kirk, as the spectacular “leading man.” This is probably why he didn’t know what “Host” was referring to. It is not necessarily a foregone conclusion that Kirk’s character will be the protagonist in this picture. I don’t know that he isn’t, however.
Something tells me Star Trek is going to be huge next year. Whether fans like it or not, this new Star Trek is going to THE movie of next May.
Trek against Nia Vardalos?
Come on! Vardalos wins hands down.
//Joking..of course.
If Smith is referring to the “leading man”, does anyone know who is getting top billing – Quinto or Pine?
#4 Ensign
I think he could have been speaking of either actor, Pine or Quinto. He was acting like he “didn’t know” because he couldn’t come out and say too much. I think he gave away quite alot and this is encouraging.
Now I’ll wait for the negative-spin people to arrive in… 5…4…3…2…1…. mark.
Is it May yet???? *fidgeting in my seat* Wish I had a time machine at my disposal.
#8
Well, maybe “fantastic” is only for people who can watch it WITHOUT THE POLES ON THE WARP NACELLES!
THIS IS BLASPHEMY!
I thought the key phrase around here was “This is a disaster” and you’ve seen the completed Enterprise of which you bitch?
Do tell.
No negative spin here! Awesome that he got to see it because he is just as big a fanboy as the rest of us, so his opinion I trust. I trust his filmic opinion so much that I’m pretty much ready to let out a big sigh of relief… Now the hard part– waiting.
Too bad Kevin Smith cant write or direct a movie to save his life.
Cool. But wait Smith gave the Star Wars prequels good reviews too….
Yikes!
…the adventure continues…
Kevin Smith is VERY good at what he does.
The Jay and Silent Bob films are HILARIOUS!
Of course, I wouldn’t expect any of you humorless Trekkies to understand or get the humor.
You’d have to have kissed a girl and moved out of your basement first.
I meant to say your “parent’s” basement…
ok people calm down with the personal attacks on KS and Trekkies. and KS fan warning for trolling
Although I imagine Quinto is excellent in this…my bet is that he’s speaking about Pine…JJ did a great job casting, as we shall all see…
#15 KSFan. Some of us have actually kissed girls in our parents’ basements. So would we understand half of the humor?
Anyway . . . I love Smith’s way of “not talking about” Star Trek. This article made me laugh, and made me more relieved at the same time. Cheers. :)
Who can afford to see first-run movies now, anyway? It’s such a long drive to the mall.
Maybe some more early screenings will occur, as a prize or something.
Honestly, when Kevin Smith gives his approval on a “fanboy” topic, I pretty much listen. I’m comforted by his approval for both Watchmen and Star Trek.
Wow, now that Kevin says its awesome, I can’t wait to see this movie… ;)
Perfect comeback, Cato…
YOU obviously are not humorless…lol!!!
RE 7
This would be a good poll.
Who gets top billing.
My guess woul\d be Leonard Nimoy
It’s nice that he liked it, but Kevin Smith’s word doesn’t necessarily mean a whole lot to me. I know enough of his tastes to know that they don’t always coincide with mine, and let’s face it — dude’s made some pretty crappy movies.
Still, I’m hopeful about the Trek movie. Gonna be LOOOOOONNNNGG wait til next year…
Awesome endorsement! I’m very pleased.
7 and 24
The credits in the teaser trailer just had the cast billed in alphabetical order with Bana and Nimoy getting the honorary “with” and “and” credits at the end. I imagine it’ll be the same in the film. Which means John Cho gets top billing.
Izbot: you aren’t related to Rick Berman, are you? lol Sorry, I was making a little joke (extremely little, ensign!)…
Didn’t Smith claim that The Phantom Menace was really great when it came out?
Anyway, I don’t doubt that the new Trek movie is great, and that Pine is excellent as Kirk. Glad to hear Smith thinks so, too.
@ KSFan
You say we dont know much about the humor in Kevin Smiths movies? I beg to differ. I have most of his movies and find the humor to be smart and hilarious. Anyways to stay on subject, I was LOLing here when they were discussing Star Trek, its soooooo obvious that he saw the Star Trek movie in rough cut.
Do ye’ think JJ even knows what tha’ new Starry Trek is like?
Ahhhh… sweet mystery o’ life…
I just seen “Ishtar 2” but I signed me an agreement wherein I canna say how terrible it be…
Seems JJ has his own rather brilliant way o’ making sure tha’ fans do get attention… by showin’ his film ta’ folks who tha’ fans seem ta’ trust… Good idea actually, and it makes me feel like this will be a bonny film. Who sees it next? Anyone wanna wager?
Arrrrrr…
Stan Lee is great!
Kevin Smith should have gotten Mark Hamill to do some more voices. He’s so great. So talented. Lost opportunity and great dinner entertainment possibility.
What a fun dinner to have.
I’d rather hear Stan Lee’s opinions than Kevin Smith.
OK PEOPLE SO THE MOVIES AWESOME—ONE PROBLEM…PASCALE…IF YOU HAVE ANY CONTACT WITH ANYONE IN CONTROL OF THIS PLEASE GET THEM TO CHANGE THE RELEASE DATE OF THE FILM…AS IT STANDS IT GOES UP AGAINST THE HANNAH MONTANA FILM AND THUS WILL FAIL SO MISERABLY NO ONE WILL WANT TO DO ANYTHING TREK FOR OVER 25 YEARS…PLEASE GET THEM TO MAKE IT OPEN IN APRIL…MAYBE APRIL 3RD…THE FRIDAY BEFORE APRIL 5TH? LOL OR EVEN IN JUNE? ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE SAME WEEKEND AS THE HANNAH MONTANA FILM…DEAR PROPHETS, OPENING THE FILM AGAINST THE HANNAH MONTANA MOVIE IS LIKE SENDING QUARK TO FIGHT AN ARMY OF 100,000,000 JEM’HADAR WITH ONLY A LASER SCALPEL TO FIGHT WITH
#34 erica rachel, etc, etc…
I doubt they move it again and you have to be kidding with the Hanna Montana movie… could you LOSE the cap lock please?
ya got that right…
I’m already standing in line for the Hannah Montana movie…nothing can beat Miley Cyrus…hehehe
it’s too bad that Kevin never does any Sci fi or Comic Book Movies. He has a Great sense of continuity.
Humorless Trek? Actually I thought Voyager was Hilarious, except for when they said something funny.
“Thanks to Thomas and others who sent in this tip.”
Why, you’re welcome, Anthony!
Keep in mind this comes from the guy who made Jersey Girl, so his taste is not 100% by any stretch.
“The stars absolutely trek” in this film– sounds like a good T-Shirt for next may ;))
Kevin Smith gushed about Revenge of the Sith as if it were Citizen Kane.
Is it May yet?
It’s so hard to stay virtually spoiler-free… (and keeping this itching mouse finger from clicking on spoiler posts).
it is always interesting to see fans break into the ‘half empty’ and ‘half full’ camps after each revelation like this. It was just like this after we reported how well the preview went at Paramount.
Remember that some film when they get shown around do not do well, including many Trek films. in the case of one film, Generations, Paramount had to cough up money for reshoots.
There is no guarantee of success, but indications are good, unless of course you are pre-disposed to not wanting to be optimistic
as for liking SITH, well lots of people liked SITH. In my opinion it is better than JEDI and it has a 79% rating on RT:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_3/
So I am not sure where ‘he liked SITH, therefore is opinion is invalid’ comes from. Kevin Smith is a good nerd barometer in my opinion.
Of course, I will not make final judgements until I see the film, but I have no reason to not be optimistic at this point
To correct some history here–
Kevin Smith gave a pre-release rave review for Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones. I don’t know if he did the same for Revenge of the Sith, but I distinctly remember reading his enthusiastic take on Clones.
I personally disliked Attack of the Clones and didn’t agree with Smith’s take on it, but that is not dispositive of Star Trek being a phenomenal film. I’m fairly positive that Kevin Smith and Adam Cohen like a lot of the same movies. And the same goes for a lot of you as well.
Sit tight, people, we’ll all get to see the movie (eventually!).
i wonder what it will be like when I review the film. Am I to be attacked like Smith in order for people to dismiss the opinion (either way I review it)
I vow now that if I see a film that reminds me of Star Wars Ep. 1, Star Trek Insurrection, Star Trek V, or any of the many other films that have been deep disappointments to me, I will not be shy of saying so. And I have said the same to the Abrams team, and they appreciate that. This site is not here to promote one particular project, but to prmote the franchise and inform the fans.
Anthony,
You’re right– there are two kinds of fans running around: the optimists and the pessimists. Now, I think its fine for a lot of fans to remain skeptical (I am in many respects) but when it starts to become some irrational bash-fest against those who are optimistic, that’s when things get really silly.
No matter how well you explain yourself, there will be readers who think you’re a shill for Abrams. If readers think that is the case, it really is their problem. For the majority of us reading this site, we are confident in your unbiased approach to reporting all things Trek. Not all of us chime in on every single article, but you get a lot of people who silently appreciate your efforts.
I just chose to not be silent tonight ;)
#34 – Let’s get real please.
HEY im not kidding…lets see dumb hannah montana stuff has made miley cyrus about a billion dollars in 4 years judging by that the hannah montana film should gross over a billion in its opening weekend and sadly it seems not even a film starring the real jesus of nazareth would top the hannah montana movie…its not berating the new star trek film, but look at the hannah montana tour and the 3d film and stuff…if it had waited til next year id bet even the dark knight wouldnt have been able to beat the accursed hannah montana movie…(wants to phaser miley cyrus)
Re: 47. Anthony Pascale
” i wonder what it will be like when I review the film. Am I to be attacked like Smith in order for people to dismiss the opinion (either way I review it)”
Well, sadly yes. I have noticed in my nearly 2 years of reading the comments here that there is a crew of posters who seem to always have a negative voice.
To me the oddest thing seems to be how fans of Trek could demand that things must always and forever stay the same.
Isn’t Trek about a NEW and DIFFERENT TOMORROW?
In order to advance our society, things must change; and by definition change requires making things different from the way they are now.
I for one look forward to your review of JJ’s Trek, and even though we have never met, i will be excited by reading your descriptions and judgments. In the end i may or may not agree with you but I will VALUE WHAT YOU THINK.
Thanks for all your work here…
-D