We have some plot information for the upcoming Star Trek film thanks to Entertainment Weekly. We get the heads up on the following thanks to our friends at moviesonline:
Star Trek’s time-travel plot is set in motion when a Federation starship, the USS Kelvin, is attacked by a vicious Romulan (Eric Bana) desperately seeking one of the film’s heroes. From there, the film then brings Kirk and Spock center stage and tracks the origins of their friendship and how they became officers aboard the Enterprise.
In fact, the movie shows how the whole original series crew came together: McCoy (Karl Urban), Uhura (Zoë Saldana), Scotty (Simon Pegg), Sulu (John Cho), and Chekov (Anton Yelchin). The adventure stretches from Earth to Vulcan, and yes, it does find a way to have Nimoy appearing in scenes with at least one of the actors on our cover — and maybe both. The storytelling is newbie-friendly, but it slyly assimilates a wide range of Trek arcana, from doomed Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood) to Sulu’s swordsmanship to classic lines like, ”I have been, and always shall be, your friend.” More ambitiously, the movie subversively plays with Trek lore — and those who know it. The opening sequence, for example, is an emotionally wrenching passage that culminates with a mythic climax sure to leave zealots howling ”Heresy!” But revisionism anxiety is the point. ”The movie,” Lindelof says, ”is about the act of changing what you know.”
I don’t like the sounds of this at all. I especially don’t like the fact that they seem to be gloating about how upset Star Trek “zealots” will be. Star Trek rules for a reason – it’s fucking awesome; that’s why it has zealots and if you are pissing them off just to prove a point – fuck you.
I was introduced to the original TV show as a child and grew up loving the characters and the universe. I was more than pleased when TNG turned out to be killer as well. TNG showed us how to do something new within the Star Trek universe and make it work. Just because all other attempts at recreating this success have fallen short doesn’t mean you give up. I would certainly rather see another spin on the Trek universe rather than return to the well and piss in it with Star Trek 90210.
I hope this is good, but I’m not holding my breath. The more I see; the less I like. Right now I’m wishing Backula and company had an Enterprise film in the works.
Abrams and his kiddie crew can do whatever they want, because it doesn’t really matter. It doesn’t change the Star Trek that I know and grew up with, the only Star Trek I truly give a damn about. It doesn’t change what Gene Roddenberry created. And that’s my point here…all of these things labled ‘Star Trek’ are all “based on Star Trek, created by Gene Roddenberry”, they’re all derivatives of an original work, that work being the Original Series.
So yeah, I’m going to go see this twisted little escapade–I’m actually looking forward to Simon Pegg and Karl Urban in Starfleet uniforms–and I’ll laugh at all of the inconsistancies. I might even enjoy the movie. Because when it comes down to it, they can paint over the masterpiece, pat themselves on the back for “pissing off the zealots” and think themselves clever, but they’re really not. They’re just the latest ones cashing in on someone else’s idea. ;)
Bravo Abrams. Can we get the same cast back for Trek XII? :-))
“You must have faith; that the universe will unfold as it should.” Captain Spock to Valaris ST VI.
I am a hold out for Star Trek and expect good things from this film. But to say there is nowhere else for Star Trek to go, or that the franchise has been killed is cynicism without creativity. There are countless stories out there. I am down with a new vision even if it is one not what i would otherwise go for but this is a new film in a new direction that in no way erases 42 years of beautiful sci fi tradition and honor. There is no reason why this can not coexist with the Gene Rodenberry and Rick Berman Star Trek.
I was a huge fan of TOS, and I liked TNG, and I also liked Enterprise, I am a big mark for Star Trek because it used to be a great vehicle to explore the world of Sci-Fi and put in a bit of optimism and social commentary at the same time. However, they haven’t put out a good Trek movie in a long time, I think it’s time they reinvented Trek, it can’t hurt, and hopefully, it will give the franchise the kick-start it’s been needing since Generations. I can’t wait for this, I just hope they make a good honest movie and don’t listen to the people whining about the color of someones shirt in ONE shot of the movie.
First Kevin Smith now Edgar Wright on ST XI:
Interesting blog post from Shaun of the Dead Director and friend of Simon Pegg:
Quote:
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
I am a lucky bastard…
Yesterday I saw a film that does not get released until next summer.
I can’t say much more than that, except that it delivers all the goods sorely lacking from a certain trio of prequels.
Exciting stuff.
That is all.
E
p.s. I did also meet Henry Winkler in the parking lot. These two events were unrelated. Other than it being further evidence of me being a lucky bastard.
p.p.s. Thanks to CINEMATICAL (and Joel who sent me this link) for naming SHAUN OF THE DEAD as their funniest horror movie. The competition was very stiff too, especially the films ranking second and third.
End Quote
I’m really looking forward to this. I think its going to be the rebirth Star Trek has needed for a long long time.
When something I like gets remade with a new take on things, I welcome it with open arms and judge it after. If it still entertains me, I don’t see any harm in it. I KNOW how the original went, so why cry about it? Although I do like to see the others cry, especially if it’s still a great film.
John made a great point on Friday’s podcast about Trek fans focussing on branches when they should be concerned about the forest. Stressing out small details like the colour of Kirk’s shirt or Chekov with curly hair, or the tech of the movie not looking like the original bridge is ridiculous.
That stuff is all window dressing. You want Kirk with a yellow shirt, Chekov with a Davy Jones ‘do – go watch the originals.
The main thing to worry about with the movie is it going to tell a good story and is that story going to be interesting and entertaining enough to bring in the numbers needed to make the film profitable. Because if this movie tanks then Star Trek will become the Dead franchise that John says it already is.
I believe this reboot can prevail because I believe the Kirk, Spock, McCoy triad is one of the richest and strongest character dynamics in any form of fiction. If done right these characters can become as timeless as any Shakespearean one or any other pop culture icon like Sherlock Holmes, Tarzan, or any number of comic book characters. And the Trek trio could be played by many actors just as Holmes etc have been.
In today’s world where dark movies get the most buzz and excitement – a movie about optimism and hope could really work as a piece of counter programming.
After something like six zillion hours of Trek, it needed to be put mercifully to sleep OR “re-energised” with a clean slate.
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for this one!
I’m actually optimistic that this will be good. My only beef right now is the damned Star Wars-looking bridge. After hearing about all the “faithful to the original” comments and “stepping on the bridge was surreal” I really expected at least the color scheme of the new bridge to jive with the original.
Vic
There’s a lady at my office, a huge sci-fi fan, who refuses to watch the new Battlestar Galactica because “they made Starbuck a woman!” Me and several co-workers kept trying to convince her that it was a great show, that she was missing out on some of the best sci-fi out there, but she was a zealot. It was driving us nuts because we couldn’t share this great sci-fi show with her.
Finally she met Richard Hatch at a convention and he personally convinced her to give the show a chance. Now she owns all the DVDs and loves it.
As a sci-fi fan, I’m gonna give the new Star Trek a chance. How often does a good futuristic space adventure come along these says? We hard sci-fi fans and trekkies are lucky they are spending so much money on trying to bring back Star Trek.
And hey, at least they didn’t make Checkov a hot chick.
i was hoping for a total reboot, mix some shit up, bring it to a fresh audience instead of america’s stereotypical simpsons comic book guys
Nemesis is the only Star Trek film that was not profitable.
It didn’t matter if a Star Trek film didn’t make $100 million in the US because a Star Trek film was be comparitively cheap to make. Nemesis was the most expensive TNG movie and it only cost $60 million to make.
Generations, First Contact and Insurrection were all hugely profitable for Paramount because they knew the potential audience and gave each film a sensible budget. They all made triple their budget worldwide.
Nemesis bombed because it
a) Sucked. I mean REALLY sucked.
b) Was released the week before The Two Towers (and Harry Potter and Die Another Day were also raking it in at the box office). Even die hard Star Treks fans would have chosen to see The Two Towers over Nemesis.
This new Star Trek film is a big risk because it’s costs $150 million which would require the film to generate an audience equal to Star Trek: The Motion Picture (the most successful Trek movie) to break even.
The only reason Paramount are going back to TOS is that DS9, Voyager and Enterprise do not have the mainstream appeal of TOS or TNG and they’ve already killed off TNG.
We will have to agree to disagree. The proof will be in the pudding.
Let us wait for pudding.
Doug, you know I love ya’ man, but I really have to disagree with you on this one.
As others have said, if there were ever a franchise in need of some serious shaking up, this would be it. I love Star Trek… I have my whole life, but I for one am ready for a new and hopefully refreshing take on it. I for one have loved almost everything I’ve seen and heard about this project thus far.
I am 100% for this new take on Star Trek. I am a huge Star Trek fan too! TNG & DS9 being my two favorites. Voyager sucked and I never got bast episode 7 of Enterprise. I think this is just what Trek needs. If only JJ Abrams could make a new Star TRek series be as good as Lost is I will be even more happy!
Doug I’m totally with you on this. TOS is sacred in my book having grown up with it the same way you describe, and to have JJ Abrams come along and say “Naaa, I’m going to do my take on this” is a slap in the face. Especially after I saw that “Euro Hair Salon” style Bridge make over shit he did. I say FUCK YOU JJ. BTW Alias sucked balls. There was absolutely NO reason to go back to the original Trek show and remake it. With each new photo and plot point I’m getting more and more pissed off. You want to say fuck you to cannon and fuck you to the fans? Then I hope you get what you deserve! Imagine a world were Lucas dies and some douche bag says “You know, the Millennium Falcon always looked to 70’s to me. Let’s make it look like a glittering sparkling neon cluster fuck. I think JJ’s set design looks more dated then the original set ever did. In ten years everyone is going to wonder why they filmed it in the apple store. You don’t know how much it pains me to say this stuff. I really want the new trek movie to be good. I will still give it a chance, but so far the set design of the Enterprise we’ve seen has really let me down. On a positive note, the costumes look pretty cool and that Kelvin ship looks cool.
If we want a more concrete example of why Paramount and the new Star Trek movie aren’t all that concerned with appealing to the status quo Star Trek fans, one need look no further than the box office result of the last 5 Star Trek films:
1989 – Final Frontier: $53 million
1991 – Undiscovered Country: $74 million
1994 – Generations: $75 million
1996 – First Contact: $93 million
1998 – Insurrection: $70 million
2002 – Star Trek Nemesis: $43 million
The last Star Trek movie to break $100 million was over 20 years ago with Star Trek IV The Voyage Home in 1986. And as you can see, the last Star Trek film crawled in with just over $40 million. So where are they? Where are these legions and armies of Trekkies we keep hearing about?
I have faith; I don’t know what else to tell you.
i feel like ds9 definitely didn’t “fall short” in any way, shape or form. but that’s just me.
also, vic, on the main page it says “by doug” at the top. just not on the comments page.
>gulp!<
I’m a casual Star Trek fan — loved TOS, hated Next Gen, Voyager, and Deep Space Nine, but dug Enterprise. Loved most of the movies (with the exception of Generations and Nemesis — those were dogshit) … Anyways, I’m with Billy on this one — if ever there were a franchise in need of a reboot, it was this one. It was tired, cliched, and really had nowhere to go.
I’m looking forward to seeing how this one turns out. If it’s crap, it’s no big loss since the franchise had all been killed anyways.
I’m a big Star Trek fan, that is having seen three of the various incarnations in their entirety and several episodes of Voyager and Deep Space Nine, plus 8 of the other movies, and I read that “zealots” comment with glee.
We need some shaking up, as far as I’m concerned.
“Star Trek rules for a reason – it’s fucking awesome; that’s why it has zealots and if you are pissing them off just to prove a point – fuck you.”
I think I love you. :-P
BTW, are you aware that the author name no longer appears anywhere in the post?
Vic