I have watched the trailer for the new Star Trek movie and all I could think was ‘who are these children and how did they manage to sneak into Starfleet?’ And what is all this noise and destruction? A Star Trek officer has never been an action hero - James Kirk set the tone early on - he was cool and cerebral, a thinking man’s captain. Picard, Sisko and even Janeway were all static to the point of stiffness. They outsmarted their way through the worst crises, continuing Kirk’s ability to “cheat death”. Scott Bakula, as Captain Archer may “get all the action” (taking over Ryker’s role as galactic slut) but he also tended more towards shooting phasers from behind large cargo crates, not engaging in that much physical combat. Becasue of course, it’s always the un-named crewman who gets blown up and dies, not the bridge crew.
So now we have a Star trek movie targeted at the video game set, with all the blood, guts, sex, special effects and CG that Grand Theft Auto fans have come to expect. Who hijacked The Franchise and what have they done with our beloved sci-fi classic? Does this trailer not scream “sell out” to you?
I watch this clip and all I can think of is the Stargate 200th episode spoof where the SG1 plays out script variations for a “Wormhole Extreme” movie for Martin Lloyd. Yes, the one where all the characters are swapped for younger actors with a hot, fresh, sexy vibe. IMHO, they nailed it.
(I loved this episode - and all the Marty episodes where they make fun of the show and the whole sci-fi genre. The DeLuise kids are the best part of Stargate - without them it would be just another sucky Sci-fi channel series. )
So, I may even go to see the Star Trek movie, but I feel ignored, rejected and discarded. Old farts like me just don’t buy all the merchandise that a blockbuster like this will spin off. Video games, action figures, tacos. Yes, I am past my sci-fi prime directive. I can live on re-runs, though.
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And besides, I still love popcorn!
I've never been a huge Star Trek fan, but casting a bunch of young 20-somethings as rebellious ship commanders is silly to the point of breaking all credibility. Ick. I'm intentionally not seeing this in hopes that it goes away without a sequel.
In the end, it will all come down to chemistry. Original cast had it, no cast since has. I love Picard as much as the next fan girl, but there was no chemistry there. I'm not seeing much chemistry in this preview, but you never know.
I also agree that chemistry is the key.
But, as my response is a bit longer than I had intended, here is the rest of it:
http://open.salon.com/blog/richard2456/2009/04/30/star_trek_helped_us_grow_up
If you are not part of the main plot, you are dead meat.
I'm a huge sucker for the Original and TNG, to the point of mentally gaping when Brent Spiner was in the same elevator with me.
This could be interesting, especially since it looks like they have Spock getting pissed off, presumably without any flower spores being splattered on him, thus removing his Vulcan inhibitions. Oh god, I just revealed my inner ST dork! shhhhh!
I think Ardee nailed it, though. This is for a New Gen. Sigh.
Rrrrrrrated!
Not so... even if your character doesn't have a first name, you *could* be plucky comic relief!
(Thanks to Galaxy Quest for that concept)
I mean, "What is this 'Star Trek' you are talking about?"
:)
Richard, I'll enjoy the new one too, even if I'm snide about it. It just feels wrong, though, like another movie mashed up with ST.
They didn't do a bad job updating the Indiana Jones franchise, passing the hat and whip to the new generation. This one is just abruptly eye candy... will there be depth and optimism? We'll see.
(Bees, the fact is, we're ALL a buncha Star Trek dorks ... and, remind me to tell you about the summer I spent with my ears taped into points with a mutual friend ... )
Two things. I’m all for freshening up the franchise, and I’ll see the movie, but Specular’s comment can’t be avoided. Shatner was a thirtysomething during the original series. The new Kirk actor’s a twentysomething and it might stretch the believability factor – even if just unconsciously for the twentysomethings that’ll support the movie. (And yeah, I know this is the ‘pre-story’).
But I’m not sure I agree w/you about the original Shatner-Kirk. Maybe there were parts of his character that were cool and cerebral, but I thought the stronger character traits were his impulsiveness, his always acting on hunches. And though the result was fairly ‘cheesy’, Roddenberry’s concept was a ‘Chuck-Wagon’ to the stars – a western action/adventure set in space. They steadily employed a large group of stunt-fighters and staged sci-fi barroom brawls at least every other episode...
All of that is to say that I'm an old school fan who's really, really looking forward to this film. I've always felt that the cheese factor inherent in Star Trek could have been done away with in favor of more dramatic realism, and I think that's what Abrams and Co. are going for here.
Plus -- and let's face it, you know it's true -- the original cast were not exactly master thespians, either. I love the Shat as much as the next guy, but let's face it -- he's the real-world equivalent of Bottom from "A Midsummer Night's Dream." All bluster, no substance. I've always felt that these characters deserved better actors -- with the exception of the wonderful DeForrest Kelley and Leonard Nimoy, of course.
Consider me stoked.
David- I see what you are saying with the space western thing - yea, there were brawls and yea, Kirk did mano a mano on a regular basis. (did he ever break a sweat?) Maybe it was the captain's chair image that stayed with me over the years.
As a long-time fan (hey, I have the ANIMATED series on DVD ... I gotta be a real fan) I'm looking forward to a fresh look at the Star Trek universe. I've long held that we needed a look at the "Starfleet Academy" that is so tangentially referred to in the series' more closely, and this movie is a chance to do that, in part.
There's a further reason I like the idea of this new look at the franchise. It's hard not to notice that, after more than 40 years of Trek, the old model needs new life. There HAS to be more to the Star Trek universe than "gallant crews" saving the universe with technological and moral wonders. DS9 hinted at a darker Trek universe beyond the gleaming Enterprise corridors, and that world beyond the shining fortress needs to be explored.
The last few movies, while "good" have been less than memorable in the long run, and we haven't seen a series since Enterprise crashed and burned. Star Trek needs a new look at things. I'm a long term fan, from Kirk through Archer (or is that Archer through Janeway?), but its time to see a new side of the Star Trek universe. I think this new movie has the chance to do that.
DOCTOR HOFFMAN GET IN HERE I NEED MY SHOT!!! ARGHHHH!!!
"May 1st, 2009 | LOS ANGELES -- Gamers won't be able to relive J.J. Abrams' highly anticipated "Star Trek" reboot on their consoles or computers.
The only video game being released alongside the film premiering May 8 -- "Star Trek: D.A.C." -- is a simple downloadable arcade-style space shooter that allows players to join either Federation or Romulan forces and engage in galactic online battles.
"We made a conscious choice in making this game that we weren't going to retell the story of the film," said lead designer Tarik Soliman. "The film itself is awesome. It's a new take on 'Trek.' It's fresh. It's exciting, and it appeals to a much wider audience I think than other 'Trek' films may have in the past. We wanted to capture that sensibility in this game."
The Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC game does take a few cues from its big-screen counterpart. "Star Trek: D.A.C." features film composer Michael Giacchino's original score. The three Federation and Romulan starships that players can captain in deathmatch, assault and conquest scuffles were inspired by the movie's designs, including the Enterprise.
"There's a great sense of responsibility, especially with a title like 'Star Trek,'" said Solimon. "You want to stay true to the brand. You don't want to go too far out there."
(emphasis mine - oh yea?)
So I'll judge this film after I see it. But in my reckoning, the first commandment of Trekdom was stated by Bill Shatner: "It's just a TV show." Or a movie.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that you should reserve you opinion until you've actually seen the movie, since the entire purpose of that "not your father's star trek" ad is to sell out to the young and strapping types.
RE lyle bateman: XD seriously, it is JUST like Kirk to do that. And at, what--ten, twelve years old? His poor mother must just shake her head and tell him to go set the table for dinner...
(Also: your other comment is awesome and you rock.)
Again, I will go see it and if it's excellent storytelling, thoughtful, and yes, positive, I'll post my apology. If it is just another riff on the XMen, the Hulk and Fast and Furious - loud, busy and dumb - I will post an I told you so.