Levar Burton aka Geordi La Forge criticizes Star Trek 2009

[Squiggy]

Sigh...

Levar, Levar, Levar (I'm addressing you as I'm sure you frequent the forum). TNG isn't erased. It's in a different timeline.

If TNG is erased than so is the universe that gave us Sela. You know, that show you were on. Don't make me school you on multiple universes. YOU DIRECTED AND APPEARED IN AN EPISODE OF VOYAGER ALL ABOUT ONE!

[CorporalClegg]

Someone just tell him the TNG universe still exists.

It's in a book. Perhaps he should take a look?

[Franklin]

The original source of the interview is ET Online (Entertainment Tonight), which is a credible site. The interview is dated February 19, 2013 and was done at a Trek convention in Burbank.

Burton says, "... his timeline negates the existence of Next Gen. I think that's silly." If we give him the benefit of the doubt that he saw the movie, paid attention, and knows it's a new timeline, he could mean he's sad that TNG characters may never even be born in the new universe, let alone come together on Enterprise-D.

I mean he could mean that, for what it's all worth. Which is about a nickle.

[Xaios]

I tend to swipe aside most criticism of the 2009 movie because I found it to be unfounded. However, knowing that Levar Burton is one of the better actor-turned-directors out there, I figured he'd have some relevant criticism of the directoral style of ST2K9.

Nope, just whining about how "TNG doesn't exist anymore," which isn't even true.

Le sigh.

[-Brett-]

There are plenty of valid criticisms of the 09 flick, but that one's just silly. It's not like we were ever going to see the Next Generation era again anyway, so what does it matter if it was erased?

Trek being fiction, if hell freezes over and someone picks up Prime Trek right where it left off, they can ignore Abrams' version easily enough.

[foxhot]

Besides, how can erasing the Troi family be a bad thing?

[BillJ]

If they wrote him a check I'm sure he'd understand right away.

[RAMA]

He just wanted to be in it!

[serenitytrek1]

M'Sharak wrote:

---

Are you sure this isn't from three and a half years ago, when the TNG cast were still seriously being asked their opinions about a new movie?

Also: Who are trekmate.org and where did they come from? I've never even heard of them before, and it looks as if hardly anyone else has either.

oh?

okay then

first of all , trekmate.org.uk is a trek site and a very good one.

Secondly, no this is not from 3 years ago. it was 2 days ago that Burton's statement was published online.

[Lord Garth, FOI]

Yup
"You are erased"

They erased 10 years of terrible boredom , a kindergarten on the fleet flag battleship, whoopie Goldberg and Kirks horrible death all because Picard was too much of a pussy to be able to beat up Malcolm McDowell in a fist fight?

Color me thrilled

[Nerys Myk]

trekmate would be a good name for a dating site.

I'll echo others in saying 1)whining that TNG isn't part of the new film really isn't criticizing the film, 2) it's a bit late to start whining and 3) who cares what Levar Burton has to say.

[USS Intrepid]

SalvorHardin wrote:

---

And Burton didn't say anything bad. So he missed the point about alternate universes and whatnot. Big whoop.

Along with most of the movie-going public. Let's face it, that entire alternate universe thing was just to keep the fans happy.

[King Daniel]

SCOTT BAKULA: "Fuck yeah."

[CorporalClegg]

Not much of an Enterprise fan. But that's definitely indisputable proof that Bakula wins. Everything.

[Dukhat]

serenitytrek1 wrote:

---

Burton who played Geordi in TNG says he is disappointed with the 09 film because it erased the TNG timeline. Burton also said it was a silly thing for JJ to do.

I don't think Burton watched any behind the scenes footage or any Interview of JJ ABRAMS speaking about the 09 film or even watched the film with JJ's commentary.

JJ did spend a good time respectfully ranting about how his trek is an alternate reality and everything that happened in the prime universe still exists and is unchangeable.

So that Includes the TNG timeline.......right?

I am certain that Burton is not been spiteful like William Shatner who is mad at JJ because JJ wont let him be part of new Trek.

However I do think Burton is plain wrong on this issue.


The Prime Universe is still out there.


Also it kind of sucks that Burton will say this things. TNG had so may time travel and alternate reality episodes so it makes no sense when he says JJ did a silly thing by creating a new timeline.


what say you?

First of all, you've taken Burton's statement completely out of context by not quoting his full statement:

“J.J. [Abrams] [is] a very good director, he really is,” he told ET. “He directed the hell out of the first movie. I’m really interested to see what he wants to talk about in his upcoming movie. [But] I’m disappointed, quite frankly, that his timeline negates the existence of Next Gen. I think that’s silly.”

Sounds like Burton likes Abrams's work quite a lot (and, by the way, there's never been any proof that Shatner is "mad at JJ because he won't let him be part of new Trek." That's just fan bullshit that you've decided to believe.)

It also seems that Burton is speaking tongue in cheek. He's fully aware that TNG still exists. I think he's more upset that Paramount has decided to take Trek in a new direction, not that Abrams "erased" TNG. Abrams (or anyone else, for that matter) could have made a non-reboot, genuine TOS origin story without time travel, and Burton would still be upset that TNG movies are no longer being made.