The Even-Handed STXI Preview

[DeafPoet]

I'm generally optimistic about the movie so far. I haven't seen a thing I dislike so far outside of that phaser prop. But I'm not so die-hard a nerd that a prop is going to make or break it for me.

The one thing that the OP mentioned that I have had some trepidations about is Orci and Kurtzman's track record. The Island and that Zorro flick were pretty bad. MI:III was pretty good though. The main offender here is Transformers which was a sucking black hole of shittiness.

That being said, The Island and the far inferior Transformers were both Michael Bay movies. For some reason, that guy exerts a ridiculous amount of control over the final cut of his films. It's like you're almost hoping for the studio to interfere. I have no evidence, but I wouldn't be surprised if he hacked and slashed those screenplays to death. Then again, why do Orci and Kurtzman keep working with him?

Doesn't matter since I've never seen a J.J. Abrams product I didn't like. I don't think he'd shoot a script that was sub-par.

Also, Bob Orci has done a lot in the past year to reach out to fans. The man can speak intelligently on the most remote details of Trek and he seems to be really passionate about it. I don't think he's going to allow the pooch to be screwed on this one.

 

[Kirk1980]

I really hope so... then again, I'd do the same (reaching out to fans and such) and I don't know if I'd hire me to write a Hollywood script, either!

And, well, devil's advocate...if Michael Bay liked you, would YOU say no to him? And more importantly, the paycheck that goes with working on a Bay movie?

 

[darkwing_duck1]

And in general, I think the "we must attract new audiences!" argument is a non-starter. Sorry, but that's a concern for Paramount beancounters, not actual fans. All I want is a film that does justice to the characters and concepts that define Star Trek. How many people pay to see it matters not a whit to me.

As much as I'd like to 100% agree, if the beancounters don't have enough beans to count, they stop sowing the field, so to speak.

 

[trevanian]

I really hope so... then again, I'd do the same (reaching out to fans and such) and I don't know if I'd hire me to write a Hollywood script, either!

And, well, devil's advocate...if Michael Bay liked you, would YOU say no to him? And more importantly, the paycheck that goes with working on a Bay movie?

That's the soul-breaker. My friends and I had that conversation back in the mid-80s, but it was, 'if your break into movies had to come from John Landis, do you take it?' And no matter how much beer got drunk, the answer was always, 'no.'

You work at convenience stores or do shitty ass phone sales jobs if need be, but you don't pour acid on your own soul to achieve the dream.

 

[DeafPoet]

And, well, devil's advocate...if Michael Bay liked you, would YOU say no to him? And more importantly, the paycheck that goes with working on a Bay movie?

Well that's the trick isn't it? I have no integrity or talent so I probably would.

These guys have shown glimmers of being competent screenwriters so I'm not sure I'd sell out so quickly if I were them.

 

[Mordock]

The one thing that the OP mentioned that I have had some trepidations about is Orci and Kurtzman's track record. The Island and that Zorro flick were pretty bad. MI:III was pretty good though. The main offender here is Transformers which was a sucking black hole of shittiness.

This is a very reasonable concern. For that matter, Orci and Kurtzman are Hecht and McArthur compared to J.J. himself, who perpetrated all manner of heinous shit as a screenwriter (Regarding Henry, Forever Young, Gone Fishin', some portion of Armageddon...).

 

[darkwing_duck1]

I really hope so... then again, I'd do the same (reaching out to fans and such) and I don't know if I'd hire me to write a Hollywood script, either!

And, well, devil's advocate...if Michael Bay liked you, would YOU say no to him? And more importantly, the paycheck that goes with working on a Bay movie?

That's the soul-breaker. My friends and I had that conversation back in the mid-80s, but it was, 'if your break into movies had to come from John Landis, do you take it?' And no matter how much beer got drunk, the answer was always, 'no.'

You work at convenience stores or do shitty ass phone sales jobs if need be, but you don't pour acid on your own soul to achieve the dream.

OT, but what's wrong with John Landis? Coming to America, American Werewolf in London, Blues Brothers, Animal House...all good films!

 

[trevanian]

I really hope so... then again, I'd do the same (reaching out to fans and such) and I don't know if I'd hire me to write a Hollywood script, either!

And, well, devil's advocate...if Michael Bay liked you, would YOU say no to him? And more importantly, the paycheck that goes with working on a Bay movie?

That's the soul-breaker. My friends and I had that conversation back in the mid-80s, but it was, 'if your break into movies had to come from John Landis, do you take it?' And no matter how much beer got drunk, the answer was always, 'no.'

You work at convenience stores or do shitty ass phone sales jobs if need be, but you don't pour acid on your own soul to achieve the dream.

OT, but what's wrong with John Landis? Coming to America, American Werewolf in London, Blues Brothers, Animal House...all good films!

He and Frank Marshall should have gone to prison for their hand in the deaths of Vic Morrow and those illegals acting on the set of TWILIGHT ZONE.

And considering how Spielberg managed to keep Marshall out of the country (scouting locations) and unavailable for extradition for years, I gotta say there's even more blame to spread on that one.

I'd have to dig out one of those two insanely painful books on the trial to be sure, but I think one of the makeup Westmores experienced a period of semi-blacklist for being upfront about what went on on-set that night, showing how courage is not rewarded.

 

[darkwing_duck1]

He and Frank Marshall should have gone to prison for their hand in the deaths of Vic Morrow and those illegals acting on the set of TWILIGHT ZONE.

And considering how Spielberg managed to keep Marshall out of the country (scouting locations) and unavailable for extradition for years, I gotta say there's even more blame to spread on that one.

I'd have to dig out one of those two insanely painful books on the trial to be sure, but I think one of the makeup Westmores experienced a period of semi-blacklist for being upfront about what went on on-set that night, showing how courage is not rewarded.

Ok.

I thought the objection was artistic, not due to other factors...

Carry on.

 

[Outpost4]

He and Frank Marshall should have gone to prison for their hand in the deaths of Vic Morrow and those illegals acting on the set of TWILIGHT ZONE.

I thought this must be your beef. Fascinating case. Do post your sources, trevanian. I'd be interested in checking them out.

 

[trevanian]

He and Frank Marshall should have gone to prison for their hand in the deaths of Vic Morrow and those illegals acting on the set of TWILIGHT ZONE.

And considering how Spielberg managed to keep Marshall out of the country (scouting locations) and unavailable for extradition for years, I gotta say there's even more blame to spread on that one.

I'd have to dig out one of those two insanely painful books on the trial to be sure, but I think one of the makeup Westmores experienced a period of semi-blacklist for being upfront about what went on on-set that night, showing how courage is not rewarded.

Ok.

I thought the objection was artistic, not due to other factors...

Carry on.

Naw, I laughed my ass off at KENTUCKY FRIED MOVIE and ANIMAL HOUSE. Haven't seen many others, obviously, as my bias would probably color my viewing (which is odd and maybe even hypocritical of me, because I still rewatch CAPRICORN ONE in spite of OJ being one of the actors. Must be that Goldsmith scores trump all other factors, or that the 'work' of Peter Hyams has a strange and compelling hold on me, like staring into the sun even when you know it is bad to do so. )

 

[trevanian]

He and Frank Marshall should have gone to prison for their hand in the deaths of Vic Morrow and those illegals acting on the set of TWILIGHT ZONE.

I thought this must be your beef. Fascinating case. Do post your sources, trevanian. I'd be interested in checking them out.

The two books I can recall are OUTRAGEOUS CONDUCT and SPECIAL EFFECTS (I think the one with the mostly white dust jacket is the one that got me so upset I physically tore the hardcover apart after reading it) ... I just took a look around and found the following online, it looks useful

http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/not_guilty/twilight_zone/1.html

I apologize for the huge digression to one and all. Promise to butt out of thread for a day or two to let it get back on track (honest.)

 

[Kirk1980]

Well, hey, at least it's not yelling and shouting at each other... I don't have that much objection to honestly informative posts, even if they do stray from the main point somewhat.

For the people who do like Lost...how much of the show is written or edited by Abrams?

 

[pookha]

Well, hey, at least it's not yelling and shouting at each other... I don't have that much objection to honestly informative posts, even if they do stray from the main point somewhat.

For the people who do like Lost...how much of the show is written or edited by Abrams?

http://lost.wikia.com/wiki/J.J._Abrams

 

[Kirk1980]

Ah...so barely any of it.

Hm, that either makes me happy or more apprehensive!

Does the show succeed because of him or in spite of him?