An Adventure of Exploration

[CorporalClegg]

With all the recent news and whatnot, I've finally adopted a "whatever" policy in regards to the film. At this point, I don't really care. Any concerns I may have had even a week ago about casting, script, et cetera, I've just tossed aside. I will undoubtedly be in my seat sometime December 26. (I've I dragged my sorry ass to "Nemesis," I can go and see this.)

However, I supposed I do have one apprehension, or at least one small piece of interest left:

I've always thought "Star Trek" was about exploration--not only space, but also humanity in abstract.

Yet, of the ten movies only one actually accomplishes this. Though, give The Shat credit as his single venture actually attempted to do so.

The other movies were all just run-of-the-mill sci-fi action romps and not very good at that either. (Thanks, Harve!)

So, any chance Abrams actually brakes this mold or are we in for more of the same?

 

[Therin of Andor]

In TMP they went out to meet (and communicate with) an alien intelligence.

In ST II, the Reliant was exploring and needed rescue from Enterprise.

In ST III, Grissom was exploring and needed rescue from Enterprise.

In ST IV, they communicated with (and rescued from extinction) an intelligent lifeform (ie. whales).

In ST V, they travelled to the centre of the galaxy.

Sounds like exploration to me.

 

[RoJoHen]

I have always thought Star Trek was an exploration of the human condition rather than space. I mean, obviously they explore space, but the human element is much more important.

Just because a ship is "exploring" something doesn't mean the story is about exploration.

 

[starburst]

Kinda brings up a Picard quote -
"Does anyone remember when we were explorers?"

I think the problem with the films were to bring in the crowds you needed more of an action movie and not the crew investigating a strange lifeform which tries to eat the ship and in the end they communicate with and make friends with.

 

[Starkers]

starburst said:
Kinda brings up a Picard quote -
"Does anyone remember when we were explorers?"

I think the problem with the films were to bring in the crowds you needed more of an action movie and not the crew investigating a strange lifeform which tries to eat the ship and in the end they communicate with and make friends with.

See I don't see why you can't have both? That's why I felt Master and Commander was the best Star Trek film in years- even though it was set in the 18th century.

You had Russell Crowe essentially playing Kirk, battling to outwit his opponent who had a superior ship.

But you also had Paul Bettany playing a character who was a mixture of McCoy and Spock and who was interested in exploring the Galápagos Islands and the creatures found there.

 

[Kegek]

^
The best Star Trek film was actually Forbidden Planet. A space opera that blends its pulp roots with cerebral themes, that goes from fantastic alien gadgetry to Freudian psychoanalysis. I believe that, and not The Wrath of Khan, should be a more copied model for Star Trek on the big screen.

And, given that Pegg is set to star in the eleventh Star Trek film, that's a profoundly ironic quote.

 

[Starkers]

Kegek`s Corpse said:
^
The best Star Trek film was actually Forbidden Planet. A space opera that blends its pulp roots with cerebral themes, that goes from fantastic alien gadgetry to Freudian psychoanalysis. I believe that, and not The Wrath of Khan, should be a more copied model for Star Trek on the big screen.

Oh I agree completely, but I was talking best Trek film of recent years...the other actually being Galaxy Quest!

But yeah FP is just fantastic, a cerebral sci-fi film that actually manages to be exciting and not boring like many cebrebral sci fi film are.

I still love TWOK though, but it should never have been copied and pasted into Nemesis.

And, given that Pegg is set to star in the eleventh Star Trek film, that's a profoundly ironic quote.

I know that's why it's there. I couldn't resist the delicious irony of it (not that I have anything against Simon Pegg who is one of the coolest guys alive...even though I've never met him! )

 

[starburst]

Starkers said:

starburst said:
Kinda brings up a Picard quote -
"Does anyone remember when we were explorers?"

I think the problem with the films were to bring in the crowds you needed more of an action movie and not the crew investigating a strange lifeform which tries to eat the ship and in the end they communicate with and make friends with.

See I don't see why you can't have both? That's why I felt Master and Commander was the best Star Trek film in years- even though it was set in the 18th century.

You had Russell Crowe essentially playing Kirk, battling to outwit his opponent who had a superior ship.

But you also had Paul Bettany playing a character who was a mixture of McCoy and Spock and who was interested in exploring the Galápagos Islands and the creatures found there.

You never know that is exactly what we might get

 

[Starkers]

^One can hope!

 

[Kegek]

And just to clarify: Yes, I think Master and Commander was a great film and I'll be more than happy if Abrams' Star Trek is of that calibre.

And I do feel that it's important for this film to touch on Star Trek philosophical themes admist the phaser fights and starship explosions.

 

[CorporalClegg]

You know, I've been meaning to see "Forbidden Planet."

I also like the M&C reference it was a great movie. I love Bettany and think he's an underrated and underused actor. Actually, I've actually been considering him as my Pike nominee for a while now. It was simply his nationality that kept me from doing so. Though, I suppose retconing him as something other than American isn't exactly the worst thing that could happen.


And to go slightly off-topic, I've also thought Bettany would be a perfect Sherlock Holmes.

 

[Starkers]

CorporalClegg said:
You know, I've been meaning to see "Forbidden Planet."

I also like the M&C reference it was a great movie. I love Bettany and think he's an underrated and underused actor. Actually, I've actually been considering him as my Pike nominee for a while now. It was simply his nationality that kept me from doing so. Though, I suppose retconing him as something other than American isn't exactly the worst thing that could happen.


And to go slightly off-topic, I've also thought Bettany would be a perfect Sherlock Holmes.

Please see Forbidden Planet, it's truly awesome, and given it's a 1950's film there are many effects that don't even look that dated. It's just a wonderful story.

Plus you get Leslie Neilson without white hair and in a serious role!

Bettany as Sherlock Holms, hmm, I like that.

And I'm sure he could do an American accent.

 

[Kegek]

I'll say this about Forbidden Planet.

The original Star Trek is basically Forbidden Planet: The Series. If you like that, you'll love Forbidden Planet - and unlike Star Trek, it was made with quite a reasonable budget, resulting in a sumptuous visual feast of pulp.

 

[xortex]

A character exploration, which to me is a bore, and not a space exploration, which to me is much better, but that would require a genuine bonafide original concept, so don't hold your breath. They can be the same thing but exploring aliens with goofy makeups' politics is not going to hold water. That is Nemesis, Star Wars, James Bond, Alias and Andromeda tied up in one except with goofy aliens. Romulans, Klingons and Vulcans have to undergo a serious redevelopment and rethinking.