Editorial on ST:IX (James Cawley)

[T'Aerwynd]

Exactly one year ago tomorrow Star Trek Phase II star and executive producer James Cawley made news with his editorial here at TrekMovie regarding his thoughts on early designs he had seen of the new USS Enterprise from JJ Abrams new “Star Trek” film. Now that the pictures are out, he has sent in and update on his thoughts on this new Trek.

http://trekmovie.com/2008/11/12/editorial-james-cawley-on-the-new-star-trek-movie/

I think Mr. Cawley makes some very good points, notably the paragraph about the Batman franchise. But it's sad to say that no amount of explaining will make a difference to those who have already decided to hate the new film for whatever reason. Generally, they're trivial reasons put forth by die-hard purists who hate a movie/trailer they've never seen and who make all sorts of overdramatic statements about Trek being ruined ... all because of a few released images, two trailer descriptions and descriptions of four clips that were released. Trivial or not, people already hate this movie. And it's sad. I fear his points will, for the most part, fall on deaf ears.

Discuss.

 

[DeafPoet]

IIRC, Anthony had a video interview with him last year after he shot his cameo role and he was very positive about the whole production. If freaking Cawley can find stuff to like in this film, surely people with similar sensibilities will be able to once it comes out.

 

[Tom Servo]

Thats a great attitude to have. Hopefully others can see things the way he does. I can't wait till May!

 

[Michael]

Gotta love this guy. His comparison to the Batman franchise is spot-on.

 

[EnsignJulka]

Yeah this guy puts things into perspective!

 

[Sharr Khan]

Glad he's talking sense. The Batman paragraph is spot on.

Sharr

 

[number6]

judging from the comments, it looks a lot like Cawley's words are falling on deaf ears.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

It's about time someone put ST IX into perspective.

 

[number6]

It's about time someone put ST IX into perspective.

I agree with Cawley 100%. I'm a TOS uberfan. The only difference between me and Cawley is that I have never made a fan film. I can nitpick and trivialize with the the best of them. But I am a fan of Star Trek. This new team is making Star Trek and I'm psyched to see what they do with it.

 

[ManOnTheWave]

IX

Allow me to quote myself.

 

[Borgminister]

IX

Allow me to quote myself.

Nein, I vill not!

 

[Dar70]

Thats the way Im looking at this film now. I was hoping it would have been a true prequel with subtle visual changes, but after seeing the Enterprise its now clear that its not a true prequel. They have decided to go the James Bond route (with Nimoy playing the Spock role, this is akin to M,Q or Money penny with the first three James Bonds actors, which didnt always adhere to continuity)

So I will see the film, just with a different attitude, and hopefully like it. So far except for the ship everything I have seen is OK.

 

[Sector 7]

Darnit! Now I have to change my sig line again!
I like James Cawley's attitude. I share it.

 

[SalvorHardin]

In b4 the first one to claim that Cawley is a sellout, who was corrupted for a cameo and J.J's dollars.

 

[seigezunt]

IIRC, Anthony had a video interview with him last year after he shot his cameo role and he was very positive about the whole production. If freaking Cawley can find stuff to like in this film, surely people with similar sensibilities will be able to once it comes out.

Indeed. The Batman comparison is spot-on. Why can't they all be Star Trek?

Except for Voyager, of course.

 

[Psion]

Well ... up until now, there's been an effort to pretend they're all part of the same continuity. Maybe it's time to set that aside, with TOS, TAS, TMP, TWOK, TSFS, TVH, TFF, TUC, GEN, FC, INS, NEM, TNG, DS9, VOY, and ENT all considered separate entitities and the new game in town should be figuring out which belong in which continuity. Even individual episodes within a given series might not belong to the same continuity of the others in the same series.

Cawley's definitely got a point and one that would serve us well if additional productions are added to the franchise in coming years/decades/centuries.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Well ... up until now, there's been an effort to pretend they're all part of the same continuity. Maybe it's time to set that aside...

Way past time, IMAO.

One of the most annoying things that people post is some variation of "I guess I'll have to consign this movie to some alternate timeline."

Say what?

 

[scotthm]

Indeed. The Batman comparison is spot-on.

That's what I'm afraid of. After watching Arnold play Mr. Freeze I've never watched another Batman movie, and after seeing Nemesis... well, I had hopes, but what I've seen and read this week haven't encouraged me.

I'm still willing to see it and give it a chance, but I'm not excited about it at the moment.

---------------

 

[Psion]

Well, it isn't too unreasonable to say TWOK, TSFS, and TVH are all part of the same continuity. But then that nasty issue with Saavik's casting gets in the way. GEN -> NEM can all be in one package, too, for all I care. I don't very much care for the Next Generation films, even though I loved the series. And I'd argue for different continuities between TOS and ENT. And put the third season of ENT into its own little compartment. And ...

Oh, crap! I'm gonna be at this until I'm all alone in geriatric ward 9.

 

[ancient]

Well, I don't know how many times I've used the exact same Batman example, though it never seems to phase anyone.