Honestly... I don't know. (Spoilers)

[BillJ]

For the past thirty-six hours or so, I looked on and off at the photos coming out for Star Trek. Honestly... I don't know what to think. Obviously, I am now taking my wife to see Quantum of Solace on November 14. I hope that seeing this work in action will push me one way or the other.

See, Star Trek is the longest running constant in my life. Been married for 15 years, oldest daughter is 15 and have been with my current company for 10. Have been watching Star Trek since I was 5 (and I'm 37 years old). So needless to say that looking at those photos is somewhat... weird.

Here are some thoughts from, what I hope, is an unbiased eye:

1. The uniforms are awful... ( I think I'm the only one to think so) and I love the TOS uniforms. The new ones look decent from a distance but really fall apart up close. The colored tops look like body condoms. Ugh.

2. The bridge... love the captain's chair, think it's a nice updating of the original. The rest... have to see it in motion, but I'm not feeling it right now (that could change on 11-14).

3. The Kelvin... don't really care. It's a prop designed to be destroyed five minutes in.

4. The cast... look the part now. But I'm sure they could have found seven underwear models to stand around. Need to them in motion before judging.

5. Kirk... no way those photos are of him as a cadet. Imagine he got picked up along the way by the Enterprise investigating the remnants of a lost starship (the Kelvin). He is forced to take command when Pike is killed or maimed en-route. Kirk is probably a commander at this point and the highest ranking officer left aboard after an attack by Shinzon err... I mean Nero.

I've heard some rumors on the story elements. If this were going to be a 500 page novel from one of our folks (preferably Dayton Ward) from Pocket Books, I would soooo be there. Not sure I'm feeling it as a $150 million blockbuster, seems like a ton of exposition to be done for a two hour film.

Looks like it could be interesting... next milestone is 11-14, then onto 5-9-09. I won't be judging the product (except those god-awful unis) until then.

 

[btflash]

For the past thirty-six hours or so, I looked on and off at the photos coming out for Star Trek. Honestly... I don't know what to think. Obviously, I am now taking my wife to see Quantum of Solace on November 14. I hope that seeing this work in action will push me one way or the other.

See, Star Trek is the longest running constant in my life. Been married for 15 years, oldest daughter is 15 and have been with my current company for 10. Have been watching Star Trek since I was 5 (and I'm 37 years old). So needless to say that looking at those photos is somewhat... weird.

Here our some thoughts from, what I hope, is an unbiased eye:

1. The uniforms are awful... ( I think I'm the only one to think so) and I love the TOS uniforms. The new ones look decent from a distance but really fall apart up close. The colored tops look like body condoms. Ugh.

2. The bridge... love the captain's chair, think it's a nice updating of the original. The rest... have to see it in motion, but I'm not feeling it right now (that could change on 11-14).

3. The Kelvin... don't really care. It's a prop designed to be destroyed five minutes in.

4. The cast... look the part now. But I'm sure they could have found seven underwear models to stand around. Need to them in motion before judging.

5. Kirk... no way those photos are of him as a cadet. Imagine he got picked up along the way by the Enterprise investigating the remnants of a lost starship (the Kelvin). He is forced to take command when Pike is killed or maimed en-route. Kirk is probably a commander at this point and the highest ranking officer left aboard after an attack by Shinzon err... I mean Nero.

I've heard some rumors on the story elements. If this were going to be a 500 page novel from one of our folks (preferably Dayton Ward) from Pocket Books, I would soooo be there. Not sure I'm feeling it as a $150 million blockbuster, seems like a ton of exposition to be done for a two hour film.

Looks like it could be interesting... next milestone is 11-14, then onto 5-9-09. I won't be judging the product (except those god-awful unis) until then.

i agree . i dont like the uniforms either. that design was cool in 1966 but doesnt hold up well in 2008! the bridge looks like the inside of a hospital operating room! too brightly lit for me. im a little worried about this movie screwing with trek canon. i just read abrams proposed script for the superman movie and all i can say is "YIKES!" i dont have a lot of faith in him, but maybe im wrong! anyway, we will know in may!

 

[The Wormhole]

Here's my view on things:

-The uniforms are horrible. Terrible imitations of the TOS uniforms. I've seen better costumes worn in parodies of Trek.

-The bridge. No. Just no. That is quite possibly the worst Star Trek bridge I've ever seen. It's just wrong on so many levels.

-The cast do not look like their characters. Simon Pegg does look somewhat like Scotty, but everyone else? When I see Spock I keep thinking "is Heroes doing an episode with Sylar at a Trek convention?" Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana, and Anton Yelchin look nothing like Kirk, Uhura, or Chekov. And strange as it may sound, I keep getting Karl Urban and John Cho confused with each other.

-USS Kelvin is a fugly ship. Come on, fanboys have come up with early 23rd century ship designs that both look cool and fit into design lineage. Now I applaud this ship for fitting with design lineage, but it needs some work in the aesthetics department.

-Nero at this point looks like a Shinzon wannabe. Which is sad because Shinzon was a wannabe of a Khan wannabe.

Overall I am not impressed with what I have seen of this movie. However, even I have to admit, it probably will be a hit among non-Trek fans the way Iron Man and The Dark Knight were hits among non-comic fans. However, this means that for hundreds of people, they will be introduced to Star Trek through this and if they enjoy it, they will think this is what Star Trek is. And I find that sad. Star Trek has close to forty years of awesomeness with over 700 TV episodes and 10 legitimate movies. I'm sure most of the common folk would find something they liked there if they sat down and watched it. The idea that this movie will become the mainstream definition of what Star Trek is for the unwashed masses is truly a disappointment and enough for me to lose faith in humanity.

However, you can guarantee that I will be among the first to see the movie in theatres.

 

[BillJ]

Here's my view on things:



However, you can guarantee that I will be among the first to see the movie in theatres.

My point exactly!!!

Regardless of what I see... I'll be first in line. Hell, I'm taking a week of vacation around this.

 

[FalTorPan]

My hopes are neither up nor down. I'll watch the movie in the theater, and as of this moment, I have zero expectations -- positive or negative.

 

[ChristopherPike]

I have no real opinion on the bridge. Aside from liking the chair and trying to make out any reconizable TOS touches. Are those red handrails I see, but done in a more subdued shade? I'm not seeing this as an intermediate bridge between ENT and TOS though... Perhaps the science station has the usual features both T'Pol and Spock had. That whirling disc, based on a trick of eye. I forget what the proper name for it was called.

Far more distracting for me, is not being able to get the image of Jim Carrey (In Living Color) as Kirk out of my head... especially here.

This Kirk mannerism seems as exaggerated. Perhaps it's a little unfair to say that without seeing the whole performance.

 

[ST-One]

Here's my view on things:

-The uniforms are horrible. Terrible imitations of the TOS uniforms. I've seen better costumes worn in parodies of Trek.

Such as?

-The bridge. No. Just no. That is quite possibly the worst Star Trek bridge I've ever seen. It's just wrong on so many levels.

Name the levels.

-The cast do not look like their characters. Simon Pegg does look somewhat like Scotty, but everyone else? When I see Spock I keep thinking "is Heroes doing an episode with Sylar at a Trek convention?" Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana, and Anton Yelchin look nothing like Kirk, Uhura, or Chekov. And strange as it may sound, I keep getting Karl Urban and John Cho confused with each other.

Were you expecting doppelgangers?

-USS Kelvin is a fugly ship. Come on, fanboys have come up with early 23rd century ship designs that both look cool and fit into design lineage. Now I applaud this ship for fitting with design lineage, but it needs some work in the aesthetics department.

Your opinion.

-Nero at this point looks like a Shinzon wannabe. Which is sad because Shinzon was a wannabe of a Khan wannabe.

A bald head makes one now a Shinzon wannabe?
That would make Dennis too a Shinzon wannabe

Overall I am not impressed with what I have seen of this movie. However, even I have to admit, it probably will be a hit among non-Trek fans the way Iron Man and The Dark Knight were hits among non-comic fans. However, this means that for hundreds of people, they will be introduced to Star Trek through this and if they enjoy it, they will think this is what Star Trek is. And I find that sad. Star Trek has close to forty years of awesomeness with over 700 TV episodes and 10 legitimate movies. I'm sure most of the common folk would find something they liked there if they sat down and watched it. The idea that this movie will become the mainstream definition of what Star Trek is for the unwashed masses is truly a disappointment and enough for me to lose faith in humanity.

Get off your high horse. Star Trek was always aimed at these 'unwashed masses'.
Large audience appeal is what makes such franchises big. Not the pandering to ... the likes of CRA and ... other fanboys like him.

However, you can guarantee that I will be among the first to see the movie in theatres.

Yes, just to bitch and moan afterwards how and what they (team Abrams) fucked up, I guess.

 

[Augustus]

Everyone is entitled to an opinion... but some people's opinions are just dumb

 

[darkshadow0001]

Oh great... here we go again, we're all complaining about the movie before it comes out. I'm surprised they still make Star Trek stuff with all the complaints they receive.

Personally, I think the interior of the ship looks pretty cool. I was hoping it would of been more like the 60's design as well, but come on, it is 2008 and I highly doubt any of the young folk are gonna wanna see a ship design of the 60's like that. Everything looks great so far, now it's the story line and hearing these actors speak the part

 

[cultcross]

Here's my view on things:

-The uniforms are horrible. Terrible imitations of the TOS uniforms. I've seen better costumes worn in parodies of Trek.

Care to give us some examples?
The tops are pretty similar in design (and it appears material in the close-ups) to modern day 'stay-cool' type hiking/sport t-shirts. In fact I have one that is the exact same colour and cut as the science tunic, albeit without the delta weave/insignia. It's a solid modern update of the pyjama tops from the original series.

-The cast do not look like their characters. Simon Pegg does look somewhat like Scotty, but everyone else? When I see Spock I keep thinking "is Heroes doing an episode with Sylar at a Trek convention?" Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana, and Anton Yelchin look nothing like Kirk, Uhura, or Chekov. And strange as it may sound, I keep getting Karl Urban and John Cho confused with each other.

Why the fuck would they look like the 60s cast? Bar a few gender/race based basics, they're different actors, hopefully cast for how well they act. They're not meant to look the same. In this day and age, if they wanted young Shatner and Nimoy, they could have done it with CGI characters. They recast for a reason.

-USS Kelvin is a fugly ship. Come on, fanboys have come up with early 23rd century ship designs that both look cool and fit into design lineage. Now I applaud this ship for fitting with design lineage, but it needs some work in the aesthetics department.

It looks pretty much identical to the one-nacelled "fanboy" designs taht have been cropping up since Franz Joseph and before. It's exactly within the expected 'catalogue' of ships for the time period.

-Nero at this point looks like a Shinzon wannabe. Which is sad because Shinzon was a wannabe of a Khan wannabe.

OK, he's bald, we have a photo of him in a similar pose, and he's connected to the Romulans. Unless you can think of more, the similarities end there.

Overall I am not impressed with what I have seen of this movie. However, even I have to admit, it probably will be a hit among non-Trek fans the way Iron Man and The Dark Knight were hits among non-comic fans.

They were also huge hits among the existing fans.

However, this means that for hundreds of people, they will be introduced to Star Trek through this and if they enjoy it, they will think this is what Star Trek is.

That is what it is. Present tense. In May, we will see what Star Trek is now. You want to just watch the 3 seasons from 40 years ago over and over, that's cool. Your choice 100%. But that doesn't make what is going to be in this movie any more or less Star Trek.

10 legitimate movies.

You're rating this one below Nemesis and Final Frontier before you've seen it? OK, I was wrong. This is what Star Trek is about.

The idea that this movie will become the mainstream definition of what Star Trek is for the unwashed masses is truly a disappointment and enough for me to lose faith in humanity.

That is the most elitist, hyperbolic nonsense I've seen said about this film yet, and that's saying something.

However, you can guarantee that I will be among the first to see the movie in theatres.

Why? Have the courage of your convictions. Stay away.

 

[Brent]

I'll wait to see the movie until I judge

 

[Kelso]

Well, I am going into this movie with the hope that it will recapture the spirit and fun of the original... if they maintain any sort of continuity with TOS, I'll take that as a bonus.

This isn't the first time one of my favorite TV shows has been adapted into a film. Maverick, Get Smart, The Addams Family, The Fugitive... none of these are in continuity with their TV counterparts but I thought they were all very well made and worthy of the originals.

From what I've seen of TREK09 so far... the cast looks great, the uniforms look cool, and the bridge looks suitably futuristic. I'm not sure what else we should be expecting at this point.

 

[T J]

Seeing some of the talk in this thread makes me understand why the people doing this movie were not trying to cater to fans of Trek. Some of you can't... won't be pleased until they genetically clone all the original actors rebuild the original sets from federally approved blueprints, buy back or pull out all the original uniforms and get the original Enterprise back from the Smithsonian! I have pity for you...

I love everything they are doing and embrace the change. The bridge pic is already my desktop and I just can't wait. This is gonna be great!

 

[davejames]

As far as the uniforms go, I remember all the complaining about the diamond pattern on the new SR suit (and all the stupid S's on the shield), but when you actually watched the movie you could barely make any of that out.

I'm sure it'll be the same thing here. The pattern is just so the colors won't look too flat on a giant movie screen.

 

[Basil]

Well, I am going into this movie with the hope that it will recapture the spirit and fun of the original... if they maintain any sort of continuity with TOS, I'll take that as a bonus.

This isn't the first time one of my favorite TV shows has been adapted into a film. Maverick, Get Smart, The Addams Family, The Fugitive... none of these are in continuity with their TV counterparts but I thought they were all very well made and worthy of the originals.

From what I've seen of TREK09 so far... the cast looks great, the uniforms look cool, and the bridge looks suitably futuristic. I'm not sure what else we should be expecting at this point.

Maverick is, with James Garner reprising his TV role, though as a bit of a red herring in the Mel Gibson version's story.

 

[Good Will Riker]

-The bridge. No. Just no. That is quite possibly the worst Star Trek bridge I've ever seen. It's just wrong on so many levels.

That's what they get for shopping for their bridge at IKEA!

All the aesthetics of this film shout to me as if they were inspired by Galaxy Quest than anything else. I myself, like most of you, will reserve final judgment for this film until we see it in theatres in May 2009.

 

[Sector 7]

BillJ and Wormhole: Thank you for sharing your opinions on the new movie. I think you expressed your feelings well. Although I don't agree on most points... at the end of the day I think I could still fellowship with you both, because you were honest without bashing. If you were both closer I'd go with you on May 9, 2009!

To those who criticize you: Get off your own "high horse" and accept that those who don't agree with you are not "dumb" or mean, but being honest about their opinions. Making it personal or being belligerent "says more about your campaign [attitude] than it does" theirs.

 

[Kelso]

Maverick is, with James Garner reprising his TV role, though as a bit of a red herring in the Mel Gibson version's story.

Are you implying that Garner was playing the original Maverick and that Gibson was playing Bret Maverick, Jr.?

If so, what led you to believe this?

 

[btflash]

As far as the uniforms go, I remember all the complaining about the diamond pattern on the new SR suit (and all the stupid S's on the shield), but when you actually watched the movie you could barely make any of that out.

I'm sure it'll be the same thing here. The pattern is just so the colors won't look too flat on a giant movie screen.

apparently all that complaining meant something to warner brothers . when they announced the superman reboot one of the things they mentioned that would be changed was the suit! they stated that they were going with a more "traditional" superman coutume. so.... i guess the fans bitching and moaning meant something to them!

 

[Sector 7]

Maverick is, with James Garner reprising his TV role, though as a bit of a red herring in the Mel Gibson version's story.

And John McCain played his grandpa, "The Original Maverick".