Yeah, yeah, I know. All you Shatner haters get ready to reply with great sarcasm and vitriol.
I watch "Boston Legal" every week, and the "balcony scene" at the end of each episode is often the most touching, poignant, and human scene I will see on television that week. Spader and Shatner's relationship cannot be defined, and is all the more charming because it defies conventional boundaries between male friends.
After last week's episode, I couldn't help but think, as great as Denny Crane and Alan Shore's friendship is, Kirk and Spock's is all the more rich.
Here's what I want to see. (And I don't for a second expect it to happen, but it would be fun.)
The movie starts with Old Spock, sitting ALONE in whatever the Star Trek equivalent of Denny Crane's balcony is. He is narrating to himself (or a recorder, or whatever maximizes the loneliness factor of the scene) about the good ol' days of Starfleet when they were younger. (This should not be sentimental from Spock's perspective, but it should have that effect on the audience.)
Next, whatever plot device that brings the story into the past should occur. If any of the time-traveling plot leaks that we have seen so far are in any way accurate, even better. Events should occur in a way that makes it unclear what final "reality" we are left with. The young cast story should wrap up neatly with a bow.
Then, in the final moments of the film, we pan back into Spock's balcony as he finishes his narration.
SPOCK: "And the future of both Starfleet and the Federation took much of their eventual shape from these humble beginnings."
OFF-SCREEN VOICE-OVER: "It was fun, wasn't it?"
PAN OVER to reveal Shatner as Kirk, sitting next to Spock in relaxed civilian garb and holding a glass of some kind of alcohol (minus the cigar, too Denny Crane).
SPOCK: "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times."
KIRK (pensive): "Almost makes you want to relive those moments all over again."
SPOCK: "Indeed."
KIRK smiles at SPOCK.
SPOCK raises an eyebrow.
KIRK laughs softly and raises his glass to SPOCK.
The camera pulls back into a crane shot (no pun intended
), revealing two older men comfortable in their "retirement," still relevant but no longer a part of the "action" that we will see in sequels to Trek XI.
FADE TO BLACK
ROLL CREDITS
There will be absolutely no explanation as to how or why Kirk is back. He's just there.
My intention is not to bring Kirk back to life to "undo" his shitty death. Nor is it to have him participate in future Trek sequels. I don't need to see that.
I just think it would be a nice sentimental moment to finish off one of the greatest pop-culture friendships of all time.
Thoughts?
Be nice.
I'm feeling all emotional and vulnerable right now...
I watch "Boston Legal" every week, and the "balcony scene" at the end of each episode is often the most touching, poignant, and human scene I will see on television that week. Spader and Shatner's relationship cannot be defined, and is all the more charming because it defies conventional boundaries between male friends.
After last week's episode, I couldn't help but think, as great as Denny Crane and Alan Shore's friendship is, Kirk and Spock's is all the more rich.
Here's what I want to see. (And I don't for a second expect it to happen, but it would be fun.)
The movie starts with Old Spock, sitting ALONE in whatever the Star Trek equivalent of Denny Crane's balcony is. He is narrating to himself (or a recorder, or whatever maximizes the loneliness factor of the scene) about the good ol' days of Starfleet when they were younger. (This should not be sentimental from Spock's perspective, but it should have that effect on the audience.)
Next, whatever plot device that brings the story into the past should occur. If any of the time-traveling plot leaks that we have seen so far are in any way accurate, even better. Events should occur in a way that makes it unclear what final "reality" we are left with. The young cast story should wrap up neatly with a bow.
Then, in the final moments of the film, we pan back into Spock's balcony as he finishes his narration.
SPOCK: "And the future of both Starfleet and the Federation took much of their eventual shape from these humble beginnings."
OFF-SCREEN VOICE-OVER: "It was fun, wasn't it?"
PAN OVER to reveal Shatner as Kirk, sitting next to Spock in relaxed civilian garb and holding a glass of some kind of alcohol (minus the cigar, too Denny Crane).
SPOCK: "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times."
KIRK (pensive): "Almost makes you want to relive those moments all over again."
SPOCK: "Indeed."
KIRK smiles at SPOCK.
SPOCK raises an eyebrow.
KIRK laughs softly and raises his glass to SPOCK.
The camera pulls back into a crane shot (no pun intended

FADE TO BLACK
ROLL CREDITS
There will be absolutely no explanation as to how or why Kirk is back. He's just there.
My intention is not to bring Kirk back to life to "undo" his shitty death. Nor is it to have him participate in future Trek sequels. I don't need to see that.
I just think it would be a nice sentimental moment to finish off one of the greatest pop-culture friendships of all time.
Thoughts?
Be nice.
I'm feeling all emotional and vulnerable right now...