I saw an advanced screening of Star Trek XI on May 2. I am a proud Trekker and was looking forward to seeing the new group of actors portraying the characters I grew up with and love so much. I was dismayed by the time the credits rolled.
First, let me say that as a pure sci-fi movie, it was excellent, fan-damn-tastic!
However, as a Star Trek movie, it is a slap in the face to the creators, writers and actors who have created the rich universe of the future Star Trek represents.
Since Gene and Majel Roddenberry are no longer with us, I guess Paramount felt they have free reign.
Anyone who has ever invested any time watching Star Trek in any of it's incarnations, has read any Star Trek books, attended conventions or is an any way knowledgeable of the franchise will be feeling betrayed, because Paramount has basically said "Thanks for the billions of dollars you've given us in the past 40 plus years, but now we're going to take a crap on you and Gene Roddenberry and his legacy."
You've seen the teasers..."This is not your fathers Star Trek" and "Finally, a Star Trek for everyone". While I am all for expanding the franchise with new actors playing the roles of the original crew, and new high-tech special effects and non-stop action we are used to ala Transformers, etc, the same could have been accomplished while respecting the history of the franchise.
Star Trek is about hope, optimism, and tackling the moral issues we have as a society. The new movie is a thrill ride to be sure, but accomplishes none of this.
The director, skilled and able as he is has said (I'm paraphrasing) "I've never seen Star Trek, and I never knew why I should care about the Star Trek characters" This is quite apparent in the film.
**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
This new movie has negated everything that has happened in the Star Trek canon. It creates a new timeline beginning at Jim Kirk's birth, so that none of the original series, movies or other series has ever occurred.
The planet Vulcan is destroyed, and Spock's mother is killed.
So...what has Paramount done? From the original series: "Amok Time"? Sorry, didn't happen, planets blown up. "Journey to Babel"? Oops, sorry about that, not possible now. From The Next Generation: "Unification"? Too bad, can't happen, no Vulcan to invade. From the movies: "Star Trek The Motion Picture"? No Vulcan, so no Spock undergoing Kol-in-ar (sp?) "The Search For Spock?" Forget about it. "The Voyage Home"? Damn, my bad, can't occur now. And on and on.
Even tho Leonard Nimoy has blessed it, and, btw, is outstanding in it, I can't understand how he could condone such a drastic changing of the canon and time line. Passing the pointy ears to a new group is wonderful, but what has now been done to the franchise?
Yes, there are numerous homages. Dr. McCoy is spot on! There is the Kobyashi Maru (sp?), and some others, which, I can only assume, is their way of trying to satiate the core fans. But, compared against the time line change, IMHO, it does ot come even close.
There is also a puzzeling twist where Spock and Uhura apparently have a romantic relationship. I guess Vulcans no longer undergo Pon Farr in this new time line.
Would you make Star Wars prequel and blow up Deneba (sp?) where Yoda trained Luke? Change Darth Vader into a Wookie? How about a new Spiderman, but he’s stung by a genetically enhanced bee? Or, hey, a new Superman who needs Kryptonite to survive?
A new, invigorating, fast paced, whatever-buzz-words-you-want movie could have been made without destroying Vulcan and killing Amanda Grayson.
I can only hope there is such a backlash from the fans that Paramount is forced to restore the timeline in a sequel, although, like Spock said (or didn't say) about hunches, I am not sanguine of the possibility.
So theres my .02. Flame me for being too rigid, or for being a geek, or for not having a life, or for whatever you wish. I am quite dissapointed, and I will pretend this movie never happened.
First, let me say that as a pure sci-fi movie, it was excellent, fan-damn-tastic!
However, as a Star Trek movie, it is a slap in the face to the creators, writers and actors who have created the rich universe of the future Star Trek represents.
Since Gene and Majel Roddenberry are no longer with us, I guess Paramount felt they have free reign.
Anyone who has ever invested any time watching Star Trek in any of it's incarnations, has read any Star Trek books, attended conventions or is an any way knowledgeable of the franchise will be feeling betrayed, because Paramount has basically said "Thanks for the billions of dollars you've given us in the past 40 plus years, but now we're going to take a crap on you and Gene Roddenberry and his legacy."
You've seen the teasers..."This is not your fathers Star Trek" and "Finally, a Star Trek for everyone". While I am all for expanding the franchise with new actors playing the roles of the original crew, and new high-tech special effects and non-stop action we are used to ala Transformers, etc, the same could have been accomplished while respecting the history of the franchise.
Star Trek is about hope, optimism, and tackling the moral issues we have as a society. The new movie is a thrill ride to be sure, but accomplishes none of this.
The director, skilled and able as he is has said (I'm paraphrasing) "I've never seen Star Trek, and I never knew why I should care about the Star Trek characters" This is quite apparent in the film.
**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
**SPOILER ALERT**
This new movie has negated everything that has happened in the Star Trek canon. It creates a new timeline beginning at Jim Kirk's birth, so that none of the original series, movies or other series has ever occurred.
The planet Vulcan is destroyed, and Spock's mother is killed.
So...what has Paramount done? From the original series: "Amok Time"? Sorry, didn't happen, planets blown up. "Journey to Babel"? Oops, sorry about that, not possible now. From The Next Generation: "Unification"? Too bad, can't happen, no Vulcan to invade. From the movies: "Star Trek The Motion Picture"? No Vulcan, so no Spock undergoing Kol-in-ar (sp?) "The Search For Spock?" Forget about it. "The Voyage Home"? Damn, my bad, can't occur now. And on and on.
Even tho Leonard Nimoy has blessed it, and, btw, is outstanding in it, I can't understand how he could condone such a drastic changing of the canon and time line. Passing the pointy ears to a new group is wonderful, but what has now been done to the franchise?
Yes, there are numerous homages. Dr. McCoy is spot on! There is the Kobyashi Maru (sp?), and some others, which, I can only assume, is their way of trying to satiate the core fans. But, compared against the time line change, IMHO, it does ot come even close.
There is also a puzzeling twist where Spock and Uhura apparently have a romantic relationship. I guess Vulcans no longer undergo Pon Farr in this new time line.
Would you make Star Wars prequel and blow up Deneba (sp?) where Yoda trained Luke? Change Darth Vader into a Wookie? How about a new Spiderman, but he’s stung by a genetically enhanced bee? Or, hey, a new Superman who needs Kryptonite to survive?
A new, invigorating, fast paced, whatever-buzz-words-you-want movie could have been made without destroying Vulcan and killing Amanda Grayson.
I can only hope there is such a backlash from the fans that Paramount is forced to restore the timeline in a sequel, although, like Spock said (or didn't say) about hunches, I am not sanguine of the possibility.
So theres my .02. Flame me for being too rigid, or for being a geek, or for not having a life, or for whatever you wish. I am quite dissapointed, and I will pretend this movie never happened.
