Trek XI "changes" : Blasphemy or not?

[Finnegan]

I thought I'd carry this discussion over to a new thread, but as more of a general "umbrella" to include your possible pleasure/discomfort/annoyance with some of the changes that appear to be coming in TOS sets, props, and established characters, and not just a discussion of the "new" old Enterprise. So, that being said--let's have it! Any changes that you are dreading? Any you are looking forward to? Is ANY change to TOS just a blasphemy of the highest order?
Play nice. Herberts are welcome here.

 

[seigezunt]

I thought I'd carry this discussion over to a new thread, but as more of a general "umbrella" to include your possible pleasure/discomfort/annoyance with some of the changes that appear to be coming in TOS sets, props, and established characters, and not just a discussion of the "new" old Enterprise.So, that being said--let's have it! Any changes you are dreading? Any you are looking forward to? Is ANY change to TOS just a blasphemy of the highest order? Play nice.

Any extension from beyond the original three seasons is going to tinker with continuity (see comic books, novels, etc).

Save blasphemy for the Church.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I'm looking forward to the continued anger and frustration of people who are overly invested in a piece of fiction over which they have no control and virtually no influence.

It makes believing in karma so much easier.

 

[Basil]

Not blasphemy, but enough to turn me off. If it indeed is the reboot it seems to be, I'll catch it on DVD, if at all, along with Transformers, Speed Racer, and Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

 

[ancient]

Some elements are better than others. Like every other movie in existence, Some of it looks awesome, some of it looks like shit. I'll still be at the theator in May.

 

[Dane_Whitman]

I'm prepared to follow my beloved Star Trek in this new direction it's heading into.

As far as I understand at the moment, Trek XI seems to be a 'reboot' only in the sense of an alternate timeline like TNG's "Yesterday's Enterprise", with elements from our familiar Trek universe present. Wether the timeline is 'restored' to the regular Trek timeline or not at the end of the movie makes little difference to me. I'll just accept Trek XI as an alternate version of TOS and I'm pretty stoked about the film.

 

[Finnegan]

I thought I'd carry this discussion over to a new thread, but as more of a general "umbrella" to include your possible pleasure/discomfort/annoyance with some of the changes that appear to be coming in TOS sets, props, and established characters, and not just a discussion of the "new" old Enterprise.So, that being said--let's have it! Any changes you are dreading? Any you are looking forward to? Is ANY change to TOS just a blasphemy of the highest order? Play nice.

Any extension from beyond the original three seasons is going to tinker with continuity (see comic books, novels, etc).

Save blasphemy for the Church.

I'm sure I read an interview with JJ Abrams recently, where he said that SOME of the Trek novels were to be considered as established cannon, or could be. Not sure where that will leave the plotline for Trek XI--any "new" fans they hope to draw-in/create will almost certainly have no idea
about Trek book plotlines....I found his comment odd.

 

[DeafPoet]

*Sound the beige alert!*

I don't really care. They can screw with the look of the film and they can screw with minor canon details and it won't bother me whatsoever. I hope it's a general continuation of canon while respecting character and general history, but if it's not it's not gonna break my heart.

If it's a total reboot, which I doubt it is, I'm fine with that too. I just want something in the tradition of the best Trek movies: Our favourite characters uphold the moral high ground while blowing some shit up and banging some green chicks.

That's an exaggeration but you get my idea

 

[Psion]

I'm just confused by the movie. Because in some places (the uniforms, for example), the movie looks like a cinematic revamp of ideas from the original show. But then the Bridge and the ship itself have strong differences. The important elements to me ... an optimistic future, camaraderie among fellow officers while acknowledging interpersonal drama, space exploration, the relationships between critical characters, should be unchanged. There should be an exciting, intelligent story (certainly no guarantee with Star Trek, but when it's at its best ...), and some clever lines with one or two zingers from McCoy. If the essence of Trek is in there, I'm stoked to see this film. But some of what I've seen makes me wonder if the movie's crew has a clue about Star Trek. Now, I can figure out ways around all these problems, but the more I learn, the more uncertain I'm becoming about this next effort.

 

[Sharr Khan]

Its a work of fiction, "blasphemy" doesn't apply regardless of the use of the word "canon". I look forward to this new version of Trek.

I'm sure I read an interview with JJ Abrams recently, where he said that SOME of the Trek novels were to be considered as established cannon, or could be. Not sure where that will leave the plotline for Trek XI--any "new" fans they hope to draw-in/create will almost certainly have no idea
about Trek book plotlines....I found his comment odd.

How so? If you're an avid fan you'll pick up on these connections otherwise it will simply be all new to you. One doesn't preclude the other.

Sharr

 

[mredom]

Not.

This is a total redesign of the "trek" universe. People won't like all of it.

I love Batman:Adam West is what I grew up with, my brother turned me on to Frank Miller's "Dark Knight Returns", I loved the first Tim Burton Movie, watched the second one, I own "Batman Forever" (which I think is weaker than the Burton movies), I mourned for "Batman and Robin" because it became a parody of itself. I loved "Batman Begins", and "The Dark Knight" was the best movie I've seen in two years.

Point being, I loved all the permutations, and had no issues connecting the concepts, why? They all had Batman fighting bad guys with some cool tricks. Some had Robin, some had Batgirl, some had nipples, some had torn leather. They were all recognizable as Batman.

I liked some better than others, but I enjoyed most all of it.

How many times has James Bond been reinvented? Some people like some versions, not others, but I can appreciate all the versions which have been done.

This is Star Trek, with James Kirk, Leonard McCoy, Spock, and many other characters I have loved all my life. It will be different, and I won't like everything, but I will enjoy the experience, and decide later whether I want to buy it on Blue-ray (OK-who am I kidding, I own Batman Forever! LOL)

It's a story, about characters I care about, and ultimately about a different more optimistic view of the future than most of the "future" stories in the movies. I hope that many people go to see it, and grow to love these characters, and these concepts, as I have. Many people will decide that they aren't any good, and a can accept that. My brother is STILL pissed that the Return of the King left out the cleansing of the shire, and refuses to watch I can't stand ANY of the Highlander sequels, although I did enjoy the series.

My point is, If you don't enjoy it, OK. I'm sorry, but Trek WILL live on despite your rejection.

BTW-just for argument's sake-I may end up HATING this, but I doubt it. It is after all, just a story about a man, and a ship, and the people who become his family. I imagine we'll still get that.

Flame me, disagree, call me a trek whore, whatever. Life's too short to worry about the thickness of the nacelles. (he,he: he said thickness, he,he)

MRE

 

[Dane_Whitman]

I'm sure I read an interview with JJ Abrams recently, where he said that SOME of the Trek novels were to be considered as established cannon, or could be. Not sure where that will leave the plotline for Trek XI--any "new" fans they hope to draw-in/create will almost certainly have no idea
about Trek book plotlines....I found his comment odd.

That's Orci's work. And if I understand the creative team behind Trek XI and their approach to this movie, any inclusion of Trek novel material will be limited to minor but neat references that fans will pick up and the 'general public' will not even notice.

 

[Dane_Whitman]

--double post, thank you shitty emergency wireless eh 'connection'--

 

[mahoneko]

I'm not too happy at the moment about Star Trek XI

1. I like Star Trek TOS the least (although the movies were okay).
2. I am concerned that the reboot is a further nail in the coffin for ENT, which I think was the best series, although I liked Voyager, DS9 and to some extent TNG. If we can't have ENT Season 5, I would at least like to see an ENT movie. I liked ENT because the characters were strong, the actors very good and the story lines (at least by season 4) were very good.
3. I feel if there is a full reboot taking place it is not for the benefit of the fans, but to try and bring in non-fans.
4. I'm not sure movies are the best medium for Star Trek, I'm becoming increasingly disillusioned with movies, and TV seems to be doing so much better, just look at Terminator:TSCC.

However, what I have seen so far looks interesting, and I will keep an open mind, but I still want to see the return of ENT.

 

[mredom]

For the record-I wrote the above post BEFORE I read James Cawley's editorial at Trekmovie.com.

That said it's obvious that brilliant minds think alike.


MRE

 

[Sharr Khan]

2. I am concerned that the reboot is a further nail in the coffin of ENT

Enterprise isn't coming back and Trek XI has nothing at all to due with why its not coming back. That ship has sailed a new one's entered port and is getting ready to lower its gangway for new passengers.

Lets not be blaming this movie for the cancellation of that tv show which is fully the fault of that shows producers. Even if there were no Trek XI there would still be no ENT.

Sharr

 

[Finnegan]

So far, I like the little nods they are including for the well-versed fans, like showing Kirk taking the Kobayashi Maru test and re-programming the simulator so that he can win. I'm unclear if Kirk and Spock are actually in the academy together, as young men--or Kirk just meets Spock for the first time when he gets a job on board Pike's Enterprise. In TOS it was stated that Spock served under Pike for seven years. Not sure if they will ingnore that or address it somehow in the plot. Still, I can hardly wait to see it. It MIGHT suck--but I have an overall good feeling about Trek XI.

 

[Disco Bones]

I reserve judgment until I see the film (so far), but I am open to a radical reboot as long as it gets squared away vis a vis current canon. That was the whole point of getting Nimoy in the first place, right?

RIGHT!?

 

[Captain Robert April]

Yea, I say unto you, brethren, verily, that the false prophet Abrams hath truly blasphemed against Star Trek! And for his sins, he must be shunned and cast out, never to show his offensive presence amongst us again, lest he suffer the just punishment of stoning with overfed neutered tribbles and be struck about the head and shoulders with a hardcover edition of the Star Trek Concordance, by Sister Bjo.

Amen

 

[Captain Robert April]

No, it's not blasphemous, but if this is their idea of respecting established continuity, I'd hate to see what they would've come up with if they disrespected continuity.