Exclusive: Sequel Title Confirmed – ‘Star Trek Into Darkness

posted on September 26th, 2012, 6:31 pm

I disagree that the "prime" universe has nothing more to offer.

As it is a fictional universe, it would have as much to offer as a human could imagine. Imagination however is rare these days. After Nemesis, I really didn't feel like "I want more". I felt like "It just died to me.".
The people responsible for ST-movies 7-10 were not able to make one good movie based on the TNG-show, and on top of that their movies were mostly the worst rip-offs of good episode-plots that just don't suit a movie. That's the main reason for why I appreciate a "restart" in a new universe.

The second reason is that Abrams at least knows hot to make a movie that's at the very least okay to watch although he deals too much in visuals.
The most reality-disconnecting point in the new Trek was just the rather unrealistic way of Kirk to become a captain, and the fact that the whole senior-officers is (as well as being too young for senior-officers) that everyone of them has some super-talent equivalent to being a super-genius. I guess it's the compensation for not being able to display the distinctive tone of the original series.

posted on September 26th, 2012, 7:21 pm

The most reality-disconnecting point in the new Trek was just the rather unrealistic way of Kirk to become a captain, and the fact that the whole senior-officers is (as well as being too young for senior-officers) that everyone of them has some super-talent equivalent to being a super-genius. I guess it's the compensation for not being able to display the distinctive tone of the original series.

i agree, that was a big thing for me, too. the original crew wasn't a squad of super heroes or geniuses/prodigies. they were experienced at their jobs, and repeated highjinks gave them more experience. i really didn't like the fact that they were taken straight from the academy to being in command of an important starship.

there's no story reason why they had to be young, i think that was a decision made by the producers to pander to the young demographic.

posted on September 26th, 2012, 8:24 pm

with the Prime Universe you can't do anything new

The entire TMP era is left relatively unexplored. Klingon War, Gorn conflicts, Tholians, lots of potential there that was barely tapped in the two Acedemy and SFC games. They could have based it off of the Excelsior (even though Takei is probably too old now most likely), though an entirely new crew and a different ship would have worked.

posted on September 26th, 2012, 8:30 pm

Because a series/film in the in-universe past worked so well with Enterprise...

[RedEyedRaven]

posted on September 26th, 2012, 8:36 pm

Last edited by RedEyedRaven on September 26th, 2012, 8:40 pm, edited 1 time in total.

The entire TMP era is left relatively unexplored. Klingon War, Gorn conflicts, Tholians, lots of potential there that was barely tapped in the two Acedemy and SFC games. They could have based it off of the Excelsior (even though Takei is probably too old now most likely), though an entirely new crew and a different ship would have worked.

There was a rumor that a show with Takei and the Excelsior was planned (or at least thought over) around the time when First Contact was in theaters. It never became reality though, and I guess if Berman and Braga talked with Takei, he didn't like their ideas for the show and vice-versa. I think this rumor originated from some source during the shooting of Voyager's episode "Flashback".

posted on September 26th, 2012, 8:39 pm

Because a series/film in the in-universe past worked so well with Enterprise...

I was just pointing out that there is still potential in the prime universe. Yes, if the wrong people were put in charge it could still be terrible.

Speaking of wrong people in charge...

There was a rumor that a show with Takei and the Excelsior was planned (or at least thought over) around the time when First Contact was in theaters. It never became reality though, and I guess if Berman and Braga talked with Takei, he didn't like their ideas for the show and vice-versa.

I'm glad Takei has a head on his shoulders.

posted on September 26th, 2012, 8:48 pm

I'm glad Takei has a head on his shoulders.

One of the few heads that've been actually used.

posted on September 26th, 2012, 10:48 pm

I tried to watch the previous JJ Star Trek movie two times. and I did never watch the whole movie. I stopped in the middle

out of curiosity,
what was the last part you watched?

Honestly, I only remember some parts ... there are fragments of characters, the great villain stumping angry on the floor. I see Kirk having sex with Uhura (did they?), I see Spock getting mobbed by some school friends, and some other fragments... crap... the whole movie is just a scattered piece of scenes to me. Does Nero die at the end? Both options bore the shit out of me. Does Kirk become a captain? Certainly, I know he will! There's absolutely nothing in this movie that can't be predicted - which is the worst of all. Well.. Vulcan gets destroyed I heard. That sense of creativity blows my mind...not.

I disagree that the "prime" universe has nothing more to offer. I think producers have looked at it the wrong way. [...] They captured the friendly antagonism between him and Chris Pine/Kirk brilliantly. I even quite liked Spock. I guess it was one of those weird situations were individual bits were spot on, but the whole just felt, muddled.

I agree. There's plenty of place to even include more pew pew and J.J. style.

I disagree... with the Prime Universe you can't do anything new... everything has been down over and over as I already said in a previous post...

[....]

Oh what discussions or rather simple rants did I hear on why Star Trek Online still had Borg when they were "destroyed" in those horrible Destiny Books (yes I absolutely hate them! The whole Caeliar Stuff was nothing more then a cheap deus ex machina, it all looked like the Authors just wrote something because they hated the Borg Concept and just wanted to get rid of them).

To the last point in the part I quoted... what do you expect?
The Happy Adventures of Neelix?
Star Trek: The Founders?

[...]

It is just a different reality, the Prime Reality still exists (without Romulus of course) and goes on, just as the Secondary Reality.

That is exactly the narrow minded writer's brain I'm talking about. I fear "professionality" is the prison in this case, "I sit fat in my chair" the other one.

The actual concept was adapted to main stream favorite attributes (sex, action, violence, hate, heavy effects, bigger- greater- wider, individualism). Which is why it was successful under the line. But that does not mean anything. The art CBS so far failed in is to create a franchise that makes the main stream become separated. The success story of Star Wars, Star Trek and Star Gate, to stick to the stars,is just that. How to achieve that? By pulling in with main stream topics and make them taste how sweet an idea can be that does not represent the main stream. How's that achieved? Docking at cultural shock topics such as religion (The Force, Atheism, Pluralism, Assimilation, Mystery, etc.), politics (The Cold War, racism, corruption, etc.), cultural and personal fate (poverty, sickness, depression, depression, happiness, family, friendship, etc.), and some others.

What kind of Trek do I expect?

The creation of excitement that starts with a little ring as a side note to become the most significant object for a trilogy while excitement stays true because one don't know how the end will look like.

The creation of depths by diving into personal relationships and dramas that are overcome as a communal act of friendship/family.

The creation of depths by including mystery, of the unknown silent source of uncertainty building up in tension over time.

The overcoming of obstacles leading to a feeling of success and progress.

The burning fire of eagerness to reveal the unknown

and much more.

Titles could be:

Star Trek Into Darkness - I like that one. See if I still like that one once it's out.

Star Trek: The Omega Project

Star Trek: Justification

Star Trek Beyond The Line

Star Trek Messiah



As you see the title is quite irrelevant. What makes the real difference is the quality behind it. This can only be achieved by the story writer and the freedom he gets by CBS.

posted on September 27th, 2012, 9:21 am

I'm going to answer more people, when I got more time but I have to say just this...

All what you said is great and good but did you actually read what I wrote about Gorn/Tholian etc.?
They WILL fail... because we all have build something up in our minds that they cannot ever reach no matter how hard they try... and that is the fault of the Original Series and Movies that they never ever touched them again.
And 'The Lost Era'? Same Problem... with all those Book series, fan fiction, forum stories, as conflicting as they naturally are, we have build ourselves a Set story that the Producers are NEVER able to reach...

They tried with Enterprise and, for most people certainly, they failed miserably as there where thousands of stories of these weird bottle shaped downright primitive ships (see: Masao Okazakis Starfleet Museum) and everyone sought to expect, that came from one or two sentences in one TOS Episode ('Balance of Terror', negotiations only via Subspace Radio, used nukes).

But you forget that only a tiny fraction of the Movie goers are "Hardcore Star Trek Fans"...

And yet, we had the friendship between Spock, Kirk, Bones, Uhura and even Scotty (Sulu was a bit under represented other than the sword fight and Chekov was even more just for comedy than Scotty and even his TOS self) starting and only them working together (well okay to be fair, more Kirk and Spock) as a team that trusts each other giving them the ability to defeat Nero.

You want shock topics? How about genocide... shocking enough?
Politics? Certainly there as a background (Vulcans refusing to help Romulans at first, more elaborated in the official Comic)
Cultural and personal fate? Romulus gone... is certainly a big cultural impact, Vulcan gone... most of their cultural sites and people gone... Both Nero and Spock suffering from that... Nero actually completely breaking down (to be fair most of the breakdown happens before the movie).

PS: Oh... and from your description... I say you should actually see the movie... and not just on of the Trailers...