JJ Abrams a make or break for Star Trek?

posted on May 9th, 2009, 5:19 pm

The REAL Star Trek has been broken since DS9 (thanks to Berman), so I don't have high expectations any more. Therefore, ST11 can only be a nice surprise.

posted on May 9th, 2009, 5:40 pm

The new movie is alright for a movie but for Trek is horrible.

posted on May 9th, 2009, 5:51 pm

Only minimal spoilers included.
I saw the film 05/06/09 in Germany as early as possible  :blush:

The movie in itself is great. But it is SO different that you can not really compare it to Berman/Braga/Roddenberry era Star Trek. Try to get your hands on the Countdown Comic, otherwise you will miss part of the plot. Its not a must, but it will answer some questions that are left open in the movie. The styling of starships exterior and interior and gadgets like phasers is really good, but unusual.Maybe some BSG influence here, as certain ships systems look "more believable". Engineering for example is completely different.

The plot is okay but sometimes a bit nonsensical and odd. Acting is great although sometimes a bit too much comedy (Chekov and Scotty). Star Trek has changed a lot. See for yourself if you like it or not.
I watched every movie and series of Star Trek except TAS and I liked it a lot.

Definatly the right movie at the right time as numbers from the Box Office support as well.
Cross your fingers for ST12 in 2 years.

[william16789]

posted on May 9th, 2009, 7:53 pm

Last edited by william16789 on May 9th, 2009, 8:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

It may be a great movie by it self but honestly its not a good sign... it dose look like they "are" trying to do away with all that came befor from TOS to DS9 with this alternante time line garbage
Every single Trek series from TNG to Voyager has payed homage to TOS. evan the worst of them "ENTERPRISE" managed to make a incredable episode where they brought back the OLD OLD connie wich looked amazing
but this movie dosn't do that... its as if Paramout is sick of the old, sick of "CANNON" and they jsut want to start over and this ALTERNANTE timeline happens to be the perfect excuse 


P.S. that "JJ PRISE" has no buisness in any reality calling it self constitution class let alone "ENTERPIRSE" 

posted on May 9th, 2009, 11:09 pm

I haven't seen it, only read it on Memory Alpha, but that site says they never called it a Consitution Class during the film, only backstage stuff.

posted on May 10th, 2009, 1:18 am

i saw the movie today, and i very liked the way they found to "redfit" the original series.

the romulans were tatood, because that was a non military ship, its a freigter, captained by some sort of poor captain, that never made it any farer ^^

and the plot about the alternate timeline was really great, and it opened a door for following an good old character series to NEW episodes, because of the timeline-interrupt. its a great idea, far from

a) going even farer in the future

or

b) getting even more back in the past.

they chose c) getting back and telling a new original series !!!

i really liked the actors, very very convincing, a lot more depth than in next gen or ... you know, this "enterprise" series ...

very cool insider-jokes about mccoy, spock, and so on.


and to all those who not know if they should see it:

DO IT, dont look the trailers, they cannot get the point of this really great masterpiece.

posted on May 10th, 2009, 7:40 am

Saw it today on the IMAX screen with my soon to be 11-yr old son......First off, I am a semi-old school treKKER...I watched the old (original) series as a boy but Wrath of Khan was my real jump on point. My review is as follows.....
This is a movie MADE for the IMAX experience. The colors, the sound....WOW! Action, humor, pretty colors galor....everything a pop-culture summer movie needs to be...and there's no shame in that. If you can afford the extra coin (I spent $45 for my son and I with tix and snacks...) see it in all its IMAX glory. I grudgingly say it was worth it because this was an EVENT movie for me and they come along rarely. I enjoyed it.
NOW, I speak as a fan of continuity and series historical value....JJ Abrams,in essence, took a flame thrower to the Star Trek timeline. (SPOILER ALERT)
This thing, basically is yet another time travel fiasco where ALL previous history becomes moot. While it does pay homage to the original series and characters the intent is to create an ENTIRELY NEW TIMELINE AND UNIVERSE IN WHICH TO CREATE A NEW FRANCHISE OF MOVIES! Rediculous, and it willnever work. Why? Because the hardcore base of fans that this film plays to will get PISSED OFF if they try to continue this mess. I think. SPOCK (Leonard Nimoy) makes an appearance to try to legimitimize this mess but OMG....WTF?!? I could go on...but let me change gears to my next point of annoyance....the Romulan factor....

posted on May 10th, 2009, 8:00 am

As I was saying....disgruntled Romulan renegade warlord, worked in the dilithium mines, pissed off at the Federation (I guess? No, at Spock...) and hell bent on...destroying Earth. (SPOILER ALERT) First, he sets his sights on Vulcan. Successfully. So, um, no more Vulcan. No problem, we'll just have them wander about quietly as a "endangered species." Right. Anyways, um, havent we recently seen a disgruntled former Romulan mine worker-turned-warlord in, oh, I don't know....NEMESIS?!?!?!?!? Hell, even the SHIPS LOOKED SOMEWHAT SIMILAR! The last one used some really nasty radiation stuff but this ones got....a DRILL! GAHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!! Oh, and some "red matter".....no explanation provided....maybe you smart fellows can shed light on this wonderous black hole creating stuff.
Let me just stop myself there before I really get going and ruin it for all you people. First, I enjoyed NEMESIS but feel like I jst saw it again except with Kirk and Spock and a uber-hot Uhura...mmmmm......Scotty was alright, Sulu (hellooooooooooo) was a ninja........and Chekov....well, he was present...with a REALLY heavy Russian accent. Nuff said.
Final grade: as a summer time IMAX blockbuster gotta see it in all it's glory sci-fi flick....A-
As a die-hard, Stick to the continuity already, don't "F" with the timeline perspective...well, you gonna be pissed. There are good moments like the origin of why McCoy is called "Bones" and best of all a re-enactment of the only starfleet cadet to beat SPOCKS Kobayashi-Maru scnario...good stuff. 

[Sideeffect]

posted on May 10th, 2009, 8:05 am

Last edited by Sideeffect on May 10th, 2009, 8:28 am, edited 1 time in total.

Movie was trash.  It wasn't a Star Trek movie as in Roddenberry's vision of star trek.  It wasn't good sci-fi for example philosophical, thought provoking or scientifically accurate it was just an excuse for a summer blockbuster with lots of special effects and things that go boom. 

Imagine Independance Day in space and you will get the idea. 

The movie will be seen as a big success and will make loads of money and they will make another one next summer most likely.  All the people that never liked Star Trek will be saying how they really enjoyed this movie.

I do have some ideas for the next movie though which I hope they call Lost Trek following in the style of this one.  I'll forward them to JJ Abrams later.  ***Might Contain Spoilers so Scroll over to see***

Spock Uhura Sex scene performed in a Matrix Reloaded style with Prodigy Smack my bitch up playing in the background.

More slapstick comedy, i am thinking a Benny Hill-esque sequence of the little alien guy chasing Scotty around engineering with a Hyper-Spanner with the music of course.

Musical Chairs event to see who gets captain for the next mission.

Destroy some other planets, im thinking Qo'noS, Ferenginar and Earth but maybe save Earth for the third movie.

Go totally 'Lost' and rerun the first movie again from a different persons perspective.

posted on May 10th, 2009, 8:34 am

I understand your point of view, Sideaffect, coming fresh out of the theatre myself. But, what did u really expect? Roddenberry to come from the grave and oversee all aspects of the film? From a sci-fi fans perspective it's FUN...whatelse is there until Terminator:Salvation? From a PURISTS point of view it is disappointing, for sure. But set your expectations accordingly. The franchise is DEAD from a corporate point of view and now there may be more series and movies to debate over. I love Star Trek and this game mod effort but I won't go so far to say no purist should see it. No more than I would tell a Terminator fan not to see SALVATION because the T500 (whatever) doesn't look like ARNOLD (Gov of Califony...lol). Star Trek is what it is...summer popcorn, IMAX, sci-fi starved movie fun. And that's all it is. If you own and re-watch Nemesis and Wrath of Khan alike while playing ARMADA then you will appreciate it. If you sit in a basement comparing the original series against Deep Space 9 looking for discrepancies you will be sorely disappointed, my fiends. I mean friends. heh Go see it already 
ps-i dont work for paramount or jj abrams i am a soon 2 be 40 yr old closet trekker who plays armada modified games when able to... carry on...and engage...and stuff...

posted on May 10th, 2009, 8:58 am

Well why make it a Star Trek film if its going to ignore the Star Trek legacy.  They could have tried to start a new franchise.  They would have failed though because the movie had no substance so they stole some substance from a established name. 

I question the Sci-Fi fans perspective also this movie is only fun from a leave your brain at the door, summer blockbuster, special effects perspective in my opinion. 

I guess we have different opinions of what a science fiction movie is though.  For me it is not just a movie that happens to have a space ship in it.

"Science fiction differs from fantasy in that, within the context of the story, its imaginary elements are largely possible within scientifically established or scientifically postulated laws of nature"
Lester del Rey

posted on May 10th, 2009, 9:14 am

Right, well, I have half a brain at least. I suppose. I think you have to aknowledge that in order for the "franchise" to continue this was bound to happen (ie. summer block buster make over). It's no worse than, um, TRANSFORMERS, for god's sake...did that movie offend you?? FAR from an accurate depiction of the original cartoon series I would say...But, I am not trying to offend you as I stated from a purists point of view this Star Trek is far from the beaten course we are all used to. It BLOWS MASSIVE HOLES in the cannon. It's like making a new Star Wars where Luke's son goes back in time to fight a teenage Palpatine only to cause the death of Yoda! Gah, what a mess that would be! But I digress, what I mean to say is enjoy a new Star Trek movie for what it is. Make your own judgements. Yeah, it doesn't follow the Roddenberry tradition to the letter or even close but it is what it is. I wouldn't call it "mindless trash." I would advise each person to judge it on their own merit scale. The previous cannon/history will not fade away or be deminished because of this film in any way. If we don't let it. I have no fancy sci-fi author to quote, sorry! 

posted on May 10th, 2009, 9:51 am

...i watched the film two days ago.

On one hand its nice but there are so many things that aren't Star Trek like.

Things like beaming on an ship which left the orbit hours ago.
The Engineering Section looks like a Brewery, what the hell are these waterpipes for?
An the rest of the ship except the bridge looks like a Steelmill.
I mean the ship, the technology is present in the film, but it's not longer a part of the film.
The battles between ship are now really Star Wars like. I miss the majestically...now the battles are....like...fire all weapons....end! 

posted on May 10th, 2009, 11:07 am

Yes, i agree. It is more Star Wars like.... But there are many great things like the Enterprise (ok ...anyway... from the outside) and the actors are good too.

But now they have a story for Star Trek 12 
The Enterprise and old Spock can jump into the future and correct the timeline ...

Or they could shoot a new classic series.

posted on May 10th, 2009, 12:54 pm

@ Ghost_Rider...

saying them creating a new Time Line with a New Universe will never work to establish the reborn franchise just is not true.... Even if the current fanbase choose to ignore the film and kick up a fuss about everything, it will be nothing to Paramount because the old Star Trek community is nearly dead and only has a slowly dying number of old hardcore trekkies who have been watching it for years... If Paramount made a film just for them we never would of saw a film because if everyone single one of them went to see the film the film would make a loss!!!!!

You seem to think Star Trek has a huge following but it doesnt, It has two types of follwing, The hardcore Trekkies who persist on everything being cannon, then you have the more casual fan like me who just watches it when its on because there is nothing else decent to watch but repeats of it on telly... Oh and then you have the rest of the world who just know its name and assoiciate with hardcore trekkies...

The reason this film is doing good is because the avergae Joe Bloggs is going to see the film and in huge numebrs making it a box office hit, and only they can save or control Star Trek, not the harcore fans no more and good bloody riddens...

Because i watched Nemesis last night as it was on TV funny enough and nothing else was, well Red Dragon was but i wont in the mood to see a brain eating psycho last night and that film relates so much to other past films and tv shows hat if youve never watch star trek ebfore your left in the dark, infact your basically left with two big ships blasting the hell out of each other in space...

They don't get why the wedding is important, or the fact data is one of a kind and nobody can seem to create him, or what the dominion war was and what the hell Dillithium even is as you dont see engineering once in the whole film!!!

and if you wanna get on to stupidness, apparently the whole of engeering can be controlled and maintained from one station on the bridge, and also transporters are controlled form their two, and after that oen said station sends one transport it goes sparky and now transporters are down, but oh my god how is controlling engineering then, or how about using one of the transporters on a shuttle? Nemesis alienated Joe Bloggs and the star trek community was too Small and was slowly killing the show it loves...

so thank you JJ Abrams for makign it more accessiable to the public and saving the franchise, i shall be seeing it again in two weeks for free thanks to my brother working in a cinema and if hey can convince my gf to laugh just once, just once... his accomplished an amazing thing as she rips em to shreds about star trek...