Entertainment Weekly’s PopWatch Blog has the first look at the U.S.S. Enterprise from J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek.
Yes, it looks a lot like the ship we’ve seen for the past four decades but, as Abrams says, “If you’re going to do Star Trek there are many things you cannot change.”
“The Enterprise is a visual touchstone for so many people,” he tells PopWatch. “So if you’re going to do the Enterprise, it better look like the Enterprise, because otherwise, what are you doing?”
Star Trek opens in theaters on May 8. The first trailer debuts this weekend with Quantum of Solace, and on Monday at the official website.
November 11th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
So… There are some things you can’t change, Mr. Abrams, but you can cast a Sulu and an Uhura who are apparently older than James Kirk? Or a Chekov with a Brillo pad on his head?
The ship’s not the problem. It looks pretty cool, actually. It’s the casting and, as I’ve seen and read thus far, a weak plot that are the problems. I was hoping the film might delve into Kirk’s time on Tarsus IV, and his surviving the holocaust brought on by Kodos the Exectuioner. Sounds like Abrams is going to skip that completely. Instead, we’ll have the Abercrombie & Fitch model racing around in a 21st century muscle car. Oh, and apparently getting it on with Uhura. I can’t blame him for that last one, but it’s completely out of left field. Pass.
November 11th, 2008 at 7:43 pm
“but you can cast a Sulu and an Uhura who are apparently older than James Kirk?”
Now, are the actors playing Sulu & Uhura older than the actor playing Kirk? Or are the characters older than Kirk?
And…is that a problem? What will that impact in relation to the story?
“I was hoping the film might delve into Kirk’s time on Tarsus IV, and his surviving the holocaust brought on by Kodos the Exectuioner.”
November 11th, 2008 at 7:46 pm
…sorry I got cut off there a little, but I was going to say that as someone with only a little interest in Star Trek, I’m just hoping for a fun and exciting movie. I’m not saying I don’t like Star Trek, but it’s never stuck with me. This looks good though and I’m really looking forward to it.
November 11th, 2008 at 7:47 pm
I’ve been openly negative about some of this…but that ship looks great!
November 11th, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Well, the actor playing Sulu is eight years older than Kirk. And it shows. Not sure about the characters. I believe, based on what I’ve seen and read, that Uhura actually is older than Kirk in the movie. It all has to do with them apparently getting it on.
Anyhow, yeah, I think it is a problem… Kirk’s clearly older than the rest of the crew in the original show, aside from Bones and Scotty, and I think this younger kid being believable as the (eventual) captain creates a credibility issue. Kirk served on other ships, taught at the academy, etc., but in this movie they’re throwing the whole group together with Kirk taking charge right away? If you never watched much Star trek, it might not matter to you. OK. Fair enough. But I just think this movie’s going to be all the actors doing caricatures of the original cast, and the (rather thin) plot is going to crap all over the continuity of the show. Maybe that’s the point? If it is, then it clearly isn’t the movie for me. Hopefully you’ll enjoy it at least.
Agreed with ejulp, however… The ship is gorgeous!
November 11th, 2008 at 10:53 pm
I think it’s safe to say that this will be a whole new continuity, inspired by that of the original series rather than an actual prequel for the original. The “prequel” thing was just to get Trek fans, who otherwise would be really upset about scrapping all the previous continuity, in the theaters and give them a new cast and a new adventure to enjoy so that they’ll come back for the inevitable sequels.
Perhaps future films will adapt concepts and storylines from the original for a new generation. That could be pretty cool. We’ll see how well the first film does to start for now. I’m looking forward to it.
November 11th, 2008 at 10:55 pm
Oh and the ship looks pretty cool. It seems to blend elements of the classic TV version, the film version and the Next Gen version together. I like the jet engine looking warp engines too.
November 12th, 2008 at 12:31 am
I’m willing to give this movie a chance.I’m not the biggest fan of the original series, so I don’t mind seeing a different interpretation of the characters. I’ll go in expecting a fun movie.
It is going to have to deliver HUGE though. Everyone knows Kirk and Spock, but only as Shatner and Nimoy. Anyone else in those roles is almost unimaginable. Ditto for the rest of the original cast. It will take a lot to get the diehard Trek fans(the passionate bunch they are), and I’d say even casual fans, to accept the new cast.
November 12th, 2008 at 2:24 am
@Shaun
hmmm…I think Sulu looked AT LEAST as old as Kirk in TOS…but yeah I agree with the rest.
November 12th, 2008 at 2:29 am
@Darth Board
About the “leading you in with the idea of it being a prequel in possible continuity,” they might as well try…lookit what the first Nolan Batman movie lead into (us comic fans knew better, but most people figured it was in line with Burton’s stories).
I just…at the end of the day (lol melodrama) I just want.another.TNG.movie. That show got it down right, and it needs a fitting ending.
November 12th, 2008 at 11:32 am
“plot is going to crap all over the continuity of the show. Maybe that’s the point? ”
I thought it was. I was under the impression that this was a rebooted ST continuity….
November 12th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
I’ve been a fan of Star Trek and the original crew since I was wee lad in the 70’s and I cannot wait for May to get here!
November 12th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Anyhow, yeah, I think it is a problem… Kirk’s clearly older than the rest of the crew in the original show, aside from Bones and Scotty, and I think this younger kid being believable as the (eventual) captain creates a credibility issue
untrue
the only cast members Shatner was older than in TOS were Walter Keoning and George Takei(they were 30, Shatner was 35 along with Nimoy and Nichelle Nicols). And since when does age determine rank? rank is based on experience, skill and performance based promotion. They’re are millions of service men and women who serve under younger officers.
Captain Phillo Norton was an Army Captain at the age of 24 during the Civil war and was the first American to Command a steel warship for the Chinese imperial Navy.
Captain William “Bucky”O’Neill was a Cavalry officer by his mid 20’s.
Captain Richard W. Young Was a 30 year old cavalry officer during the Spanish American War.
November 12th, 2008 at 4:52 pm
IF it’s a reboot - pass for me too. I don’t see why you would need to wipe everything away if the point of this movie is to set it in the early years before episodes of TOS (always kinda hate calling it that). Why reboot? I mean - again if this is in the early years, perviously “unrecorded” stuff it would seem to me you would have unlimited freedom to so what you would want and get away with it.
Also - to the person that assumes Trek fans will just mindless support this and any possible sequels: I am A HUGE fan and stopped supporting the movies during the Next Generation years - many of those films being unwatchable. I think it would have helped me get excited for this if you didn’t have a director onboard that talks about how much he hated ST every chance he gets.
I won’t claim to pass on it - we’ll wait and see, but man, they are having a hard time selling this to me - which should be an easy sell.
November 13th, 2008 at 10:36 am
What we need to clear up is the perception that Star Trek is just another television show. Many fans are too young to be able to truly appreciate where we’ve come from in science fiction entertainment. I remember getting excited when Logan’s Run came out because it was a sci-fi movie. There weren’t that many that were relased back in the day.
And the overall quality of those that were released was generally poor in terms of special effects and storyline. Most of what you had were post apocalyptic stories. Rather depressing to say the least.
Onto this barren landscape came Gene Roddenberry and his, “wagon train to the stars.” Roddenberry had a vision for a show about ordinary people in extraordinary situations. Bound by friendship they persevered in the face of adversity and overcame the long odds. Audiences were so moved by this program that when cancellation was announced after two years an unprecedented letter writing campaign was initiated and the show was renewed for a third season.
This show was unlike any other on the air at the time. A hopeful program, it offered a positive vision for the future in which mankind survives its infancy to explore and colonize the deepest reaches of outer space. An ensemble show, it featured a female characters in positions of authority and a variety of
ethnic groups. Television’s first interracial kiss took place on an episode of Star Trek. Can you imagine that it was a big deal at the time? Southern stations were divided as to if they would actually air that particular episode or not.
When it finally was cancelled after the 1969 season, the show gained such traction in syndication that a new series was proposed in the mid-seventies. Ultimately, the new series morphed into a feature film and a new generation of
fans had the chance to acquaint themselves with the stalwart crew of the USS Enterprise. And that popularity was translated into a new series in 1987 that launched the franchise on a whole new series of adventures with a new generation of starfleet officers.
The fans mirrored the diversity of the program. Fans of the show come from all walks of life. And the fans craving for Star Trek caused an explosion of creativity. There have been a whole bunch of books and fan magazines written by fans of the show about every series. Fans gather at conventions both
domestically and internationally to celebrate the series.
Star Trek isn’t just a show. It is one of the defining cultural phenomena of the 20th century. And it has had an indellible and lasting impact on our society to this day. I’ve felt the influence of the show and its fan base for many years now and I feel that intensity has to be respected rather than
marginalized. It is desireable (not to mention financially expedient) to keep the existing fans happy while trying to interest new fans in the brand. The thing that you absolutely don’t do is to alienate your existing fans.
JJ Abrams is making this Star Trek movie (at least I’m assuming this is why) in an effort to revitalize the Trek franchise and to create a commercially successful motion picture. I don’t see how either end may be accomplished without the participation of the existing fans. And the majority of existing fans have been discouraged by the information that has been made available on the production.
Yes, the new producers can make whatever they want. But I’m under no obligation to go see their new interpretation or to acknowledge it as having anything to do with the universe of Star Trek. And if it doesn’t resemble what I saw on The Cage or Where No Man Has Gone Before I won’t.
As I’ve said before, it isn’t necessary to deviate from the existing continutity in order to attract new fans.
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