‘Trek’ Check: Re-launching a successful enterprise
A 10-year-old James T. Kirk drives a vintage Corvette over a cliff. Spock as a tyke lifts his quizzical eyebrow. A not-so-sleek, not-so-shiny early version of the Enterprise zooms through space. Why, it’s enough to make a Trekkie’s heart thump at warp speed.
The new Star Trek movie — a prequel to the original 1966 series — won’t hit screens until May 2009, but a terrific trailer for this much-anticipated production is online and on TV right now. And it takes us where no one has gone before — to where the youthful crew, in what looks like a hormonal frenzy, all itch to explore new frontiers, final or not.
Media whiz kid J.J. Abrams (OK, he used to be a whiz kid; now he’s more of a whiz mid-lifer) — the brains behind the TV series Alias and Lost, and full-length movies Cloverfield and Mission Impossible III — dreamed up this intriguing concept. Star Trek fans owe him a Tribble or two for resuscitating a once vibrant but now flagging franchise.
Here’s hoping Abrams can beam us — and our original Star Trek heroes — to a new world, a new adventure and a new beginning.
Details: So far, this new Star Trek movie goes by the title of — ready? — Star Trek. It’ll be released May 8, 2009, and stars Chris Pine as the young Kirk, Zachary Quinto (Sylar on Heroes) as young Spock, and — yipes — Leonard Nimoy as the elderly Spock. See the trailer below.
10 Comments
Mike,
Thanks for introducing me to this Star Trek preview link. The movie looks more interesting that the past Star Trek films. I am a bit concerned about Spock in the preview. He does not seem too true to his character. He expresses more emotion in the preview that he does in 5 original episodes combined.
It will be interesting to see how this movie fits into the exsisting Star Trek knoledge base. Althought I’ve pretty much gafiated from fandom, I know there enough of the pre-history of James Kirk (and Mr. Spock) that this new movie better fit into the Star Trek universe or the fen will rebel in mass.
Oh, was that 10 year old Kirk driving the Corvette over the cliff in Iowa, or had the family moved to Tarsus IV by then.
That’s the kind of stuff they better get right…..
Spir & Doug … Both of your comments are as sharp as phaser beams. An angry Spock is not the Spock we know and love (although Vulcans did display emotions in many episodes). And how DID that gorge pop up in Iowa? Abrams better get it right, or he’ll face a meteor storm of criticism.
Wait that wasn’t a ‘Heroes’ season 4 teaser?!?!
Mike,
My kind of movie:
1…pure fiction
2…at least 4 bazillion things getting blown up, but no visible signs of injury to any living thing.
3…Spock, back on camera; who’d have thunk it?
Thanks for the warning.
Alex
When it comes to Spock’s emotion, remember that he is HALF Vulcan. His mother is the earthling Amanda Grayson (a Seattle native), who married Vulcan Ambassador Sarek. Spock’s “human” side battling with his desire to be Vulcan was a continuing Star Trek story line.
OMG. Coming up with that bit of trivia makes me wonder if it’s really true that FIAWOL and not AFH…..
Mike, you know that isn’t my comment. HE has to get HIS computer fixed! I’m going to change my computer password if he continues this! ha ha
Alex … what? You don’t have a pair of fake Spock ears hidden in your underwear drawer? I thought for sure you’d be a closet Trekkie. And Doug … yes, Spock’s Vulcan-human mix does allow for emotions. In fact, in the Star Trek canon, didn’t Spock only gain control of his emotions after becoming a teenager? Or am I making that up?
Mike, we both have been Star Trek fans ever since William Shatner led us where no one had gone before. We watched every episode of every show throughout the years. I think my favorite series was Star Trek Next Generation–although I liked Voyager a lot, no doubt because a woman was at the helm.
Spock, Kirk, Picard, Data, Q ….all the rest. Who could forget them and their influence on so many.
Joanne … I’ve just read your comment about being Star Trek fans from the very first episode. Not surprising, since you have such wonderful taste in everything else. And wasn’t Picard the son of a vineyard owner? You and Jean-Luc would have had interesting wine conversations. As for Voyager … it had the best premise of all the series — finding one’s way home — but I thought it often missed the mark, got off track. Still, I hated to see it go.