Into Reboot?

I'd like to share my thoughts on the rebooted Star Trek films created by J.J. Abrams. With the box office failure of Star Trek Nemesis, Paramount took a step back from the franchise and let the air settle. In 2005, the prequel series, Star Trek: Enterprise was cancelled. With nowhere else to go, the head of the franchise, Rick Berman, decided to come up with Star Trek: The Beginning. Nothing came of it and Paramount decided to scrap the idea and for the first time since the show's cancellation in 1969, Star Trek was dead.

Upon first reading about this, I was furious and sad. I remember telling my dad, "So, Star Trek is no more." He responded with optimism and didn't really believe that. "It's not dead, it's just going to take a while before they can come up with something new."

Chris Pine (l) as Kirk and Zachary Quinto as Spock

Four years later, Star Trek made a come back on the big screen taking us back to the adventures of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock. A story focusing on the background of how these two friends meet is something never before seen it Trek and is the right approach to making something even general movie goers to be aware of. In 1991, producer Harve Bennett had the idea for a rebooted story after the failure of Star Trek V, but his idea was scrapped when Paramount wanted to have one last film starring the cast of the original 60s show in time for the show's 25th anniversary. J.J. continued his idea and made this film. This new take was going to take place in an alternate reality and star the characters from the original show but when they are much younger and their first adventure into space. 

Leonard Nimoy returns as Mr. Spock

Seven young and talented actors stepped into the role with approval from each member of the original cast with the exception of the late James Doohan (1920-2005) and DeForest Kelley (1920-1999). Chris Pine stars as Captain Kirk; Zachary Quinto (Heroes) stars as Mr. Spock; Karl Urban (Dredd) is Dr. McCoy and even Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz, Shawn of the Dead) stars as the new Mr. Scott. You can look up the rest of the cast members here and they are all wonderful. Not only do they look much like younger versions of all the actors, but they don't play them for laughs. Pine doesn't mimic William Shatner's speech patterns and the entire cast does an outstanding job. I would have to say, however, the I am most impressed with Urban's portrayal of Bones. The best! Joining them in the film would be villain Nero, played by the great Eric Bana and a much extended cameo by Leonard Nimoy. Well, he's a little more than just a cameo but he is also not in the film a great deal. The scene with his Nimoy's Spock and Quinto's Spock is unforgettable. A way of passing the old to the new so to speak. Keep an eye out for Winona Ryder as Spock's mother, Amanda Grayson.
 
Both films, Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness are quite good in their own light. However, I wouldn't call them Star Trek movies, I would rather just call them action movies that happen to include the name Star Trek in them with elements of what came before. Many of my friends, including myself enjoy these movies and find themselves enjoying Trek a great deal more. I tell my friends to start with these films and then go back to check out what has come before. Maybe that could start them to enjoy a totally new world of Trek.

Now, J.J. Abrams is known for his particular style of directing. He loves using trademarks such as lens flair, shaky camera work and cameos of people he has worked with. Everyone does that, and I have no problem with it. The only thing I have a problem in these new films, is the lack of character development and slow scenes. He feels the need to keep the camera moving at all times even when it doesn't call for it. I can understand that before this film, Star Trek in general had a negative wrap for slow scenes and such, but even movies and films most people enjoy include them. Here, there are too little and too few. I feel like he's trying to make this into more of a Star Wars movie, and that doesn't work. Just because they have the name "Star" in them doesn't mean they are anything alike. At the same time, I do enjoy this re-branding for what it is. I highly recommend it for newcomers of the world of Trek. Including Leonard Nimoy was an awesome touch as a way to link the old with the new. 

For me, if you are someone that is new to Trek, I would highly recommend starting with these new films. They are easy to follow, don't suffer from continuity and feature the young actors of today. Just be aware that if you plan on going backwards to previous productions, it won't be anything like this. They will be far more story-driven and personal. Either way, enjoy and as Morpheus said, "...You have to see it for yourself."

UNTIL NEXT TIME MY FRIENDS!

What are your thoughts on the Star Trek reboots? Do you think J.J. took Trek in the right direction and that it brought new life into a dying franchise? Let me know in the comments below!



Sources:

Kirk and Spock: Google Search

Spock: Screencaps.com

Enterprise warping:  relatingwithme.tumblr.com

From Here to Beyond...

With the release of Star Trek Beyond this summer, here is a short summary of all the 12 Star Trek movies. Read at your own risk as there are spoilers. However, if you plan on watching them, I would recommend you do so before reading this. Thanks!

"THE HUMAN ADVENTURE IS JUST BEGINNING."

It has been 2 1/2 years since the end of Kirk's 5-year mission. Positioned on Earth as an admiral, Kirk gets his crew back together on a refitted Enterprise to face a large entity that is headed straight for the planet. Spock, undergoing a purge of all remaining logic on Vulcan is interrupted by the cloud and ends his meditation to join his shipmates. Face to face with the cloud, and discovering it is an old NASA space probe sent centuries earlier, the Enterprise goes in and sacrifices two new crewman who then merge with the cloud thus creating a new life form. Soon after, Kirk, together again with his crew, embark on a second five year mission boldly going where no man has gone before.

The new refitted Enterprise in dry dock.

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"AT THE END OF THE UNIVERSE LIES THE BEGINNING OF VENGEANCE."

Now 52, Admiral Kirk faces his life no longer as the young gallant Captain he once was. Spock, now promoted to Captain of the Enterprise, conducts training missions for new cadets and has Kirk come aboard to observe the mission. Elsewhere, the U.S.S. Reliant is on search for a baron planet to test the new Genesis Device, a tool used to create life from lifelessness. Khan Noonien Singh, a genetic superman from the 1990's and abandoned by Captain Kirk 15 years earlier, is discovered and hijacks the Reliant to exact revenge on the admiral. With many casualties, Kirk commands the Enterprise and defends the ship against Khan. As a last resort, Khan engages the Genesis and once detonated, a shock wave produced by it will not only consume Reliant but also the Enterprise. Sacrificing himself to save the ship, Spock is exposed to radiation and dies. Ejected to the newly formed Genesis Planet, Spock is laid to rest as the ship heads for home.

Khan will do whatever it takes to get his revenge.

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"A DYING PLANET. A FIGHT FOR LIFE. THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK."

With the death of Spock and the defeat of Khan, Admiral Kirk takes the Enterprise back to spacedock for repairs. Feeling lost without his friend, Spock's father, Vulcan Ambassador Sarek, demand Kirk return the body to their home world . Stealing the Enterprise, Kirk and crew travel to the Genesis planet for Spock. Realizing that Spock has planted his memory into Dr. McCoy, both must go to Vulcan to undergo a mind transfusion. Kirk's son, finding Spock on Genesis, is killed by a group of rogue Klingons bent on taking the plans of the Genesis device for themselves. Surrendering, Kirk self-destructs the Enterprise and is stranded on the newly formed planet. After a hand-to-hand struggle with the Klingon commander, Kirk defeats him and beams off the planet, hijacking the enemy vessel and heading straight to Vulcan. The transfer is successful and Spock slowly gains back his memory.

"My God, Bones. What have I done?"

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"HOW ON EARTH CAN THEY SAVE THE FUTURE?"

After several months on Vulcan, and Spock's memory back to normal, Kirk and crew take the Klingon vessel to Earth to face the charges after stealing and destroying the Enterprise. En route, a probe of unknown original cuts off all power to the planet. Earth, barely able to send an emergency signal, Kirk must take his ship back in time in order for the probe to communicate. The only way to respond to the probe is for them to retrieve now extinct humpback whales and bring them back to the 23rd century. Taking a passenger from the past to help, the probe is able to talk to the whales and leaves Earth. Due to their actions, the crew of the late Enterprise have all charges dropped, save for one. Kirk is permanently demoted to Captain as a consequence yet given command of a new Enterprise. Exiting space dock, the Enterprise-A heads out to new worlds and new civilizations boldly going where no man has gone before.

The one with the whales.

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 "ADVENTURE AND IMAGINATION WILL MEET AT THE FINAL FRONTIER."

After limping back to Earth, the new Enterprise-A undergoes repairs as Kirk, Spock and McCoy enjoy some long-awaited shore-leave. Meanwhile, on the planet Nimbus III, the " Planet of Galactic Peace", a renegade Vulcan with a special ability to free minds, leads a vast group of followers on a quest to find God. As the Enterprise is ordered to rescue the representatives on Nimbus III, it is all a ploy in order to steal a ship to the planet Sha Ka Ree at the center of the galaxy. The renegade Vulcan is discovered to be Spock's half-brother Sybok. Once reaching the planet, the being discovered is not God at all, but in fact a malevolent creature bent on escaping the world. Sybok dies to allow the Enterprise to escape and shore leave continues for the crew.

Captain Kirk with Sha Ka Ree

 
  

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"THE BATTLE FOR PEACE HAS BEGUN."

With retirement just around the corner, the crew of the Enterprise take the their ship out one last time to escort a Klingon Chancellor to Earth for peace talks after one of the planets explodes due to poor environmental conditions. Some in the Federation, however, are against the thought of peace. After a diplomatic dinner, the Enterprise seems to fire on the ship and beams two officers aboard to assassinate the Chancellor. With a trial on hand at the Klingon home world, Kirk and McCoy are found guilty and taken to a penal colony for life imprisonment. Spock conducts an investigation on the Enterprise to discover who indeed is behind the assassination. Able to save Kirk and McCoy, Spock informs that Klingon Bird-of-Prey is responsible for the open fire; in addition, someone on the inside is on the Enterprise itself! Discovering that Spock's new protege is behind the sabotage, Spock mind-melds with her to get the information on the new peace talks location. Defeating the Klingon ship, Kirk and crew beam down to the talks with the help of Captain Sulu of the U.S.S. Excelsior preventing another assassination. Saving the day one last time and allowing the peace talks to go forward, the Enterprise is ordered decommissioned and Kirk takes the ship out for one last spin before retiring permanently from Starfleet.

"FIRE!"

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"TWO CAPTAINS. ONE DESTINY."

A few months after retirement, Kirk is joined by Scotty and Chekov for the launching of the new Enterprise-B. During it's maiden voyage, the ship receives a distress call and Kirk sacrifices himself to save the crew. Years later, Captain Picard, commander of the Enterprise-D, must stop a madman from entering a space Nexus which is what attacked the Enterprise-B. Entering this mysterious world where past and future collide, Picard finds Kirk trapped there and they both confront the madman and save the galaxy but not before Kirk dies from a large fall. The crew of the Enterprise-D are stranded on the planet after a battle with Klingon's and the crew are rescued by another ship.

She went before her time...

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"RESISTANCE IS FUTILE"








The Borg, a race of cybernetic beings bent on assimilating every race in existence has reached Earth and it is up to Captain Picard and his Next Generation crew to stop them. Once stopped, a small ship with Borg escapes and goes through time travel. Its destination? Earth, 2063. The year warp drive is tested and first contact with the Vulcans paves the way for the entire Federation. After realizing that some of the Borg manage to beam aboard the Enterprise, Picard holds his ground and stops at nothing to protect his ship. "The line must be drawn here! This far, no further! And I WILL MAKE THEM PAY FOR WHAT THEY'VE DONE!" He exclaims. Meanwhile, a handful of crew members are on Earth trying to assure that Zephram Cochran completes his warp drive test without giving too much away so as to damage the future. On the Enterprise, Picard must face the Borg Queen, whom he deals with six years prior. With Data stopping an attack by exposing himself to organic material-as the Borg cannot survive without their organic parts-he defeats the Queen, thus defeating the Borg, and history can now be made. The warp test succeeds and the Vulcans make first contact with Earth. Upon witnessing history, the Enterprise heads back to the 24th century.

The Enterprise-E commanding the fleet

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"THE BATTLE FOR PARADISE HAS BEGUN."

The Enterprise cuts short welcoming a new race to the Federation and heads to the planet Ba'ku, a planet with the ability to rejuvenate anyone for a life-time. Secretly observing the mission, Data malfunctions and outs the duck blind, not only exposing Starfleet but also revealing technology never seen before to the primitive race. Asked to either retrieve Data or risk having him destroyed, Picard chooses the former option. Once safely capturing the android, things are not what they seem at this planet. Feeling that these people were never meant to be immortal, and with just 600 people, the Federation feels it has the right to take the benefit of this planet to all. Leading to a force relocation without the people even knowing it, Picard leads a rebellion to and goes against his orders for the greater good. Another race, the Son'a, want to exploit the planet's ability as well and stop at nothing to do so. Realizing that the Son'a and the Ba'ku are the same race, a truce is made and both races live once again in harmony. With the plot foiled, Captain Picard and the Enterprise head off into space.

Leaving orbit of the planet Ba'ku.

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"A GENERATION'S FINAL JOURNEY BEGINS."

After a celebration of a newly promoted and newly married Captain Riker and Deanna Troi, Captain Picard faces changes in his career and how things must move on. Meanwhile, the Romulan senate is assassinated due to a coup d'état and a new praetor has taken control, only he is not a Romulan, but rather a clone of Captain Picard himself! On a ploy for peace, the Enterprise is lured into a trap and Praetor Shinzon will stop at nothing to ensure the death of his original. Sacrificing himself to save the Enterprise, Data destroys Shinzon's ship before it can release radiation killing all aboard both ships. With Riker, Beverly Crusher, Counselor Troi and the loss of his dear Lr. Commander Data, Picard faces change but knows that there will be something good to come out of this as Data's newly discovered counterpart has regained some of his memories.

As a last resort, Picard sets a collision course.

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"THE FUTURE BEGINS."

In the 24th century, Ambassador Spock has failed to protect the planet Romulus and it has thus become destroyed. Engulfed in a blackhole, he, along with a fellow Romulan Nero, enter an alternate 23rd century. James Kirk is born while his father, George Kirk, defends his ship from Nero's attack. Years later, Kirk is at a bar in Iowa where he joins Starfleet thanks to Captain Christopher Pike. Taking a no-win scenario test, he cheats much to the chagrin of Spock, who creates the program. In a court martial for Kirk's actions, Starfleet discovers that Vulcan is under attack and Pike takes command of the Enterprise in the emergency. Facing Nero's ship in a direct attack, Pike is taking prisoner and Vulcan gets destroyed. As Kirk is becoming impulsive, he is forced off the Enterprise and ejected to Delta Vega, where he discovers Spock Prime and learns of his destiny. Once defeating Nero, Kirk is captain of the Enterprise and sets off to the stars.

Enterprise embarking on a new beginning.

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"DARKNESS IS COMING."

On a bid to save a planet from destruction, Captain Kirk violates the Prime Directive and exposes the Enterprise to the people of Nibiru, a primitive people with no technology. Once returning to Earth, Spock reports Kirk, thus causing him to lose his ship. Suddenly, on a mission to stop a madman after destroying a facility in England, and losing his mentor Christopher Pike to a terrorist attack on the Federation, Kirk regains command of his ship to hunt down this killer. With 72 new torpedoes on his ship, Kirk discovers that each pod contains genetically modified supermen, connected to the madman who reveals himself to be Khan. Captain Kirk sacrifices himself to save the Enterprise while Spock hunts down Khan in revenge. After capturing Khan and taking him into custody, Dr. McCoy uses Khan's blood to bring Kirk back to life. With his crew alive and well, Kirk takes the Enterprise out for it's historic five-year mission. 

Departing the planet Nibiru.

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Coming July 22nd...

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Which STAR TREK film is your favorite? Do you prefer the adventures of the original crew, Next Generation or the rebooted films? Let me know in the comments below!

UNTIL NEXT TIME!

Credit:
I want to thank each and every source used for this blog, without them, it would just be a bunch of boring plot synopsis. 

• All GIFS with the exception of Kirk must go to: Starfleet ships  If you want a Tumblr page full of awesome images of ships from Star Trek, then this is the place to check out! High recommendation! 
• GIF of Captain Kirk: Shout out to Trekgate Another great source for GIFS
• Movie title banners:  Fanart.tv
• J.J. Enterprise and warp effect: Endlessfacts.com