Enterprise, otoh, managed to get very good by its final season. Definitely better than anything in insipid Voyager's entire 7-year run.

expect this to look and feel more 80's trek than 90's. which isn't all bad.

It's just what happens after that, that might worry Trekkies.

This will be great! I've enjoyed everything JJ has offered up so far in his career

I aint a STrek nut so I can't moan if they get some nuts and bolts out of place on the enterprise, although I loved the Shatner and want to watch Wrath of Khan again now!. If it's as epic in Scale as the Starship Troopers Space Scenes I'll be happy, I'd even be cool with cheesy bootcamp teens and Baby Spock sound brilliant!

Insurrection = STINKO!

It shouldn't matter if they recast the icons. Sometimes you get better.

For years, Basil Rathbone was the only Holmes people would picture when they thought of the great detective.

Then Jeremy Brett came along, and any Holmes fan who saw his performance would tell you THAT was Holmes. In a way that Basil could never be.

Recasting icons is not that big a deal.

Everybody always talks about the 'Star Trek cliches'--the fact that there have been so many episodes of Star Trek that they end up telling the same stories over and over again: they come to a planet of aliens that seem benevolent, but actually they're BLANK or they get captured by a transcendental being who tests them, and so on and so forth. The implication is that they have run out of story possibilities, and anything they could come up with is just going to be something we've already seen repackaged or spun a little differently.

But what I don't understand is why they take this universe that they've spent 40 years creating, in which 150-300 years in the future the human race has made all this progress, internally and externally, has ventured out into space and begun interacting with other beings, and yet the only part of this world that they show us is one tiny little bit: what it's like to be in the military/scientific exploration organization called Starfleet.

It would be like if the 1960s were something that you had made up in your head, and you decided to create a series of TV shows and movies about them that spanned hundreds of hours, and you set the whole thing on four submarines and an aircraft carrier. Sure, you would run out of stories about things that can happen on a military vessel, but you wouldn't have even scratched the surface of possible stories to tell about this world!

We've heard again and again that the human race has gotten rid of crime and poverty, and that their society has one world government, no religion, and no money. Fucking show me that! That's a fascinating concept--the human race achieving peace and perfection. What would it work like? What would life be like for normal people in it? If there's no money, what do people do with their time? What's to stop everyone from being fat and lazy and unmotivated?

Is there really no crime? If there's no money, I guess there might not be theft, but what about rape and murder and adultery and assault? Do those exist? If so, how are they dealt with? If not, what is preventing them?

How does the government work? Are there political parties? Are there different philosophies about what is the best way to govern? Is there still the tension between ensuring equality and ensuring freedom? If so, what forum is this debate carried out in?

Is there really no religion? If not, what happens when individual people have spiritual or religious feelings that they feel the need to express--are they prevented from doing this? And if there is religion, how do members of different sects manage to get along with each other?

Do people still recognize the division of the world into different countries? What role does nationality play in people's lives? Does government work at a local level too, or just at the global level? How about race and ethnicity? Do people still recognize themselves as members of different races? Are there still racial tensions?

And that's all just internal--that doesn't take into account the role that aliens would play in everyday life, or the relation between earth and colonies of humans living on other worlds. But my point is that there are so many areas of the Star Trek universe that could be explored in an intellectually interesting way that don't involve warp drives or phasers or shields being down to 23 percent.

Why can't we have a "Star Trek" show whose plot is about the founding of a colony on another planet, and whose main character is the person assigned to be the governor of that planet? Or a show that takes place on earth: in a hospital, in a school, in a factory, in an engineering firm? Or just follow the life of a simple family that lives in one of the 22nd-24th century worlds that we've seen from the point of view of a ship? Or if you want the show to take place in space, why not on a cargo ship? Why not on a pleasure cruiser?

The people who say that Star Trek has run its course and that there are no more stories to tell aren't using their imaginations.

The largest fictional universe created in the last 40 years and all they can think to do is go back to the Kirk and Spock well. Fuck off, JJ.

They never had their shit together. That's why DS9 is the best. People were more human and there were more space battles.

Nemesis's problems were different: in principle, a potential war between the Romulans and the Federation should have been a great setting for drama. But it was hard to give a rat's ass about the villain and Logan's script was deeply overrated, the set-up for Data's death was just trite.

it's a draw they both suck.

Irina Spalko as a Sith Lord? Now we're talking!

It was called Earth 2

I also suspect they are somewhat afraid of fan reaction to the changes they've made.

Although, like most franchises as Hollywood is learning, if you have no entries in it for a long time, people will pour their wallets out to see a reboot/decade later sequel with updated technology.

Too many people on AICN and other sites like it calling for movies to suck before they come out, so when they do hit, you've already got it branded into your skull that the movie will blow.

HEADGEEK is allowed to emote in an article after an editing room visit to witness the attempted rebirth of one of the biggest franchises in history.

In other words, this WAS a write up based on a cordial visit, as opposed to a full movie review from HeadGeek as film critic -- which I am looking forward to since the visit to JJ's editing suite has built up the excitement level. Now the question is will it backfire on this TREK effort or will it be the jumping off point for a positive review from Harry if the finished work is deserving? We'll see.

Anyhow, you provide interesting insights as always, Yackbacker.

In 1979, we saw Star Trek: The Motion Picture in the theater and I loved it, even if it was paced slowly--the visuals and the music, along with seeing my Saturday Night Friends on the big screen was fantastic. It wasn't until 1982 that I saw the real power of those characters, when we all suffered through the death of Spock the day before my ninth birthday. That was the greatest movie summer of my entire life, with lots of amazing films to explore...and Star Trek II was the film we saw over and over that year.

Over the years, I watched every Star Trek movie, every tv show, and read many books and comics involving the characters. I still had my love affair for Star Wars, which has since lead me to become an illustrator and designer on many Star Wars products--but my love of Star Trek never felt like cheating...I was just in an open relationship with many franchises.

Well, last year was the Star Wars Celebration IV in LA and I got to be one of the artists in attendance. There were about 50 of us, with various levels of experience and exposure and we were all having a great time. The great John Alvin, the movie poster artist who passed away earlier this year was there and enjoying his position as "dean" of the other artists and had a number of small, kind conversations with me throughout the show. Drew Struzan was there, not in the show but mulling about saying hello to everyone.

And into this scene walked JJ Abrams and two of his children, Henry and Gracie. It was awesome--he was just a dad bringing his kids to a Star Wars show, trying to pass on his love of Sci-Fi to the next generation. I shook his hand and introduced myself and his son Henry got all excited by the poster I had made for the show, asking if he could put it up on his wall. JJ shot me a look--two Geeks enjoying the next generation at the ages we were when we fell in love with all this stuff--and he asked "How Much?" I told him in no certain terms that his money was no good and gave him the poster and I think a couple prints, and a card so he could see more stuff on the website...and we talked a little more. I told him how excited (and a little nervous) I was about his new Star Trek--about how it was if not my first love it was a very close second. He said he was as excited as I was and a fan to boot--and he would try not to let down another Jeff--as he is Jeffery Jacob...

It was neat. He seemed like a cool guy, took my business card and after shaking hands with Henry, My buddy Tommy Lee Edwards took my photo with JJ and vice versa. JJ gave me a handshake, talked to Tommy and kept on moving down the line. Smiles all around. If this is the guy who makes the movie, I have a feeling it will be a good one. A Star Trek movie made by a geek who loves Star Trek and Star Wars, who wants to pass on Geekdom to his kids, and has a bit of talent in the story department. Hopefully he will iron out any problems in the WONDER TWIN's script (I refuse to think that saying that they wrote Transformers is any kind of endorsement) and make a great movie.

Is it dangerous to reboot a great franchise with many years under it's belt? Yes. Has there ever been a really successful attempt at this, other than arguably Battlestar Galactica? Not really. Am I won over by the guy for liking my stuff? Possibly...but I am hopeful that he has the chops. And if I am wrong, it is not like the franchise could be any deader than it is now. I will reserve my ire for the project until I see what they have done to the Enterprise and until I hear more about the project--from what Harry says, it sounds like this film will use the Time-Travel story to explore the history of Star Trek to expand and re-launch the franchise. It will be both a sequel and a Re-boot. We won't know if it is good until opening day--but we will be there.

Jeff Carlisle

This is what I'm talking about, M-O-M. You see "DePalma" and "Woo" and immediately you judge their films according to another standard, even if the movies are shit.

"what the hell are you smoking to claim that The World is not Enough and Die Another Day are the worst Bond Film every?"

You fail at the internets.

Pike certainly seems to be the ideal captain to handle the callous youth of Kirk and other academy grads. His presence should round the edges on the Trek 90210 thing that some TBers are concerned about.

Maybe you should check and see what's in your own bong before you start harshing our mellows with that shit.

If he is not out leading things from the center of the fray, but is on the bridge barking orders and directives, then the character won't really be Captain Pike.

Sure I have favorites and I recognize some could of been better planned out but in regards to the old series, if you watch them all together for the most part it's just one wonderful flowing saga to me with all its parts.

Maybe it's because they just made so many or maybe I feel that way in regards to the old series movies because I haven't watched them in over 10 years and was a kid then but I think they are all special with memorable lines and moments.

I would rather not say I like one at the expense of the other. Like someone else said. I also wouldn't say I like the old series in the expense of tng or Spock over Data. Haha. That's silly. I know what are my favorites but I still love them both but for different reasons.

I hope I'm wrong. I love Lost, disliked Cloverfield, and never saw Alias or MI3. Maybe he really understands the series and will bring back some of the fun, excitement and, if we're really lucky, some thoughtful science fiction. So long as the film gets good reviews I'll be in the theater deciding for myself on the end product.

I have been subtly talking back on the site for almost nine to ten years now. I am glad you like the work...

Drop me a line: jeff@jeffcarlisle.com

The Motion Picture was the most classic Science Fiction story of the Bunch. It is a beautiful film...and even if the story evokes a lot of older Original episodes, it is a welcome return to characters you love. Each Character starts out in a strange and different place than they were in the old show--but by the end of the adventure, they are back together and back to themselves--One of the best film-going experiences of my young life...and I honestly think the Director's cut is the best version of the story (although my older brother prefers the original cut--he is a Trek Purist).

Wrath of Khan, Search for Spock and The Voyage Home form the Spock Trilogy and felt the most like the old TV show. The Final Frontier is a bad movie with some goo things in it. The scene where they are confronting their past is good...until Shatner's "I need my pain" speech. This movie is where Shatner stopped acting and has only parodied himself since.

Undiscovered Country is a Murder Mystery wrapped in Star Trek clothing...that really only needed a louder Continuity Advisor to make it better. Shatner making fun of himself is great. The Purple blood still annoys the crap out of me.

The films of the Next Generation crew have both good points and bad--My main criticisms are that they only wrote them like 2-part TV episodes with bigger budgets and that these films were when they started shafting the continuity of the Novels. The Kirk films built upon the anticipation that they were the only Star Trek in town from 1979 until 1987 and either were direct sequels or filled in the time gap. If Picard and company had tried to tell a trilogy of connected stories, or upped the scale of the conflict with each film, rather than had it get progressively smaller, it might have been more successful.

Generations was more energetic when it focused on Kirk, who they unfortunately killed off. Picard was so sullen due to the death of his brother and nephew that it made Kirk even more interesting. But the movie did show that the TNG series Enterprise looks great if you light it right, including the Ramada Inn sets. First Contact is the first film with Picard and Co standing on their own two feet--and for the most part tells an engaging story--it is Aliens as told the Star Trek way. But there are problems--writers cannot seem to understand what a hive mind is, so they have a Queen, when a hive consciousness should work through any drone body--and this film is the first time the films try to bridge the gap from our world to Star Trek, and they completely write over the top of the Future History established (and maintained pretty well) in the novels. You have to remember that the Novels were where Paramount was fleshing out the universe for a long time--and that in the eighties each new novel was treated as canon and heralded with fanfare. This is the movie that killed that...and led to serious ret-conning like Enterprise.

Insurrection and Nemesis are just badly written TNG 2-parters on the big screen. Data should not have been such a big part of the stories...but Brent Spiner is TNG's Shatner. Ego MUST be served.

The various series were the meat of Star Trek--with the best and most challenging stories. Each Star Trek show is unique of each other and had it's own pros and cons, strong seasons and weak ones. For my money, outside of the Original Series, Deep Space Nine was the best Star Trek show. The cast, the writing, the discussions of faith, politics, science and relationships and the arcs of the characters are all strong. Sure, it started out as a Babylon 5 clone...but it quickly became it's own entity and many of my favorite stories set in the old Alpha Quadrant are right there. And Avery Brooks is the man. The man called Hawk.

So, now what will this new Trek be? The final nail in the coffin? The new life that the series so desperately needs? Or something totally new? At worst, it will be The Phantom Menace...which is pretty bad. At best, it will be a lighter Battlestar Galactica (or better Enterprise)--the few plot points that have been revealed show that the very nature of the time travel story means that this will completely change the continuity--the question will be how much and for how long? Does Abrams want to use this cast to go off and tell all new stories or is it really just a way to bring Shatner to the 24th Century? Then they could make movies with all the casts of the different shows rather than have it be one crew at a time. Who knows? If you are a fan, be excited. Star Trek is coming back. Wait and see if it is good or bad. If it sucks--we have the old shows and can watch them ad nauseam...but what if it is somehow really good? I for one don't want to miss it.

Enterprise was good in it's last season, cause the producers said fuck it, do whatever you want, you're canceled anyway. Still, I always thought Archer was by far the worst, most pathetic captain. Even worse than Janeway and her Elizabethian holodeck fantasies. Malcolm was the only sensible one on the show. I liked Trip but I always confused him with Tom Paris in my mind. I would have mutinied Archer's ass for my own protection. And I loved mirror universe Hoshi.

But I can't really say what the best show was. I'd put the original, TNG and DS9 at a tie for different reasons. DS9 had the best arc and some really good, darker characters like Garak and Quark. It also had the best space battles by far, with every race attacking every other, ala Babylon 5. TNG, in it's prime, had some of the best stories. Data, Picard and Worf were great characters with great episodes. Geordi was worse than Archer, as characters go however. But the original show was so dramatic. I loved the bold colors and the closeups so much that I'd say it has the most rewatchability. It was really all in how they filmed it. Voyager only had 7 of 9's amazing ass to get us through, otherwise it was mostly a bad joke. They squandered the holographic doctor. They could have done a lot of cool things with him, but it just went nowhere.

As for movies, I'm one of the few that liked (not loved) Insurrection because it felt most like an episode of the show and that's all I really wanted, were more episodes. Nemesis was the worst piece of Star Trek crap to ever fall out of the sky and land on my shoulder. The lamest episodes of Voyager rocked that shit. I waited so long for a movie with Romulans in it and they even fucked that up. The only good thing about Nemesis was they finally turned off Data's emotion chip. Obviously movies 2 and 4 were the best of the franchise. First Contact was good, but felt a little forced (enough with the borg already!).

As captains go, Picard was the best and I'd most want to serve under him. Sisco would kick all their asses in a fight (yes Kirk included). Kirk was the most independent and knew how to treat women. Archer would be the best at massaging Janeway's feet at the end of the night. He could probably use some lessons in manliness from Wesley Crusher though (gotta start somewhere).