- Now with THIS one, we get to see a truly original story
Truly original story? It's about a revenge driven mad man in a trench coat who has a big dark ship that dwarfs the Enterprise and wants to attack Earth. Kirk now wants to set out after him "because it's personal" despite the protests of his colleagues and he must reclaim the Captain's chair during a crises. It's the same premise as the last movie, and some bits of Nemesis too.
You've all made some very good points. I understand the business idea of "creating new Trekkies" thus making more money and I'm all for that. But I do think that the story couldve been better. While it was not a BAD FILM, it just wasnt a good Star Trek film. Aside from a few moments, I didnt feel like I was watching a Star Trek film. The fact that American beer and Nokia made product appearances (AND a Beastie Boys song) threw me for a loop. And yes one of the problems of shows like Enterprise (which was good in its own ways) was that it was a prequel set in an already established universe. The details of who said and did what on what Stardate and all that was already set in stone by the time Enterprise came along. So it brought the writers all kinds of headaches trying to figure out gaps and holes in between. Again the 2009 film was a good movie, but as a Trek film it fell short. Im sure the whole point was to NOT be like established Trek while "preserving what came before. I suppose many people were upset because JJ has stated that he would never return to the Prime Timeline for any future stories. Imagine how good a crossover film would be featuring the JJ cast and some of the older members or the original timeline?? Think of it as a "Crisis on Infinite Universes". Anyway, in a way basically JJ perserved established canon, while saying "We aint going in there anymore." I may be that die hard fan who knows the details about this episode or movie or ship or whatever, but I can understand common sense and why things happened the way they did. I just dont think that time travel was a good way to tell this "alternate reality" story. The good news is, that many of the newcomers have gotten interested in the other films and stories to find out where the ideas came from.
All these opinions aside, I will be in line in full force like I was in 2009 excited and ready to go. I will likely see the film several times. Heck Ive already got different people wanting to see it with me to get my reaction from it. LOL The positive news is, its NEW Trek. And if it brings new people to the table then so be it. Just tell a good story. And with 10 films and 5 TV series, theres alot to keep one busy.
In any case, I'm looking forward to the Into Darkness score. Im sure this will have many themes (new and old).
Next month's (May) issue of Empire magazine has an extensive piece on the film's crew, including two pages on Giacchino. He discusses his collaboration with Abrams and his thoughts on scoring (or not scoring) the upcoming Star Wars. Worth checking out.
- But there are still many fans that will prefer it over 2009 because Nemesis got the "canon" right and 2009 willfully disobeyed those details.
Oh, Jeff. Take a seat over there and listen to what I got to say. Do you recall the TNG episodes "Samaritan Snare" and "Tapestry"? Each episode dealt with Picard's artificial heart. In the first story, Picard explains that when he got into a fight that resulted in him getting stabbed, he laughed out loud. He could never recall why he laughed, but it happened. In Tapestry, Q offers Picard a chance to redo the part of his life after he was stabbed but with his real heart intact, but doing this results in Picard being a much laid back person who is assigned to a much lower position. To make matters worse, the crew who respected him and once called friends now looks down on him saying he's not the command type. After this, Picard tells Q that he would rather die as the man he was with the artificial heart than the one who didn't learn his lesson. And when Q puts things right, Picard literally relives the fight and gets stabbed through the heart. Picard, knowing that this will set things right, purposefully gives out a laugh. It was one of the most impressive story arcs for Picard and it really defined how much his character had changed in the course of his life.
In Nemesis.... we get this line.
PICARD:Look at me, Shinzon. Your heart, your hands, your eyes are the same as mine. The blood pumping within you, the raw material is the same.
.....NO! Shinzon's heart is not the same as Picard's! It's such a blatant disregard of one of Picard's most prominent developments that you wonder how this film was even catered to Picard's character in the first place. What makes it's absence worse is how perfect his artificial heart would have fit in with the film's theme that even Data was talking about earlier.
DATA:Although you share the same genetic structure, the events of your life have created a unique individual.
Picard's heart would have been TANGIBLE proof of such events affecting one's life. Picard could have told Shinzon that he still has his original heart and that if he continues to become everyone's enemy, he probably won't have a second chance the way Picard did. Or something... anything...
First, Shonzon's remark holds essentially true to his viewpoint, irrespective of the artifical heart. His artificial heart is part of his past, but really, it was the lessons he learned that shaped his command.
What has this to do, frankly, with Shinzon's point? Nothing. Picard is who he is, and Shinzon wants to be himself, rather a shadow or echo.
There is no affront here to anything.
Data spoke in general terms, and there was again no specific reason for him to state this, unless you want to quote the long story and elongate the film.
- Now with THIS one, we get to see a truly original story
Truly original story? It's about a revenge driven mad man in a trench coat who has a big dark ship that dwarfs the Enterprise and wants to attack Earth. Kirk now wants to set out after him "because it's personal" despite the protests of his colleagues and he must reclaim the Captain's chair during a crises. It's the same premise as the last movie, and some bits of Nemesis too.
When did you see it beyond previews? It has some threads, but we don't know exactly WHY Harrison is doing what he's doing, whether there is a larger point he's making.
TWOK is not a very original story either, and neither was Moby Dick, by your standards.
Originality is overrated. Almost nothing original finds much of an audience -- people generally need a context to get what they're watching. Originality may (or may not) be recognized and appreciated in retrospect, if what its doing new catches on, but they key to good populist entertainment at least is not to be original but to sufficiently repackage familiar elements so that what is recognizable enough to be accessible feels fresh and new, even when it's really not. A good movie doesn't need to be original, it just needs to be good.
Most likely cover or final master wasn't approved in time to make the previously announced date. Unless it is revealed very soon, even late May is getting unlikely.
Either the usual reason (JJ is too busy to sign off on the final artwork) or an unusual reason (they are still deciding which of the non-Giacchino "additional artists" cues will be on the CD)
BTW, a representative from Colosseum (German company that distributes all Varese CDs there) has posted that there will be a bonus track exclusive to digital-download versions:
Im Gegensatz zur CD wird das digitale Album einen Bonustrack enthalten, den es in verschiedenen Sprachfassungen geben wird. Auch hierzu liegen uns noch keine endgültigen Infos vor. Wir denken, dass wir dazu in den nächsten Tagen mehr wissen.
Which google translates to
In contrast to CD, the digital album will contain a bonus track that will be available in different languages. Here, too, we have no definitive information. We think we know this in the next few days more.
Different languages? Must be a song by one of the "worldwide artists", and not a Giacchino score cue, then. Phew!
Either the usual reason (JJ is too busy to sign off on the final artwork) or an unusual reason (they are still deciding which of the non-Giacchino "additional artists" cues will be on the CD)
Maybe coming up with cutesy track titles is a slow process?
BTW, a representative from Colosseum (German company that distributes all Varese CDs there) has posted that there will be a bonus track exclusive to digital-download versions:
Im Gegensatz zur CD wird das digitale Album einen Bonustrack enthalten, den es in verschiedenen Sprachfassungen geben wird. Auch hierzu liegen uns noch keine endgültigen Infos vor. Wir denken, dass wir dazu in den nächsten Tagen mehr wissen.
Which google translates to
In contrast to CD, the digital album will contain a bonus track that will be available in different languages. Here, too, we have no definitive information. We think we know this in the next few days more.
Different languages? Must be a song by one of the "worldwide artists", and not a Giacchino score cue, then. Phew!
And the score delayed? Color me surprised. I had already commented that I would be shocked if it made the May 14th deadline considering the last tracks of the score (some piano pickups from Giacchino) were recorded 2 or 3 weeks ago. Just seems super last minute.
My guess is either art approval (which always cracks me up the ridiculous legal and political mechanics involved in this), or just manufacturing issues.
Yesterday I recorded a very enjoyable interview with Michael Giacchino for my WQXR show Movies on the Radio. He has supplied me with about 22 minutes of his "Star Trek Into Darkness" score, and you can hear that music and Michael's insights, anecdotes, and comments regarding it, Saturday, May 4th at 9 pm New York time, on WQXR FM 105.9 and wqxr.org
I should probably mention: we had a blast! --David Garland
Yesterday I recorded a very enjoyable interview with Michael Giacchino for my WQXR show Movies on the Radio. He has supplied me with about 22 minutes of his "Star Trek Into Darkness" score, and you can hear that music and Michael's insights, anecdotes, and comments regarding it, Saturday, May 4th at 9 pm New York time, on WQXR FM 105.9 and wqxr.org
I should probably mention: we had a blast! --David Garland
David, that's excellent news! I can't wait to listen - it be be available here after airing, right?
