As we gear up for the production and release of the next Star Trek film, Tor.com’s Ryan Britt makes the case that the new film doesn’t need to focus on who the adversary for Kirk and company will be but instead needs to get back to what fundamentally makes Star Trek Star Trek.
Anyway, many people will tell you this is neither here nor there because apparently everyone agrees Star Trek was a solid action movie. This is probably true. But honestly, who cares? As a kid I didn’t get into Star Trek for all the badass action. If that were the case, I’d be a fan of violent movies, which I’m not. Now, I’m guessing most Star Trek fans are with me when I say that the Star Trek movie that is most in the spirit of ALL the TV shows is The Voyage Home. This movie has a fun science fiction premise and is totally something the shows would want to do, but couldn’t because the scope of it is too large. And what’s the best part of The Voyage Home? There’s no bad guy. Even The Wrath of Khan, arguably the best Trek movie has an interesting science fiction premise with the Genesis Device. Without the scientists on Regula I, the entire plot of Wrath doesn’t happen. The interesting science fiction premise drives this movie. And yes, I know the movie is really about Khan, Kirk, and Spock, but it’s not super transparent about it. Star Trek (2009), while very fun to watch, doesn’t even bother with originality.
The full article, which makes the argument that the last Trek film is essentially the plot of Star Trek: Nemesis done better, is well worth reading and considering. You can check out the full essay HERE.
Movies can’t just do the same thing as an episode of a TV series. They’re two very different mediums and people have different expectations of them.
Good point. Insurrection failed for me because it was too much like the TV series.
The movie needs to focus on Kirk, Spock and McCoy but the action/drama makes it matter.
Yes it does, we don’t need a remake of Star Trek the Motion Picture.
Maybe they should follow the Superhero movie plan and throw 3-4 villains from TOS canon into the sequel to ruin the new Trek that much faster.
How about the Romulans tear a rift into the Mirror Universe and grab all evil counterparts and bring them into this universe. Then they find the Botany Bay drifting in space and revive Khan and then everyone grows goatees and goes to hunt down the Enterprise.
Then for comic relief they can bring back the Tribbles.
A story needs an antagonist to create tension and conflict. But it doesn’t have to be a “bad guy”. Maybe the antagonist can be someone who has different goals that run counter to Kirks. Different goals, not evil goals. Maybe one of the “old guard” in Starfleet is opposed to how Kirk became captian and wants him removed fearing that if Kirk remains captian of the flagship then he will become a liability to the Federation. Make a strong case for that claim and have the conflict be of how Kirk defends his actions to keep his rank.
I would be happy with some classic science fiction more like The first Movie: Star Trek the Motion Picture (the best of the original crew movies). Trek has had enough battles I think it’s time to go cerebral again. I think the chances of Hollywood signing off on that is very low, however. The execs will want to stick to the formula, still I vote for sense of wonder and exploration over destruction and noise.
Reboot should mean no more remakes. A second Wrath of Khan would violate that … err … prime directive.
I would like something more cerebral again as well. It is a lot easier to make action films, however.