In 2005, “Star Trek” was successfully lifeless. The newest sequence, “Star Trek: Enterprise,” was canceled after 4 inauspicious seasons, falling three years shy of “Star Trek: The Subsequent Technology,” “Star Trek: Deep Area 9,” and “Star Trek: Voyager.” The sequence wasn’t ever as broadly beloved as these reveals, rising because the block sheep of the franchise. Additionally, the 2002 movie “Star Trek: Nemesis” was the lowest-grossing “Star Trek” movie up to now, drawing the adventures of the “Subsequent Technology” characters to an equally inauspicious shut. It appeared that the awful, war-riddled post-9/11 world was now not within the temper for a sci-fi sequence that preached pacifism and diplomacy.
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However then, “Star Trek” got here roaring again in 2009 with a rebooted characteristic movie directed by J.J. Abrams. The brand new movie, simply known as “Star Trek,” returned to the unique Starship Enterprise, and adopted the acquainted characters of Kirk, Spock, McCoy, and so forth., however now performed by newer, youthful, sexier actors. Abrams additionally ratcheted up the motion, turning the ordinarily philosophical sequence into a simple shoot-’em-up. The movie was filled with super-slick Hollywood motion violence, and audiences beloved it. On a finances of $150 million, “Star Trek” remodeled $387 million worldwide. /Movie beloved it.
In fact, some old-school stick-in-the-mud Trekkies — and I’m certainly one of them — understood that Abrams’ movie was very removed from the egalitarian spirit of the franchise. Outdated “Star Trek” sometimes targeted on office relationships, sci-fi ideas, and moral dilemmas. The brand new “Star Trek” did not have any of these issues, preferring to be a extra predictable, revenge-based, high-octane thriller. After which, think about Trekkies’ outrage when Abrams, solely days earlier than the movie was launched, declared to the Guardian that he by no means bought “Star Trek.” He had at all times been extra of a “Star Wars” fan, connecting with motion and thrills over chilly logic and scientific pondering.
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J.J. Abrams likes Star Wars greater than Star Trek
It needs to be remembered that “Star Trek,” whereas seeing its share of phaser battles and hand-to-hand fight, wasn’t ever predicated on motion. Sequence creator Gene Roddenberry envisioned a post-war, post-religious, post-capitalist future whereby all people had put their variations apart and labored collectively for — and devoted all their applied sciences and skills to — the frequent good of the galaxy. The triumphs of “Star Trek” got here when battle was prevented, not when an enemy was bested.
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Abrams, nevertheless, did not like that. In his discuss with The Guardian, he complained that “Star Trek” was too talky and did not have the sort of wild adventures that he seemingly most popular. In his phrases:
“[‘Star Trek’] at all times felt like a foolish, campy factor. I keep in mind appreciating it, however feeling like I did not get it. I felt it did not give me a manner in. There was a captain, there was this primary officer, they had been speaking so much about adventures and never having them as a lot as I’d’ve preferred. Perhaps I wasn’t good sufficient, possibly I wasn’t sufficiently old. However ‘The Twilight Zone’ I used to be obsessive about. Liked it.”
To be truthful, “Star Trek” did certainly have its share of foolish, campy moments. The episode “Spock’s Mind” involves thoughts, or maybe “The Approach to Eden,” which featured a hippie-led musical ensemble. Additionally, Roddenberry might have been very progressive in some respects, however he additionally was cautious to write down in a few of his personal private sexual fantasies into the sequence (the ladies all put on miniskirts, as an illustration), making for quite a few dated, sexist conceits. “Star Trek” got here out in 1966, and it is actually a product of its time.
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But it surely was galling for Trekkies to listen to that Abrams not solely did not like “Star Trek,” however did not even trouble to get to realize it.
Abrams did not do his homework
Abrams was capable of snake round a number of many years of extant “Star Trek” lore by way of a somewhat-clever parallel universe conceit. Because of a time portal, a super-advanced Romulan ship traveled again in time to the second that James T. Kirk was born, killing his father and altering the timeline. Abrams’ posited that Kirk would develop as much as appear like Chris Pine, and that he and his fellow Enterprise crewmates could be extra emotional variations of themselves. In a fatalistic twist, the characters would wind up serving collectively on the united statesS. Enterprise, now a a lot bigger ship. Abrams did not concern himself with what got here earlier than, although. He leaned into his ignorance of “Star Trek,” and churned out the film he needed. He stated:
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“I had no concept there had been 10 films! I nonetheless have not seen all of them. I did not need to develop into a pupil of ‘Star Trek.’ I felt that was truly one of many few benefits I had. I used to be making an attempt to make a film, not making an attempt to make a ‘Trek’ film.”
Abrams additionally directed the “Star Trek” sequel “Star Trek Into Darkness” in 2013, and he solely strayed farther from the core intellectualism of the unique sequence. He as soon as once more delivered a high-octane, revenge-based actioner, and made much more cash, netting over $467 million worldwide. That movie, nevertheless, is now thought-about to be one of many worst within the sequence. Abrams stepped away for the 2016 follow-up “Star Trek Past.”
Abrams had a special angle to his 2015 movie, “Star Wars: The Drive Awakens.” He grew up watching “Star Wars,” and at all times beloved it, saying that it at all times left an impression on him. He felt the world was crowded and wealthy and filled with prospects, feelings, and desires.
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He by no means stated something like that about “Star Trek.”
