Showing posts with label uss enterprise. Show all posts
Showing posts with label uss enterprise. Show all posts

Friday, 31 May 2013

One reason to hate and a lot of reasons to love Star Trek Into Darkness

Contains spoilers


One reason to hate

The movie did not end with a long shot of Captain Kirk sat in the Captains chair with a tribble on his head. Looking fed up as he surveys an Enterprise bridge which is covered in tribbles.

Lots of reasons to love

Nostalgia Value

The movie starts on a planet with a population and style very reminiscent of the original series. The effects are much improved over those of the 1960s but the quirky design and sense of adventure are still there.

Beautiful shots of the  USS Enterprise

They did a fantastic job in designing the new Enterprise.  Keeping a lot of the elements that fans like and then adding their own style. The movie takes full advantage of the design with new and  imaginative shots. A particular favourite of mine was when the Enterprise rose out of the water. These shots are well made, whilst avoiding the over indulgence that happened in Star Trek The Motion Picture.

Development of characters
The movie is action packed but still spends a lot of time to focus on the characters. The interaction between the cast captures the  feel of the old TOS crew well. The film also spreads the screen time around the cast so that they each get a good amount of story. Instead of focusing on the traditional 3 of Kirk, Spock and McCoy.

A new female character
The addition of Carol Marcus to the Enterprise was a clever and necessary move. Each of the Star Trek series had an unbalanced male-female ratio  in the crew. Even Star Voyager, with a female Captain had this problem. Although Dr Marcus was only seen in one movie, Star Trek The Wrath Of Khan, she left a lasting impression with the audience and showed herself to be an equal of anyone around her. The characters return is welcome as interacts well with the crew and adds another female presence alongside Uhura.

New and Excting Action scenes.
For a space faring show Star Trek hasn’t always embraced it’s environment and has often had a repetitive style of space battle. Star Trek Into Darkness Has an exciting scene where the ships gravity has been messed up so that the characters are tumbling around the cat walk and walk ways.
It was also good to see another spacesuit seen, which always makes the action feel more close and dangerous. The movie makes good use of it's unique setting for action whilst always giving a good reason for the action to take place.

A complex and moral story

The story was well thought out and has the characters considering important issues of morality. I appreciated that the story wasn't about revenge even though that was how it appeared to be at first. The moral questions of how to handle Khan and what was happening to Star Fleet as an organisation were well handled. The movie succeeded where Star Trek Insurrection failed in exploring the ethics of Star Fleet.

Monday, 20 May 2013

Star Trek: Into Darkness: First Draft Parody Script




Opens on a very TOS like planet. The nostalgia begins.

Spock
Keep her steady I’m about to jump into this erupting volcano.

Uhura
How is that logical Spock? There must be an easier way to deliver the device?

Spock
Well yes, but think of the excitement Uhura.

Meanwhile Kirk and Dr McCoy are running along the planets surface.

Dr McCoy
We’re out of sight let’s beam up.

Captain Kirk
We can’t we hid the ship underwater.

Dr McCoy
What? But why?

Captain Kirk
We have to stay undetected from the natives.

Dr McCoy
I’m pretty sure they haven’t invented telescopes yet Jim. But I must admit the Enterprise does look cool underwater.

Spock
I’m trapped Jim, protocol says that you should leave me here to die.

Captain Kirk
Protocol also says that you should call me Captain, so I don’t need you to lecture me. We’re coming to get you.

Cut to Earth and whoa they’re in London, they’re finally showing a future city that isn’t San Fransisco.

John Harrison
I can save your daughters life, just do me one little favour.

Starfleet officer
You can save her life with just one vial of blood? Maybe you’re not Khan then. He was a genetically enhanced human, not Jesus.

#####

Admiral Pike
Hello Captain, Commander.

Captain Kirk
Yo.

Admiral Pike
I don’t think that you’ve been taking your rank and responsibilities seriously.

Captain Kirk
What ever.

Admiral Pike
You lied in your Captains log. It’s a serious crime, we need the audience to have absolute faith in the Captains Log so that we can deliver tons of exposition.

Captain Kirk
How did you know?

Admiral Pike
I read Commander Spock’s log.

Captain Kirk
Snitch!

Admiral Pike
Don’t be surprised it is completely in character for him to tell the truth. You have been relieved of command. You’re clearly too immature, I don’t know why we didn’t realise this sooner,

Captain Kirk
I can’t believe that you think that I’m not ready for Command… I’m going to get drunk.

Admiral Pike
Don’t get too drunk I’ll be calling you back as my first officer soon. No disrespect Spock.

Later in a highly exposed secret meeting room.

Admiral Marcus shows an image that goes into unnecessary 3d.
This is the man we’re hunting.

Everyone
Who is he?

Admiral Marcus
For all our time travel adventures it sure is a good thing that earth history isn’t studied at the academy. He’s nobody, honest, just some nut called John Harrison. He’s highly intelligent.
Captain Kirk
Inteligent enough to attack our vulnerable meeting room?

Admiral Marcus
DAAAAAHN!

Khan arrives in a powerful looking gunship which has surprisingly weak weapons.

Captain Kirk
Hmm, shots from this phaser rifle don’t work I might as well just chuck it into the engine.

Gunship engine
Bang!

Captain Kirk
Woah I can’t believe that worked.

#####

Captain Kirk
Harrison is on Kronos.

Spock
How did he get to Kronos?

Captain Kirk
It is best not to ask such questions. The important thing is that we have 72 missiles to kill him with.

Spock
Starfleet wants us to blow up all of Kronos?

Captain Kirk
Well no… I guess they just don’t trust our aim.

Spock
This is morally and legally wrong.

Hardcore Trekkies
In this dumbed down new Trek we doubt they care.

Captain Kirk
Ok change of plan we’ll capture him.

Hardcore Trekkies
Oh.

They fly down to Kronos and the Klingon patrols wait until they’re almost at the surface before trying to stop them.

Captain Kirk
I’ll use my brilliant, never before seen piloting skills to avoid them.

A minute later the Klingon patrol descends on and traps them.

Klingons
Your strategy suggested 2 dimensional thinking.

Captain Kirk
Thanks I will try to remember that.

Uhura
What is with the masks.

Klingon
It’s for a dramatic make up reveal that no one really cares about.

Uhura
So you guys have become the main villain again?

John Harrison
We can’t have that.

He kills the underused Klingons and then surrenders to Kirk.

Captain Kirk
Cuff him and put him into the brig.

John Harrison
You’re not just going to lock me into some comfortable crew quarters.

Captain Kirk
Why would I do something stupid like that? Who are you anyway?

Khan
My name is Khan.

Captain Kirk
KHAN!

Khan
No need to shout. Just Khan.

####

Captain Kirk
Dr McCoy I need you to anakyse a missile with Dr Marcus.

Dr McCoy
Will I have time for some funny flirting too?

Dr Marcus
Please don’t you might make Kirk jealous.

Later on the bridge

Sulu
There’s some kind of ship approaching.

Captain Kirk
Chekov is our warp drive back online?

Chekov
No Keptin I’m wearing a red shirt I can’t risk dangerous engineering work.

Captain Kirk
Just fix it.

Enter the USS Vengeance

Captain Kirk
Hello Admiral that’s a massive ship, how did that get built in secret?

Admiral Marcus
Just hand over Khan Noonian Singh.

Captain Kirk
You’re not here to tow us? Fine we’ll warp to earth ourselves.

Admiral Marcus
You could cause serious damage to your engine.

Captain Kirk
I’m sure it wont be anything a good kick can’t fix.

Sulu
Sir, the Vengeance is catching us up!

Captain Kirk
Is that possible at Warp?

Sulu
Sir it has always been possible.

The Enterprise gets attacked by the Vengeance with some great damage effects shots. But then the Vengeance loses power.

Scotty
Guess where I am?

Captain Kirk
Scotty? You’re on the Vengeance?

Scotty
Ai Captain. This top secret ship doesn’t have security measures.

#####

Khan
You want my help to take the Vengeance?

Captain Kirk
Yes you helped to design it. For a ship made by someone from the early 21st century it sure is powerful.

Khan
Ship envy?

Captain Kirk
A little.

Khan
Diving through space in a space suit, how excitng, I bet they’ll never see this coming.

Captain Kirk
Actually I’ve done this before, not so long ago.

Khan
Oh well it’s exciting for me.

Vengeance security officer
Who are you? What are you doing here? How many questions do I need to ask before your friends arrive?

Scotty
Keep asking, we like our  long action sequences. Star Trek has a budget again, it’s exciting.

Captain Kirk
Weeee! Thanks for keeping the door open. Mr Scott shall we use your overrides to cut off oxygen to the bridge?

Scotty
I just said we’ve got a bigger budget now.

Captain Kirk
Ok let’s storm the bridge.

Spock
Hello I am calling just to confirm my own suspicions about Khan.

Old Spock
I can’t always be your helpline, I’m not getting any younger you know.

Spock
Come on I’ve been holding for ages.

Old Spock
Oh ok Khan is the most dangerous adversary we ever faced, well besides the gods, but I  doubt JJ Abrahms will give you any of those.

Spock
Thank you, I will now proceed as I had planned to anyway.

#####

Khan (shooting)
Ha ha I love violence. Gak!

Captain Kirk
Good shot Scotty. Keep an eye him.

Scotty
Will do Captain and I’ll keep an eye on him by standing really really close. Ahh!

Khan
I’ll beam you back to your ship. Commander Spock drop the shields so that I can beam over the missiles.

Commander Spock
Ok.

72 missiles in the USS Vengeance hull
Boom!

Khan
Why didn’t I just beam over the cryo tubes?

Commander Spock
I laugh at your superior intellect.

The Enterprise loses power and starts falling to earth.

Captain Kirk
I keep telling Sulu not to park so close to earth doesn’t he know how to set a static orbit?

Scotty
Come on we have to get the engines back online, thankfully Khan beamed us near to them.

Captain Kirk
I’d sacrifice myself to fix it but I guess it’s a very technical procedure.

Scotty
Oh no it just need a swift kicking.

A minute later.

Sulu
Power is restored.

Spock
Where’s Kirk?

Sulu
He’s in engineering stealing one of the best scenes your character ever had.

Spock
Noooo!

Captain Kirk
You have been and always will be my friend.

Spock
Somehow I think this moment would be more significant if this was a lifetime friendship. I mean I only met you a year ago.

Spock shouts a line which a lot of the audience hate but deep down they longed to hear.

Spock
Beam me down I’m going to get Khan.

Scotty
Are you sure you don’t want to take some red shirts, they come in handy.

Spock
Would you like to help me Mr Scott?

Scotty
Err no.

Khan
Woah I’m sure glad my bones didn’t shatter when the ship crashed. Being genetically enhanced sure makes life easy.

Spock
Stop!

Khan
I am superior… I will run.

They have a long fight scene across several flying vehicles before Uhura has the sense to give Spock some backup.

Uhura
Keep him alive, his blood can save Kirk’s life.

Spock
But he’ll never give consent to such treatment.

Uhura
Let’s just skip the moral implications this time.

One year later

Captain Kirk
We are gathered to rechristen the USS Enterprise and remember all those who we lost,until I saved the day and learnt humility. Whilst being awesome.

Starfleet command
Just get out of here kid.

Captain Kirk
Ok. Space the final frontier… This is so cool that I finally get to say the lines.

Fin


Copyright © Nathan Groves http://wondersandparodies.blogspot.com/
This Work Is Not To Be Reproduced With Out Permission.

Wednesday, 6 July 2011

Reasons to Love Rather Than Hate Star Trek XI





With all of the criticism this movie received from some Star Trek fans. I’ve written this to point out why it’s a great viewing experience. Not just as a movie but as part of the Star Trek legacy.

Firstly and  most importantly

The movie was supported by both Majel Barrett and Leonard Nimoy. They wouldn’t have participated unless they liked it. Nimoy turned down a role in Generations for example. Both of them were with Star Trek from its original pilot and were the best qualified to judge.

Affectionate use of old Star Trek clichés

You have to smile at the familiar lines and the use of a red shirt.

Abandonment of tired Star Trek clichés

  1. The Enterprise is not the only ship in range. 7 ships go to meet the Narada and there is an explanation for why there are not more.
  2. Lack of technobable, technology is there to facilitate the plot not to solve it.
  3. Overuse of the transporter. For once the transporter isn’t an easy solution and has a sense of danger attached to it. When was the last time it was used in as exciting a way as it was over Vulcan?
Engaging characters

The interaction between Kirk, Spock and McCoy feel true to the how I remembered them. They are all interesting to watch and faithful to the original crew. For the first time since Star Trek IV each character also go their moment to shine.  Even Chekov and Uhura, who were regularly just named back ground characters with a few lines.

Great music

The sound track is stirring and the main theme strikes just the right balance of being new yet keeping the Star Trek feel.

Great action

Not many space scenes have been so fun to watch. With battles that are fast yet also make sense. Being the first movie since the motion picture to have a decent budget they definitely used the money well.

Good acting

After some of the shocking performences we have seen in Star Trek over the years they managed to do a good job when casting this movie.



Skydive

A fantastic scene which shows the makers trying something different with Trek.

New Enterprise

The Enterprise has changed but it’s no more drastic than the change that happened when the ship was brought to the big screen. The Enterprise in Star Trek: The motion picture may as well have been a new ship. The creators of Star Trek XI did a good job with the latest design managing to stay true to the original style. They also introduced the glass windscreen which makes a lot of sense considering the location of a star fleet bridge. Now watching the other Trek shows I often think this. It would have helped in a lot of stories.

The uniforms

Did anyone honestly think they could pull off the original costumes in a way that didn’t look cheap and unbelievable on the big screen?



Genuinely funny

Definitely an area the TNG outings fell flat in this movie has some great lines.

Characters listen to music which isn't Classical or Jazz

The bar scene was very refreshing as we see that a positive view of the future doesn't have to ban club music.

Proper use of time travel

With all the complaints made about the plot people forget one important thing. The time travel wasn’t under anyone’s control it happened by accident! This avoided many of the pit falls that plagued Star Trek Voyager and Star Trek Enterprise. It wasn’t used as a magic trick which could allow characters to do what they liked and try again if they failed. It ine of the main reasons people hate the movie but its use is far more effective than in many Star Trek stories.

The shot of the Enterprise rising above Titan

One of the best ship shots in any of the Star Treks.
The best compliment I can give this movie is that it took me back to my childhood. It felt like I was watching classic Star Trek again. A feeling I haven’t had since Trials and Tribulations. The director JJ Abrams and the writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman are clearly fond of Star Trek being loyal to what its about. They have also rediscovered the raw excitement and cowboy style that has been lost over the years. It will hopefully have saved Trek the way Wrath of Khan had.



Copyright © Nathan Groves http://wondersandparodies.blogspot.com/
This Work Is Not To Be Reproduced With Out Permission.