To Boldly Go Where Someone Has Kind Of Gone Before
When I first heard about the new Star Trek movie, I was highly sceptical. I was concerned that after the lack of enthusiasm over Voyager and the horrible failure of Enterprise (itself a reboot attempt) most of the original franchise would be considered an unprofitable dead end. I feared that a “re-imagining” would throw most of it away, dilute the high-tech space opera elements until they were barely visible, and produce a mainstream-friendly near-future BSG-alike barely recognisable as Star Trek. But I didn’t have that much emotional investment in the original series (Picard and Sisko are my captains!), and the first reviews I heard were positive, so I was cautiously optimistic when I went to see the movie tonight.
It was wonderful — I loved every moment of it. Even the time travel managed not to be obnoxious. I don’t know what a non-Trekkie would make of it, but I don’t think fans of Star Trek will be disappointed. The remake stays close to the spirit of the original — it strips away the sixties cheese, and leaves behind the best parts. The special effects are updated, but the technology is the same. The characters are recognisably the same characters. The dialogue is good. There’s something interesting happening in every scene and there is no dead weight, but the movie does not feel rushed or badly cut. There are lots of cute little references for Trek fans to pick up on, but there’s no excessive reliance on familiarity with the canon. The main plot neatly sets the stage for a remake which can go in completely unexpected directions not limited by the original canon history: it’s the same universe, but a different timeline.
On the way back in the car Hodgestar and I discussed how a remake TV series could be sustained successfully, and do interesting new things in the Star Trek universe without straying too far away to remain Star Trek. I think the answer lies in revisiting old concepts and redoing them in ways which were previously impossible because of inadequate special effects. We can now do aliens and alien worlds properly — a remake would have the opportunity to explore alien-heavy storylines and do the visuals justice. No more bumpy-foreheaded dudes in pastel pyjamas on interchangeable dusty desert lots.
I would love a new TV series, but I’ll settle for a few more movies like this.
Buy someone a cow
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