Review: Star Trek, The Movie

Star Trek with product placement is not Star Trek, writes André Szczepanski.

It started off fairly well. In the opening sequence, we witnessed the introduction of the main antagonist, the birth of Star Trek’s poster boy and the beginning of a chain of events that would lead to the major plot line.

The character development began in next scene, in which a young James T. Kirk is seen stealing a sports car. I could see that he was a rebel, a kid that didn’t respect authority, and didn’t let anyone control his life.

It was all looking very hopeful – I was even thinking that it might turn out to be a decent film after all. That is, until I saw Kirk press a button on a mobile phone that said ‘Nokia’ in big, glaring letters. This betrayal, of sorts, really represents the rest of the movie as a whole.

The plotline basically consisted of “evil ship comes from future to destroy earth”. The science behind said plot is even worse – the ship uses a theoretical substance called “red matter” to create a quantum singularity (black hole) at the centre of the planet.

The plot never becomes anything more than that. Basic character interactions are added in for kicks – for example, Kirk and Spock hate each other at the start, and become friends by the end. The other major Star Trek characters see little serious character development, and are basically used for cheap laughs. Uhura’s romance with Spock seems so poorly planned that one can’t help thinking that the writers added it in as an afterthought.

Most of the emphasis seems to have been placed on the special effects and the environments. To give credit where credit is due, the special effects might appeal to a select band of people who like eye candy and loud sounds.

However, diehard Star Trek fans will find that most of the characteristic trademarks of the TV shows and previous films, such as the transporters, phasers, warp drive and their respective sounds, have changed so much that the film has lost that “Star Trek feel”.

Furthermore, Abrams decided that he would, to explain the various anomalies scattered throughout the film, provide an explanation in the form of an alternate reality. In my books, this amounts to an “and then he woke up” kind of scenario – a cop-out.

It seems that the director J.J. Abrams, had decided long ago that to attract new viewers, the new film had to differentiate itself from classic Star Trek. However, in doing this, he has created something that is so foreign that is it unlikely to attract Trekkies, and so devoid of substance that it is unlikely to draw new audiences.

Star Trek is now showing at all major cinemas.

Heroes to be renewed

NBC has announced that popular drama television show Heroes will be renewed, allaying fears that the show would be cancelled.

After season two was cut short due to the writers’ strike, many critics commented that Heroes had lost its edge, and that the plotline has lost direction.

Heroes details the stories of a group of men and women with superhuman powers, and their battle to be accepted in a world filled with fear and persecution.

NBC executives insist that the show was “never in any danger”.

Battlestar Galactica stuff auctioned off

NBC Universal and Propworx have decided to auction all remaining Battlestar Galactica props off, after the series ended last week.

The action will be held from May 8-10, at the Pasadena Convention Center – some proceeds will go to The United Way.

Some members of the cast and crew will also be present to answer questions, including Grace Park, Michael Trucco and Kate Vernon, who played Sharon Valerii, Samuel T. Anders and Ellen Tigh, respectively.

“We have really put together a fantastic experience for fans and collectors,” Kurt Ford, VP of production services says. “We know that everyone who joins us… will have a chance to own a piece of a very unique show.”

More can be seen at http://www.battlestarprops.com/.

Star Trek vs. Star Wars – DMP Edition

Here is something that I really enjoyed.

Review: Battlestar Galactica

The world is afflicted with many illnesses – terrorism, war, global warming, politicians, and possibly religion, depending on which way you look at it. We see these sicknesses everyday, on television, in the newspapers, by word of mouth. We are, in effect, surrounded by human folly. The human race has, nevertheless, fought to survive over the ages – and has done so.

Battlestar Galactica (BSG) is a constant roller-coaster of a ride, which grapples with the most fundamental problems with the human condition in every single episode. The issues which are explored are amazingly relevant – so much so that the creators and two of the main actors were invited to address the United Nations concerning their outlook on humanity.

It’s funny that one of humanity’s greatest fears is of sentient robots betraying their human masters and destroying the world. This is precisely what happens in BSG – and this happens right in the first episode. The rest of the series is about a rag-tag band of fifty thousand humans fighting to survive.

The greater plot of humanity’s fight for survival versus innumerable Cylon forces is really just a vehicle, a plot device. The real onus is on the relationships between the characters and the way they deal with each situation that is thrown at them. In BSG, the characters make the show what it is.

Don’t get me wrong, there is plenty of action around every corner. Every minute is so intense, either emotionally or visually, and often both. Battlestar Galactica has a very distinctive shot style – the camera has a handheld feel, leaving the viewer feeling as though they were actually there. The camera is also constantly zooming, as though looking through the scope of a gun.

All aspects are carefully orchestrated to create a tight, complete package that rarely lets up at any point throughout the series. In what was supposed to be his final speech aboard the Battlestar Galactica, Commander William Adama says “Sooner or later, the day comes when you can’t hide from what you’ve done anymore.” By the end of the series, you will find yourself thinking the same thing about humanity today.

Stargate Universe to feature familiar faces

Stargate Universe, the third continuation of the 1994 film, will most likely feature stars of the two previous series in guest appearances, says the SciFi Channel.

Former actors such as Richard Dean Anderson, Amanda Tapping and Michael Shanks will reprise their Stargate SG-1 roles, with the move being widely regarded as a way to have the new series accepted by veteran fans.

Stargate Universe will differ from the previous two series, SG-1 and Atlantis, in that it will be primarily based in space, and on the interactions between characters on a single ship.

Additionally, the new series will not be a spinoff of SG-1, as Atlantis was. Rather, it will feature a new story that will only refer to pre-established canon, rather than relying on it.

Stargate producers Brad Wright and Robert C. Cooper have described Universe as being “a completely seperate, third entity” and “darker” than the previous shows.

Stargate Atlantis began filming in February, and is due to air in October.

Caprica lined up as prequel to Battlestar Galactica

After a successful pilot, the SciFi Channel has announced that Caprica will run for at least 20 episodes in 2009.

Caprica details the lives of the Greystone and Adama families, and is set before the events of the 2003 remake of Battlestar Galactica.

The Greystones are the family who brought Cylon artificial intelligence technology to the forefront, and the Adamas go on to lead the human race after the devastating attacks of the second Cylon war.

It has also been revealed that Caprica will be released on DVD a full eight months before its release on television.

You can see Caprica on DVD from April 21.