Star Trek

I watched the remake of Star Trek last night, and I have to say that I really dug it. I’m sure the researchers on set would be pinpointing the exact specifications for every terminal and every LED light. I wonder how they found their reserachers? Imagine asking “Who’s the biggest fan?” at a Trekkie convention. Is it just me, or was Leonard Nimoy (Old Spock) in the film longer than Zachary Quinto (New Spock)?

I can see a lot of fans from the original disliking the new film, but this is the same sort of process that happened with Star Wars. In fact, it must have to do with galaxies in general.

The first three Star Wars films (Episodes 4, 5 and 6 for the younger crowd) remain a pinnacle of cinema for sci-fi fans. Watching them again, you get a sense of reliving that special moment that you felt a child. But relishing in this childhood memory can taint future projects. Imagine you loved going to a local amusement park when you were a kid, but you moved away to another city or country, and didn’t get to go back until you were a mature adult.

Upon returning to your old town, you find the amusement park still running, and the rides have been given a heavy dosage of funds and have been improved. That rickety wooden roller coaster that you thought would snap at any moment now has water fountains shooting at you as you ride down the adamantium steel tracks. The tiny bumper cars have been replaced with motorized go-karts, and the ferris wheel seems to have eaten its vegetables and grown twice the size. But you’re absolutely devastated that someone made changes to the place and ruined your childhood memories.

Jar Jar Binks

Enter Star Wars: Episode 1.

This film was designed to be one of the three prequels leading up to the original films. George Lucas is a very, very wealthy man with a lot of wealth behind him, and now he can throw bags of money into special effects, costuming, sound, the works. You will struggle to find a hardcore fan of the original to like the first.

Star Wars was intended as an adventure in space that the whole family could enjoy, and was made with the intention of pleasing audiences young and old. Imagine the pressure faced with all those young fans, who have grown old and very, very sceptical of a new film.

Albeit some parts of the film could have improved (like the script), but a lot of people were missing the point of the Star Wars films: It was designed for kids too. Space, aliens, laser guns, everything appealed to kids. I remember pretending to use sticks as lightsabers. I bet you have the Lightsaber application on your iPhone.

The point is the dangers of remakes and continuation of old stories. People thought the fantastic upgrade of production value on the new Star Wars ruined the series. They thought Jar Jar was useless.

Actually, yeah I wasn’t the biggest fan either.

But you have to admit, the pod races were pretty awesome. I remember being in the cinema when it came out, and feeling the bass when Sebulba zoomed past with that heavy ‘Chug chug’ noise. I bet kids LOVED seeing that!

I never jumped into Star Trek to become a Trekkie, but I do know about the intensity of fans. I was like that with Firefly(…*sniff*). When you love something so much, anything new or different is considered less than equal automatically. Joss Whedon went on to make Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog and Dollhouse, which I’ve come to love dearly.

I’m not asking Star Trek fans to give up their love for the series, but to be hopeful of this passing of the baton. Have you compared the special effects between the two? Huge difference!

Heck, I’ve heard Shatner’s keen to be in the second film. That would be the ‘crème de la crème’ to let the old cast rest. Shatner was born for two roles: James T. Kirk, and Denny Crane.

“Damnit Jim! I’m a doctor, not a physicist!”
- Dr. McCoy