Star Trek (2009): the 15th Anniversary
The Blind Eternities forum
Posted on Nov. 16, 2024, 6:48 p.m. by DemonDragonJ
This year is the fifteenth anniversary of the 2009 Star Trek film, which helped to revive the franchise after several years of inactivity and unpopularity, following the very poor reception of Star Trek: Nemesis in 2002. The film is a clean reboot (or at least appeared to be) of the franchise and its storyline, featuring new incarnations of the cast from the original series and an original plot not related to anything seen in previous stories, with a greater focus on action and adventure, compared to the cerebral nature, thinly-veiled social commentary, and political allegories of the original series, which some viewers felt made it too similar to Star Wars, rather than the original Star Trek series.
Nevertheless, despite the new film's difference in tone, compared to the original series, it was very popular and profitable, helping to re-ignite interest in the franchise and begin a new era of Trekkie fandom, as the film had two sequels, forming a trilogy, and numerous television series have since been produced. Interestingly, all of the new television series are set within the original continuity, and the reboot trilogy seems to have largely been forgotten, by now, which is unfortunate, since that trilogy is what helped to revive the franchise, initially (although, of course, the continuity in the original timeline was not always clearly defined, either).
I have been a fan of Star Trek for many years, and, although I am slightly more of a fan of Star Wars than I am of Star Trek, I still am very fond of Star Trek, and I recognize its significance in popular culture, and society, overall, so I certainly enjoyed the new movie, as well, although I am rather disappointed that it seems to have been forgotten, as it was the installment that helped to revive the franchise. One major complaint that I have about the film is that
spoilers Show
What does everyone else say, about this? What are your thoughts about this year being the 15th anniversary of the 2009 Star Trek film?
I'm a huge fan of older star treks, especially TNG, and the new movies are always just a popcorn movie to me. There's a lot that's good there, and the cast is fun, but I feel like it's a big cast of characters that doesn't develop enough in just movie form. Older star treks got so much time for you to be with these characters and learn their quirks, and every character always had their episode to shine, but the new movies feels like it's really relying on you knowing the original characters, and I just don't buy this this kirk is that kirk, or any other character.
I guess I think they did a great job making the new cast feel new and refreshing, while also keeping their core intact, but they just can't make anything feel as big as the old shows because they are too busy making essentially long form episodes.
But maybe too, I might not be the target, because I liked Nemesis : ) Sure there were bad parts, but the culmination of Data and Picard's mentor relationship was really satisfying. Through the series Picard would go to any lengths to help Data's personal struggle, and at the end Data gets to do anything to help Picard's, and it's the kind of payoff that the JJ movies just can't do.
Mostly I just see the reboot movies as an action fanfic set in the star trek universe, and they are okay for that. Kind of like how Wrath of Khan had nothing to do with nothing, but it was fun.
November 19, 2024 8:23 p.m.
sergiodelrio says... #4
I was kinda disappointed back then when I watched it in the cinema. I would have been ok if it was just a reboot of sorts, but they ended up making so many things inconsequential (see spoilers in op).
Star Trek, as a franchise, should be looking to move into the future with each subsequent iteration. That is literally core of its identity. The next thing to come should be to TNG what TNG was to TOS. And I know that's easier said than done, but that's how it would shine.
Heck, next thing they'll geenlight will prolly be a prequel set in the 1960's or something, geez.
PS: The alternate timeline is held by different copyright holders and that's part of the reason you still see other products from the original timeline. Not an expert on the topic, but you should find more info online easily if interested.
November 20, 2024 8:08 a.m. Edited.
Funny story about this movie. I'm a huge Trekkie and so is one of my oldest friends (none of our other friends are really into it). When the movie came out he was in the middle of a year-long deployment to Iraq.
A couple weeks after the movie came out I got a call from his wife asking if I would be around so he could call me in 30 minutes. She said it was important but didn't say why he needed to talk to me. After she hung up I got nervous about why he needed to call me right then. Was he okay? Had he been wounded or something? I was getting worried about him when he finally called.
Why had he called? To bitch about a whole bunch of continuity issues in the Star Trek movie. He'd totally missed the bit about the alternate timeline and when I brought that up he totally got it and thought it was an okay movie. But it was super funny that he called me up to talk about a Star Trek movie from half-way around the globe.
November 20, 2024 5:38 p.m.
Yeah, I actually liked Nemesis, & how it ended with little baby-sketch Data with a little ghost in the machine. Also, really bizarre to see Tom Hardy as he was then.
As a fan of Western's & exploring frontiers + the absurdity (anything is possible) idea with the cosmos I enjoy Star Trek quite a bit.
The continuity was crazy in Star Trek, as those writers were doing things with that concept that no one was doing at the time in television. Also, very neat how they could fit continuity between a Star Trek movie & the show... Like Captain Cisco being such a big figure at the Wolf 359 massacre & hating on Picard for that. They actually did Easter Egg some continuity between Star Trek the new movie & one of the newer less popular ones because if I remember right there is a giant chasm perfectly carved into the American midwest from time-traveling (Xindi), where they lasered the midwest. Anyway, Captain Kirk launches his car right off the edge of that chasm in the middle of Iowa I think.
I enjoyed the newer Star Trek movies, as well as the older ones, just for different reasons. The ship combat & frenetic pacing, as well as all the rapid-action officer roles are fun in the new ones. The poignant moments & really good custom classical music compositions are great in the old ones. Heck, I really loved Generations which is a whole lot of dialogue.
FormOverFunction says... #2
I grew up watching all the reruns of the original series, so I’ve been a fan all my life. I saw this movie in the theater and thought it was just okay. As many of you have heard me say before; restrictions make the game. The availability of great cgi seemed to outshine the availability of an enjoyable story, leaving me with a ‘meh’ position on the whole thing. Star Trek movies always struck me as a little off-balance anyways, though, because I was so attached to the episodic monster-of-the-week dynamic. I chalked it up as another movie that wasn’t really made for me and skipped the subsequent ones. Strange New Worlds seemed like a great swerve back towards the Star Trek that I appreciate.
November 17, 2024 6:44 p.m.