Pine, Quinto et al Ace New Star Trek Movie
Ten Hints Why J.J. Abrams' Entry Belongs in the Canon
May 11, 2009
The fans, old and new, stormed the theaters. The reviewers were full of praise. But does the newly released Star Trek movie – which proposes to take balky Trekkers back to a reimagined 23rd-century beginning – belong in the Trek canon?
Here's a resounding “yes” vote. It's tough to explain without spoiling the thrill many a Trek fan will feel upon first viewing director J.J. Abrams' creation. But here are 10 clues as to why the new first voyage of the Enterprise NCC-1701 (“no bloody A, B, C, D or E”) is winning many Trekkers' hearts while proving its fidelity to the series continuity that makes life observing the Federation so fun:
- It actually enhances the womanizer reputation of James T. Kirk (now played by Chris Pine) while remembering (as the late Star Trek:Enterprise series of 2001-05 did not) how The Original Series of 1966-69 managed, despite the censors, to be mature and family-friendly at once.
- The good people of Riverside, Iowa, adopted Kirk as their hometown boy years ago. They, too, have been admitted to the canon. Listen closely for the proof.
- Remember Kirk's brother, George Samuel Kirk (“Only you call him Sam” -- Kirk android double, “What Are Little Girls Made Of?”)? No, he isn't in the movie. But now we know where Sam got his first name.
- Three actors (excluding Leonard Nimoy) have had significant big-screen face time. But try to spot Karl Urban (Eomer, “The Lord of the Rings”), Ben Cross (Harold Abrahams, “Chariots of Fire”) and Winona Ryder (“Edward Scissorhands,” “Little Women,” “Mermaids,” etc.) – without looking at IMDb or its like before entering the theater.
- Of course Trekkers know why Dr. Leonard McCoy (Who played him? See previous hint) joined Starfleet, but you never heard it in the 79 ST:TOS episodes or the original cast's six movies. Now we have.
- Before flipping out about the “new” relationship between Spock (Zachary Quinto) and his father Sarek (again, see previous hint), ask: What if what happens to them in the new movie had happened the first time around?
- Trekkers ought to remember the planet where Kirk (and two other ST:TOS characters) wind up stranded, even though it's in the winter. (Not that summer was that great there.)
- It helps to have all those ST:TOS episodes from which to learn. Even so, the new “old” Enterprise crew proves that, TV expectations aside, actors can become familiar characters even if they aren't the first actors to play them.
- With the most profound respect to William Shatner, it's hard to see how his Kirk could have fit into this new picture. You're dead, Jim – back on Veridian III, remember?
- Finally, Nimoy's Spock is most emphatically not out of place in the new movie – and the reason why also answers a major unresolved question from the last time we saw him. (Think about the TV two-parter “Unification” and the movie Star Trek: Nemesis from the Star Trek: The Next Generation storyline. Given why the 24th-century Spock was up to then, how could he associate with Romulans at all without being in irons?)
Star Trek, at least on film, appeared dead for good after the premature demise of the Enterprise series. How silly. As our teacher Mr. Spock was – is – fond of saying, there are always possibilities. As Harve Bennett recognized them with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, so has Abrams with the new Star Trek. Welcome aboard. Take us out!
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