My Favorite Scene: Star Trek V-The Final Frontier (1989) “Camping With Spock”

Earlier this week, we lost one of the greatest science fiction actors in the history of the medium if not THE best.  That’s not to ignore decades of other acting Leonard Nimoy did or his accomplished career as a director (and his rather hilarious career as a singer), but even he made his peace with the fact that his life’s work would most be associated with The Enterprise’s Vulcan First Officer.

Last year, before Star Trek XII (Into Darkness) was released, we examined six out of the eight Trek films that Nimoy was in, so if I wanted to tribute him here this week (and clearly I did), I was reduced to Star Treks one and five.  People will debate the first Star Trek film, but I have yet to find anyone who can mount a convincing argument for Star Trek V.  The Enterprise meets up with Spock’s heretofore unmentioned brother who takes them to a planet where “God” is imprisoned (quotation marks indicating not the Almighty).  It was an utter and complete mess, probably not helped by the fact that William Shatner was directing it and the rest of the original cast hates his guts.

BUT…..but, even in the worst of films there can still be great scenes.  The film opens and closes with Kirk, Bones and Spock camping on a vacation.  It’s a fantastic character piece of just letting these three old friends be and letting the camera roll.  Thanks for all the memories, Leonard.  Live long and prosper.

Star Trek Into Darkness – Blu Ray/DVD Date and Details

 

I haven’t typically been reporting on Blu Ray/DVD news, but it occurs to me that as the big summer releases start to announce when they’ll be pillaging our wallets again, that I should pass along release dates and goodies that will be accompanying the year’s big films.

I really liked Star Trek Into Darkness (if you want to read my original review: http://wp.me/p36nPa-Cf) and, despite the problems I had with the back third of the movie, I thought it was a blast and I’ll definitely be adding this to my Blu Ray library when it hits stores on September 10th.  JJ Abrams was very invested in making the Blu Ray a worthwhile purchase for the fans and talked about some of the things in the set.  I’ll follow his quote with the official release specs for the special features (which is what we really want to know about).

“I’m excited for viewers at home to check out Star Trek Into Darkness on Blu-ray and DVD,” said J.J. Abrams. “They did a great job and I’m thrilled with how everything looks and sounds. We also have some really fun behind-the-scenes special features that we shot on the Red and created entirely in-house at Bad Robot. They really look amazing and unlike anything I’ve seen on DVD or Blu-ray before.” Abrams added “I hope fans enjoy seeing the process that went into making the movie and the truly amazing work of our most spectacular cast and crew.”

The Star Trek Into Darkness Blu-ray/DVD and Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD combo packs with UltraViolet™ are bursting with behind-the-scenes material detailing how the filmmakers delivered a rousing epic filled with both spectacle and soul. For the first time, the special features included in the combo packs were produced entirely by Abrams’
Bad Robot Productions and captured in spectacular high quality on Red Epic cameras for a uniquely intimate perspective of the filmmakers’ process.

Blu-ray Special Features:
– Feature film in high definition
– Creating the Red Planet – Experience the creation of a never-before-seen alien world, as featured in the action-packed opening sequence of the film.
– Attack on Starfleet – Go behind the scenes with the cast and filmmakers and witness the creation of the shocking attack on Starfleet Headquarters.
– The Klingon Home World – Discover the stunning world of Kronos, and see how the filmmakers reinvented the Klingons for a new generation.
– The Enemy of My Enemy – Find out how, and why, the identity of the film’s true villain was kept a mystery to the very end.
– Ship to Ship – An in-depth and thrilling look at the filming of the iconic space jump sequence, which both defied the laws of physics and pushed the limits of visual effects.
– Brawl by the Bay – Sit in with Zachary Quinto and Benedict Cumberbatch as they revisit their intense preparation for the film’s breathtaking climax.
– Continuing the Mission – An inspiring look at the partnership between the film’s crew and the organization that assists returning veterans to find meaningful ways to contribute on the home front.

Amazing Posters for the Original Star Trek Movies

These six outstanding posters were created by Matt Ferguson.  As Star Trek: Into Darkness is only 9 days off now, here’s a gorgeous look back at the original crew’s adventures onscreen.
Star Trek: The Motion Picture
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

JJ Abrams on the Future of Star Trek and Star Wars

JJ Abrams is hard at work promoting Star Trek: Into Darkness and sat down to talk about that movie, Star Wars Episode VII and the possibility of a third Star Trek film.

“I learned so much doing the first Star Trek—a movie. I’d never done any kind of space adventure before or anything on that scale. We knew the second one had to be bigger and not just for bigger’s sake. It was where the story was taking us. We got really cool glimpses of the Enterprise in the first movie. This time we get to see areas of the ship nobody’s seen before. And the villain is more complex now. In our first film Eric Bana plays a wonderfully angry Romulan dude, pissed off and full of vengeance. In this one, the bad guy is still brutal and fierce, but he’s got a much more interesting and active story. We have to grapple with many layers of his character. He’s essentially a space terrorist, and Benedict Cumberbatch, whom people know from BBC’s Sherlock, is kickass in the role. Kirk and the rest of the crew are figuring out how the hell to get an upper hand with this guy. The darkness is real in this movie, and it’s incredibly challenging and terrifying, and it can certainly be lethal. You need that edge, partly because Star Trek has been so relentlessly parodied over the years.”

“The worlds are vastly different. Honestly, that was why I passed on Star Wars to begin with. I couldn’t imagine doing both. But when I said that my loyalty was to Star Trek I was literally working on finishing this cut. I couldn’t even entertain another thought. It was like being on the most beautiful beach in the world and someone saying, “There’s this amazing mountain over here. Come take a look.” I couldn’t balance the two, so I passed on Star Wars.”

“I was near the light at the end of the tunnel with my work on Star Trek. I felt I needed a bit of a breather, actually. But then Kathleen Kennedy [the new Lucasfilm head who oversees Star Wars] called again. I’ve known her for years. We had a great conversation, and the idea of working with her on this suddenly went from being theoretical and easy to deny to being a real, tangible, thrilling possibility. In the end it was my wife, Katie, who said if it was something that really interested me, I had to consider it.”

“As with anything, because these are very different worlds, they shouldn’t feel the same aesthetically. They can’t. You’re right. But again, I don’t apply aesthetics first and fit a movie into that aesthetic. If I had come into Star Trek with those eyes, I would probably have been paralyzed. The advantage here is that we still have George Lucas with us to go to and ask questions and get his feedback on things, which I certainly will do. With Star Trek it was harder because I wasn’t a Star Trek fan; I didn’t have the same emotional feeling, and I didn’t have Gene Roddenberry to go to. But I came to understand the world of Star Trek, and I appreciated what fans felt and believed about this universe and this franchise.”

Star Wars Episode VII is slated for summer 2015, Star Trek: Into Darkness opens May 17th and Abrams did not close the door on returning to the Enterprise.

“I would say it’s a possibility. We’re trying to figure out the next step. But it’s like anything: It all begins with the story.”

New Star Trek Into Darkness Poster and Trailer Date

Ok, now they’re just taunting us.  This movie has had five trailers and four posters.  RELEASE IT UNTO US!  Salivate over this image of the Enterprise while we wait for the NEXT trailer on Tuesday.