Wed Nov 12, 2008 — by Robert Greenberger

First Look at 'Star Trek''s U.S.S. Enterprise Plus Footage Reviewed

British Journalists Love What They Saw

In what is becoming a new industry trend, British journalists were treated to a look at about 20 minutes of footage from JJ Abrams’ Star Trek coming May 8, 2009.

Additionally, Paramount Pictures provided Entertainment Weekly with the first good look at the revamped U.S.S. Enterprise.

In providing the image, Abrams spoke about watching Star Trek: The Motion Picture in 1979. "The coolest thing about it — maybe the coolest thing in the movie — was when you flew around the ship, you could see all the different panels that made up the ship," he told the magazine. "It was the first time I had ever seen that level of attention, that love of detail, given to the tangible, practical reality of the ship."

Abrams went on to say, "If you're going to do Star Trek there are many things you cannot change. The Enterprise is a visual touchstone for so many people. So if you're going to do the Enterprise, it better look like the Enterprise, because otherwise, what are you doing?"

Meantime, Den of Geek and Empire Magazine both provided extensive descriptions of the footage along with commentary.

“A very disarming Abrams himself was there, as was Simon Pegg, the new Scotty; both were on-form but clearly very nervous, and both addressed the gathering, Abrams at length,’ Geek wrote. “ He may be right: the viewing started with the new trailer, which will be in cinemas Friday, followed by four scenes from the movie itself, all complete with polished SFX and scoring.

“And it all looks absolutely amazing.”

Empire wrote “any reservations we may have harbored over JJ Abrams’ reimagining of the franchise have been well and truly beamed away. What we saw was a medley of action, excitement, humor and a true reverence for the franchise that should both appease fans and suck in newcomers.”

Abrams introduced himself and the clips by saying, “The thing about Star Trek is that I was never really a huge fan. When I was asked to do Star Trek, though, I found myself saying ‘yes’. I just thought it was the right thing. There have been 10 movies and about a million series but when the first series came out I always felt it was someone else’s show. I appreciated there was a promise of adventure but quite frankly that’s always what I felt it was: a promise of adventure. It might have been the resources they had doing a TV show – you know, a big adventure going to a cardboard planet, you know? So, the idea of doing this movie where it could feel legitimate and real despite all the stuff that non-fans might thing was silly, was really the challenge.”

The trailer was followed by four sequences starting with a bar fight involving Kirk taking on four fellow Starfleet cadets.

The second sequence is a Kirk-Pike scene as the cadet tries to Pike, currently captain of the Enterprise, of impending danger.

“Abrams prefaced [the third] scene by explaining that Kirk's continuing impulsiveness has forced Spock -- now in command of the Enterprise -- to exile him temporarily on an unnamed location.”

The final scene is set on Vulcan and spotlights Kirk and Sulu in action.

“And that was it,” Empire concluded. “Four clips, some great sequences and action the likes of which the Trek franchise hasn’t seen since First Contact. There is a lot of Trek fans out there with reservations about Abrams’ vision for this film but this is one Trekkie who can’t wait to see the finished film.”

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