The Enterprise Re-launched

The new Star Trek movie opened this weekend. Actually, a few theaters here (and probably elsewhere) opened it a little bit early--like the night before it was scheduled to start. I suppose they figured they wanted to get a jump start on the crowds that are sure to come out for this feature.

I must admit that, even though I'm big fan of the Star Trek franchise, when I first heard about this movie I was skeptical. Re-casting all of the roles? Going back to the very beginning, the Star Fleet Acadamy days, before the crew had been brought together? The whole idea just didn't strike me as being that interesting. My initial reaction was, "Well, there's one movie I'll skip."

I must confess that I've changed my mind. For one thing, every review that I've read or heard has absolutely raved about the movie. The worst thing I've heard said is that it's "a little slow" in spots early on.

The other thing was the fact that J. J. Abrams was attached to the film and would be directing. J. J. Abrams is the man behind such TV series as Alias, Lost, and Fringe. All of these are shows that I enjoy, and all of them have had some sci-fi elements to them. If he could bring that same touch to the new Star Trek, then the movie would definitely be worth checking out.

There's no question that it will be the biggest grossing movie this weekend, probably blowing the competition away and getting the "Summer blockbuster season" off to a great start. The buzz and the word-of-mouth on the movie is quite good, and the publicity wheels are turning like crazy.

As part of the publicity push, Leonard Nimoy--the original Mr. Spock from the TV series--appeared on The David Letterman Show a few nights ago to read the "Top Ten List Of Lines Never Before Said In A "Star Trek" film". I have re-printed the list below, starting with number 10:

10. Warp factor 8! Arby's closes in 10 minutes.

9. We're entering a breach in the space-time continuum or a wormhole or some crazy crap like that.

8. Set phasers to "fabulous".

7. Welcome aboard the Starship Enterprise--today's in-flight movie is "Big Momma's House 2".

6. We've been hijacked by Somali pirates.

5. Sir, I'm going to need Saturday off to attend my nephew's Bar Mitzvah.

4. My baby-daddy is a Vulcan--on the next "Maury".

3. The Enterprise just hit a goose--we're gonna have to land in the Hudson.

2. Live long, prosper, and keep on hangin' and bangin'.

And the Number 1 Line Never Before Said In A "Star Trek" Film is:

1. I find your choice of hairpiece highly illogical.

And while we're on the subject, here's a picture of the Number 1 Scene Never Before Seen In A "Star Trek" Film And Probably Never Will Be:

Too bad--but dammit, Jim, I'm a doctor, not a screenwriter!