He's Right | Report this post to moderator
By: timmer33 (Odo's file, contact) @ 12:56:12 on Sep 26, 2008

The Original Series did make mistakes --- contradicting things that had been done in earlier episodes. I remember one in which phaser beams shot out of the wrong place on the ship ...

Man, I just realized how geeky that sounds ... gotta go.

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Campy in what way? | Report this post to moderator
By: Hbasm (Odo's file, contact) @ 08:41:40 on Sep 26, 2008 | (1)

Why is Abrams using the word "campy" or "insane" while talking about the starships? They are one of the best things in Trek, and used to be one of its greatest attractions. The aliens on the other hand are sometimes unreal to the point of being ridiculous. They may be campy, and worthy of reevaluation. But not the pointy ears. Just the universal translator, and the alien body langauge is sometimes too much of a stretch.

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Refreshing perceptive comment - in my opinion - by Abrams | Report this post to moderator
By: zak (Odo's file, contact) @ 22:26:28 on Sep 25, 2008

For a welcome change, (by that, I mean an article other than one ranting on about how Bill Shatner wishes that somehow he were in the new film), I think Abrams comments above are quite perceptive, honestly introspective and refreshing. To have said what he says above, he has to have a pretty good understanding of not only Star Trek as it has evolved, but what he is attempting as well. (That might sound like something obvious, but I think that all too often, filmakers don't really have that clear an idea of what they're trying to do on too many level - many times they do, but many many times they don't. But then, that's also not an easy thing to be aware of).

My point, in any event, is just that it was quiteinteresting to read his comments re trying to make the film 'feel real'.

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DS9 will never be surpassed by Abrams | Report this post to moderator
By: Muldfeld (Odo's file, contact) @ 14:23:49 on Sep 25, 2008 | (1)

Abrams and his hacks will never manage to surpass Start Trek: Deep Space Nine's vital political insight on a range of issues -- from identity politics (Odo could be a Muslim in the West), colonial politics (Bajor has aspects of Nazi, Israeli, and US occupation, let alone the history of Western colonialism toward the poorer areas), terrorism (again Bajorans and the Maquis could be seen as Palestinians, Lebanese, or earlier native Americans), the temptation to violate rights and principles in time of war (Sisko's actions in fighting Paul Eddington, abetting the Federation's genocide of the Founders, bringing the Romulans into the war, his more realistic, unofficial dealings with others, compared to Picard), and the notion that "the other" is just as capable of kindness and cruelty as "us", who identify with the hero (Garak; Gul Dukat's fall from grace in Season 5 hurt the viewer as much as the fall of any hero would; the Dominion wasn't evil but driven by insecurity from a history of persecution to control everything in its surroundings, much like Stalin's occupation of Eastern Europe and Israel's expansion of territory, both with brutality). These and other aspects will never be explored with the intelligence and courage with which Ira Steven Behr lead his staff of writers on DS9.

Ira Steven Behr should have been given this opportunity to helm a Trek film. He helped create in the first 2 seasons and guided an uncompromising masterpiece in the remainder of DS9's run.

Abrams has grown rich from his commercially appealing work, pleasing cynical, money-driven execs at Paramount, but Ira Steven Behr had heart -- and a brilliant sense of humor.

It's so tragic he couldn't continue writing politically insightful, dramatically realistic, innovative characters on The 4400 (which grew into something far more brilliant in Seasons 3 and 4), from which Heroes has stolen so much including the support of NBC.

Long live Ira Steven Behr and his vision.

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