Star Trek Into Darkness

Well this is of course a new 2013 film but the Star Trek series both TV and film have conections with the fifties film era.

Originally Jeffrey Hunter who had quite a career in films throughout the fifties, had taken the lead in the famous TV series.

 

He was “Christopher Pike”, captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise, in the original “Star Trek” pilot in 1964. However, when an undecided NBC requested a second pilot in early 1965, Hunter declined, having decided to concentrate on his film career, instead.  Producer Gene Roddenberry, after hearing the news, wrote to Hunter, “I am told you have decided not to go ahead with “Star Trek”. This has to be your own decision, of course, and I must respect it”, and then asked Hunter if he would come back for “one day or two of shooting an additional action opening which can result in a fast, tightly cut, exciting film release”.  However Hunter, who had a six-month exclusive contract for the series lead, declined that request, too.

Footage from the first pilot was later incorporated into a two-part episode in “Star Trek” (1966)’s first season. (Roddenberry later tried to give the impression that it was he who decided not to rehire Hunter for the second pilot. But as executive producer Herbert F. Solow pointed out, major casting decisions for the series were made by Desilu and NBC executives, not the producer).

So the rest is – as they say – history and we then got William Shatner as Captain Kirk – and what a success he was in the role and in the series too.

This was a role he played on TV throughout the late fifties  –  and then after quite a while the films hit the big cinema screen to great success.

In 1961, Shatner had landed parts in two films, “The Intruder,” where he plays a rabble-rouser traveling from one Southern town to another, getting people to riot against court-ordered school integration. It was later released under the titles, “I Hate Your Guts!” and “Shame.” Shatner also appeared in “Judgment at Nuremberg.”
Then came the role for which he is undoubtedly best known: Captain James T. Kirk on Star Trek.   Unfortunately, during the three years that Star Trek series ran, Shatner not only separated from his wife, but lost his father, as well.
Following the cancellation of Star Trek on NBC in 1969, Shatner went on to star in seven Star Trek films, make appearances in countless television series (including several long-running non-Star Trek series in which he played a leading role—TJ Hooker and Rescue 911, among them).  Over the years, the actor’s self-assertive sense of humor has come to define his career, and even translated into the personality of his Emmy Award-winning character, Attorney Denny Crane, of The Practice and Boston Legal. He also made such films as “Sole Survivor,” and the Sherlock Holmes classic, “The Hound of the Baskervilles.” Guest appearances on series like The Sixth Sense, Barnaby Jones, and Hawaii Five-O kept him in the public eye.  In addition, Shatner has written numerous fiction and non-fiction books in and out of the Star Trek vein.

Star Trek Into Darkness 2013  – and this time in 3D.

 

The Review below is a really good one :-

Truly spectacular, one of those rare amazing, inventive and often unpredictable blockbusters. The acting was great all round, especially Cumberbatch – who was superb. The direction, cinematography and visual effects were all greatly innovative and brilliant; the screenplay fun, often humorous and has a lot of heart for all its characters which are all really well developed.
The villain was very interesting and the development, dialogue and motivations of his character were very convincing and inventive, Cumberbatch’s fantastic acting greatly helped bring this character to life. Also the way he executed his plan showed a lot more cutting edge creativity than especially most modern blockbusters, not to say it’s done nearly to the same level of genius but something I haven’t felt in a villain’s characterisation/acting since The Dark Knight.
Overall, a mesmerising film with nice homages to the original series, one filled with heart, grace, innovation, superb characters and acting and some impressive, clever visuals and immersive 3D. Up there with the 2009 one, not sure which I prefer, possibly the previous one largely due to the more clever story, despite this one having a much better villain, still not sure though. Still a very strongly recommended film.

and also this review I have seen :-

The previous Star Trek movie is a tough one to beat. It was close to perfection (lens flares and all). So this movie had a tough up-hill battle ahead of it. I am happy to report that the writing, direction, cinematography and acting were all at least as good as the last one.
Cumberbatch is brilliant. I won’t divulge any spoilers, but I will say that the throw back to the earlier movies is very very clever and well executed. It is hard to find fault with this movie, particularly as it had very big shoes to fill. But it does so brilliant and effortlessly. The added depth we see in the characters of Kirk and Spock is icing on an already delicious cake!
Well done JJ, producers, actors, writers and musicians. This is one of the very few movies I have ever given full marks, and deservedly so.

Now view the trailer :-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=yhz4A5BCMAA

 

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