Thoughts on new STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS trailer

My initial reaction to the first trailer was one of excitement. And then the second. But then I saw the opening nine minutes thingy online. I hated it. In fact, I started to get scared for the success of this film, in my head at least. People were griping (as they usually do). "This isn't Trek anymore. Trek isn't about vengeance and violence/terrorism." I was kind of seeing their point. But really when you think about it, We've lived with one version of Trek for almost 50 years. We've seen that movie ten times. We've seen 500 episodes and countless comics, books, fan fiction and fan films like that. Why not something new?

This Trek seems to me that it is highly reflective of the post-911 world we live in, where gratuitious violence and terrorism themes are prevalent in all our flicks. We can't unsee it now cause we live it now. And if you think back, what Trek did best was put whatever was going on in the world into their stories and used them as subtext to make comments on it, indirectly. For example, episodes of TOS like "A Private Little War" dealt with the Vietnam War at a time where TV shows weren't allowed to comment on such a thing. There are TNG episodes that deal with Terrorism for a good cause, drug addiction, euthinasia and much more. So why not let this new flick do the same? Perhaps they've channeled into something we had forgot about Trek and its purpose at times.

This new international trailer shows us a lot more (and in the case of Alice Eve as Carol Marcus, A LOT more). And I am very interested as to how this will all unfold. As frustrated as I am about JJ Abrams and his secrets, he's certainly brought the fun back to movies for me. I am reminded of the days where there was no internet and all I had was peeks at Starlog magazines and the occasional TV trailer that played if you watched TV enough. How he does it, I don't know. We are extra annoyed because with today's technology, we are right there in the minute as things are being made and know all the scoops. But this dude keeps the secrets and magic of the movies to himself. I kinda respect him for it. (As much as it frustrates the hell out of me. Just say the villian is KHAN already!!!)

Reasons I am excited for this flick:

1-Benedict Cumberbatch---The dude can act. Just watch SHERLOCK and see that he's a scene stealing bad ass motherfucker. And these trailers just make him look even more bad ass. If anyone can pull off a switcheroo of a role, its him. If he is indeed KHAN with maybe some extra enhancements to alter his appearance, I'm all for it. Why the fuck not. Its exciting.

2-Kirk's evolution---Capt Kirk was always my favorite character. While I dug the first flick, he never felt like "Kirk" to me. I think as the events unfold in this new movie, we'll see him go through some major shit that will develop him into more of the Kirk I am used to. One I can cheer for rather than watch him get his ass kicked 20 times and feel sorry for him. Maybe the events in this flick will give him the "pain" he needs to become OUR Kirk. "I need my pain!"

3-Enterprise destruction---No secret I wasn't a fan of the redesign. Its okay, but I am not in love with it. But seeing the shots of the Enterprise as a burning hulk and crashing into the ocean on Earth after a battle, I just feel its gonna be awesome.

4-Simon Pegg as Scotty---Haven't seen much of him in the trailers. But I think he's gonna be a great comedic element to the flick to keep it a bit "fun" among all the chaos. Perhaps Karl Urban as Bones too (Who did an awesome job in the first one BTW).

5-More Michael G score---The first flick's score was awesome. Can't wait to see what he comes up with for this one.

Trek was always its best when real stakes were high. Shit got epic and things mattered. (Think Wrath of Khan/Search for Spock) I am glad we're gonna be put through the wringer again. May 17th cannot come soon enough for me.

Trek on, T