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The 6 best extras on the new Star Trek DVD/Blu-ray
The upcoming Star Trek DVD/Blu-ray has some particularly juicy extras on it, which is good news if you were a fan of the J.J. Abrams reboot. The disc doesn't drop until Nov. 17, but Abrams and screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman gave us a preview last month, and we picked out what we think are the six best features for you:
The Klingons make their debut. The knobby-headed nemeses appeared in an early cut but were excised from the final film. "They were in the movie, and it's one of those things that I hated to cut, for a number of reasons," Abrams said. "One of them was that I loved the design, the world and the story, and that moment was really cool. So I'm very excited for people to see these scenes." The sequence also has more action: You'll see Nero take down his prison guards, and he fights Romulan-style.
Alias's Spy Daddy, Victor Garber, appears. Abrams' former Alias star had a cameo as one of the Klingons, interrogating Nero (Eric Bana). "Victor Garber, who is one of my favorite actors, played a Klingon, was in the movie, had a ton of makeup and a very heavy, hot costume," Abrams said. "I had to call him and tell him his scene wasn't in the film. A huge consolation for me was that it will live forever on the DVD and Blu-ray, so I'm psyched for people to see that."
See Spock born. In the movie, we see James Tiberius Kirk born while his father dies in a space battle. Orci and Kurtzman wrote Spock's birth, too, but you'll only see it on the DVD. "The first scene of the movie was the birth of Spock," Kurtzman said. "I think that we knew that the way these characters were born was going to define everything about who they would become. Knowing that Kirk was going to be a renegade, knowing that he was going to have father issues, knowing he was going to be lost, knowing he was going to have to come into his own as captain prescribed a series of things that allowed us to think about 'What would create a man like that?' Which was a very emotional place to begin."
Spock Prime explains one of the movie's biggest coincidences. Perhaps the biggest complaint fans had about the reboot movie was that it was awfully coincidental for young Kirk (Chris Pine) to land on an ice planet only a few steps away from where Spock Prime (Leonard Nimoy) was waiting for him. The original cut of the movie dealt with it, but the explanation wound up on the cutting-room floor. "In the scene where they're in the cave, there was a sequence that is on the DVD that was cut from the movie where Spock speaks to that," Abrams said. "He talks about how this is sort of the timeline's way of trying to repair itself, and it's as much about fate as anything. The trick in doing any movie, but especially something like this that involves some weird alternate-reality/time-travel thing, is that you don't want to not explain it, but you don't want to explain everything."
The last word on why William Shatner's not in it. Abrams has explained before that he really wanted the original Capt. Kirk in the movie but couldn't figure out a way to explain his on-screen death in Star Trek: Generations. Let the DVD be the final word on that, with its featurette "The Shatner Conundrum." "Essentially, it's about how do you put him in the movie when you want him in it so badly, and yet the story actually seems in counter purposes with the story you want to tell?" Abrams said.
A gag reel. Among other things, this shows how Zachary Quinto (Spock) flubs his lines. "When you see Zachary screw up and sort of go from Spock to Zachary, Spock to Zachary, the back and forth, is so funny to me," Abrams said. "He could not be less like Spock, and yet he was so convincing. To have him bounce back and forth so quickly as he screws up just makes me laugh every time."
By WookieeMonster at 8:29 AM ON 11/03/09
Looking forward to it.
By Nid celle at 9:14 AM ON 11/03/09
There should be a deleted scenes option in the DVD that would extend the movie if the viewer wants it, regardless of the level of continuity. After all, so much money was invested in it. I think in the case of this Star Trek, that would have intensified the new storyline. Also, not to compare, Phantom menace was 2.5 hours long! If you have a semi decent story to film, give it a proper length.
PS is there a seventh deleted scene with a Cloverfield cameo? She is so cute!
By Bill at 9:18 AM ON 11/03/09
I loved the movie. Looking forward to its release
By antodav at 9:30 AM ON 11/03/09
I wonder if the scene with Spock's birth will be as it was depicted in Star Trek V, with Sarek taking him into his arms and saying, "So human..." I see no reason why that would have changed in this timeline, and it would fit very well with the themes of this movie.
I don't know why Abrams/Orci/Kurtzman feel the need to keep on apologizing for William Shatner not being in the movie. If he had been included without any purpose it would have ruined the film; Leonard Nimoy was the better choice, especially since, quite honestly, Kirk is not as well known among the general public as Spock, for whatever reason (this became annoyingly apparent to me this Halloween). If they want to they could make the whole sequel about Kirk trying to rescue his older self from the Nexus—but then the millions of new fans who've never seen Generations wouldn't get it. It'd be better if they just got Shatner to play Chris Pine's Kirk's older self—if they wanted to they could involve the aging virus from "The Deadly Years" (though that would be cheezy) or some kind of flashback—but no more time travel. 4 of the 11 Star Trek movies now have dealt with that subject in one way or another. I believe that's enough.
By DirtyTribble at 9:37 AM ON 11/03/09
I'm looking forward to seeing Chris Doohan in the Transporter room. I missed him the first time around.
By Shaun at 10:02 AM ON 11/03/09
"I'm looking forward to seeing Chris Doohan in the Transporter room. I missed him the first time around."
that would be nice.
By Michael at 10:24 AM ON 11/03/09
Awesome! Can't wait to get the Blu-ray...
By KerrAvon at 10:29 AM ON 11/03/09
The whole Kirk died so we can't bring him back is a bunch of crap!
The whole movie is an alternate timeline, therefore they do NOT have to stick with the fact that Kirk died in Generations. Generations probably NEVER happens in the future of this movie's timeline.
They didn't want Kirk in the move becuase they didn't want to deal with Shatner, plain and simple.
The movie sucked anyway. It wasn't Star Trek.
By Phillip at 11:03 AM ON 11/03/09
Wow, looks like they went all out for extra features to be placed in this dvd. You know what that means right? It means one would have to pay more cookies and milk to acquire this DVD.
By Meezer at 11:41 AM ON 11/03/09
Thanks for the big ass info.
By Zohan at 12:01 PM ON 11/03/09
To KerrAvon
While the change to the timeline almost certainly means the alternate universe Kirk won't die in Generations - Spock was from the original timeline - and any knowledge/presence of the Kirk we know/perhaps love would fit with that. The fact the timeline changed doesn't change original timeline canon.
As Earth will be destroyed when the Probe from Star Trek IV shows up because Kirk and the gang are either on Earth, or not around makes it all moot anyway ;)
By Chamelion at 12:19 PM ON 11/03/09
Hmm, so when Spock dies, there's no Vulcan to return too in which to save him... the Vulcans who can perform the ritual COULD very well be on Earth... forcing Kirk to return to Earth to save Spock, be court martialed and stuck when the Probe does arrive.
*Or, let's fix it this way; Spock Prime conveniently decides to be aboard Enterprise when they face Kahn and dies twice from the same exposure, leaving the other spock to survive.....
Ah, timeline fun!
By tati at 12:26 PM ON 11/03/09
I'm hoping to order the version of this on amazon.co.uk (Star Trek XI (3-Disc Edition) with Free Comic Book and Bonus Digital Copy (Exclusive to Amazon.co.uk) [Blu-ray]).
It is currently $17.59GBP plus shipping.
I am in contact with them and am awaiting confirmation on whether this version is region-free or region-locked, however, since I live here in the US :)
But, about the comic: "Star Trek: Countdown is the official graphic novel prequel to the smash-hit movie, outlining the history of Nero, the movie’s villain (played by Eric Bana). Who is this mysterious Romulan, and how did he turn from hero to villain? Also featuring Captain Picard and many of the Next Generation stars, this is essential reading for Star Trek fans! JJ Abrams, the film’s director, along with scriptwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have supervised the script by Tim Jones and Mike Johnson."
By Mandy at 1:19 PM ON 11/03/09
I'm having a nerd induced headache.
By jpl1976 at 1:41 PM ON 11/03/09
To the people whining about this being an alternate timeline and blah blah blah....if you would have paid attention to the movie and the dialog, you would have known how they got to the alternate reality. Also there was a "prequel" done in comic book form as well. If you would have done your homework (especially those that consider themselves "real" fans) you would have picked that up to understand what was really going on. So quit your bitching already!
By AngryJonny at 5:59 PM ON 11/03/09
Been waiting for forever, it seems, to get this terrific movie on Blu-ray!
By rj472 at 7:20 PM ON 11/03/09
The prequel comic book didn't exactly jibe with the movie either. I thought it had a few differences from the story that was told in the movie. Maybe I just read it wrong.
For those of you wondering about the events of Start Treks 2-4 remember this is an alternate timeline. Those events may never happen. Spock may never die, they may never revive Khan, there may never be a Genesis planet. Without all that Kirk may be "flying a desk" on Earth if the probe from ST 4 comes to Earth and the planet will be destroyed. Remember that this is an entirely new Start Trek universe that doesn't have to follow what went on in the original series or previous movies. It will even change all events from Any series that followed except for possibly Enterprise.
By Gill Avila at 7:59 PM ON 11/03/09
I think this version of Star Trek should be shot out of the canon. (Not a misspelling).
By macmikey at 8:53 PM ON 11/03/09
Can't wait to get my copy, either.
Where's Captain Zachary-dachary-whatchamacallit to denounce all of us mindless idiots for looking forward to this? I almost miss his uninspiring, near-fundamentalist drivel.
By sinz at 9:22 PM ON 11/03/09
yes and in this new reality
the enterprise is bigger and more advanced cause it was launched about 5 -10 years after it would have if not for the
new timeline
and prime spock would warn earth about v'ger and the whale probe
and other stuff that would protect federation citizens
By OrchidStation at 11:45 PM ON 11/03/09
to the canonite nerds: It is shocking to me that i haven't heard this come up with all the trekkies abound who pan the new movie and talk about the death of spock and khan and the like...this is an alternate universe. Did we forget about how these theoretically work or am I the only one who watched Fascape/Doctor Who[thus giving me a phd in physics.]? When this alternate universe was created - if it was similar enough to the original, the two would merge and that'd be that, on to wrath of khan/saving the whales - since this universe is radically different given things like the destruction of Vulcan, it is not subject to canon in any way. There could be many coincidences in the new Trek universe story but it is like the mirror-verse or bizarro-world, anything can happen. I loved the movie and think that in its own way it was respectful to the original series by setting it in an alt uni, while giving the new team room to do their own story. I already ordered my blu-ray. can't wait! :D
By mabiniss1 at 1:00 AM ON 11/04/09
I can't wait for the extra scenes!!
By Pagrin at 2:36 AM ON 11/04/09
6 ways to make Star Trek better....hmmmm
Shorter
Add a plot.
Loose a few over blow FX.
Add a consistent plot.
Say sorry to all the Trek fans out there.
Oh yes and add a well written consistent plot, which isn't so full of holes you could flight a giant Special effect through.
Yer that might about do it.
By DarkHawke at 6:42 AM ON 11/04/09
I just can't believe the Hatorade-drinkers are still whining up a blue streak about it. I am NO fan of what the Roddenberry/Berman/Braga axis did to Star Trek from Next Gen on, but even *I* got tired of hearing me bitch about it and I eventually shut up! We get it, alright? You're not on board. Fine. Dandy. Pax vobiscum, live long and prosper, yadda, yadda, yadda. Now could you do all of us who DO love this new chapter of Star Trek a solid and quit harshing our mellow? Please? Thank you EVER so much!
By Nid celle at 12:12 PM ON 11/04/09
I think the real issue here is why pay NINETY DOLLARS for a blue ray disc (I dont have the player) and a five pound toy replica of the new enterprise? (only 5,000 ships made - baloney!
Not me!
PS I bought a bootleg copy of the movie for five bucks in the summer and in the fine print movie details, the real title off the moveie was Star Trek: the French Connection starring Gene Hackman! Wow!
By Son of a Maui Portagee at 1:16 PM ON 11/04/09
@jpl1976
Except the oft stated goal of this production was to attract a NEW audience. Doesn't seem very practical to expect them to know there's homework expected requiring the taking of notes and reading texts beforehand.
@antodav
I'll believe Spock is more well known than Kirk when I stop hearing him called "Doctor" Spock. Till then I tend to doubt your assertion.
By Zohan at 4:36 PM ON 11/04/09
Whether Khan is revived or not, and even whether Spock dies or not - the probe WILL still arrive at Earth in the ST4 time frame. It was stipulated to have been of ancient origin and Nero's time meddling would have no affect on it.
By Tribu at 10:49 PM ON 11/04/09
It's all the talk at www.thetransporterroom.com
By Betterthanevertrek at 9:43 PM ON 11/06/09
Can't wait to get it. Excellent movie!
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