Admist much hype and anticipation a new Star Trek movie was released this past Friday, May 1. This newest installment is the most successful movie of the Star Trek franchise to date,taking in more than $75 million over in its opening weekend alone according to boxofficemojo.com. This new trend towards reviving old movie franchises with prequels, seems to be a successful venture with movie makers.
With the success of the Star Wars prequels as well as Batman Begins and the Dark Knight, the very beginning is, indeed, a very good place to start.
But does the new Star Trek remember its beginning? No, not the original 1960's T.V show but the Sci-Fi thrillers of the 50s and even earlier. Let's take a look back at just how far this box office smash has come from its predecessors.
Buck Rogers- This 1939 film was based on a cartoon ship by Dick Calkans and Phil Nolan. The story of a pilot and passenger who end up 500 years in the future, our hero fights the villain Killer Kane a tyrant now rule over this earth of the future. Although lacking in the visual effects department, this sci-fi classic was pretty impressive in its day.
Metropolis- The view of the future was bleak in this 1927 Fritz Lang film. In the year 2026 man kind is separated in the Thinkers and the Workers. The Thinkers make plans but lack the skill and the Workers achieve those plans but lack the vision. Separately neither can survive but together they can succeed. Then all changes when one of the Thinkers goes down to the Workers and is appalled at the way the other half lives...
The Day the Earth Stood Still- In this 1952 classic, an alien visitor and his robot friend come to seemingly live peacefully and share a message with the people of earth. But, upon a rough first meeting, this other worldly boarder discloses another reason for his visit as well as the threat of a race of beings who are easily provoked...and deadly.
Well, if we are discussing the predecessors to this new Star Trek, we can't leave out the the one that started it all : Star Trek the Original Series.
This 1966 series ran only four seasons but has since garnered a huge following. With its phasers and telecommunicators and even it's beaming effects, this series was the project that started all the craze.
From Tribbles to Klingons, the Original Series is the one that started it all and with this latest installment, a whole new generation will have the chance to "Live long and prosper".
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