Star Trek Beyond

Well, J.J. Abrams's Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the seventh episode in George Lucas's popular franchise and the first in a new trilogy of films is just a few days away from hitting theaters. Reviews will start spilling through the Internet Wednesday, so those of you weary of any spoilers be careful of what you read not only in reviews but anywhere on the Internet!

In the meantime, however, the countdown has begun for the return of another popular Sci-Fi franchise: Star Trek. 2016 marks Star Trek's 50th Anniversary and Paramount (despite plenty of behind-the-scenes drama) have managed to pull things together in time. The first trailer is set to be attached to The Force Awakens (most appropriate) but it's already found its way onto the Internet.

My upcoming Force Awakens review likely be my last Star Wars-related post for the foreseeable future as I shift gears from one of my favorite franchises into my other favorite franchise. Yes, those who prefer one over the other, it is possible to love both Star Trek and Star Wars! My family is evidence enough of that!

So here it is, our first glimpse at the newest Star Trek move due out late-July 2016!

While this trailer is likely to divide a very finicky fandom, I must fancy myself impressed. There's something I find irresistible about this trailer. The look and feel strikes me as being very much akin to the original series and it just looks like it'll be wacky and fun! Plus, there just seems something refreshing about the thought of the Enterprise being destroyed and the crew being stranded, forced to improvise and resort to their basic skills for survival. I like that since it forces the crew to be themselves and not rely upon their technology.

I guess we'll see in July.

Let the countdown begin!

Star Trek To Go "Beyond" In 2016?

Next year will mark the 50th Anniversary since the original Star Trek series premiered on television. To mark the occasion, Paramount Pictures is naturally planning the next Star Trek movie.

Getting the thirteenth film in the series has been tumultuous so far. JJ Abrams (director of 2009's Star Trek and 2013's Star Trek Into Darkness) will be tied up with the new Star Wars movie until the end of this year and unavailable to direct, though he's staying on as producer along with his production company, Bad Robot. I won't go into all the details of the trouble the film has had getting off the ground so far, but it's included a change in both director and writing team. But with the hiring of Justin Lin (director of four Fast and Furious movies) and both Doug Jung and Simon Pegg as writers, the next Star Trek film seems on course for it's debut next summer.

While I don't know much about Lin or Jung, I personally am a fan of Pegg's work. He's proven himself a strong and witty writer and is a fan of Star Trek. Critically-acclaimed actor Idris Elba is rumored to be the film's villain. So I'm optimistic.

According to TrekMovie, a title may have been set: Star Trek Beyond. Pegg has said that after Into Darkness ventured away from the spirit of the series, he wants to bring the next movie "back to it's roots". Hopefully this title is an indication of the Enterprise crew boldly going instead of staying camped out in Earth's backyard.

I like this possible title and have found myself thinking about each of the previous titles of the Star Trek movies. To be honest, the only one that's not that good is Into Darkness. The Search for Spock is a little too revealing and while Insurrection is an overstated title, it's still kinda cool. So I'm glad that Star Trek Beyond is a good title after the klunker of Star Trek Into Darkness.