Star Trek Premiere Gets Standing Ovation, Surprise Showing In Austin 437
MrKaos writes "Proving that science fiction can still be great entertainment, J.J. Abrams appears to have impressed Star Trek fans at the official world premiere of Star Trek, who gave the film a five-minute standing ovation at the Sydney Opera House in Australia today. Meanwhile, mere hours beforehand, flummoxed fans at the Alamo Drafthouse theater in Austin, TX, deceived into thinking they were seeing a special, extended version of Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan, were pleasantly surprised when a disguised Leonard Nimoy greeted them and announced they would be seeing the new film in its entirety. ILM's influence on the film is reported as visually stunning, and lucky Australian fans are scheduled to see the movie first, as it opens a day before the American release."
Re:Wait...what? (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Idea shortage in LA (Score:2, Informative)
Already covered (Score:5, Informative)
Better than a refund, and maybe not planned (Score:5, Informative)
Those guys in Austin should demand a refund! They paid for a ticket for The Wrath of Khan, but that's not what they got. If it were me I'd be raising hell.
The story I heard via word of mouth was that they were actually going to play Wrath of Khan, with ten minutes of sneak-preview footage from the movie that hadn't been seen before as a bonus. However shortly after Wrath started playing, the old and damaged film caught fire and was destroyed. Then Nimoy revealed himself, and instead of showing the 10 minute teaser, they showed the whole film.
linky [originalalamo.com] I found on a Drafthouse blog, btw.
I can't imagine (though I guess it's possible) even Spock himself would dare show the full movie without authorization. So that may have been planned. The destruction of a print of Wrath... probably wasn't.
The last time I had a film burn up (actually it was the projector bulb that exploded, side effect was the print was destroyed) all I got was a lousy refund. Getting to watch a world premiere of a movie I'd probably be interested in, rather than having my night out ruined, is way way better than a refund.
I seriously fucking wish I had been there and I may have been but I didn't even know they were running Wrath. Why do I not check the Drafthouse web page more often?!
Re:Christopher Pike? (Score:3, Informative)
If the small snips of reviews I've read are any indication, only spoilers can explain this. So we'll have to wait and see, or not see. I'm on the fence like I was with Watchmen.
Re:Christopher Pike? (Score:3, Informative)
Re:Wait...what? (Score:3, Informative)
Duh. (Score:3, Informative)
And if it wasn't opening a day before in Australia... they wouldn't get to see it first?? (before the U.S.)
In any case, Australians are NOT scheduled to see it first, as it opens TWO days before the U.S. in Belgium, France and Switzerland.
http://www.startrekmovie.com/releasedates/ [startrekmovie.com]
Re:Better than a refund, and maybe not planned (Score:5, Informative)
Re:And in the back row... (Score:1, Informative)
Re:I hope it's better than Nemesis..... (Score:3, Informative)
I prefer to call it "Star Trek: Nematode"
Somehow, it just feels right.
Re:Better than a refund, and maybe not planned (Score:5, Informative)
On what planet is April 7th a day before May 8th [imdb.com]?
Re:Better than a refund, and maybe not planned (Score:4, Informative)
Paramount created about six minutes of brand-new Khan film that included a simulated melt/burn. This was what they played. It was all part of the show.
There had to be a reason to stop Khan and then have "dead time" to fill while the projectionist loaded the movie they intended to premiere.
Re:Better than a refund, and maybe not planned (Score:4, Informative)
Because the movie was about to be released for-reals, so they'd need to be given a print?
But you're right, I'm thinking it was planned, except that doesn't explain the film melting which the blog says the owner was surprised and upset over, or having the writers for Khan there who started an impromptu Q&A session between when the film melted and Nimoy showed up. So either this was all theatrics (certainly possible at the Alamo) with some rough execution (also possible ;), or the only intended surprise was Nimoy's visit but the owner managed to work something out.
Either way, it sounds pretty cool to me. :)
The problem is, the movie isnt due for release for another month - there is no reason at all for a cinema which is not doing one of the premier screenings around the world to have a full copy of the show on site a full month ahead of its release, that would be a security risk.
I don't think there can be any doubt that this was planned well ahead of schedule.
Re:I hope it's better than Nemesis..... (Score:3, Informative)
But what's wrong with the % measurement?
It's become a cheesy plot device that (along with exploding consoles) is used to convey suspense in the absence of good writing?
Star Dreck movies are only good for one thing... (Score:0, Informative)
... Which is to get all the Trekkie Pedophile Geeks in one place, so the cops can come around, taser them, beat them up and shit on their faces before arresting them and locking them in with some rougher types who will sexually humiliate them, beat them up and shit on their faces, for about 12 hours until they're tried and convicted for being Trekkie Pedophile Geeks, thrown in federal ass-rape prison where the inmates will routinely abuse them, beat them up and shit on their faces. And stab them with shanks or drown them in toilets until the Trekkie Pedophile Geeks are ready to be buried in Trekkie Pedophile Geek's Field where the worms will devour their flesh, beat them up and shit on their faces.
Re:I hope it's better than Nemesis..... (Score:1, Informative)
"shields down to whatever percent"
Out of curiosity, what is wrong with that?
I've always viewed it as a measurement of intensity that is rebuilt over time. Since we aren't dealing with something as simple as magnetic fields (which would be amazing if projected to something the size of the enterprise).
I don't know exactly as I'm not really that into ST. But what's wrong with the % measurement?
Either sheilds down to 10% lets 90% of crap through, or the sheilds have only 10% of their lifetime to protect at full power.
"Sheilds have failed!" comes to mind. Full power to the sheilds, then bug out when they burn out.
Who wants sheilds that let in 90% of the crap?!?
[all assuming an hypothetical 23rd Century, of course.]
Re:Wait...what? (Score:2, Informative)
Kurosawa was hugely influenced by American westerns and American detective stories.
However, just because Star Wars COULD be remade as a Western, does not mean it should be. Ask Jackie Chan and Owen Wilson.