Thanks to Entertainment Weekly, you are looking at the first full image of the redesigned USS Enterprise from the new Star Trek movie (you can head over there for a larger version).
As a long time Star Trek fan, whose favorite series is the original, my from-the-gut reaction when I first came across this was:
That is one ugly ship.
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Here is what J.J. Abrams had to say in regards to the new design vs the original:
“If you’re going to do Star Trek there are many things you cannot change. The Enterprise is a visual touchstone for so many people. So if you’re going to do the Enterprise, it better look like the Enterprise, because otherwise, what are you doing?”
I don’t know… maybe it’ll grow on me or it will look awesome while in flight on the big screen, but at the moment it’s not doing it for me. While he went pretty “classic” with the saucer section (that’s “primary hull” for the Star Trek fans out there) the connecting pylon and the secondary (lower) hull just look… incongruous.
If I had to pick one word that comes to mind when I look at that image, it would be:
Taffy.
You know, that stretchy carnival candy? You get it warmed up and then you can pull on it and it stretches and thins? That’s what the secondary hull and the nacelles look like to me. The lower hull looks like it was molded out of clay, rolled between two hands and rolled narrower at one end.
Almost exactly one year ago I wrote a speculative post asking “How radical is the USS Enterprise Redesign?”
Pretty damned radical, it seems.
Here are some comparative images from that post to help put things in perspective:
The Original USS Enterprise NCC-1701
JJ Abrams’ Redesigned USS Enterprise NCC-1701
The USS Enterprise NCC-1701-A
Tell me the new design doesn’t look like the movie Enterprise saucer section tacked onto some completely different alien ship.
In another post, I tried to guess how a redesign of the Enterprise might equate to the modern trend of doing design updates of classic cars. As it turns out, I think my 1960s to 21st century Camaro comparison turned out to be the closest in design ideology:
Classic Camaro
Modern Camaro
At the time I wrote:
“Let me say that I think the new Camaro is really, REALLY hot and from a design standpoint pays homage to the classic version, but that degree of change for the Enterprise would be completely unacceptable.”
Oh well.
Or… is it just me? Do I need to give it time to sink in and see it in action? I’d like to hear opinions from both Star Trek fans and non-fans.
[UPDATE: Thanks to "Spockboy" check out this minor change to the design via Photoshop that makes the new NCC-1701 look FAR better by adding some bulk to the lower part of the ship.]
Star Trek opens on May 8, 2009.
Source: EW.com via FirstShowing.net
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275 Comments
@ Troy:
Yeah, I’d like to see that, too.
Can’t help ya, but I can describe it for ya:
For one thing, if you remember, it was a lot more intense, a lot more electrical, like the loud, overwhelming power of a giganic electrical generator – the feeling was that you were witnessing matter being defly ripped apart, converted into pure energy, and made ready for transmission to somewhere else. It looked amazing, too – a bright ‘node’ spreading out from the middle (on departure), up & down, and then, at the destination, this bright node, starting from the bottom & the top, pulsing together again in the middle, then again spreading out vertically to form the final form upon completion.
And if you were lying there in the same room on the couch fast asleep, it would wake you up, no question about it. It was that powerful.
Not a very clandestine way to board a ship..
The closest thing I can think of as a parallel to it was when, in the original TOS episode “Errand of Mercy’, about the Organians, a primitive, peaceful people the Enterprise was trying to protect from the Klingons, when the Organians revealed who they really were – pure energy beings who could take care of themselves just fine, thank you very much, and their transformation before Kirk, Spock & Commander Kor was so bright they had to close their eyes and look away. It was not quite as bright as that.
For another, unlike in ANY of the series, you could hear & see people talking WHILE THEY WERE FORMING, like Kirstie Alley & Willinam Shatner, discussing Kirk’s ruse to Spock within communicator range/earshot of Khan – “hours would seem like days: By the book, Lieutenant…”
It was just very believable, is all. But YEAH, I would love to see that, too.
Anybody out there know where to find such an audio-visual sequence on line? I’d kinda like to see it to.
JOHN
PS: seems like they used that same sequence in STIV, with the whales & all.
L8r…
It’s just a ship and tv changes to suit its time. If you’re going to complain that it’s not the original, you’re right. Did you expect it to be? If you did, you’re way too nostalgic about something so trivial. If you look at it as a form of art, it simply reflects the need to round edges and dispell lines of sight so as to not draw attention to flaws.
@ ‘n’:
I take your point, so far as it goes; there are a lot of otherwise, well-balanced, peace-loving people here who would take your characterization of ‘trivial’ as fighting words!
Hahaha, feelings run strong about the Starship Enterprise, and a lot of people are saying “Who’s the is sumbitch JJ Abrams think he IS, anyway?”
The Big E is a form of art, that is true, in it’s most classic sense, as a focal point of our shared dreams & inspired ideas, and as a specific platform of (in our minds, anyway) a particular set of shapes, sizes and dimensions, the question is: Has Abrams gone too far? His Enterprise is a lot closer to the original than, say, Ron Moore’s reimagined Galactica, for example. I just saw the film and I think it rocks, and while certain things (like the internal engineering spaces, for example) kinda bugged me, I must confess, overall it was a singular cinematic experience (not to mention outstanding box office receipts) on the order of the original Star Wars. That’s not bad for a film submitted as a prequel to an original TV series of which the creator/producer, his wife, and two of the series’ main stars are all dead from old age.
Having said that, it should be remembered, in the words of the old Texas truism:
“You can put your boots in the oven, but THAT don’t make ‘em BISCUITS!”
JOHN
Just saw the flick. Despite the alternate timeline motif, I was pleasantly surprised. I liked it. By the way, in my opinion, Karl Urban nailed McCoy down to a T.
ok- as a fan of Star Trek from TOS to Enterprise – each incarnation has had redeeming characteristics- ST-redo – has some too – at first glance the new ship looks clunky- but in reality it is better designed based on current space science than the original- the interiors – what few we saw well were a bit “cheap” looking – other the overly engineered bridge- the lack of finish in the engineering section was “disturbing”- the new characters were like-able – and the new Kirk – does look much better in briefs than the original- I have watched all the fan web series, and everyone changes the timeline a little bit so that didn’t bother me- will I see the movie a second or third time yes- will I see a sequel? yes… was it entertaining and worth $7.50 cents? hell yes. Any Star trek is better than no Star Trek–
@ dr Phlox
Ive seen the movie now too, and I dont think the redesign has something to do with the current state of science….more with current state of fashion.
The Film is quite cool except or the already known design crimes on the Enterprise and its bridge (I liked the engineering, and if you remember, the engineering room in ST2 also looked very “industrial”)
and on the Romulans.
What I dont understand is, after watching the film, it became clear to me that that this mistakes wouldnt have been nessecary for it to be good. A more matching Version of the old enterprise like the one in the render I posted earlier WOULD STILL ROCK the same way in those really nice exterior scenes.
The Bridge is just a bit too “white” for my taste, fitting, like I said, current fashion for electronics (I-pod). I liked the touch screens and displays, but the whole environment was too bright to be a believable ships bridge. If you ever have seen the bridge of a navy vessel, you have a rather “grey” environment or the nice “red-lights” what makes the orange or green displays perfectly readable.
Anyways I really liked the interior design of the USS Kelvin, the atmosphere in the beginning of the Film felt right from the old films St 2 – 6.
But….btw…..what kind of romulans are those….!!!????
1704, The Romulans shaved their heads and tattooed their bodies in order to mourn the loss of Romulus. This was mentioned in the “Countdown” comic book series which connects TNG with this new movie.
OK, this makes sense….but what about that ship they use. It seems to be far beyond every technology we know from TNG, using strange weapons and more looking like a B5 shadow ship than a romulan mining vessel….
Honestly, I have only read the plot summary on the comic’s Wiki page, so I am probably missing some key details. Wiki said that the Narada was a,rather large, mining vessle. After the destruction of Romulus, Nero took the Narada to a secret Talshiar base, and had the vessel outfitted with recovered Borg technology. Nero’s crew then began to assimilate Vulcan, Starfleet, Klingon, and Cardassian vessels.
A fleet of Starfleet vessels then engaged the Narada. Most of the starfleet ships were destroyed, and the Enterprise-E was badly damaged. This is when Ambassador Spock comes flying in with his “jellyfish ship”, and manages to pull the Narada, as well as himself, into a black hole.
@ Vic, et al:
Vic, forgive me, but in view of all this discussion about a comic book necessary for proper understanding of the new JJ Abrams movie, I just had to share the text of that cartoon I sent you.
The following is a supposed compilation of a series of meetings between the Paramount Motion Pictures Chairman of Scripts & Development and staff which must’ve taken place back in, I figure, early 2007 at the latest, regarding the original enterprise (pun intended), TO WIT:
CHAIRMAN: Gentlemen…We’re making a new Star Trek movie.
GIRL WRITER (throwing hands in the air): All right! “Star Trek XI: The Search For Data”, here we come!
CHAIRMAN (ruminating): Hmmmm…
CHAIRMAN: You’re all fired.
THREE WEEKS LATER…
CHAIRMAN: Gentlemen…We’re making a new Star Trek movie. And this time…it’s gonna have Kirk & Spock.
JJ ABRAMS (one of a whole new batch of writers): Sir, they, uh, kinda killed off Kirk in ‘Generations’…
CHAIRMAN: It HAS to be about Kirk & Spock. No one will go see it othewise.
ABRAMS: But LOTS of people went to see ‘First Contact’ –
CHAIRMAN: KIRK AND SPOCK!
ABRAMS: Well, I guess we can remake Star Trek, like they did with ‘Battlestar Galactica’…
CHAIRMAN: NO, NO, NO, if we do THAT, we’ll lose the hardcore Trek nerd crowd. They’ll get all upset about their ‘canon’…and then come the death threats…
ABRAMS: We…we, uh…could cast younger actors, and call it a ‘prequel’.
CHAIRMAN (brightening): Gettin’ warmer…but if we do that, then it will limit the potential for making ENDLESS SEQUELS. We’re trying to create a new CASH COW here.
(Abrams & other writers look at each other)
ONE MONTH LATER…
CHAIRMAN (looking over proposal, with JJ Abrams standing at attention at the table): “Alternate timeline”? “Quantum theory of parallel universes”? Hmmmm…This reads like bad fan fiction…
CHAIRMAN:(reading quietly)
CHAIRMAN: I LOVE bad fan fiction! Here’s a blank check!
I hope that’s clear…
JOHN
One word, Johhny-O, – ‘Cynic’, lol!!!
Well, okay, I know, one person’s cynic is another person’s realist; and the truly worrying thing is, you may well be right!!
And it raised a smile on an otherwise grey and gloomy day!!
@ atseyes:
Glad I could brighten your cloudy day, ‘Eyes; yes, I have been called something very close to that – usually it’s just two words – ‘cynical bastard’, lol!
I admit, I have a hard time buying into human motives when it concernes making money, but not in humans’ ability to survive & make the most out of life through problem solving.
For all my cynicism, I can honestly tell you that it would’ve deteriorated into full-blown depression if not for that Franchise.
Seriously, for all the inspiring words that have come down thru’ history from real, live people – Edmund Burke on the triumph of evil over the complacency of good men, Bertram Russell on the ultimate prevalence of mankind as a function of survival, even Lincoln on the better angels of our nature – the words that have given me the most comfort & hope for the future, even after we here now are long gone, came from James Tiberius Kirk, spoken to an alien on the meaning of our people:
“We are of a race born to strive. We cannot grow, or even survive, without the challenge of adversity…”
I am glad I could make you smile, but this movie DOES have meaning…
But then. yo already knew that, didn’t you?
JOHN
Just curious … I didn’t read all the comments, but given that this movie is based on an alternative timeline, how could we expect the ship to look the same at all?
@ Bob D:
You got that right! We’re lucky the Enterprise doesn’t look like the Protector from ‘Galaxy Quest’…
Thanx for reminding us to look on the bright side, Bob.
JOHN
@ All:
Btw, did any of you ever hear the story of the original struggle Gene Roddenberry had to put up to get the original Jeffries starship design?
He got a visit from the head of the studio there at Desilu, a bit piqued that Roddenberry was still waiting for Walt Jeffries to finalize the design. He just couldn’t understand what the holdup was.
“It’s a show about people on a spaceship, right?” he says to Roddenberry. “Well, just take a cigar shape, put some windows on it, and there’s your spaceship! Simple, right?”
Wrong. Roddenberry had to fight to get Walt Jeffries’ design to be accepted, and that’s why it took so long (1964-’67, also two pilot episodes).
It could be that we are all being too hard on JJ Abrams – it is possible that his efforts to save the original Enterprise design, to any extent, are nothing less than heroic.
After all, stupidity, just like anything else, skips a generation, right???
JOHN
What I really found amazing about the film was the weird new take on the viewscreen sound effects … it has kept me up at night…I want to hear it again! Sounded so alien and yet brought me back to the old series …
@ All:
Whoops! I meant Matt Jefferies, dunno who the hell Walt Jeffries is, sorry!
Not to sound like Time Magazine, but as they would say, I regret the error…
JOHN
@ Steve, Katherine, Fury2701, and my buds Purist & K Bone:
The ‘Screen Rant Spoiler’ afficitonadoes can now gather at the thread called, simply, ‘Star Trek Review’; Ken & I found our ways there okay, and so can you. Just follow the links to ‘Star Trek Review’, and you’ll land there just fine – if I can find it, anybody can, lol!
JOHN
I can think of a hundred things that is WRONG with this design, both in and out. The worst of which is the bow legged effect of the nacelle pylons, that are attached to the Hangar Deck, instead of Engineering… who ever came up with this design, did not think of the internal layout and mechanics.
The technology, through out the ship is inconsistent, from the ultra high-tech Bridge to the “Grain Combine Cylinders” with a Radio-active sign posted on it, in Engineering. Then comes the plexi-glass 19th century water reclamation room. ugh…
Not to worry, with enough people ranting, they’ll blow it up by the end of the next movie, and replace it with Gabe Koerner’s design, the way it SHOULD have been.
I like Gabe’s design. Let’s hope for the best. Oh, but I’d prefer the design by Dennis Bailey….much more attractive:
http://img.trekmovie.com/images/drbenterprise_1.jpg
http://img.trekmovie.com/images/drbenterprise_3.jpg
Joe
@ Joe:
That IS cool, thanx for sharing that with us.
Kinda like the transitional design between the TOS ship & the Refit/Ent-A, sorta like what they were gonna do with the series that never happened, ‘Phase II’ – have you ever seen that design? It is almost the Refit, but not quite – with just enough of the TOS original to, you know, connect.
I did like these pics by this Dennis Bailey guy, very professional. I copied them both for my Pictures file.
You guys, uh…DO understand that all we saw in TOS is safe in its own timeline, that this new Abrams movie is a BRAND NEW timeline and that there is therefore no connection between the world of TOS ever sice Nero sailed out of that wormhole, right?
Probably, it was changed back in Bozeman, Montana, as soon as the Ent/E had to follow the Borg Sphere to 2163 and ensure Cochrane’s first contact, if you ask me; that is the origins if the whole ST/Enterprise series with Archer & the NX-01. Love it or hate it, that wouldn’t have happened without First Contact, they had repercussions. That’s how T’Pol, not Spock, became the first Vulcan Executive Officer in Starfleet, get it?
When Zef Cochrane & Lily Sloane started comparing notes, combined with the earthshaking common knowledge of these aliens called ‘Vulcans’, it changed EVERYTHING!
On a related Screen Rant thread, there is a guy who wrote a fanciful synopsis of what happened after the Vulcans came & went, having listened to ‘Scooby Doo’ on ol’ Zef’s juke box –
Apparently, both Cochrane & his assistant Lily became writers (eventually); his was entitled ‘Saucers & Nacelles: The Way to the Future’, by Zefram Cochrane, and Lily’s was called ‘They’re Out There, and They’re NOT Swedish: An Interstellar Call To Arms’, by Lily Sloane.
Very amusing, I thought!
~Johnny-O
@ All:
Come to think of it, I believe the person responsible for the above clever fabrications about Cochrane & Sloane is someone from on here, whom I would like to credit for his cleverness: Brighteyes.
I’ll see if I can find that post, I found it very enlightening.
~Johnny
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