INASCIFI BLOG

Hi all!

Before I start getting into reviews, info or any other topics related to science fiction, let me first apologize for the lack of updates in this blog for the past few months.

Anyway, I’m happy to report about my recent experience attending a local Indonesian fan community celebrating their 6th Anniversary. Yes, The Indonesian Star Trek Community has turned six years old this year, and 2009 has been a very wonderful year for them. Aside the new movie that came out last May (or June in Indonesia), the community have received lots of support (including from PT Indosat, one of Indonesia’s local telecommunications provider) and had a wonderful birthday party at Pisa Kafe Mahakam (near Blok M, Jakarta Selatan).

I wish I could post pictures and stuff like that, but unfortunately my camera never left my bag. Well, I’ll post some pics from the Indo Star Trek’s facebook page.

Qa’pla! (Success in Klingonese)

J.J. Abram’s Star Trek is the one of the biggest buzz in the entertainment industry. Attempting to bring Star Trek back to its original roots, the next film will center on the original Federation starship U.S.S. Enterprise (NCC-1701, with no bloody A, B, C, D or E and J) and how the core crew of the original series came by together.

Having the crew recast was the only option, since two original actors have long since passed away.

DeForest Kelley, who played ship’s doctor Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy was the first member of the original cast to pass away, and the second was James Doohan, who played the Scottish engineer Montgomery ‘Scotty’ Scott.

Nevertheless, the rest of the original actors were way too old to portray their roles, with the exception of Leonard Nimoy who is famous worldwide for playing Mister Spock, the U.S.S. Enterprise’s half-human half Vulcan first officer. Unlike us humans, the Vulcans of the planet Vulcan have an average life expectancy of over 200 years, so having Mr. Spock appear in the 24th century, still alive although very old, is very plausible.

Of course, having the premise ‘how the core crew of the original series (recast by younger better looking actors) came together’ sends the impression “Oh great, just another prequel story. Been there, done that.” Heck, even George Lucas started this whole prequel thing with his Star Wars episodes I-II-III, then apparently it became a trend… there’s Smallville, then there’s Hannibal Rising (origin story of Silence Of The Lambs), Fast and Furious (fourth film of the series, which is actually a midquel = sequel to The Fast And The Furious and 2 Fast 2 Furious, but a prequel to The Fast & The Furious: Tokyo Drift). Oh, don’t forget the re-imagination of Battlestar Galactica.

Yep, even back in 2001 there was a prequel series titled Enterprise (named such way so the viewers can associate the series with Star Trek without using the word Star Trek) which was renamed into Star Trek: Enterprise (which beats the whole purpose of the naming it Enterprise in the first place). Set in 2151-2155, the series takes place 90 years after mankind’s first official contact with the alien Vulcans and before the founding of United Federation of Planets.

Still with the theme of exploring the stars and putting humanity’s mark among the stars, Enterprise (later renamed into Star Trek: Enterprise) was challenged with scrutiny by many hard core fans (and some considered in direct violation with established continuity). Because of low ratings, the show was eventually canceled in the fourth season. In fact, the last episode of the series titled These are the voyages… was considered by many fans and cast members alone the worst episode ever written as a series finale.

Okay, so back Abram’s Star Trek.
Things you really need to know:
1. It is set around the 23rd century, some time before Captain Kirk’s famous five year mission.
2. While some sources stated it as a remake or reboot, writers Alex Kuzman and Robert Orzi of Transformers (2007) fame, went to considerable effort to honor the established timeline and essense. If you want me to spoil things for you, let’s just say that the story does involves Leonard Nimoy back as (a much, much older Mr. Spock).
3. The U.S.S. Enterprise will be very different from the one seen in the original series or movies. One reason of this more-than-cosmetic differences would perhaps be explained in the opening act.
4. Star Trek’s message of a hope for a bright future and peaceful exploration among the stars will still be the core theme.

As a Star Trek fan who lives in Indonesia I can’t help being a bit worried. In fact, very worried. I’m worried because of the assumption Star Trek isn’t as popular here as it is in other countries.
Also, our film distributor companies have a reputation of not showing films that have low market potential (example: Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Star Trek: Insurrection, Star Trek Nemesis). Worst cast scenario, they won’t show it at all. But it might not come to this as I saw the movie poster in Blitz Megaplex last month.

Arvin at Blitz Megaplex, Mall of Indonesia. Jan 26 2009.

Still, it would be the best interest if the subtitling guy do not screw up the film’s translation into Bahasa Indonesia.

Heck, I’ll volunteer myself to make that translation/subtitling if the person involved is inexperienced with Star Trek.

-Arvin N. Chandra

Wow, we’re close to the end of 2008 and the year 2009 is just right on the horizon.

Now, being a blog related to science fiction I find it imperative for me to write something about that year.

Aside the upcoming new year’s resolutions (don’t ask me what I had for 2008, leave that matter to my other blog), there will be some interesting scifi related flicks coming.

Here’s a brief list that I can come to mind, and a short description following them.
Note: Dates are listed as United States premiere dates… I’ve little info on Indonesian premiere dates)

1. Star Trek (May 9 2009) link
My most anticipated movie of 2009, awaited by millions of fans around the world. Well for one thing, it has been three years since Star Trek graced the airwaves. Unlike the last movie (Star Trek Nemesis), Star Trek will be a kind of ‘origin story’ for the original crew of the USS Enterprise NCC-1701.
Official synopsis: From director J.J. Abrams (”Mission: Impossible III,” “Lost” and “Alias”) and screenwriters Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman (”TRANSFORMERS,” “MI: III”) comes a new vision of the greatest space adventure of all time, “Star Trek,” featuring a young, new crew venturing boldly where no man has gone before.
A note for us Indonesians, the local distributor (Cineplex 21 or what other powers to be) has a bad history with this franchise. The demographic of the Indonesian movie goers seems to shun away from anything related to Star Trek (as it seems to be too geeky for their tastes) and thus the last two Trek movies to ever show here was Star Trek: Generations and Star Trek: First Contact. Star Trek Insurrection and Nemesis never came through the local distributors.
So a good question for us scifi enthusiasts in Indonesia would be, will Star Trek play here?

2. Terminator Salvation (May 22 2009) link
My 2nd most anticipated movie of 2009. This is both a sequel and prequel to first three Terminator movies. Unlike the previous ones, this will not feature Arnold Schwarzenegger as the pivotal terminator, and this one will prominently set in the post-Judgment Day future era.
Official synopsis: “Set in post-apocalyptic 2018, John Connor (Christian Bale), the man fated to be the leader of the human resistance against Skynet and its army of Terminators, and the future he was raised to believe in is altered in part by the appearance of Marcus Wright (Sam Worthington), a Terminator whose last memory is of being on death row. Connor must decide whether Marcus has been sent from the future, or rescued from the past. As Skynet prepares its final onslaught, Connor and Marcus both embark on an odyssey that takes them into the heart of Skynet’s operations, where they find out a terrible secret that may lead to the possible annihilation of mankind.”
Okay, I had to cut the official synopsis a little bit since it spoils a good info regarding this movie. I take it’ll be very interesting

3. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (June 26 2009)
No official synopsis is out yet, but I can say this is a sequel to the 2007 blockbuster Transformers. Need I say more?

4. G.I.JOE: Rise of Cobra (August 2009)
Ah, the live-action movie based on one of my favorite 80’s cartoon series. The cast mix is quite interesting, and the costume design and storyline will make this show quite a worth. The Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity, a ultra elite international armed forces will face the rising force of COBRA.
From what I can tell from some leaked sources, the story will be set in the near future, and will feature familiar favorite GI Joe characters. But from the production stills and the plot, it is a far mature version than the old cartoon series.

5. X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1 2009) link
Ah, Hugh Jackman as the Adamantium-laced bad-ass mutant Logan aka Wolverine. Snikt!!!! To be honest, I was a bit disappointed with X-Men: The Last Stand. But any movie that has Wolverine will definitely rock!

I know there are plenty of scifi productions coming next year, but I’ll save mentioning them for a later time.

-Arvin Chandra