There are many people talking about how the new Star Trek movie is very similar to the original Star Wars in terms of character motivations, plot devices, etc. OK that's fine, I get that, and I'm sure some look down on such similarities. However, before you do I have this to say: George Lucas owes everything to Gene Roddenberry and Star Trek. Here's why.
First and foremost. Star Trek was able to wet the palette of many film execs in hollywood so by the time Star Wars script was passed around, it can be argued many of these executives had seen a Star Trek episode and were aware an audience was out there for entertaining science fiction. Reference all the Star Trek conventions in the early to mid 70s that highlighted the craving audiences had for that genre. It should also be noted, Lucas was known for having used a LOT of people close to him in the business in order to have successfully made the first film, and followed up by Empire and Jedi. Notice how the newer Star Wars movies absolutely sucked by comparison? Right, that is because that was Lucas sans talent around him. When he took over the lead on actually writing what got put on screen, it SHOWED. Reference the newer Indiana Jones movie, and that is as good example of any of Lucas's crappy writing abilities.
Let me also point out George Lucas's recent snide remarks about the new Trek movie that came at the end of him answering that he enjoyed the movie. The interviewer asked him something to the effect of " Would you have done anything different with Star Trek?" To which he responded " No because I'd never do a Trek". Wow really George? Trek apparently isn't good enough for your talents? I say GOOD. I would never want him writing anything Trek to begin with. He sucks out loud and gets far too much credit for Star Wars success in general.
To get back to my original point of Star Wars copying Star Trek. Let's see. A death star? Star Trek had the planet killer first
. Jedi Knights who have supernatural powers by harnassing their mind and physical energy around them? Can you say Gary Mitchell? Or even better can you say Talosians? The Yoda character offered up "logical" advice for living life, as did Obi Wan Kenobi. However, Spock had been doing that 10 years before those characters were written! Han Solo, as much as Harrison Ford kicked major ass in this role, again, it had been done before in the form of James T. Kirk. Kirk was a risk taker, rash in decisions, and always got the girl.
My overall point is, if anyone thinks the inspiration and sometimes copied ideas for Star Wars didn't stem from Star Trek there out of their MIND!! Because they most certainly did. Yet George Lucas is far too arrogant to ever admit that had it not been fo Star Trek, his lovely Star Wars never would have seen the time of day.
Lastly, I wonder if anyone else feels the same way I do regarding the replay value of Star Wars compared to Star Trek. When I was a kid I could rewatch the original Star Wars films over and over again. However, now that I'm a grown adult, I have absolutely no desire to watch the old films anymore. Instead, I'm always pysched to revist Original Series episodes of Trek, and the original movies. Why? Because I think Trek is simply multi-dimensional and Star Wars isn't. Trek had all the parallel societal overtones layered into a lot of the stories, where Star Wars kept that to a bear minimum.
Anyone agree?
First and foremost. Star Trek was able to wet the palette of many film execs in hollywood so by the time Star Wars script was passed around, it can be argued many of these executives had seen a Star Trek episode and were aware an audience was out there for entertaining science fiction. Reference all the Star Trek conventions in the early to mid 70s that highlighted the craving audiences had for that genre. It should also be noted, Lucas was known for having used a LOT of people close to him in the business in order to have successfully made the first film, and followed up by Empire and Jedi. Notice how the newer Star Wars movies absolutely sucked by comparison? Right, that is because that was Lucas sans talent around him. When he took over the lead on actually writing what got put on screen, it SHOWED. Reference the newer Indiana Jones movie, and that is as good example of any of Lucas's crappy writing abilities.
Let me also point out George Lucas's recent snide remarks about the new Trek movie that came at the end of him answering that he enjoyed the movie. The interviewer asked him something to the effect of " Would you have done anything different with Star Trek?" To which he responded " No because I'd never do a Trek". Wow really George? Trek apparently isn't good enough for your talents? I say GOOD. I would never want him writing anything Trek to begin with. He sucks out loud and gets far too much credit for Star Wars success in general.
To get back to my original point of Star Wars copying Star Trek. Let's see. A death star? Star Trek had the planet killer first
. Jedi Knights who have supernatural powers by harnassing their mind and physical energy around them? Can you say Gary Mitchell? Or even better can you say Talosians? The Yoda character offered up "logical" advice for living life, as did Obi Wan Kenobi. However, Spock had been doing that 10 years before those characters were written! Han Solo, as much as Harrison Ford kicked major ass in this role, again, it had been done before in the form of James T. Kirk. Kirk was a risk taker, rash in decisions, and always got the girl. My overall point is, if anyone thinks the inspiration and sometimes copied ideas for Star Wars didn't stem from Star Trek there out of their MIND!! Because they most certainly did. Yet George Lucas is far too arrogant to ever admit that had it not been fo Star Trek, his lovely Star Wars never would have seen the time of day.
Lastly, I wonder if anyone else feels the same way I do regarding the replay value of Star Wars compared to Star Trek. When I was a kid I could rewatch the original Star Wars films over and over again. However, now that I'm a grown adult, I have absolutely no desire to watch the old films anymore. Instead, I'm always pysched to revist Original Series episodes of Trek, and the original movies. Why? Because I think Trek is simply multi-dimensional and Star Wars isn't. Trek had all the parallel societal overtones layered into a lot of the stories, where Star Wars kept that to a bear minimum.
Anyone agree?
