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Brent Spiner Defends NEMESIS, Reveals the STAR TREK XI That Could Have Been

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By GustavoLeao / 15:16, 24 January 2005 / Feature Films

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The latest issue of the Star Trek Magazine, just out in the UK, features an exclusive interview with TNG actor Brent Spiner, in which he talks about his guest role of 'Doctor Arik Soong' on STAR TREK ENTERPRISE and his opinions on the STAR TREK movie franchise. Here are a few excerpts :

About STAR TREK NEMESIS, the TNG movie which he co-wrote with screenwriter John Logan and turned out to be a major box office disaster, Spiner told the magazine "I think that NEMESIS was a way better movie than it was given credit for. I don't quite get what happened there. Without naming names, critically it was not well received. Again, not naming names, there were critics who said, 'I'm sick of it this. I don't care if the ship is in jeopardy.' Then my response would be, 'Don't go if you already know you're sick of it and then negatively review it.' That's not really fair. That's not a review: 'I'm sick of it.' Bit I do think that history will be kind to NEMESIS, as far as STAR TREK movies are concerned. STAR TREK movies are an oeuvre unto themselves."

Spiner also revealed what he, Rick Berman and Patrick Stewart had in mind for a possible STAR TREK XI "It had something to do with using everyone and doing a kind of amalgamation," Spiner said "If you put it in comic book terms it'd be like doing the JUSTICE LEAGUE of STAR TREK movies. We'd use all of the major villains we've had and all of the major STAR TREK figures we've had, and we'd have a huge, massive encounter. That would have been cool. I think everyone was assuming (that the idea) was a B-4 story, but that had been done. I don't think that was going to happen again in another STAR TREK movie. I think that was just to give some hope for the future. You have to remember that we wrote NEMESIS thinking it was our last movie."

The original report can be found at Sci Fi Pulse.

And to read the full interview, get the latest issue of the Star Trek Magazine at your local newstand.



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RE: come on now, It wasnt all that bad | Report this post to moderator
By: khan (Odo's file, contact) @ 10:39:14 on Jan 25, 2005 | Edit History (2)

OUCH, i stand corrected. thank you for pointing out that Baird didnt direct those movies, he was editor.

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Picard-

“Captains Log. We’re heading toward Federation space at maximum warp. The crew has responded with the dedication I’ve come to expect from them. And like a thousand other commanders on a thousand other battlefields, I wait for the dawn”


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The Justice League comment | Report this post to moderator
By: Andramus (Odo's file, contact) @ 10:03:37 on Jan 25, 2005

I think when Spiner was referring to bringing in all the villains he was referring to species/empires such as the Borg and the Dominion and not individual characters such as Khan.

Also I don't think he meant literally all the villains. He probably just said that for emphasis to get across that the idea for the movie was big. Often it's hard to sum up an idea for a story in a handful of sentences on-the-fly. Believe me I know. And when you try you don't always get your meaning across as well as you'd like. Besides I like Justice League.

Lastly I think he was referring to bringing characters together from TNG, DS9 & Voy not from Enterprise or the original series


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Data katra | Report this post to moderator
By: cgrest (Odo's file, contact) @ 07:59:18 on Jan 25, 2005

Hey common now. I'm sure Star Trek XI would be a smash hit if we were taken to vulcan with B4. Then a mystical Vulcan Science academy high preistis plugs B4 into the computer, does a ceremonial ritual, restoring Data's Katra. And Whalllaa! Star Trek: Data Redeux!

Even Roper and Ebert would give two thumbs up!

Ok, maybe I'm demented. It was worth the shot, its Science fiction after all.


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come on now, It wasnt all that bad | Report this post to moderator
By: khan (Odo's file, contact) @ 07:54:52 on Jan 25, 2005

Although there were many character flaws I have to say I still enjoyed watching this film. IMO I believe the film was a flop due to the direction, Stuart Baird did a horrible job directing it. From what I remember from interviews from some of the cast during filming, many were not happy with what they’re characters were told to do in the film. They would mention these inconsistencies to Baird and he took them with a grain of salt and dismissed them, stating that this is his film and he will do it as he pleases. Stuart Baird’s direction in many action films such as Tomb Raider, Mission Impossible II, and 1993’s Demolition Man were at best OK but he knew nothing about Star Trek or they’re characters. He even refused to watch old episodes and films of Star Trek. He wanted to mold this new film to his own vision of what ST is for him. Bad-bad mistake. He should have never taken the helm on this one. And when asked if he will include all the deleted scenes from the movie in a directors cut, he mentioned that the finished product is his directors cut. Argh!

I’ve read the Nemesis book and really enjoyed it. In fact, I enjoyed it more than the movie. If a more ST knowledgeable Director would of done the film I think that it would of faired much better. In addition, the timing of the release for Nemesis was a poor decision. Paramount was in such a rush to get the film out, they put it in theatres at the same time as the last film of the Lord of the Rings and (oh gosh dare I say…) Gigli. It was a bad decision if you ask me. They should have waited out the month or tried for 2003 release.

All in all, it’s just my personal opinion. I really enjoyed this film. It’s not TWoK or TUC, or for that matter FC, but it was enjoyable. Could it have been a better film? I think with the right director it could have been possible.


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Picard-

“Captains Log. We’re heading toward Federation space at maximum warp. The crew has responded with the dedication I’ve come to expect from them. And like a thousand other commanders on a thousand other battlefields, I wait for the dawn”


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RE: come on now, It wasnt all that bad by sbender @ 09:33:13 on Jan 25
RE: come on now, It wasnt all that bad by Sphire @ 08:31:16 on Jan 25

So he is back on Nemesis this time! | Report this post to moderator
By: Scorned (Odo's file, contact) @ 22:16:07 on Jan 24, 2005 | Edit History (1)

Quote:"I think that NEMESIS was a way better movie than it was given credit for. I don't quite get what happened there.

How much longer are these people going to live in denial? It was bad on many levels. Poor script, stupid plot, bad editing, poor marketing, bad release time. And the biggest factor was having "Rick Berman" involved. When will Paramount ever learn?



Quote:"Without naming names, critically it was not well received. Again, not naming names, there were critics who said, 'I'm sick of it this. I don't care if the ship is in jeopardy.' Then my response would be,

The person whom he doesn't want to name is "Roger Ebert". I saw his review for Nemesis and he slammed it not based on the film but on his dislike of Star Trek. Another reason why movie critics are f'ing useless!


Quote:"'Don't go if you already know you're sick of it and then negatively review it.' That's not really fair. That's not a review: 'I'm sick of it.' Bit I do think that history will be kind to NEMESIS, as far as STAR TREK movies are concerned. STAR TREK movies are an oeuvre unto themselves."

Oh but what about all those people who worship this Ebert doufess! All these people saying that "he knows movies".
yeah whatever!


Quote:"Spiner also revealed what he, Rick Berman and Patrick Stewart had in mind for a possible STAR TREK XI "It had something to do with using everyone and doing a kind of amalgamation,"

Proof enough that Nemesis was NOT going to be the last movie if did "ok" at the box office. An amalgamation of characters would not of worked.


Quote:"Spiner said "If you put it in comic book terms it'd be like doing the JUSTICE LEAGUE of STAR TREK movies. We'd use all of the major villains we've had and all of the major STAR TREK figures we've had, and we'd have a huge, massive encounter.

He could of used a better analogy.


Quote:"That would have been cool.

Afraid not!


Quote:" I think everyone was assuming (that the idea) was a B-4 story, but that had been done. I don't think that was going to happen again in another STAR TREK movie. I think that was just to give some hope for the future.

Everyone laughed with the "katra" of Data into B4. Regardless of this nonsense, Spiner would of done another film again.



Quote:"You have to remember that we wrote NEMESIS thinking it was our last movie."

Suddenly Spiner ADMITS to writing Nemesis? It is funny how his mind wonders. He had already stated that he didn't do ANY writing for "Data". He only did something like the 2 scenes (the ships crashing I remember was one). WHY is he acting like such a liar now?




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RE: So he is back on Nemesis this time! by Sxottlan @ 23:47:48 on Jan 26
RE: So he is back on Nemesis this time! by c.p. @ 10:37:32 on Jan 25
    RE: So he is back on Nemesis this time! by Shano @ 13:03:39 on Jan 25
    RE: So he is back on Nemesis this time! by Scorned @ 10:58:30 on Jan 25
       Scorned... by prometheus 59650 @ 13:54:25 on Jan 25
          RE: Scorned... by Scorned @ 22:22:44 on Jan 25

STXI? | Report this post to moderator
By: Nogard The Great (Odo's file, contact) @ 19:32:58 on Jan 24, 2005

OK, the idea of Doctor Who and Spock playing chess for two hours on the big screen, is sounding better every day now....Sheeeez!


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LAME | Report this post to moderator
By: Greenspan (Odo's file, contact) @ 19:29:10 on Jan 24, 2005

Justice League? Is Spiner on crack? The writers have enough trouble with a cast of seven. Imagine how bad it would be if we had 30 characters in the mix. If there is another Trek movie, the writer(s) need to sit down and watch every episode of the show the way Harve Bennett did. Figure out what's good, what's bad, what worked, and what didn't. Then sit and down and tell yourself that you're writing a movie, not an episode of the TV show. And if you find yourself recycling ideas from the TV shows or movies, stop.

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"Maybe in another thousand years, we'll have teleportation and all that other Star Trek stuff. But with our current technology, we can't even make William Shatner's hair look real." --- Bill Maher


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I very much like Spiner the actor, but... | Report this post to moderator
By: spacebeluga (Odo's file, contact) @ 17:12:13 on Jan 24, 2005

Quote:
Spiner also revealed what he, Rick Berman and Patrick Stewart had in mind for a possible STAR TREK XI "It had something to do with using everyone and doing a kind of amalgamation," Spiner said "If you put it in comic book terms it'd be like doing the JUSTICE LEAGUE of STAR TREK movies. We'd use all of the major villains we've had and all of the major STAR TREK figures we've had, and we'd have a huge, massive encounter.

This is the same kind of silliness of bringing back Captain Kirk times 1000. It deserves no comment.

Except of course a comment indicating that it deserves no comment. That's always necessary when there's something that deserves no comment.

Oh, and for the record, I disagree. Nemesis, while entertaining, was a pretty bad movie that thouroughly destroyed all the significant character development that had begun in 1987, as well as some pretty significant plot developments that had begun in 1966.

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He was... | Report this post to moderator
By: City Hunter (Odo's file, contact) @ 16:26:14 on Jan 24, 2005

JOKING! He's not a comedian but he was joking, he KNOWS there won't EVER be an ST11. Get with it!

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"You are now the property of the Orion Syndicate! Break the rules, and you will suffer! Follow the rules, and you will suffer less!" ~ Big Green Orion Slave-Trade Marketing Dude, ENT: "Boarderland"



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RE: He was... by GustavoLeao @ 17:29:03 on Jan 24
RE: He was... by admiral_qua @ 16:32:51 on Jan 24
    RE: He was... by iam @ 17:05:41 on Jan 24

Please stay with acting..... | Report this post to moderator
By: iam (Odo's file, contact, web site) @ 16:10:42 on Jan 24, 2005

You've got to be kidding..... Talk about not understanding your own show. What, Justice League Trek? I could be mistaken but aren't the big bads of Trek past all...hmmmm let's see....DEAD?!?! These movies and shows seem to have a habit of killing off the villian of the week.
Yes, I would LOVE to see eveyone together in a huge ST movie but lets get real! IF (and I do mean if...) you want the ultimate cosmic battle spanning the different shows then lets bring back Q! Hire a ST writer that knows his stuff like Peter David or somthing. Thats a movie thats WAITING to be made. Peter could make a slam bang story that is also CHARACTER driven. Could someone tell me which ST movies have been the most succesful? That's correct, the ones that have been character driven instead of action and drama driven.
This article with Spiner just shows that he, Stewart and Berman should be handed some coffee and be told to wait in another room until a decent script can be written. Brent and Patrick... I love ya both.. but PLEASE! Stay out of the non-acting part of things. Go write some books or somthing like Bill Shatner. Though you may wan't to check on the the Reeves-Steven's schedule first.


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Spiner Defends Nemesis | Report this post to moderator
By: Whisper (Odo's file, contact) @ 15:35:53 on Jan 24, 2005

I hate to say it, but Brent Spiner's idea for Star Trek XI sounds like it would've been even worse than Nemesis (which was an ok movie in retrospect, minus the B-4 storyline, the lack of character moments, the inexplicable desire of Shinzon to destroy Earth and not Romulus, and the unexplained behavior/appearances of some of the characters-Wesley, Worf, Guinan).
But a Justice League of Star Trek? Arrgghh!
Only someone with the skill of Peter David and his Q Squared, Vendetta, or Imazdi books could hope to pull off something as large and complex without making it seem hokey. Unless they did a Borg or Species 8472 invasion that would force perhaps the Alpha, Beta, and Gamma Quadrants to unite. But still you wouldn't need every Trek villian? How would you explain the resurrection of Khan, Dukat, Kai Winn, the Duras Sisters, Kruge, Chang etc. And then, who be included and who left out? (Tomalak, Sela, Seska, Silik, the Sphere Builders, the Vidiians, the Hirogen, etc., etc.) Too big, too implausible.
If they couldn't get Nemesis right I am glad that this project will never see the light of day.


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RE: Spiner Defends Nemesis by iam @ 16:13:33 on Jan 24
    RE: Spiner Defends Nemesis by Whisper @ 17:12:20 on Jan 24
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