By
GustavoLeao /
10:21, 17 December 2012 /
Star Trek: Nemesis
As in previous Star Trek
movies, the designs of the props and weaponry used were frequently
altered and changed from film to film, and such is the case in "Star
Trek Into Darkness". Both Cinemablend and Screenrant attended the press
junket last week in Los Angeles, and reported on a few of the changes
which were revealed.
Vic Holtreman from Screenrant reported on the subtle changes made
to the communicator, phaser and tricorder. Both the communicator and
the tricorder give a nod to the Original Series, with the communicator
now sporting a mess cover, and the tricorder having disc-like readouts.
The phaser has more detailed working parts, including "an electric
motor to flip the muzzle between the 'stun' and the 'kill' settings".
In the last movie version of the phaser, it "was spring loaded and would
not work correctly quite often" --- the new one has a "gyro built in to
auto-align it to the correct position". Cosmetically, the phaser is
more streamlined, with a "shaded trigger portion". Eric Eisenberg, from
Cinemablend stated that Andy Siegel, the film's prop master said, "The
reinvention of the phaser (in the 2009 film) was really terrific --- we
just tried to do what I would do if I had a second chance at
anything".
The Klingon weaponry were also recreated in great detail, making
them much more lethal than ever seen before. The hand held disrupters
have "lethal pointed ends at the butt of the weapon", while the Klingon
rifle seen in "Star Trek Into Darkness" has a "lighting effect that
reflects that is it powered by some unstable chunk of plutonium, liable
to explode at any point --- and dual bayonet blades protruding from the
front." Klingon Bat'leths will be seen in the film, as well.
One new prop seen on the junket was "a very special briefcase-sized
device (seen in detail in the 9 minute IMAX preview) that Spock takes
with him down to the volcano planet in order to try and stop the
eruption. The first design of the case did not meet J. J. Abrams', the
director of "Star Trek Into Darkness, approval, for it was too
streamlined. In the plot line of film, Andy Siegel mentions that Spock
has to build this case from scratch, using various parts found on the
Enterprise; therefore, Abrams wanted a more organic feel to the piece.
Even the Starfleet Delta insignia underwent a change; Siegel
states that the design "has been streamlined". It still has the
traditional delta, "boomerang" shape, but they now denote military rank,
with slight differences in appearance.
The link for the Cinemablend report can be found
here, while Screenrant's can be found
here.
Special Thanks to TrekWeb Reporter John Morton
