ST:XI Spoiler Thread (READ AT OWN RISK)

[Teaos]

Well that means it was a built in system, which means they could not build it in or just turn it off.

[Sionnach Glic]

Obviously if it generates a black hole with the power to implode a planet, it should have no problems as an area effect weapon.

But I wasn't arguing that. I was arguing planet-killers in general. Many of which are beam weapons or chain reactions.

[stitch626]

I think I know why it wouldn't be used in ship battles. If you activate it near a ship that is attacking you, then you risk getting pulled in yourself.

[Sionnach Glic]

Aye, given that most ship-to-ship combat takes place withina few kilometers, you'd be pretty fucked.

[Aaron]

I really wish Trek wouldn't rely so much on super-gimmicks. If the movie is well done then it'll just be a minor quibble but if it's terrible then we'll spend the film nit-picking the device. As much as I decry large battles to be fan-service or nerd-porn, it would be preferable to see a well done Romulan assault on the Federation with the Big E leading the defence then yet another one-shot attempt to nail Terra with a device that we'll never hear of or see again.

[Sionnach Glic]

Aye, I agree. Hell, the best Trek film of all was just a fight between two ships. The Genesis Device was just background stuff in that film.

[Aaron]

Aye, I agree. Hell, the best Trek film of all was just a fight between two ships. The Genesis Device was just background stuff in that film.

Pretty much, he just snagged it cause it was there (probably to lure Kirk). I don't think he even had a plan to use it, considering he blew off his XO's attempt to get him to actually make a life for them.

[Lazar]

Audio spoilers: you can listen to four 30-second excerpts from the soundtrack on this German site. Hat tip to TrekMovie, as usual.

[CaptainQuantum]

Ok, just got back from seeing Star Trek at a media screening and I have spoilers galore. I'll just pick out a few of the highlights. Happy to answer questions.

I'll just leave the customary gap so you can bail now if you don't want to know...

[SPOILERS BELOW]











Ok, let's see:

Time travel is involved - well, duh. An alternate timeline is formed. Everyone is very clear about this. What's more, there is no reset button in this movie. So now we have pre- and post- this movie universes. I'm afraid you're going to have to pick one for your next novel.

The biggest departure in the timeline is that Vulcan is destroyed by Nero. There is no warning, only approximately 10,000 Vulcans survive. Spock saves his father from Vulcan, but cannot save his mother. Emotional turmoil ensues.

The second big departure is that Kirk's father is killed seconds after Kirk is born. But in a heroic way, so Kirk is still inspired to join Starfleet. This version of Kirk also wins the Kobayashi Maru scenario, which was programmed by Spock - it is just about the funniest scene in the film. This Kirk must be feeling some pressure, seeing as both Spock and Nero basically tell him that the original universe Kirk was Enterprise captain and all round legend.

Kirk gets his ass kicked like four times. He does outwit a Romulan though. Kirk gets it on with an Orion Starfleet cadet. I wasn't aware there were any Orions in Starfleet. Wouldn't the whole seduction thing be a liability? Speaking of seduction, Spock and Uhura play tonsil hockey.

Poor old Pike still ends up in a wheelchair, but he can at least talk this time around. He looks to be a pretty good captain from what we see.

San Francisco takes another battering. Man, who'd live there? Too dangerous. Plus this is less than a century after the Xindi attack that took out half of Florida. Aliens always target the USA, it seems.

There is a red shirt. He is super gung ho. It can't end well.

No sign or mention of ENT whatsoever. Perhaps the writers were not fans.

No familiar aliens other than Vulcans and future Romulans and aforementioned Orion. No Klingons, no Andorians, no Tellarites. And don't worry, no Borg, Ferengi or Breen. Lots of aliens we haven't seen before, though, some really inventive.

Ok, enough for now. I will do a non-spoiler review in my other thread. Questions?

[Sionnach Glic]

And now I know for certain that I will be seing this in the cinema.

[Nickswitz]

I will be seeing this in IMAX!!!!!!

[stitch626]

Just not on openning day.

Neither will I though.

[Nickswitz]

Who cares, we're definetly going like 3 or 4 times. I will, somehow.

[thelordharry]

I've read all four 'Countdown' comics and now feel prepared for the movie. The four comics themselves must surely be canon (each one proudly boasts 'the official prequel to the upcoming motion picture' and if so, there are several surprising turns of events within and I enjoyed a little look into the post NEM E-E timeline.

[CaptainQuantum]

Spoiler...

So apparently Nero's wanktastic ship is even worse than the Scimitar, rather than a planet killing radiation gun they have a planet killing Blackhole generator.

IMO Planet killing guns = fail

Although there is at least a little bit of canon behind this, arent Romulan ships powered by a singularity? Maybe they just manipulated this into a weapon somehow.

Nero's ship doesn't have a planet buster as such. It has a huge mining drill capable of drilling to a planet's core - it takes a while though. This is ok, as it is supposed to be a mining ship. Then it has a large supply of "red matter", which if dropped into the planet's core will create a black hole. No explanation of what red matter is or why it needs to be dropped into the core. So the red matter is the pseudo-science bit that will make you cringe. No connection to the Romulan singularity drive AFAIK.

BTW red matter features prominently in the Countdown comic and there is an explanation of sorts for the appearance of Nero's ship.