Puts the new movies to shame

Just stumbled on this after having watched Of Gods and Men (which itself is a fantastic fan production).

I have little bad to say about it. If I had to gripe, it would be (very slightly) about the lack of diversifying among the crew. While New Voyages had a Sulu heavy episode, a Chekhov heavy episode, and so on, this focuses mainly on the triad of Kirk, Spock and McCoy. Which isn't entirely off base from the original, just that I think it is unnecessarily limiting. But that's my only gripe.

That out of the way: while I thought the new movies in the reboot franchise were fun, they weren't Star Trek. Whenever I criticize them, it's that they are just shoot-em-up CGI run of the mill schlock. They don't make you think. They don't make any points about social issues or morals. Heck, even Enterprise managed that, with a bit on-the-chin comparison between 9/11 and the Xindi war.

Well my friends, this is Star Trek. Full on, space opera, morals heavy Star Trek, straight out of the 1960s. Dealing with past regrets, social injustice vs. the rule of law, moral ideals, the use of power and force vs. pacifism, this is the genuine article.

I guess I lied; I DO have one other small criticism. As true as it is to the original, I think it could be updated for the 21st century a bit. For instance (spoiler): In Lolani, instead of making it a simple question of slavery and who can own a person if anyone, perhaps they could have made it a new race, not the Orions, who don't permit their women to be seen in public, who must always be accompanied by men... but that the Federation via Kirk and Bones in particular judges that without all the facts; in other words, getting to both sides of the current issue with Muslim women and traditional garb and so forth, and the lack of in-depth understanding and prejudice on both sides.

Still, in terms of look, feel, sound, pacing, presentation, it's an absolute masterpiece. White Iris actually made me tear up. None of the current Trek movies ever did that.

I wish that Paramount and CBS hadn't put the lid on fan productions, but had instead encouraged them, and somehow worked them into canon, ensuring DVD releases (perhaps as bonus features if you bought a box set or something) to showcase these fine people's work, for a very small royalty (say a penny on the dollar) and permitting the staff making these types of productions to be for profit, if only just. Because you know what? Making fans happy instead of alienating them (see Axanar) is good business.