Where no Scientologist has gone before...
Rumor has it that our long-lost Tom Cruise is considering a cameo as Capt. Christopher Pike in the new Star Trek movie. (Count to 10 now and let that set in. And remember in space, no one can hear you scream.)
As all Trekkies know, Pike was James T. Kirk's predecessor as captain of the Enterprise and was the main character on the unaired pilot of the show. Pike also appears in the episode entitled "The Menagerie."
Personally, I'd rather see Cruise play "Klingon #3" -- the one who gets blown in the vacuum of space in the first two minutes of the film. But I guess that's not a good use of the studio's money.
Would Cruise's appearance in a Star Trek film help or hurt the franchise? It's not like the TV series or movies were over-populated with Oscar-nominated thespians before, so he'd lift the level of acting. But given his odd behavior lately, it can only be a distraction. As my favorite blogger -- "What Would Tyler Durden Do" -- says:
"... You're asking for trouble to put Tom Cruise's scientology lovin' ass on a spaceship. You'll yell action, he'll see some lasers, think it's the rapture and start killing everyone."
Relive the music, movies and culture of the greatest decade ever with Times online editor Steve Spears. A teen during the decade, Steve is obsessed with everything from Duran Duran to Journey, John Hughes to John Cusack, and parachute pants to Reaganomics.
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"Just a moment Khan......" Star Trek II and that scene is priceless! Shatner says it like the Wheel of Fortune host.
Also the death of Spock, with Scotty playing the bagpipes. This was ripped off in Family Guy, it was brilliant.
Posted by: Al | August 09, 2007 at 07:02 PM
Leave the kid alone. *glares menacingly*
That reminds me - when you gonna do a show about The Wanderers (or did I miss it already)?
Posted by: Six | August 09, 2007 at 05:23 PM
Nemesis and Insurrection are two flicks I don't know where to place. Both seem like hour-long episodes that were stretched to movie length.
Posted by: Spears | August 09, 2007 at 09:57 AM
Wrath of Khan definitely is #1.
Wrath of Khan brought to mind something that might bring some contention to the title of this post...Kirstie Alley played Lt. Savik in this one and she is definitely a major player in the whole Scientology scam. I don't know if she was a member at the time the movie was made however, but it would lead to the question about whether or not a Scientologist had journeyed into space with the Star Trek crew.
Another tidbit o' useless knowledge brought to you by Devo fans for a Devo podcast!
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | August 09, 2007 at 08:18 AM
Star Trek 3 (the search for Spock) was worse than Final Frontier, IMHO.
If you have to rank them, here's my list:
ST2: Wrath of Khan
First Contact
The Undiscovered Country
Generations
Voyage Home
Nemesis
Insurrection
The first movie
Final Frontier
Search for Spock
Posted by: Spears | August 09, 2007 at 05:34 AM
Considering this Star Trek movie will blow.....I don't really care who's in it.
First Contact was the last decent ST film, but that was only because of the Borg.
Heck, anything's better than Star Trek V: The Final Frontier!
Posted by: Al | August 08, 2007 at 11:58 PM
Yeah, I think the Capt Pike version where he is deformed in the machine with the one or two blinking lights on the front would be the only way I want to see TC...
Posted by: Hamptune | August 08, 2007 at 01:18 PM
Hey, maybe that dude from Heroes will eat his brain!
"Captain, eating his brain was...logical."
Night Of The Living Spock....
Actually, the thought of Tom Cruise wind up crippled in some high tech wheel chair brings to mind another role:
Born On The Fourth Of July, 2574
Is my early morning donut sugar rush showing??? I better quit.
Posted by: Douglas Arthur | August 08, 2007 at 07:57 AM