Difficult To See The Future Is

This is a tough one to wrap my brain around. My 15 year old brain or the current one.

My mum is a Star Trek fan. Original Series of course. I remember taking her to see Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home in theaters for her birthday in '87. I also remember being dragged (I didn't realize how awesome it was at the time) to a comic con to see William Shatner. His intro music was Rod Stewart's "Forever Young." That song will ALWAYS remind me of Shatner.

Growing up, and even into the teenage years it was all Star Wars, all the time. I was a fiend. Even in the dark years between Return of the Jedi and the special editions. But then the Prequels were released and chipped away at my passion for the franchise little by little. And not just the Prequels, but since, everything Star Wars has revolved around the Prequels. We've been inundated with terrible movies and their characters.

Enter J.J. Abrams. Imagine my surprise when his version of the previously reviled Star Trek franchise gave me everything I wanted that I didn't get from the Prequels. I won't go so far as to say I'll choose Trek over Wars, but now its at least a close game.

So now Abrams, who ushered in a brand new, exciting Star Trek with two movies (even though Into Darkness isn't out yet I'm gonna say its good) is off to direct Star Wars: Episode VII. I'm torn. I believe he can do a great job and reinvigorate a once-beloved franchise, not just for us old heads, but for everyone.

The problem? Remember when Bryan Singer did two great movies (X-Men and X2) and then dipped for another rival franchise (Superman Returns) and the conclusion to the X-franchise kind of smoked a kong dong? Is that the fate we have in store for Star Trek now that Abrams is leaving? Surely he can't juggle two franchises of such magnitude?

But I don't blame him. Its not everyday you get to play in those particular sand boxes.

So, live long and prosper, J.J... and I guess may the Force be with you too.

-Gint