JJ ABRAMS Enterprise

[Serafino]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

There is certainly a consistency to their design process.

Note that this Enterprise is different from the original in very much the same way as the actors who play Kirk and Spock are different from the originals. Everything has odd proportions. New Enterprise has big nacelles and a narrow waist, new Kirk has a big forehead and a small face, new Spock has a big lumpy nose and small puppy dog eyes.

It would not surprise me at all if this movie turned out to be a comedy along the lines of the Brady Bunch movie...

 

[allosaur176]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

I'm really not a ST fan, but I think the new Enterprise looks pretty good, futuristic and streamlined

 

[Onigiri]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

Actually I remember 79 clearly and I thought that the TMP E was awesome whereas I thought the INTERIORS were ugly.
I was greatly relieved that they didnt go with that PHASE 2 abomination design.
I was prepared for a new look for the E in this reboot but this thing is ungainly, disproportionate and fugly I have no issue with change but this is UGLY. My dad turned me on to Trek as a kid. I emailed him this pic today and his response was 'oh no...what did they do to the Enterprise?'
Its ugly.

I guess I'm just not having much damage with this design. Yes, it's different from what came before.

But does anyone remember seeing the first images from ST:TMP in 1979? I do. After more than a decade of there being only one and only one "Enterprise", lots of people (myself included) voiced many of the same or similar objections as voiced here.

(Time warp to 1979):

- What's up with the shape of the nacelles? They're not round?
- I don't like the swept-back shape of the pylons.
- This is heresy - the spinning red thingies on the nacelles are gone.
- What's with the blue deflector dish?
- why are there bands around the prinary hull? Where are the three windows on the front?
- what the frig are spotlights doing on this thing?

And I for one grew to love that design more than any of the others.

Not saying that you (or I) will ultimately grow as fond of this new design, nor am I criticizing anyone here for not liking what they see. Just noting that, as ST fans, we've been through what appears to be a major redesign from what we were familiar with once before, and we appear to have made it through just fine.

MKS

 

[mverta]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

...which is some of its issue, because it crosses the delicate form vs. function line of believability. It's important that the iconic ship of this series - which spends so much energy on scientific "plausibility" and technobabble not end up with a first-generation ship that's got lots of unnecessarily frilly lines and deco curves on it. In being overly ornate and artsy, it begins to look silly and implausible. To have minimized the Apple Computer factor and gone for more balance and function would have served this ship dramatically. But this movie has far greater plausibilty issues than the ship design, if you've read anything about the plot. So, really, at this point, why not have a way-too-subdivision-surface-modeled-cg-Enterprise? Actually, at this point, why not have the crew living together in a reality show at Starfleet Academy and call it a day?


_Mike

 

[micdavis]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

I just think that in ALL the talent around this big world, the makers think there is no one that could take the original Enterprise design and build a model (CG or traditional) that would look good on the big screen. All it takes is a good model and a good director of miniature photography to make it look good.

 

[mverta]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

I actually began a project to test that exact theory, by taking a CG model of the original Enterprise, and seeing if, through pure surface painting cues, etc., one can overcome the scale issues of the original design. My finding, quickly, was that the original design would absolutely work, but it needs an extra level of manufacturing detail to sell. The shapes aren't the problem, the surface is. But as you say, that's solvable. And even with a "tweak" here and there - I dunno, angled back nacelle pylons? - would still absolutely read as the Gen 1 Enterprise.

_Mike

 

[mkstewartesq]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

Actually I remember 79 clearly and I thought that the TMP E was awesome whereas I thought the INTERIORS were ugly.
I was greatly relieved that they didnt go with that PHASE 2 abomination design.
I was prepared for a new look for the E in this reboot but this thing is ungainly, disproportionate and fugly I have no issue with change but this is UGLY. My dad turned me on to Trek as a kid. I emailed him this pic today and his response was 'oh no...what did they do to the Enterprise?'
Its ugly.

Well, you and I were in different camps. I hated the changes, not just in the sets, but also in the ship and in the uniforms (Me, 1979 - "GREY bodysuits?" - me, 1982 - "MAROON?"). I kinda just wanted to see the TV show on the big screen. It was good - why change it?

But, like I said - I personally grew to love the TOS Movie designs better than the TV show. And I think one thing I like about the new design - and it does have its flaws - is that it clearly is a nod to certain details of the movie ENT design, namely those details that set the movie E apart from the TOS-E, such as bands around the primary hull, clear hull plating, and details on the pylons. So perhaps I am a bit biased toward giving this one a chance. After all, they could have totally reimagined it as something looking like the ship from The Matrix or something . . . in this regard, I count my blessings.

(Also, I'll want to see the new one in action, because I certainly see the comparisons to Galaxy Quest. Hated the ST-TMP E, just because it was different, saw it in a new light in TWOK. Similarly, really disliked the TNG-era E (kinda-still-do) but at least developed a fondness for it after seven seasons and one feature film.)

MKS

 

[mkstewartesq]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

With respect to Mike V's comments - I see the merit in bringing back (and slightly updating) the original concept. I guess I'm just resigned (and not in a negative way) that this is a reimagining and that, just as the actors will be different, the overall design will not fit continuity either, and so does not have to reference in any significant way the designs of the original series. Maybe I think of it as "slightly alternate universe" stuff.

That being said, though not direct matches for the series, the uniforms in this film are a heck of a lot more deferential to the TV show, which would have made the 11-year old me much happier in 1979.

MKS

 

[mverta]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

But there's (at least) two negative camps here:

1) Change is bad. On this, I disagree. Or at least, don't necessarily agree.

2) Change is fine, but this design is clumsy, no matter what it's for. On this, I agree. It doesn't matter if this was for Star Trek, Star Wars, Blade Runner 2, Galaxy Quest 2, whatever. It's clumsy design.


_Mike

 

[Mechamaniac]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

The primary hull and dorsal are not bad looking, everything below that is just hideous

 

[mkstewartesq]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

2) Change is fine, but this design is clumsy, no matter what it's for. On this, I agree. It doesn't matter if this was for Star Trek, Star Wars, Blade Runner 2, Galaxy Quest 2, whatever. It's clumsy design.


_Mike

I don't disagree. Never said it was perfect, or even great.

The pylon/whatever-it-is supporting the primary hull is set too far back on the secondary hull (pausing for a second to reflect on my possible "loser" status for knowing which is the "primary hull" and which is the "secondary hull" - deep breath) and the nacelles (same deep-breath moment for knowing the term "nacelles") are too rounded for my tastes. So, yes, I agree - it's ungainly, but I'm still not ready to dismiss it out of hand without seeing it in action and from different angles.

Best,
MKS

 

[mverta]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

This may help you see the proportions thing a bit better. I did this quick and dirty, a 15% reduction of the nacelles only. It may not be "right" even at this scale (I'd have to play some more) but at least you can see how the Abrams version has, like, elephantitis of the nacelles.

_Mike

 

[misterfusion]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

...which is some of its issue, because it crosses the delicate form vs. function line of believability. It's important that the iconic ship of this series - which spends so much energy on scientific "plausibility" and technobabble not end up with a first-generation ship that's got lots of unnecessarily frilly lines and deco curves on it. In being overly ornate and artsy, it begins to look silly and implausible.

_Mike

Yup.

Functional

Workhorse

Looks like it was built by the sweaty guys in the trailer.

 

[mverta]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

I don't personally believe any CG incarnation of the true TOS ship has been done convincingly yet, but I do believe that with some extra surface detail for scale, would absolutely work.

_Mike

 

[Mechinyun]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

Meh... agreed with most others.. proportions are really funky..

Looks like they just ripped TMP saucer and stuck it on some other body.

 

[ItsThatGuy]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

I really like it, but I am just a casual Trek fan.

 

[nickytea]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

That first image was a weird angle, for me.

Not going to lie, I really, really like that side profile Carson posted. Personally, I see a lot of logic in the proportions, and even in Mike's comparison, I prefer the first.

I'm interested to see more pics :thumbsup

 

[franz bolo]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

I guess I'm the odd man out because I think it looks great! So much better than any of the TV show ships (except the original of course).

The Nacelles on TNG are nauseating! I hate them. This one is nice.

Carson Dyle, from what I see, your silhouette is way off proportion wise. Your Nacelles are too large, too long and the saucer section is too small. The height of the nacelles you drew is also too high.

I love this new ship. The sensor dish are has a nice flow and the stem that holds the saucer is really nice. It reminds me of a modern day Hot Rod Starship.

FB

 

[nickytea]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

Carson, I'm not doubting your reference,
but looking at your outline, where the nacelle support connects to the hull, it doesn't match the picture just released.

 

[Ramiel]

Re: JJ AMBRANS Enterprise

Weird proportions, yes, but that looks enough "new" to me to make me think that the ship is a familiar one, but still a fresh new Enterprise... I don't know, I kinda like it so far...
But just a small single shot, especially from this angle, isn't enough to really understand its "impact" on screen...
I still look forward to the movie.