Phasers Set To Stun: Star Trek Beyond

0:01 Space the Final Frontier. Join us for a bold conversation our prime directive to recap our favorite Star Trek shows, both new and old, to engage and debate about all things Trek. Prepare to energize with Phasers Set to Stunt. Hello everyone, and welcome back to Phaser Sets Tune, where we continue to show our love for everything Star Trek in this ongoing series from a film by podcast which focuses on every quadrant of the expanding universe of Trek by covering television, animation, movies, directors, and so much more.

0:56 Plotting the course as always is your core track crew. I'm David Byrne, I'm Scott Hoffman, and I'm Wayne Whited. As we always do, read alert. If you haven't seen this film, please go do so and then come back to join us. We will be right here on the bridge waiting. Well. Gentlemen, we have finally hit the end of these cinematic films with the thirteenth Star Trek in twenty sixteenth Star Trek Beyond. It is the final film as of this podcast in the Calvin Timeline in the last of all the Star Trek films for now, directed by Justin Linn, a Fast and the Furious Fame while written by Simon Pegg and Doug Jong. Well before we get too far into. Deep space and start breaking this down, Scott tell our listeners what this film is all about.

1:40 So we begin with a little drama in a negotiation with the new species where a seemingly insignificant artifact presents bigger problems for the Kelvin Kirks crew. This all happens with the crew at a crossroads. Prime Spock's death gives Kelvin Spock's second thoughts about continuing on the Enterprise. Kurt faces a similar decision, advances Vice Admiral Or continue exploring, as his birthday brings him one year older than his father ever got to be before his untimely death. This, combined with the routine of a five year mission, weighs on Kirk. Breaking the tension is a distress call from the edge of Federation space that turns into a trap. Enterprise is destroyed by a swarm attack and the crew is held hostage. Their key to survival is a new friend who holds the secret to the story's villain, a strangely a strange new character with oddly familiar ties to Starfleet's past. His plan was to destroy the Federation and an act of revenge for being left behind by Starfleet's march toward the future. It's original story engineered by Scotti and as you mentioned, Doug Young and Justin Lynn. But will the Kelvin timeline go beyond this trilogy? Let's discuss.

2:49 Well. I don't know about that. I guess I think the answer is probably no, even though I keep hearing rumors of it, but it's pretty much been This is it for them, right. I think, so not going to get these guys back from that. I don't think so it's done. I don't either. Yeah, yeah, I agree. So, in my opinion, this is the weakest of the new films. Granted, it did okay. At the box office because it was like one hundred and eighty five million out of budget and ended up earning three hundred and forty three million, So I mean it did, it did well. But I'm curious what you guys think about it. Do you think this is the weakest of the Neu trilogy? No, I definitely don't. Yeah. I mean when I saw it in theaters, I remember being slightly confused more than anything, until I watched at home a couple of different times, which was a little off putting at first. I remember still having some my arms kind of crossed and folded, like sitting there in the seat because Into Darkness took some turns that I wish it hadn't taken. So I feel like that last left a big, kind of a bad taste in my mouth. But I want to like it a lot more because it's written by Simon Pegg yep, and I think subsequent watchings have made me appreciate it a little bit more.

4:07 But I definitely don't think it's one that I want to keep coming back to to keep watching. Wayne, what about you? You seem to like it? Well, I don't think it's the weakest. I still think and a darkness is the weakness. It has a lot of problems, but and this film does too. It's not the best, It's nowhere near like two thousand and nines, But I don't think it's that bad of a film. I at least I at least left feeling like I watched something original, something something you know new to star Trek for sure, you know it does. I think the change of director helped. I think the change of writers really helped because I feel some of the dialogue is actually rather rather good, you know, much better than what it was in the last film. But there are a lot of problems. I think the film is a little little too flashy, little too bombastic, But to me, it feels like a typical away mission, more like an original series episode, just with bigger space battles and more fistfighting.

5:11 I guess, yeah, I wasn't a big fan of the villain in this. I guess we kind of can discussed about con too in the last one, but just wasn't a big fan. And don't get me wrong, Heter just did a fantastic job, but I just I just didn't like the villain at all. He really just bothered me. I just feel like it didn't build up to where I wanted to go. I guess I liked the reveal that you know, he was the captain of it. Was it the Franklin? I believe he says Franklin, And I like that with that we find that out, But I still just like mah, I just felt the whole ending felt flat to me altogether. Well, yeah, you're right, You're absolutely right, and that's that's my biggest problem with the film itself is the villain.

5:53 You know, it was so vague, but what what was his motive? Yeah? I mean really there there really was anything at least told to us. You know, he hates Starfleet, that's one thing, But you know, why is he doing what he's doing? Why didn't you just just leave it all alone? You know, why does he need to kill everybody? I don't understand that. They really never made that very clear as to why he's doing what he's doing. I think it was just the revenge on Starfleet? Is that what you got out of that scut? Yeah? I mean the there's some interesting depth there in that when you finally get the reveal and you understand that it's Edison, who's someone who There are some similar notes to Zod in Man of Steel where it kind of felt like, you know, I was born and bred for war, and when that was left behind, the Federation moved forward, but it just kind of shoved me off onto some distant corner, and when my crew disappeared, they did nothing for me. Right, So I think there's some interesting depth there that I wish would have come sooner, which is the confusing part. Right, Like he starts as something that seems like a new species, a new person.

7:10 And it's only until much much later we find out that he used to be part of what preceded the Federation. They're kind of an offshoot that they've appreciated the formation of Starfleet. I would have cared about his character in different ways if that had been introduced earlier. You see his like slow kind of I guess, revolving into more of a human form. I think it was kind of interesting they had that kind of vampire assimilation suit. I guess it was like technology that lets you drain somebody's life.

7:50 Worset would also kind of take on the the rest properties or there right right, like their biological distinctiveness. It's kind of a revered right Yeah, I thought the same thing. And then you got Jala's character, who could have kind of added to that and said, you know, Edison and whoever was left did the same thing to her family, basically drained them dry. That we would have gotten aspects of that, but it just kind of felt like all that, all those pieces came together too late, and and it just at the end ended up being somebody who has been on revenge had magical space goo that was going to kill everybody, but nothing that necessarily felt like you shouldn't go any further.

8:35 And here's why. And another thing that bothers me that it is I just lost this luster is seeing an enterprise. Getting destroyed again. Yes, I'm so tired of it. Okay, yes, don't get me wrong. The visuals were absolutely gorgeous, but can we stop destroying the enterprise? I mean I don't feel emotionally attached to it at all, like I did with losing the OG enterprise and Search Response and of course losing Enterprise D in Generations. I was emotionally attached to those enterprises, you know, because we had seen them for so long that you felt a loss. It was like losing a character. But they do it so much now saying, ah, no big deal, We're going to lose another ship. What is rebuild it?

9:16 I'm tired of it, I really am. And it just that's another thing that took me out of this film. I was like, here we go again, We're going to destroy another ship. And again. I don't want to take anything from the visuals because I thought they were stunning, but I'm just tired of it. Yeah, I mean, it's an interesting tactic, the way that they do destroy the Enterprise. I was a little surprised that they didn't take another approach to reacting to it. You know, if you have a shotgun blast coming at you, you've got, you know, all these different kind of things kind of flying at you. I would think evasive maneuvers would be the thing, not try to shoot as many of these pellets as you can. That to me, I couldn't.

10:00 I can really see around that. I think the problem I have with it is the Kelvin Timeline. They treat the Enterprise like it's just as ship. They don't treat it like a character like the original stuff does. It's just like, oh, it's just this is something we're just on board. We don't care about it. That's what it feels like the entire trilogy of the Kelvin Timeline. It's no big deal, it's no loss. And I'm sorry, but the Enterprise is a character just as much as Kirk Spock, all of them, and they should treat it as such, just like any military does to whatever they're on, an airplane or a battleship, whatever it is. They treat that thing like part of the family.

10:41 The Kelvin timeline. Hell with it. We don't care about it. And that's what really bothers me about the Kelvin timeline in the Enterprise. I one how to agree with everything you guys said. It's just it's tiring seeing the damage and seeing the destruction of the enterprise because we're not attached to it. You know, it's big deal if they'll get another one. You know, who cares? Yep, that's wrong. Yeah, it's I'm kind of glad that we're not going to see any more. Of the Calvin timeline, to be honest with you, because. I'm to be honest, I'm done with it. I really am. I want to move on to something else. I really do it. We kind of feels like it hasn't been established as a home necessarily because you don't have family living on board with them, and I feel like when you get more of those kind of emotional attachments, then it means a little bit more when it's destroyed.

11:35 It was also kind of a an odd moment where we're meeting them, because Kirk is kind of embodying that whole. We're on a five year mission and I'm already kind of done with the routine by year three, right, Not that there's not a lack of excitement, because he's like, I ripped another shirt, what's gonna do? But it just kind of seems like it's more of the job that a home that you really kind of enjoy it. Like we see on Strange New Worlds. I think the attachments that they form on the Enterprise are really what creates that association with the Enterprise as a home, and we just haven't had the chance to get that yet.

12:17 Yeah. I mean in Search for Spokland, when you see the ship going down and Kirk looks the bones and what have I done? You feel that, you know, you feel it? This is just like okay, whatever, let's move on. Okay. Yeah, Well, we've spent what seventy eight episodes, twenty two animated episodes, and four or three films at that point that it was a it was a main character to starch Cracker. We cared about that ship and everything that happened, and just like Kirk did, and seeing it destroyage was gut wrenching. This who cares? You know what we saw destroyed before? You know, we really we got no chance to attach ourselves to it at all. Right, absolutely, now I will tell you, the one thing I do love in this film is the team how yeah they when they crash on the planet and you get all these different team ups. I and one of my favorites is Spock and McCoy. There is so much comedic gold between these two guys, and the chemistry is spot on between the two of them, it really is.

13:16 That's my favorite part of this whole movie is those two. Yeah, there's that that bit where McCoy and Spock and Spock's talking about something and McCoy says horseshit and and Spock comes back says, I fail to see how excreepman has any kind of plays apart. I love that, and I think. He even uses the horseshit a little bit later done he Spock does. Yeah, that's another one where there uh back to back and uh Bones is saying, well, at least I know I'm not going to die alone he gets transported away. He's like typical, like typical. It. It kind of made me think of, you know, when we talked about search for Spock, and obviously there is the mind meld kind of thing. It was there that brought them a little bit closer. But I think this team up brought them closer in other ways that I thought were more meaningful.

14:09 And I love the scene where they're sitting there and Spock is talking about Prime Spock's death and the weight that he has on him, and to be able to talk each other through that is fantastic. And then when you frame that with kind of on the opposite side, when they're being told that they're going to be transported onto one of the bees together, he like, forget all that stuff I said in the cave, You're dead to me, you know, Like it goes right back to form. So I love that kind of I love that dynamic that I think they used really really well. And I was glad that Chekhov got a meaningful, I think duo with Kirk, especially considering this is Anton Yelgan's last feature, which is a tragedy. Obviously, I think he does an amazing job in this Let's check off. I think he's done consistently well in all the Calvin movies. I thought he was a fantastic role in Fright Knight. Hmm. I think it's a shame that we lost him, but I'm glad that he had so much to do in this movie because I would hate to see this be the last one and have enough use of him.

15:24 He was definitely very talented actor that we lost too young. There's that about that for sure. Yeah, it's this one of the big plus I will give this film and the writers, obviously Simon Pegg is very conscious about this. This this film does feel more like an ensemble piece than the last one. Everyone is given their time on screen. Everyone's given a genuine hero moment. You know, it felt it felt very even with everybody. Of course, the main three Kirksbock, McCay gets center stage obviously, but no one was just thrown off the side and given you know, a few lines which we saw quite a lot with the other films. Completely agree with that, and that's that's what I love about this film is that very thing the ensemble. They get more to do on screen and it comes off fulfilling and pushing the story in a much better way than the previous films have. So yes, I completely agree with that one of mine. For sure.

16:19 We got our usual cast, you know that has been through this trilogy, but we got some additions. Obviously, the villain kral Idris Elbus, who is a really good actor and I think he did a good job for what he had. I think he did. Sophia Botella, who plays Jayla, I love Jayla. I really liked her character in this. I like to see that she joined Starfleet at the end of this because she obviously said to have to. Wear one of those silly uniforms in Jaya. But I would love to see her something about her and other films. I don't know what they would do, even in comic books anything. I would like to see more of her character since we know she joined Starfleet, I would like to see something happen with.

17:03 Her because I loved her character. I thought. I thought Sophia did a fantastic job. Did Yeah, and I agree. I think Arius Alba does a great job as Krawl, considering that he's so many different versions of Krawl. It wasn't until the third time that I watched this that I was able to identify that it felt like the first crawl that we get is before he starts to kind of lose, almost like his makeup starts to get kind of smoothed out. He reminds me of a blend between Tim Curry from Legend and Lewis GUSSI junior from Enemy Mine.

17:45 I see that. Effect, like it was like, that's why this reminds me of But I think he did a good job of, you know, stepping through those different kind of things, and I think it's kind of a shame again that they didn't explain that a little bit more. You get one kind of hint where he's holding two crew members and they started to become almost kind of mummified. I don't know, maybe if we had seen him as a different kind of captain who has already lost all of his crew, who maybe did think of his you know, ship as more of a home, that would have posed a little bit more of kind of a mirror to Kirk and what he's decided to do or Spock and what he's thinking about doing. It would add a little bit more time to this, which I don't think we need, really need, But yeah, I think he did a good job. And I agree Sophia as Jayla was a very interesting character.

18:38 It'd be interesting to see that as some kind of a spinoff in some fashion, But I'd rather not go into Calvin timeline and then the other timeline. I'd rather continue with Strange New worlds. But yeah, I think there's some potential. There that was missed. I agree, absolutely. Another there's a few other editions here. I know Lydia Wilson, who plays Kolara, one of the actresses who joined this cast briefly. Obviously, she plays Commodore. Paris is a Sarah Deshlou. I don't know. I'm probably butchering her last name, but she is absolutely amazing. Yes, I love her voice. She's very distinguished in that voice, and as you hear, you know who it is. But if you guys haven't seen the amazing Amazon series The Expanse, highly highly recommended. She has a major role in that show, and that's where I fell in love with her as an actress. Even to the listeners actor, if you've not seen The Expanse, you are missing out. First three seasons are absolutely phenomenal science fiction. Definitely check that out. Last season not so much, but hey, it is what it is.

19:48 But she's a wonderful actress and I was so happy when I saw her in this film. Cool And of course, and Greg Greenberg, who always pops up in JJ Abram stuff, you. Guys, every Yeah, he plays Commander Finnigan in this I know J. J. Abrams dropped out of directing this because he obviously was joining Star Wars and couldn't do Star Trek. I'm stabbing the back of a lot of Trekki's out there moving into the world of Star Wars. But I think he made the smart decision. I think the franchise. It was good for the franchise, for Star Trek. Anyway, even though Justin Lann don't think was a great choice.

20:28 It really felt like Fast and the Furious Star Trek. And I get it because he directed what three of those films, Fast and the Furious. Yeah, I think it did. So I see some of those elements that he brought into this film, and I guess, you know, they wanted that fast pace in this film, you know, for the more modern audience. I guess you could say I get it, but it is what it is. I suppose. Yeah, I mean he did. He did a great job with something that is so action oriented. Yeah, that is you know, the the action choreography of ships played a major part in this. And then of course one motorcycle scene that I don't know, a certain point it felt it felt a bit silly, like it felt hard to believe that one, but yeah.

21:21 And let me correct a mistake that I made on the last podcast too. When I was listing the actors that had been in my other favorite series, Doctor Who, I missed a big one, and we haven't really talked about his character, even though he's been in all three of them. That's deep Roy Keyneser, you know, it's an original character. The idea of having a Scotty having an assistant like that is pretty unique. And I've always loved the character in all three of the films, you know. And he was in one of probably was considered one of the best Doctor's stories ever written back in the seventies called The Towns of wing chaig All. You should really check that one out. But he is a wonderful actor, has been in so many things and is great in all three of these Star Trek films.

22:03 He was in my favorite childhood movie, Never a New Story. Yes he was. Yep. I think it's good that his character Keneser has been given so much more to do, like he hasn't been just kind of left behind, which he could have been. But I think his acting in the role is really a fitting for it, even though there are no lines whatsoever. But I love the relationship that he has with Scotty, that they continued that kind of closeness. I also think the design of the character is fascinating. I think it was. It is more. Interesting in the first one where you could see they were kind of like almost for pupils. But yeah, that's a good call, Deeproad, a degree job.

22:45 He did, good calling. All right, well, let's take a break and when we come back, we will continue our discussion of twenty sixteen Star Trek Beyond Welcome Back Everybody to Phase set. This time, we were continuing our discussion about Star Trek Beyond, the last film of the Calvin timeline. So let's let's talk more. About this film itself. To me, I said this was the weakest of the trilogy. I will go on record again to say this was the weakest opening. Of all three films. That yeah, it just me you know, him giving Kirk giving a speech to you to giving which we find out later is the actual you know, device the villains looking for, but you know, approaching them and giving them a speech and them just coming out of nowhere. To me, yeah, it's funny because they looked like they were huge and all of a sudden are these tiny little creatures.

23:40 I just I don't know, I just did not like the openingest film. Am I wrong? No, you're not wrong, You're not wrong, And it is it is the weakest I liked in at Dark. This is interest. That's probably the only thing I really liked about that film. But nothing can beat the the intro for the first one, nothing at all, not at all. Well, it's it's kind of a disarming intro because they seem to be these gigantic monsters of these big booming voices, and then of course they look like they're you know, the size of bulldogs. What kept coming back for me with this one is, you know, the parts of a horrible weapon which must never come back together at the you know, the risk of the entire universe or whatever.

24:26 Reminded me of a couple of different Next Generation stories. In particular, there's the one with the there was a vulcan device I think it was, that had been split into different pieces and they eventually had to do You remember which one I'm talking about. I remember similar story that I don't remember what it was, though, but yes, yeah, I do remember that. The point is this is one part of some kind of horrible weapon, and we're just gonna hand it over casual without studying it. And it seems like, yes, it's kind of this diplomacy like this, you know, species gave it to us to give to you as a sense of trust or whatever. But if they're going to hand it over, fine in the sense of diplomacy whatever, But if they're going to store it in their archives, and if he's going to put it in the back of Ensign SIL's head, feels like they should study it a bit more, yeah, to say like is this radioactive? Is it filled with the magic space goop? Is this like what is happening there? And it kind of felt bad for engine Zill when her you know, the tendrils or whatever open up on the back of her head and I don't know if it was naturally part of her skin on the back of her head or if she it looked like there was kind of some discoloration, and I was like, is this thing like melting her brain as she's holding this For Kirk, it just seemed like that one was a little bit of a like everybody

25:56 knows about this ancient weapon. This starfleet had it in their hands, but they didn't study it at all, it seems odd. It does very odd. Yeah, I don't know, there's a goof good job, star Fleet, good job, or section thirty one when you need them right. I did like the or Town space station. I thought that was absolutely amazing. Again, visuals were absolutely stunning here. Matter of fact, even when we get all the different shots around the space station, getting to see what it looks like. I thought the piece of music here was fantastic. Yep, definitely one hundred percent agree with that. That's actually my favorite part of the soundtrack. Mine too, so yeah, yeah, and seeing that space station like that can only makes me think of what it would look like today if they would do a new TV series like Deep Space nine. Getting to see a space station now with the visuals that they have at their disposal would just be phenomenal.

26:55 Yeah. I mean, I think there's some good action choreography there as well, because I think the shots where you basically see the the Franklin cruising through under the underwater yeah river. Yeah, I thought that was a clever use of it. I found it kind of disorienting how it had that kind of central hub with the gravity weirdness of the center of this Dicens for your kind of thing. It had to be kind of thinking, like, how can you know which end is up when you're in this place? Or does that not necessarily under you're just kind of walking on the sidewalk you look up, there's other things I don't necessarily notice. It just seems like with that gravity distortion, it just feels like it'd be kind of odd to live there.

27:39 It's not the first time we've seen something like that. It's my fact that's the way Babylon five was set up as the station in that that you know, interior round version. I've seen it. This is It's a rather common thing in sci fi and I love it in Star Trek. It's very unique. We've never seen anything like that here in Star Trek this first time, and I think it's it's fantastically done in this film. Yeah, I agree, it's kind of neat saying it in Star Trek like this. It was beautiful in my opinion. So kind of the backtrack a little bit what you were talking about earlier, Scott about Spock when he learns of the passing of investors Spot. I like that he put that weight on his shoulders and just didn't come out and tell anybody.

28:22 I know, he didn't have a lot of. Time because things happened so fast. You know, they go on a mission and the ship falls apart and everything happens. But he and he does end up telling that to McCoy, but then later on he you know, he talks to Kirk about it. I like that he kept that to himself as long as he could because it was very personal, obviously because it's him, you know, it's just in a different timeline. But I really liked it, and I know him and McCoy had that conversation about it, and you know, McCoy even said, you know, it's that's got to be you know, I don't remember the exact words he says, but he tells him, you know that it's got to feel something awkward, you know, finding out that he's passed away, because I mean literally, it's kind of you So it really definitely has to feel weird. So I like that aspect of the script that they did that, and I think it was when he did eventually tell Kirk, it just made it that much more special. And of course we get that wonderful shot at the end, the picture of the og crew, which I thought was a wonderful, wonderful touch in this film.

29:27 Yeah. Yeah, there's a lot that coincides with the passing of Lennon me Moy related to this movie. I know that that had an impact on Zachary Quinto in his performance here. I think it was a very smart choice to make that part of Spock's story here, because it's something as far as like, you know, continuing the Vulcan culture. Is that how does he want to do that? He knows he has a role in it, but knowing that the person that he confides with about that is Bones. It was kind of the last person that he would confide anything in. But we see them have that. You know, it's always been this kind of contentious kind of relationship but they're still close. Yeah, and having that open conversation after an injury, which makes him probably more likely to you know, laugh out of you know, whether he's delirious or whatever. I think it was well performed and well written, So yeah, I totally agree.

30:31 Yeah, to go back to the visual again, I know I talked about it how I hated the Enterprise getting destroyed again, but I did love the one shot when Kirk is in. His escape pod and you see his reflection in the window, but you also see the soft infection of the ship going down. I thought that was an amazing shot. Amazing, it was one of the best. Yeah. Yeah, just how much they can do now with CGI just blows my mind anymore. And then how they used the soft refection and when they turned on the was it the impulse engines that are in the saucer reflection or whatever it was to get it to you know, to help them escape and then eventually flips it up. And onto killing the one what's her name? But anyway, I thought that was a really cool scene. Yeah, a lot of good camera.

31:18 Work too, justin Lynn used and again in the sauce reflection where you know, he comes out of the one and the camera goes up into the air and it comes back down into the sauta reflection to see check off and Kirk. I thought that was a really cool shot that he did there. It's amazing what they can do now. But I guess CGI kind of kind of help with that, but you. Still got to help a lot, it does, but you still got to know how to choreograph that campus and your actors so to be able to mix that with CGI is just something phenomenal in itself. It really is. Yeah, We're we're past though, those days where you know, you shoot the film and then you spend you know, six eight months doing post production visual effects. They have to work very close together, now, yep, yep.

31:59 I think related to that. The other escape that I really liked was Scotti's departure. He kind of took a queue from into darkness. But yeah, slipping into a photon torpedo, yeah, I mean, there's there's no other you know, there's no more of a hold your breath moment than escaping in something that's meant to explode. So well, okay, I mean, I mean, when you got to do it, you gotta do it right, just the other way exactly. I lo a choice. He had a better chance of being in the torpedo than he was on the ship. So it made sense. But that was a really cool shot too. I like that the bees. I thought those were cool, even though I didn't like the ship getting destroyed. Again, I thought those were phenomenal, especially when you get to see that gigantic wave of them destroying your town. I really thought that was just a cool shot. And then of course they have to use sabotage to be.

32:53 The music that interferes with the. Bees, which I liked as a callback, and it's. D choice right exactly. Yeah. I mean as much as they were using the waves and the swarms to attack, seeing how they were disrupted with a similar kind of fluid motion, I think that was a good choice. I mean it's original that they incorporated it actually into the store rather than just playing it. I like that idea. I wish more films would do that rather than just you know, oh, I like this song was put it in the film somehow? Yeah, right, completely aguring. What anything else you guys want to discussed the film before we move on behind the scenes. Nope, There's just one one line that stood out to me that I really liked. When Scotty was inspiring Jayla to to kind of take the action that she needed to, and he said, my wee granny used to say, you can't break a stick in a bundle, which just makes me think of the newer Planet of the Apes series where it's apes together strong, and they kind of symbolized that by him holding like a bunch of sticks together and not being able to break it. I don't know, It's a small moment, but I thought it was a cool line that kind of stuck with me.

34:04 That is a pretty cool line. All right, let's talk behind the scenes, guys. I know one of the things I found interestings you guys saw the black eye that Chris Pine had. Kirk had. That's a real black eye. Yeah, he actually got that from the fight he had with Carl who actually but actually hit him for real. So I think that's kind of cool though, that the real brutes. Yeah, I'm glad they left that in because you rarely see that after a fight, so to see some lasting repercussions was nice. Yeah, sure was. I know we talked about in the intro that this is the thirteenth Star Trek film. This beats out Paramounts other franchise who had the most sequels, and that was of course, Fight at the Thirteenth. They had twelve, and Star Trek beats it, which is kind of funny enough.

34:58 You would think they would have got to Fight thirteenth Part thirteen because of the number, but they didn't. There's no thirteenth of the thirteenth. There is not, unfortunately, so kind of interesting that Star Trek beat fright of the thirteenth and sequel. Oh well, it's not over yet. You know, there's still plenty more they can do with the both of the franchises, So we'll see who wins. True that we'll just cross it over with Jason. X yeah or not? No or not, let's not do that at all. Let's not do that ever. Yeah, good ideas. So, I know we kind of discussed a little bit. Do we think. The Calvin timeline is going to continue? I think we're all pretty much in agreement here that it's dead in the water.

35:40 Yeah, pretty much. Year is a past. Yeah. Yeah. One of the things that I liked they was after the passing of Anton, jj Abrams announced that Chekhov would not be recast. So at that time they probably thought there was going to be. A fourth film, and he even said, you know, I would say, you can't replace him, there will be no new casting. Can't imagine that. And I think Anton deserved better. And I completely agree with jj Abrams. If there was would have been a fourth one in the Calvin town line, I don't know what they would have done, but there's no way they should. Have recasted that role at all. Yeah. I would rather see them invest in more strange new worlds. I'd rather see them invest more in lower decks or things similar to it. But Picard, I think it was a great proof of concept that there's still life to be had in the original series crew, that you get some interesting directions when you give it to more than one type of director, Like, it doesn't always have to be somebody who's deeply steeped in sci fi.

36:46 They can take a swing at these kind of things and make them successful. I mean, this was honestly a successful movie. I think it was just at the end of where this franchise, or where this timeline in the franchise really wanted to go, had to go. What would go ahead? What would you think? Now, by no means do I want this? But what would you think if they decided to do a Kelvin timeline of the Next Generation? No easy there are? Wayne, Yeah, I agree with you, but but hold on, now, what do you just think of the possibilities though movies only not TV series. I don't want it because by no means I mean the next Generation to me is sacred.

37:28 I agree with. Wayne, but just just briefly think about it, what they could do, the potential. I mean it feels like one I wouldn't want to do those stories over again because no feel like sacrilege. But it has the original stuff we don't want to we don't into darkness again. I think I think it's it's a tough call. I know, yeah, I don't. I don't think there's anything where I would necessarily want to say, oh, yes, I could recognize that because it's the Kelvin timeline. It feels like, again, this kind of proves the idea that there's It's almost like this was proof that you should make something like Strange New Worlds because it can be successful and keep things moving on. I think there's room in the Strange New World's universe to have something that continues into that type of future age. But I think they can take their time with it. They don't have to make such a leap from sixties original series two Nest Generation. There's so much in between. I hope they kind of take their time with that, But it wouldn't be interesting when we eventually get there.

38:33 I wouldn't want to see it at all. I just well, here here's the reason. And I can handle the recasting of the original series because a lot of years have passed. But Star Trek is such a nonlimited limited idea that I would rather see something new and something original with original characters, original ship. It's infinite. What can be done right to them having to go and recast another one? Once is once was okay? It worked twice? Would not work? Or take all the money and give a Star Trek legacy? Oh that yeah, definitely.

39:14 I think Wayne, kind of similar to what you made me think of was if we get to the point where we're seeing news stories in the next generation timeline, don't make it the Enterprise, Yeah right, make us a new crew, make it a different ship, and you can say like you can. You can refer to the Dominion War, you can refer to the Klingon conflicts and and things like that. You can even refer to Wolf three five nine if you want to, like they did in the card. But it doesn't have to be Enterprise. It doesn't not love it or hate it. Discovery showed us that you can do another series with another ship you and so you know, look at all that could be possible and any time. Why, I mean, we've got so much more that has not been explored. We don't need to be recasting and rehashing old stories. I agree, there are so many great news stories to be had if the writers would and the studios would allow it.

40:13 Yeah, I completely agree. I just wanted to put that out there to see what you guys thought, pretty much to answer that you. Would, so answered loudly. All right, let's move on to you, I know, Wayne's favorite part. Let's talk about the easter eggs. Wayne, what do you got? Oh easter eggs? Oh? You know, I got quite a few of them actually from this film. First of all, to start off, the film takes place two and a half years into the character's five year mission, because it stated that it's this story takes place on its nine hundred and sixty sixth the day, which would mean that their mission started on May twelfth, twenty two sixty. Now, for reference, this is five years before the Prime Universe Kirk took command of the Enterprise and began it's five year mission that we saw in the original series. The working title for the sequel was Believe It or Not Washington Project. I have no idea. I could not find out why they use that title, but that was it. This is only the second Star Trek film to not have any scenes taking place in or around Earth, with the other one being Star Trek Insurrection. Now. According to the logs of the USS Franklin, Balthasar Edison was a MACO major before he was the captain of the Franklin. Now MAKO stands for the Military Assault Command Operations, which is a division that was created before Starfleet came into being and is basically the future version of the Marines. The log stated that he participated in the Zendi Wars, which would possibly make

41:43 him one of the makos that was assigned to the Enterprise NX one under Captain Jonathan Archer during that third season of Star Trek Enterprise. One of the stories of the Franklin's fate involved a giant green Hand. This has to be a reference to the original series episode Who Mourns for Edonius. Giant Greenhand also appears in the end credits of the film. Now. Simon Pegg, the writer, confirmed that Commodore Paris is a distant relative to Lieutenant Tom Parris and possibly his grandmother. The names of the two crew members that were killed during the Krawl attack Martin and Tomlinson. Those are the same crew members that were killed in the Prime Universe during the original series episode Balance of Terror. This is the first on screen appearance of a ship other than the Enterprise d to separate its saucer. Now, this has always been an option of the original Enterprise, but this is the first time where we actually see it. This is a little bit of a possible blooper here. Krawl mentions that the Federation's centuries of expansion, but according to the final episode of Star Trek Enterprise, which was called these are the Voyages, the Federation at the time of this film is only about one hundred years old. Now, remember that the Kelvin timeline, anything before the events of the Narrata and the destruction of the Kelvin in twenty two thirty three are the same, which would make the Federation one hundred years old. So maybe he just thinks it's a lot longer than what

43:14 it is. Carl Urban said that the medallion he wears at the end of the film, as well as his shirt being open, is an homage to Deforce Kelly's appearance in Star Trek the motion picture Nice Disco Bones Yep. The photo of the Enterprise crew from the Prime Universe is a publicity photo from Star Trek five, the Final Frontier, and let's end with a little bit look at the merchandise, which was rather scarce for this film due to the lackluster performance of Star Trek Into Darkness. But I'll try to give you a summary of what we did get. I was really surprised to find out that Star Trek Beyond is the first Star Trek's film not to get a novelization. IDW Comics published a four issue comic mini series called Star Trek Manifest Destiny fills in the story between Into Darkness and Beyond and features the Klingons. This was written by Mike Johnson and Raldpiart and with art by Angel Hernandez. The first issue was published in both English and Klingon Ease. Titan Magazines published a Star Trek Beyond Collector's Edition magazine, featuring exclusive interviews with cast and crew, behind the scenes, details on the visual effects, and an analysis of the new vella. Empire Magazine dedicated their three hundred and twenty sixth issue to Star Trek Beyond, as did Sin Effects Magazine, who took a closer look at the film's visual effects. Snapco produced items for the release of the film, given out to participating cinemas, including beverage cups, popcorn bags, and trays, as well as cup toppers with

44:45 Starship miniatures featuring the US's Enterprise, the Franklin and the Swarm Ship. These three miniatures were also packaged as a Walmart exclusive with the Star Trek Beyond Blu Ray release. Eagle Moss Collectibles added chips from the film to the their official Starflick Starship collection, which included again the Enterprise of Franklin and the Swarm Ships. And to end it all, Funko Pop got into the game Littering the World with figurines of all seven of the main crew as well as Krawl and Jayla. Plus they produced exclusives including Chekhov in Survival Suit for Games Stop and Kirk in Survival Suit for Fye. And Littering is the Creek or They're I'm not a fan of those at all.

45:27 Yeah, I'm not either, So I got a. Couple of things. Easter Eggs Star based Yorktown. The reason why they called it Yorktown because that was the original name of the Starship of Enterprise before Geen roden Berry decided to change it. That's right, I forgot about that yep. And then when Kirk and the crew enter Yorktown's reception area, an announcement can be heard over the intercom. Referring to starship with the registreet number in CC two eight nine three is just arriving. There's a reference to the US, I says Starger, the first ship that Captain John Luke Picard commanded in Star Trek the next Generation. I missed that. Good catch, thank.

46:09 You, so, Dave gets as Kelvin spinoff. Is a t I would watch that that. I would watch definitely. It would be it'd be kind of interesting, though, And that's for sure, Scott, did you catch anything? The only other easter egg I guess is the origin of Jayla's name. That it was inspired by Jennifer Lawrence's performance in Winter's Bone. Apparently the character is very independent, very resourceful, so Jennifer Lawrence apparent you know, occasionally called jay law They they took that into the creation of that character and that name. So I think that's kind of an interesting crean connection between Jennifer Lawrence and Star Trek universe.

46:57 I wonder if there's any consideration of casting her. M. Yeah, I don't know, that would be interesting in itself. Although I'm glad that I didn't because it feels like that would have drawn so much attention to that character, and I'd rather see what a Sophia in this role be able to take that character and do what she had done. Be interesting to check that out in the alternate universe, you know, video store. But I'm good, We're good. Well, let's talk a little bit about the score. We have the same composer, Michael is Back, who had did all three of the Kelvin timeline. He did a really good job of help pacing the action.

47:40 I know, when you and I agree with the York Talent sequence, that score is the most beautiful piece of the entire score. In my opinion, I still feel it's nowhere near the First Star Trek that he did not even close to being as good as that. Now, you know, we get some reoccurring theme that we've had, but overall, it's a good score, but I don't think it's not as best. I agree it's better than Into Darkness, although I liked Into Darkness. I like all three of the scores. I do put it as a step up because of the Yorktown theme, but it's You're right, it's not nearly as original or as just shockingly good as as the original two thousand and nine.

48:27 I think that one just caught us by surprise. Why. I mean, it's good, you know, it's fantastic, that. First one, and I think we weren't expecting to get what we got with that film, but also that score, it just blew us away. And I don't think he had a chance to meet that or beat that at all. So no, no, you're right, too much expectations. Yeah, but he has delivered three really good, really listenable scores within the film and outside in their soundtracks. Yeah, you know, I enjoyed listening to them over and over again I have over the years. They're They're very enjoy They're definitely worth picking up with this soundtrack. There's two different versions that you can get. Both of them were released by Very Sarah Band. The first one, which came out when the film was released, has nearly sixty one minutes in it, so that's a good proportion of the music right there, if you want to go with that one. But there is also a second version called the Deluxe Edition, brought out by Very Sarah Band, which is the full and complete score forty seven tracks over two hours of music.

49:28 Two CDs. It has, like I said, the complete score, as well as special suites of music, including the main and full version of the Yorktown theme. It is a limited edition of five thousand copies and it's out of print and sold out right now, but Very Sarah Band does have it as a as a digital download and available to their website if you do want to get this, and I suggest picking up all three great listens. Yeah, he's a great composer of everything he's done is and really good. So I enjoy listening to him and I can't wait to see what more he has on the horizon for so I'm. Glad he's continued with his association with Star Trek. I know he wrote the theme to start Trek Prodigy, which I love that thing. I did a fantastic job, and I hope that he continues on. I mean, I'm not going to make any more Kilvin films, but I'd hate to see that being the last of his association because he's a great, great composer and I think he's got a lot more to explore with Star Trek.

50:26 Absolutely, I think it's interesting that this had I didn't realize there was an original Rihanna song on this soundtrack, which is a first for Star Trek. I think. Was it also Sledgehammer or something? Yeah? Okay, Also interested to hear about one of the cellists on the soundtrack, Dermott mulrooney. The actor really yep, thirty Steve Stevens from Young Guns. Okay, okay, apparently you know, looking up on IMDb, he's been a cellist in the Spider Man Tom Holland movies. He was on Rogue One, Jurassic World, Inside Out, the Planet of the Apes movies, Incredibles too. I had no idea that he was a cellist, but apparently play some music from time to test it in between them.

51:23 Good one too to do all those scores, because wow, I know that that's cool. Nice to be there a little east rerec Yeah, all right, any favorite moments, guys, I know we kind of probably briefly talked about some of them, But you guys have anything that stands out time. We've already kind of talked about our dislike, so anything any scenes that you absolutely like. I think I've already mentioned all the ones that stood out to me. Wayne. What about you? Well, I mean I did too. There really isn't too many scenes in here that I stood out, but I do want to bring up one bit because I haven't mentioned it myself, but I really liked the character Jayla, and she ended up, in my opinion, being the probably the most interesting and best character of the film. You know, she's a real badass. You know, she could really fight, and I felt her scenes with Scottie were probably some of the most fun, the best scenes, because she can compete with him, you know, she she's a great engineer and you know his equals with him. I just I just think the dynamic between the two are were cute, was funny, was interesting. It lifted what could be could have been a very boring, very unexciting second half of the film and for me, into something that was worth really worth watching.

52:48 Yeah, I agree with that. I would like to see some more of her somewhere else, somehow. It doesn't have to be the Kelvin timeline. Let's bring her back for something, it would be kind of it. I always liked how she was called James T. James D. Yeah. Yes, yeah, so I really like them. No, I agree with you. She was a great character, great actress, who played her. It would be nice to see her back for sure. All right. Well, check out www dot film by podcast dot com for film and TV articles in our entire entire library, streaming free. You can write to us at a Film by a Podcast at gmail dot com with your questions, comments and concerns. We may just read your response on the show and send you a Film by swag. You can also let us know what you think about the Calvin Tomlin. We get it wrong, do we Do you think they're going to continue with this? I think it's dead in the water, but who knows. Who knows what paramount has up their sleeve down the road, Jeff So Jeff, Hopefully we'll agree with us on that, but we shall see how he responds to that. Scott, Wayne, thank you so much for joining me on the bridge.

53:57 As always, it's a pleasure. Likewise, always a good time. Yeah, been a lot of fun. I can't believe we've finished all of the films. Now, I know, all thirteen films. We have completed them. That's crazy to think about. Feels like we just started, doesn't. It It does? Yeh, But here we are the last one. Hopefully we'll beget to talk about a new one someday, but I'm sure that's still a few years that down the road. We salk maybe number fifteen could be a lower decks movie. That's right, You never know that. I want, yes, absolutely all right to all you listening to the show, follow us on all on social media, and subscribe to our Patreon. We thank you. See you next time for another episode of Phasers Set to Stun.

54:40 Don't go away, listeners, because there's more Phasers Set to Stun coming up for you later today, where we lead up to the season premiere of Star Trek Strange New Worlds with a look back on season two and beyond.