Hot Wheels and Secrets of 1701

Now here's some things you might not know about...

Just as a nice little additional tease, have you been onto areyouthe1701.com and /harrison? If you do then there's a hidden file just waiting to be found - a secret Starfleet file linking Admiral Marcus to the rogue Starfleet agent. Here are both the pages from the PDF if you fancy a read rather than a click through. I'm just wondering how long this has been hidden on the site - days, weeks?!

Here's a thought - when we first heard about the viral site through a hidden link in one of the trailers, we had no idea what it was for. Since then fans have been sending in photos and videos with the opportunity to win exclusive Star Trek Into Darkness goodies and tickets to IMAX performances as well as being given exclusive first viewings of featurettes, posters and even videos. For the full picture of the "history" of the site, take a click on the Are You The 1701? label at the bottom.

As a second little gem and while I was searching out pictures for the imminent novelisation review of Star Trek Into Darkness I literally stumbled over these images of some of Hot Wheels releases for the end of the year. The news that they would be slotting in new models of the USS Excelsior and the USS Kelvin is fairly "old" news but then they've given us a little extra fan love with the announcement of two more ships. I'll let you scroll down to find out which ones they are...

USS Kelvin

USS Excelsior

The Excelsior is one popular model at the moment with both Hot Wheels and Diamond Select producing their own versions of the ship from Star Trek VI although I think someone's missing a trick by not sticking NX-2000 on one of the hulls and going a bit further on the retro scale. The Kelvin is a decent reproduction in miniature scale and I'd choose this one over the Kre-O chunk anyway  Even a good effort on the display stands don't you think? However, what about these two.....

Klingon D-4 Bird of Prey

USS Vengeance

Apologies for the logo embossing as these are not easy pics to come by! The D-4 gives a much better representation of the ships we saw on Qo'noS (no comment on the Kre-O versions) and you can see the typical Klingon design pattern here with the dropped wings and bird-like posture. Whether the colouring is accurate is a question because that's not how I remember it in the film although we didn't see that solid an image. With the Vengeance though we get a much clearer idea of her lines and that incredibly unique cut-out primary hull that's not been seen on a Federation starship before. Her engines are much higher than the Enterprise and wider too. I would've liked to get a shot of the bow but I'll keep looking. 

Apparently they were scouted on Entertainment Earth however I've taken a look and they're not there. If you spot them, drop a note on here and we'll take a look. Hopefully they'll be available for pre-order soon. Likelihood is that they'll only be available in the US too which always makes me a little sad for us UK fans, 

Images of Hot Wheels ships from trekcollective.com
Screenshots from SKoST

Into Darkness, Diamonds and Bing

The wait for the US is almost ALMOST over. Less than 24 hours to go until we can see how the movie will perform on home territory after already breaking records across the globe. Simply it's the biggest Star Trek movie YET.

It's been a few days since my last roundup but hey, it's been a busy time for Star Trek Into Darkness and I just had to share a couple of things.

The first is the gorgeous .gif file from Are You #The1701 which I've added above. You can get it from the site by hitting the "play" button bottom left.Watch closely and you'll manage to spot five or six scenes from the move that have been featured within the trailer.

Also, have you been on Bing today??? If not, get over there pretty quick, type "beam me up" (no quote marks) into the search bar; let the page do the rest. Once it settles out, you'll find yourself here! The ship warps away on the first page you come to but you can still click where it was to get "onboard" (second pic down)

beam me up - and get here!

Bridge + tribbles - click on the Enterprise in pic one

This is where you land after clicking the far right planetoid

Central planet take you to Earth

Note the search bar and...of course.. the tribbles (why?!?!?). I also believe that you can now use the Bing search engine in Klingon which should make the experience at least a bit more understandable. Anyway, aside from clicking on the Enterprise there are also two worlds to click on - one which takes you to Earth and some trivia and the second to another image of the iconic Starfleet flagship (erm...? why not Vulcan or Qo'noS?) plus a few more trivia bits to click on as demonstrated above.. Should fill a five minute coffee break....

Besides that there's this awesome little featurette on the new movie which includes soundbytes from JJ, Zachary Quinto, Alice Eve (and I've included a pic above because of who she's listed as), Chris Pine and Zoe Saldana. Good for a watch, nice teaser. That is all, folks. Just strange how now they seem to be back-tracking on Eve's character when we already know precisely who she's playing and have done for flippin' ages!!! Come on, give us at least some credit, it's not like there's someone else's ID that's a secret in this movie or anything!!!!




One other little gem I've managed to pick up today is the rather spiffing Benedict Cumberbatch video that's floating around of him trying to work out if Star Trek episode titles are real or fake. He's not too bad but I'll let you guys judge.Thanks to benedictcumberbatch.co.uk for pointing this one out

Over on trekmovie.com there's some new TV spots (the last ones apparently) before the release of the movie TOMORROW in the US and I've added them all here for your delight. There's some new pics on there too but we've already featured them on SKoST in previous features.  There's not a lot new here apart from some review quotes and generally a massive amount of over-hype...but we're all expecting that anyway?

If you're not totally videoed out with those three then settle in for some opinion and comment from these boys as the actors behind Chekov, Pike, Scotty, Harrison, Kirk and Spock drop a few lines in about Star Trek Into Darkness. Be warned there might be some tiddly spoilers before you start clicking play. Below videos from trekmovie.com

Perhaps also worthy of a quick side note is that the graphic novel, Countdown to Darkness has been released in it's combined form with an altered cover in the UK. I would have rather it retained the same concept as the prequel comic to the 2009 reboot but since I don't work for Titan I suspect that's why it's been changed (!)

I've added the design we thought was going to be used as well here as a comparison. I think we know which one would have been better received....

In other related/unrelated/delete as applicable news, Diamond Select have announced their new USS Excelsior and USS Enterprise-E models for later in the year.

Of an unspecified LIMITED run, the USS Enterprise NCC-1701-E is toted as the Star Trek First Contact edition. Featuring a new, detailed paint scheme based on the movie, this new ship is visually distinctive from the previous edition, which was based on its appearance in Star Trek: Nemesis. All toy ship images from Diamond Select Toys

Later in the year, the 16 inch long USS. Excelsior,  NCC-2000 (so it's from Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country) features new sculpted parts and includes all-new sound files with quotes from Captain Sulu, using the voice of actor George Takei. I've also included the video below which demonstrates the second vessel plus some pics of the new Enterprise variant alongside the older Nemesis version...spot the difference!

Remember recently we also talked about the new and upcoming Kirk and Spock action figures

from Diamond Select? Well there's a third on the horizon in the form of Captain Jean-Luc Picard in his standard Starfleet uniform. Now the spiel for this says we're seeing him in a "...captured in the middle of a previously unseen engagement with the Borg, firing his phaser aboard a Borg ship, with a fallen foe at his feet." but if I'm honest that's a bit lame. At least with the Kirk and Spock figures they're in poses that link them with classic episodes of The Original Series. This just looks a bit false and doesn't carry well. I just can't see Picard in this situation.

The figure will feature limited articulation and a detailed likeness by Patrick Piggott (prototype shown), and will come in shelf-ready display packaging. I just hope that the final production version is a bit better than this because the pose and Picard just don't look right somehow. I'm not even sure I like the dismembered Borg. Is this a bit extreme? Or am I just overreacting?!

This latest announcement is due for release in the Autumn (Fall) of 2013...I think I'd rather have Spock and the Horta thanks if anyone's looking for ideas for Christmas..

.If you're liking what you see or want some more Star Trek Into Darkness goodies, check out the link below to the Countdown to Star Trek Into Darkness and see what else we've been rabbiting on about over the last few weeks. We've still got the novelisation review to come...

Morning After Star Trek Into Darkness

I now know everything.

Ok, not everything everything, just everything to do with Star Trek Into Darkness but for a lot of people that moment of revelation is still to come and just to reinforce that, Paramount have continued the onslaught of marketing with a few new bits for us.

Four of the teaser TV spots have been re-edited with the updated US release date and even give brief new footage (such as the one above). They are entitled Battle, Forget, Spectacular and The Dark. Click on each for the Paramount YouTube vid. The MTV clip we were perhaps waiting for turned out to be something of a disappointment - how many times would you like to see the USS Vengeance taking to San Francisco Bay....again?! There's a fraction of new footage in these 16 seconds (16?!?!?) but don't get too hopeful as it's quickly into trailer territory.

McCoy finally got his character profile online today with the announcement coming from the echelons of the #1701 site. Here's Karl Urban getting all gruff in the movie and then all Australian in real-life plus some stills from the minute with the doctor. I spent most of the time looking at the shuttle in the background and the giant green screen...

Paramount have also been running a great campaign on Twitter today. Follow their UK account @ParamountUK and tweet using #IntoDarkness and you could win one of their Star Trek themed goodies. I managed to bag one this morning and will find out what it is tomorrow (May 10th). Vue Cinemas are also running a promotion and by following them and retweeting We've got planets full of #StarTrek #IntoDarkness goodies to give away! Just follow us & RT this message by noon on 13/5 to enter! #VueID  you could be in with a chance to win some MORE goodies. Oh - and add a third one to that from the Daily Mirror who are including a gamecard in their Saturday paper so you can play along right through to May 15th 2013 and win some stuff and even a near-space experience!

Thanks to +SimonAnd Schuster as well for the arrival of the novel tie-in today - very early and I'm looking forward to it - here's a sneak peak at the front and back covers if you can't wait...

One for the more dextrous among you - I've also received the Revell USS Enterprise featured in the new movie. For the unboxing of this stunning kit, jump over to this additional post here.

Also via the wonders of the Star Trek Into Darkness app you can get to see these awesome 8-bit USS Enterprise images. Of course to save you having to hunt for your phone I've added them below. The GIF is brilliant although the banner is a close approximation to the movie poster.

Finally for now, over on Are you The 1701? we got presented with two new stills from the movie - both linked to already released clips mind and focus on Carol's arrival on the shuttle to the Enterprise and Kirk and Spock aboard their little ship used on Qo'nos.

You can still check back over the build up to the launch of the movie by clicking on the Countdown to Star Trek Into Darkness label below. Be sure to come back and check out our review of the movie and novelisation tie-in soon!

Star Trek Into Darkness: Hours Instead of Minutes

Tick, tick, tick, tick...

It's 5.45am and I am awake. I'm awake because I can't sleep and I can't sleep because tonight, yes, TONIGHT I'm going to see Star Trek Into Darkness. 

At midnight.

This is going to be a long day.

It seems to be like the calm before the storm. There's very little movement as if we're all waiting for the first screenings later tonight...

First of all, the British Board of Film Classification have officially set the film with a 12A rating. The great news is that it was passed UNCUT so we're getting everything in the UK that everyone else is seeing. I've dropped the full text of the BBFC report here for you - just be aware that the following MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS!!!

To calm my nerves pre-movie night I dropped on four German trailers (eh?!) this morning. Nothing new to report in the big scheme of things but there were a few new pics that I managed to grab from them which might peak your interest and certainly did mine.

Carol gets physical (on the Vengeance?)

Scotty concentrates

Scotty (again - wow he's getting some coverage!) at phaser point on the Vengeance

So what was it about these pics that raised an eyebrow - the uniforms in pictures one and three look a lot similar to the one of Admiral Marcus we saw yesterday (here, left)....are we seeing a distinct link here? Am I going to be correct that he's got more of a prominent role than we thought. In fact back at the start of the campaign I suggested something along the lines of Peter Weller having a bigger villain role than Harrison because the latter seemed to be so in-your-face in the marketing material. Not that I'm putting two and two together in any way, whatsoever.

Add to that the new JJ feature in which he discusses upping the ante from the first film in '09, the way the characters evolved and how much he'll miss them all again (awww). He describes Harrison as a lot more complex adversary than they faced in Nero as well as where loyalties, and trust lie to deal with such a dangerous opponent. There are some shots from behind the scenes but mainly just listen to JJ talking about the movie - it seems like he might actually have enjoyed making it (shock!)

Spot the Enterprise in the background (and the Bad Robot)

With Chris Pine

On the Nibrui planet set with Karl Urban

Also it's been good news for the US audience with the announcement that the film will now be opening on Wednesday May 15th from 8pm although those screenings are sure to sell out (if not already) in record time. Overall it will open a day earlier on Thursday May 16th rather than Friday May 17th according to the Daily Mail website earlier today. Selected cast and JJ were in attendance at the Mexico City premiere with Saldana and Eve once again taking a lot of the limelight.

Over on Are You #The1701 there's the request to send in THE1701 creations via Vine or Twitter using the #the1701 I am. of course, working on mine right this second for publication....actually, here you go...looks like we managed to sneak our shot in there today (can you spot it?)

So this is it, the final reminder that you can see all of the other updates via the Countdown to Star Trek Into Darkness label below. remember I'll be updating through the day so keep dropping back for more info!

Star Trek Into Darkness: Ears to you, Mister Spock

The London premiere has been and gone.

The reality that we are only weeks,  in some respects days, away from seeing the final finished product is more than a little tantalising. It was the most well attended of the world premieres so far with not only the full crew (sans John Cho and Anton Yelchin) as well as Noel Clarke in attendance but also Damon Lindelof, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, and producer Bryan Burk as you can see from this pic here:

Kirk: "Your boyfriend's second guessing me every chance he gets."

So what better way to start your day but with the fifth clip! This time out it's Kirk and Uhura discussing Spock with the appropriate title of Ears Burning?. James T is finding him hard to comprehend but the twist and slight humour are in the revelation that Uhura's relationship with the the Vulcan is having a moment. Then turbo lift has traditionally been a great place to stage these one on one discussions -  either here or the brig - in every series from The Original Series to Enterprise.

Kirk: Are you guys fighting...oh my god what is that even like?!

The relationships between Spock,  Kirk and Uhura are very different to their classic counterparts. There seems to be a more friendly bickering between the captain and his first officer while between Kirk and Uhura there's something of a confidante role for Jim.

Yesterday we had the note on the new Simon and Schuster competition on their Pinterest page and today on the AreYouThe1701.com you'll spot an additional little button in the top corner which gets you to tweet IAm#The1701 and get the chance to win two tickets to the Los Angeles premiere this month. Don't forget that you can also click through here to see the new 3D version of the final international trailer - don't forget your glasses!!!

If you're fancying some (relatively) cheap promo materials, why not head over to this site and pick up some Star Trek Into Darkness goodies NOW before the offer goes into national newspapers this weekend (4/5 May 2013). The items and postage costs are listed below - that's all you'll pay!

Additionally there's a new TV spot entitled Return which adds nothing new but focuses on Harrison while complimenting this morning's new clip we have a great behind the scenes short with Zoe "Uhura" Saldana which currently is available here but not for UK viewing - we'll update later! Add to that two extra TV spots entitled The Future and The Dark  which add some microscopic snippets of new clippings in there if you look hard enough and know what you've already seen.

USS Vengeance heads towards San Francisco in The Future

Spock rocks the seatbelt look in The Dark

Further to yesterday's news that the Star Trek Into Darkness soundtrack would be hitting shelves on May 28th, here's the back cover with the track listing visible. You can also listen to samples of the tracks by visiting www.michaelgiacchinomusic.com. The soundtrack is reported to  be over 44 minutes long and be released on vinyl as well as CD (and likely download too). I've included links here via Amazon if you're looking to purchase (sidebars).

Kre-O have now offically launched their Star Trek range with the Enterprise, Klingon Bird of Prey, Volcano Mission, Transporter Trouble and Space Dive sets being the first out of the box. Here's the Enterprise in all her glory, complete with Kirk, Spock and some non-descripts...

You can also get some min-ships of the Enterprise, Klingon cruiser, Spock's jellyfish from the 2009 film and the USS Kelvin (left). They're not as impressive but a lot easier I suspect on the wallet (and the stands are pretty cool). You can view them all at startrek.com 

If you happen to get bored for five minutes today - how about this from Virgin Media - 50 facts about the Star Trek movies. There's one or two in here I didn't know...

Keep us bookmarked and drop back during the day for more news or click over the Countdown to Star Trek Into Darkness label below for all the news from the last week of buildup.

Kre-O images from startrek.com
Premiere picture from startrek.com
Ears Burning? stills from SKoST
Ears Burning clip from trekmovie.com
The Future and The Dark clips courtesy of Paramount (YouTube)
50 Things... courtesy of Virgin Media