Prelude to Axanar (2014)

Fantastic!

Better Late Then Never

Best movie ever!

There are moments in this movie where the great movie it could've been peek out... They're fleeting, here, but they're worth savoring, and they happen often enough to make it worth your while.

"Prelude to Axanar" is a 20-minute science fiction short film from summer last year written and directed by Christian Gossett, whose most known achievement before that was working on the special effects of the Oscar winning "King Kong" 10 years ago. Anyway, as the title of this little movie already tells us, there will probably be a full feature film later this year and this one here is a prequel for that. It switches from interviews with important characters to video recordings of important locations somewhere in space. I may be a bit biased here as I am far from a great science fiction film fan, but I found nothing new in here. It's the usual formula for the genre, but there was no real creativity in my opinion. It also didn't help that none of the actors are particularly known or convincing. Make-up and special effects were fine, but that alone won't cut the cake and I'm really baffled about this movie's IMDb rating. I cannot say I am curious at all about the film that follows this prequel. Not recommended.

I think I've watched Prelude to Axanar six or seven times now, and that never happens. With most fan films, I can barely make it through watching them once, and I don't think I've viewed more than a small handful of them even twice. That's not to say that other fan films aren't worthy of viewing; many of them are, and their creators certainly put a commendable amount of time, effort, and passion into making their best possible version of Star Trek.But there's something about Axanar…something very special.It's hard to put my finger on any one thing that stands out above the rest, which might be the reason I've been enjoying watching this gripping 21-minute masterpiece over and over again. And I didn't expect to have such a reaction to a "documentary" made up mainly of lone actors in front of digital backgrounds simply talking to the camera in isolated scenes. How could such a seemingly sparse film come together into such an engaging, rich, and wholly satisfying viewing experience? The reason is that Prelude to Axanar is more than just talking heads. The short film is loaded with some of the most jaw-dropping visual effects sequences ever seen in Star Trek (and that would include JJ Abrams' two cinematic efforts). But the impact of those breath-taking FX is the result of more than simply the masterful efforts of Visual Effects Supervisor Tobias Richter. While stunning, these visuals are taken to an entirely new level of spectacle thanks to sound design and editing by industry veterans Frank Serafine and Mark Edward Lewis, who laid down dozens of layered audio effects tracks to make each space battle, each phaser blast and disruptor explosion, and even a simple impulse turn feel rich and all-encompassing. You don't just see the visual effects, you hear them and FEEL them! And underneath both the dazzling VFX shots and the spoken interview scenes, give a listen to the original musical score by Alexander Bornstein. It spans the range from distant and ominous soft horns and dissonant strings to a driving and urgent military drum beat. Suspenseful scenes get your blood flowing faster as you watch (including a sprinkling of short Klingon-inspired measures that draw the viewer back to the familiar music of Star Trek films without copying it directly). There is even one series of inspirational symphonies building to crescendos that almost make the viewer want to jump up and cheer.Tony Todd (more familiar to Trek fans in the role of Worf's brother Kurn and the older Jake Sisko from "The Visitor") plays Admiral Ramirez. Somehow, through a performance that I can only describe as passionately complex, we see a man internally troubled by the things he's seen and the decisions he's had to make, and yet outwardly committed and confident in their justification and ultimate outcome. At times quiet and contemplative, Tony Todd also puts his all into a single speech that has become so iconic to Axanar fans that the phrase "I do not fear the Klingon Empire!" has since been put onto T-shirts.Ramirez's foil in the story is Klingon warlord named Kharn, played by Richard Hatch (known to fans as Captain Apollo from the original Battlestar Galactica and Tom Zarek from the newer version). If Tony Todd's performance can be called passionately complex, then Richard Hatch's performance can be called nothing short of masterful. Here is a Klingon supreme commander the likes of which we have never seen before. Through dialogue that seems always quite measured and controlled, you nevertheless feel the anger and resentment mere inches away from boiling over and exploding outward from every syllable.Indeed, all of the acting in this film is superb—from J.G. (General Martok) Hertzler's gruff and gritty portrayal of Captain Samuel Travers to Kate (Ellen Tighe from the new BSG) Vernon's no-nonsense Captain Sonya Alexander to Gary Graham reprising his role of an older Vulcan Ambassador Soval from Star Trek: Enterprise. These are all veteran actors of Star Trek and sci-fi, and they fall easily into their parts, making Prelude to Axanar all the more believable and compelling to fans.Most surprising of all is newcomer Alec Peters, who stars in the role of the legendary Captain Garth of Izar (Alec also wrote the script and serves as executive producer). He doesn't have the industry resume and acting pedigree of the other performers n the film, and yet he stands alongside them as equally impressive in his role. You see Garth as a humble man who wanted to be an explorer and instead was reluctantly thrust into the role of warrior and strategist. And perhaps to his own dismay (and even everlasting regret), discovered he was really quite good at the latter.All this in a simple documentary? Don't be fooled! Prelude to Axanar is a documentary in format only. In substance, it is a movie unto itself. It's a story, with a beginning, middle, and end. The "interviews" with the major players of the Four Years War aren't merely History Channel-type recollections of events but actually rich glimpses into the very souls of these brave and noble men and women. Both Prelude to Axanar and the upcoming main film, Star Trek: Axanar, aren't simply the stories of the Four Years War and the Battle of Axanar. War is only the setting. Like the best of the films about World War II and other significant historical events, the Axanar series will tell the stories of people. The events are merely a way to deconstruct the characters, place them into challenging and dramatic situations so these people can learn and grow, fail and suffer, walk through the fire and hopefully come out on the other end. For the better, worse, or somewhere in between…we won't know until the closing credits roll. The only thing certain is that these men and women won't emerge from the events at Axanar unchanged. And isn't that the best kind of storytelling?

I really enjoyed this film. It's gorgeously shot, and the visuals are excellent, but the key is that the visuals support the story, and in this format, the story is delivered through interviews and commentary by the characters, which in turn depend on the superb cast to deliver on the emotions and viewpoints of the characters they portray. This is done very, very well. Particular kudos to Richard Hatch, for personifying as well as anyone I've seen a Klingon who might be described, as did an old Star Trek role-playing game, as a "Thought Admiral" (a fleet grand strategist). Kudos also go to J.G. Hertzler and Tony Todd. Really, though, all the performances are very solid, and it's easy to lose oneself in the events that this "documentary" is recounting."Prelude to Axanar" holds the viewer's attention all the way through, and ends, aptly, with a great desire to see more. I am so looking forward to the full "Star Trek: Axanar" film!

I recently saw the trailer "Prelude to Anaxar" and I must say I am quite impressed with the quality of work, acting and the idea. To have a work done with such a low budget that inspires , challenges and MOTIVATES us fans of Star Trek and this series could potentially create a new generation of Star Trek fans. I am quite sure of it. This style of documentary type of anecdotal narration is quite ingenious in its simplicity and I do await with earnest anticipation , its full release "....go where no man has gone before..." Live long and prosper