User reviews

This film is what Star Trek was meant to be. On a Q&A panel the director and producer explained that as they made this film they kept asking themselves "Would Gene Roddenberry Do This?" and they made it true to Gene and true to Star Trek fans.

I like how they've used the 2009 ships' models and phaser mounts while fixing the exaggerated ship size and ridiculous out of proportion engines. Its wise to maintain some recognizable features from the latest films. On the other hand I would have liked to have seen the Fleet HQ, Dreadnought, Destroyer and Transport/Tug from the 1975 Star Trek Technical manual. Or even the Klingon Battleship from the '90's Task Force Games Star Fleet Battles. This arms race could have been "bigger" but I see how that would have taken away from their " We were explorers" vein they are pursuing and their unveiling of the Constitution Class. Which is very cool.

Where JJ Abrams has turned Star Trek into an unintelligent, mass appeal action romp these guys succeed in bringing it back to its roots and I couldn't be more impressed or eager to share it with my friends who really care about Sci Fi. I can't wait for the feature film.

What's amazing is not that it is such a wonderfully produced, well acted, and beautifully shot film (which it certainly is). It's that it was done with loving care on a budget of less than what probably most TV ads cost nowadays to make. The producers, director, actors, cgi/special effects, photography director, and crew are all long time Hollywood professionals. They made an independent short film on their own terms, visualizing the Star Trek universe as they see it. Which seeing the support they're receiving from the fan base, I'd say they've succeeded. I gave it a 9/10 only because I wish it was longer, Ha. I guess I'll have to wait for the movie....Star Trek: Axanar!

Technically its a "fan film", but you would not know it from watching. Told in a kind of history channel series of interviews, it grabs you right from the start and leaves you wanting more at the end. The SFX are on par with any Hollywood production and the story is original and entertaining. The cast is compromised of Sci-Fi veterans who know what they are doing and do it very well! This was a project funded through Kickstarter as a "proof of Concept" for the bigger full length production of "Axanar" and they more then proved the concept. If the next production is as good as this it may very well kick start(like that?)a whole new revolution in fan films in not just the Star Trek Universe.

Prelude to Axanar is the first real piece of Star Trek to come out since the penultimate episode of Star Trek: Enterprise 10 years ago. It has a great trek-worthy storyline and magnificent acting, and the special effects are great! I also greatly enjoyed the numerous "easter eggs" hidden throughout the film.

The quality is nothing like Star Trek: Into Darkness, which was just a mindless action flick intended for today's unenlightened audience. Prelude to Axanar is a thought-provoking Star Trek that visionary Gene Roddenberry himself would have been proud of.

The fact that Prelude to Axanar is an independent production (commonly referred to as a fan film) did not derail the production at all. The teams at Axanar Productions did a fantastic job of making the movie just as good, if not even better than, any "professional" production, and I have that in quotations because this was made professionally just like any other movie.

I highly recommended watching Prelude to Axanar, which is only twenty minutes long. See for yourself whether or not you like it. It's free and extraordinary; you'll love it.

Leaves the viewer begging for more! Can't wait to see the completed film! Casting for Prelude is superb, and the main feature promises even MORE!! Sets, graphics, and premise, are thoroughly thought out, as you would expect from the individuals involved. CBS/Paramount...be warned! There is a new force behind Star Trek...WE!..THE FANBASE...and we will not be pawned off with your drivel anymore! Alternate timelines are fine for attracting new moviegoers, but you have a tried, and true, band of followers for Trek...since 1966 (I'm one!), and stories from canon are legend. Prelude brings Garth back to our screens...and not before time! Alec and his crew of geniuses have achieved a minor miracle, here....a movie that makes this old Trekkie sit up, and take notice of something new, special..nay, magical! Waiting for the feature, Tiny!

Calling all Star Trek fans; This is a must see!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-axanar

This is a team of independent film makers to watch; everyone a die-hard fan of Star Trek that could show Paramount how to make a Star Trek movie. No flash, only a good script, fantastic actors and out of this world cgi. All this created on a kick start budget!

Watched the prelude to the battle of Axanar. It gave me goosebumps, No plastic acting or wooden tops; Totally believable. It gave me the feeling that this war was really going on and I felt that I needed to be part of it. That's how powerful it was to me. Well done the Axanar team; I hope you will be teaching paramount in your film school how the make a Star Trek movies as they need all the help they can get. Stories have to be believable and you nailed it!

A new Kick starter for the main film of The battle of Axanar has opened!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/194429923/star-trek-axanar

This is the best independent Star Trek short film ever made, and the full length, upcoming feature film will blow everyone away!

In Prelude, the acting, make-up, special effects, writing, camera work, etc. are phenomenal! If you're a Star Trek fan, this short film will bring all the excitement of the franchise back to the forefront of your mind!

You will literally sit at the edge of your seat with your mouth agape as you watch this story unfold. If you want to see true, dyed in the wool Trek, watch Prelude To Axanar and get ready for the ride of your life!

The cast and crew pulled off the best Star Trek I have seen in decades.

Can't wait for the movie next year!

Without a doubt the best independent Trek effort ever, and the most exciting Trek-related feature film development since the release of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

The plot, scripting, costumes, designs, directing, cinematography, visual effects, casting, and actors' performances are all professionally executed and rendered and entirely respectful of and faithful to the nearly 50 years of material that came before it. If you are about to experience Prelude to Axanar for the first time, you have come to the right universe.

Awesome. Enjoyable. Looking forward to the follow-up. A big thanks to all involved.

Prelude to Axanar is a very well made short film. It fits perfectly in the Star Trek universe and captures the look and feel of the best films. The acting, directing, special effects and writing are all top notch. If not for some glaring issues this could have been one of the best short films of all time.

Tony Todd is a solid actor but he does not carry the gravitas of Denzel or Morgan Freeman so choosing him as the strategic mastermind and savior of the Federation is not very believable. Having Todd play "Captain" Ramirez would have been a better fit. This was a major oversight and obviously forced since this came out during Obama's presidency and deflated what they were going for.

It is a shame that the creator's infatuation brought down what otherwise is an excellent short film fit for the franchise.

What an amazing original piece of star trek history an amazing project that makes you feel like you were there. The actors in it were amazing keep up the great job at this hit film. A Movie I will watch over and over again. Richard hatch's performance was on top and so was the Alec peters as Garth of Izar as well as the whole cast. don't miss this movie you will not be disappointed.A Hit that is better than JJ Abrams movies. The Special visual effects were awesome. The Ships were very impressive. The Story was excellent and it makes you want to see more.It was also very detailed into the war.and Even be amazed at the Klingon makeup and the Vulcan.and The Female Captains makeup it is stellar.

I was shocked at the quality of the talent, the CGI and the writing all done on a shoestring budget. If you watch Prelude to Axanar it will make you crave more. I want more, and I want it now! Rarely has a project left me feeling that way.

My only wish is that someone would do something like this for my beloved Battlestar Galactica. I was happy to see folks with new BSG and classic BSG credits involved, and yes, I have always loved Trek and to see people that have been involved in the creation of important portions of the franchise involved makes me feel comfortable that the next installment will be done right.

I really loved the documentary style, it sets up the next installment perfectly.

This little mock-documentary tells of the battles of the United Federation of Planets leading up to the famous Battle of Axanar as mentioned in the Original Series episode: "Whom Gods Destroy." That's how we first met Garth of Izar. What we still don't know is what happened at that famous battle. CBS and Paramount are determined to do anything to prevent that story from being told. I just want to know what happened. So, for God's sake, CBS, either let these fans tell the story of the Battle, or else surrender the "Star Trek" rights back to the Roddenberry family. "If a court-martial is the only way to reveal the truth, I welcome it!" - Captain Picard, Star Trek: Insurrection (1998).

This 20 min short is just amazing, better than most trek movies. Can't believe it was filmed on a next to nothing budget. Someone should give them a license and a budget to film a feature length sequel

Until George Takei's Facebook post supporting Prelude, I was unaware of fan-funded Trek films. Truth in advertising, I contributed to both the Kickstarter campaign for Prelude and for the full Axanar movie which will be filmed in 2015. However, if I thought I hadn't gotten my money's worth, I'd say so. That is NOT the case here.

This is a great concept that presents a prequel to The Original Series. And despite the shoestring budget for Prelude, the production quality is astounding! It's also cleverly presented as a History Channel-like documentary that reviews the events of the Four Years' War between the Federation and the Klingons.

Production quality aside, this is a brilliant collection of on-screen talent with veterans of The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Babylon 5, and even the original Battlestar Gallactica. I'm sure I'm missing other projects but you get the idea. This is NOT a bunch of rookies.

What makes me an expert at all this? Years of fandom as a viewer, with the elevated expectations that come with that. Bottom line is that this leaves me hungry for the full movie, just as it was intended to do!

Scripts all right, wish it was better.

characters come off as flat and boring. Pass

I had no idea what to expect when I was led to the Axanar site. (Thanks to George Takei.) I was about to leave home for work and when I saw that the running time was 21 minutes I was going to turn it off so as not to be late for work. But once I started watching, I couldn't stop. I haven't felt this excited about anything Star Trek related in quite some time. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time and had to watch it again right away and risk being late for work. I donated to the Kick Starter campaign and kept my fingers crossed that enough money will be raised for this story to be finished. Excellent acting, direction, production, and story. Oh, and I ended up being 10 minutes late. It was worth it.

I've seen my share of Star Trek fan fiction produced and released on YouTube. If I were to characterize what I had seen before Axanar showed up on my radar, in a single word, I'd say it was "uneven." Sets tend to be quite good, graphics variable from mediocre to near-studio-quality, and acting which, while it has its moments, never leaves the amateur ranks.

Then, something over a year ago (June of 2014), the trailer for Prelude to Axanar showed up in my "What to Watch" list on YouTube. Out of curiosity I clicked on it ... HOOBOY! Whoever was doing this, I thought, they were SERIOUS!

* Sets - Perfect

* CGI - BEAUTIFUL!

* Music - Original and well-done!

* Acting - 100% PROFESSIONAL!

That last should be no surprise, considering that many of the actors working in the service of this brief piece were veterans of actual Star Trek episodes. Two months later when Prelude to Axanar came out, there wasn't the slightest drop in professionalism or quality in any aspect of that beautiful short film. This is work worthy not just of the name Star Trek; it is worthy of big-screen time. That sentiment is reinforced by a teaser first scene, released on 10 July, 2015, involving Gary Graham as Vulcan Ambassador Soval and Kim Fitzgerald as Minister T'Lera, discussing critical issues relating to a conflict which will culminate at Axanar.

This is quality work, the likes of which I haven't seen outside of the major studios, made by people who love Star Trek and want to represent it at the highest level possible, even though they cannot make a single dime off of it. They are to be saluted for their hard work and dedication ... and I just can't WAIT to see the final product!