Well at least they're keeping the silence interesting. In an interview addressing film spoilers, STXI director JJ Abrams defends his film's secretive approach to publicity. "People think they've experienced things before they really have," he says, discussing a prequel to a well-established body of work that includes rather thoroughly detailed characters already built in.

Further, in bewildering perspective he chastises Star Trek fans seeking "every gory detail about a movie that's still a year away." Already pushing himself away from the table he "respects their hunger" but rationalizes the discrepancy. "Learning raw detail and experiencing that detail as it was intended are two totally different things. I would argue that not knowing those details in advance is a more refreshing way to live when it comes to entertainment."

Yet as Hollywood regurgitates pile after pile of steaming stuff, many which are remakes of better original material, is it unreasonable for cinema consumers to vet their options, especially before dropping a small fortune on the experience? Of course not, particularly for a film with an extensive pre-existing culture, strange marketing moves, and an ominous writer's strike bracketing the production.

We'll see if this admiration for the experience chokes off release of spoiler material before the release. (My own guess is it won't since the studio won't risk it, and this is known so they're just buying time now.) I mean really, TOS released scads of publicity material, ships, costumes, characters; whatever was available to sell the show. (Perhaps TPTB already consider the next film "sold"…?)

I knew "The Wrath of Khan" back in the day ("on Earth two hundred years ago," cue horns) and went into that film already knowing the biggest spoiler in the series. I also knew "Nemesis," and bought in early aware of the (alleged) return of the Romulans and the clone of Picard. (That second factor probably not so much leaked but pushed as an advertising tactic near the release of the similarly themed Star Wars film.)

Speaking of Star Wars, their relatively open approach to spoilers (I read about Luke's father in the novelization while waiting in line to see the film) stands in stark contrast to Abrams' desire to refresh our entertainment. And speaking of "stark," plenty of visual spoilers don't seem to have done much to stymie the success of "Iron Man" recently. No reason to grouse though, on behalf of the Trek community, thanks for the challenge. We'll see if the fans are better at rousing secrets than Abrams is at concealing them.