A long time TOS fan stands corrected - -
Added 11/24/2009
I've been a Star Trek fan as long as I have conscious memory; I've thoroughly enjoyed all the movies and series, but the Original Series has ALWAYS been my favorite. I grew up watching it in syndication, had the first two seasons on VHS which I eventually wore out, and have read countless of the novels, mostly focusing on the original Enterprise and her crew...I'm one of "those guys" who can tell you planet names, ship classifications, et al...proudly, I might add...so it was with no small amount of concern that I approached this "re-imagining" of what to ME was an integral part of my childhood, and still a large source of enjoyment to me as an adult. I read all the hype, followed the casting, read the blogs...and I was very, VERY worried. I didn't like the idea of someone new and NOT a fan taking over the helm and lives of my heroes.
Gotta say, I even subconsciously boycotted the film in theaters...finally, however, I sat down to watch the DVD, with more than a little grudge in my mind...I truly expected to hate it.
Now I won't say that, as a Trekker, I didn't have some issues with it...I don't want to put spoilers in this review, but there are a couple of glaring things that just punched me in the jaw...
...but as I kept watching, it all got to be all right (for the most part). The actors did an excellent job of portraying the characters the way I remember them, even improving in some areas...the writers paid ample respect and tribute to the legacy of the series, and Surak save me, I actually thoroughly enjoyed the film.
****POSSIBLE SPOILERS UPCOMING****
What few issues I have are easily relegated to the overall point of the plot; I mean, let's face it, parallel universes and alternate timelines are things that we as Trek fans ought to be used to by now, and as other reviewers have pointed out, just because a new timeline has been branched out upon does NOT mean that the timeline we know and love is erased...it's still there, just running in another continuum.
****END SPOILERS****
I liked the movie. I really did, and I look forward to the hoped for sequels...I don't view this as a replacement for what has gone before, but rather as a way to explore what different things could have happened to my favorite Starfleet heroes, as I think they are admirably recaptured in the actors portrayals, and I am anxious to enjoy their new adventures alongside them once again.
Live long and prosper!
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"Star Trek... Whatever"
Added 11/23/2009
"Stardate 44...whatever" - Jim Kirk, Star Trek (2009). Sums up the care taken by Paramount to include the elegant and detail rich universe that once made up Star Trek. "Star Trek, Star Wars... whatever" is what I believe the writers and producers decided upon prior to setting out on this high-budget endeavor to destroy one great universe. Is it a good flick? Yes! Is it a good Star Trek? Definitely not.
They summed up their feelings towards us Trekkers in the movie quite nicely: by having "Admiral" Archer's prize beagle in a transporter accident thus being lost forever. Their way of saying to us: "it's our franchise and we can do what we want to it, show us the $".
3.5 stars if it wasn't a Star Trek Film
0 stars if they claim otherwise.
I'm very glad I boycotted the film in the theaters and decided upon renting it first. This one will not be in my STAR TREK collection, as it simply doesn't belong in that universe.
2 out of 8 people found this helpful.
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Interesting Rewrite, Flawed but Has Possibilities
Added 11/23/2009
Being a fan of TOS since I was a very young child (I first became enthralled when it got syndicated in the early 70s when I was in elementary school), I awaited to see how Star Trek could be "re-envisioned" as it was never something I thought needed to be revisited. What this movie delivers is a bit like the original series itself, some good, some bad, some awesome and some just...meh. My husband and I watched the DVD the day it came and then again two days later as we were really torn over the whole "newness" of it during the first viewing. The second viewing definitely helped me better form my opinion. Overall, the movie is a good basis for what I hope will be a whole series of new movies but it is very far from perfect. This kind of feels like a pilot episode of a tv show. You get the basic premise but the whole series direction is still very up in the air with fine-tuning to occur as the series progresses.
The stuff that most definitely works.
Karl Urban as Dr. Leonard McCoy. In my opinion, the absolutely most perfect part of this film. It was like watching a young DeForest Kelley. I've liked Karl Urban since I first saw him in Xena and enjoyed him, as limited as his role was, in both The Two Towers and The Return of the King. Never could I have imagined that someone could be Bones, other than the original beloved character, but Karl Urban nailed the role so perfectly it was absolutely unbelievable. Two thumbs up and five stars for his outstanding performance.
Simon Pegg as Montgomery Scott. I hated Simon Pegg in Shawn of the Dead (the only other thing I've ever seen of his) and absolutely dreaded watching him massacre one of my favorite characters. However, I was more than pleasantly surprised in his portrayal and very much enjoyed the new Mr. Scott. Thank you Mr. Pegg for making such a fun and very true to character Scotty. I look forward to more of the same.
Chris Pine as Captain Kirk. Wow. I am actually surprised how much I have come to like the redone Kirk. The first time I watched the movie I wasn't sure how much I liked the new Kirk. After thinking about it, how Kirk would have been changed due to the difference in his upbringing with a loving father to one with a cold and unlikable stepfather and his removal from the original Kirk's early life, I realized that Chris Pine has very much created a Kirk who is believable in his changed circumstances but still retaining the basis for a Kirk to care about and want more of. Cocky, slightly angry but with the basic core of the cowboy diplomat we have long known and loved.
Bruce Greenwood as Captain Pike. Really enjoyed his portrayal of Captain (now Admiral) Pike and thought his character was well portrayed and liked his inclusion.
The stuff that mostly works.
Anton Yelchin as Chekov. Still having a hard time with this character. I liked the enthusiasm and I liked the energy but it was hard to get over the complete lack of similarity to Walter Koenig in either looks or characterization. He just did not feel like Chekov to me. And I'm not even going to go into the hair. He may grow on me...hopefully not in a fungus sort of way. I will reserve judgment for the next movie.
Zoe Saldana as Uhura. Pretty but not as exotic looking as Nichelle Nichols, this redone Uhura has promise. She has the intelligence of the first Uhura but is more sassy and aggressive (well, most of the time). Like Chekov, I'll wait for the next movie to decide yay or nay. I think I like her, but part of my holding back is discussed below in stuff I just didn't like.
The stuff that mostly didn't work for me.
John Cho as Sulu. His portrayal of Sulu feels as bland a bowl of cooked pasta compared to a serving of lasagne. Something was just missing. Sulu was never boring or bland. He might not have been considered a major character for most episodes but George Takei's Sulu was always interesting in my opinion. I personally wish that James Kyson Lee could have been released from Heroes long enough to take this role because Ando is probably about my favorite character on that show and Mr. Lee would have been able to make Sulu work so much better than John Cho did.
The stuff that didn't work for me.
Zachary Qunito as Spock. He has the look but goes through the movie with a smirk and an overwhelming show of emotion that is just so not Spock. Kirk is the one whose entire childhood and adolescence was changed, not Spock. Quinto plays Spock like he's channeling Sylar on meds. Only at the very last couple of minutes of the movie does he come close. Please, oh please, make him watch those few minutes over and over in preparation for the next movie and smack him with a rolled-up newspaper if he tries to portray Spock as he did through most of this one. If nothing else, please, whatever you do, get rid of the storyline issue that I mention below.
The stuff that so didn't work its not even funny.
The Enterpise. Why does this new Enterprise look like the Motion Picture version mated with a pregnant guppy, given the Andy Warhol treatment and then had botox injections? The engine nacelles are absolutely hideous and are the worst part of this nightmarish reimagining of our beloved Enterprise. The interior just doesn't work, some stuff way too futuristic looking for the time period and some stuff way too antiquated for the time period. Try to get a little closer to the feel of the Enterprise from the horrid Enterprise series from a few years ago to at least make it tolerable. Somebody needs to fire whoever came up with this design and get a real Star Trek designer in there for the next movie. And what's with the bizarre engine noises when the Enterprise is flying?
and the other thing that doesn't work....
(SPOILER - FOR ANYONE WHO HASN'T SEEN THIS MOVIE)
And last but not least, the Spock-Uhura romance. Okay. Ick. The lovey-dovey smooching on the transporter before they beamed over to Nero's ship made me want to turn off the movie or throw up (not sure in which order). I get that Uhura is interested in Spock in this movie and Spock has the hots for her too. This is a face/palm situation if I've ever seen one. I rolled my eyes at my husband when we first watched it and he had the exact same reaction. This is just not working at all. Uhura with Kirk, yes. Uhura with Scotty even (from the ST-V movie). But Spock with Uhura????? Uh, no. Even worse is that its protrayed like they are maybe 10 years old in a sickly sweet, get-me-my-insulin kind of relationship that is just completely unbelievable.
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Star Trek
Added 11/21/2009
Since I'm a 64 year old Star Trek fan, I must say that this movie was GREAT!
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Disappointing, could have been MUCH better
Added 11/21/2009
This film was interesting only from a historical perspective. It lacks depth and substance, and tries to make up for a lousy plot and shallow characters with flashy, useless special effects that only detract, bore and annoy.
SPOILER PLOT. We see how the paths of Kirk, Spock, Uhura, Scotty, Chekov and Sulu intersected, beginning from Kirk's birth. This timeline is different from that of the regular, known Trek universe. A Romulan from the future has traveled back in time to avenge the blowing up the planet Romulus, which apparently the elder Spock promised to avert but wasn't able to. Now Angry Romulan wants to kill major players in Starfleet, as well as blow up Spock's native planet Vulcan, in the hope that Spock will suffer as Mr. Angry did (in the future). Angry does, in fact, manage to kill Kirk's father on a ship; Kirk's about-to-give-birth mother and the rest of the crew escape while Kirk's dad dies defending them.
A now adult young Kirk joins Starfleet under unusual circumstances. Kirk and his cohorts prevent Angry Romulan from doing any more damage, thanks to the wisdom of Elder Spock, who shows up in this timeline to advise Kirk and his own younger self. Elder Spock gives Scotty the formula about life-saving technology Scotty will develop in the future -- or DID develop in Elder Spock's future timeline. (You still with me?) In this film, the now new timeline is not repaired. Kirk's father still died defending his pregnant wife and crew, young Spock and Kirk's friendship gets off to a bumpy start, and more. However, at least there will be no more damage from Mr. Angry.
CHARACTERIZATION. New Scotty sounds just like the old one (but we don't learn anything about him). Kirk does a pretty good job as a younger version of Shatner. And Spock is decent, if lacking in the essence of what it means to be Vulcan. Uhura is competent and spunky; too bad the original Uhura was never given this many professional credentials and tasks that this younger version was given. (I appreciate the efforts to overcome the sexism of the original, first Star Trek.) However, all this cannot rescue this film. (By the way, what was Uhura doing French kissing Spock -- and Spock kissing her back? It didn't fit in anyplace, and certainly did not follow the original.)
DOWNSIDES. This film is more of a novelty and the glimmering of an undeveloped, good idea. It lacks the spiritual dimension, psychological sophistication and developed relationships between the characters of Star Trek's best films and TV episodes. Elder Spock telling younger Spock to "follow your feelings" doesn't constitute enough of a worthwhile message to redeem this flick, although it's always nice to see Leonard Nimoy. The soundtrack is relentless, noisy and distracting, and overshadows the dialogue at times. The visuals are simply ugly and busy, looking as though too many hand-held cameras are working overtime. I got dizzy watching all this tiring pointless activity, and had my finger poised on the fast-forward button. And due to the excessive and unnecessary action, this film needed a good editing; about 20 to 25 minutes less would have made it much better.
CONCLUSION. What I loved most about Star Trek's finest TV and movies were its messages, acting, and character development. This film just didn't do it for me. Die-hard fans may like and even love this flick. But for my taste, the best in Star Trek -- where there are socially redeeming messages, great characters, humor and depth as well as action -- is still Voyager, all seven seasons on TV.
1 out of 5 people found this helpful.
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"Space is disease and danger wrapped in darkness and silence."
Added 11/24/2009
Movie: 5/5 Video Quality: 5/5 Audio Quality: 5/5 Extras: 5/5 Overall: 5/5
All the hype in the universe couldn't prepare me for the awesome experience of watching "Star Trek" '09 at the IMAX theater. To start with, the movie has loads of awesome highly-developed special effects and action set pieces. The movie as a whole is very intense. As such, the camera does shake around quite a bit, making for a more dynamic viewing experience than the other "Star Trek" movies, but it may not appeal to everyone. All of this is encased in an interesting story that very cleverly wraps up the old movie series and starts the series anew. There are also quite a few homages to the former shows and movies, and some witty moments as well. I'm also impressed as to how well the film captures the element of danger in space and extraterrestrial environments. But the most attractive feature in this film is the characters; acting is practically perfect and their respective characters show decent depth. Production design (sets, props, costumes, vehicles, weapons, etc) is well-conceived and quite interesting. Music is not bad either.
Some die-hard purists may hate this rendition for all its changes. I myself consider this to be my favorite "Star Trek" film out of the whole lot.
This disc set has perfect quality. The picture looks very sharp and clean with good color and contrast. A fine film grain structure is intact. Sound quality (lossless Dolby TrueHD 5.1) is awesome. There are loads of extras in this set, spanning three discs (the third of which includes just a digital copy and a Xbox demo). My copy came with a groovy slipcover.
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Unforgettable
Added 11/24/2009
If you were one of the few Trekkers who didn't watch it on the big screen,
fret not my pet, you can watch it in super high def Blu-Ray!
I don't miss walking on sticky floors and sitting on wet chairs,
or listening to kids cry and cell phones ring, or smell of B.O.
Thank you Blu-Ray! I should write a review on blu-ray players lol.
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A non trekker / trekkie review
Added 11/24/2009
To paraphrase Quentin Tarantino: "I believe the world can be split into two groups of people. Either you're an Elvis fan or you're a Beatles fan." I personally am a Beatles fan. I adjusted this statement to fit into my lifestyle better and I believe you are either a Star Trek fan or as Star Wars fan. I am firmly entrenched in the latter group of Star Wars fans (ducks the random items thrown at him).
Despite the above, I have seen all but a couple of the Star Trek films (all the good ones and a couple of the not so good ones I didn't see the most recent couple of offerings) and remember enough about the TV series from my older brothers watching it to know enough about the characters and stories to follow along and be entertained.
I loved this movie. It had a great feel to it. It really felt like Star Trek to me. I've heard complaints that they tried to turn Star Trek into Star Wars with this film but I humbly disagree. This movie had that Star Trek attitude and none of the Star Wars atmosphere. This movie was outstanding to the point that I am actually considering purchasing the DVDs of the original TV series.
I have to say this is IMHO the second best Trek movie. Second only to Wrath of Khan, but it's close.
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