I loved the last three recent Star Trek movies I saw. Their names were "The Martian", "Dawn of the Planet Of The Apes" and "Hunter Killer".
I thought a lot about the general situation in the industry after revisiting the original Star Wars films (and all other films) and listening to discussions at RedLetterMedia and elsewhere, after thinking about Star Trek but also after connecting the dots about what's going on with Disney Studios lately. I think some franchises simply run out of steam of new ideas either because they've already reached their heights or because the original creator of them has either simply died, or is now too old and sick to continue. For example, Disney purchases LucasFilm and Pixar right after they've already showed their best ideas and started being on a decline. Even Marvel started feeling like cookie cutter repetition right after the takeover. Trek here had its true height around TNG and had already several attempts to recapture that. Trying something new and likely inferior, isn't only a fault, but also a genuine decline or absence of its original creator(s). When an arc, a saga, a franchise has already been established and its best stories have already been told, the best you usually get is a soft reboot like Episode VII. Comfy, but ultimately a shadow of its old self. When someone feels that decline or milking of old franchises the best they can do is try to not support them financially and try to support new franchises because Trek was best when it was new-ish too. The Expanse is fine at least on the 1st season, though not exceptional. Dark Matter feels like a nice blend of Trek and Farscape, check it out. Orville is kinda overrated, a shadow of TNG.
This is what the internet is nowadays. While there is no algorithm, everything is copied from somewhere so it ensures that there are many similarities. Just try arguing with idiots on facebook. After a while you realize they all use the same playbook.
I thought 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World' was a great Star Trek film. Anyone around here who hasn't seen it should definitely check it out.
"It was funny when they ripped the prequels and tng movies to shreds but not when they do it to discovery"
Their prequel and TNG film reviews sucked. They were not funny at all. I never understood the appeal.
I found them funny apart from the vignettes started going too far for me. When it was just him ripping in the movies I enjoyed them. It was exacerbated but made many good points
I have yet to see Master and Commander. Not because I don't want to see it. I just keep not getting around to it. But I'll admit that after 15 years I should do something about that. I'm horrible with procrastination. It took me 30 years to watch Who Framed Roger Rabbit? a second time. So there we are. I'll get around to Master and Commander some day. The way it's been hyped up on TrekBBS over the years, I'm expecting Ben-Hur like quality.
That happened with me and the Voyager episode "Living Witness". Missed it first run, and heard over and over again about how incredible and episode it was. Needless to say, I was less than impressed.
Eh, it's not quite Ben-Hur but it has quite spectacular moments. It is a long movie (or feels like one) and there are moments that are not for the faint of heart, sorry to say. It took me over 15 years to see Titanic, and still haven't seen Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and a billion and one other films I "should" see. So, if you miss it, I'll bet you'll be ok.
It's a great movie. I liked it even more as an adult. Now that I got all the raunchier stuff that went over my head before, it was like watching a whole new movie. I think the best movies have stories that are written on multiple levels, so different parts of the audience can have their own takeaway.
I really should rewatch Master and Commander...I have such negative feelings toward it that may not be fair. When I initially saw the movie it was on a really long, stressful, overnight transatlantic flight. After about the 1st 45 minutes or so I decided to take off the headphones and try to sleep (it was 2am my time). I had the absolute worst time trying to get ANY rest and whenever I'd open my eyes for a moment I swear it seemed like it was the same damn scene...ship in storm, rain, lightning, men running around yelling. Everytime I'd wake I'd see nearly the same thing and think "fuck this damned movie!". Lol. So yeah, I really didn't even watch it, yet I fee I hate it. Should give it a shot.