Spoilers STAR TREK: SECTION 31 - Grading & Discussion
- Thread starter Commander Richard
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- That's not to say that Section 31 is a bad movie.
- Some cool fight sequences make use of a nifty phase device that allows the wearer to pass through walls and other solid objects.
- plays around with title cards and graphics in fun ways
- everything looks amazing, it's surprisingly funny, and the plot moves quickly enough to keep things interesting.
- Overall, Star Trek: Section 31 can best be described as a fun time.
- Some cool fight sequences make use of a nifty phase device that allows the wearer to pass through walls and other solid objects.
- plays around with title cards and graphics in fun ways
- everything looks amazing, it's surprisingly funny, and the plot moves quickly enough to keep things interesting.
- Overall, Star Trek: Section 31 can best be described as a fun time.
- end result is a mixed bag, with varying levels of success, a fleeting bit of entertainment
- At times you can almost feel the formulaic design behind the scenes, awkwardly mashing up elements of more successful recent sci-fi movies
- many elements and moments that work
- moral contemplation has been swapped for action-adventure
- updated present day “smartphone” looking tricorders with TNG tricorder sound
trekmovie.com
- At times you can almost feel the formulaic design behind the scenes, awkwardly mashing up elements of more successful recent sci-fi movies
- many elements and moments that work
- moral contemplation has been swapped for action-adventure
- updated present day “smartphone” looking tricorders with TNG tricorder sound
Early Thoughts On ‘Star Trek: Section 31’ (Spoiler-Free)
Anthony, Matt, and Laurie share some of their initial thoughts, with a detailed review coming on Friday.
trekmovie.com
The mixed reviewers seem level-headed and fair. The positive reviewers, they seem to get it. The negative reviewers, why they hate it is telling me that it's going to be pretty good for what it is.
I'm not going into this expecting a normal Star Trek movie. I'm going into this expecting a Michelle Yeoh movie. I've seen enough of her stuff, old and new, to know the quirky stuff is what she lives for. Along with the action, the fun, and a touch of drama.
I think this will be a case of "All the right people hated it." I get to use that phrase one last time!
I'm not going into this expecting a normal Star Trek movie. I'm going into this expecting a Michelle Yeoh movie. I've seen enough of her stuff, old and new, to know the quirky stuff is what she lives for. Along with the action, the fun, and a touch of drama.
I think this will be a case of "All the right people hated it." I get to use that phrase one last time!
The reviews pretty much confirm that this special movie event isn't for me.
- Kurtzman-era’s most spectacular miss
- has almost nothing to say, lacks joy, doesn’t care at any point that it’s a movie connected to the Star Trek franchise’s rich history
- On nearly every level, Section 31 is a failure
- a bad movie overall
- a catastrophic misinterpretation of the otherwise noble goal to reinvent the franchise for the 21st century
- makes absolutely no use of the time period in which it is set
- supremely dull action
- Georgiou is a deplorable protagonist
- Section 31’s moral core is rotten, the movie has nothing worthwhile to say that is designed to make you think or consider a moral dilemma, despite having a huge amount of material to work with
- Section 31 stands out as a catastrophic mistake
- fails to understand what makes good Star Trek, and it is not worth your time or attention
blog.trekcore.com
- has almost nothing to say, lacks joy, doesn’t care at any point that it’s a movie connected to the Star Trek franchise’s rich history
- On nearly every level, Section 31 is a failure
- a bad movie overall
- a catastrophic misinterpretation of the otherwise noble goal to reinvent the franchise for the 21st century
- makes absolutely no use of the time period in which it is set
- supremely dull action
- Georgiou is a deplorable protagonist
- Section 31’s moral core is rotten, the movie has nothing worthwhile to say that is designed to make you think or consider a moral dilemma, despite having a huge amount of material to work with
- Section 31 stands out as a catastrophic mistake
- fails to understand what makes good Star Trek, and it is not worth your time or attention
STAR TREK: SECTION 31 Is a Dreary, Unfortunate Misfire — Our Spoiler-Free Review
Spoiler-Free Review: SECTION 31 brings back Michelle Yeoh — but forgets all the STAR TREK — in the dismal new Paramount+ film
blog.trekcore.com
I was concerned about that, to be honest. I viewed it as a potential red flag, but now I'm no longer worried. It'll be a case of I'm simply going to disagree with a lot of people. I've been down that road so many times now, I can navigate it.
I think the only two times I haven't disagreed with general consensus since 2017 have been Picard Season 3 (not including on TrekBBS) and Prodigy.
- about a new doomsday bomb "The Godsend" with Mirror universe origins, which is about to be sold to the
high council
- Inventive camerawork and colorful production design help to adorn the film with a stylish gloss and sense of cinematic recklessness that makes up for its semi-formulaic tale
- a wildly addictive addition to "Star Trek's" legacy that does not tarnish the sci-fi property's reputation, but could be catalogued as an enticing side note
- infinitely watchable romp in the final frontier with intriguing twists tying back to the storied
- works well on its own flashy merits with impressive visual effects and crazy set pieces to reward lovers of comic book-like escapades
www.space.com
- the universe is saved not by brave folks doing the right thing, but by violent, nasty a-holes who know how to punch, stab, and shoot their way through a bad situation
- an extremely entertaining slice of B-movie action trash
- goofy and silly and sometimes very ridiculous, but there's no denying the simple pleasure of the whole thing
- seemingly trying to be the coolest thing in the room, it's actually pretty dang dorky
www.slashfilm.com
Minosian
- Inventive camerawork and colorful production design help to adorn the film with a stylish gloss and sense of cinematic recklessness that makes up for its semi-formulaic tale
- a wildly addictive addition to "Star Trek's" legacy that does not tarnish the sci-fi property's reputation, but could be catalogued as an enticing side note
- infinitely watchable romp in the final frontier with intriguing twists tying back to the storied
Eugenics Wars
'Star Trek: Section 31' review: It isn't classic 'Trek', but the Paramount+ exclusive offers some flashy fun
Clip on your black badge and blast into this first-ever 'Star Trek' streaming movie on Paramount+.
- the universe is saved not by brave folks doing the right thing, but by violent, nasty a-holes who know how to punch, stab, and shoot their way through a bad situation
- an extremely entertaining slice of B-movie action trash
- goofy and silly and sometimes very ridiculous, but there's no denying the simple pleasure of the whole thing
- seemingly trying to be the coolest thing in the room, it's actually pretty dang dorky
Star Trek: Section 31 Review: This Discovery Spinoff Film Is B-Movie Trash (In A Good Way) - SlashFilm
Star Trek: Section 31 sees the beloved sci-fi franchise lean hard into outrageous, b-movie action ... and it somehow works better than you'd think.
www.slashfilm.com
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- so boring and ugly that it no longer can be seen as bad Star Trek. Heck, it can’t even be called bad sci-fi or bad genre work. It seems to have no interest or understanding in doing any of them well
- All of the ugly visuals and self-satisfied humor that marred Borderlands appears in Section 31, except gaudier and louder.
- Craig Sweeny writes everyone as a jerks who insult one another to prove their toughness. That doesn’t prevent director Olatunde Osunsanmi (a Discovery veteran, like Sweeny) from treating each toothless one-liner as a Don Rickles-level burn, and cutting to a close-up of the roaster cackling at their own joke each and every time.
- Whatever her skills at this point, Osunsanmi has no confidence in them. Not only does he shoot the fights with the same excessive cuts and shakiness found in most Western movies, but his camera seems actively disinterested in what Yeoh’s doing on screen.
- He’s especially fond of snap zooms and sudden pullbacks, even when just showing two characters in conversation. Irritating as the tendency is, it’s also understandable, because neither the plot nor the character building in Section 31 deserve attention.
www.denofgeek.com
- One would never call Star Trek: Section 31 boring, but it’s not altogether all that fun either. That’s because there’s a vital component missing: Star Trek
- some surprises — and surprise guest appearances — emerge. They land well. Celebrate them.
movieweb.com
- the characters still operate in service of those values. They risk their lives to prevent something that threatens a bunch of strangers. And they do this without hope of reward, glory, or, in the case of Section 31, official recognition of their efforts. What makes Section 31 so compelling, beyond its narrative, is what it reveals about the larger galaxy
- At first, the score features pop-inspired songs that don't seem to fit with Star Trek. By the end, composer Jeff Russo brings in a more traditional sound, including an arrangement of Alexander Courage's iconic original theme
- Section 31 Team Is a Great Addition to the Star Trek Universe
- Film Is Reminiscent of Deep Space Nine's Radical Departure from the Norm
www.cbr.com
- full of nuance and charm
- She is the one who
, a weapon so evil that its makers committed suicide on its completion
- Despite all of this deep, philosophical exploration of character, Georgiou and the movie are also just plain fun.
- Alok himself is a survivor of the often referenced
and, thus, is not allowed to officially join Starfleet
www.thewrap.com
- Section 31 wastes her talents as well as its own premise on a middling heist movie devoid of anything that might actually identify it as a Star Trek movie
- Unfortunately, Section 31 is little more than a bland heist film set in space
- it seems as though that season-long arc was chopped up and mashed together for a 100-minute movie
- lacking any kind of substance or point of view
- Beyond its lackluster narrative and simple characters, the script also suffers from a simple abundance of genuinely bad lines
- Yeoh and Hardwick have phenomenal chemistry together and anytime they share the screen, it's worth looking up from your phone to watch them bounce off each other
- both forgettable and disappointing
collider.com
- All of the ugly visuals and self-satisfied humor that marred Borderlands appears in Section 31, except gaudier and louder.
- Craig Sweeny writes everyone as a jerks who insult one another to prove their toughness. That doesn’t prevent director Olatunde Osunsanmi (a Discovery veteran, like Sweeny) from treating each toothless one-liner as a Don Rickles-level burn, and cutting to a close-up of the roaster cackling at their own joke each and every time.
- Whatever her skills at this point, Osunsanmi has no confidence in them. Not only does he shoot the fights with the same excessive cuts and shakiness found in most Western movies, but his camera seems actively disinterested in what Yeoh’s doing on screen.
- He’s especially fond of snap zooms and sudden pullbacks, even when just showing two characters in conversation. Irritating as the tendency is, it’s also understandable, because neither the plot nor the character building in Section 31 deserve attention.
Star Trek: Section 31 Review: Badly Goes Where Everyone Has Gone Before
Star Trek: Section 31 applies a veneer of Trek references to an ugly, forgettable TV movie.
www.denofgeek.com
- One would never call Star Trek: Section 31 boring, but it’s not altogether all that fun either. That’s because there’s a vital component missing: Star Trek
- some surprises — and surprise guest appearances — emerge. They land well. Celebrate them.
'Star Trek: Section 31' Review: Set Your Expectations on Stun(ned). But Not in a Good Way
Michelle Yeoh elevates the long awaited Trek outing but can't save it from nearly slipping into a black hole.
movieweb.com
- the characters still operate in service of those values. They risk their lives to prevent something that threatens a bunch of strangers. And they do this without hope of reward, glory, or, in the case of Section 31, official recognition of their efforts. What makes Section 31 so compelling, beyond its narrative, is what it reveals about the larger galaxy
- At first, the score features pop-inspired songs that don't seem to fit with Star Trek. By the end, composer Jeff Russo brings in a more traditional sound, including an arrangement of Alexander Courage's iconic original theme
- Section 31 Team Is a Great Addition to the Star Trek Universe
- Film Is Reminiscent of Deep Space Nine's Radical Departure from the Norm
Star Trek: Section 31 Review: An Open Window on a Side of the Galaxy Not Seen Before
The first Star Trek film in 8 years, Star Trek: Section 31 shakes up the universe's status quo with an original story and a group of galactic misfits.
www.cbr.com
- full of nuance and charm
- She is the one who
ordered the creation of the Godsend when she was emperor
- Despite all of this deep, philosophical exploration of character, Georgiou and the movie are also just plain fun.
- Alok himself is a survivor of the often referenced
Eugenics Wars; he’s genetically augmented
‘Star Trek: Section 31’ Review: Michelle Yeoh Proves Skeptics Wrong in Charming Paramount+ Spinoff Film
"Star Trek: Section 31" finds Michelle Yeoh adding nuance and charm to a spy thriller spinoff movie for Paramount+
www.thewrap.com
- Section 31 wastes her talents as well as its own premise on a middling heist movie devoid of anything that might actually identify it as a Star Trek movie
- Unfortunately, Section 31 is little more than a bland heist film set in space
- it seems as though that season-long arc was chopped up and mashed together for a 100-minute movie
- lacking any kind of substance or point of view
- Beyond its lackluster narrative and simple characters, the script also suffers from a simple abundance of genuinely bad lines
- Yeoh and Hardwick have phenomenal chemistry together and anytime they share the screen, it's worth looking up from your phone to watch them bounce off each other
- both forgettable and disappointing
'Star Trek: Section 31' Review: A Mediocre Episode of a Television Show That Doesn't Exist
Every good element of Star Trek's first TV movie is brought down by its atrocious script.
collider.com
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Apparently not.
Seems like you got the reactions you were looking for with this. And seeing as you’re not willing to participate in this thread without the needless antagonizing, you’re going to sit this one out. Comments to PM.
I'll be honest, I've never particularly liked Osunsanmi's directing style. It's seldom been bad enough to ruin otherwise good material*, but I have been taken out of the moment multiple times thanks to it.
I'd be relatively happy for this to be Yeoh and Osunanmi's Trek swansong.
*Edit. Until now. Their directing for Section 31 was absolutely abysmal.
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- a dopey shoot ‘em up with nothing to say
- feels like low-effort, formulaic, watch-while-you-fold-laundry content slop
- a generic McGuffin quest where the heroes have to get the big superweapon before it’s used to destroy the universe, blah, blah, blah
- Why did it have to be Rachel Garrett? No reason except fan service
- nothing matters in this version of Star Trek. Everything is just a light jaunt, careless, and slap-dash
- disposable content slop
- rote, lazy, incurious mess too afraid to risk anything by challenging its audience at a time when we may need Star Trek‘s progressive humanism more than ever
aiptcomics.com
- neatly written script which hits most of the right notes. Georgiou’s arc is well rounded and flows nicely from the opening flashback through to her closing moments on screen
- The entire film feels a step up in production from the current crop of Trek series. It might not live up to its theatrical cousins. But for a release in the streaming landscape it’s beyond impressive
- luscious visual style worthy of the silver screen
- undeniably fun watch which deserves its place in the pantheon of Star Trek
getyourcomicon.co.uk
- a forgettable feature film as bad, if not worse, than what you were expecting
- seems desperate to distance itself from Star Trek and Starfleet
- it doesn’t work as a generic sci-fi action movie either
- killer soundtrack that liberally borrows from bangers like The Motion Picture‘s ‘Klingon Theme’
stevivor.com
- The plot itself is paper thin
- a collection of one-dimensional expendables that are a teenage boy’s idea of edgy
- most of them are irritating to the point that viewers will celebrate should they come to a bad end
- structured like a video game complete with animated mission briefings, set pieces are sloppily executed and none of them have any creative ideas at play
kneelbeforeblog.co.uk
- feels like low-effort, formulaic, watch-while-you-fold-laundry content slop
- a generic McGuffin quest where the heroes have to get the big superweapon before it’s used to destroy the universe, blah, blah, blah
- Why did it have to be Rachel Garrett? No reason except fan service
- nothing matters in this version of Star Trek. Everything is just a light jaunt, careless, and slap-dash
- disposable content slop
- rote, lazy, incurious mess too afraid to risk anything by challenging its audience at a time when we may need Star Trek‘s progressive humanism more than ever
Star Trek: Section 31 review: A disappointing Star Trek tale
Explore the covert dark ops organization within the United Federation of Planets in Star Trek: Section 31.
aiptcomics.com
- neatly written script which hits most of the right notes. Georgiou’s arc is well rounded and flows nicely from the opening flashback through to her closing moments on screen
- The entire film feels a step up in production from the current crop of Trek series. It might not live up to its theatrical cousins. But for a release in the streaming landscape it’s beyond impressive
- luscious visual style worthy of the silver screen
- undeniably fun watch which deserves its place in the pantheon of Star Trek
STAR TREK: SECTION 31 (2025) Review - Get Your Comic On
Neil reviews the first ever Star Trek streaming event movie, Section 31, starring Michelle Yeoh. Streaming on Paramount+ from January 24, 2025.
getyourcomicon.co.uk
- a forgettable feature film as bad, if not worse, than what you were expecting
- seems desperate to distance itself from Star Trek and Starfleet
- it doesn’t work as a generic sci-fi action movie either
- killer soundtrack that liberally borrows from bangers like The Motion Picture‘s ‘Klingon Theme’
Star Trek Section 31 Review: A failed experiment
Stevivor's Star Trek Section 31 review: "This is a forgettable feature film as bad, if not worse, than what you were expecting."
stevivor.com
- The plot itself is paper thin
- a collection of one-dimensional expendables that are a teenage boy’s idea of edgy
- most of them are irritating to the point that viewers will celebrate should they come to a bad end
- structured like a video game complete with animated mission briefings, set pieces are sloppily executed and none of them have any creative ideas at play
Kneel Before Blog - Star Trek: Section 31
A group of morally dubious misfits embark on a top-secret mission to save the galaxy in Olatunde Osunsanmi's Star Trek: Section 31.
kneelbeforeblog.co.uk
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It's actually just a robot controlled by a tiny alien.
Cardie!
No, that's Fuzz, in the Vulcanoid body
Minor visual spoilers from a notorious sci fi news group who broke the embargo showing screencaps and telling the story of the whole film:
That's a stardate between DIS and TOS (not that that means anything).
And those are the only interesting bits, nothing else!
Minor visual spoilers from a notorious sci fi news group who broke the embargo showing screencaps and telling the story of the whole film:
And those are the only interesting bits, nothing else!
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