I'm with Rich Evans. ST:TMP is the best Star Trek movie. Here's my brief review.

[Pauln6]

An artificial singularity that allows for time travel is a Trek staple. Black holes always have functioned at the needs of the plot. But, yes, the science stood out as bad to me too. Is that supposed to inspire me less?

Now, could the science be better? Probably, but that's all of Star Trek. My understanding of space travel and research is such that Star Trek is just plain impossible. It doesn't work.

What 09 does is inspire me to look towards something far bigger, and a space to want to explore more within. TMP as a film didn't. Things feel very different, and a bit dry at times. 09 feels very lively energetic. It draws me to want to be in that space with those people.

I'll grant it's an emotional argument, not a logical one but that's what draws me in, inspired me to learn more, and when I see the impossible look for a solution of some kind.

I agree wholeheartedly that (with the exception of Scotty’s characterisation - much as I love Pegg, I think a toned down version with Paul McGillion would have been more to my taste) - the cast was awesome and it was a wild roller coaster ride with tremendous fun energy. I suppose what I lamented was that, with a scientific advisor, it could have been all of those things as well as more scientifically accurate. Trek was the show that inspired people to become engineers. Trek 09... not so much.

TMP has the same problem but from the opposite side. It looks incredible even after all this time. What it needed was a final action sequence where a landing party battles its way to V'Ger's brain and either a mini scene for each of the supporting crew to shine a bit more, or a scene for them to shine together. Let Uhura work on V'Ger's message, give Chapel more of a lead on the Ilia interrogation, let Rand do a transporter save at the end, let Sulu pilot a shuttle etc. But, of course, it was already hugely expensive, with special effects problems. I suppose it isn't realistic to think that was possible.

 

[fireproof78]

Trek was the show that inspired people to become engineers

Inspired me to study it more.

I suppose what I lamented was that, with a scientific advisor, it could have been all of those things as well as more scientifically accurate.

I do too but that doesn't decrease my inspiration.

TMP is fun to study. It's not fun to experience from a people perspective.

 

[Pauln6]

Inspired me to study it more.



I do too but that doesn't decrease my inspiration.

TMP is fun to study. It's not fun to experience from a people perspective.

Actually, I love the professionalism of the characters in TMP, and there is a lot of nuance to the characterisation. I find the modern stuff often doesn't have enough nuance for my taste. In fairness to SNW, I really love to amount of nuance Ethan Peck, Christina Chong, and Jess Bush bring to their interactions and, despite a good deal of criticism, Paul Wesley and Celia Rose Gooding are beginning to ooze their TOS counterparts.

Interestingly, while the puppet episode was a step too far for me (I would thoroughly enjoy a puppet series but as its own thing), I loved the recent soap opera episode and I wonder if it's because TOS had a lot of melodrama. It feels more appropriate somehow. I do think expectation impacts our enjoyment and the expectation of TMP was certainly not what was delivered.

 

[fireproof78]

Actually, I love the professionalism of the characters in TMP, and there is a lot of nuance to the characterisation.

I like the professionalism to a point but it gets calloused at some points which rubs me the wrong way.

Kelvin films swing back and forth but I think they get it down while showing good growth and development. TMP wants growth but goes too far in the professional speak to be warm enough to be welcoming for me.

But, I also have bosses who swear, who share personal stories and host parties so my expectations have changed over the years, plus reading a lot of fiction and getting more warm rather than the "grim faced caydet look," to borrow a phrase from Heinlein.