The Official STAR TREK Grading & Discussion Thread [SPOILERS]

[waynehead]

I (foolishly) posted a new thread after seeing the movie which was just closed b/c it was clutter.

Sorry again to the mods, I don't post here much but I am a bbs vet and should've known better.

I'll repost what I said here:

"Star Trek Died Today

It was beaten to a bloody pulp, rendered senseless and unimportant, reformed and shaped into a more pleasing shape, and fed to the horde of groundlings who'll gladly eat it up.

I just got back from seeing it.

It was bloody awful. Technically proficient, but conceptually something more like an abortion. A half idea. A "what if?" gone way too far. And a perversion of the brand's original intent. JJ Abrams would've been better off giving the finger to the creative talent, writers/producers, and fans of the series. That would've been much quicker and would've saved a lot of money which was instead invested in a pile of garbage.

Don't let me stop you, I know you have to see it. I know you think I'm crazy, or a geek gone wild, or something like that. Even after seeing it most of you will still hold that opinion of my perspective.

But IMO Star Trek, as we knew it, is dead."

I stand by that.

I know some of you think I'm just being negative or a closet SW fan or something.

But JJ Abrams has sucked everything unique and special about Gene Roddenberry's vision out of this new Star Trek movie. All that we're left with is Die Hard in space. If that's what you want to see, you'll love this movie.

 

[jamestyler]

I haven't read all the posts (skipped a few pages that resembled the Dominion war...) but... I saw this movie this morning. I had twenty minutes to gather my thoughts before reviewing it on the radio and all I could think was 'wow!'.

The opening scene, as some have mentioned, was brilliant. The sacrifice George Kirk made to save Jimmy T worked well and I loved the rest of the film stemming from it from Kirks chat with Spock about Kirk Primes father, to Nero's whole vengeance angle to Kirk putting all the pieces together.

Everything I was hesitant about was put to rest in my mind. Engineering looked fantastic, far more industrial and believable than before. The bridge looked far better on screen than it did in pictures and I didn't even care that it dropped a few decks. The comedy was spot on, even the whole swollen hands thing amused me where I thought I would cringe.

I was blown away by the movie. It completely lived up to the hype for me.

The story of Kirk and Spock coming together, the chemistry between the two, the whole cast... everything felt spot on. It felt different, but it still felt Trek. And Simon Pegg does Scottish slang better than I do, and I'm a native!

More thoughts can be found here - though I will warn you, I was still in shock and awe when I wrote it.

I've read a few people complain (well not really complain, comment) on Kirks promotion - it didn't seem out of place to me at all. Pike knew Kirk was something special, he proved it, they made a point of saying it was more a Peace Corps than a military structure, Pike himself was out of comission and a few good captains were lost at Vulcan.

Besides - whats the point in a creation story without having Captain Kirk at the end of the journey?

Edit - I should also mention that I smirked a bit at the Nokia tone and even though it never seemed right to have modern music in Trek, Sabotage seemed to work for me.

The other thing I didn't mention on my blog were the end credits. Nostalgiatastic. I got hold of the music the night before and sent it to my dad and even he loved the music and is looking forward to seeing the film on Saturday as a birthday treat.

I'm going back to see the movie on Saturday and looking forward to a second viewing.

 

[FlyingLemons]

That sort of thing just strikes me as inherent laziness and ineptitude on the writers behalf

See Threshold and a dozen other episodes where the writers just didn't put any effort in. This captured the spirit of Star Trek more than the recent films did. To quote Janeway and Kim in Flashback:

"It was a very different time, Mister Kim. Captain Sulu, Captain Kirk, Doctor McCoy. They all belonged to a different breed of Starfleet officers. Imagine the era they lived in: the Alpha quadrant still largely unexplored... Humanity on verge of war with Klingons, Romulans hiding behind every nebula. Even the technology we take for granted was still in its early stages: no plasma weapons, no multi-phasic shields... Their ships were half as fast."

"No replicators. No holodecks. You know, ever since I took Starfleet history at the Academy, I've always wondered what it would be like to live in those days."

"Space must have seemed a whole lot bigger back then. It's not surprising they had to bend the rules a little. They were a little slower to invoke the Prime Directive, and a little quicker to pull their phasers. Of course, the whole bunch of them would be booted out of Starfleet today. But I have to admit: I would have loved to ride shotgun at least once with a group of officers like that."

That pretty much encapsulates the difference between Kirk's era and the time from which Spock came back from. I like the fact that the movie invokes the former, really.

 

[Captain Robert April]

Then why did Kirk tell Gillian he was from Iowa?

this really gives you away, April. oh man.

Jesus, what a dumb thing to nitpick.

I was born in D.C. I lived there for the first six months of my life. I've lived mainly in various parts of am East Coast state for all the decades since.

When people ask me where I'm from I say I'm from the state where I've lived my entire life save six months. Why in the fuck would I say "I'm from D.C.?"

Which still eliminates Tarsus IV as a viable answer for the question "Where did Jim Kirk grow up?"

QED.

 

[Tom Servo]

this really gives you away, April. oh man.

Jesus, what a dumb thing to nitpick.

I was born in D.C. I lived there for the first six months of my life. I've lived mainly in various parts of am East Coast state for all the decades since.

When people ask me where I'm from I say I'm from the state where I've lived my entire life save six months. Why in the fuck would I say "I'm from D.C.?"

Which still eliminates Tarsus IV as a viable answer for the question "Where did Jim Kirk grow up?"

QED.

It's not the same timeline. Jim Kirk could have grown up in Zimbabwe for crying out loud. It doesn't matter.

 

[Captain Robert April]

But why use the name Delta Vega? Just use another one. That sort of thing just strikes me as inherent laziness and ineptitude on the writers behalf (not that that sort of error is alone to this movie in the Trek universe at all, but the point stands)

http://trekmovie.com/2009/04/30/interview-roberto-orci-alex-kurtzman/

For the Trek fans, this film includes many little references. For example you have Kirk dropped off on the planet Delta Vega, which was seen in second Star Trek pilot. It is a cool reference, but didn’t you also fudge canon by ignoring that Delta Vega was way out next to the galactic barrier.


Orci: True. Yeah we did. We moved the planet to suit our purposes. The familiarity of the name seemed more important as an Easter egg, than a new name with no importance.

This is gross stupidity on display. They go out of their way to make an inaccurate reference guaranteed to get the attention of long time fans, the only ones who'd get the reference in the first place, in a situation where the only logical response is for said long time fan to stop paying attention to the story being told and go, "What the -- Delta Vega is nowhere near Vulcan..."

Like I said, that's not an example of "honoring canon", it's name dropping by incompetent writers who don't know what they're talking about.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Where Kirk grew up is fanon, not canon. That he is "from Iowa" is canon as of Star Trek IV.

People who want to nitpick canon should at least be conversant with it.

 

[Captain Robert April]

It was never stated that he grew up on Tarsus IV (which is the assertion that was being addressed), only that he was there when Kodos wiped out half the colony's population.

Those who jump into the middle of arguments need to pay attention.

 

[BigMovieGeek]

I haven't read all the posts (skipped a few pages that resembled the Dominion war...) but... I saw this movie this morning. I had twenty minutes to gather my thoughts before reviewing it on the radio and all I could think was 'wow!'.

The opening scene, as some have mentioned, was brilliant. The sacrifice George Kirk made to save Jimmy T worked well and I loved the rest of the film stemming from it from Kirks chat with Spock about Kirk Primes father, to Nero's whole vengeance angle to Kirk putting all the pieces together.

Everything I was hesitant about was put to rest in my mind. Engineering looked fantastic, far more industrial and believable than before. The bridge looked far better on screen than it did in pictures and I didn't even care that it dropped a few decks. The comedy was spot on, even the whole swollen hands thing amused me where I thought I would cringe.

I was blown away by the movie. It completely lived up to the hype for me.

The story of Kirk and Spock coming together, the chemistry between the two, the whole cast... everything felt spot on. It felt different, but it still felt Trek.

I've read a few people complain (well not really complain, comment) on Kirks promotion - it didn't seem out of place to me at all. Pike knew Kirk was something special, he proved it, they made a point of saying it was more a Peace Corps than a military structure, Pike himself was out of comission and a few good captains were lost at Vulcan.

Besides - whats the point in a creation story without having Captain Kirk at the end of the journey?

Edit - I should also mention that I smirked a bit at the Nokia tone and even though it never seemed right to have modern music in Trek, Sabotage seemed to work for me.

I completely agree. The movie just blew me away, especially the redesigned engineering, I wasn't expecting that at all. Going again on Saturday and I can't bloody wait!

 

[sto vo kor]

Just seen it and very much enjoyed it. My non-trek girlfirend ewnt with me (she gets confused between Star Trek and Star Wars) and she seemed to enjoy it too, but got a bit confused with the plot.

Does anybody have any ideas when the next film will be out?

I'm going to see it tomorrow again, can't wait!

 

[FlyingLemons]

I'd hazard a wild guess as being about 2011/12 given the time frame of this one. And yes, my girlfriend liked it too despite the fact she's not into Trek. A good sign methinks.

 

[Wesser]

I'd hazard a wild guess as being about 2011/12 given the time frame of this one. And yes, my girlfriend liked it too despite the fact she's not into Trek. A good sign methinks.

Hoefully this time, without that blasted 5 month delay!

 

[waynehead]

I'd hazard a wild guess as being about 2011/12 given the time frame of this one. And yes, my girlfriend liked it too despite the fact she's not into Trek. A good sign methinks.

Ha! How far we've fallen.

 

[FlyingLemons]

I'd hazard a wild guess as being about 2011/12 given the time frame of this one. And yes, my girlfriend liked it too despite the fact she's not into Trek. A good sign methinks.

Ha! How far we've fallen.

In that it appeals to someone besides the fanbase that went to see the previous few films and made Nemesis the box office smash that it was? I think if Abrams wants to attract those who that film scared off, he'll succeed.

 

[Tom Servo]

I'd hazard a wild guess as being about 2011/12 given the time frame of this one. And yes, my girlfriend liked it too despite the fact she's not into Trek. A good sign methinks.

Ha! How far we've fallen.

You do know if this film was made just for trek fans it would be a spectacular failure?

Im GLAD non trek types are into this film, its what it needs.

 

[SalvorHardin]

I'd hazard a wild guess as being about 2011/12 given the time frame of this one. And yes, my girlfriend liked it too despite the fact she's not into Trek. A good sign methinks.

Ha! How far we've fallen.

Indeed.
Some have fallen so far they think Trek is a closed club reserved for a few chosen ones and nobody new should ever join.

Sad.

 

[Wesser]

I just wish I had a total of the people that frequent this site, who were blasting the crap out of Berman and co. Hoping beyond hope that SOMEONE would come in and clean up his messes. Maybe trim up all the spinoff crap and bring Trek back to is roots. I can hear them now....
"I did want that! But not THIS way, either."

It's like showing a 4 year old ten diffrent toys and they shake their heads at all of them.

Go to the movies. Take the wife and kids, eat popcorn, have fun, and move the hell on.

 

[Wesser]

I'd hazard a wild guess as being about 2011/12 given the time frame of this one. And yes, my girlfriend liked it too despite the fact she's not into Trek. A good sign methinks.

Ha! How far we've fallen.

Indeed.
Some have fallen so far they think Trek is a closed club reserved for a few chosen ones and nobody new should ever join.

Sad.

It is sad. If only they knew. The closed club thing has been SO overdone.

Signed-Spanky & Alfapha
Co-creators: He-Man Woman Haters Assoc.

 

[Garak]

Because Spock has to have a sudden attack of the stupids in order for JJ to get his own Star Trek universe to run amok in

Yup, pretty much. That's the reality of the situation and I'm glad you can grasp it.

If you want that former, stale Trek you can always make your own personal low quality version in your basement. Maybe it will be more entertaining than your laughable and inconsequential critique of this movie, but I doubt it.

Ain't life a B.

 

[saddestmoon]

Just saw it last night...

A fantastic movie!!!! Abrams is Awesome, IMO!!!

The look, the pace, the storyline - the characters - were all amazing!!!

The new Enterprise looks brilliant!!!! It's now my favourite starship design, overtaking by a narrow margin, the TMP Refit Enterprise design, which has held sway in my books for soooo long now...

I can't wait for the sequel to this - Abrams has established the characters well, in this new timeline, which has me hankering for more!!!!



MORE I TELLS YA!!!!!! MORE!!!!!!