Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Aide?

[Dayton3]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

I don't understand how long time fans can view this latest movie and NOT be insulted. Seriously. Because they had a cameo of a tribble, we're expected to swoon? There wasn't even a hint of moral understory. Especially after all the hype, I was completely depressed after seeing it.

I posted a review of my own on my blog: http://thirdcathode.blogspot.com/2009/05/movie-review-star-trek-2009.html

Since nearly everyone else seems to have loved the movie, I would like to hear from fans who had negative reactions as I did - why did no one else find the film insulting?

I agree with you pretty much.

I thing many Star Trek fans are so elated to be part of something that has broadbased public appeal that it distorts their judgement.

 

[ST-One]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

I thing many Star Trek fans are so elated to be part of something that has broadbased public appeal that it distorts their judgement.

Actually, you got that wrong.
They join us in our liking Star Trek.

 

[CommanderRaytas]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

Can you accept that many people who have been Trekkies for a long time can love this new flick because they think it's great and no other reason? Sure it makes me happy that something I love has become popular. Who wouldn't be?

 

[Welshie]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

My two cents: I don't quite get why this movie is being so well received, it simply wasn't very good. Now, I'm not what you'd call a Star Trek fan, I've watched some of it over the years, and read one or two books, but I don't much mind the idea of a reboot or trying new actors so long as it's done well. The premise of this film was a good one: dump the years of cruft and byzantine canon and start over... only it didn't quite work out.

The pacing of the film was horrible, the story mediocre, the acting uneven and it had several giant plot holes. I'm not saying that Abrams should've tried to imitate the style or pacing of the old Star Trek movies, which had their own problems, but as is, the new film simply doesn't hold up. Why the two hacks who wrote the Transformers script ended up writing this one I'll never know... Pine was pretty bad, and the whole practice of shoving in stupid catchphrases certainly didn't help the story along. All in all, it was a poor effort, but not because it did away with the canon.

 

[ST-One]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

My two cents: I don't quite get why this movie is being so well received, it simply wasn't very good. Now, I'm not what you'd call a Star Trek fan, I've watched some of it over the years, and read one or two books, but I don't much mind the idea of a reboot or trying new actors so long as it's done well. The premise of this film was a good one: dump the years of cruft and byzantine canon and start over... only it didn't quite work out.

The pacing of the film was horrible, the story mediocre, the acting uneven and it had several giant plot holes. I'm not saying that Abrams should've tried to imitate the style or pacing of the old Star Trek movies, which had their own problems, but as is, the new film simply doesn't hold up. Why the two hacks who wrote the Transformers script ended up writing this one I'll never know... Pine was pretty bad, and the whole practice of shoving in stupid catchphrases certainly didn't help the story along. All in all, it was a poor effort, but not because it did away with the canon.

Thank for the input, CRA?

 

[Jackson_Roykirk]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

...I thing many Star Trek fans are so elated to be part of something that has broadbased public appeal that it distorts their judgement.

No...That's not it.

I had a fun time watching the film, ergo in my opinion it was an enjoyable film. The strangers around me who enjoyed it were not a factor.

It's a "cause-and-effect" argument...It has broad-based appeal because it is enjoyable [cause] -- My reasons for enjoying it are not based on other's opinions [effect].

 

[ireactions]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

In my opinion, there is a group of "Star Trek" fans who revel in how insular their series had become. This brand of fan thrills to the fact that their entertainment of choice is incomprehensible to a general audience, because it makes them feel like the stories are being produced exclusively for them. All those episodes of "Voyager" focused on the crew being menaced by three pages of (inaccurate) scientific jargon allowed this group of fans to obsess over trivia and feel comforted by a constantly self-referential fictional universe.

These fans react with alarm and fright to "Star Trek"; the movie doesn't require viewing the series from the 1960s and all the way to "Enterprise". Not only do these fans feel that their fictitious corner of the world has been intruded upon, they feel like all the time spent memorizing all the technical manuals and trivia cards has now been wasted because the movie doesn't require their knowledge.

They spend a lot of time accusing anyone not in their little cult of being in someone else's cult.

- Ibrahim Ng

 

[Welshie]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

In my opinion, there is a group of "Star Trek" fans who revel in how insular their series had become. This brand of fan thrills to the fact that their entertainment of choice is incomprehensible to a general audience, because it makes them feel like the stories are being produced exclusively for them. All those episodes of "Voyager" focused on the crew being menaced by three pages of (inaccurate) scientific jargon allowed this group of fans to obsess over trivia and feel comforted by a constantly self-referential fictional universe.

These fans react with alarm and fright to "Star Trek"; the movie doesn't require viewing the series from the 1960s and all the way to "Enterprise". Not only do these fans feel that their fictitious corner of the world has been intruded upon, they feel like all the time spent memorizing all the technical manuals and trivia cards has now been wasted because the movie doesn't require their knowledge.

They spend a lot of time accusing anyone not in their little cult of being in someone else's cult.

- Ibrahim Ng

You're quite right, and I'd even go so far as to say that any movie, television series, book or other other cultural product popular enough to attract a larger fanbase will have a sub-group made up of these sorts of people. That said, I don't think that they're the only ones who aren't enjoying the new movie. I think that Star Trek has fallen victim to the modern Hollywood trend of "damn the story, go for the effects". There was nothing stopping JJ from turning Star Trek into an action packed thriller with cool effects and a coherent, engaging story (and looking at some of the other stuff he's worked on, he can certainly produce an engaging story when he needs to) but it seems as if most of the modern movie audience is beyond caring about plot, which I find a little sad, seeing as it's the plot heavy movies (action or not) that I enjoy.

 

[Dayton3]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

Can you accept that many people who have been Trekkies for a long time can love this new flick because they think it's great and no other reason?

No I can not.

Long time Star Trek fans love this movie because

1) It is the first "big budget event type" of Star Trek movie in memory.

2) It has broad general audience appeal which Star Trek fans as stated above are dying to have.

3) It is the first Star Trek movie in years and there is no series on the air. Thus aside from Trek Lit and computer games it is the only Trek in town.

Ironic isn't it. For two generations Star Trek fans have ridiculed Star Wars and other science fiction franchises as "mindless action" and things like that.

Now, they have a movie closer in general tone to Star Wars and other science fiction franchises than any other.

And they revel in it.

 

[Aragorn]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

Why are you such a condescending sour grapes jackass that you need to make blanket statements about people who don't think exactly the same as you do and label them all a certain way, as if somehow only you understand Star Trek and can speak on behalf of everyone else?

 

[DiSiLLUSiON]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

In my opinion, there is a group of "Star Trek" fans who revel in how insular their series had become. This brand of fan thrills to the fact that their entertainment of choice is incomprehensible to a general audience, because it makes them feel like the stories are being produced exclusively for them. All those episodes of "Voyager" focused on the crew being menaced by three pages of (inaccurate) scientific jargon allowed this group of fans to obsess over trivia and feel comforted by a constantly self-referential fictional universe.

These fans react with alarm and fright to "Star Trek"; the movie doesn't require viewing the series from the 1960s and all the way to "Enterprise". Not only do these fans feel that their fictitious corner of the world has been intruded upon, they feel like all the time spent memorizing all the technical manuals and trivia cards has now been wasted because the movie doesn't require their knowledge.

Indeed, I couldn't have said it better. Thumbs up.

 

[TheGodBen]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

I thing many Star Trek fans are so elated to be part of something that has broadbased public appeal that it distorts their judgement.

Can we please try not to second guess or insult the reasoning behind why people enjoy this movie beyond the fact that they enjoyed it? I agree that this is a bad movie and the praise it is receiving is mind-boggling, but the people who liked it have no ulterior motives, they just liked it and that is that.

Focus on the movie, not the fans.

 

[shapeshifter]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

I don't understand how long time fans can view this latest movie and NOT be insulted. Seriously. Because they had a cameo of a tribble, we're expected to swoon? There wasn't even a hint of moral understory. Especially after all the hype, I was completely depressed after seeing it.

I posted a review of my own on my blog: http://thirdcathode.blogspot.com/2009/05/movie-review-star-trek-2009.html

Since nearly everyone else seems to have loved the movie, I would like to hear from fans who had negative reactions as I did - why did no one else find the film insulting?

And I don't understand how long time fans can view this latest movie - Star Trek, and BE insulted. Seriously. Not every TT episode had a moral understory, so that argument, along with being tired, is also moot. Have you seen a doctor for that depression? They have ways of helping deal with it.

I suppose since I don't fit the requirement of having had a negative reaction you'll just over look any attempts to talk sensibly so I just say in closing, I hope you and your self imposed hell have a good time.

 

[darkshadow0001]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

I don't understand how long time fans can view this latest movie and NOT be insulted. Seriously. Because they had a cameo of a tribble, we're expected to swoon? There wasn't even a hint of moral understory. Especially after all the hype, I was completely depressed after seeing it.

I posted a review of my own on my blog: http://thirdcathode.blogspot.com/2009/05/movie-review-star-trek-2009.html

Since nearly everyone else seems to have loved the movie, I would like to hear from fans who had negative reactions as I did - why did no one else find the film insulting?

It's complaining like this that has got Star Trek in the rut that is in. I'm not insulted in anyway, I loved the film. I gave it 4 out of 4 stars. Compared to Nemesis, this movie was fun to see!

 

[John F]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

While there were some problems with the Nero plot, I did have a fun time watching this film. That mind-meld flashback scene needed to explain the situation better. But I just keep reminding myself that the writers were not able to rewrite during the shoot, because of the writer's strike at that time. So J.J. couldn't alter the story or any dialog.

People complaining that J.J's movie isn't Trek, to those I say: Who is to say what Star Trek exactly is? I can't even easily say. And I'm a huge Star Trek fan.

If you look at TOS, it had many different kind of episodes, some action oriented, some philosophical, and some just pure fantasy. I am a huge fan of TNG. But DS9 is my favorite of the Star Trek shows. These two shows are very different. DS9 is very bleak and dark in the final seasons. TNG mostly kept the Roddenberry optimism. Sometimes I say to myself: DS9 is not Star Trek. It's still part of the Star Trek universe. My favorite Star Trek movie is the Director's Cut of Star Trek: The Motion Picture. That's a very mysterious, mystical, philosophical, and deep kind of story. But I also like The Wrath of Kahn. These two films are galaxies apart in story, yet both are Star Trek.

J.J.'s Trek is a character story. It is about growth and becoming better persons. Should J.J.'s Trek not be called Star Trek because this story is presented with great visuals? Or that J.J.'s Trek is action-oriented, and rapidly paced? I regard these stylistic choices. Yes, the Nero element could have been handled better, but that didn't spoil the film for me.

Note that I usually loathe time-travel in Star Trek. I love how First Contact is filmed, yet I hate that story, because the biggest flaw is: Why did the Borg wait to travel through time until they enter Earth orbit? They could have travelled through time from the Delta Quadrant and headed to Earth in the past! Yet they first travel through a whole quadrant of space and then travel to the past? (With the Enterprise on their tail.) But in J.J.'s Star Trek, time travel is accidental, and it presents an alternate universe, and we don't get that aweful "we need to restore the timeline" stuff.

 

[Dayton3]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

I thing many Star Trek fans are so elated to be part of something that has broadbased public appeal that it distorts their judgement.

Can we please try not to second guess or insult the reasoning behind why people enjoy this movie beyond the fact that they enjoyed it? .

When people who say they liked the new movie stop second guessing and insulting those of us who do not like it then I'll be glad to comply with this suggestion.

But this has been a pattern in recent years in my experience.

Everyone gangs up on those who defy the "conventional wisdom".

 

[Aragorn]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

Yeah, you're totally the victim here, Dayton. Maybe Germany should say Denmark attacked first while we're at it.

Perhaps you and Captain Robert April should give Trekspace a shot.

 

[Cheebo]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

Can you accept that many people who have been Trekkies for a long time can love this new flick because they think it's great and no other reason?

No I can not.

Long time Star Trek fans love this movie because

1) It is the first "big budget event type" of Star Trek movie in memory.

2) It has broad general audience appeal which Star Trek fans as stated above are dying to have.

3) It is the first Star Trek movie in years and there is no series on the air. Thus aside from Trek Lit and computer games it is the only Trek in town.

Ironic isn't it. For two generations Star Trek fans have ridiculed Star Wars and other science fiction franchises as "mindless action" and things like that.

Now, they have a movie closer in general tone to Star Wars and other science fiction franchises than any other.

And they revel in it.

None of those explain my father. Explain this:

My dad grew up with TOS. He loved it during it's initial run and even got DeForest Kelley's autograph at one point in the early 70's. He went to all 6 of the TOS movies and quite liked them but gave up on the franchise after that. He never got into TNG (despite me trying multiple times) or anything else.

I've never seen him rewatch TOS or those old movies or talk about it much at all since TUC came out in theaters.

All that changed this weekend. He saw Star Trek with me and LOVED it. It totally re-ignited his love of the franchise and plans to see it a second time. I never seen him say he wants to see a movie more than once in theaters in my entire life. And today he called me to tell me he bought himself TOS Season 1 on Blu-Ray.

How do you explain this sir?

 

[Dayton3]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

Can you accept that many people who have been Trekkies for a long time can love this new flick because they think it's great and no other reason?

No I can not.

Long time Star Trek fans love this movie because

1) It is the first "big budget event type" of Star Trek movie in memory.

2) It has broad general audience appeal which Star Trek fans as stated above are dying to have.

3) It is the first Star Trek movie in years and there is no series on the air. Thus aside from Trek Lit and computer games it is the only Trek in town.

Ironic isn't it. For two generations Star Trek fans have ridiculed Star Wars and other science fiction franchises as "mindless action" and things like that.

Now, they have a movie closer in general tone to Star Wars and other science fiction franchises than any other.

And they revel in it.

None of those explain my father. Explain this:

My dad grew up with TOS. He loved it during it's initial run and even got DeForest Kelley's autograph at one point in the early 70's. He went to all 6 of the TOS movies and quite liked them but gave up on the franchise after that. He never got into TNG (despite me trying multiple times) or anything else.

I've never seen him rewatch TOS or those old movies or talk about it much at all since TUC came out in theaters.

All that changed this weekend. He saw Star Trek with me and LOVED it. It totally re-ignited his love of the franchise and plans to see it a second time. I never seen him say he wants to see a movie more than once in theaters in my entire life. And today he called me to tell me he bought himself TOS Season 1 on Blu-Ray.

How do you explain this sir?

Exception that proves the rule.

 

[Amaris]

Re: Come on people - am I the only fan who can't drink Abrams' Cool Ai

No I can not.

Long time Star Trek fans love this movie because

1) It is the first "big budget event type" of Star Trek movie in memory.

2) It has broad general audience appeal which Star Trek fans as stated above are dying to have.

3) It is the first Star Trek movie in years and there is no series on the air. Thus aside from Trek Lit and computer games it is the only Trek in town.

Ironic isn't it. For two generations Star Trek fans have ridiculed Star Wars and other science fiction franchises as "mindless action" and things like that.

Now, they have a movie closer in general tone to Star Wars and other science fiction franchises than any other.

And they revel in it.

None of those explain my father. Explain this:

My dad grew up with TOS. He loved it during it's initial run and even got DeForest Kelley's autograph at one point in the early 70's. He went to all 6 of the TOS movies and quite liked them but gave up on the franchise after that. He never got into TNG (despite me trying multiple times) or anything else.

I've never seen him rewatch TOS or those old movies or talk about it much at all since TUC came out in theaters.

All that changed this weekend. He saw Star Trek with me and LOVED it. It totally re-ignited his love of the franchise and plans to see it a second time. I never seen him say he wants to see a movie more than once in theaters in my entire life. And today he called me to tell me he bought himself TOS Season 1 on Blu-Ray.

How do you explain this sir?

Exception that proves the rule.

Is this another "Case Closed", Dayton?


J.