What do you diehard TOS fans think of the new movie?

[Brutal Strudel]

Then you haven't really paid attention watching the episodes. In WNMHGB and "Shoreleave" they establish the young Kirk as a serious student who obviously later in liofe loosens up with more confidence and relaxed disposition. Later in a couple of episodes of TNG it's established that the younger Picard chased skirts and was a bit of a rabble rouser. So what Abrams effectively did was take the younger Picard's personality and graft it onto his alternate universe Jerk, er Kirk.

Roddenberry thought of Picard and Kirk as his own ideal self at different stages of his life. So it isn´t far-fetched that they share the same background.

And Kirk is portrayed as studious and intelligent in the movie.

Spoiler: Proof that Kirk is studious

He knows the definition of xeno-linguistics.
His aptitude tests are off the charts according to Pike.
He graduates in three instead of four years.
He is able to reprogram the Kobayashi Maru test.
He refers to Pike´s dissertation about the Kelvin when they are heading to Vulcan.

Yep, looks like the version he saw on his computer didn't have those scenes or he ignored them because they didn't fit with his preconceptions of the movie.

Actually, Kirk is portrayed as being so smart that he does not have to study. It's a nice fantasy, one that has caused many a brilliant man (and woman) to fail course after course because they see themselves as too brilliant to deign to do something as undignified as homework.

I teach high school. I see it all the time.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I suspect the opinions will be a bit more critical after a few months.

It's always history that's going to vindicate us when reality doesn't..

 

[Ronald Held]

I see this as an honest opinion.

 

[trevanian]

No, I want to see films about Kirk, but he doesn't have to be there in that chair on that ship.

'... these are the voyages of the starship Enterprise...'

Yes, he has to be in that chair - for it to be Star Trek.

I think the movies missed a golden opportunity by not letting Kirk and co stay out of Starfleet after SFS, because they could have cast off the weight of all those Starfleet oriented stories. I'd have much preferred to see the golden years with them operating on their own in the BOP, in unexplored or fringe territories, making calls without having to be in a chain of command that would have to be often ignored anyway.

Nice idea. Very Star Wars-y.

Y'think? I don't see how.

TREK movies are saddled with all this baggage that requires them to spend money showing Earth and tons of extras on ships, and all that costs. You can save on that and put the money where it needs to be, and also be able to afford to get some guest stars who can be international draws. Plus Starfleet had become something in the films that was very unpleasant and seriously way too modern day with its increasing number of incompetents in high levels, as opposed to the occasional one in the series. These guys deserved better.

And that 'these are the voyages' line didn't turn up too often in the movies, did it? But I figured they could have kept a variation, with the voyages of the private (or free) Enterprise, aboard the BOP.

 

[Nerys Myk]

^^ I saw all that and it didn't matter worth a damn because this Kirk's behaviour doesn't support it.

Support what? Smart people cant be smart asses too? They can't have a rebellious streak? Kirk I know was a smart ass, especially when faced with pompous commisioners, ambassadors, undersecretaries and the occasional Commodore. He was also a risk taker.

 

[Maurice]

I enjoyed the film for what it is. I don't see the point of comparing it to the old Star Trek because it's a different take on the material. It's not the Star Trek I grew up on, just as the Harrison Ford version of The Fugitive isn't the 60s show, or 1980's Flash Gordon isn't the Buster Crabbe version.

The film IS dumb as a box of rocks on some levels, but, seriously, virtually all of the Trek films have had brainless/coincidental moments and WTF incidents.

Star Trek: OMG Spock and Uhura?
TFF: OMFG Scotty and Uhura?

Star Trek: Red matter?
TWOK: Genesis go boom and makes a nebula into a planet?

Star Trek: Cadets on the ship? Cadet becomes Captain?
TOS movies: Same crew on same ship for 15-20 years?

I could go on and on. The other Trek movies are hardly high art or logical, and full of plot contrivances and bonehead stupid pseudo-science. And if I never have to see anything as painful as the TNG crew trying to be funny it'll be too soon.

 

[ST-One]

Actually, Kirk is portrayed as being so smart that he does not have to study.

Err, no. You got that wrong.
I mean he even says that he read Pike's dissertation about the Kelvin.
Granted, that is just one example in the film, but it's not like they actually showed us the cadets in a class-room.

 

[The Grim Ghost]

This movie was all style and zero substance.

I feel like I'M living in an alternate reality, I'm so surprised how well most people like it. For me it was far worse than Nemesis and easily the worst Trek ever.

 

[Amaris]

Roddenberry thought of Picard and Kirk as his own ideal self at different stages of his life. So it isn´t far-fetched that they share the same background.

And Kirk is portrayed as studious and intelligent in the movie.

Spoiler: Proof that Kirk is studious

He knows the definition of xeno-linguistics.
His aptitude tests are off the charts according to Pike.
He graduates in three instead of four years.
He is able to reprogram the Kobayashi Maru test.
He refers to Pike´s dissertation about the Kelvin when they are heading to Vulcan.

Yep, looks like the version he saw on his computer didn't have those scenes or he ignored them because they didn't fit with his preconceptions of the movie.

Actually, Kirk is portrayed as being so smart that he does not have to study. It's a nice fantasy, one that has caused many a brilliant man (and woman) to fail course after course because they see themselves as too brilliant to deign to do something as undignified as homework.

I teach high school. I see it all the time.

For the record, I was so smart I didn't have to study in high school. I scored A's in every single course, except Algebra, but that wasn't because I didn't study, it's because I was lazy as hell and the teacher made us all pass out every day for 90 minutes.

I'm serious! His upper lip never moved and he spoke in a monotone voice for 90. Freaking. Minutes (one block class).

J.

 

[Cyrus]

I liked it.

 

[Maurice]

J.

"DOGGIE!"

I love your avatar. That's such a great comic strip. I wish more sci-fi fans read it.

 

[Amaris]

J.

"DOGGIE!"

I love your avatar. That's such a great comic strip. I wish more sci-fi fans read it.

Hey, alright! Two people!


J.

 

[Rebma Bowmani]

None of the other Star Trek series kept my consistant intrest. TOS was off the air before I was born but I watched all of the reruns. I loved the campy sixties style of the show as well as it's message of hope. I have been waiting 3 decades for a fresh cast to play these roles and the time is way over due. I have seen the movie five times ... I bring a new person to see it with me each time. My only concern was the rapid promotion of Kirk as Captain .. but otherwise everything else was right on! The romance of Spock and Uhura was the BEST twist I could fathom. The only reason that any romantic interest in Uhura could not be explored or expressed with the other MAIN characters in the series was because she was black and it was the 60's... but there were plenty of romances represented on the ship on TOS - including a wedding ceremony between two officers. The first fictional interracial kiss had to be a alien forced one and there was NO chemistry... now today the sky is the limit - an the chemistry was very much apparent. I also stoked that they went with a 20 and 30 something cast ... leaving room for more movies and more adventures! TOS started off with middle aged actors and they are loved and missed - but we must move on!

 

[Therin of Andor]

Yes. But Abrams decided to chuck all of that to show us a hotshot with a smartass mouth.

So did novelist Diane Carey, in "Best Destiny". So did William Shatner himself, in the more recent "Academy: Collision Course".

 

[Pindar]

Yes. But Abrams decided to chuck all of that to show us a hotshot with a smartass mouth.

So did novelist Diane Carey, in "Best Destiny". So did William Shatner himself, in the more recent "Academy: Collision Course".

Best Destiny is a great book.

 

[Brutal Strudel]

Actually, Kirk is portrayed as being so smart that he does not have to study.

Err, no. You got that wrong.
I mean he even says that he read Pike's dissertation about the Kelvin.
Granted, that is just one example in the film, but it's not like they actually showed us the cadets in a class-room.

The dissertation is about his father, the absense of whom has screwed him up. Reading that is less about studying and more about working out Freudian issues.

 

[Brutal Strudel]

Yep, looks like the version he saw on his computer didn't have those scenes or he ignored them because they didn't fit with his preconceptions of the movie.

Actually, Kirk is portrayed as being so smart that he does not have to study. It's a nice fantasy, one that has caused many a brilliant man (and woman) to fail course after course because they see themselves as too brilliant to deign to do something as undignified as homework.

I teach high school. I see it all the time.

For the record, I was so smart I didn't have to study in high school. I scored A's in every single course, except Algebra, but that wasn't because I didn't study, it's because I was lazy as hell and the teacher made us all pass out every day for 90 minutes.

I'm serious! His upper lip never moved and he spoke in a monotone voice for 90. Freaking. Minutes (one block class).

J.

I can believe it--when I was in college, I was accosted by a fellow student who, pissed off by by my scoring 4.0s semester after semester ( I wasn't perfect--I graduated with a 3.93), said "But you never do anything!" Truth was, I studied in my room rather than make a show of it by studying in the lounge. However, I should clarify: I'm not saying such people do not exist, I'm saying they are much rarer than a lot of these lazy narcissists would like to think.

 

[ST-One]

Actually, Kirk is portrayed as being so smart that he does not have to study.

Err, no. You got that wrong.
I mean he even says that he read Pike's dissertation about the Kelvin.
Granted, that is just one example in the film, but it's not like they actually showed us the cadets in a class-room.

The dissertation is about his father, the absense of whom has screwed him up. Reading that is less about studying and more about working out Freudian issues.

Still, nothing in that film even suggests that he thinks he is so smart that he doesn't have to study.

 

[Brutal Strudel]

Err, no. You got that wrong.
I mean he even says that he read Pike's dissertation about the Kelvin.
Granted, that is just one example in the film, but it's not like they actually showed us the cadets in a class-room.

The dissertation is about his father, the absense of whom has screwed him up. Reading that is less about studying and more about working out Freudian issues.

Still, nothing in that film even suggests that he thinks he is so smart that he doesn't have to study.

Kirk: I have to study.
McCoy: "Study" my ass.

Close. He studied an Orion chick's ass instead.

 

[ST-One]

The dissertation is about his father, the absense of whom has screwed him up. Reading that is less about studying and more about working out Freudian issues.

Still, nothing in that film even suggests that he thinks he is so smart that he doesn't have to study.

Kirk: I have to study.
McCoy: "Study" my ass.

Close. He studied an Orion chick's ass instead.

Why did I know you would bring that up?

Kirk is a ladies-man. We all know this, and so does McCoy.
Kirk is also way in his third year at the academy. Do you really think he would have gotten that far (and also already taken the KM-test twice) without studying?