Better the second time around...for me at least

[Trekwatcher]

Well, I went ahead and saw STXI again. For me, at least, it did play better the second time around. I think the first time I was, frankly, in such a state of shock from the whole alternate timeline issue that it just ruined the experience for me. I walked out of the film stunned and in a daze.

Since then, I have read the novelization and countdown and have thought about the movie (and what it means for trek) to no end.

The second time around, knowing what was to come, I was able to focus more on the movie and watch it on its own merits.

I think the first half plays much better than the second half, with the Kelvin/Iowa/Academy/Vulcan/Loss of Amanda scenes working well. I still think the alternate timeline issue was a misstep, but it is what it is, and a lot of the Scotty-based humor is too broadly drawn for my tastes. Pike, especially in the bar scene early in the film, is well drawn. Yelchin does a nice job as well in his few scenes. I am getting used to Pine and Quinto...

Overall, it worked more for me as a Star Trek fan this time than it did the first time. Parts of it still seemed juvenile, I still cringed when they made Kirk captain, and I was disappointed they opted to make what was largely an action film (and not something more), but I am glad I gave it a second look.

Has anyone else had a similar experience?

 

[An Officer]

I think nothing could beat the first time. I was completely unspoiled, so everything came as a surprise, George Kirk's death, the Spock/Uhura relationship, the destruction of Vulcan, the original music on the end credits... what a ride. No other viewing could come close to the first.

 

[trampledamage]

I'll hopefully get to find out on Sunday!

I think I'll see more details this time that I was too amazed to see the first time. And I might notice more people than McCoy this time too...

 

[An Officer]

Ooh, second time is very good, too. I personally took the opportunity to concentrate on how Pine filled out those lovely regulation pants (since I no longer had to focus on the plot so strenuously), and he does things for those pants no other could.

 

[Kirk's_Tights]

I think nothing could beat the first time. I was completely unspoiled, so everything came as a surprise, George Kirk's death, the Spock/Uhura relationship, the destruction of Vulcan, the original music on the end credits... what a ride. No other viewing could come close to the first.

My thoughts are the same.


The other times I see a movie, I just pick up on a few things that I may have missed the first time but it still doesn't beat the first viewing.

 

[Jeri]

I noticed that my appreciation of the music improved with subsequent viewings. At first it was kind of all over the place. And now it seems to mesh nicely and follows me around.

 

[Cakes488]

I did not remain spoiler free, but I still didn't know the plot or all events in the movie...shit, most events in the movie for that matter....but I liked it even better the 2nd time around too. Liked the score immensely....might even buy it....Last time I bought a movie soundtrack was The Good the Bad the Ugly...or was it Hair?

 

[GalaxyX]

I liked it better the first time. The second time I walked into it jaded by all you people talking about the inconsistencies of the time travel and inconsistencies with Vulcan beings attacked and destroyed, etc etc.

But I still enjoyed the movie quite a lot.

 

[ria 75]

I think nothing could beat the first time. I was completely unspoiled, so everything came as a surprise, George Kirk's death, the Spock/Uhura relationship, the destruction of Vulcan, the original music on the end credits... what a ride. No other viewing could come close to the first.

My thoughts are the same.

The other times I see a movie, I just pick up on a few things that I may have missed the first time but it still doesn't beat the first viewing.

That's a good enough reason to see it a second time. I'm considering it. I'll try to drag along someone as an excuse.
Also, some things get better with anticipation. I've experienced that with music.

 

[Gorn Captain]

Well, I went ahead and saw STXI again.

Thanks for the review there, Lumbergh.

Seriously, I am a little sad that many serious Star Trek fans, and I assume a Fleet Captain on this site must be one, don't see their Star Trek in this new movie. Of course, everyone is entitled to their opinion. I just wonder what it means.

Does it mean that the filmmakers failed to capture the essence of Trek, or does it mean longtime fans can't stand to see something coopted by, for lack of a better phrase, the next generation? I don't know.

I miss Shatner. I am distressed by Nimoy's appearance due to advanced age. I'm in disbelief that DeForest Kelley has been gone for a decade. Those three are Star Trek to me. So no, it's not quite the same sitting in this movie, but for me the essence of the characters, or at least a substantial portion of it, still exists in these new actors. Nimoy spoke recently about crying at the scene where Kirk meets McCoy. I got a little misty eyed myself, because I saw Leonard McCoy there. It just worked, at least for me. And if it can work for me, I would hope it could work for anyone.

 

[Possum]

I liked it better the second time too. I liked it the first time but the second time I was able to pick up on plot points and nuance. I went in totally unspoiled but during the first viewing I was deciding: do these new guys measure up? Riverside will be thrilled, when did Iowa turn into a desert wasteland (we are not Nebraska after all), do I like that choice, do I like this choice, are those supposed to be Romulans? what the HECK was that with Spock/Uhura?!

Second time around I was able to sit back and enjoy it. I also like the music better the second time. The first time for some reason I found it kind of jarring in the first half. I also found it went just as quickly the second time, I wasn't at all bored the second (or third) time around.

I went into this movie not expecting to like it at all but I so see my Star Trek in it. It has the spirit of the original series. It doesn't have everything yet- they only had two hours to work with. TOS had 79 hours and six movies and I'm more than willing to give this new incarnation a chance.

 

[RAMA]

First time: awe. Second, noticed how great it looked on the big screen. Sat back and enjoyed it a bit more. 3rd...noticed more lines I had missed and a few details.

RAMA

 

[pookha]

i liked it the first time but really appreciate certain aspects of it more the second time.
and you see some more of the odd interesting background stuff too.

 

[TheArsenal]

I was utterly unspoiled as well.

For me the first time was a better experience. The second/third time I saw things that made me think it was a better film than I'd originally thought.

 

[Shatmandu]

I'll hopefully get to find out on Sunday!

I think I'll see more details this time that I was too amazed to see the first time.

That's how it was for me: I noticed a lot more detail the second time around.

Great time.

Joe, going back for thirds

 

[trampledamage]

I'll hopefully get to find out on Sunday!

I think I'll see more details this time that I was too amazed to see the first time.

That's how it was for me: I noticed a lot more detail the second time around.

Great time.

Joe, going back for thirds

Yep! I'm just back and while I still got totally wrapped up in the story again, I was able to notice more about what was going on.

In particular I really enjoyed Sulu's part of the final battle. His concentration when they come out of warp into the clouds of Titan and then maneuvre into orbit. And I realised that Kirk and Spock's plan to take out the Narada depends on their trust that Sulu will follow orders and as soon as he has the tactical advantage (when Nero fires everything at Spock) he will fire on the Narada regardless of the fact that he could have been firing on Kirk and Spock.

That scene was fantastic.

And I paid attention to the music this time too, it was beautiful. I think I'm going to buy the soundtrack album.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I am distressed by Nimoy's appearance due to advanced age.

You do realise they did age him with makeup tricks? Grey, thinning eyebrows - and drops in his eyes to make them look rheumy.

 

[Franklin]

There was so much build up that the first time I saw it, most of the time I was thinking to myself, "This is really happening. This is Star Trek." Add a crowded theater to the equation, along with my two kids (will they sit still through it?), and a non-fan wife whom I would glimpse at every now and then to see how she was tolerating the movie, and losing myself in the movie was difficult. I walked out thinking it was just "fine." But I knew I missed a lot, too.

When I went the second time, I snuck out alone in the middle of the week for a matinee. There were maybe twenty people in the theater. When I could see it in what amounted to a "private screening," I enjoyed it far more than I did the first time. I caught things I didn't catch the first time even though I was so spoiled I knew they were coming. My appreciation of the movie went up tenfold. Maybe it was accidental, but it's certainly not as shallow as it comes across to be at first blush, especially if you are a fan.

I would recommend to anybody that if you've only seen the movie in filled or nearly-filled theaters, go out and see this movie one more time in a nearly empty theater. It's worth it.

 

[Saxman1]

I saw TOS first run (I'm 49) and loved this film the first time. I loved it even more the second time yesterday. So did my wife and kids. My mom has always been a huge Star Trek fan (86!) and pronounced it the best Star Trek film ever! So there!

 

[Jeri]

^ ^ I like it!