Anyone else not like the opening scene?

[Star Treks]

It's an overstatement for me to say that I didn't like the opening scene, but I don't think it was anywhere near my favorite part of the movie. I thought the guy playing George Kirk was bad, and the dialogue as a whole felt clunky and awkward.

Keep in mind that Trek XI is now officially one of my favorite movies, my favorite Trek film, and a movie I really, really like - almost love. But that first scene had me dreading that the whole film would be as bad... I'm glad I was wrong.

Did anyone else find that the acting or dialogue of the first 10 minutes was actually one of the weakest parts of the movie? It seems to be a very popular sequence, but I'm not so sure it's really a particularly strong part of the movie. If I had to guess, I think two factors are contributing to inflating opinions around here of the sequence: the whole Robau meme, and the fact that this was the first scene, the long end to the years-long wait for new, good Trek.

 

[Peter the Younger]

No.

 

[SonicRanger]

It is bad because of the character assassination of James Kirk's mom compared to Roddenberry's vision for her.

As I have explained elsewhere, Roddenberry wanted her to have no last name and be a "New Human" who had many sexual partners, the first of which was named only James. It was for this love instructor that she named a son she happened to have with a particularly good lay named Kirk. As a New Human, she certainly would not have been a Starfleet officer.

Now Abrams has ruined the character, turning her into a competent Starfleet officer and the loving wife of her husband, George Kirk, yet another Starfleet officer. They went even further as to give her a last name, which no good New Human would ever have.

Kirk's mom should be as Roddenberry envisioned: into free love and telepathically linked to her fellow New Humans.

 

[Borgminister]

Nope--I loved it. Thought it was very powerful, and probably drew an initially skeptical general audience right into the movie and ensuing Star Trek title.

It was about as perfect as can be, IMO.

 

[Middle Earther]

Nope--I loved it. Thought it was very powerful, and probably drew an initially skeptical general audience right into the movie and ensuing Star Trek title.

It was about as perfect as can be, IMO.

Agreed. For me, the opening scene was one of the best opening moments of any movie. As for GR's 60s vision of free love - we're in a different century now and that kind of vision doesn't resonate with most people any longer, especially in light of the problems of diseases like AIDS.

 

[miraclefan]

Nope--I loved it. Thought it was very powerful, and probably drew an initially skeptical general audience right into the movie and ensuing Star Trek title.

It was about as perfect as can be, IMO.

Ditto.

 

[TheArsenal]

Not for me. I thought it was an effective scene in its own right, while signaling to me the quality that was to follow.

 

[Similitude]

Seeing as how it was the best scene in the movie, absolutely not.

 

[Jeri]

Huh-uh. That's Huh-uh.

 

[Robo]

It made me cry both times I watched it.
I loved it, personally.

 

[Trekwatcher]

I thought it was very strong. As someone with mixed feelings on the film, this was the one part I was solidly in favor of.

 

[S'kai]

Agree that George Kirk's acting was a bit stiff (I guess to make sure we all knew it was Star Trek). The rest of the scene was great, and it really grabbed me at the height of the battle, just when I thought "Too much noise. Explosions in outer space are silent.", the sound track went dead silent as they showed the exterior as the crewman gets spaced. Then I thought,"NAILED IT !!!." Made me a believer.

 

[mredom]

It is bad because of the character assassination of James Kirk's mom compared to Roddenberry's vision for her.

As I have explained elsewhere, Roddenberry wanted her to have no last name and be a "New Human" who had many sexual partners, the first of which was named only James. It was for this love instructor that she named a son she happened to have with a particularly good lay named Kirk. As a New Human, she certainly would not have been a Starfleet officer.

Now Abrams has ruined the character, turning her into a competent Starfleet officer and the loving wife of her husband, George Kirk, yet another Starfleet officer. They went even further as to give her a last name, which no good New Human would ever have.

Kirk's mom should be as Roddenberry envisioned: into free love and telepathically linked to her fellow New Humans.

You know I just don't know whether to take this seriously. If you're serious, then that's OK I guess.

I would like to think that we as a race would have eveolved beyond meaningless physical relationships, to discover the true intimacy which comes from monagamy and dedication to the other. The loving bond between committed husband and wife working together, and being commited above all other things to each other. Being willing to sacrifice oneself for the good of the other. These are great qualities, and far more meaningful than some futile attempt to explore sexual techniques with multiple partners. I would hope that in three hundred years we will have discovered the follies of the "sexual revolution" and re-discovered the idea of openess and honesty within a committed relationship.

Besides, it's our relationships which define us as human beings, our relationships with friends, with parents, with lovers. They define what kind of people we ultimately decide to become.

Anyway-to get back on topic, I cried during the first five minutes of this movie, and I wasn't the only one. It was a tremendous set-up for the rest of the movie. Grabbed me by the nads, and didn't let go until Kirk was Captain.

 

[mythicdove]

I personally loved it.

I thought it was a very powerful and emotional opening scene... it drew you right into the movie.

And I felt so bad for George Kirk and his wife

 

[Gepard]

It is bad because of the character assassination of James Kirk's mom compared to Roddenberry's vision for her.

As I have explained elsewhere, Roddenberry wanted her to have no last name and be a "New Human" who had many sexual partners, the first of which was named only James. It was for this love instructor that she named a son she happened to have with a particularly good lay named Kirk. As a New Human, she certainly would not have been a Starfleet officer.

Now Abrams has ruined the character, turning her into a competent Starfleet officer and the loving wife of her husband, George Kirk, yet another Starfleet officer. They went even further as to give her a last name, which no good New Human would ever have.

Kirk's mom should be as Roddenberry envisioned: into free love and telepathically linked to her fellow New Humans.

 

[Steven Of Nine]

Kirk's mom should be as Roddenberry envisioned: into free love and telepathically linked to her fellow New Humans.

Didn't he envision Spock to have red or green skin and eat through a metal plate in his stomach? Let's let go or Mr. Past and welcome Mr. Future.

Loved the opening scene, both times I saw it.

 

[JTK2099]

It is bad because of the character assassination of James Kirk's mom compared to Roddenberry's vision for her.

As I have explained elsewhere, Roddenberry wanted her to have no last name and be a "New Human" who had many sexual partners, the first of which was named only James. It was for this love instructor that she named a son she happened to have with a particularly good lay named Kirk. As a New Human, she certainly would not have been a Starfleet officer.

Now Abrams has ruined the character, turning her into a competent Starfleet officer and the loving wife of her husband, George Kirk, yet another Starfleet officer. They went even further as to give her a last name, which no good New Human would ever have.

Kirk's mom should be as Roddenberry envisioned: into free love and telepathically linked to her fellow New Humans.

This sounds like yet another really bad idea that Roddenberry seemed to be full of more and more as time went on. It's on the same level as always wanting the crew to go to the JFK assasination and have Spock fire the shot on the Grassey Knoll. I think the farther Roddenberry was kept from Trek, the better it was. This is a fine example of that.

 

[Irishman]

It is bad because of the character assassination of James Kirk's mom compared to Roddenberry's vision for her.

As I have explained elsewhere, Roddenberry wanted her to have no last name and be a "New Human" who had many sexual partners, the first of which was named only James. It was for this love instructor that she named a son she happened to have with a particularly good lay named Kirk. As a New Human, she certainly would not have been a Starfleet officer.

Now Abrams has ruined the character, turning her into a competent Starfleet officer and the loving wife of her husband, George Kirk, yet another Starfleet officer. They went even further as to give her a last name, which no good New Human would ever have.

Kirk's mom should be as Roddenberry envisioned: into free love and telepathically linked to her fellow New Humans.

*insert eyeroll here*

 

[Irishman]

You know, one consequence of all this new lovin' going on would have likely been a falling away of visible racial differences among humans.

New Humans might have all ended up looking like Halle Berry, or Jessica Alba.

Now would that have been all bad?

 

[SonicRanger]

You know, one consequence of all this new lovin' going on would have likely been a falling away of visible racial differences among humans.

New Humans might have all ended up looking like Halle Berry, or Jessica Alba.

Now would that have been all bad?

Thus was the wisdom and vision of Roddenberry.