Holy Sh*t!! Altman LIKES it!!

[number6]

Mark Altman, who has been writing reviews for Star Trek in Cinefantastic and a vocal critic for all things Trek (the Good the Bad and the Ugly) for as long as I can remember finally weighs in on the New Film!!


Mark Altman weighs in on the new film!!



I hope this can have it's own thread, as Altman's reviews have been a huge part of our collective ...whatever.. It's sweet that he likes it. And very surprising..

I am curious about your opinions of Altman over the years.

I found him an obnoxious blowhard who seemed to find fault with some of the best moments of Modern Trek and we had many heated debates over the years. I was one of many who challenged him to make his own movie and we got Free Enterprise.. While it wasn't really a sci-fi film, it did put a cynical (and very funny) mirror on the kind of fandom that make Star Trek so much fun back in the day.

 

[USS Mariner]

Interesting. I notice that he didn't really focus much on the story's merits though. Most of it was praise for the effects and the cast (which I can easily understand.)

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Altman and I were guests at something called "Atlanticon" back in dinosaur days - it was mainly a "Lost In Space" convention, held in the place where the Miss American Pageant used to take place (HUGE stage) and the high point for me was sitting on a judging dais with Jonathan Harris. Mark and I had lunch and he interviewed me for one of those Pioneer Press (or whatever, Hal Schuster's outfit) books - "Captain's Logs" or something. He's a nice guy, very straightforward I thought ("lots of times people don't like my interviews, but they never accuse me of misquoting them" he said, and he was right on both points in my case), and just a huge fan of TOS of course.

Anyway, I expected him to like this movie based on other things he's said previously at Trekmovie.com. I'm a little more bemused at how highly he thinks of Star Trek 5.

 

[number6]

Altman always seemed to think that Trek V still had a lot of heart (I would agree..)

I generally like his style of writing, but given how highly he regards the Original Show, I figured Trek XI would be treading into some taboo territory..

Now if Hinmann over at Sigh-Fy Portal likes it, too, I'll know there's frost on Beelzebub's doorstep.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

It's the anti-nuBSG.

 

[superdeluxe]

Sounds that Mark is more excited about the potential of the franchise, and only mildly excited about this movie. Its a good/not great film, but it sets up the future for excellence.

 

[superdeluxe]

Now if Hinmann over at Sigh-Fy Portal likes it, too, I'll know there's frost on Beelzebub's doorstep.

Is this the one person that the hardcore trekkies review is looking forward too? I wondered which person needed to give this movie his blessings, before some of teh hardcore trekkies go 'all in'.

 

[Falconfire]

held in the place where the Miss American Pageant used to take place (HUGE stage)

That would be the former Atlantic City Convention Center (now called Boardwalk Hall once the even BIGGER new Convention Center was built.)

 

[number6]

Now if Hinmann over at Sigh-Fy Portal likes it, too, I'll know there's frost on Beelzebub's doorstep.

Is this the one person that the hardcore trekkies review is looking forward too? I wondered which person needed to give this movie his blessings, before some of teh hardcore trekkies go 'all in'.

Heh.. Not sure. Teh Hardcores didn't accept Nimoy's endorsement. They claim Nimoy needed the money. They didn't accept Rod Roddenberry's endorsement, because... well he's Rod.. They didn't accept Justman's endorsement of TOS-R so even if he were still alive, I doubt any of those guys would have accepted his endorsement either.

I always thought Altman was kinda super critical of Modern Trek in general, but still seemed to be a genuine fan of Star Trek in general.. But like a lot of hardcore fans, had a lot of nit-picky "issues" to discuss.

 

[Franklin]

Sounds that Mark is more excited about the potential of the franchise, and only mildly excited about this movie. Its a good/not great film, but it sets up the future for excellence.

Yeah. I thought the same. But it's a good thought. Origin movies can be clunky (trying to balance the exposition needed to firmly establish the character while telling an entertaining action story at the same time).

What's more, this movie had to reintroduce two icons: Kirk and Spock. And, to a lesser extent, McCoy. And, to an even lesser extent, the other four. A lot of baggage. It's probably a minor miracle they pulled it off at all. What Altman seems to mean is with all this out of the way now, the focus can be on the things that are part-and-parcel of good Trek stories. So the best may be yet to come.

 

[urbandk]

Really? People thought Nimoy did this for the money? You've got to be kidding.

 

[Plum]

I'm not that familiar with this guy but he does seem to be a TOS fan such as myself. I find this film, a return to what Star Trek actually was and I'd argue made it great, sweet Trekkie revenge against decades of those other shows. And yes, I'll maintain that!

ST: The Final Frontier was sooo bad, but it did have an interesting plot. It's a film that could have been good. Maybe great. I'll defend Mark on that one, though I wouldn't give my life.

 

[M'Sharak]

Really? People thought Nimoy did this for the money? You've got to be kidding.

That opinion has been given more than once or twice, yes.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

...sweet Trekkie revenge against decades of those other shows.

Those other shows that are the only reason most people under thirty give a damn about Star Trek at all, you mean?

TOS fans owe the modern Trek Franchise for giving the studio any reason to think that Trek was worth resurrecting at all.

 

[Plum]

...sweet Trekkie revenge against decades of those other shows.

Those other shows that are the only reason most people under thirty give a damn about Star Trek at all, you mean?

TOS fans owe the modern Trek Franchise for giving the studio any reason to think that Trek was worth resurrecting at all.

You're right of course, but I am speaking for me. Call it nostalgia.

 

[Tulin]

Dennis, you come across as a bit of a dreary old curmudgeon for a man who uses so many "laughing" emoticons at the end of your posts.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Dennis, you come across as a bit of a dreary old curmudgeon for a man who uses so many "laughing" emoticons at the end of your posts.

Ah, but vBulletin somehow overlooked the emoticon for postmodern ironic detachment.

 

[Borgminister]

Whoops too slow. No surprise there.

 

[Plum]

"postmodern ironic detachment" Reminds me of Free Enterprise. So that other guy was Altman? Frankly, I could not even finish watching that film. I think the man-child sort of characters just turn me off? Or the postmodern ironic detachment. Something.

 

[Cakes488]

Dennis, you come across as a bit of a dreary old curmudgeon for a man who uses so many "laughing" emoticons at the end of your posts.

LOL and that deserves a

...sweet Trekkie revenge against decades of those other shows.

Those other shows that are the only reason most people under thirty give a damn about Star Trek at all, you mean?

TOS fans owe the modern Trek Franchise for giving the studio any reason to think that Trek was worth resurrecting at all.

I'm not sure I agree with this 100%. I don't think the under 30 crowd really cares about Trek much...and the younger you go the less they care/know.....this is the exact reason I prefer younger men....

Second, Perhaps this movie would of been made anyway...even w/out all the other Trek incarnations....

And honestly, Trek doesn't need resurrecting ......it's fine just the way it is/was! I'll be on board for the ride...but note I'm not driving the train.