Reluctant Fan Needs Crucial Spoilers First, Please...

[Heimchen]

I still haven't gone to see the new Star Trek movie, not because of anything to do with its alternate universe aspects or because of anything to do with the story, actors or directing per se, but for one simple reason: the people staffing the Enterprise just look too darn young!

How old is Kirk in this one when he first captains the Enterprise? Does he wind up in charge because of some all the senior officers get killed and only the juniors/cadets are left scenario? Does he stay in charge when the situation blows over? It's ridiculous, I know... I'll buy any sort of silly alien and 'science' that would make even a writer at the Weekly World News cringe, but the thought of a too-young captain in charge of any top-line ship anywhere just really, really puts me off...

Somebody convince me that it's all more believable than it appears so I can finally go see this darn thing with some expectation of liking it! Or alternately, that it plays enough like some hilariously bad, messed-up fanfic set in the 90210 Mirror Universe that I could enjoy it for laughs.

 

[Jeri]

Oh, just go and see how it strikes you. These things are unpredictable.

 

[scottydog]

An emergency situation in which the older Captain (Pike) must leave the ship prompts the rise of young Kirk to the Captaincy. So it wasn't planned; unusual circumstances made it necessary.

Now go see the movie and enjoy yourself!

 

[vermillion]

How old is Kirk in this one when he first captains the Enterprise? Does he wind up in charge because of some all the senior officers get killed and only the juniors/cadets are left scenario?

Senior officers don't get killed, they are just...indisposed at the time, which prompts the Starfleet to outfit the new Enterprise, on her maiden voyage, mostly with cadets. As far as I could tell, apart from captain Pike, almost everyone on Enterprise was a n00b.

Does he stay in charge when the situation blows over? It's ridiculous, I know... I'll buy any sort of silly alien and 'science' that would make even a writer at the Weekly World News cringe, but the thought of a too-young captain in charge of any top-line ship anywhere just really, really puts me off...

I'm not going to give anything away, but let me just say, if that is your main concern you will most likely hate this movie.

 

[Lt. Trull]

everybody dies

 

[Bisz]

Get off your high horse and go see the movie.

The fact that Kirk becomes Captain and stays Captain is one of the things that irked me, but that's no reason not to see the movie.

 

[Mad Jack Wolfe]

everybody dies

Shhh! That's the plot for Star Trek XVII: The Evil Dead in Space.

 

[planetiowa]

I still haven't gone to see the new Star Trek movie, not because of anything to do with its alternate universe aspects or because of anything to do with the story, actors or directing per se, but for one simple reason: the people staffing the Enterprise just look too darn young!

How old is Kirk in this one when he first captains the Enterprise? Does he wind up in charge because of some all the senior officers get killed and only the juniors/cadets are left scenario? Does he stay in charge when the situation blows over? It's ridiculous, I know... I'll buy any sort of silly alien and 'science' that would make even a writer at the Weekly World News cringe, but the thought of a too-young captain in charge of any top-line ship anywhere just really, really puts me off...

Somebody convince me that it's all more believable than it appears so I can finally go see this darn thing with some expectation of liking it! Or alternately, that it plays enough like some hilariously bad, messed-up fanfic set in the 90210 Mirror Universe that I could enjoy it for laughs.

I haven't seen it either. I can easily wait for the DVD. I was curious about the plot, though. Google "movie spoilers" and you can read a detailed synopsis of the plot with all the spoilers.

 

[Nardpuncher]

You really shouldn't see this movie at all. Just stay home.

 

[VulcanJedi]

I still haven't gone to see the new Star Trek movie, not because of anything to do with its alternate universe aspects or because of anything to do with the story, actors or directing per se, but for one simple reason: the people staffing the Enterprise just look too darn young!

How old is Kirk in this one when he first captains the Enterprise? Does he wind up in charge because of some all the senior officers get killed and only the juniors/cadets are left scenario? Does he stay in charge when the situation blows over? It's ridiculous, I know... I'll buy any sort of silly alien and 'science' that would make even a writer at the Weekly World News cringe, but the thought of a too-young captain in charge of any top-line ship anywhere just really, really puts me off...

Somebody convince me that it's all more believable than it appears so I can finally go see this darn thing with some expectation of liking it! Or alternately, that it plays enough like some hilariously bad, messed-up fanfic set in the 90210 Mirror Universe that I could enjoy it for laughs.

I'm totally with you on the trepidation towards 90210/MTV whiny stuff--I don't think it was like that. Quinto channels Nimoy---Pike is great. The characters were mature, intelligent, but fun. Kirk is a sexy A**hole---but I think he always was. The movie indicates he's a genius--come on--you know the type--they exist. They are handsome and beautiful people who also score high SATs and get into Ivy League.

That's Captain Kirk for you--he'd fit in on Melrose Place and get all up in your Calculus-Rhodes scholar bizniss. Life is unfair.

 

[CommanderRaytas]

Is it very bad to consider 90210 one's guilty pleasure?

 

[Peter the Younger]

I can't say it's the most believable part of the movie - well, more so in the crisis, the last bit is what's hard to take. But I have also made my peace with it, because there are so many other things to like about the film. And to be honest, while I've turned other scenarios over in my head, all of them would tend to muddle the storyline and bog down the movie in hardcore fan service. Plus which, I'm fairly certain Paramount would have vetoed any script that didn't have Kirk in the captain's chair by the end of the film.

But it's not 90210 whiny in my eyes, the acting was superb.

 

[IDIC]

The Captain of the Enterprise, Captain Pike, is required to surrender himself to a hostile ship. The first officer was Commander (maybe Lt. Commander) Spock. Pike tells Spock he is captain now and promotes Kirk to first officer. Spock thinks that is a joke since Kirk isnt even suppose to be on the ship. But it isnt. Later Kirk takes over from Spock. In the end, Starfleet Command does give Kirk the Captain position. So, yes, he went from a cadet at the academy to the Captain of the most advanced Starship in the fleet. It doesnt make sense to me either. It is clearly a case of rushing things to get them where you want them for potential future movies.

 

[Cyke101]

Let's remember that Prime Kirk would have been a Lt. or Lt. Cmdr when he was 28, the age of nuKirk when his adventures begin, so it's not that this is 90210 Kirk, but rather one who squandered his potential until he grew up a little.

As well, Spock is already a veteran (he could be older than "Cage" Spock! Spock is and always will be an overachiever), McCoy and Scotty have been professionals for some time (since they're 10 years older than the rest of the Big 7), and I get the feeling that Sulu's just a bit older than your average cadet, too. The only real cadets the story focuses on are Kirk, Uhura, and Chekov.

 

[Jeri]

You left out the part where Kirk does the impossible and saves planet Earth and the Federation. That is a consideration in the promotion.

 

[Cyke101]

You left out the part where Kirk does the impossible and saves planet Earth and the Federation. That is a consideration in the promotion.

I know the OP asked for spoilers, but that's a pretty big one, as are some of the others in this thread. Scottydog's post is probably the most concise response...

 

[Jeri]

He asked for "crucial spoilers," and my post contains the crucial spoilers.

 

[Cyke101]

He asked for "crucial spoilers," and my post contains the crucial spoilers.

Well, there's crucial and then there's SUPER crucial

I don't know, I just wouldn't want to rob the OP of anything more than necessary in order to enjoy the flick iz all.

 

[VOODOOXI]

I still haven't gone to see the new Star Trek movie, not because of anything to do with its alternate universe aspects or because of anything to do with the story, actors or directing per se, but for one simple reason: the people staffing the Enterprise just look too darn young!

How old is Kirk in this one when he first captains the Enterprise? Does he wind up in charge because of some all the senior officers get killed and only the juniors/cadets are left scenario? Does he stay in charge when the situation blows over? It's ridiculous, I know... I'll buy any sort of silly alien and 'science' that would make even a writer at the Weekly World News cringe, but the thought of a too-young captain in charge of any top-line ship anywhere just really, really puts me off...

Somebody convince me that it's all more believable than it appears so I can finally go see this darn thing with some expectation of liking it! Or alternately, that it plays enough like some hilariously bad, messed-up fanfic set in the 90210 Mirror Universe that I could enjoy it for laughs.

I also feared this film would be a 90210/Top Gun version of Star Trek... I was wrong.

It's a really fun/well done film that you should check out.

 

[Jeri]

He asked for "crucial spoilers," and my post contains the crucial spoilers.

Well, there's crucial and then there's SUPER crucial

I don't know, I just wouldn't want to rob the OP of anything more than necessary in order to enjoy the flick iz all.

It's Kirk. He's going to save the planet and the Federation.