STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS - Grading & Discussion [SPOILERS]

[Locutus of Bored]

For me, Spock yelling "Khaaan!!!!" or running down the street like a dork

Of course Spock runs like a dork.

Because he is a dork.

It's just that in Star Trek being a dork is AWESOME.

Spock running like a dork is fine in principle, since Spock IS a dork, despite his super-human strength. Spock running like a dork when the film is trying to portray him as Dirty Harry in Spock drag isn't very effective filmmaking.

Have you ever run track? A sprinter during the middle of his or her run is supposed to keep their torso as vertical as possible and let the arms and legs do all the work. It's about economy of movement.

Zachary Quinto actually underwent sprint training for the movie in anticipation of the running scenes. What you describe as "dorky" is actually the efficient style most real sprinters adopt. And who would be more efficient than Spock?

Quinto went on to talk about the training regimen he used to get into shape for the film.

We did a lot of fight choreography and that was supplemented by weightlifting. I had to sprint a lot. So there was a lot of sprint training as well.

http://www.treknews.net/2013/05/19/zachary-quinto-conan-star-trek-into-darkness/

 

[Ryan8bit]

Didn't Burton say some nice things about the movie after he'd seen it?

Yep. But much like many things on the internet, people will only focus on the negative. I'm sure some people care more about Wil Wheaton's criticism of JJ's appearance on the Daily Show than whether he tweeted about liking it. Maybe he and Levar can chat about that...

 

[BillJ]

Didn't Burton say some nice things about the movie after he'd seen it?

Yep. But much like many things on the internet, people will only focus on the negative.

Just a fun dig at Burton. I really don't expect anyone to think it's anything more than that.

 

[M'Sharak]

I'm sure some people care more about Wil Wheaton's criticism of JJ's appearance on the Daily Show than whether he tweeted about liking it.

As far as that goes, the criticism to which you refer was in response to a gif-set made from Abrams' Daily Show appearance; Wheaton's next-day follow-up post, based upon a viewing of the entire segment, keeps being conveniently ignored.

Now also can be read Wil's review of the movie, posted just a short while ago:

http://wilwheaton.net/2013/06/my-review-of-star-trek-into-darkness/

 

[Ryan8bit]

Wheaton's next-day follow-up post, based upon a viewing of the entire segment, keeps being conveniently ignored.

Oh, I know, it's just part of that whole focusing on the negative part like I said. Thanks for the link to the review, will check it out.

 

[thumbtack]

You've got to accentuate the negative.

Mainly because there's so little to be found.

 

[Tosk]

why do you assume I didn't like it?

Scotty's fun park waterslide

And?


I actually do like ST11. But it doesn't mean there aren't things about that I think are stupid or just plain bad. My film appreciation is not binary.

 

[Commishsleer]

Of course Spock runs like a dork.

Because he is a dork.

It's just that in Star Trek being a dork is AWESOME.

Spock running like a dork is fine in principle, since Spock IS a dork, despite his super-human strength. Spock running like a dork when the film is trying to portray him as Dirty Harry in Spock drag isn't very effective filmmaking.

Have you ever run track? A sprinter during the middle of his or her run is supposed to keep their torso as vertical as possible and let the arms and legs do all the work. It's about economy of movement.

Zachary Quinto actually underwent sprint training for the movie in anticipation of the running scenes. What you describe as "dorky" is actually the efficient style most real sprinters adopt. And who would be more efficient than Spock?

Quinto went on to talk about the training regimen he used to get into shape for the film.

We did a lot of fight choreography and that was supplemented by weightlifting. I had to sprint a lot. So there was a lot of sprint training as well.

http://www.treknews.net/2013/05/19/zachary-quinto-conan-star-trek-into-darkness/

I agree Quinto didn't run like a dork. I don't know what people are seeing there.

On the other hand Nimoy did run like a 'dork' on the rare occasions he had to run it TOS. But again I say it was adorable (on Nimoy Spock) as most things are.

 

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Verdict: Star Trek Into Darkness was better (by far) than Man of Steel

 

[saddestmoon]

What you describe as "dorky" is actually the efficient style most real sprinters adopt. And who would be more efficient than Spock?

QFT!!! And a Big Thanks to Locutus of Bored, for pointing this out!

 

[SalvorHardin]

I'm guessing Wheaton isn't getting a Christmas card from LeVar Burton this year.

Didn't Burton say some nice things about the movie after he'd seen it? I know someone posted a convention clip of him and Marina Sirtis, but the sound was so murky I was having a hard time making out anything they were saying.

 

[Commishsleer]

Everyone's entitled to change their mind. Burton could have initially liked the movie but changed on reflection.

Also Burton is an actor and he could have been playing for his audience. It probably never hurts to say positive things about Gene at a Star Trek convention. And if the audience were chiefly 24th century Star Trek fans then maybe he thought he would share his movie misgivings with them.

Frakes also shared some misgivings about ST09 when I saw him at a Convention. None of it was really all that bad. He's entitled to his opinion and like his movies better. He should.

 

[M'Sharak]

I'm guessing Wheaton isn't getting a Christmas card from LeVar Burton this year.

Didn't Burton say some nice things about the movie after he'd seen it? I know someone posted a convention clip of him and Marina Sirtis, but the sound was so murky I was having a hard time making out anything they were saying.

Seems pretty positive to me.

Everyone's entitled to change their mind. Burton could have initially liked the movie but changed on reflection.

Also Burton is an actor and he could have been playing for his audience. It probably never hurts to say positive things about Gene at a Star Trek convention. And if the audience were chiefly 24th century Star Trek fans then maybe he thought he would share his movie misgivings with them.

Everyone is entitled to change their mind, and I think remaining open to opportunities to change one's mind can only be a good thing. At any rate, the negative remarks about J.J. which were attributed to Burton came before the movie's opening here, and I'm not sure it was ever confirmed that he'd actually said that in so many words. Anyway, I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, since to my knowledge he's been pretty fair in the past.

 

[trevanian]

Of course Spock runs like a dork.

Because he is a dork.

It's just that in Star Trek being a dork is AWESOME.

Spock running like a dork is fine in principle, since Spock IS a dork, despite his super-human strength. Spock running like a dork when the film is trying to portray him as Dirty Harry in Spock drag isn't very effective filmmaking.

Have you ever run track? A sprinter during the middle of his or her run is supposed to keep their torso as vertical as possible and let the arms and legs do all the work. It's about economy of movement.

Zachary Quinto actually underwent sprint training for the movie in anticipation of the running scenes. What you describe as "dorky" is actually the efficient style most real sprinters adopt. And who would be more efficient than Spock?

On the matter of Vulcan efficiency, I'd guess he'd be hard pressed, given that he looks a little bit thick around the middle, which doesn't seem logical.

But in terms of effect, I'd characterize the dif of opinion on this topic is a matter of what looks good on film rather than what is real. Mario Von Peebles runs like he was brought up on a higher grav planet, powerful and effortless; Christian Bale going up some stairs in EQUILIBRIUM looks absolutely amazing running as well. But then you've got guys like Daniel Craig who presumably actually run very fast, but really just register as little guys pumping legs & arms, which isn't as compelling an image. Quinto isn't evincing power with his movements, just that he is going full-out.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Now we're going to use the actor putting on a little weight as a critique of his character? That had no bearing on his performance. Getting sprint training specifically for the running scene in the film so he could run in a certain efficient style did.

I thought Craig's running during the parkour sequence in Casino Royale and the Italy footchase in Quantum of Solace were totally convincing. He's very different from Quinto's style of running as Spock, however. He's much more powerful looking, and leans in to the run. But I know you didn't like Craig as Bond anyway.

 

[trevanian]

I didn't love Brosnan's running either (though TAILOR OF PANAMA shows what he could have really delivered actingwise as a cruel animalistic Bond if he'd ever had a really good director and a decent script), and the less said about Roger Moore in motion, the better all around.

But I really do think that somebody playing Spock should probably not be showing much fat, especially this early on. Unless he was exposed to some radiation that affected his glands in the new timeline, physique should probably be similar. He does move better than Nimoy, I'll give that (look at Spock running into walls practically near end of BALANCE OF TERROR and it ain't pretty.)

 

[BillJ]

I didn't love Brosnan's running either (though TAILOR OF PANAMA shows what he could have really delivered actingwise as a cruel animalistic Bond if he'd ever had a really good director and a decent script), and the less said about Roger Moore in motion, the better all around.

But I really do think that somebody playing Spock should probably not be showing much fat, especially this early on. Unless he was exposed to some radiation that affected his glands in the new timeline, physique should probably be similar. He does move better than Nimoy, I'll give that (look at Spock running into walls practically near end of BALANCE OF TERROR and it ain't pretty.)

Spock is going through depression because the loss of his mother and his planet. His only outlet is a good bowl of Plomeek soup.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

Well, I guess we're scraping bottom as far as trivial and irrelevant "criticism"is concerned now.

 

[Therin of Andor]

But I really do think that somebody playing Spock should probably not be showing much fat, especially this early on.

Quinto is fat and Cumberbatch, according to several posters, is ugly.

I wish I were so fat and ugly.

 

[Rincewiend]

A+, enjoyed the movie...
Finally saw it with my brother who was a bit lost after the first half...
And yes, he is a Star Trek fan as well...
But he did like it as well...