Spoilers STAR TREK: SECTION 31 - Grading & Discussion

[Lord Garth]

I've got popcorn, Coke, and red Twizzlers for this! It's what I used to get whenever I went to see a movie in my teens, 20s, and 30s. I've had to stop doing that in my 40s -- I really hate middle-age... a lot! -- but this time I'm going for it! I want the full movie experience! Including what I would've gotten at concession stands!

 

[James Cole]

Until I see it myself, I'm giving Craig Sweeney the benefit of the doubt. He worked with Ira Steven Behr for years, along with some other DS9 veterans.

 

[HotRod]

So when is this thing actually dropping? We talking the usual 3:00am EST? Or is this gonna be one of those damn 9pm drops that Disney goes with?

 

[eschaton]

It's still patreon-exclusive, but I saw that Jessie Gender thinks it's bad as well. Boring, glorifies the bad aspects of Section 31, and has nothing to say regarding Star Trek.

 

[NCC-73515]

This has been on P+ for a while, but it's just the trailer
(Why tease us like that? Never done before...)

 

[Nerys Myk]

Boring, glorifies the bad aspects of Section 31,

There are good aspects?

 

[The Wormhole]

Did Kurtzman make those things though? I see Kurtzman as the modern era Rick Berman. He does the business side of things, but he isn't the showrunner for each of the shows.

Pretty much this exactly, although Kurtzman did take over as direct showrunner on Disco's second season after Berg and Harberts left.

Regardless, I'm fascinated by the hypocrisy we're seeing amongst certain quarters of the fandom. Section 31 is supposedly crap, and out come the pitchforks and torches demanding Kurtzman be fired, tarred and feathered and I dunno, evicted from his home and forced to wash windshields at traffic lights. Yet not once do the segment of fans who consider Picard S3 the gift from God the Trek fandom deserved acknowledge Kurtzman's role in delivering that season. Yes people, it was Kurtzman who hired the blessed Lord Terry Matalas, hallowed be thy name. I know that doesn't match the narrative the Matalites want everyone to believe, but it is the truth. You want to blame Kurtzman for Section 31, fine. But you also have to thank him for Picard S3.

 

[Lord Garth]

So when is this thing actually dropping? We talking the usual 3:00am EST? Or is this gonna be one of those damn 9pm drops that Disney goes with?

Probably still 3:00 AM, give or take.

 

[Lord Garth]

It's still patreon-exclusive, but I saw that Jessie Gender thinks it's bad as well. Boring, glorifies the bad aspects of Section 31, and has nothing to say regarding Star Trek.

I'm not surprised by that. I can't see her liking things focused on anti-heroes.

 

[fireproof78]

You want to blame Kurtzman for Section 31, fine. But you also have to thank him for Picard S3.

That would be interesting.

 

[Citiprime]

TrekMovie.com has posted 4 clips from the movie. If those are anything to go by for the tone of Section 31, it seems like everything is over the top. Everyone is chewing scenery in a way reminiscent of the Adam West Batman or Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin (which was written by Akiva Goldsman).

The action is also stylized with zooms in and out of extreme close-up of characters where adding in the "POP" and "BANG" thought bubbles from the 1960s Batman would fit right in.

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[NCC-73515]

- Kurtzman-era’s most spectacular miss
- has almost nothing to say, lacks joy, doesn’t care at any point that it’s a movie connected to the Star Trek franchise’s rich history
- On nearly every level, Section 31 is a failure
- a bad movie overall
- a catastrophic misinterpretation of the otherwise noble goal to reinvent the franchise for the 21st century
- makes absolutely no use of the time period in which it is set
- supremely dull action
- Georgiou is a deplorable protagonist
- Section 31’s moral core is rotten, the movie has nothing worthwhile to say that is designed to make you think or consider a moral dilemma, despite having a huge amount of material to work with
- Section 31 stands out as a catastrophic mistake
- fails to understand what makes good Star Trek, and it is not worth your time or attention

STAR TREK: SECTION 31 Is a Dreary, Unfortunate Misfire — Our Spoiler-Free Review

Spoiler-Free Review: SECTION 31 brings back Michelle Yeoh — but forgets all the STAR TREK — in the dismal new Paramount+ film

blog.trekcore.com

For comparison and context, I skimmed the Trekcore reviewer's previous reviews:
Loved LDS (fun, masterpiece, great, best, exquisite, finest, favorite, to be applauded, extremely thoughtful, not bad...), found Disco s5 enjoyable, s4 too dragged out and lifeless, Subspace Rhapsody worked for them, called it a triumph, found the SNW/LDS crossover excellent, wonderful, wildly successful, a stunning achievement, found PIC s3 an absolute treat, compelling, magnificent, excellent, supremely enjoyable, epic, and also enjoyed s1 and 2.

 

[tomalak301]

Pretty much this exactly, although Kurtzman did take over as direct showrunner on Disco's second season after Berg and Harberts left.

Regardless, I'm fascinated by the hypocrisy we're seeing amongst certain quarters of the fandom. Section 31 supposedly crap, and out come the pitchforks and torches demanding Kurtzman be fired, tarred and feathered and I dunno, evicted from his home and forced to wash windshields at traffic lights. Yet not once do the segment of fans who consider Picard S3 the gift from God the Trek fandom deserved acknowledge Kurtzman's role in delivering that season. Yes people, it was Kurtzman who hired the blessed Lord Terry Matalas, hallowed be thy name. I know that doesn't match the narrative the Matalites want everyone to believe, but it is the truth. You want to blame Kurtzman for Section 31, fine. But you also have to thank him for Picard S3.

The more distance we get from Season 3 of Picard, the more overrated I feel it is. It already didn't give me a good first impression when they decided to kick out most of the original cast, but while the Enterprise reveal was nice, it was pretty much fan service. The plot was pretty thin, and the change from Changelings to Borg felt kind of tired to me. I think the only series that has done fan service well is Prodigy, whereas it's a spiritual sequel to Voyager, but the stars remained the kids and Janeway was more or less a side character. Lower Decks had plenty of gags to fan service as well, but it pretty much explicitly said that was going to happen from the first episode onward. It was just that kind of show.

 

[The Wormhole]

I think the only series that has done fan service well is Prodigy, whereas it's a spiritual sequel to Voyager, but the stars remained the kids and Janeway was more or less a side character.

Agreed. As it is, I got more meaningful nostalgia feels from the Prodigy S2 episode where we see Janeway, Chakotay and the Doctor together on an away team having one more adventure together than I did seeing the TNG gang assemble together on the restored bridge of the Enterprise D.

 

[Tuskin38]

And yet you have decided it's good before watching it.

And your constant constant comments about being (fake) confused as to why people who might not like it are "wasting their time" or should just ignore it are designed to make those posters sound stupid.

You're completely misunderstanding fireproof's posts.

 

[MakeshiftPython]

When it comes to Kurtzman, the only Trek he’s had his hands on extensively on the creative side was STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. After that, he had essentially given the showrunning reigns to other creators on other shows.

If he deserves any blame in regards to SECTION 31, it’s only for entrusting it to those who worked on it. Hiring Olatunde Osunsanmi for directing it. Hiring Craig Sweeny for what seemed to be the unfortunate task of distilling a season’s worth of story under 100 minutes.

On a positive note, I’m grateful for Kurtzman for hiring guys like Mike McMahan, Henry Alonso Myers, Michele Paradise, the Hageman bros, and yes even Terry Matalas.

Kurtzman has done more good than bad, and that’s what makes it unfortunate when one of the projects don’t pan out like everyone hoped.

 

[Agony_Boothb]

Pretty much this exactly, although Kurtzman did take over as direct showrunner on Disco's second season after Berg and Harberts left.

Regardless, I'm fascinated by the hypocrisy we're seeing amongst certain quarters of the fandom. Section 31 supposedly crap, and out come the pitchforks and torches demanding Kurtzman be fired, tarred and feathered and I dunno, evicted from his home and forced to wash windshields at traffic lights. Yet not once do the segment of fans who consider Picard S3 the gift from God the Trek fandom deserved acknowledge Kurtzman's role in delivering that season. Yes people, it was Kurtzman who hired the blessed Lord Terry Matalas, hallowed be thy name. I know that doesn't match the narrative the Matalites want everyone to believe, but it is the truth. You want to blame Kurtzman for Section 31, fine. But you also have to thank him for Picard S3.

Add to that the hypocrisy regarding all the crap that old trek produced. It's like everyone completely forgets that some of the worst episodes and movies came out under the leadership of Roddenberry and later Rick Berman.

Some times the cash cow that is star trek does a big steaming turd. It's been like that since day one.

 

[fireproof78]

Yes, but once Lincoln Enterprises sells those IDIC medallions Trek will finally be in the black.

 

[NCC-73515]

TrekMovie.com has posted 4 clips from the movie. If those are anything to go by for the tone of Section 31, it seems like everything is over the top. Everyone is chewing scenery in a way reminiscent of the Adam West Batman or Joel Schumacher's Batman & Robin (which was written by Akiva Goldsman).

The action is also stylized with zooms in and out of extreme close-up of characters where adding in the "POP" and "BANG" thought bubbles from the 1960s Batman would fit right in.

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One interesting detail is that it seems Georgiou, while having yellow eyes, is not the Chameloid, because he is in the same scene as well. Does she wear yellow contacts to make her appear to be him? Or can the Chameloid split into 2?

 

[Airmandan]

I'm just saddened that they spent so much money on something that will probably be considered a flop. That money could have gotten us another season or two of LD or Prodigy