Wesley Crusher reviews Star Trek Into Darkness

[Shaka Zulu]

Well, not really. But Wil Wheaton has some things to say about the new movie:

I could have done without the whole beginning, which felt gratuitous and largely disconnected from the rest of the film to me, but I suppose they needed a way to set up Spock putting the needs of the many ahead of the needs of the one, or the few. I had a very hard time accepting that the Enterprise could sit underwater, but I’m willing to accept it and get over it. The makeup on those aliens was awesome, though.

I’ve read a lot of online criticism that Uhura didn’t do anything useful and was just there to weep and be weak around Spock. I honestly didn’t get that at all. She bravely faces down the fucking Klingons, knowing that she’s risking her life, and then is a badass during the climax when Spock and the ship need her the most. I suppose you can make an argument that she had no business bringing up relationship stuff with Spock in the middle of an important mission, but in a high stress situation maybe things bubbling beneath the surface just come up.

So on the other end of the writing-for-women spectrum is the profound failure to do awesome stuff with Doctor Marcus. I was disappointed, and I imagine that there must be deleted scenes that make her much more interesting (I have no problem with Alice Eve’s performance. I thought she did a fine job with what they wrote for her). She’s so goddamn smart, and we know that she ends up inventing the goddamn Genesis device, so it’s a huge waste to make her little more than eye candy for Kirk. Putting her in her underwear was embarrassing to me as a member of the Star Trek Family, and served absolutely no purpose other than to make teenage boys feel weird, like when they climb the rope in gym class.

My review of Star Trek Into Darkness

Interesting take on it, although I'm still not getting the outrage over seeing Marcus in her undies.

 

[Sindatur]

Well, not really. But Wil Wheaton has some things to say about the new movie:

I could have done without the whole beginning, which felt gratuitous and largely disconnected from the rest of the film to me, but I suppose they needed a way to set up Spock putting the needs of the many ahead of the needs of the one, or the few. I had a very hard time accepting that the Enterprise could sit underwater, but I’m willing to accept it and get over it. The makeup on those aliens was awesome, though.

I’ve read a lot of online criticism that Uhura didn’t do anything useful and was just there to weep and be weak around Spock. I honestly didn’t get that at all. She bravely faces down the fucking Klingons, knowing that she’s risking her life, and then is a badass during the climax when Spock and the ship need her the most. I suppose you can make an argument that she had no business bringing up relationship stuff with Spock in the middle of an important mission, but in a high stress situation maybe things bubbling beneath the surface just come up.

So on the other end of the writing-for-women spectrum is the profound failure to do awesome stuff with Doctor Marcus. I was disappointed, and I imagine that there must be deleted scenes that make her much more interesting (I have no problem with Alice Eve’s performance. I thought she did a fine job with what they wrote for her). She’s so goddamn smart, and we know that she ends up inventing the goddamn Genesis device, so it’s a huge waste to make her little more than eye candy for Kirk. Putting her in her underwear was embarrassing to me as a member of the Star Trek Family, and served absolutely no purpose other than to make teenage boys feel weird, like when they climb the rope in gym class.

My review of Star Trek Into Darkness

Interesting take on it, although I'm still not getting the outrage over seeing Marcus in her undies.

Agreed. I see absolutely no difference between the Catsuits Troi, Kira, Seven, and T'Pol wore comapred to Doctor Marcus in her underwear, except Doctor Marcus was in her underwear for only a minute, whreas the rest of them live in their cat suits. Additionally, the cat suits often showed shining headlights and were so snug around the lady parts, you could see outlines, I don't recall either of these being true with Doctor Marcus' underwear (Though, Kira's is definitely the least offensive of the Cat Suits). oh, and yes, Doctor Marcus you could see her navel, but, I recall a time or two the catsuits were so snug, they outlined a navel.

 

[JamesRye]

I like Wil Wheaton, I think his review is pretty spot on. The local independent cinema here in Exeter UK is going to be screening Stand By Me this weekend and I plan to get all nostalgic and pay a trip to see it.

I'm pleased that he articulates why Gene would be proud of this new movie. I'd like Mr Burton to better articulate his gripes - maybe he was in a bad mood or something when he complained that it lacked .... Gene Roddenberry's touch.

My ST:ID review:

http://ryesofthegeek.wordpress.com/2013/06/18/star-trek-into-darkness-film-review/

 

[Jax]

I had a very hard time accepting that the Enterprise could sit underwater

Its a mobile AIRTIGHT ship, I don't understand the reaction to the water bit from some sections.

 

[Enterprise is Great]

If it can survive in space why not underwater? I just don't get this objection other than people just do not like seeing the ship underwater for whatever reason.

 

[JamesRye]

Yup- and there is a precedent. Voyager went through fluidic space!

I don't get why people had a problem with the big-E under water either. They couldn't beam through the atmosphere, so they went through the atmosphere to the middle of the ocean (where no one would see them) and then moved a bit closer to the land masses.

simples

 

[Kevman7987]

If it can survive in space why not underwater? I just don't get this objection other than people just do not like seeing the ship underwater for whatever reason.

Yup- and there is a precedent. Voyager went through fluidic space!

I don't get why people had a problem with the big-E under water either. They couldn't beam through the atmosphere, so they went through the atmosphere to the middle of the ocean (where no one would see them) and then moved a bit closer to the land masses.

simples

I don't understand this either. My Star Trek Micro Machines survived many a mission in the bathtub without any sort of damage.

 

[Third Nacelle]

I have to disagree with Mr. Wheaton on the beginning of the movie. To me, the mission to Niburu felt more like Star Trek than any other part of either of the new films.

Maybe hiding the ship underwater is a bit silly, but so was hiding a holoship underwater, or taking the Delta Flyer into that ocean planet. In general, I would not think that something designed to hold in a lot of internal pressure in a vacuum would do very well with a lot of external pressure, but I'm not going to judge 23rd-century tech.

 

[OpenMaw]

Agreed. I see absolutely no difference between the Catsuits Troi, Kira, Seven, and T'Pol wore comapred to Doctor Marcus in her underwear, except Doctor Marcus was in her underwear for only a minute, whreas the rest of them live in their cat suits. Additionally, the cat suits often showed shining headlights and were so snug around the lady parts, you could see outlines, I don't recall either of these being true with Doctor Marcus' underwear (Though, Kira's is definitely the least offensive of the Cat Suits). oh, and yes, Doctor Marcus you could see her navel, but, I recall a time or two the catsuits were so snug, they outlined a navel.

Yes, but, who honestly liked the catsuits? I honestly found it disconcerting that a show which enjoyed patting itself on the back for being progressive kept reusing the same hook to get the young boys drooling.

As such, i'll take Saavik with her hair down any day.

 

[Opus]

Yes, but, who honestly liked the catsuits?

Brannon Braga

 

[Spock/Uhura Fan]

He "read a lot of online criticism that Uhura didn’t do anything useful and was just there to weep and be weak around Spock" because it's true. And that's the milder criticism of how poorly her character was portrayed and the S/U relationship in general which was so great in the first film.

Aside from the underwear scene, Marcus was treated better than Uhura was in my opinion, but neither got great treatment from my view.

 

[General_Phoenix]

The problem with the Enterprise being under water (for me..anyway) is it's never really explained why it is there, we just have to accept that it's just..well..under water. Why not simply be in orbit like any other mission? Why risk exposing a primitive society to an advanced technological achievement like the Enterprise? There are tons of questions, but I guess in the end we just have to accept the fact is was there for a cool shot of the Enterprise coming out from an ocean.

 

[CaptainDave1701]

So why are we giving credit to the opinion of Sheldon Cooper's mortal enemy here....

As for what he thought was wrong with the film perhaps he should he should dissect his own body of work in The Next Generation. He is somewhat the Jar Jar Binks of that era.

 

[M.A.C.O.]

Aside from the underwear scene, Marcus was treated better than Uhura was in my opinion, but neither got great treatment from my view.

Remember Uhura had an underwear scene with Kirk in ST09. I suppose in the Abramsverse strong women characters must first be degraded to being seen in their undercloths. Le sigh

 

[Commishsleer]

I hope Wil Wheaton was embarressed by the 'firm boob' scene in INS.

That was his 'mother'

Still I think he does have a point about Marcus' intelligence. She was Spock's scientific peer in TWOK. I hope she has more scientific things to do in the next movie.

 

[Charles Phipps]

The problem with the Enterprise being under water (for me..anyway) is it's never really explained why it is there, we just have to accept that it's just..well..under water. Why not simply be in orbit like any other mission? Why risk exposing a primitive society to an advanced technological achievement like the Enterprise? There are tons of questions, but I guess in the end we just have to accept the fact is was there for a cool shot of the Enterprise coming out from an ocean.

What is actually shocking is I THINK JJ Abrams was trying to show Kirk didn't actually know what he was doing. He WAS underqualified for his position and needed more training. It's just, without Pike, he needs Spock and his crew to reign him in.

 

[Dukhat]

The problem with the Enterprise being under water (for me..anyway) is it's never really explained why it is there, we just have to accept that it's just..well..under water. Why not simply be in orbit like any other mission? Why risk exposing a primitive society to an advanced technological achievement like the Enterprise? There are tons of questions, but I guess in the end we just have to accept the fact is was there for a cool shot of the Enterprise coming out from an ocean.

You just answered your own question. The movie explained quite well why the ship was underwater, and I don't really understand why so many people keep asking that question.

The ship was under water because it served the plot of the movie. If Kirk had the ship in orbit, then there would be no chance for the natives to see it. The whole point of them being able to see the ship was proof that Kirk was an inexperienced captain whose command should be taken away from him for recklessness. I mean, that was half the freaking movie's plot!

Edit: Charles Phipps above me essentially says the same thing I did.

 

[Charles Phipps]

I believe the official answer is that they needed to be ultra-close in order to do beaming.

 

[mos6507]

The ship was under water because it served the plot of the movie.

You have it backwards. The plot of the movie was constructed in order to rationalize a "cool visual". It's the George Lucas school of thinking, which is fine for SW, but out of place in Trek.

 

[Lance]

So why are we giving credit to the opinion of Sheldon Cooper's mortal enemy here....

As for what he thought was wrong with the film perhaps he should he should dissect his own body of work in The Next Generation.

Um... he already has.