What do you diehard TOS fans think of the new movie?

[ST-One]

I was staying out of this thread because I won't go see it, but in reading it, I see I gotta step in anyway.

I don't recall seeing anything in the series indicating that Kirk had a father around while growing up in prime. The lack of a father in Abramsverse shouldn't account for anything, unless they put stuff back in another cut that shows he wasn't raised by his ma (then again, there's nothing about her existing in TOS either, just his brother.)

Are you saying that, because they weren't mentioned thus far, they cannot be mentioned now?

And if you want to take the view that this movie legitimizes using Novel elements ... well, that opens things up all over again, since there are past novel elements that were supposed to be legit (like GR TMP novelization) that some folks are now saying non-legit (I'm using this word because I'm tired of seeing canon used like it was a cannon.)

The novels and TAS were always open as a resource for anything to be shown in on-screen-Trek.

Also, the no-daddy thing shouldn't matter if Kirk has got a Campbell-oops- a destiny to fulfill, since he would always be making captain regardless, right?
Takes the fun out of life, and the drama out of storytelling to go that route though.

Kirk doesn't need a Pike-daddy, because he is Kirk ... if any version of Kirk needs a Pike Daddy, then he is a tool of history and the servitor of plot, not James T. Kirk, the guy who chooses.

Destiny... only in so far that we, the audience, want to see Kirk in that centre-seat.

 

[trevanian]

No, I want to see films about Kirk, but he doesn't have to be there in that chair on that ship.

I think the movies missed a golden opportunity by not letting Kirk and co stay out of Starfleet after SFS, because they could have cast off the weight of all those Starfleet oriented stories. I'd have much preferred to see the golden years with them operating on their own in the BOP, in unexplored or fringe territories, making calls without having to be in a chain of command that would have to be often ignored anyway.

 

[ST-One]

No, I want to see films about Kirk, but he doesn't have to be there in that chair on that ship.

'... these are the voyages of the starship Enterprise...'

Yes, he has to be in that chair - for it to be Star Trek.

I think the movies missed a golden opportunity by not letting Kirk and co stay out of Starfleet after SFS, because they could have cast off the weight of all those Starfleet oriented stories. I'd have much preferred to see the golden years with them operating on their own in the BOP, in unexplored or fringe territories, making calls without having to be in a chain of command that would have to be often ignored anyway.

Nice idea. Very Star Wars-y.

 

[Aike]

Then you haven't really paid attention watching the episodes. In WNMHGB and "Shoreleave" they establish the young Kirk as a serious student who obviously later in liofe loosens up with more confidence and relaxed disposition. Later in a couple of episodes of TNG it's established that the younger Picard chased skirts and was a bit of a rabble rouser. So what Abrams effectively did was take the younger Picard's personality and graft it onto his alternate universe Jerk, er Kirk.

Roddenberry thought of Picard and Kirk as his own ideal self at different stages of his life. So it isn´t far-fetched that they share the same background.

And Kirk is portrayed as studious and intelligent in the movie.

Spoiler: Proof that Kirk is studious

He knows the definition of xeno-linguistics.
His aptitude tests are off the charts according to Pike.
He graduates in three instead of four years.
He is able to reprogram the Kobayashi Maru test.
He refers to Pike´s dissertation about the Kelvin when they are heading to Vulcan.

 

[Mandra]

Trek fan since the age of about 8 (1973), although I have a memory of watching Doomsday Machine with my mother, so that would have been before the age of 5.

TOS and TAS fan only. I've watched some TNG, and a couple of DS9, and although they were entertaining they never captured my imagination the way the original crew did.

I loved the new movie, plan to see it again, and plan to see the sequel.

However, I'd like them to can the Spock/Uhura romance. Or at the very least not having them making out in public - that just completely does not jibe with the Spock I "know". And fix the vulcanoids' ears.

Otherwise I'll just do what I do with all the other episodes, movies and books - for stuff I don't like I'll rationalize what I can, ignore what I can't. Imagination is a wonderful thing.

 

[ST-One]

Trek fan since the age of about 8 (1973), although I have a memory of watching Doomsday Machine with my mother, so that would have been before the age of 5.

TOS and TAS fan only. I've watched some TNG, and a couple of DS9, and although they were entertaining they never captured my imagination the way the original crew did.

I loved the new movie, plan to see it again, and plan to see the sequel.

However, I'd like them to can the Spock/Uhura romance. Or at the very least not having them making out in public - that just completely does not jibe with the Spock I "know". And fix the vulcanoids' ears.

Otherwise I'll just do what I do with all the other episodes, movies and books - for stuff I don't like I'll rationalize what I can, ignore what I can't. Imagination is a wonderful thing.

It's pretty telling that most of the first (and second ) hour-fans like this film.

 

[Zeppster]

I'm a TOS fanatic and this movie was flat out amazing.

 

[Cakes488]

Trek fan since the age of about 8 (1973), although I have a memory of watching Doomsday Machine with my mother, so that would have been before the age of 5.

TOS and TAS fan only. I've watched some TNG, and a couple of DS9, and although they were entertaining they never captured my imagination the way the original crew did.

I loved the new movie, plan to see it again, and plan to see the sequel.

However, I'd like them to can the Spock/Uhura romance. Or at the very least not having them making out in public - that just completely does not jibe with the Spock I "know". And fix the vulcanoids' ears.

Otherwise I'll just do what I do with all the other episodes, movies and books - for stuff I don't like I'll rationalize what I can, ignore what I can't. Imagination is a wonderful thing.

They wanna have Spock and Uhura get laid...FINE...but for the love of god...not with each other!

 

[The Laughing Vulcan]

I've been living with this film for the last four days now, and it's slowly declining in my estimation with each passing day. I loved it when I watched it, but the trouble is that I did what JJ probably didn't want me to do. I thought about it. There's only so many plot holes, nits to pick and minor aggrievances that you can tolerate before the whole thing begins to sour. I'm at a point now where I'm not going to buy the eventual DVD. (I would have bought it on Bluray, and bought a Bluray player to play it on, given how I felt walking out of the cinema).

I may watch it on TV again, I haven't decided. It's not quite as bad as Nemesis... yet. It's flashy, entertaining and dumb. The problem is that flashy and entertaining fade, the dumb stays with you.

It's like a fireworks display. It's great while it lasts. You're thrilled at all the bright lights, the flashy colours, the explosions and the noise, the spectacle and the thrill. You even get a sugar rush from all the candy you eat.

Then the next day, you got a lot of cleaning up to do, and the whole place stinks of rotten eggs.

I'm actually dreading a sequel now.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

I'm a TOS fanatic and this movie was flat out amazing.

Agreed.

It is not, however, as good as a large part of TOS itself (say, the first season and a half).

That's TOS as in the original series, not inclusive of the orignal series-inspired movies. This movie is pretty easily better in most respects than all of the previous Star Trek movies up to this point. It's certainly better than modern Trek on television, with a caveat concerning the art and design work.

I like this movie's visual design a lot; I like modern TV Trek's visual design a lot, and I like TOS's visual design a lot. They are all to some extent distinct and to some extent similar. The artists have never let Star Trek down, IMAO, even though I don't personally like everything ever designed for modern Trek.

There really is nothing post-1969 that I wouldn't exchange for this film in most respects other than art design.

 

[Cakes488]

^^^ I'm looking forward to the sequel...if they don't have a well written and well executed story then I'm done with it. I'm going with "this movie is a set up for future events" ...a very rushed and flashy set up agreed....but in spite of that...I did like it even with all shit that I don't like about it aside LOL.

I know you're upset because of the Romulus thing...I read one of your posts about TrekVerse and they can't do that cuz their screwing the fans. I'm not sure what Trekverse is and all that but I feel your pain...it will lessen in time...just give it time my friend...as I want the vulcan to laugh again -- hey maybe you should change your name to "the crying vulcan" .

 

[The Laughing Vulcan]

as I want the vulcan to laugh again -- hey maybe you should change your name to "the crying vulcan" .

This Vulcan will always be laughing

Because this Vulcan lives in a universe where planets aren't destroyed by bad science (FTL supernovae), a Romulan Death Star, where narrative rules apply, and where lens flare doesn't exist.

He also lives in a Universe without "Warp Particles" Girly Squee, Salamander evolution, Thalaron Radiation, Retarded Androids, Excessive Time Travel, and Shit Prequel Series. But that's besides the point.

I predict that people are going to fall out of love with BayTrek (as in Michael) surprisingly quickly. As soon as they get it on DVD and see it on the small screen, and start peeling away at the surface to see what lies beneath. But then again, isn't that always the way with summer blockbusters?

 

[TheArsenal]

Enjoyed it greatly.

 

[USS Excelsior]

1) 'Delta Vega' (at least in the original timeline) was the planet a mere light days from the edge of the galaxy where Kirk hoped to maroon Gary Mitchell. THAT'S the planet give Spock a clear, unobstructed view of Vulcan?! (As for Scotty being there; hey it had a Lithium cracking station in the original timeline - so it seems to still have it in this one; no harm no foul).

I am pretty certain that Spock has said on screen in TOS that Vulcan has no moon! Or maybe one of the TOS movies but Spock for sure said that.

 

[USS Excelsior]

James Cawley's Star Trek Phase II

Speaking of whom he was supposed to have a walk on cameo in this movie, I didn't notice him.

 

[ST-One]

James Cawley's Star Trek Phase II

Speaking of whom he was supposed to have a walk on cameo in this movie, I didn't notice him.

He is in two shots, holding an electronic clipboard.
In the first he almost bumps into Chekov when Pavel is going to propose his idea to de-warp behind a certain planet's moon.
And in the second he looks at Spock when Spock confirms Chekov's calculations.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Then you haven't really paid attention watching the episodes. In WNMHGB and "Shoreleave" they establish the young Kirk as a serious student who obviously later in liofe loosens up with more confidence and relaxed disposition. Later in a couple of episodes of TNG it's established that the younger Picard chased skirts and was a bit of a rabble rouser. So what Abrams effectively did was take the younger Picard's personality and graft it onto his alternate universe Jerk, er Kirk.

Roddenberry thought of Picard and Kirk as his own ideal self at different stages of his life. So it isn´t far-fetched that they share the same background.

And Kirk is portrayed as studious and intelligent in the movie.

Spoiler: Proof that Kirk is studious

He knows the definition of xeno-linguistics.
His aptitude tests are off the charts according to Pike.
He graduates in three instead of four years.
He is able to reprogram the Kobayashi Maru test.
He refers to Pike´s dissertation about the Kelvin when they are heading to Vulcan.

Yep, looks like the version he saw on his computer didn't have those scenes or he ignored them because they didn't fit with his preconceptions of the movie.

 

[SummerDream]

TWOK, a movie I loved to pieces and rank second only to TMP, "
Grain of salt? Salt mine.

Yes. But Abrams decided to chuck all of that to show us a hotshot with a smartass mouth.
In fairness there's precedent for Abrams' approach because the '80s films also ignored what TOS had established to peddle their interpretation.

Without going into the movies one by one:
I guess the first movie I liked was IV. Or actually I only liked three of the movies despite liking TOS, TNG and Enterprise. Including this latest movie.
Still it did not feel like Trek and I would recommend it to anyone who has not seen TOS but to us who have seen it I would actually say it might be best avoided or even better to say, buy the dvd or blueray when it comes out. This was Kirk as I think of him. He is the ladies' man, he is the guy who acts on feelings or intuition - and is right. But some other aspects of the movie felt too different.
If TSCC were cancelled, I would hope Josh Friedman was booked for a new Trek series, be it new TOS or whatever. He is my hero now that he somehow changed the dull Terminator into a scifi tv show with feelings.
Summer could play a good Kirk. Voyager suffered from ..well as a Trekker I do not want to say bad acting, or bad writing, or anything like that. But something it must have been.

 

[Warped9]

^^ I saw all that and it didn't matter worth a damn because this Kirk's behaviour doesn't support it.

 

[Sky]

I've been living with this film for the last four days now, and it's slowly declining in my estimation with each passing day. I loved it when I watched it, but the trouble is that I did what JJ probably didn't want me to do. I thought about it. There's only so many plot holes, nits to pick and minor aggrievances that you can tolerate before the whole thing begins to sour.

It's funny how that goes. The exact same thing happened to me, and I've read other similar comments as well. At first we are wooed: New Trek! Kirk! Spock! Gorgeous effects! and then slowly the glitter wears off and we see the not-exactly-brilliant film under all the shiny.

Someone compared the fan first reaction to Episode One's first days and I think we're seeing some of the same. Of course people are wooed now. I suspect the opinions will be a bit more critical after a few months.