What I think is wrong with XI compared to the others.

[The Laughing Vulcan]

In short, there's no message there. No deeper meaning. No comment on the human condition or anything. It's just a load of flashy things that encourage you not to think. Whereas, all the others had...

Trek XI certainly isn't a perfect film, and most of the criticisms the thread raises are legitimate. But to say that there is *no* depth or message is incorrect. In fact, the film states its message explicitly by way of Sarek,

“You are fully capable of deciding your own destiny. The question you face is: Which path will you choose. This is something only you can decide.”
​

That is a powerful message and the statement holds true for both Spock and Kirk and to a lesser extent, the rest of the crew (McCoy deciding to join Starfleet in the wake of a divorce, for example). Now, certainly, one can debate the effectiveness of the message, or the depths to which the movie goes to explore that message. I tend to agree that this film isn't as deep as the best that Trek has had to offer. But that's different than outright denying that such a message exists in the first place.

That's not a message, that's a fortune cookie!

 

[Greylock Crescent]

It's still a message ... the film still had *something* to say. I agree that its message is conveyed more like a fortune cookie than it is a deep, profound revelation. But like I said, that's different than outright denial.

 

[number6]

It's still a message ... the film still had *something* to say. I agree that its message is conveyed more like a fortune cookie than it is a deep, profound revelation. But like I said, that's different than outright denial.

The message was simple, but it was prevalent throughout the film. TOS often had simple messages. Not every Trek episode hit you over the head with it.

 

[startrekrcks]

I think Trek XI was the most brilliant film ever sorry if you think I'm insane but does it matter if it goes very deep with social or space issues.