Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

And so the first F-bomb dropped in the Star Trek universe belongs to...

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

I'm seeing this tomorrow morning, and I'm really looking forward to it.

That said, Ebert has a really good point in that Star Trek has stopped being sci-fi and has turned into James Bond, that is the same story told over and over again.

In this case, they keep remaking Wrath of Khan- I mean, they even destroyed the point of the Borg by giving them an eloquent charismatic revenge-seeking Queen to go after Picard and Data. It's becoming like the Batman movies. When a new Trek is coming, the only question is which classically trained scenery-chewing actor will play the villain. If you ever watched to old shows or the Next Generation, there were episodes like that AS WELL AS interesting episodes with sci-fi or philosophical themes. The movies, with the exception of parts 1 and 4 have failed to capture that aspect of the show.

They also are rehashing the tired
Again, I fully expect to enjoy this movie as a fun airheaded summer action film, but really hope that at some point they make a Star Trek that is philosophically provocative science fiction. They haven't done that since The Next Generation went off the air.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

I for one am pissed that it's just a lazy cheap gimmick. Why did it have to be an alt reality at all.

Well back later leaving to go see it. Rreport back later

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

Lamphorn, have you seen the new movie? I agree that Nero is the latest in a long line of Khan clones, but at least in this one he's going after Spock, not Kirk.



hdtv00: The alternate timeline angle was necessary to allow the filmmakers the latitude to make the film as they saw fit without worrying about staying slavishly true to an established canon. Had they made it solely a prequel, it would not have been nearly as interesting as it is.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

As I wrote in my post, I'm seeing it tomorrow. What you mention (and should have spoiler-warned) is a distinction without a difference.

Another distinction without a difference.

That is a legitimate reason, but that formed the entire basis of Enterprise, and was the plot of First Contact. The Old Series and Next Generation actually bothered to create a variety of plots and ideas... the movies are just the same story rehashed and repackaged over and over.

Why bother to reboot the Kirk Trek if they're just going to keep remaking Wrath of Khan??

I know it sounds like I'm bashing, but I'm really not and honestly am very excited to see this movie... I'm just being hard on them because I'd like to see them take this franchise into some edgy philosophical territory like the shows instead of just following the tired summer blockbuster formula every time out.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

That makes it even worse.

I think the miracle here is how JJ was able to take a shit script (and let's not kid ourselves, the script is pure crap, packed with conveniences, contrivances and all sorts of hackneyed bullshit, on top of being just plain dumb and lazy) and turn it into something not just watchable, but thoroughly enjoyable, cinematic and not nearly as dumb as what he had to work with - credit also goes to the wonderful cast.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

I have a feeling the future films will branch out, or at least I hope they will. Here the goal is to reboot, and it's something that the film does splendidly.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

Gonna see it in the Arclight Cinerama dome in L.A. tomorrow morning. Can't wait. Hope you're right about them branching out. It can only happen if they make the decision to go with a Fall or Christmas release sometime. Make it a "prestige" Oscar-bait film with a complex script and brilliant acting (I've heard this cast is very good). As long as they see it as a summer tentpole franchise, they will stick pretty strictly to spaceships blowing each other up for 2 hours. I seriously doubt they can resist that temptation.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

Well, the sequel has been greenlit from what I've heard, so we'll see what we will see.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

I don't want to be a continuity cop, but having actually just seen the film I can say there is a major problem with the new timeline. My 13 year old cousin had never seen any Trek prior to this movie tonight. No episodes of any series, no movies, nothing. She is, let's be honest, the real target demographic of this film--not her 30 year old cousin.

She loved the movie (great). But now, if she becomes interested enough to want to watch anything made before this movie, she'll have some potentially alienating questions to ask/answer. I won't get into the particulars, but it leaves the new audience really wondering just what sense to make of reconciling this film with everything else.

All that aside, I tried to take it just as a movie. It was intense, it was fun, it was something that Trek hasn't been in a while: exciting. The production aesthetics were clearly unique in the franchise, and yet the movie was unmistakably Star Trek. Pine, Quinto, Urban and Saldana were all great, and it was a genuine treat seeing Leonard Nimoy back as Ambassador Spock.

I still don't believe that this was the story that needed to be told, though. If they wanted to play in the TOS-era, fine; I just don't see why the plot had to include completely negating the rest of the franchise. So, yes, I say the premise was lazy and unnecessarily destructive...but the execution was exhilarating!

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

Ask a stupid question...

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

I went to the 8:30pm show Thurs nite and I really enjoyed it.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

So does Paramount pay you to come here and tout this rather mediocre film?

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

That seems a bit harsh. Not caring for the movie doesn't mean that someone else being excited about it is a corporate shill.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

Just got back from an early showing. Absolutely fantastic film. Ebert's 2.5/4 review shows either he didn't care about the movie or is having trouble following films in general. He mixes up a major scene and his plot hole is explained clearly in the film.

For me this is likely the high mark of the summer, save for 'Harry Potter.' As a hardcore TOS fan, I'm all for future films from this cast and crew. 5/5

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

Well for one thing, Voyager established that in the far future the Federation has a division devoted to maintaining historical integrity. Their ships exist outside the timeline, so they aren't affected by people changing history. Yet where are they in the movie ...?

For another, Enterprise takes place long before the timelines diverge, so there are tons of things the movie could contradict there. Not to mention all the aspects of the 21st and 22nd Centuries that have been established throughout the other series.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

Shut up. Everyone has their own opinion and if you can't deal with that, leave.



Movies was great. 5/5. Best Trek movie since First Contct.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

It does when this guy is trying to sell this film harder than the guy at Enterprise was trying to sell me a rental upgrade yesterday.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

Throw that advice right back at you.

I give it a 2/5. It had its moments, but it was pretty much just a generic action film with characters who happened to bear some resemblance to those in the original Star Trek series.

People are allowed to have negative opinions, and to express them. Free speech isn't just about everyone agreeing with one another.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

Umm no, Please refer me to the post where I or someone else said you could not have a differing opinion. But just because you didn't like the movie still does not give the right to insult someone who loved it.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

How many stars ***1/2 out of 5 mostly because of the story having issues.

Longer rant with spoilers in review thread if you're curious.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

Could you put the continuity problems you had in spoiler tags so we can read them? I'm curious.

This film doesn't negate the rest of the franchise. As has been said, this is an alternate timeline. The other timeline still exists, we're just now focused on this newly created timeline.

In practical terms, I don't think we'll see another film or TV show in the old Trek universe for a long time, but at the rate things were going we weren't going to see anything in the old Trek universe anyway.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

Best film since Die Hard in Space, which completely neutered the Borg as villains and contained a huge continuity violation?

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

Count me in for another 5/5 stars!

Perfect summer film. Star Trek is saved.

Re: Star Trek XI (Abrams, 2009) - Part 2
 

Because Trek nerds like me will nitpick every aspect when Abrams deviates from canon. I have the Trek encyclopedia, so I'm hardcore. It was a great fix, IMO.

I'm OK with it, that way I can relax and let Abrams do his thing while loving all of the great aspects of Trek, which he's going to respect in his overall treatment of the material. Otherwise he'll have no room for any creative license at all.