Star Trek

The Doctor requested a review of this movie, which I saw over the weekend. I am, as you should know, a great fan of the original series. Bear that in mind.

I´ve told you before why I identify with Kirk. It´s the struggle. It´s a fight against authority, ill-doers, women, and against the odds. In a nutshell, that is what I like best about TOS and I think it is what had me enjoying every moment of the movie. Now understand, I really wanted to like the movie. I was there for a thrilling, authority-bucking ride. I was there for hommage-a-plenty and I was there to see Kirk make it with a green-skinned babe. Check, check ... and ... check.

Was it a sucessful ¨re-boot¨ of the franchise? Meh?!? It was no ¨Batman Begins,¨ but it was a damn sight more interesting than most of the movies the series has produced.

Did they really throw away the Canon of the Star Trek universe? Nope. But they did leave themselves free to do so at any time.

I didn´t read anything before I saw it, but here are my thoughts on these that I ready today. Eberts review is accurate enough. He only gives it a 2.5 out of 4, but I´m guessing he only saw it cause he had to. I like The Guardian´s review much better. I pretty much fits what I´ve been saying.

Comments

and then the_doctor said…
Firstly, thanks for the review. What I liked best about TOS was first rate writing paired with second rate (by today's standard) production values. What worries me about seeing the new Star Trek is that it seems to have reversed this formula (having not actually seen it I only have previous work to go on.) J.J. for me is a junk food writer. It may taste good but there are little nutrients. Penetrating his complexities aren't an initiation to a larger world, instead they seem only to eliminate plot problems. I loved the fact that TOS would preferentially serve the theme or idea over the plot! Second rate writing and first rate production would make it blend in with all the other mediocrity on the big screen.
I guess my central question is if you changed the characters names and dropped TOS references that didn't serve the plot, would you have enjoyed the movie as much?
2:56 pm
captainorange said…
No "big ideas" to wrestle with. I'm willing to give it a pass, as it is an origin story and they had a lot of characters to make it through. I fear that my generosity will go unrewarded. It sounds like you might be disappointed.
9:12 pm
and then the_doctor said…
Just came back from Star Trek...
After clearing my head of healthy skepticism, I quite enjoyed it! Pretty fun action movie even without the copious references. It was good enough that the ways it deviated from my TOS memories, were lost in my enjoyment.
11:50 pm
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