I was pleasantly surprised by the new Star Trek movie last night. [Some spoilers to come.]
As a prequel to the original series, it could have been dire. Instead, all the familiar characters were beautifully played without ever being a caricature or impersonation of the original. Chekov, for instance, had all his youthful enthusiasm - but had lost the dire hairstyle, introduced to try to win over fans of the Monkees. I particularly warmed to McCoy - it was no surprise there was a small cheer in the cinema when we got 'I'm a doctor, not a physicist' - but they were all excellent, Simon Pegg proving a much better comedy Scotsman than the original.
Some aspects were a bit iffy - the whole red matter/black hole business, for instance. (Including the way the crew happily sat by as a black hole formed, then were surprised it was difficult to get away. Duh.) But not too many.
Perhaps most controversial was setting it in an alternate reality to the original series. This meant a slight feeling of detachment - these weren't 'our' characters, really. But it was an essential for the writers. Otherwise we would know, for instance, that Spock's mother couldn't stay killed, because we saw her in Season 2 of the original series.
All in all, it should delight any Star Trek fan, or even those with faint fond memories, and works well as a new version of the franchise in its own right. There's bound to be another, and that's not a bad thing.
As a prequel to the original series, it could have been dire. Instead, all the familiar characters were beautifully played without ever being a caricature or impersonation of the original. Chekov, for instance, had all his youthful enthusiasm - but had lost the dire hairstyle, introduced to try to win over fans of the Monkees. I particularly warmed to McCoy - it was no surprise there was a small cheer in the cinema when we got 'I'm a doctor, not a physicist' - but they were all excellent, Simon Pegg proving a much better comedy Scotsman than the original.
Some aspects were a bit iffy - the whole red matter/black hole business, for instance. (Including the way the crew happily sat by as a black hole formed, then were surprised it was difficult to get away. Duh.) But not too many.
Perhaps most controversial was setting it in an alternate reality to the original series. This meant a slight feeling of detachment - these weren't 'our' characters, really. But it was an essential for the writers. Otherwise we would know, for instance, that Spock's mother couldn't stay killed, because we saw her in Season 2 of the original series.
All in all, it should delight any Star Trek fan, or even those with faint fond memories, and works well as a new version of the franchise in its own right. There's bound to be another, and that's not a bad thing.
I'm so excited to see this, Brian, so thank you for the critique. I'm a closet Trekkie from way back, when my dad and I used to plunk our butts down on Sunday evening to watch the original. I'm even a fan of the rest of the offshoot series. I'm pathetic. I know this.
ReplyDeleteI used to watch it with my dad, too Lynn (though it was on on a weekday over here) - and I loved STTNG, though I didn't really bother with the later spinoffs. Not pathetic at all. (Or at least, if you are, we're both pathetic together.)
ReplyDeleterather than calling this new Star Trek a "reboot" they should call it "downloaded onto a far more sophisticated machine, edited, polished, then rebooted."
ReplyDeleteMaybe it rebooted and found itself on a Mac instead of a PC...
ReplyDeleteBrilliant movie - however, no organization puts a 'enlisted' guy in charge of an army for valor. He would just get a bunch of medals, no way is he made captain of a starship. Plus, who would put the inventor of cross warp beeming' on a ship instead of in research? Problem #2 - but could have fixed them both if 'Old Spock' influenced the outcome ... i.e. picked the crew. solid movie (should not have been a duplicate villain scream equivalent to, "KAHN!!!!!" either ... thoughts?
ReplyDeleteYes, having someone three years into his career suddenly given charge did stretch disbelief (but, hey, have you watched any Original Series episodes lately?)
ReplyDeleteSpace,the final frontier.These are the old and new,trekkies of the past an future,of the star ship enterprise.our mission,is to stand by,an support and maintain the integrity,of the symbol and cerw,that we all know an love.To seek out new life and civilization.To contiue,to bodly go,where no trekkies have gone befor.
ReplyDeleteWe are the borg,resistance are futile.We have manage,to intercept your transmission,coming for the far region of the alpha sector.We know of the star ship enterprise,and of its capabilities,function,and strength.apond of arival,the star ship enterprise and crew,will be assimilated;then earth.resistance is futile.
ReplyDelete