My Verdict On The New Star Trek Movie (no spoilers)

[plumtreeblossom]

Since a big reason these free preview showings are being held is to get people blogging about the new Star Trek movie (aka Star Trek Zero), I'll do my part and share my non-spoilery thoughts.

Not everyone is going to agree with me, but I thought this new prequel was nothing short of spectacular. It goes to new and very different levels in production value, pacing and effects. This is Star Trek with a James Bondian shot in the arm that breathes astonishing new life into it. I loved re-meeting characters I've known all my life during eras of their lives we've never seen before on the big or small screen, and also getting to know the formerly mostly NPC Captain Christopher Pike. Young Spock is panty-twistingly hot (if you like nerds). Some dangling plot threads make me smell an eventual sequel to this prequel. I can't wait to see this again in IMAX at Jordan's.

Though beowabbit generally enjoyed it, he didn't feel the same wild enthusiasm that I did. He was able to summarize by saying "I didn't feel like I was watching a Star Trek movie." Some of the liberties taken with the characters left him cold, and I agree with him that product placement Did Not Belong. Certain things that were eye-rollers for him were squeeful for me though, so it all depends on what you like on your Star Trek platter.

Next Gen alum and blogger Wil Wheaton said "Star Trek has been reborn." Indeed I agree. The way I see it, creative evolution is logical. :-)

Comments

[androidqueen.livejournal.com]

omigodomigodicantwait!

[ron_newman]

Where did you see this preview screening? Was it at the Somerville?

I too have been calling it "Star Trek 0".

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

This was at Loews Boston Common. We got the free passes last week when we went to a mini Star Trek original series festival at the Brattle last week. You'd think we were trekkies or something. :-)

[docorion.livejournal.com]

"I didn't feel like I was watching a Star Trek movie"

How is this a *bad* thing? The majority of the Star Trek movies have been, how shall I say this, crap. I watched them out of loyalty, and mourned because they could have done so much more with the material they had. There were a couple of exceptions (Wrath of Khan didn't completely suck; and 4 and 6 had their moments (Chekov intoning "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner" springs to mind), but overall, going to have to go with crap.

So a move in a different direction is welcome unto me. I'm ready to see it-probably Friday if I can get in to the Somerville, Saturday if not.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

How is this a *bad* thing?

'Zactly. I'll let the Wabbit answer for himself, but for me, it felt very much like a step up into a new and better league, and that to me was a good change. If your thinking is like mine, I think you might like this movie better than all the lower production quality ones that went before.

[jicama]

Did you see this?

http://www.theonion.com/content/video/trekkies_bash_new_star_trek_film

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

I think I might go to see it on IMAX the night of my actual birthday, Monday May 18th (if I'm not too wiped from being on Conn. the weekend before...)

Thanks for the post:)

[kissoflife.livejournal.com]

Yayz that it's good! And rawrrrr do I want to see young Spock now!

[kencf0618.livejournal.com]

Product placement in a science fiction film? Do tell!

[beowabbit]

Let’s just say that Nokia and Budweiser are doing pretty well in the 23d Century.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

If Nokia *had* to have product placement, they should have put their logo on that cool flying robot cop, rather than on the totally-not-futuristic audio communication gadget in the car. Product placement can be cool in future-setting movies if the product is really imaginative. In this case, they weren't.