Post by Argonaut on May 8, 2009 19:32:53 GMT -8
STAR TREK (2009)
www.imdb.com/title/tt0796366/
Went to the very first showing of Star Trek, at 7:00 PM, yesterday.
This review pretty closely mirrors my opinion of the film.
www.worstpreviews.com/review.php?id=450§ion=review
Overall, I think it's not as deep or though-provoking as previous Trek. But it is one hell of a ride. For the most part, I thought they got the characters right. Chris Pine made an excellent Kirk, much to my surprise. Quinto made a fine Spock. And Karl Urban was an absolutely amazing McCoy. I liked the other characters, but those were the three I was mainly worried about.
I liked all the classic sound effects. It made it feel a lot more like the original series.
The score didn't really impress me on album, though I liked its somewhat retro feel. But it works really well with the film itself. I could have used more references to earlier Trek themes, though. Like more of the Alexander Courage themes and the Spock theme first heard in Horner's Wrath of Khan.
It was an absolute joy to see Nimoy as Spock again. He was perfect. For a Star Trek fan, that has to be the greatest thing about the film.
**********SPOILERS**********
And I was extremely relieved that he survived the film.
END SPOILER
There were a few really major events in the film that would make any Trekkie sweat. They worked in the film's favor, but I was still very disappointed to see...
**********SPOILERS**********
...the destruction of Vulcan and the death of Amanda Grayson. They were both such a huge part of Star Trek. I was disappointed that Vulcan and Spock's mother would no longer be a part of this new universe.
END SPOILER
Ben Cross was sufficient as Sarek. But he's really one of the weakest re-castings in the film. The original Sarek, as played by Mark Lenard, was much better suited to the part.
The humor works surprisingly well in this film. Most of the jokes were genuinely funny and fit with the characters.
It's still disconcerting to have to switch over to an alternate timeline, having invested so much of my life in the original timeline, but I think the movie is mostly a success. There are countless nods to the original shows and movies that only a Trekkie will appreciate. By the end of the movie, I felt like the writers and yes, even J.J. Abrams, had worked very hard to make me, as a Trekkie, happy with the film. It stays fairly true to what has come before while also re-energizing the franchise.
While the movie didn't focus very much on "boldly going where no one has gone before," we are given the impression that this movie is just the beginning. And that there will be plenty of time to explore strange new worlds in future installments. I hope that this means that the next film will be a bit more intelligent, but no less fun.
8/10
www.imdb.com/title/tt0796366/
Went to the very first showing of Star Trek, at 7:00 PM, yesterday.
This review pretty closely mirrors my opinion of the film.
www.worstpreviews.com/review.php?id=450§ion=review
Overall, I think it's not as deep or though-provoking as previous Trek. But it is one hell of a ride. For the most part, I thought they got the characters right. Chris Pine made an excellent Kirk, much to my surprise. Quinto made a fine Spock. And Karl Urban was an absolutely amazing McCoy. I liked the other characters, but those were the three I was mainly worried about.
I liked all the classic sound effects. It made it feel a lot more like the original series.
The score didn't really impress me on album, though I liked its somewhat retro feel. But it works really well with the film itself. I could have used more references to earlier Trek themes, though. Like more of the Alexander Courage themes and the Spock theme first heard in Horner's Wrath of Khan.
It was an absolute joy to see Nimoy as Spock again. He was perfect. For a Star Trek fan, that has to be the greatest thing about the film.
**********SPOILERS**********
And I was extremely relieved that he survived the film.
END SPOILER
There were a few really major events in the film that would make any Trekkie sweat. They worked in the film's favor, but I was still very disappointed to see...
**********SPOILERS**********
...the destruction of Vulcan and the death of Amanda Grayson. They were both such a huge part of Star Trek. I was disappointed that Vulcan and Spock's mother would no longer be a part of this new universe.
END SPOILER
Ben Cross was sufficient as Sarek. But he's really one of the weakest re-castings in the film. The original Sarek, as played by Mark Lenard, was much better suited to the part.
The humor works surprisingly well in this film. Most of the jokes were genuinely funny and fit with the characters.
It's still disconcerting to have to switch over to an alternate timeline, having invested so much of my life in the original timeline, but I think the movie is mostly a success. There are countless nods to the original shows and movies that only a Trekkie will appreciate. By the end of the movie, I felt like the writers and yes, even J.J. Abrams, had worked very hard to make me, as a Trekkie, happy with the film. It stays fairly true to what has come before while also re-energizing the franchise.
While the movie didn't focus very much on "boldly going where no one has gone before," we are given the impression that this movie is just the beginning. And that there will be plenty of time to explore strange new worlds in future installments. I hope that this means that the next film will be a bit more intelligent, but no less fun.
8/10
