Hype User Reviews: Star Trek XI

[Kent]

Perhaps. It just seemed jarring to me how the entrance was this huge metal door you had to pull open. I don't know if I've ever seen that in ST. I don't know. Heh. No big deal though, like I said.

 

[terry78]

Just goes to show that a property doesn't always have to go darker to make it good.

 

[Rac]

It was bit of a dark.

 

[THE MR. TERRIFIC]

Easily the best movie so far this year! I gave 5/5. I loved it!

 

[Erzengel]

It's pretty dark.

Spoiler

I mean 6 billion Vulcans?

 

[Nivek]

^^^ Um, Spoiler!?!
That was a plot element I didn't know about till I seen the film.

 

[Kanon]

Roughly translated from my original review in spanish (here). Sorry for any misspelling

"The Child of Two Worlds"

Movies are like people. You can fall in love with them, and, like with people, you risk putting them in a pedestal, idolize them when you shouldn't. In love, certain disrespect and daring is required. When he fears tarnishing something untouchable, the lover fails. J.J. Abrams and screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, fortunately, have the audacity to disrespect Star Trek, and touch it without fear. The main problem George Lucas has today is the absence of someone who question his vision, and thus we ended up with disappointing prequels to Star Wars and an awful fourth Indiana Jones. With a big dose of love for the Star Trek universe, y honesty to point directly where it should change, they created a new version that achieves something unthinkable: a new Star Trek faithful to the original spirit, not denying canon, absolutely enjoyable to even the most hardcore of fans, and reinvented to appeal to general audiences.

Story begins with the sudden appearance of a massive ship, that immediately annihilates Federation ship USS Kelvin. Heroically, Thiberius Kirk, acting captain, saves the crew that abandon ship, including his wife, that gives birth to their child. Years later, James Kirk is a trouble young man, brilliant enough to get high grades to join Starfleet Academy, but unwilling to develop that potential. He doesn't enter the Academy until inspired by Captain Pike, who knew his father in the Kelvin. There, he meets the grumpy Dr. McCoy, another cadet, and clashes with Commander Spock, who causes his suspension for cheating in a test designed to make the student fail. The conflict is interrupted when an emergency places all cadets on service, because of a distress call from Vulcan, homeworld of Spock. Spock lives his own conflict, as half human, half vulcan, he is seen as a stranger in both worlds. In Vulcan, the disaster turns out to be caused by the same ship that destroyed the Kelvin, and has an special interest and knowledge about Spock. Soon it is revealed and conjectured that the ship comes from the future, with a specific mission that is altering the "natural" course of events

Then, the foreign element supports a reinvention of history, while the starting point remains the same, and the likeness of the universe are consistent with those we already know. Even though the situation is different, James Kirk the old same bold, hot-headed and ladies man, Spock lives with his inner conflict and tries to reconcile both sides of him, McCoy is the cool grumpy good friends, Uhura is sensitive and caring, Chekov is innocent, dedicated, Sulu is helpful, Scotty the enthusiast. Starfleet is the same, the Vulcans the same as always.

A very good story, with lots of action and wonder, but with very nice sci-fi, a la Star Trek, painting the future with the most rich cultures, and reflecting our society and nature in that advanced environment. All the time we witness the clash, adaptation and integration of different cultures (several alien drinks at the bar), development of characteristics (from the illustration of vulcan nature to the mention of several romulan dialects) and a realistic approach to the application of hyper advanced technology (naval alert sirens in space ships).

The plot has some weak points, which are the only thing separating this movie from perfection. It can be a little rushed how some things fall into place, so the crew ends up formed by the classic officers in their assignments. The method the villain chooses to carry on his revenge has a completely unnecessary step that only delays execution, only there to give time to create suspense and give time to stop him after a while after the plan is in motion. Those hardcore nit pickers of sci-fi might find themselves questioning times and distances towards the end. The worst, actually, is the demise of the villain, presenting a decision a little out of character for our heroes.

The new approach for the movie is in the action. Space battles, shoot outs, hand to hand combat, parachuting and teletransportation in the nick of time. Also, there is a bigger daring in the design of some aliens, with a certain Star Wars vibe, while not reaching the level of some ridiculous puppets. Some larger heads, or eyes, in beings that can perfectly work in a humanoid environment. But that's just it. Actually, much of the "new" appeal is in doing correctly and focusing on stuff that previous Star Trek movies had in lower dose. There were always space battles in Star Trek, Also, planetary threats. Furious villains and personal vendettas with the main characters. Armed and hand-to-hand combat. Today, those aspects have a bigger place. The battles and fights are fierce, and the threat, besides dreadful, feels closer at home, visible even from the Starfleet Academy yards, in San Francisco.

Thus, this is the old Star Trek, and the new Star Trek. It is the good sci-fi and it is good action. Star Trek is the child of two worlds. It can choose which path to take, but it just won't take one. Make his own, boldly going where no Star Trek has gone before.

Rating: 9/10

 

[nintendo nerd]

I'm not a Star Trek fan, but I want to become one. Can I see the movie without knowing a lot about the Star Trek Canon?

 

[Erzengel]

^^^ Um, Spoiler!?!
That was a plot element I didn't know about till I seen the film.

Sorry.

Although the title of this thread is "user reviews".

 

[Nivek]

Still, it's a pretty big spoiler if you don't already know about it. Thanks for editing it.

 

[Rocker22]

I'm not a Star Trek fan, but I want to become one. Can I see the movie without knowing a lot about the Star Trek Canon?

Yes. You should have no problem.

 

[AgentRed]

I'm not a Star Trek fan, but I want to become one. Can I see the movie without knowing a lot about the Star Trek Canon?

Yes. You don´t need to know anything. It´s probably better if you knew nothing about Star Trek before.

 

[The Lizard]

Perhaps. It just seemed jarring to me how the entrance was this huge metal door you had to pull open. I don't know if I've ever seen that in ST. I don't know. Heh. No big deal though, like I said.

I noticed that too. The main hallways of the ice base looked very 20th century, with the electric switch boxes on the concrete walls and such.

Score. I didn't really like the score for this. Didn't sound like Star Trek to me. Good in its own right, just not trekky.

I kind of agree with this too. There were a few scenes of the Enterprise going into action and the music score started to pick up, and I got excited for a second, expecting to hear some familiar Trek action music, only to be reminded "Oh yeah, this is all new music" when the score didn't quite soar like I expected.

 

[Kanon]

I kind of agree with this too. There were a few scenes of the Enterprise going into action and the music score started to pick up, and I got excited for a second, expecting to hear some familiar Trek action music, only to be reminded "Oh yeah, this is all new music" when the score didn't quite soar like I expected.

LOL, the same thing happened to me, I was expecting the TNG theme all the time t:

 

[Tony Stark]

Nice review. So, does Bana's Nero come off as Romulan or just human with pointy ears?

As Bana says in the movie he "does not represent the Empire." Nero is a captain on a mining vessle, he's not a Senator or governement representative or anything like that.

So if your expecting Mark Lenard's version of a Romulan, you're not going to get that.

This is a different interpretation, but it fits the character.

 

[Hush]

Thought it was great and im a Trek fan.

 

[chaseter]

I saw it for a second time today and I must say it is very very enjoyable and a very good movie to boot. I got use to Chekov's accent this time around and I did notice a few more of the cameos. My big negatives still remain that Nero was anti-climactic and I really wanted to see him fight because he is so big and menacing. Loved all the cast but Leonard did overstay his welcome a bit script wise. Go see it twice or more!

 

[TheVileOne]

Chekov's accent was used for comedy in Voyage Home.

"The nuclear wessels! IN ALAMEDA!"

 

[TheVileOne]

I thought the score was great especially the classic theme coming back at the end.

 

[Nivek]

I had no issue with the score, aside from the modern (ish) music clip used in the beginning, that took me out of the movie.

 

[Figs]

Exactly....Bones was always complaining about one thing or another.

So I take it Urban complains a lot in this film?

If so...sweet! Never been a trekkie but growing up watching the films if I had to pick a favorite character it would be Bones. Always complaining and cynical which a lot of times would be for humour with some of his quips.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

My Review:

The Good: Pine and Quinto are awesome and so was just about everyone else. The first ten minutes is amazing and heartbreaking stuff. The movie was exciting almost all the way through and was pretty damn funny. I could be wrong but the audience seemed to eat it up. The action scenes are fantastic.

The not so good: Urban was doing a saturday night live impression for the most part, if the movie is a hit I hope he tones it down and makes the character his own...like the other actors did. The script story was pretty good and clever but their was a little too much unoriginal comedy and gags. The ice planet part didn't come together the way it should have, it just didn't feel right for the most part.

Overall I liked the film quite a bit but I wouldn't cry if they ditched the Transformers writers.

Rating: 8 or almost and 8.5 out of 10. Just pencil me in for 8/10.

 

[Nivek]

So I take it Urban complains a lot in this film?

If so...sweet! Never been a trekkie but growing up watching the films if I had to pick a favorite character it would be Bones. Always complaining and cynical which a lot of times would be for humor with some of his quips.

He was spot on. Probably one of my favorite characters in the film.

 

[Figs]

He was spot on. Probably one of my favorite characters in the film.

That's great to hear!

 

[CFE]

I've seen it but I won't say some short and sweet blurb...I'll wait until my review is finished...I'm about 6 pages into it though.