Hype User Reviews: Star Trek XI

[Immortalfire]

Yeah, I forgot that until now. Alternate timeline...so the TNG/DS9/Voyager reps are altered too. Good grief

:facepalm

 

[roach]

1) The universe was altered so things changed from the original series. Being a trekker i saw the little nods to the fans so I dont know where the JJ knows little of Star Trek.
2)As of now JJ's movie was more entertaining that any of the other movies that the Star Trek pros made.

 

[The Guard]

JJ Abrams didn't write STAR TREK. Orci and Kurtzman did. You know, the fellows who wrote TRANSFORMERS?

So what we've arrived at is "Star Trek's villain sucked because the movie was trying to reintroduce Star Trek in a fresh, exciting way".

Riiight.

somewhat agree that they should've expanded on Nero's role, but i also know that the point of this movie was to revive the franchise by solidifying the casual fans and bringing in more fans that were never into Star Trek at all...and doing that requires having a run time that is hefty but not bulky.

And five more minutes would have mattered? To show those casual fans "Hey, our villains don't suck ass anymore"? Please.

now they could've ditched some scenes in favor of fleshing out Nero's circumstances, but they had an AWFUL LOT to explain in 2 hours

They really didn't have that much to explain. The approach they took to the film, essentially relying on what people already know about Trek, makes that pretty clear. What they had to do was present two hours of comedy and action, a few minutes of Spock character development and a few minutes of plot exposition, and some more comedy and action.

I can understand but dude, you have to unwind some. It's okay to like things that don't have explanation or lots and lots of depth, that doesn't make it bad.

I didn't say it was bad. I gave the movie an 8.5/10.

Don't tell me you don't like the occasional brainless blockbuster? Part of going to films is enjoyment. I like doing the same as you, but sometimes, I want to be entertained while sometimes entertained and challenged.

I was entertained as hell. The film still had flaws.

This is a fun slick ride. But unlike Bay, the actors and characters have something to do with why the movie is enjoyable. Even small roles like Spock's mother, Captain Pine and (unfortunately) Nero, are played with such conviction and style that you immediately like 'em all.

I'm sorry...Spock's mother was played with "conviction and style"? I simply cannot agree with that one.

Bay's idea of engaging the audience is showing Megan Fox in short-shorts working on a motorcycle and having even bigger robots eating smaller robots.

Yes, that's certainly all there was in TRANSFORMERS, and all there will be in TRANSFORMERS 2...

 

[Doctor Jones]

Yeah, I forgot that until now. Alternate timeline...so the TNG/DS9/Voyager reps are altered too. Good grief

:facepalm

If so, why the hell are you bashing Abrams in your sig? That's a little too harsh I think.

 

[Warhammer]

Yeah, I forgot that until now. Alternate timeline...so the TNG/DS9/Voyager reps are altered too. Good grief

:facepalm

No, they are still intact. The Trek we all know and love is still existent.

 

[Lord Blackbolt]

Like Malcom McDowells mad scientist in Star Trek: Generations that killed Kirk? I still remember the pre-internet fanboy complaints from that film when I was in college, people saying a no-name character killed Kirk.

that was the worst death scene in history....I hope the alternate timeline changes they way Kirk dies

 

[Warhammer]

Who's to say alternate Kirk will be murdered?

 

[BigCityBoy]

I just got back from seeing it in IMAX. I thought it was very good, I gave it a number 4. I never was a Trekkie (I'm more of a Star Wars fanatic) but thought this was the best interpretation of the franchise I've ever seen. I'm not gonna give a full review because everybody else has said what I felt but my only gripe was I thought at times it was just a tad bit silly (the scene when Kirk's hands swole up, Spock kept injecting Kirk with the antidote as if it was kind of a running gag). I kind of wish they had toned down the humor just a tad but other than that, I enjoyed it. My favorite scene was when Kirk and Sulu was fighting the Romulans (I guess thats spelled right) aboard that machine (I forgot what it was called) that was sucking up everything in sight. The whole audience cheered at my theater when the movie was over/the credits were rolling. I'm definitely gonna check it out again at the regular theater next time; maybe next weekend. Anybody who hasn't seen it in IMAX, check it out before it ends its run in another week or so; its definitely amazing in that format.

 

[Figs]

JJ Abrams didn't write STAR TREK. Orci and Kurtzman did. You know, the fellows who wrote TRANSFORMERS?

So what we've arrived at is "Star Trek's villain sucked because the movie was trying to reintroduce Star Trek in a fresh, exciting way".

Riiight.

I do have to admit, although I enjoyed Transformers(and yes I enjoyed it knowing it was going to be some dumb summer fun, I do think some of the comedy was too childish and dumb for me) they showed to me at least there not horrible writers which is what a lot of people thought after Transformers. Also have to say I'm sure Bay had some say in what went on and was said in the film too.


And five more minutes would have mattered? To show those casual fans "Hey, our villains don't suck ass anymore"? Please.

Fully agree. All it needed was five minutes or so to really set in how much anger and hatred Nero had to justify his actions more.

I'm sorry...Spock's mother was played with "conviction and style"? I simply cannot agree with that one.

Same here. She was really just there as a device to help Spock's character out. She really could have been done better.


Yes, that's certainly all there was in TRANSFORMERS, and all there will be in TRANSFORMERS 2...

Very true. I know that they won't want to alter the comedy to alienate the general audience who might have found some of those jokes funny in the first film. I just hope they don't have as much as the first, or at least it's not as stupid. Doubtful though.

 

[roach]

ITS AN ALTERNATE REALITY PEOPLE...sheesh

 

[Immortalfire]

ITS AN ALTERNATE REALITY PEOPLE...sheesh

And that's exactly what I didn't like.

 

[TheVileOne]

So pretend its a different dimension, so in another dimension everything still happened like it did .

 

[roach]

And that's exactly what I didn't like.

or would you prefer that they just change the past for no reason...to me the alternate reality shows respect to the original series

 

[The Squirrel]

And that's exactly what I didn't like.

You sound like my mom. That's the same complaint she has.

 

[Immortalfire]

or would you prefer that they just change the past for no reason...

I'd have preferred they had just carried on, moving the series forward instead of looking back. I know many didn't like Nemesis, but things weren't beyond repair. The Final Frontier is the worst thing Trek has ever seen, but they didn't quit and start over.

But then again, the idea of a reboot was an unknown concept at the time.

to me the alternate reality shows respect to the original series

 

[chaseter]

How is that hard to understand? Why keep piling more onto a dead a nearly dead franchise? Why not start fresh and still respect the source material?

 

[roach]

so they do 9 movies the way Trekkers want them and maybe 2 are memorable...they do one movie thier way and everyone loves it but the Hardcore Trekkers...

 

[chaseter]

I wonder who the 1 person who voted a 2 for this? I guess someone had to hate it.

 

[roach]

I'd have preferred they had just carried on, moving the series forward instead of looking back. I know many didn't like Nemesis, but things weren't beyond repair. The Final Frontier is the worst thing Trek has ever seen, but they didn't quit and start over.

But then again, the idea of a reboot was an unknown concept at the time.

the last movie killed the series...its like not liking Batman Begins and asking for a continuation from Batman and Robin.

an alternate reality doesnt erase the original reality...its another reality alongside the original one

 

[DorkyFresh]

my (long ass) review
------------------------------------------

I just got back from seeing ST-09 for the 2nd time (first was on Friday) and I still can't get over how good this film is. As a piece of film making this is one of the most balanced and enthralling movies to hit the big screen in a while. Masterfully done in all departments excluding none, this film hits on all 4 cylinders giving the feeling of warp speed.

Now before seeing this film, I wasn't a Trekkie/Trekker by any means. I've probably only seen a handful of TOS episodes, maybe a week's worth of TNG and I haven't watched any of the other shows since then...but when I heard that Trek was essentially being rebooted I decided to rent the movies and watch the ones I heard were actually good, so before seeing this film I considered myself a casual Trek fan. I couldn't tell you the first episode that Klingons appeared, but I know enough to sum up characters and certain movies.

That being said, as a 26 y/o casual Trek fan, my mind was blown away by this movie. I'm fortunate enough to not have the burden of Shatner and Nimoy ingrained in my head. Even when I was a youngster (probably early teens) I distinctly remember how cool it would be to see how the crew of the Enterprise had formed and realizing that they would have to recast....and I was totally okay with that. So I had no problems accepting this new rendition of the original premise, especially seeing as how Roddenberry basically wanted this to happen anyway..."some day some bright young thing would come along and do it again, bigger and better than he (Roddenberry) had ever done it."

That being said, I think we can clump this along with Batman Begins and Casino Royal as much needed successful reboots to ill movie franchises. Despite the inconsistencies and slight negativity that this movie attracts, Star Trek NEEDED this movie if it wanted to maintain relevance on the big screen. I'm sure the franchise, as a whole, would be fine without it because of the TV shows but this movie brings swagger that Trek hasn't seen in a while. This movie doesn't buckle under the stress of fan opinion and it doesn't feel "lost" (pun intended) from not being sure of what to do next. It's clear that this movie had a goal and not only was the goal met...it was stunned, phasered, and energized all over the place.

Everything in this film is top notch...acting, audio/visual effects, design, music, and yes...even the writing. You'll be hard pressed to find a film that balances humor, drama, action, and suspense as well as this one does. At times this movie tugged on my heart strings, others where I laughed unexpectedly, and I lost track at how many times I was rooting for the good guy to win (specifically when Sulu broke out his fencing sword...how badass was that???)!!! This film really is a roller coaster of emotions without ever becoming too heavy. Everything is done in a way that the average intellect would be able to enjoy it.

As an effects nut, this is truly a treat for my eyes and ears. I couldn't get enough of the visuals. Everything from the design of the bridge to the look of Vulcan is very unique and everything feels REAL. The camera lens frequently collects dust and accumulation during space scenes, the camera jolts and bobs with motions so convincingly realistic that you can't help but to believe that what you're watching was actually filmed instead of composited, and the sound effects are the icing on the cake. Warp speed sounds like a massive sonic boom, the phasers actually sound like they can pierce through a person, and not to mention the plethora of original sound effects that have been redone in ways that make them feel authentic and practical. Abrams and the FX crew truly deserve an Oscar for their efforts in this film despite Transformers also coming out this year. Oh...and BTW, the score is MAGNIFANTASTIQUE!!!

The Enterprise looks wonderful and more functional than ever! You can see how individual panels on the outside reflect differently than others and the aesthetics behind the Starship's shapes are sound. It's formed in a way that makes it move well while it's flying and it's beautiful against the vibrant, dynamic backdrops displayed in this film. The interior of the ship is a whole new beast as well. I'm really digging the industrial looking parts of the ship. These environments give the feel of a functional and operating ship that has working departments as opposed to a series of sets filled with extras. Even the bridge, which has gotten a major face lift, feels more practical despite the bright setting. I was originally turned off by all the white that they used to depict the bridge and the transporter after seeing the trailers, but it works in the movie. It gives off the vibe that only important people are supposed to operate in those sections. The design of the Enterprise is complimented greatly by the design of the costumes for the crew. They have been done in a way that certainly maintains the original look, but they look streamlined and suitable for the environments.

Speaking of the crew...how about the cast huh? I think everyone did a great job...even Yelchin, who probably had the least screen time. I don't think Chekov was necessarily needed in this movie, but Yelchin did the best with the material he was given. Johnny Cho as Sulu was interesting to say the least. I thought he was kinda flat, but he got a rise out of me when he whipped out his retractable sword. I hope he has a more significant role in the sequel. Pegg as Scotty vigorously tickled my funny bone and he seemed perfectly at home in the role. Zoe did a good job as Uhura. She could've easily overacted the role in an attempt to grab attention, but she comes off as a strong and 'logical' woman...even when dealing with emotions. Greenwood as Pike is a god send for this movie. He gave the movie some much needed gravitas and authority and I hope he's utilized wisely in the sequel. Also, Karl Urban as Bones......let's just say "ACED IT!" Truly channeling DeForest Kelley, his performance was just a joy to watch.

This brings me to the 3 most important roles of the film...Kirk, Spock, and Nero. I'll start with the weakest of the bunch...which is obviously Nero. As a character, Nero's quite 2D and doesn't feel very fleshed out...but Eric Bana did a good job of giving him personality and intrigue, even if he never really says anything that's strikingly devious. I don't need to say much about Nimoy as Spock. Nimoy IS Spock. As for Quinto...I've been convinced for a while that he's the best man for the job and seeing the film just confirms it. He doesn't have Nimoy's authoritative voice but he delivers his lines much as I would expect Spock to have delivered them...and there are certain angles where I can't just help but to believe that he's a young Nimoy. I think Quinto visually conveyed the inner turmoil of choosing between logic and emotion very well and though he doesn't posses Nimoy's dangerous appearance, he certainly gives off that vibe through subtleties.

And Kirk? He's actually my favorite of the cast. This is EXTREMELY dangerous territory that both Quinto and Pine were treading on and not only did they maneuver through it safely, they sprinted across it like it were nothing. It could've easily turned out to be a big-budget SNL performance with Quinto imitating Nimoy and Pine imitating Shatner, but they (especially Pine) were able to perform their characters in ways that made them suitable for them as individual actors, but also in ways that fulfill the qualities of their respective characters without falling into forced impressions. Pine as Kirk was colorful and believable as a rebel with a destiny and his personal charm saved many scenes that could've fallen flat on it's face had a less charismatic actor taken the Captain's chair. Like Pegg as Scotty...Pine seemed perfectly at home in this role, despite him expressing that he initially had trouble studying the character of Kirk.

There is so much more that I could talk about, but this review has become too long...so I'll wrap it up here. Is ST-09 perfect? Of course not...many posters here and on other boards have already mentioned the plot holes, inconsistencies, and the lack of raw emotional impact. However, this is undoubtedly the best Star Trek movie to grace the big screen since the Shat passed the torch to the Next Gen and an instant classic in my eyes. It's exhilarating, intelligent, witty, and most importantly...refreshing. Can't wait for the sequel. Here's hoping that it will be what the Dark Knight was for Batman Begins........and that it's filmed in 3D, hehe.

 

[M.O.Steel]

the last movie killed the series...its like not liking Batman Begins and asking for a continuation from Batman and Robin.



an alternate reality doesnt erase the original reality...its another reality alongside the original one

i agree. it was clever to reboot and continue at the same time.

sometimes i do wonder how it would be if they just rebooted it, no timelines and no connections. no spock connections and all. just a reboot like BB. this is not like BB. a full reboot. there would be people who would have issues like this, but i think it would have been interesting.

i don't think rebooting ever changes the previous lives of a franchise. I don't think burton's batman89 nullified adam west's batman

 

[C. Lee]

that was the worst death scene in history....I hope the alternate timeline changes they way Kirk dies

Did you know that originally He was shot in the back and killed in that movie? They rewrote and reshot the death after pre-screenings.

 

[DorkyFresh]

Did you know that originally He was shot in the back and killed in that movie? They rewrote and reshot the death after pre-screenings.

glad they rewrote that. countless space battles and experiences with dangerous space babes and he goes down while being shot in the back? lame...

 

[C. Lee]

I'd have preferred they had just carried on, moving the series forward instead of looking back. I know many didn't like Nemesis, but things weren't beyond repair. The Final Frontier is the worst thing Trek has ever seen, but they didn't quit and start over.

How would you have them do that? One of the biggest complaints about the last few Original cast movies was that they were getting too old. So do you want to continue movies with the TNG cast, even though they were a little scattered after Nemisis and are getting older too? A DS9 movie? New crew on the Enterprise E?

They took the gamble....how do you get people really talking about a new Trek movie....reboot with new cast playing original characters and don't direspect what went before.

It worked for most people. I'm sorry to hear it didn't work for you.

 

[C. Lee]

glad they rewrote that. countless space battles and experiences with dangerous space babes and he goes down while being shot in the back? lame...

If you find early printings of the novelization...they still have the back shooting in them. It was changed in later printings.