STAR TREK (2009)

[RCMerchant]

Actually there are a lot of Trek fans out there that don't like this movie.  I for one have mixed feelings about it.

I want to see it...as the original series is the ONLY Trek for me. But I dunno....I'm kinda wary as well. It's hard to top the original cast. Kinda like when Chris Lee did the Frankenstein Monster in '57....you have to try and forget the Universal monster. I love the Hammer version now,though.I accepted it on it's own terms. Not as good as King Karloff,of course-but Cushing IS the definitive Doctor Frankenstien.

[Rev. Powell]

Honestly, I wasn't that impressed.  It was an average to good summer action film, nothing more.  I'd give it 3/5.

Things I liked:
*Action scenes (though see below)
*Spock
*Looking at the new spins on the old characters  It actually made me appreciate how well drawn those characters were.
*Impressive visuals (though not blown-out-of-my-seat impressive)
*Zoe Saldana - va va voom!

Things I didn't like:
*Contrived plot
*Short attention span editing -- too many quick cuts give the impression of a lot of action and excitement, but you can't tell what's actually happening.  Seems like a cheat.
*Kirk--I actually didn't like the cocky hotshot kid Kirk very much, though I have no problem with the mature Kirk

Things I was neutral about:
*Felt like a Star Wars film with Star Trek characters in it

I also had a big problem with one of the plot elements that almost ruined the last half of the movie for me.  Maybe I missed something that explained it.  I've put the spoiler below in green text (highlight to read):

Why did "Spock Prime" sit on Delta Vega for 25 years waiting for Vulcan to explode instead of walking 15 minutes to the nearby Federation outpost and trying to stop Nero?  If he didn't care about it, why did he suddenly start to care once Kirk showed up? 

[Shadow]

I also had a big problem with one of the plot elements that almost ruined the last half of the movie for me.  Maybe I missed something that explained it.  I've put the spoiler below in green text (highlight to read):

Why did "Spock Prime" sit on Delta Vega for 25 years waiting for Vulcan to explode instead of walking 15 minutes to the nearby Federation outpost and trying to stop Nero?  If he didn't care about it, why did he suddenly start to care once Kirk showed up? 

He had only been there a matter of hours. Nero arrived in the past first  - on the day that Kirk was born. Spock didn't arrive until 25 years later. That was how Nero was able to capture him so easily, he was already ready and waiting for his arrival.

[Rev. Powell]

I also had a big problem with one of the plot elements that almost ruined the last half of the movie for me.  Maybe I missed something that explained it.  I've put the spoiler below in green text (highlight to read):

Why did "Spock Prime" sit on Delta Vega for 25 years waiting for Vulcan to explode instead of walking 15 minutes to the nearby Federation outpost and trying to stop Nero?  If he didn't care about it, why did he suddenly start to care once Kirk showed up? 

He had only been there a matter of hours. Nero arrived in the past first  - on the day that Kirk was born. Spock didn't arrive until 25 years later. That was how Nero was able to capture him so easily, he was already ready and waiting for his arrival.

Thanks-looks like I did miss something.

[Torgo]

I found it to be decent but not great. I thought it favored action too much over genuine ideas a lot of the time.

[Jack]

Seeing the trailer where the little kid runs a Corvette off a cliff, while leaping out of it like some CGI gymnast, then announcing himself to be "James Tiberius Kirk".  Man.  That so totally turned me off on this thing I don't know if I'd bother watching it if it was on TV.

[inframan]

Yeah the beggining with the stolen car going off a cliff was not needed. I liked it a lot, I might have had low expectations seeing the typical hollywood crap thats out lately.

Did anyone else notice that Kirk spent a lot of time being hit in the face and hanging off the edge of a ledge? At least four times he's haning by his fingers on the edge of something.

[schmendrik]

Yeah the beggining with the stolen car going off a cliff was not needed. I liked it a lot, I might have had low expectations seeing the typical hollywood crap thats out lately.

Did anyone else notice that Kirk spent a lot of time being hit in the face and hanging off the edge of a ledge? At least four times he's haning by his fingers on the edge of something.

Actually, yes. We decided that he got practice in doing that when he was a kid and that's why they put that scene in there.

I didn't mind the hot-shot wild child depiction of Kirk. I actually thought that was rather clever. Because in more thoughtful sci-fi, a captain is a mature, steady personality, a Picard type (or like Pike in this film). So they had to explain the very different Kirk type character of the original series and this is they way they did it. It unifies the different Star Treks in a nice way for me. I thought the Pike character was wonderful, just the guy you'd want to see in command.

What's still missing for me is some explanation for what makes young Kirk a good captain. Why should he have the trust of his crew? For that matter, why does Spock decide he wants to sign on as first officer, having already had a command? Why does Pike think it's a good idea to hand over the car keys to the kid?

[Dr. Whom]

Well, it was good fun. The disturbed timeline ploy is very clever, because it avoids continuity issues. The franchise can take off again as it were.

Another thing that was handled well, was the checklist. In movies like this, there are a number things that have to be put in: the characters have to say their signature lines, Kirk has to snog a green skinned girl, you have to kill a redshirt etc etc. All this was accomplished elegantly.

Of course, there are quibbles and things I could have done without (the scene with Scotty in the piping took too long, for instance), but overall, hugely enjoyable.

One point of criticism that is completely justified is that the feel is more Star Wars than Star Trek. It lacks the high moral purpose and reflection on values and society that is so typical of the Star Trek universe. Instead we get an action packed rollercoaster ride. As such it is more an adventure movie than science fiction. But then, if George Lucas won't make proper Star Wars movies anymore, someone else has to do it.

[Neville]

But then, if George Lucas won't make proper Star Wars movies anymore, someone else has to do it.

Well said. 

[Newt]

One point of criticism that is completely justified is that the feel is more Star Wars than Star Trek. It lacks the high moral purpose and reflection on values and society that is so typical of the Star Trek universe. Instead we get an action packed rollercoaster ride. As such it is more an adventure movie than science fiction. But then, if George Lucas won't make proper Star Wars movies anymore, someone else has to do it.

Interesting.  Perhaps the "high moral purpose and reflection on values and society" element was too 'mature' for the movie: after all, it does feature the familiar characters in their younger and less experienced days.  (Just speculating.)  An adventure/action flick does have wider appeal in terms of ticket sales - and philosophising might have slowed things down too much: hobbled it a bit?

[akiratubo]

I finally got around to seeing it and, eh, it was ok.  Not too bad, not too good.  I don't really care enough to get into specifics.  It was a standard "blockbuster" to me, pretty much exactly what I've come to expect from big budget popcorn movies.

[the ghoul]

I was going to wait until I could rent it on Netflix since I was only mildly intrigued by it, but I went and saw it yesterday on a whim.  I was very pleasantly surprised that I liked it.  In fact, I would say that they hit this one out of the park.  It was a great story, and any so-called continuity flaws or inconsistencies with the old series can be adequately explained by the fact that Nero and Spock have altered the course of history during their time travel.  I'm sure many of the "trekkies" and Picard lovers out there dislike this film, but I am neither.  I enjoy the original series and the movies with the original series cast.  I don't really care for any of the other incarnations of Star Trek.  This movie carries on with those same characters, and the new cast did a fine job of portraying them.  This is my second favorite Star Trek film.  The only one I remember liking more than this one was Star Trek 4 "The Voyage Home."

[blu_clover]

I myself love the original and Next Generation shows and movies. I can honestly say I loved this one too. I even got teared up that I didn't bring my momma to see it with me because she and I always watched the shows together.

[Trevor]

I only saw it on Friday on DVD because I was reluctant to see it in the cinema ~ what I knew about it sounded a bit too much like Harve Bennett's rejected StarFleet Academy idea.

All I can say after watching it twice is "Wow, I enjoyed it" ~ the direction was great and the bits of comedy here and there were good too. As an almost lifelong Trekkie / Trekker, I had a bit of a hard time dealing with the fact that Kirk and Spock were almost enemies in the beginning, but that resolved itself quickly.

The actors to a person were great and all I can say is  to the future of the Star Trek franchise. After the IMO disaster that Rick Berman wreaked on us with the TNG film series, my faith has been restored.

Thank you JJ Abrams and the cast.