Karen: Offer your SPOILER-FREE thoughts about the newest entry in the Star Trek film series, Star Trek Into Darkness.Should it live long and prosper? Or be swallowed whole by the Doomsday Machine?
I loved it!...and it's a lot 'deeper' than it first seems. Politics, Philosophy and the old series (and films) all skillfully hidden under a veneer of simple adventure and daring do.
Will probably wait for DVD (was really ambivalent about the first one), but the two positive remarks above are the first two I've come across among scores of viewers who were both Star Trek fans and non-fans. . . hmmmm
We saw it yesterday and thought it was really entertaining. We splurged and got IMAX tickets, and it was worth it, because visually it was spectacular. Just like the previous film, I felt that the makers 'got' the characters and were true to them yet did enough to make them their own. Chris Pike's Kirk has all of Kirk's virtues and foibles but none of Shatner's acting idiosyncrasies. Quinto as Spock is masterful yet is going down a different path than the Spock we all know. But it works.
The story was good, as others said it had many call outs to the past and I think it pulled them off successfully although in some cases it ran the risk of coming off as hokey, but I think it succeeded. It is paced a mile a minute and never slows down, but I can honestly say that I didn't mind, I enjoyed it all and at least nothing felt like fluff. There's a bit at the end where I rolled my eyes but it didn't kill the good feelings for me.
As I told some skeptical friends who were also classic Trek fans when the first Abrams film came out, it's not our Trek, but it's damned entertaining, and they respect the original, and it's bringing Trek to a whole new generation. So I'm good with that.
I saw it on Friday evening with a bunch of people from a freethought group I belong to (I think there were 12 of us altogether). I enjoyed it, finding philosophical & sociological bits in there in the Roddenberry tradition mixed in with the modern special effects and, oh, yeah, gotta have plenty of explosions in adventure/sci fi flick these days. Also, interesting turnaround tribute to the Wrath of Khan movie of now over 30 years ago. And isn't it amazing they got a talented group of actors who so closely resemble the original crew as they looked nearly 50 years ago?
I liked it very much. I avoided all spoilers and previews. So I had a couple *gasp* moments.
This idea of using past stories to explore the time-changed universe is playing out well. It is frees up film time for the actors to develop these iconic characters in their own way. We (the audience) don't need a lot of explanation to understand the foundation of these characters either. The permanent time change in this Dejuverse has tweaked things just enough that you cant be sure what will happen next.
I never would have thought I could enjoy this type of storytelling, but I love it.
Karen sums it up for me when she writes "it's not our Trek, but it's damned entertaining, and they respect the original, and it's bringing Trek to a whole new generation. So I'm good with that.
I thought it was very good, with just enough references to the old series/movies for the hardcore fans.
ReplyDeleteGot to wait until Wednesday to see this because a friend I promised to see it with is out of town until then.
ReplyDeleteI loved it!...and it's a lot 'deeper' than it first seems. Politics, Philosophy and the old series (and films) all skillfully hidden under a veneer of simple adventure and daring do.
ReplyDeleteWill probably wait for DVD (was really ambivalent about the first one), but the two positive remarks above are the first two I've come across among scores of viewers who were both Star Trek fans and non-fans. . . hmmmm
ReplyDeleteWe saw it yesterday and thought it was really entertaining. We splurged and got IMAX tickets, and it was worth it, because visually it was spectacular. Just like the previous film, I felt that the makers 'got' the characters and were true to them yet did enough to make them their own. Chris Pike's Kirk has all of Kirk's virtues and foibles but none of Shatner's acting idiosyncrasies. Quinto as Spock is masterful yet is going down a different path than the Spock we all know. But it works.
ReplyDeleteThe story was good, as others said it had many call outs to the past and I think it pulled them off successfully although in some cases it ran the risk of coming off as hokey, but I think it succeeded. It is paced a mile a minute and never slows down, but I can honestly say that I didn't mind, I enjoyed it all and at least nothing felt like fluff. There's a bit at the end where I rolled my eyes but it didn't kill the good feelings for me.
As I told some skeptical friends who were also classic Trek fans when the first Abrams film came out, it's not our Trek, but it's damned entertaining, and they respect the original, and it's bringing Trek to a whole new generation. So I'm good with that.
I saw it on Friday evening with a bunch of people from a freethought group I belong to (I think there were 12 of us altogether). I enjoyed it, finding philosophical & sociological bits in there in the Roddenberry tradition mixed in with the modern special effects and, oh, yeah, gotta have plenty of explosions in adventure/sci fi flick these days. Also, interesting turnaround tribute to the Wrath of Khan movie of now over 30 years ago. And isn't it amazing they got a talented group of actors who so closely resemble the original crew as they looked nearly 50 years ago?
ReplyDeleteSounds like an enjoyable Trek entry. Decided to mulch the back yard today, so skipped a chance to see it with my nephew.
ReplyDeleteWill wait to see it 'OnDemand' on my cable for $4.99.
I liked it very much. I avoided all spoilers and previews. So I had a couple *gasp* moments.
ReplyDeleteThis idea of using past stories to explore the time-changed universe is playing out well. It is frees up film time for the actors to develop these iconic characters in their own way. We (the audience) don't need a lot of explanation to understand the foundation of these characters either. The permanent time change in this Dejuverse has tweaked things just enough that you cant be sure what will happen next.
I never would have thought I could enjoy this type of storytelling, but I love it.
Now if only the Nu-52 could hold my attention...
Karen sums it up for me when she writes "it's not our Trek, but it's damned entertaining, and they respect the original, and it's bringing Trek to a whole new generation. So I'm good with that.
ReplyDeleteIt really felt Star Wars-y in several parts....
Lurker here.....
ReplyDeleteSo someone named Khan is somehow British?
In Iron Man 3 the Mandarin isn't Chinese?
We are PCing everything to death aren't we?