Finally saw Star Trek

[dreamshark]

It seemed to be basically a romantic comedy about how everybody's favorite sci-fi couple got together.  As is de rigeur in this genre, they initially hate each other but fate keeps throwing them together until their initial distaste turns to true love. In the last scene they finally seal their union as captain and first officer, surrounded by new friends who have essentially become family during the course of the movie, and warp-speed off into the cosmos. I tell you, there wasn't a dry eye in the theater.

Comments

[barondave.livejournal.com]

The problem is, Star Trek (the real one) is a menage a trois. Kirk is advised by the logical Spock and the emotional McCoy. In the new one, everyone's emotional and a little crazy. Okay, a lot crazy. It was fun to watch, but the stupid parts are leaving an ever-souring taste in my rhetorical mouth.

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

"The problem is, Star Trek (the real one) is a menage a trois. Kirk is advised by the logical Spock and the emotional McCoy."

I worked off a different metaphor for the original. I used to dislike Star Trek because I thought it was science fiction, and it wasn't very good s.f. I became rather fond of it in syndication once I realized that it is not science fiction at all, but psychodrama, where each member of the crew is a different fragment of one person's personality (probably Gene Roddenberry's). Kirk, Bones and Spock are (loosely) ego, id and superego.

"It was fun to watch, but the stupid parts are leaving an ever-souring taste in my rhetorical mouth."

Yeah, I don't think you liked this movie at all.

Perhaps your expectations were too high. Mine were so low that the movie easily exceeded them, making for a happy viewing experience. I don't think it was a terribly good movie, but I enjoyed watching it. I never expected it to make sense. Star Trek (the show) never made sense either.

[barondave.livejournal.com]

I tried not to have too many expectations. As I noted in my original review, "The rebooting requires not merely a suspension of disbelief but a suspension of nostalgia. I can live with that."

But, as the saying goes, if you're going to write doggerel, it has to be better poetry than the original. There is a reason why the 40 year old series has remained popular and spawned so many spinoffs. The new version is spritely done and while it was on I had a good time. Still, this is JJ Abrams, who gleefully creates cliffhangers that don't de-cliff very well. This Star Trek works when you don't think about it too much.

Or maybe that's the wrong paradigm: This Star Trek works in 140 characters.

On still another hand, the first Star Trek movie wasn't very good either, and movies II-IV were the best of the lot.

[buttonlass.livejournal.com]

Hee! You have the funny.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

Given the amount of surprisingly bitter sniping I've read about this movie, I don't think I can get my expectations low enough to decide to see it.

K.

[dreamshark.livejournal.com]

Oh, you should see it. It's clever and pretty and the actors appear to be having so much fun with their roles that it's difficult not to be swept along with the good times.

For the most part, it meets your criteria for lack of graphic nastiness except for one thing: Kirk spends a good part of the movie getting smacked in the face. There isn't a lot of movie blood in this film, but most of what there is comes out of his nose. However, Chris Pine plays the cocky bad boy role with such good-natured enthusiasm that he never seems to mind - you get the feeling that if a day or two went by without somebody taking a swing at him he would feel kind of offended.

Mostly I wanted to see it so I would be able to join the (virtual) water cooler discussions about it. Although I was never more than a lukewarm ST fan, I have to admit that it is part of our shared fannish culture.

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

I am strongly inclined against the water cooler discussions about it. Maybe if B. wants to go, we will.

K.

We finally saw it last night.

[chasophonic.livejournal.com]

Enjoyed it immensely.

It is a new take on the back story. I like the way the story allows for this. I liked the fact that the title recognizes this as well. Just "Star Trek," no subtitle or numeral. The characters are familiar but their dynamic is different. Looking forward to the new franchise.

And Dave, I noted a few nits, I do in most movies, but I'm willing to let them pass.

Re: We finally saw it last night.

[barondave.livejournal.com]

There were more than "a few nits". I think the new franchise will have to be careful... if they want to build a viable future history.