My Review for Star Trek (with some slight spoilers behind the cut)

[puppetmaker]

Gut review, I loved it. This is the first movie I want to see again in the theater this year and, come to think of it, most of last year as well. It is action in overdrive (or hyperdrive) with some great acting and not a bad script.

The casting works all the way across the boarding. But special kudos to Karl Urban who channeled DeForest Kelly and Simon Pegg who did such a bang up job of as Scotty. It was also nice to see Zoe Saldana having more to do than she did in Pirates and, if there is a sequel, she won't disappear between films. John Cho and Anton Yelchin were fine as Sulu and Chekov. The leads, Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto, channeled their inner Kirk and Spock.

It looks great too. The effects are top notch. And the costumes and props look more like the original TV series than I thought they would do. You see hints of it all over the place. Then there are the throw away visuals to the original series. They are there if you look for them including a pesky furry oblong object.

It does need to be seen in a theater and I have heard that the IMAX is indescribable.


I liked the rather clever way they made this "not your daddy's Star Trek" as it were. The idea of Spock Prime causing changes in history that makes all that has gone before relevant but now we have this entire new franchise and worlds to play in. I don't know the impact this will have on the novels, if any. Now I knew Nimoy was in the movie but I didn't expect what I saw which is a good thing. I love it when Spock Prime and Spock meet up towards the end.

Lots of action and things blowing up all over the place. It moves fast almost too fast at time but that's OK. There are no slow parts. There is some shaky cam but nothing that got me motion sick. It wouldn't been an Abrams film without shaky cam.

I was moved to tears at a couple of points and that doesn't happen a lot. It made me laugh, cry and gasp all signs that the film affected me.

I want to see it again. I want to put together some of the costumes. Caroline is playing with Peter's phaser, tricorder, and communicator. They are all sized perfectly for costuming. I am re-discovering my inner star trek fan and, like Doctor Who, it feels too long since I let her out to play.


I am grateful that the movie was as good as it was.

Comments

[samanthadelayed.livejournal.com]

Your review sounds like mine would if I wrote one. I was moved to tears a few times and I was so happy with the casting.
I loved the uniforms, beautiful design!

[thetripper]

I teared up during George and Winona's conversation over what to name the baby.

Also, did you get why Kirk ate the apple during the Kobyashi Maru test?

(Shatner takes a big bite out of an apple)
"I don't like to lose,"

[chris-walsh.livejournal.com]

My reaction to that conversation was your reaction.

PACKED movie, and the more I think about it the more I'm impressed with how insanely many nods to the original continuity got stuck into this film's corners. I had a huge amount of fun with it, and I like that it's a Star Trek story with blood in its veins, metaphorically speaking. May that blood keep pumping.

[clauderainsrm.livejournal.com]

"I have heard that the IMAX is indescribable. "

I just got back from it. You heard correctly!

Loved that movie, for all the reasons you mentioned. They managed to reboot the core franchise *and* respect everything that has gone before. If you had told me they were going to manage that I would have thought you were crazy. But they did it!

[wandereringray.livejournal.com]

So much love for this. *grins*

I remarked to D I thought this was one of the best ways I have ever seen someone work through the alternate time-line idea and that it really has injected life into Star Trek. (though part of me hopes all those talented actors don't get locked into it the way many in ST did.)

Long comment is long. :)

[lyonessnyc.livejournal.com]

My initial gut right after the movie was "WHOOPPIIIEEEEEE!!! It's BACK!"

I was having some small issues with the changes in the continuity until it became clear that Nero had changed history, and that changed Kirk and Spock and others' lives. I then appreciaed how well that was done.

However, Spock throwing Kirk off the ship? In an escape pod? And he just happens to land on the same planet, in the same hemisphere, within walking distance of Spock Prime? It was fine in the moment, but after nearly a day to digest it, it's a bit too much even for Trek. [sigh]

So I do wonder, though -- are they continuing on with the new timeline? History has been changed, and that's it? Has any word been given to the various book writers about how continuity is to be served now? So many classic Trek eps like "Balance of Terror" are totally moot now, and forget "The Menagerie." Spock was supposed to be quite a bit older than Kirk, and served with Pike on the Enterprise what, 20 years before Kirk took command? Damn, now I need to find my copy of the timeline. :)

Bt anyway, it was a very good movie, and I haven't had that good a high after a flick in a LONG time. I did *not* know about the Nimoy return, and it helped a lot with keeping the secret for me. I hae to differ a bit, though -- having the two Spocks meet was a bit jarring for me. Aren't they a living paradox now? Hmmmm. I did love the "Our normal parting greeting would be more than a little self-serving..." bit, though. :) Scotty's tribble, and yes, Karl Urban made me fall in love with McCoy all over again. Then again, my love for De Kelley's portrayal was more of a grandfather/granddaughter love, and now it's just pure "Mmmm...he's HOT!" reaction, but hey. :)

If you're planning on coming into Da City to see it in IMAX, give me a shout. I'll join ya. :)

[alycewilson.livejournal.com]

I had a similar reaction to this film. I honestly went in there expecting to be disappointed and was pleasant surprised.