- I really do think that this is the Star Trek movie meant for Star Wars fans and that this explains its overwhelming success. On its first weekend this movie made about as much as the five previous films each did through their entire domestic theatrical run (and Nemesis made significantly less). I can’t imagine that the success of this reboot is the result of fans disillusioned by the previous films suddenly coming out and seeing the new one. The numbers don’t compute. This movie is slick, the special effects are fantastic, and to be completely honest I don’t think we would have gotten the same film had George Lucas not decided to rape people’s childhoods by creating the Star Wars prequels.
- Speaking of Star Wars, our young Captain Kirk is a fabulously cocky descendant of our much loved Han Solo. I think it might be nigh impossible to not love him.
- Zachary Quinto was excellent as Spock. I am in love with a Spock who is barely containing his emotions; watching him simmer in every scene is kind of enthralling. Winona Ryder was completely unnecessary as his mother — are there seriously no middle-aged actresses who could have played her? I hate Ryder’s old lady voice, it’s the same one she does in Edward Scissorhands.
- Most of my familiarity with the original series comes from the movies rather than the show so it’s entirely possible that I’m missing something, but was Chekov always supposed to have been smart? Because we rewatched Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country tonight and he’s pretty much a moron in that movie. Wunderkind!Chekov seemed to suggest either that Chekov was brilliant at the start of his career before descending into ineptitude or that there’s some inconsistent characterization going on. You pick.
- If Star Trek: Nemesis should have taught us anything, it’s that disgruntled Romulans are terrible, awful, boring adversaries and should never, ever be used as the villain in another film. Eric Bana was incredibly lame as Nero, the disgruntled
spicemineron the moons of Naboofrom the future who comes back in time to avenge the death of his wife because he blames Spock entirely for the accident that caused her death. Seriously. I’m also kind of annoyed because the trailer made it look like Nero was from a new and exciting race of aliens. Turns out they’re just bald Romulans who share the same tattoo artist as Mike Tyson. While I did admire his facial scarring and missing ear, this doesn’t make up how weak a choice the Romulans were overall. I know the Klingons can’t always be the villains, but at least they’re approximately ten million times better than the Romulans. - Speaking of time travel, I hate plots revolving around time travel. I feel like it was an excuse to involve Leonard Nimoy for no real reason other than so that we could have Spock and Spock Prime meet face to face. Ho Hum.
- I’m glad that “Sabotage” by the Beastie Boys will still be popular two hundred and fifty years from now.
- I know I’m not supposed to laugh at this, but the Vulcan bullies were kind of hysterical.
- Enjoyed all the various references to various other things in the Star Trek universe that I presume were meant to appease the old fans.
- A lot of the sound design and even some of the score was eerily similar to the sound design in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. Again, I reiterate: this is the Star Trek movie that is meant to win over Star Wars fans.
- Bones was pretty excellent. Karl Urban did a fantastic job recreating DeForest Kelley’s particular brand of crotchety cynicism.
- Best line of the entire film was Spock to Kirk: “Out of the chair.” Nice.
Star Trek
The Star Trek movie for Star Wars fans.
IMDB Plot Synopsis A chronicle of the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members.