SO I SAW A MOVIE GAIZ
I went into this movie quite literally not expecting anything. My mother was practically bouncing on her feet from nervous anticipation and I was just like: "Eh, I'm more excited about going to Kinko's and printing off art to put on my wall."
BUT BUT BUT BUT BUT-
The Atmosphere: Wasn't quite Trek except that it was. The entire thing was so shiny and glossy with manipulative sorrow and glazed nostalgia which I thought worked very well for it considering the movie was essentially a DEPRESSING AU FANFIC. Gosh, it was pretty. O_O For once, I'm just going to be shallow and say "golly gee Star Trek XI, you can take me to the senior prom any time."
The Plot: TIME TRAVEL ALTERNATE REALITIES. OH YEAH BABY. THAT'S A CLASSIC. Not as thinky as most fans like their Trek, but I see the movie as a character piece: an exploration of what these people (and by "these people", I mean Kirk and Spock) could have been. I'm intrigued enough that I'd like to see more movies set in this timeline; as Cat said when the movie was finished: "Wow, the Federation is going to be so screwed without Vulcan."
The Characters: dfukghdfkgh This is where I was most pleasantly impressed. There were times throughout the movie that I had a difficult time buying Christopher Pine's Kirk, but then Cat and I went and watched classic Trek movies and suddenly it gelled. Pine wasn't Kirk yet, but I can completely believe that he'll grow up to be William Shatner (growing up to be William Shatner is a lofty goal that we should all aspire to). And oh, that bit where he cheats his way through the Kobayashi Maru? With the apple and the dramatic pauses and the nonchalance? Also makes me believe that the kid can act Kirk proper. ♥
Quinto did an excellent Spock but...
- he was a younger Spock, a more vulnerable Spock (all intellect, no wisdom) and I think I would have enjoyed the performance about seven thousand and eight times more had I never watched Heroes. I realize that Quinto was likely handed the role because playing a sociopath with a barely repressed, violent emotional streak is actually kind of similar to playing a Vulcan at its core but at times, I could only see Sylar. And I know without a doubt that if I had never seen Sylar, I would only see Spock. D: Also, Zachary Quinto does bear a striking resemblance to Leonard Nimoy except that he is not nearly as pretty. Look at this pretty fucking man. Zachary Quito stays up late at night hoping he'll age half as well as dear old Leonard did. Most. Adorable. Jowls. Ever.
Chekov was suitably adorable and overeager. Sulu was a bad ass, though his voice needed more Takei-like SEX. Simon Pegg was a brilliant Scotty (although I noticed he was playing more movie-era Scotty, which is okay too ♥). He had that whole "oblivious-but-very-put-upon genius" thing going on and the theater squeed as one. Bones was.... Bones was Bones. Even if his actor is ugly and his eyes are too far apart he evoked the ghost of Doctor McCoy brilliantly.
Oh, and I suppose that it bears mentioning that I hate, hate, hate what they did with Uhura. I remember when promo shots first came out and I was all: "OH GEE I HOPE THEY DON'T JUST MAKE HER INTO A SEX OBJECT/TOKEN LOVE INTEREST. BUT HEY- IT'S UHURA. THEY WOULDN'T DO THAT TO UHURA." Ha ha ha. *twitch* I suppose that the *cough* "love story" was tastefully understated (although watching Uhura and Spock kiss was unsettling, disarming and very uncomfortable. wtf) but why was it even necessary? There are better uses for female characters guys. ALSO, THIS IS THE GODDAMN UHURA. She's an icon to women and an icon to the black community both, have a little fucking respect. -_-;;
The Fanservice: I admit, I made a high pitched noise when Leonard Nimoy showed up. And he was: "OH HAI LITTLE BOY. KIRK, YOU USED TO BE SO BEAUTIFUL." and Kirk was like: "SDJKHDKSJFH DON'T TOUCH MY FACE!!!!"
So. Many. Dialogue call backs to the classic movies. But not so many as to be overkill; it played on nostalgia and familiarity but did not depend on it. Good balance.
... SCOTTY KILLED PORTHOS. T_T As unfond as I am of Enterprise that reference almost made the movie for me.
And I LOVED in the scene between the two Spock's at the end where young Spock is all: "You lied!" and Spock does his whole: "No, I *insert thing that is like lying but sounds better here*" thing. It wouldn't have felt much like a Trek movie without that particular running joke. XD
WTF: - That was a very extravagant mining ship, don't you think? Also, wtf Romulans? I would never have identified them as such. Not in a million years.
- Why was Amanda wearing a shelf on her boobs. Vulcan fashion isn't always top notch, I admit, but... boob. Shelf. Wat.
- Spock/Uhura. I still don't get it.
Y'know What's Depressing? James Doohan, Deforest Kelly and Majel Barret are dead. D: D: D: D:
BUT BUT BUT BUT BUT-
The Atmosphere: Wasn't quite Trek except that it was. The entire thing was so shiny and glossy with manipulative sorrow and glazed nostalgia which I thought worked very well for it considering the movie was essentially a DEPRESSING AU FANFIC. Gosh, it was pretty. O_O For once, I'm just going to be shallow and say "golly gee Star Trek XI, you can take me to the senior prom any time."
The Plot: TIME TRAVEL ALTERNATE REALITIES. OH YEAH BABY. THAT'S A CLASSIC. Not as thinky as most fans like their Trek, but I see the movie as a character piece: an exploration of what these people (and by "these people", I mean Kirk and Spock) could have been. I'm intrigued enough that I'd like to see more movies set in this timeline; as Cat said when the movie was finished: "Wow, the Federation is going to be so screwed without Vulcan."
The Characters: dfukghdfkgh This is where I was most pleasantly impressed. There were times throughout the movie that I had a difficult time buying Christopher Pine's Kirk, but then Cat and I went and watched classic Trek movies and suddenly it gelled. Pine wasn't Kirk yet, but I can completely believe that he'll grow up to be William Shatner (growing up to be William Shatner is a lofty goal that we should all aspire to). And oh, that bit where he cheats his way through the Kobayashi Maru? With the apple and the dramatic pauses and the nonchalance? Also makes me believe that the kid can act Kirk proper. ♥
Quinto did an excellent Spock but...
- he was a younger Spock, a more vulnerable Spock (all intellect, no wisdom) and I think I would have enjoyed the performance about seven thousand and eight times more had I never watched Heroes. I realize that Quinto was likely handed the role because playing a sociopath with a barely repressed, violent emotional streak is actually kind of similar to playing a Vulcan at its core but at times, I could only see Sylar. And I know without a doubt that if I had never seen Sylar, I would only see Spock. D: Also, Zachary Quinto does bear a striking resemblance to Leonard Nimoy except that he is not nearly as pretty. Look at this pretty fucking man. Zachary Quito stays up late at night hoping he'll age half as well as dear old Leonard did. Most. Adorable. Jowls. Ever.
Chekov was suitably adorable and overeager. Sulu was a bad ass, though his voice needed more Takei-like SEX. Simon Pegg was a brilliant Scotty (although I noticed he was playing more movie-era Scotty, which is okay too ♥). He had that whole "oblivious-but-very-put-upon genius" thing going on and the theater squeed as one. Bones was.... Bones was Bones. Even if his actor is ugly and his eyes are too far apart he evoked the ghost of Doctor McCoy brilliantly.
Oh, and I suppose that it bears mentioning that I hate, hate, hate what they did with Uhura. I remember when promo shots first came out and I was all: "OH GEE I HOPE THEY DON'T JUST MAKE HER INTO A SEX OBJECT/TOKEN LOVE INTEREST. BUT HEY- IT'S UHURA. THEY WOULDN'T DO THAT TO UHURA." Ha ha ha. *twitch* I suppose that the *cough* "love story" was tastefully understated (although watching Uhura and Spock kiss was unsettling, disarming and very uncomfortable. wtf) but why was it even necessary? There are better uses for female characters guys. ALSO, THIS IS THE GODDAMN UHURA. She's an icon to women and an icon to the black community both, have a little fucking respect. -_-;;
The Fanservice: I admit, I made a high pitched noise when Leonard Nimoy showed up. And he was: "OH HAI LITTLE BOY. KIRK, YOU USED TO BE SO BEAUTIFUL." and Kirk was like: "SDJKHDKSJFH DON'T TOUCH MY FACE!!!!"
So. Many. Dialogue call backs to the classic movies. But not so many as to be overkill; it played on nostalgia and familiarity but did not depend on it. Good balance.
... SCOTTY KILLED PORTHOS. T_T As unfond as I am of Enterprise that reference almost made the movie for me.
And I LOVED in the scene between the two Spock's at the end where young Spock is all: "You lied!" and Spock does his whole: "No, I *insert thing that is like lying but sounds better here*" thing. It wouldn't have felt much like a Trek movie without that particular running joke. XD
WTF: - That was a very extravagant mining ship, don't you think? Also, wtf Romulans? I would never have identified them as such. Not in a million years.
- Why was Amanda wearing a shelf on her boobs. Vulcan fashion isn't always top notch, I admit, but... boob. Shelf. Wat.
- Spock/Uhura. I still don't get it.
Y'know What's Depressing? James Doohan, Deforest Kelly and Majel Barret are dead. D: D: D: D: