J.J. Abrams' Star Trek (POTENTIAL SPOILERS)

[Gruff Old Bear]

I saw a private IMAX screening last night up at Universal Citywalk. The Universal parking employees didn't even get a heads-up that it was happening. It is well worth the effort to find an IMAX theatre for this. They handed out a list of IMAX theatres that will be showing STAR TREK last night, but I dropped mine. One was in Kiev in the Ukraine! Melbourne and Sydney each had two IMAX screens, and it looked like our friends down under have the best odds of seeing it in IMAX.

I'm leery to post possibly overly-enthusiastic comments here at SSF, since I've found that people get fairly personal when they disagree. Everybody's going to see this whatever I say, so I might as well let you savor the surprises yourself, if your expectations allow. I will say that the plot summary way back on page one of this thread isn't accurate, so you've got a few twists and turns to look forward to. Abrams and his writers came up with a way to offer great promise for a new series that can be quite fresh. My guess is that the original actors will all wish their characters could have been allowed to breathe as much as they do here. I will also mention that Bruce Greenwood is great as Pike, since I expect others will focus on the regular crew. I really like the way the new writers took a cue from "The Menagerie" in using Pike.

I'll also say that here at SSF, the hot topic by next week will be, where can we get a passable headsculpt of Chris Pine? Oh, by the way...anybody know of a headsculpt that could be modified to look like Chris Pine?

Peace.

 

[The Mike]

AP Review is up 2.5 stars out of 5....although the reviewer really doesn't make clear why since there is only one complaint...

No real spoilers in the review but just in case:

Spoiler

Review: `Star Trek' bold, but with some trouble (AP)Source: AP Mon May 04, 2009, 5:56 pm EDT
LOS ANGELES - J.J. Abrams' hugely anticipated summer extravaganza " Star Trek " boldly goes to the past within the distant future of the "Trek" universe, years ahead of the TV series and the myriad movies and spin-offs it spawned.

And in doing so, he and his longtime collaborators, writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman , change everything you know — or obsess about, if you're into this kind of thing — about the kitschy pop-culture phenomenon.

It's a daring and exciting approach that's sure to tickle and provoke purists, while at the same time probably cause neophytes to feel a bit lost.

A major plot twist pops up — which includes the arrival of Leonard Nimoy — about halfway through the film, a twist that doesn't exactly work and from which the film never completely recovers.

Having said that, Abrams clearly aimed to appeal to the broadest possible audience with this dazzling visual spectacle while also leaving plenty of Easter eggs for the hardcore fans to find. If there's any social or political subtext, as in the original series, it's difficult to determine; this "Star Trek" seems solely made to entertain. It's an absolutely gorgeous film with impeccable production design — the lighting is wondrous, almost heavenly — and lovely, tiny details frequently emerge from within the larger, grander images.

Abrams certainly puts on a good show — between television's "Lost" and the 2006 " Mission: Impossible " sequel he directed, there's no question the man knows how to stage an action sequence, and the opening gets things off to a thrilling start. He efficiently and satisfyingly presents the back stories of the men who will become Capt. James T. Kirk ( Chris Pine ) and the half-Vulcan, half-human Mr. Spock ( Zachary Quinto ) and puts them on a collision course with each other, which ups the excitement level early.

Kirk and Spock, you see, weren't always pals — at least not in this revisionist history. This "Star Trek" pits them as opposites and adversaries until they must reluctantly learn to function side by side for the greater good. Kirk was a brilliant young hotshot causing trouble in rural Iowa, talented beyond his years but self-destructive nonetheless; Spock was a brilliant young math whiz whose mixed ethnic heritage made him the target of Vulcan bullies who were just as geeky as he was. Pine gets the womanizing and the ego of Kirk, but in a younger state there's also a likable boyish enthusiasm about him; Quinto, meanwhile, plays Spock as a little more tentative and less Zen-like. But maybe that sense of inner peace comes in time.

All that informs their interaction once they join the Starfleet Academy and ultimately climb aboard the shiny U.S.S. Enterprise — which looks familiar but has been significantly updated from 40 years ago. Among them are the usual cast of supporting characters: Communications Officer Uhura (the graceful Zoe Saldana , who gets more to do than Nichelle Nicholls ever did on TV); over-the-top Medical Officer Leonard "Bones" McCoy ( Karl Urban , who gets to growl familiar lines like: "Dammit, man! I'm a doctor, not a physicist!"); Chief Engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott ( Simon Pegg in a lively bit of casting); reliable Helmsman Sulu ( John Cho , showing he can do much more than comedy) and 17-year-old supergenius Chekov ( Anton Yelchin , doing an intentionally cartoony Russian accent as an homage, even though he really is Russian).

Their shared enemy is the angry Romulan leader Nero ( Eric Bana , borrowing Mike Tyson 's elaborate facial tattoos), whose sharp, spiky ship resembles a malevolent version of Gaudi's Sagrada Familia. The source of his vendetta against Spock, and the entire Federation, is revealed as the film progresses, and it's a crucial part of that distractingly perplexing twist we mentioned earlier.

Either you'll go with it or you won't. Regardless, based on Abrams' ambition and scope in rejuvenating the franchise, it's clear it still has plenty of room to live long and prosper.

" Star Trek ," a Paramount Pictures release , is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence and brief sexual content. Running time: 127 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

 

[Reinhardt]

This has to be the funniest Star Trek vid on Youtube i have ever seen!.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/Q2dd6PA7gag&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/Q2dd6PA7gag&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

This one is great as well.

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/8Seyp-g5W9g&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/8Seyp-g5W9g&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

These are both hilarious!!!

 

[Valfar]

Haha! and this one i am going to post is fricken jokes as well, i remember this scene from TMP and it was pretty scary to see when i was 9.

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And this one is just wicked! haha!

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/v20ei_wqI-E&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="https://www.youtube.com/v/v20ei_wqI-E&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

 

[Reinhardt]

nice one! I could watch these all day. my wife and i did a little star trek video for my sister and husband when they were getting married. I am the one in uniform and my wife is the Trill. The cheese was intentional. here it is:

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[Valfar]

Hahaha "hot Naan"..i have yet to try it actually, i do love indian food and there are some really good resturants in my area that i have to check out.

That was jokes and nicely put together , they were all like wtf? lol.

 

[Reinhardt]

Thanks bro! there are also parts 2 and 3 to the video. And a reference to U of Western!

As for Indian food, one of the best restaurants in Toronto is "The Host" - Highly recommended!

 

[Darklord Dave]

So I was at the Arclight this weekend and they had costumes and props from the film. Uhuru's costume and a couple of civilian male outfits. Unfortunately the pros, which seemed to be a bunch of different types of phasers and a couple of other things were in a glass case that was behind the glass cases holding the crappy Enterprise art projects and behind a rope. Because of this the props weren't really visible. But I do have to say that the phaser was disturbingly toy-like - all plastic blue with a red tip. As if they were trying to make something where the toy would already have the safety color on the end. Not cool at all. But I didn't get a very good look.

 

[Darth Caedus]

I saw a private IMAX screening last night up at Universal Citywalk. The Universal parking employees didn't even get a heads-up that it was happening. It is well worth the effort to find an IMAX theatre for this. They handed out a list of IMAX theatres that will be showing STAR TREK last night, but I dropped mine. One was in Kiev in the Ukraine! Melbourne and Sydney each had two IMAX screens, and it looked like our friends down under have the best odds of seeing it in IMAX.

I'm leery to post possibly overly-enthusiastic comments here at SSF, since I've found that people get fairly personal when they disagree. Everybody's going to see this whatever I say, so I might as well let you savor the surprises yourself, if your expectations allow. I will say that the plot summary way back on page one of this thread isn't accurate, so you've got a few twists and turns to look forward to. Abrams and his writers came up with a way to offer great promise for a new series that can be quite fresh. My guess is that the original actors will all wish their characters could have been allowed to breathe as much as they do here. I will also mention that Bruce Greenwood is great as Pike, since I expect others will focus on the regular crew. I really like the way the new writers took a cue from "The Menagerie" in using Pike.
Peace.

I'm planning on seeing it at the Universal City IMAX, I love that place.

So I was at the Arclight this weekend and they had costumes and props from the film. Uhuru's costume and a couple of civilian male outfits. Unfortunately the pros, which seemed to be a bunch of different types of phasers and a couple of other things were in a glass case that was behind the glass cases holding the crappy Enterprise art projects and behind a rope. Because of this the props weren't really visible. But I do have to say that the phaser was disturbingly toy-like - all plastic blue with a red tip. As if they were trying to make something where the toy would already have the safety color on the end. Not cool at all. But I didn't get a very good look.

I was going to drop by the Arclight to see the costumes before seeing the flick at Universal. Can't wait to see them, but I thought they would have more than just some costumes and some phasers

 

[IrishJedi]

Saw it this afternoon. VERY good, but I am admittedly not a real TREK fan.

8.5 out of 10.

 

[crasis]

The Onion has a nice video about trek on their web site:

https://www.theonion.com/content/video/trekkies_bash_new_star_trek_film

This is seriously genius.

 

[Darklord Dave]

I'm planning on seeing it at the Universal City IMAX, I love that place.



I was going to drop by the Arclight to see the costumes before seeing the flick at Universal. Can't wait to see them, but I thought they would have more than just some costumes and some phasers

The Arclight always has something on display - they have about 6 or 7 different weapons in the case, including the Federation phaser.

 

[Darth Snoopy]

Haven't seen the clip, but a friend did and he loved it.

The Onion has a nice video about trek on their web site:

https://www.theonion.com/content/video/trekkies_bash_new_star_trek_film

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!

 

[The Ween]

AP Review is up 2.5 stars out of 4....although the reviewer really doesn't make clear why since there is only one complaint...

I corrected it for you.

Sci-Fi rarely gets a really great rating. I ignore reviewers anyway.

 

[UTtoyfan]

Not that the critics' opinions matter to us, but I noticed that it's still 100% on Rotten Tomatoes as of 11:30 AM today (May 6) with 42 reviews.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_trek_11/

 

[Marcus is not dead]

Saw it this afternoon. VERY good, but I am admittedly not a real TREK fan.

8.5 out of 10.

I just saw it and think exactly the same,
I'm not a real Trek fan either but anyway don't hesitate a second it's not so often that you can see such a great sci-fi movie in a theather.

 

[Kabukiman]

Not that the critics' opinions matter to us, but I noticed that it's still 100% on Rotten Tomatoes as of 11:30 AM today (May 6) with 42 reviews.
https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_trek_11/

You jinxed it! 98% now.

 

[MooMooEgg]

You jinxed it! 98% now.

Superman Returns also had a 100% for a while before the film actually was released (not that I'm comparing this film to that). Most films are always going to drop when the snooty reviewers get their reviews out.

 

[JGouse0498]

Superman Returns also had a 100% for a while before the film actually was released (not that I'm comparing this film to that).

And yet I didn't really have a big problem at all with Superman Returns. Yes, Luthor's scheme was recycled from the original, but the overall poignant and bittersweet tone of the movie was absolutely amazing and still holds up for me three years later.

In any case, I'm pumped for Star Trek and really believe it's going to deliver big time!

 

[JediMike71]

I'm right there with you Sith Lord! I am a HUGE Christopher Reeve Superman fan...always will be. But I enjoyed Superman Returns. I saw it in IMAX down here, and it was great. It even had a few IMAX 3-D scenes that were nice too.

I'm seeing Star Trek later tonight at an IMAX at 7:00pm with a friend. We're both "Trekkies" or "Trekkers", and we're really looking forward to it!