Star Trek

[eirenical]

Saw the new Star Trek movie Saturday night. I... still don't entirely have a handle on how I feel about it. *grumbles* I will say this, though. On some level, I was so disturbed by the things I liked about the movie that when I got home at 1 AM, I had to go watch "City on the Edge of Forever" to get the movie out of my head. I left that movie feeling like I'd just watched my best friend die. Which makes no sense, because I actually did enjoy the movie. The new cast was frickin' awesome and the new character interpretations, though in some cases similar, were different yet appropriate for this new century. I mean... anyone who didn't love the way Uhura *coughs* got assigned *coughs* to the Enterprise... *eg* And the Uhura/Spock moments were unbelievably sweet and make sense. Spock accepting touching/PDAs, though... that made me massively twitch. Again, I understand it's a new interpretation of the character that, again, is appropriate for this century, but still... it disturbed me.

Even though I know that this is alternate timeline... I guess the flat out truth is that in the past, whenever a new "wrong" timeline has subsumed the current one, our intrepid band of heroes would go back and fix it. This time, the universe got fucked seven ways to Sunday... and no one cares. No one's going to fix it. Even "Spock Prime" is just accepting things the way that they are. You can bet your ass that if it had been Jim Kirk who had been flung back in time, he'd have moved Heaven and Earth to set time back on its appropriate path. That won't happen this time. And so, even though I do admit that I liked the movie, the new cast did some serious justice to the characters ((Oh Karl Urban, Hell Yeah! I knew I loved you for a reason! *_* *_*)), and the new wonderful tension/angst-ridden start to Kirk and Spock's friendship will give me many pleasant thoughts *waggles eyebrows* ((though, damn it!, he and Uhura are just so wonderful, I don't think I want them split up... *sigh*))...

...I still feel like this isn't my Trek. I feel like an impostor killed my Star Trek and slipped into it's place. And not only did no one notice... everyone welcomed the change. Thus this feeling of mourning. But the thing that's causing me the most angst... there's a significant part of me that also likes this new little sister to my favorite show. ;_; Thus the feelings of conflict. I want to like the new Trek, because it really did live up to the original...

I'll get there. Eventually. :-P

Comments

[nightsea.livejournal.com]

Okay. I'm going to try tapping out this response on my phone. I may be blind at the end of it, but here goes.

When I initially saw the previews, my gut reaction was along the lines of 'What did you do to my Star Trek?!'.

Going into the theatre, I was prepared to be disappointed. After all, there's so much about the original series that I love, that the thought of someone tampering with it felt like a form of desecration.

I was bawling like a baby by the time the actual 'Star Trek' logo came onto the screen. It was a very powerful beginning. Maybe that emotional response softened me up for the rest of the movie, or maybe the new Kirk was so endearing and so *right* that I was able to judge the movie on it's own terms.

That said, there were certain aspects of the movie that irked me. Mostly they were in regards to Spock. The rampant physical contact, for one, and his relationship with a said woman. While their relationship certainly wasn't cannon by any means in the OS, it was hinted at - and frankly, I'm a fan of the pairing. But to see them locking lips on the transporter pad... Spock!! But again.. It fit the new Spock. Certainly not the old, but it felt right with the new.

I adored the new Chekhov! The scene of him running wildly through the corridors yelling 'I can do this! I can do this!!' had me in stitches. Bones was perfect, as was Scotty.

In regards to the new, earthshattering developments... I can certainly undertand your frustration. My only speculation is that these events were so massive that there was a point of no return in place. Maybe the time stream was irreparably damaged, and there is no going back. That would explain Spock's acceptance, at least in my mind. I do wish that certain events hadn't trnaspired, and I fail to see how destroying Vulcan will open up future opportunities in future movies, but I can also understan on some level why it as done.

It's not the old Trek, that's for sure. But I also think they did a fine job of preserving the essence of it while also breathing new life into it.

Just my opinions, of course. ^-^. But hopefully this will serve to revive a dearly-loved cast of characters and remove them from the dusty shelf where they've been trapped these past years.

[rchan.livejournal.com]

OK, first I must say: Damn, girl! You did this all on your phone???? O_O *boggles* O_O I fall down and worship accordingly. *_*

OK. Gonna try a little point-counterpoint. ^_^ Because I enjoy that. Though I get the feeling I really should just call you to discuss, 'cuz this feels like it should be a 2 hour conversation. As always. ^_~

When I initially saw the previews, my gut reaction was along the lines of 'What did you do to my Star Trek?!'.

Agreed.

I was bawling like a baby by the time the actual 'Star Trek' logo came onto the screen. It was a very powerful beginning. Maybe that emotional response softened me up for the rest of the movie, or maybe the new Kirk was so endearing and so *right* that I was able to judge the movie on it's own terms.

OK. I can definitely see where you're coming from -- although I was so caught in the "WTF!?! George Kirk didn't die then! Nooooo!" and the realization of exactly how much that one action would change everything, that some of the power of that scene got lost on me. :-P Though I did enjoy the moment of humor, "Tiberius? No, that's awful! Name him after your father!" ^_^ Go George. Also, though we only saw him so briefly, I definitely adored George Kirk in that scene -- I always have, but his sacrifice was just so damned noble. *sniff*

And as for scenes that made me cry... this is the one that did it for me: Spock Prime saving young Jim's ass on the ice planet and the first thing he says to him is, "I have been and always shall be your friend." ;;_;; I lost it there. Full on breath-catch sobbing. ;_; Go Spock. *whimper*

That said, there were certain aspects of the movie that irked me. Mostly they were in regards to Spock. The rampant physical contact, for one, and his relationship with a said woman. While their relationship certainly wasn't cannon by any means in the OS, it was hinted at - and frankly, I'm a fan of the pairing. But to see them locking lips on the transporter pad... Spock!! But again.. It fit the new Spock. Certainly not the old, but it felt right with the new.

Ditto. ^_^ I pretty much said the same thing -- it didn't fit my image of Spock, but it fit the reinterpretation of the character. The truth is, Spock was always a little more human than he let on. However, he always played that very close to the vest. On some level, I think he was so subsumed in being "Vulcan" in an effort to try to live up to the one thing that might earn him his father's approval once he chose to join Starfleet. Oh -- and as a side-note... how much did I love the "up-yours" moment of Spock with the admittance committee for the Vulcan Science Academy?? I can not say it enough. *_* Though, again, that was almost OOC for the Spock we know... it wasn't quite. Because Spock Prime certainly had many moments where he gladly gave someone the verbal "up-yours". ^_~

I adored the new Chekhov! The scene of him running wildly through the corridors yelling 'I can do this! I can do this!!' had me in stitches.

*snerts* OK. I'll give you that one. Though Walter Koenig is still one of my favorite actors, new Chekhov was so eager-puppy adorable, I just wanted to cuddle him! ^_^

{snip} Post too long...

[rchan.livejournal.com]

{snip}

Bones was perfect, as was Scotty.

Oh my G-d, do I love Karl Urban! *_* He got Bones down to a tee. And did you notice the nod to ST: IV when Spock gave Scotty the formula for beaming onto a ship at Warp speed? ^_^

In regards to the new, earthshattering developments... I can certainly undertand your frustration. My only speculation is that these events were so massive that there was a point of no return in place. Maybe the time stream was irreparably damaged, and there is no going back. That would explain Spock's acceptance, at least in my mind. I do wish that certain events hadn't trnaspired, and I fail to see how destroying Vulcan will open up future opportunities in future movies, but I can also understan on some level why it as done.

*sigh* That's as good an explanation as any, I suppose. :-P Not to mention the whole killing Amanda thing. *growls* And hello, shouldn't Sarek have lost his bleeding mind when that happened? Marriage bond, anyone? Especially since Spock clearly didn't meld with him to keep him sane...

It's not the old Trek, that's for sure. But I also think they did a fine job of preserving the essence of it while also breathing new life into it.

For the most part... I really do think you're right. It doesn't help that I had too much ancillary crap and distraction going on while I was watching the movie. *mental note* Any time that I want to see a movie that I'm iffy on or that will mean a lot to me... don't take overzealous new guy I'm seeing. *sigh* I need to go rewatch the movie by myself and really try to get my head around it. I mean, there were definitely things that I liked about the movie, I'm just still feeling a little too conflicted about it right now to fully appreciate them. ((I.e. -- I love Nichelle Nichols with all my heart, but I've also loved Zoe Seldana since seeing her in "Center Stage", and her Uhura is what Nichelle Nichols' Uhura should have been... but couldn't be because the show was filmed in the '60s. Damn was she good. ^_^))

Just my opinions, of course. ^-^. But hopefully this will serve to revive a dearly-loved cast of characters and remove them from the dusty shelf where they've been trapped these past years.

You know I love hearing your opinions and debating back and forth. ^_^ So, feel free to comment away! ^_^

[nightsea.livejournal.com]

Hee, a reply! *bounces* I've been waiting for this since two seconds after I hit post. *grins* And yes, I have an iPhone, so it was a little easier than most phones, but still. I think I was crossed a bit at the end of it.

And I wholeheartedly agree that this deserves a phone call. Unfortunately, I've been working closing shifts all darn week so far, so it hasn't been conducive to calling you and talking your ear off. Grr.

Okay. Counter-discussion:

Oh -- and as a side-note... how much did I love the "up-yours" moment of Spock with the admittance committee for the Vulcan Science Academy?? I can not say it enough.

I loved that! I even turned to Justin and said, "In other words... F You All!" It was probably as close as a Vulcan would get to using a phrase like that. Loved it and laughed my ass off.

And did you notice the nod to ST: IV when Spock gave Scotty the formula for beaming onto a ship at Warp speed? ^_^

I did indeed! Another moment where I laughed. You know, that's something I realized almost immediately - after my post-sacrifice bawling, that is: I did an awful lot of laughing during this movie. The OS certainly had its moments of humor, don't get me wrong, but they weren't as blatant and in-your-face as the scenes in this movie. That entire scene where Bones snuck Kirk onto the Enterprise? Hilarious! I spent a majority of the movie with a grin on my face, and that's unusual for a Trek movie.

And hello, shouldn't Sarek have lost his bleeding mind when that happened? Marriage bond, anyone? Especially since Spock clearly didn't meld with him to keep him sane...

There is that, too.. My only guess is that they were trying to pare down the movie to keep a general audience engaged and involved. If they had stopped to play out such a scene, it would have broken the momentum of the movie and likely confused/bored people who were being newly introduced to the Star Trek universe, which was a major goal of this movie. Also - supposedly the book version of the movie has a great many more scenes which were deleted from the film, so we may want to try there. Another interesting point.. the writers and directors of the movie went out of their way to read certain books in the Star Trek universe, namely Spock's World, to get a solid grasp on critical aspects of Vulcan culture and history that weren't necessarily cannon. That leads me to believe that they did indeed understand what Amanda's death would do to Sarek, but simply couldn't include it in the movie for a variety of reasons. Sniff. Amanda.

I love Nichelle Nichols with all my heart, but I've also loved Zoe Seldana since seeing her in "Center Stage", and her Uhura is what Nichelle Nichols' Uhura should have been... but couldn't be because the show was filmed in the '60s. Damn was she good. ^_^

Yes she was. *grins* This was the Uhura that we loved in the books, especially.

If you decide to see it again, I'll be curious to know what your second take of it is. *hugs*