[gi-rene]

All I can say is... WOW!

#1 Bad Robot has a very good track record with keeping their projects mostly under wraps. I remember Cloverfield's trailer hit me out of left field when all anyone knew about was that they were supposedly working on Star Trek. So I left myself out of the entertainment news loop so that everything could come as a surprise... I'm very much glad I did.

First off... this is and isn't Classic Trek. Be prepared for lots of things that will seem like throwbacks... sound effects especially but even their uniforms and sets are all obviously inspired by the original. But being that it needs its flash effect to match new films, its Star Trek on crack. And it is very much a good thing. Even the first 5-6 minutes from the film felt like the Original's teasers before the credits and themesong (or in this case the title) roll.

The actors! Amazingly post-movie I read that a lot of them studied up on their characters. Karl Urban (who we all might remember most as Eomer from Lord of the Rings) is a VERY VERY SCARY "Bones" McCoy. I think out of all the actors he best represented his OS character. From the minute he's introduced you'll all ready know its the Bones you know and love. Simon Pegg does a great Scotty from the moment you meet him. Now Chris Pine as I found out post-movie research, read star trek encyclopedias, watched the original series but set out to emulate more of a action-adventure hero rather than fully emulating William Shatner's Kirk. I think it comes of very well. Be prepared all your other favorites are here and kicking butt. The actors being able to make the characters feel like the originals but putting their own spin on them, is what IMO made the movie for me.

Visuals... The beginning has a battle... and its not anything like Star Trek battles from before. Its half-way to opening Star Wars Episode Three epic... and its only two ships engaged in combat! From there the CGI will attempt to awe you. Thankfully its good enough that it won't annoy you for looking cheesy, but I think we are all so used to CGI these days that its become just another fact of movies rather then something that has us awestruck. Nowadays I just solely say whether they looked horrid or looked good. These were GREAT! Imagine Zoic's work on Battlestar Galactica and then give them a larger budget and thats what they churn out here.

Story. Interesting... to say the least. I really can't say more without remotely spoiling and I think if anything this is something people should find out themselves and then decide if they like it or not. I will say that we can hopefully expect to see more of this cast on another Trek movie... Hell... TV Show?

So all in all. I say its a "At the theatre" movie rather than a "Wait for the DVD" one. I won't herald it as the best, or give it stars. All I can say is... experience it at the cinema level. Heck go out with the geek crowd this weekend. Its always fun to see the audience fully engaged with a movie throughout the entire thing.

[MAGNA]

My son saw trailers etc for this one on the net and has been hanging out for it..... definitely agree as to the cinema experience.

[gi-rene]

Its the same effect that the re-imagining of BSG, but for The Original Series... I like it... And I hope to see more of this.

[Whiterook]

Awesome review mate....and thanks for the No Spoilers. I'm itching to see this one myself. The trailer looks awesome, and I've seen some great snippets of interviews (like you, I've been on "forced withdrawl" from the entertainment shows for the same reason. That's high praise with the BSG comparisons....that really brought it home for me, as I am a huge BSG fan.

On the CGI, I couldn't agree more. Babylon 5 was the first show to really elevate CGI to the stratosphere, IMHO, and shows and movies have either hit the mark or issed entirely as time has progressed. From the trailer clips of Star Trek that I saw, they definitely transport you into the future!!!

[MAGNA]

Just spoke to my son. He echoes the review. Very impressed and recommended the cinema experience.

[Roddoss72]

Salutations All

Just seen it and boy what a movie, it really sticks to the classical Trek theme and ties up a lot of how the gang got together, so i wont spoil the movie but i did love the fact that the CGI was not the be all and end all and the characters were the main focal point and i loved the ending in which it made shed a tear or two.

Regards

Roddoss72:emperor:

[TRDG]

Good to know that it will be a good one, the few spotlights I saw on tv did not impress me, but it looks like I could be wrong, now to find the time to go see it......

Cheers

Tom

[kentek]

I'm sure that some Trek purists will scream bloody murder, but I'm not one of them. I well remember Star Trek's TV debut and I thought this movie lived up to the original ideal. I was very impressed by the cast's portrayals of iconic characters, especially Zach Qunito (Spock) and Karl Urban (McCoy). Simon Pegg's Scotty was brilliant. The Enterprise itself felt more like a working vessel than a stage set.

[gi-rene]

Light Spoiler...



Most purists I heard are happy and so far the major question has been with the way things are... does it cancel out the old Treks?


Anyways at some pressure on another forum I posted up the "Trekisms" I noticed.


Okay okay... no storyline spoilers but... just Trek in general spoilers...

The costume design draws heavy on the original show... they seem to wear like a grey/black under shirt/pants with colored jerseys, medical personnel are clad in white and general populace just roll about in their grey/black. Yes the females wear those "Only from the 60's" miniskirts. And yes Uhura wears that ear piece thingie to talk with, no Bluetooth sleekness here...

Now for the Trekism spoilers (NOT the story)...







1. Spock eyebrow raise.
2. McCoy b****** about something.
3. Scotty gives "'er all I got Cap'n!"
4. McCoy b***** about something else.
5. Speaking of McCoy... "Damnit man I'm a doctor, not a physicist!"
6. Scotty talks *about* Dilithium crystals... but he doesn't run out of them.
7. No Klingons... though they are mentioned.
8. The Kobiyashi Maru. Oh yes... how awesome James T. Kirk is.
9. Old School Turbolift design.
10. Sadly no... "He's dead Jim."
11. Spock and McCoy have their typical McCoy trying to evoke emotion from spock and it ends in... "Green-blooded Hobgoblin."
12. Only one Red-shirt moment. You'll know it as soon as you see it.
13. Mentions of an Admiral Archer and his beagle as well as a supporting role of Captain Pike.
14. Sulu gets some swordplay in.
15. Captain's Logs are still in.
16. Lots of Kirk fistfights.
17. Speaking of Kirk there is an Orion woman involved for a bit

[MAGNA]

Just saw this film yesterday. I thoroughly agree with the assessment made in the review. What a brilliant storyline!! For anyone who does know Trek stuff it changes everything while at the same time changing nothing we already knew. If you want to know what that means you will have to see it your self - we ain't telling...

The characters seem so familiar and the script is at times very funny even though the situation is not.

A very good movie even if you don't really like Star Trek. Five stars from me.

[Panzermacher]

I am sort of a purist and I agree....Absolutely Brilliant! I hope there are more "Episodes" in Bad Robot's future.....the cast is TOP Notch...and did their homework well....True to the spirit of Gene Roddenberry....And I am SURE he would be proud!


gi-rene....Forgot one on yer list...
Majel Barrett Roddenberry....as the Computer voice....(All you Trekkies will understand that....She has been there since the original pilot...to THIS installment.)

[gi-rene]

Sadly she won't be no more... She passed away I think a week after she wrapped up her lines

[Tom Houlihan]

Did she really? Well, that just sucks. She was a classy lady.

Now, how many parts did she play in the ST saga? As much as I liked her, her last character was irritating as all hell!!!

[Panzermacher]

Well. She was "Number One" in the Pilot episode

Nurse Chapel in the Original series (And on occasion...the Voice of the computer)

And "The Voice of the computer" in ALL of the spinoffs, and movies....and the new Movie....

[PanzerBob]

BLOODY MURDER!!!













Nah just kidding good review! Thanks all

Bob out

[Tom Houlihan]

And she was Dianna's (sp?) mother in TNG!

[Panzermacher]

Tom Houlihan said:

And she was Dianna's (sp?) mother in TNG!

Forgot that.....she did make a few cameos in some of the ST series.....

[kentek]

Majel (as Deanna Troi's mother Lwaxanna) also showed up on some episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, as well as being the Federation computer voice.