Star Trek into Darkness and Back Again

[eldritchhobbit]

I'm back, and I have updates, but everything will wait for now. What I want to do - indeed, what I must do - is share a few thoughts from my first viewing of Star Trek into Darkness. (These are my first, preliminary impressions; I'll see it again tomorrow, and my thoughts no doubt will develop further.)

General and Relatively Spoiler-Free Notes*

Comments

[mosinging1986]

Would it be remotely understandable for someone who is... I hate to confess it, but... 'Star Trek' clueless? I will feel like the only person on earth who won't be seeing this movie this weekend. I hate being left out! (Yes, I am mentally still 12.)

[eldritchhobbit]

Honestly, this one assumes knowledge. For it to have any impact, I'd really recommend seeing the 2009 Star Trek "reboot" and the original Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, at the very least. Even more so than the 2009 reboot, this is love letter from the fans to the 'verse itself. But both films are very easy to find (I think STII was just on TV last night); you could catch them and still get to the film this weekend!

[mosinging1986]

Wow, the reboot was in '09 already? I am WAY behind! Thanks!

[northwestmagpie]

I didn't care that much for the reboot, but you just made me determined to see Into Darkness. And I love the original series and The Wrath of Khan like mad.

[eldritchhobbit]

Oh, I hope you like it! I was deeply skeptical about the reboot, but ultimately it won me over. This film is better, and it views the same way a "remix fan fiction" story reads; it honors the original material and reflects a deep knowledge and love for it. I do adore Trek, and Star Trek II is my favorite of the films. I went into this one sort of holding my breath, braced to be delighted or offended. LOL!

Fortunately, this is not one of those "you don't need to see the original" works; on the contrary, the more you've seen the original, the more this will resonate and the cleverer it proves to be. At least, that's how it seemed to me. It certainly won't take the place of the original, but it would make for great back-to-back viewing!

[sangueuk]

THIS but ultimately it won me over. This film is better, and it views the same way a "remix fan fiction" story reads; it honors the original material and reflects a deep knowledge and love for it.

[gilda_elise]

I didn't care for the first reboot movie and, I have to admit, it doesn't sound as if I will this one, either (I probably won't see it until it comes to cable.) I really would have liked it if they'd gone in another direction, created a new world of their own. As it is, it just seems a new twist on an old idea. ST:TNG already did that, putting their own spin on TOS episodes. It didn't work for me that time, either.

And was any reason given for Khan being white? Montalban as least tried to look Indian.

And I'm totally with you on the special effects and explosions. I haven't been able to figure out if I'd find the movie interesting because that's all they show in the previews.

[eldritchhobbit]

For me, the interaction between Kirk and Pike alone was worth the price of admission. Then the alternate scheme of how Spock and Kirk might have learned to work together and appreciate each other's strengths also worked for me. It seemed to me like a well-done remix fan fiction story, offering new character insights and drawing connections together cleverly to comment on the original text, and so that worked for me. It's not a film that stands alone on its own merits, but I can live with that. It definitely "reads" as better informed and more thoughtful than ST:TNG's rehashings, at least IMHO

[amedia]

James Doohan's son Christopher once again being Transporter Officer

OMG! Was he the one with the sort of lens in front of one eye? I was wondering if that was a tribute to the transporter tech in The Cage--the only time I can remember seeing a crewmembers with glasses on TOS.

[jan_u_wine]

saw it yesterday afternoon. I have a serious ST love hangover!

[eldritchhobbit]

YES! I seriously wore myself out with my emotional response - and that was just in the first twenty minutes! HA.

So glad to hear you felt the love, too! *hugs*

[jan_u_wine]

oh, heaven, cried through the whole thing.

I couldn't even sit in my seat, had to sit on the stair. Don't know why, just felt so entirely, ummm....pulled.....out. As if, by sitting on the stair, I could be closer, somehow, to them all.

I'm so glad you liked it, too, since I've read some horrid reviews and just thought perhaps I was just an idiot.

(well, perhaps I *am*, but that's nothing to do with ST!)

*hugs* you back!

[alivion]

I'm not much a fan of the first reboot movie; except for Karl Urban as Bones, it just didn't feel like Star Trek. I'm going to see Into Darkness some time this week anyway (I'm an insatiable trekkie); I was expecting to be disappointed, but your review gives me hope.

I haven't seen Wrath of Khan in a few years, I should definitely re-watch before I head off to the theater for the new one.

[eldritchhobbit]

Karl Urban and Bruce Greenwood are by far my favorites of the new cast. I do hope you won't be disappointed in this one. It strikes me that it's a much better film than the first. And a recent viewing of Wrath of Khan will only add to its emotional impact.

I'll be anxious to know what you think!

I applaud and share your insatiable Trekkie-ism. :D

KHAAAAAANNNN!

[alivion]

Welp, I just got back from watching it and it was great.
It could have done with heaps more of Karl Urban, of course.

Re: KHAAAAAANNNN!

[eldritchhobbit]

YAY! I'm so, so glad you liked it.

I totally agree about Karl Urban.