Star Trek – 2009 Update

Posted on May 10th, 2009 by ecthompson md

I have been watching Star Trek since at least the early 1970s (re-runs) and have seen all of the movies in the theater. I saw the first one three times the first week that it came out. I guess it took me that long to realize that I was watching great special effects but there was no script. Well, I don’t care what anyone else says about this Star Trek. It is VERY good, maybe even great. Yes, the special effects are great, but they don’t overshadow the characters. The characters have been updated. Kirk has more of an edge. Spock has ambition and a little bit of a chip on his shoulder. Bones is a little bit more Bones.

If you are a Star Trek fan then you will see and understand some of the references to the movies and the show. If you aren’t a Star Trek fan you will love the action and the characters. The writers, the director and the producers had to know that they were walking a tightrope. They did a fantastic job on the high wire.

I read where some one said that Star Trek was this year’s Ironman. I loved Ironman. It was a ton of fun. Star Trek is a better movie. Star Trek is a much better movie.

Enjoy!!!

Update: Carl didn’t like the movie. His reasoning is interesting. Most of the comments are very positive. Star Trek raked in $72 million this weekend. That’s nothing to sneeze at. I beleive that Star Trek will remain very strong at the Box Office for the next 4 – 8 weeks. It is a very enjoyable movie. I have heard from old and young, trekkies and non-trekkies. Everyone (except for Carl) loved the movie.

Tags: Movies // 17 Comments »

  • http://wncconservatives.ning.com Thunder Pig

    I’ll be seeing it at the 2pm in Franklin.

    Squee!

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    TP –

    Let me know what you think.

  • http://thomasina1616.blogspot.com Thomasina

    I LOVED this movie! For a while I considered to not go–I mean, come on–a pre quel to everything Klingon? Naw. Then yesterday after work, I got off early, and thought–well, why not? I hadn’t read any reviews on it either and didn’t bother seeing actors’ interviews. My surprise of how I smiled almost start to finish. The references to things ( I’ve seen all the movies and re-runs of the show)–I just smiled. I will see this one again before it leaves the theatres! LOVED it. Beam me UP!

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    Thomasina –

    You are preaching to the choir. It was so much fun. Unexpected fun. The script was the greatest surprise. The writing was incredible. Humor mixed with just enough science to keep the sci-fi geeks happy.

    thanks for writing.

  • trekkie09

    That movie was great and I’m glad technology has caught up with this classic for some great special effects. You could almost see strings back in the day, but the imagination ran with the storyline that was deep. The theatre was packed with trekkies and we all enjoyed it, I bet its gonna be a box office hit. I even got a Star Trek movie background for my twitter, lol. They had four different ones at http://tweetcustom.com Check it out and hope u enjoy the movie.

  • KITTEN72

    This movie was completely awesome. I loved it and I to found myself smiling through-out the whole movie if not outright laughing out loud at some of the lines. Hopefully it does well enough to warrant them doing a another one. If it’s with the same actors and director at this point I would definitely go see it!!!

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    Trekkie –

    outstanding special effects but didn’t overpower the story.

  • carl

    Well personally I just watched this movie and I think it SUCKS! J.J. has gone too far now there’s two Spock’s, and his mom dies, and his dad feels grief over it. Jim Kirk is an only child, born in space not in Iowa. Uhura is Spock’s lover. Christopher Pike Never goes to the planet of illusions. Vulcan is destroyed, and everyone seems to know what a Romulan looks like. Did he ever pick up a book or even watch a show about STAR TREK before he did this movie. I mean yes its got a lot of action the fight seen are greet but he doesn’t know the first thing about what STAR TREK is. Star Trek is about people and there struggle to be better. He’s made it into” WOW I hope I can kill them first” Not to mention that he changed things about the ships to just stupid designs. First the turbo lifts are behind the bridge for a reason. If people get hurt or some thing gets damaged say oh I don’t know in a space battle, medical personal and engineering crews can get to were they can help out WITHOUT CROSSING IN FRONT OF ANYONE WHO HAPPENS TO BE FIGHTING THE ENEMY SHIP It would get kind of crazy if every time some came on the bridge the captain has to say OH COULD YOU PLEASE STOP FIRING YOUR RAY GUNS AT US THIS MAN IS BLOCKING SOMEONES VEIW
    Second not everyone sits at the same level as everyone else on the bridge because unlike oh say on a submarine everyone has to be able to see the view screen OH IM SORRY BUT COULD YOU MOVE YOUR HEAD could cost lives in the wrong situation.

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    Really, you are criticizing the height of the chairs on the bridge? Please. What’s next?
    This Star Trek. It is different but the same. We have the same characters but they are thrown together in a different way. They should act different. They should be a little different because their experiences we different. I’m sorry if you wanted the exact same stuff. I didn’t know what to expect. I was looking to be entertained. I was looking for some connection with the past. I was looking for a path to the future. JJ gave that to me in spades!!

    Thanks for your comment. I do appreciate it even if I don’t agree with it.

  • http://thomasina1616.blogspot.com Thomasina

    I didn’t like what happened to Spock’s mom–because she’s in everything else. However, the whole alternative universe thing…and James T Kirk born in space, but says he’s from Iowa? Well, I was born and raised in Iowa, and folks thing I came from outer space! Really–who’s to say, his folks weren’t from Iowa? His mom, just happened to be ready to give birth while on a mission. Maybe they were on their way back home–but those pesky Romulans got in the way. I also liked Tyler Perry in some thing other than Madea..:) Go see the movie again, Carl….

  • http://www.moravings.blogspot.com Mo Rage

    Wait. Everyone but Carl, me and The New Yorker. Yow. It was painful.

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    Mo –

    Said it ain’t so!

  • margaret

    All I can say is IMAX in the middle of the theater with a friend who also loves Star Trek. You can’t find a better place to be.

  • http://dansheehan.net Dan

    I think it’s an outrage that this guy created a movie that erases the entire universe established in the first 4 TV series, 10 films, books, and cartoons. Up to this point everyone writing a Star Trek anything has had to adhere to the ST bible. This guy just messes around with it and as Carl said it’s like he hasn’t seen the episodes. In the episode “Balance of Terror” Kirk et al. see the Romulans for the first time, meaning they shouldn’t know who the Romulans are at the very start of this movie when Kirk’s Dad seems to know them. This precedent sucks, it really irks me and I’m so surprised more people don’t feel the same way. I could see thinking this movie is great if you don’t know the history of the rest of the franchise, but knowing the show and the other films I don’t see how you can’t hate what JJ has done here.

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    Dan –

    I’m sorry. Every though I have seen and remember the episode that you are talking about, I think that we need to let go of the past and embrace this new universe. It is a relatively new slate, where almost anything can happen. They are tied to the last 40 years.

    Thanks for your comments.

  • Carl

    Well as I have been reading some of the letters and blogs, and as any of you that have seen my letters on so many web sights know I did not like this film. As I’ve been called I have to admit there is some proof to the fact that I’m an old die hard STICK IN THE MUD fan of Star Trek. The biggest problem I’ve got with the film is that it completely goes against Star Trek canon. As some people agree with me, some do not. So I think we both can come up with a solution that will appease both new fans of this film and us die hard STICK IN THE MUDS. We die hards cant do it alone so we need you new fans help and the best part about it is any of you that don’t know anything about Star Trek shouldn’t notice a thing anyway.
    I purpose introducing characters that are not considered canon but are still known to us old STICK IN THE MUDS. As well as some we didn’t get to know real well and for those of you that don’t know what I mean here some names to help you out.

    ROBERT APRIL he was suppose to be the Enterprises first Captain before Pike and was the only character ever played by Gene Rodenberry himself

    AREX he was a navigator in the animated Star Trek and had six limbs. With new C.G.I. he could be created vary easily

    WILL DECKER he was killed in the first movie but was suppose to be in the second T.V. show witch never happened.

    ILIA also killed in the first movie

    M’RESS also from the animated Star Trek she was of a cat like race easy to create now

    I feel a letter writing campaign would help with this and then maybe you new fan and us old STICK IN THE MUDS can both enjoy the ride the next film takes us on

  • http://www.whereistheoutrage.net ecthompson

    Carl –

    you are clearly a Star Trek guru. I bow to your knowledge. I have been watching Star Trek for over 40 years. I’m afraid you’re fighting a losing battle. As the gross from this movie enters the stratosphere, there is going to be less and less impetus to try and reconcile with diehards like yourself.

    Keep fighting the good fight!

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