A little bit of context should be infused here in regards to my Star Trek roots, so that one may better grasp my perspective:
I have been a Star Trek fan most of my life. Bought the books, toys, watched the movies very day, watched all the TV series (though I could only stand the first few episodes of Enterprise before I stopped), and attended a convention or two. Very much a fan of all things Trek.
I saw this film the 2nd of this month.
I won't reveal any spoilers but I will say it is VERY different from what I expected.
It doesn't entirely feel like Star Trek in terms of style, appearance, etc... yet the characters make it feel like it's the same people we watched in TOS and the movies, while at the same time being rather accessible to new viewers.
Still digesting but while I was caught off guard by how different it is vs. the Trek I know, I still look forward to the new possibilities it will bring, and appreciate that some genuine effort went in to this production (it is a very good and interesting movie, I just claim that it doesn't feel like a Star Trek movie as much as I wanted it to).
To get specific, first thing that should be remarked upon is the audio/visual effects: They are quite amazing. Very well done CGI effects (Do not fear of Star Wars level CGI, as in this case it is done with effort put in to making it realistic), sound that roars when it needs to. Nothing to complain about I would say. Best effects I have seen really in an space action sci-fi film made in the area of CGI (Unless one escapes my mind).
The cinematography has a good dose of the "shaky cam" effect found in most modern films, and while I do not favor such an effect (specially in this film as it can cause action scenes to feel disjointed in nature), it does not detract a notable amount from one's enjoyment. Balancing out the negative aspects are some rather neat camera angles and shots.
An odd thing that sticks out is the abundance of lens flares. While imo they might have been used a little too much, they are in all a positive factor.
The score is exemplary. It integrates the themes heard in the original series to a level unthinkable (they do not sound "campy" anymore). As a (picky) fan of film scores in general I plan on owning the soundtrack.
Be forewarned however that this film lacks any of Jerry Goldsmith's contributions to the Trek themes. This lacking can be felt if one has watched a lot of Star Trek, but it is not a negative factor.
Sets and visuals are rather detailed with commendable amount of effort put in to them. The Enterprise has a very sleek look (Lots of whites and shinnies... apple maybe?). It sort of struck me as retaining the 60s future-style of original Enterprise while at the same time retrofitting it for a modern audience. The only negative (and among it all this is rather small) that I noticed was that the design and visuals of the "engineering" sections seem rather industrial and lack a layout that makes sense (elements seem thrown in there for plot or visual sake).
In regards to actors there is nothing in my mind to complain about (unless my memory fails me). In the reverse there is a LOT to praise when it comes to the lead and secondary actors. They embody the original characters (Kirk, Spock, McCoy etc) in their totality. Any changes made to their personality I feel are positive changes. There is a good chemistry that works well and is enjoyable to watch. Heh even any bad lines or dialog (I remember just a few so no concerns) are delivered properly.
The story is the weakest point of the film. While it is not the most intricate, nor well constructed, it is passable and does it's job. It should be remembered that since this film is the first, and trying to restart the franchise, it is tasked with introducing the layperson with the story, universe, and inhabitants. That means a lot of the run time is devoted to spending time with the characters at the expense of the narrative. I am not saying that the characters are boring, far from it as they are what makes me want to see future Star Trek movies, what I am saying is the narrative in place in the film might be too complex for this film (which results in it being unsatisfying).
[There is a graphic novel "prequel" to this movie that I would consider a must read for those who want to get the most enjoyment from the story and/or are Star Trek fans in general. I very much regret not reading it first hand]
All in all this film, while not what I was expecting and a major departure from the Trek I know, was extremely enjoyable and reminding me of how much I am a fan of Star Trek. I now look upon the old films and series (save a few : P) with nostalgia and reverence for setting up this fictional universe, and then I turn to this new film and get giddy with all the new possibilities that have opened up, and look froward to the future (or past I should say XD) adventures of this new, yet same USS Enterprise and crew.
PS: I will add that evidently the theatrical version was cut for length... which means some scenes might seem too short or that some scenes are missing all together (This can be noticed in a few places.. leaves one wanting more in sections). From what I have heard, a director's cut will be on DVD.
I have been a Star Trek fan most of my life. Bought the books, toys, watched the movies very day, watched all the TV series (though I could only stand the first few episodes of Enterprise before I stopped), and attended a convention or two. Very much a fan of all things Trek.
I saw this film the 2nd of this month.
I won't reveal any spoilers but I will say it is VERY different from what I expected.
It doesn't entirely feel like Star Trek in terms of style, appearance, etc... yet the characters make it feel like it's the same people we watched in TOS and the movies, while at the same time being rather accessible to new viewers.
Still digesting but while I was caught off guard by how different it is vs. the Trek I know, I still look forward to the new possibilities it will bring, and appreciate that some genuine effort went in to this production (it is a very good and interesting movie, I just claim that it doesn't feel like a Star Trek movie as much as I wanted it to).
To get specific, first thing that should be remarked upon is the audio/visual effects: They are quite amazing. Very well done CGI effects (Do not fear of Star Wars level CGI, as in this case it is done with effort put in to making it realistic), sound that roars when it needs to. Nothing to complain about I would say. Best effects I have seen really in an space action sci-fi film made in the area of CGI (Unless one escapes my mind).
The cinematography has a good dose of the "shaky cam" effect found in most modern films, and while I do not favor such an effect (specially in this film as it can cause action scenes to feel disjointed in nature), it does not detract a notable amount from one's enjoyment. Balancing out the negative aspects are some rather neat camera angles and shots.
An odd thing that sticks out is the abundance of lens flares. While imo they might have been used a little too much, they are in all a positive factor.
The score is exemplary. It integrates the themes heard in the original series to a level unthinkable (they do not sound "campy" anymore). As a (picky) fan of film scores in general I plan on owning the soundtrack.
Be forewarned however that this film lacks any of Jerry Goldsmith's contributions to the Trek themes. This lacking can be felt if one has watched a lot of Star Trek, but it is not a negative factor.
Sets and visuals are rather detailed with commendable amount of effort put in to them. The Enterprise has a very sleek look (Lots of whites and shinnies... apple maybe?). It sort of struck me as retaining the 60s future-style of original Enterprise while at the same time retrofitting it for a modern audience. The only negative (and among it all this is rather small) that I noticed was that the design and visuals of the "engineering" sections seem rather industrial and lack a layout that makes sense (elements seem thrown in there for plot or visual sake).
In regards to actors there is nothing in my mind to complain about (unless my memory fails me). In the reverse there is a LOT to praise when it comes to the lead and secondary actors. They embody the original characters (Kirk, Spock, McCoy etc) in their totality. Any changes made to their personality I feel are positive changes. There is a good chemistry that works well and is enjoyable to watch. Heh even any bad lines or dialog (I remember just a few so no concerns) are delivered properly.
The story is the weakest point of the film. While it is not the most intricate, nor well constructed, it is passable and does it's job. It should be remembered that since this film is the first, and trying to restart the franchise, it is tasked with introducing the layperson with the story, universe, and inhabitants. That means a lot of the run time is devoted to spending time with the characters at the expense of the narrative. I am not saying that the characters are boring, far from it as they are what makes me want to see future Star Trek movies, what I am saying is the narrative in place in the film might be too complex for this film (which results in it being unsatisfying).
[There is a graphic novel "prequel" to this movie that I would consider a must read for those who want to get the most enjoyment from the story and/or are Star Trek fans in general. I very much regret not reading it first hand]
All in all this film, while not what I was expecting and a major departure from the Trek I know, was extremely enjoyable and reminding me of how much I am a fan of Star Trek. I now look upon the old films and series (save a few : P) with nostalgia and reverence for setting up this fictional universe, and then I turn to this new film and get giddy with all the new possibilities that have opened up, and look froward to the future (or past I should say XD) adventures of this new, yet same USS Enterprise and crew.
PS: I will add that evidently the theatrical version was cut for length... which means some scenes might seem too short or that some scenes are missing all together (This can be noticed in a few places.. leaves one wanting more in sections). From what I have heard, a director's cut will be on DVD.