A Heck of a Trek!
Dav-
Hanging with the prequel crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise made me wonder, “Is this what it’s like to be back stage with your favorite rock group?”
Star Trek is great. A romping ride, start to finish. The exceptionally well chosen ensemble of newbies was genius casting. Every major character is engaging. Enticing and entertaining blends of the original television series personalities with hip new psyches. Somewhere I saw the movie and its cast described as a cosmic “90210.”
These space cadets have much more class.
As a kid, I watched Star Trek and had fun doing so; the Tribble episode (you must watch!), perhaps the series’ best-known, is the one I remember most clearly. As a pre-teen I was caught up in the crew’s chemistry, all the sexy clothes, Kirk’s handsome command of his ship, and the Barbie hairdos. I never became a Trekkie, but I could become a Neo Trekkie.
It would help to be familiar with the original series before seeing this movie, but it’s not necessary.
The movie is the story of James T. Kirk’s rites of passage, and early on I was a bit worried I wasn’t going to like this arrogant, self-absorbed hot rod Kirk. That all faded away, however. He grows to become the rightful occupant of the captain’s chair…and one of my favorite quips from the film is Spock’s early warning to Kirk: “Out of the chair.”
Spock in love. Love that Spock is in love. This is a fabulous Spock.
I mentioned to you that one of the film’s most notable effects was seeing those gigantic, lurking structures through the Midwest’s agricultural mist. Very cool, but also very suggestive of monster oil derricks. A warning, of sorts.
Quick take on aesthetics: Loved ‘em, but I can’t shake the weird look of the baddie Romulan space ship. It looks like the drek I pulled out of my bathtub drain last week. It looks like my hairdryer exploded. A messy, black tangled metallic mess. Like a shredded tarantula.
Probably just what the filmmakers were shooting for.
I’m just enough of a tomboy to really get off on well-written male jousting camaraderie barbs. Sequel, sequel!
10 Comments so far
I was amazed how they found young actors that looked so much like the original characters, especially Spock and Bones. The weird exception was Chekov. The original, I thought, looked a lot like Davy of the Monkees. This kid, who I really did like a lot, looked nothing like that.
p.s. What do you call a sequel to a prequel? A pre-sequel? A post-prequel?
Post-partum presequel? I was wondering the same thing. Chekov indeed the stand out amongst the “look alikes,” but I was also interested in the swashbuckling, handsome Bones. I don’t remember Bones as the swashbuckling type.
Monkees fan! Had all the albums! My first concert, Kiel Auditorium, St. Louis with my best friend Pam, her mother escorting us. Thousands of screaming pre-teens! Sixth grade.
Greetings, fellow Monkees fan! As a kid, we watched the TV show religiously. Our family habit was to choose one character to “be”; my Monkee was Peter Tork, my Peanuts character was Linus. I’ve been dithering about buying the Monkees’ Greatest Hits on iTunes; their music is still very listenable, but then, that’s my favorite vintage of music.
I have a present for you.
Monkees version of “Live Long & Prosper” back at ya! Yes, their music is still SO LISTENABLE! Television land’s Beatles spin off they were, but it worked. Still listenable, a sign of greatness, right?
Peter Tork and Micky Dolenz were my faves. Davey Jones was the pretty boy, but too obviously the ’star,’ and Michael Nesmith (His mom invented White Out!) grew on me.
Speaking of “listenable,” the Today Show is on, and Susan Boyle is crazy fabulous! It is hard to believe that someone with that much talent could be unknown to the world up until now. I get goosebumps listening to her.
A present? You should not be gettin’ me presents, girl! How nice. Did you have a star trek in the desert? T.
I’m not ashamed to admit I have the MP3 version of the Monkees song “Forget That Girl.” After 40 years, I still like it.
Hi Jennifer!
Tam, the present is part of my inheritance. I have nowhere to put it. Perhaps you do. If not, maybe Jennifer would want it.
For Christmas I gave Dav Mike Nesmith’s Elephant Parts DVD (he is still active as a producer or something.) It’s OK. His web site is videoranch.com. I didn’t know his mom invented White Out.
Speaking of parental inventors, a local friend of mine’s dad invented the roll-on deodorant.
Now I feel like that annoying Kristen Wiig character on SNL who has to one-up everybody.
Ooh, I will check that site out!
And you are so sweet to want to pass on something to me, of course I know I will love it. Hope I get to see you soon, what about that—?
Tam
So Tam, are you gonna see Angels and Demons? I think Dav is going to pass on it.
I did see Night At The Museum 2. I thought it was ok. Not as fun as the first, since the newness has worn off.
Night At The Museum 2 looks over-crowded, too many artifacts! Wasn’t planning on Angels & Demons, but if you are really wanting to go, I’m in! Trying to remember if Dyson liked it.
How about listening to a holy man talk about compassion and conflict tonight at the Center for the Arts? Free! Enlightening! 7:00!