IvanTuroc DNO's blog: " random musings"

So I went to see Star Trek on opening day. I have never done that for a movie ever. I did it partly because the previews promised a different sort of Star Trek with true action for a change. I went partly because it was Star Trek "rebooted",and really it needed rebotting or just let die out. I also did it out of spite of a lot of old school trekkies  saying bad things about the movie when they had not even seen it.

    I was a kid in the 60's when Star Trek first aired. I was a fan of science fiction then as now but alot was going on in the real world 1960's. I watched the "Bay of Pigs' invasion. I watched the Cuban missile crisis unfold and I lived the cold war each and every day of my life. I honestly thought the world was going to destroy itself. I saw the civil rights movement happen. I saw the civil rights marches and riots, Dr. King being murdered, and Mississippi burn crosses.  I witnessed first hand women's suffarage and their march from the kitchen to the work place and their fight for equal pay for equal work. I watched the women burn their bras in protest while young men burnt their draft cards in protest of the Vietnam war. I saw my own countrymen; soilders in an army made to protect us; shoot down its own citizens. College kids that were unarmed but for rocks at Kent State U. in Ohio..

     And I saw Star Trek on TV. For some strange reason it gave me hope that our planet might settle it's differences and learn to work together. Even at the age of 8 years old, I knew this show was different. Spock attacked the devil stero type and made it something not to be feared but begged to be understood. I saw an  interricial cast on the same TV show. An afro-American woman with rank and prestigewas working among men. I saw a Russian on the same TV show. A Russian working with USA people, Scottish people and Asian people. So the show gave me hope that our world might one day resolve its differences and make something of itself. I watched Star Trek attack social stigmas and strike at heart of what was wrong in our country and the world at that time and realized this was something entirely different. Star Trek back then, took on new frontiers that were not just in space. I have also lived long enough to see much of what Star Trek talked about come to pass.

     And so I went to see Star Trek rebooted on Friday May 8th, 2009 and my faith in Star Trek is renewed. It is an action packed movie. It has a little of the old, and a lot of new. I really feel Star Trek, is taking on new frontiers once again..

     The part of Uhura was an inspiration for both Afro-Americans and women when Trek first aired. It was great to see the role greatly expanded and get much more attention in the new movie. This was something Nichelle Nichols complained about in her role of the character. She never had a very big part. I don't know how she currently feels about the new movie and the part she used to play but, I feel a great justice has been served. I watched her actually interact more with the cast around her. I saw her as a much needed cast member. And just like Trek aired one of the first interrical kisses which involved Uhura, Uhura went on to have an interspecies make out scene with Spock of all people in the new movie. It was different for Trek and I felt myself cock an eyebrow when I first saw it but I smiled thinking back about it. I realzied it was true Trek.

     I saw Kirk as a little renegade  a kid who had lost his father and felt sorry for himself and caused trouble. And for a guy who doesn't believe in "no win" senarios, saw him pick on some really big guys without a back up plan. This Kirk followed some of the better Star Trek novels out there and I was glad to see that. There are a lot of Trek novels which have much better storylines than some of the Trek movies. It is nice to see some novels get their due in movies. Trek fans never accept novels as canon only TV episodes and movies. So the director just wrote some novel into the movie.

     Sulu's character didn't get enough due but, the movie payed tribute to his ability as a swordsman. This was a carry over from Trek the original series. I wished it had shown him with  a firearm from present day. Sulu had a love {and large collection}  for those as well. I guess there wasn't enough movie footage to go around for everything. *sigh*.

     Chekov is only 17 in the new movie and that would make him a new cadet. I am not really sure what he was supposed to be in the new movie   but he was weapons control and tactical officer in the original series. As I recall that came about at a later date tho. So he sat at the console and helped Sulu navigate, and helped maintain fire control and used his sometime halarious always loveable accent the way he did in the old Trek episodes and movies.

     Scotty the beloved engineer started off with a rough start in the movie by teleporting an admiral's beloved doggie to parts unknown while traveling at warp speed. He was found exiled to a federation post on a frozen planet along with Spock Prime played by the original Spock Leonard Nimoy. Also there was the new Kirk exiled there by the new Spock. His part was true to the original Scotty and he had a bit of help with his formulas from Spock just like in the original series. I even got to hear Scotty say "I cannot hold
er much loon ger cap 'en!" I always loved that line.

     Spock was shown as a young boy and then again as a teacher at Star Fleet academy before joining the Enterprise. He was as always in the early Trek episodes, trying to hide his human self and emotions. He was torn between his 2 halves as always.This new guy did it well and payed great homage to the Spock character. And even tho Vulcans go thru pon fare once every 7 years, Spock seemed to have his human half libido :P ie; the befor discussed make out scene with Uhura.

     The doctor was great. He did an outstanding job of playing McCoy. He inspired some comedic moments as always, and his old passion for life as well, He carried his trusty whiskey flash as always and shared with Kirk again as always.

   I realized after the movie, the crew didn't fix the timeline like the crew always did in every other episode so we are seeing an alternate universe unfold in this Trek but that's ok.  This new Trek gives us a history of our beloved characters. A history I can accept. It is a history that pays tribute to Trek movies, TV, AND novels for a change.

     The movie is action packed from start to finish. You really have to pay attention to keep up. There are twists and turns enough to make it qualify as a roll-a-coaster thrill ride. There was great comedy from all cast members at one point or another and the  movie never took itself too seriously while still putting out great action, and special effects.

Two thumbs up from me; go see it :)  The movie received a standing ovation at the end on the show I saw. So far this weekend it's took in $75 million bucks. Rotten Tomatoes the web site has it at a 96% approval rating from fans and critics. Its awesome folks :D