By Jimmy Palmiotti
Hey crew, want to thank everyone that came to visit Amanda and I at A COMIC SHOP in Orlando last week and wanted to give a heads up to the people in the Ft. Lauderdale/Miami area that Amanda and I will be at TATES COMICS this Saturday the 16th from 1-3 to sign just about anything you have, including Power Girl and Jonah Hex. If you never have been to this store and live anywhere nearby, well, you are in for a treat! Its one of the biggest, best run and beautiful comic shops in the country…take a look at the web site and tell me it isn’t! Anyway, come on by to hang out and have some fun!
STAR TREK: If you didn’t see the movie yet… there are spoilers here… so skip this part. If you did, like me, well, let’s talk, shall we? We did the geek thing and my friends Brandon, Shawn, Amanda and I hit the IMAX theatre for the first showing.
OK. I enjoyed the film, and it’s a good film, and I will give it a 7/10 for pure fun… but honestly, there were a few things that kept nagging at me while watching the film other than that females really don’t pay an important role in the film except Uhura and Spock’s mom. Winona, please eat a cheeseburger and some fries, OK? We love you, and your body needs some weight to it.
Anyway, the casting was excellent all around and to me, that was the best part of the film… now, The idea that our bad guy is so undeveloped… and honestly, no background about him is given, made the movie and the “screw you” at the end mean nothing to me, except it shocked me how heartless Spock and Kirk were, killing a whole planet-sized ship of people. I am not a big Trek person, but this struck me as something they would never do. Am I wrong? Help me out, Trekkies.
That and the fact that Nero waits 24 years for older Spock’s ship to come out of the black hole thing [black holes are not wormholes] and get revenge, and what does he do? Why he grabs him, his ship and his giant red ball [from Alias, someone told me on Twitter] and then, before they are about to destroy Spock’s world, he sends him to a violent monster-filled planet to “maybe” stay alive long enough to watch Nero do the job on his home planet… and runs into Kirk in a cave and fights a monster off with a piece of “wood” on fire. I didn’t see trees, did you? Did I miss something? Where is the satisfaction of watching Spock suffer by keeping him on a planet where you can’t see him?
Even worse, the idea that instead of putting Kirk in the brig, they shoot him to the same “violent” planet as a matter of coincidence. Boy, Spock is a real dick!
Hell, Nero kept Pike around, why not the same for Spock Prime? Because it would mess with their moments… and for me, it’s a bad story cheat. This movie was so close for me, but these major things plus a few others distracted a lot. I thought all this cheated the movie and after I left, they nagged at me the whole ride home.
Because you didn’t ask, here is what I would have altered: first, make Nero a woman… a mother, and show her in the flashback talking to her children from the ship as the planet unexpectedly gets caught in the supernova. She is heartbroken and angry and blames Spock… therefore we understand the extreme rage, have empathy for her when shit goes bad and we have a better villain to deal with because Kirk is a son that lost his parents and understands the way she feels. Hell, everyone does, which makes for a better villain. Next, when they capture Spock and the ship 24 years after [ugh] Spock manages to escape to the planet below and the drilling has already started on the Vulcan planet, so she [ Nero] sends scouts to hunt him and bring him back… while she destroys the planet, which she knows is in his view from down there.
Next, Kirk gets a rogue signal from the Starfleet outpost and its information about himself no one would know but him and we watch a young Kirk, against orders, jet out of the ship and pick up Spock on the planet and fight bad guys while young Spock gets pissed he went against orders and they leave him there while Kirk and old Spock do the outpost thing with Scotty and the cabbage patch doll and all four of them go back to the ship. Hell…keep Spock Junior losing his shit as well… it can still work.
Yeah, you can argue these points with me, but overall I really had a fun time and it’s nice to see Trekkies so happy. I just know the second film will be much better and maybe, just maybe, time travel will not be happening. Please God.
LAST NOTE GRIPE: IMAX people, get your shit together and start looking after the theatres and the projectors. The theatre in Saint Pete Florida showing the movie not only had light and clarity problems with their IMAX projector, but had dust on the lens as well. When we spoke to the theatre owners…as usual, kids in their 20s, they had no clue and shrugged and said that they don’t run those projectors, blah, blah, blah, its not my job, etc., etc., etc. Well guess what, morons? It is your job! It’s your theatre where you work and get a check from each week, and I paid good money to see this movie. Please, people, hire experience and not these drop-outs that could give a crap what’s going on around them. It’s the generation of “ I don’t know” that really scares me. You smart people in your 20s, you should be making millions by now. Lol…
THIS WEEK’S COMIC BOOK GEM: BLAZING COMBAT published by Fantagraphics books features a collection of some of the most beautiful black and white comic art you have ever seen. Frazetta, Toth, Wood, Severin, Williamson, Heath Crandall and Colan… all written by the awesome Archie Goodwin. Little known fact, Archie and Mike Carlin are a couple of the first guys that encouraged me to try my hands at writing and gave me a shot at pitching. I will eternally owe these two… unfortunately Archie is no longer with us. Anyway… Blazing combat was originally published by Warren in 1965 and this is a collection of the four-issue run of those hard-to-get magazines. It also features interviews and some of the most beautiful printing I have seen. Honestly, put down those monthly comics for a week and buy something you will enjoy a lifetime. From cover to cover, this book is what keeps me in comics. Check out the solicit and a side show.
POWER GIRL #4 COVER: The DC website has had it up for a bit so I figured I would spread the love. Anyone who hasn’t checked out the cool thing artist/super editor to the stars Mark Chiarello is doing over at the DC boards, well, here is the link. He is posting what he picks are some of the best comic covers of the month. Give it a look…the man knows his illustration art.
Oh, and anyone else think Leelee Sobieski could play Power Girl in a movie? Suggestions?
THE LAST RESORT: This is solicited now, so please ask your local retailer to give it a shot and reserve yours. More about that next blog. ..
As usual, please post your thoughts below. See you guys and gals in a few.
JIMMY
May 13th, 2009 at 8:57 am
Leelee is a good choice. I’d also like to suggest Katee Sackhoff.
May 13th, 2009 at 9:04 am
I would put up Trek against anything you have written, Jimmy.
You are connected to some of the most sexist comics ever, and you have the nuts to complain about Trek in that regard?
May 13th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Jimmy, this is the first negative review of Trek that I can actually understand. Most of the others I’ve read basically boil down to “But they wouldn’t do that!” You make logical arguments and suggestions of what you would do differently. Don’t know if I agree with all of them, but I applaud you for making sense.
Tom Strong:
I had a long rambling post arguing your point, and I deleted it. It can be summed up this way:
Palmiotti and Gray’s female characters are: 1) Independent and 2) Strong. By those characteristics alone, they’re better than 90% of the female characters out there in super-hero comics.
May 13th, 2009 at 9:47 am
I was kind of hoping for another Megan Fox pic. It’s difficult for me to look at Leelee, when all I see is Helen Hunt’s face. Yes, I know for Power Girl that’s not where I’d be looking, but…
Cheers,
B
May 13th, 2009 at 10:28 am
So Jimmy, did you leave Star Wars feeling annoyed that the droids happened to end up with the jawas and through amazing coincidence ended up Luke’s farm? God, what a contrived plot!
May 13th, 2009 at 10:29 am
SCARLET JOHANSON as/for PeeGee!!
May 13th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Jimmy,
We can’t wait to meet you at Tate’s this Saturday!!!!
Your blogs contain some really interesting points (especially when it comes to movies).
I too had a problem with Dickish Spock and how he shot Kirk to the same planet his future self happened to be on.
Good point about the wood as well!
May 13th, 2009 at 11:10 am
Jimmy,
I think you’re being a little hard on Star Trek.
Yes, it made no goddamn sense. Yes, it had almost no plot (and what plot it did falls (and fails) under the first point). But as a visceral thrill ride with a solid grasp of performance and character, it was top tier — definitely higher than a 7/10. Well, for me anyway.
Personally, I enjoyed the thing so much that I would categorize it as the best film I have seen in a theater so far this year. And this is despite me saying to myself — “well that makes no godamn sense” — about six hundred times.
Compare it to Transformers — a film with similar levels of bombast and character performance — that actually managed to make no goddamn sense AND be painfully dull about it. This movie was, at least, fun and thrilling.
- r
PS – And on the Star Wars jibe…. Any AUTHOR worth his salt — Jimmy, included –knows that coincidences that happen in the first fifteen minutes of a movie are held to a LOWER standard than ones that happen halfway through. That, and in Star Wars (as opposed to Star Trek) you can always say “The ways of the Force are shrouded in mystery.”
May 13th, 2009 at 11:23 am
Loved the movie and disagree about some of your points.
First of all, heartless for killing a whole planet-sized ship of people? How many people did you see? Nero’s crew is tiny. Remember they used to be miners. Secondly, they tried to kill them first. These people killed Kirk’s father and Spock’s mother. Thirdly, Kirk gave him the chance to surrender so you’re wrong about that. He refused, meaning the fight was not over and Nero was going to continue to try and kill them. So they finished him off.
Second you cited two big key roles for women in the movie….right after speaking on the lack of important women. Huh? First, you exclude the key opening character of Kirk’s mom. That said, how many main characters were there in general? This was about mainly two people: Kirk and Spock. It peripherally involved the Enterprise and her core crew, which number 6, and we know that consists of only one woman.
May 13th, 2009 at 11:32 am
I’ve had plenty of reasons for not wanting to see the Trek movie, but Jimmy’s review, with a few others I’ve read, have got me convinced that my gripes going in aren’t even the biggest problems. It’s the inane script (Oh, Orci & Kurtzman… What a surprise) and plot. I’m sure the new trek is sorta fun if you turn your brain off for two hours, but I don’t want to turn my brain off while watching Trek. Sure, Trek’s had plenty of stupid moments, but people are acting like this is the greatest thing ever, when it sounds really bad when people get past the “It’s so fun!” and start discussing the plot.
I mean, Spock’s gone back in time to save Earth before (ST IV, and the beloved “City on the Edge for Forever”) but here he just sits back and lets his homeworld (and mother) be destroyed? Nero goes back in time and waits around to get his revenge rather than trying to save his world and family? OK then… I know, I know… It was more important for them to do the totally unnecessary reboot of the entire Trek universe. Sorry, I already OMD in the Spidey comics. I don’t need to see a film version of it.
I understand what Jimmy’ saying about the female roles. Now there probably weren’t any other significant female roles in the movie (no Nurse Chapel, no “Number One” from Pike’s cre ala “The Cage”), but from what I’ve read it sounds like Uhura’s mostly defined in this film by her (WTF?) relationship with Spock. Forgetting how ridiculous I find the idea of Spock/Uhura as a couple, if that’s all she’s got going for her in this movie, that’s really a shame.
May 13th, 2009 at 11:33 am
Oh, and Leelee as Power Girl? I don’t even know who she is, but I’d like a taste of her powers… Yum!
May 13th, 2009 at 11:53 am
I agree the women’s parts were a little thin, but there was so much appealing about the male characters that I didn’t care. It’s kind of hypocritical, but it was kind of eye-opening. “Oh, so THAT’s what it’s like to be barraged with sex appeal!”
This, on the other hand: Winona, please eat a cheeseburger and some fries, OK?
I’ve made a point of commenting whenever I see stuff like this. It’s in bad taste to body-snark on people, whether you think they are too fat or too thin. The “eat a cheeseburger” thing is more old and eye-roll inducing than the dead girlfriend/wife/mother/sister-as-hero’s/villain’s-motivator thing.
And how could you tell what her weight is like, anyway? She was wearing voluminous robes and her make-up was done to make her look older, so her cheeks appeared a little more sunken than they do usually.
May 13th, 2009 at 11:56 am
hahaha, read what i wrote again…
“OK. I enjoyed the film, and it’s a good film, and I will give it a 7/10 for pure fun”
Yeah, you can argue these points with me, but overall I really had a fun time and it’s nice to see Trekkies so happy”
now, that said, i was having fun here picking things apart and then offering some ideas, not hating the film…my review for the film is its fun and you all should see it. Don’t read that as a “hate” blog please…it was one of the best sci fi films i have seen in a while…really. I am going to see it again next week actually.
now…TOM STRONG: I write sexist comics? …please let me know what books you are talking about then…i am curious. really…lets talk here…and tom, please try to go back and reread what i posted, you sure seem angry dude.
MR WESLEY; the review isnt so negative as it is just pointing out a few things i wish were different. i wouldnt bother if it was a film i didnt like. and thanks for defending me.
BRIAN: helen hunt…hahahahahah, awesome…now i see it.
ROLANDO: you are a mind reader…lol. good one.
BRUCE: scarlett is black widow i hear…so thats a no go…but i like your thinking.
THE EDUCATOR: SEE YOU SAT DUDE!
RIM: i might be hard on trek…but hey, because i felt it was almost perfect. transformers…for me was hard to watch because of all the jerky camera work.
YACOB: I did mention kirks mom, but your other points are good and well taken. i love a conversation…yeah, neros ship was so gigantic i wondered why they didnt have a million people on it before the planet blew…but see what you mean…we only saw a few. i assumed there were thousands…especially after sitting around 24 years doing nothing, i was guessing a lot of babies were born, lol. good points though.
SHAUN: I just felt if this was a re-boot, there could have been another major female on the bridge…less male.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I shop at Tate’s religiously and it’s easily the best comics, collectibles, toys, games, manga, anime, and art shop in the entire southeast.
Geeks who live in South Florida and *don’t* shop at Tate are worse than Hitler.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:10 pm
I hope they have the imax at baywalk working better for when I go tomorrow. That would tick me off to no end.
Loved the first issue of Power Girl last week.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
kyle…beware dude, they didnt seem to know what they were doing. is there another place you can see it?
May 13th, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Nero story was told in the 4 issue comic mini that led up to the movie. IF you didn’t read that then you miss out on the whole story.
The whole change in Spock and Kirk etc etc is explained in the movie.. Uhura practically sits down to explain it. ALTERNATE TIMELINE. Come one Jimmy.. you’re a comic geek..how hard is it to understand. 25 years ago ( from then) Nero came out of time… killed Kirks father which changes everything. Kirk is a different person…who knows how that affects or affected others such as Vulcan.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
“I’ve had plenty of reasons for not wanting to see the Trek movie, but Jimmy’s review, with a few others I’ve read, have got me convinced that my gripes going in aren’t even the biggest problems. It’s the inane script (Oh, Orci & Kurtzman… What a surprise) and plot. I’m sure the new trek is sorta fun if you turn your brain off for two hours, but I don’t want to turn my brain off while watching Trek. Sure, Trek’s had plenty of stupid moments, but people are acting like this is the greatest thing ever, when it sounds really bad when people get past the “It’s so fun!” and start discussing the plot.
I mean, Spock’s gone back in time to save Earth before (ST IV, and the beloved “City on the Edge for Forever”) but here he just sits back and lets his homeworld (and mother) be destroyed? Nero goes back in time and waits around to get his revenge rather than trying to save his world and family? OK then… I know, I know… It was more important for them to do the totally unnecessary reboot of the entire Trek universe. Sorry, I already OMD in the Spidey comics. I don’t need to see a film version of it.
I understand what Jimmy’ saying about the female roles. Now there probably weren’t any other significant female roles in the movie (no Nurse Chapel, no “Number One” from Pike’s cre ala “The Cage”), but from what I’ve read it sounds like Uhura’s mostly defined in this film by her (WTF?) relationship with Spock. Forgetting how ridiculous I find the idea of Spock/Uhura as a couple, if that’s all she’s got going for her in this movie, that’s really a shame.”
Not wanting to see the movie is one thing, but don’t try to critique something you’ve only heard snippets of because it makes you sound ig’nint.
Spock Prime “sat back and watched” because he had no other choice. Unless you can figure out a way to fly out into space and stop a superweapon with no ship. Nu Spock didn’t sit back and watch, he saved (with the exception of his mom) the people he knew couldn’t get off the planet by themselves. Everything else was out of his hands.
Nero’s entire motivation (albeit twisted) was to get revenge and save his homeworld in the process. Without knowing what he did in the interim (though he supposedly spent time in prison), there’s no way to know if or how he tried to save Romulus another way. It wouldn’t have mattered, as it was a spacial phenomenon that did it and not a sequence of preventable actions. For all we know, he DID alert the Romulans to watch out.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
“Anyway, the casting was excellent all around and to me, that was the best part of the film… now, The idea that our bad guy is so undeveloped… and honestly, no background about him is given, made the movie and the “screw you” at the end mean nothing to me, except it shocked me how heartless Spock and Kirk were, killing a whole planet-sized ship of people. I am not a big Trek person, but this struck me as something they would never do. Am I wrong? Help me out, Trekkies.”
Yeah you are mostly true on the bad guy being undeveloped. They did all his development and backstory in the prequel comic book that lead into the movie. Given that most of the people that see/saw the movie won’t have even known that the book even exists does hurt the movie a bit.
I think you also need to take into account that this DOES take place in an altered timeline so the Kirk and Spock we all know could very well have changed. I mean…I’m pretty sure that the Mirror Universe Kirk and Spock would have done much worse than what this Kirk and Spock did.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:35 pm
oh by the way…..
POWERGIRL ROCKED!!!!
May 13th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
spike…i know that..but i didn’t read the comic. were they giving them out at the theatre? lol…kidding there, smile spike. i understand what they were doing, but it didnt sit well with me. like i said, gonna see it again and maybe it will fill in some blanks.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:39 pm
you know what you can tell by this…is that i am not a die hard trek fan, so when i watch the movie, i am not coming at this with 40 years of back story. even amanda is amazed how many of the original run of treks i haven’t seen yet.
but like i said, good of you all to post and fill in some of the questions i had. those trek comics…idw published them?
May 13th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
this…is brilliant: thanks rob!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iAaX8Aq6smQ
May 13th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Anytime bro!
May 13th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
agree crimson and thanks for the props on powergirl…its been a fun week to be involved in this business.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:51 pm
Good points about the movie. I still enjoyed the hell out of it.
I am all about Katie Katie Sackhoff as Power Girl. Some won’t think she is pretty enough. Bah! Her shoulders and back are all Power Girl. She may not get in because of the most obvious assets though.
Lelee has grown up, but when I look at her, I still see a little girl. Same with Megan Fox. I feel like someone wants to turn me into a perv.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
Personally I loved the film and think it was one of the better ones of the 11 we have to work with. Yes, there were some things that could have (and probably should have been changed). For example, I love your ideas for revamping Nero. I think an emotional connection with the character would have made the conflict much more intense.
What I don’t agree with is your ice planet alterations. Your thoughts on getting Spock to the planet work, but not the ones for Kirk there.
1) How would Spock know to send the signal to the Enterprise? In this alternate reality the Enterprise is suppose to be near the planet, but in his own reality the Enterprise never was. Ok, so let’s say that he is hanging with Scotty and he happens to notice that a Starfleet vessel is in the area and hey, it happens to be the Enterprise (this is not really any more of stretch than some other coincidences in the movie so I’ll buy it).
2) What information could this Spock tell Kirk that would be relevant? The Kirk that this Spock knows lived a different life. We know this because Kirk A had a father growing up. Kirk B didn’t. This would mean that the time from birth to the time he met Spock would most likely be drastically different. I’m not sure that he would know anything about Kirk that would convince him to jump ship and head down to a frozen planet, especially given the dire circumstances.
The argument you make for Kirk and Spock destroying the whole ship rather than just taking out Nero or what have you is the same argument that can be made about why did Luke destroy the whole Death Star. In both cases we see our heros facing a larger than life wessel (er, vessel) that is destroying planets. They could just removed the WMD and capture the main bad guys, but wouldn’t that inevitably lead to someone else taking their place and possibly rebuilding said WMD? Destroying the whole ship eliminates the threat now and forever. Yes, there probably were innocent people on board, but they were part of a planet-killing group of people. The reality is that it is never so black and white and we could debate the finer points all day long. What we got was an action packed ending to an action packed movie. Any other ending would have derailed the momentum of the film. Does it go against their character? Maybe, but we now have the benefit of saying this is an “alternate reality” so their character is still being developed. Maybe this Kirk and Spock would do this – especially given their emotional state after watching all of Vulcan being decimated.
And yes, I think Leelee could play Powergirl in a movie. Make it so.
May 13th, 2009 at 12:59 pm
Spike@ “Nero story was told in the 4 issue comic mini that led up to the movie. IF you didn’t read that then you miss out on the whole story.”
??
Is that true?
Well, IMO, that’s one of the dumbest things I’ve heard of in along time! No way in hell should I have to have read a 4 issue comic book series in order not to “miss out” any of a movie’s story. And that goes with films based on printed novels as well. The movie should ALWAYS stand on it’s own.
May 13th, 2009 at 1:00 pm
I actually spoke with Jimmy Palmiotti, wow. I know, I know, it’s corny.
To quote Scotty “I like this board! It’s excitin!”
May 13th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Here’s my review of “Star Trek”:
http://geekgirlsrule.wordpress.com/2009/05/11/review-star-trek/
May 13th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Up until Spock said, “Get him off my ship!” I was loving the movie. After that, it all just kept going downhill for me – everything after old Spock’s appearance seemed to try to justify him being there instead of sticking with the kick-ass story that had been established in the first half. The villain could have been more developed had they not given the “planet destruction flashback” scene to old Spock, the relationship between Spock and Kirk could have grown into mutual admiration instead of being forced by old Spock, the crew could have worked together to defeat Nero if not for the all-too-convenient “oh yeah there’s red stuff in old Spock’s ship” moment. As I sat watching the film, there seemed to be one disappointment after another, and it all tied back to that ridiculous moment where Kirk just happens to walk into the right cave after Spock just happens to jettison his first officer after Nero just happens to abandon the target of his 25-year vendetta.
Still a fun movie with a lot of great moments. But what had so much potential in the beginning (man, Nero seemed like he was going to be a lot more interesting in that first scene than he ended up being, didn’t he?) instead relied on nostalgia and explosions to pull it off in the end. But they have a crew of fabulous actors for a sequel, so I’ll come back for more.
May 13th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I enjoyed Trek quite a bit, but 7/10 is a fair and positive grade. There were more than a few plot holes. I thought Jimmy was being fairly kind, actually.
May 13th, 2009 at 1:25 pm
Other than her sfx breasteses, why would Ms. Sobieski be a good choice?
May 13th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
richard, watch her movies, she really is a solid actress.
May 13th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
RIM & Jimmy: moving past the jabs at Star Wars, I consider what appear to be coincidences are caused by the time stream attempting to correct itself. And it makes sense that the bigger coincidences (Kirk, Spock Prime & Scotty on the ice planet) happen after bigger changes (Vulcan getting blown up). That’s what I took away when I watched the movie. It’s the “science” version of The Force.
May 13th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Loving Power Girl. I kinda always saw someone like Cameron Diaz as Power Girl, although she may be lacking in the upstairs department. I’m not sure of her name, but the young lady in the PG fan flix is spectacular.
May 13th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
…oh and I always saw PG as more or a situational comedy-send-up-on-the-superheroine genre type of show. Like what the Uma Thurman Girlfriend Superhero movie COULD have been (it was so bad I can’t even remember). I can’t see her on the big screen, but on an HBO type show like Sex & City would be fun…
May 13th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
Jimmy, when are you going to do a MAFIA book, even a SOPRANOS, title? Let me know and I’m pre-ordering the same day, please ask your fans in your BLOG, Tough Guy, I think you can do a killer job, Respect.
May 13th, 2009 at 2:30 pm
yeah, we can all agree trek was good fun…how about that spirit movie…has anyone seen it on dvd? any good extras?
May 13th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
hey gazoo, have you picked up BACK TO BROOKLYN? its from image comics and you might get the “fix” you need there. would love to do a mob series at some point though…base it on the true stories i heard while growing up in ny
May 13th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
i haven’t been there yet, but i haven’t heard any complaints about the IMAX in channel side.
May 13th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Jimmy,
As a long time Trek fan, let me first say that I thoroughly enjoyed the
movie–if we’re using your 10 point scale, I’d give it a “9″, and the one
point gets lost for some of the reasons you’ve pointed out. The Spock-Uhura
relationship I found certainly bothersome–to me, it felt like something
written JUST to give the Uhura character something important to do, which is
something Nichelle Nichols never had the benefit of in her Trek film
appearances as Uhura. But it’s forced and makes no sense for Spock without
more context–for example, he happened to be going through the Pon-Farr,
that 7-year itch that Vulcans get to get randy and mate, and he was on Earth
teaching and she happened to be around and willing ’cause she had a crush,
and now she’s not over it but he’s trying to be a good Vulcan again.
Otherwise, it looks like educational ethics don’t mean a whole lot to ol’
Spock the Vulcan instructor, providing one-on-one after-hours tutoring to
the hottest girl in the class. (Saavik would be SO jealous.) I also had a
problem with him jettisoning the insubordinate Kirk onto the ice moon near
the-space-that-once-contained-Vulcan, but I chalked that one up to Spock
being TRULY angry and taking it out on a convenient target. And Nero is
underwritten, BADLY. The 4-issue comic book prequel series, “Countdown” from
IDW, goes a long way towards fleshing out Nero and why he’s so bats–t crazy
when we meet him in the film, but when you need a supplement to make the
main product make sense, then there’s a flaw in the design.
All in all, I agree with your observations, but I had more fun with it
because I was expecting a whole lot LESS. I was expecting a Star Trek film
made by a Star Wars fanboy with no respect for the canon who would take a
science fiction series and turn it into the worst kind of brainless space
opera, all explosions and special effects. On the contrary, this film treat
Star Trek canon reverently, including classic dialogue from the other films
and the classic series at every opportunity. To be able to do that while
STILL making a fun film that casual viewers can enjoy tremendously (as the
box office numbers show), is quite an achievement.
Oh, and LeeLee as Pee-Gee? Hmmm … how about Charlize Theron? She’s got the
height, and she could keep her natural blonde this time out as a superhero,
as opposed to the horror that was Aeon Flux.
May 13th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
I agree with a lot of your comments on Star Trek. When you think about it, current cinema and television writing seems to follow the intellectual components of the story rather than letting the story tell itself. It just seems like a lot of cool moments strung together by thin strands of story. Are they just trying too hard? Better than not trying hard enough, I guess. Time travel is the beacon of a lack of imagination, but clearly they were told to start over from the beginning and it was a fairly interesting way of doing that. Paramount has given up on the established continuity which is disappointing. Next Generation/Deep Space 9/Voyager are all irrelevant now.
Regarding IMAX: if it was a multiplex which included an IMAX, it’s likely that the people you talked to really have nothing to do with it and it isn’t their job. Don’t be so hard on them. If you want to complain where it matters, send an email to the IMAX corporation via their website and detail the specific problems you experienced. They might send out a technician to fix it. The people you talked to should have at least offered you something for your troubles, though. Experience costs money, and most companies will try to limp along rather than pay people what they’re worth. If you’re looking for sympathy from a corporation which runs a theater chain, you won’t find it. You might get a coupon for a free movie, but you won’t get sympathy and you won’t get decisive action.
May 13th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
Hey Jimmy, did you guys go to the iMax at Baywalk? Thanks for the heads up, not even 5 “Call A Cabs” from Wet Willies could make me sit comfortably looking at an iMax movie through a dirty lens. Did you read the IDW STAR TREK: COUNTDOWN prequel by any chance?
May 13th, 2009 at 7:59 pm
“I’ve had plenty of reasons for not wanting to see the Trek movie, but Jimmy’s review, with a few others I’ve read, have got me convinced that my gripes going in aren’t even the biggest problems.”
This is like a restaurant critic watching me eat a meal and reviewing it on quality and taste. If your not willing to try it then stfu cause you don’t know what your talking about.
May 13th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I actually wrote the imax people and they got back to me today and said they would look into it and forward my e mail to the actual theatre. brandon peterson did the same and they admitted some bulb problem of some sorts to him, but really, i am not a tech guy…all i knew was i wasnt seeing it correctly, the way the film makers wanted me to see it. lets see what they say…unless brandon wants to stop by and explain…brandon?
May 14th, 2009 at 12:08 am
BACK TO BROOKLYN is a good story, it reminded me of Commando, I’m looking for something like the Sopranos or the Godfather, more of a large scale family story, Spaghetti, Sopressata with Calabrese bread & Red Wine, something like you said “base it on the true stories i heard while growing up in ny”, I’m sold on that!
I included links to the first 2 issues of BACK TO BROOKLYN for anyone that missed it, Thanks.
Issue #1 Preview
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/080708-BacktoBrooklyn.html
Issue #2 Preview
http://www.newsarama.com/php/multimedia/album.php?aid=23799
May 14th, 2009 at 6:34 am
Thanks for the heads up on Blazing Combat. That is one hell of a creative team.
PowerGirl = man, this along with Jonah Hex is what makes comics fun! Hope the entire team keeps up the fun and enjoyment and fans pick up these books. I hope DC is happy how PG sold and tells a great story without having to tie into their crossovers.
May 14th, 2009 at 6:48 am
this post talked about star trek? who could tell once you got to the Leelee Sobieski picture?
May 14th, 2009 at 8:47 am
Re; Spock’s torch–Those were cave trees, Jimmy. Do I have to ‘splain everything to you?
May 14th, 2009 at 10:33 am
Jimmy and Amanda will be part of Impact University: Pro Comics and Art Workshop, on July 21, in San Diego. MyImpactUniveristy.com for details.
May 14th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
“I am not a big Trek person, but this struck me as something they would never do. Am I wrong?”
That’s why the movie was so great, though — because these AREN’T those characters. As soon as Nero came back to the past, the time line was altered. These are the Spock and Kirk from the series, these are alternate reality versions. This means that a) they can be different and b) the originals still exist in their own time line. It’s not even a reboot, just a divergent time line.