KallioWeHardlyKnewYe
Hey! We won!
- May 30, 2003
- 15,772
- 3,808
Been quiet here the last week or two in part because work has been busy, which cuts into my typical banter time (man, I missed out on a good horror discussion!), but also because I briefly dedicated my watching attention to the six original Star Trek movies. I am not a Trek fan. Not not a fan, but someone with just a passing knowledge of the series’ history and no real firm opinion either way. Trek-curious, perhaps may be the best way to put it. Saw several of these in my youth — definitely 1-4. Not sure I ever saw 5 and 6 in full.
One overarching thought after all six is that I appreciated how small several of these actually are. Big at the time in terms of cost and execution and notreriety, but almost small and TV-like through today’s lens of what giant IP blockbusters are. There’s usually a big idea at the heart of these (earth destruction, finding god, universal peace) but the storytelling is still pretty small. Limited cast, only a few sets, not as out in the “world” as one may think, especially for something with galaxy-spanning scope baked into the concept. What they lack is the 20-30 minutes of heavy CGI action that movies are capable of today that just wasn’t the norm them. I didn’t miss it. Also, I do know enough to know Trek is the more intellectual and less whiz-bang-boom of the sci-if properties out there so that factors in too. Not a single movie passes the two hour mark. Efficient, mostly effective storytelling.
On a movie by movie basis, I don’t think I wound up at a wildly different place from fans.
Kahn was my favorite. An efficient, well-plotted, exciting story. Character-driven action. A prime example of good genre/series storytelling. I don’t have a ton to say about the acting across the six movies, but Shatner is at his best here. Legit good. Sure it’s fun to laugh at his anguished KAAAAAHHHHHNNNN but he’s actually nicely subtle in the interactions with Julie and David. It isn’t hard to guess at their connections, but Shatner handles them with an admirable awkwardness that says more any words would.
Voyage Home next. Easily the most fun. Light and spirited in ways the other movies aren’t. A little corny, but also quite enjoyable.
Undiscovered Country. The “biggest” in scope. More world hopping, better production values, a more intricate plot. The most movie of all the movies. Professionally done across the board.
The Motion Picture. Weird and trippy and more 2001/Close Encounters than an adventure movie. It’s almost shockingly slow and uneventful (sooo many slow pans of the ship). STILL, I kinda like it for all those oddities. Oddly charming and old school. The reveal was cool and the outfits are outrageous.
Final Frontier. Meh. Interesting premise, but I’ll remember it more for Tupac lifting a line from it for the song Pain than for anything that actually happens in the movie. Too much jet boot humor.
Search for Spock. Dull and lifeless. What should by all counts be a pretty emotional journey is just flat. Doesn’t help that I think this is where the acting abilities can’t carry the weight requrired.
One overarching thought after all six is that I appreciated how small several of these actually are. Big at the time in terms of cost and execution and notreriety, but almost small and TV-like through today’s lens of what giant IP blockbusters are. There’s usually a big idea at the heart of these (earth destruction, finding god, universal peace) but the storytelling is still pretty small. Limited cast, only a few sets, not as out in the “world” as one may think, especially for something with galaxy-spanning scope baked into the concept. What they lack is the 20-30 minutes of heavy CGI action that movies are capable of today that just wasn’t the norm them. I didn’t miss it. Also, I do know enough to know Trek is the more intellectual and less whiz-bang-boom of the sci-if properties out there so that factors in too. Not a single movie passes the two hour mark. Efficient, mostly effective storytelling.
On a movie by movie basis, I don’t think I wound up at a wildly different place from fans.
Kahn was my favorite. An efficient, well-plotted, exciting story. Character-driven action. A prime example of good genre/series storytelling. I don’t have a ton to say about the acting across the six movies, but Shatner is at his best here. Legit good. Sure it’s fun to laugh at his anguished KAAAAAHHHHHNNNN but he’s actually nicely subtle in the interactions with Julie and David. It isn’t hard to guess at their connections, but Shatner handles them with an admirable awkwardness that says more any words would.
Voyage Home next. Easily the most fun. Light and spirited in ways the other movies aren’t. A little corny, but also quite enjoyable.
Undiscovered Country. The “biggest” in scope. More world hopping, better production values, a more intricate plot. The most movie of all the movies. Professionally done across the board.
The Motion Picture. Weird and trippy and more 2001/Close Encounters than an adventure movie. It’s almost shockingly slow and uneventful (sooo many slow pans of the ship). STILL, I kinda like it for all those oddities. Oddly charming and old school. The reveal was cool and the outfits are outrageous.
Final Frontier. Meh. Interesting premise, but I’ll remember it more for Tupac lifting a line from it for the song Pain than for anything that actually happens in the movie. Too much jet boot humor.
Search for Spock. Dull and lifeless. What should by all counts be a pretty emotional journey is just flat. Doesn’t help that I think this is where the acting abilities can’t carry the weight requrired.
