Reasons to Love Rather Than Hate Star Trek XI

With all of the criticism this movie received from some Star Trek fans. I’ve written this to point out why it’s a great viewing experience. Not just as a movie but as part of the Star Trek legacy.

Firstly and  most importantly

The movie was supported by both Majel Barrett and Leonard Nimoy. They wouldn’t have participated unless they liked it. Nimoy turned down a role in Generations for example. Both of them were with Star Trek from its original pilot and were the best qualified to judge.

Affectionate use of old Star Trek clichés

You have to smile at the familiar lines and the use of a red shirt.

Abandonment of tired Star Trek clichés

1. The Enterprise is not the only ship in range. 7 ships go to meet the Narada and there is an explanation for why there are not more.
2. Lack of technobable, technology is there to facilitate the plot not to solve it.
3. Overuse of the transporter. For once the transporter isn’t an easy solution and has a sense of danger attached to it. When was the last time it was used in as exciting a way as it was over Vulcan?

Engaging characters

The interaction between Kirk, Spock and McCoy feel true to the how I remembered them. They are all interesting to watch and faithful to the original crew. For the first time since Star Trek IV each character also go their moment to shine.  Even Chekov and Uhura, who were regularly just named back ground characters with a few lines.

Great music

The sound track is stirring and the main theme strikes just the right balance of being new yet keeping the Star Trek feel.

Great action

Not many space scenes have been so fun to watch. With battles that are fast yet also make sense. Being the first movie since the motion picture to have a decent budget they definitely used the money well.

Good acting

After some of the shocking performences we have seen in Star Trek over the years they managed to do a good job when casting this movie.



Skydive

A fantastic scene which shows the makers trying something different with Trek.

New Enterprise

The Enterprise has changed but it’s no more drastic than the change that happened when the ship was brought to the big screen. The Enterprise in Star Trek: The motion picture may as well have been a new ship. The creators of Star Trek XI did a good job with the latest design managing to stay true to the original style. They also introduced the glass windscreen which makes a lot of sense considering the location of a star fleet bridge. Now watching the other Trek shows I often think this. It would have helped in a lot of stories.

The uniforms

Did anyone honestly think they could pull off the original costumes in a way that didn’t look cheap and unbelievable on the big screen?



Genuinely funny

Definitely an area the TNG outings fell flat in this movie has some great lines.

Characters listen to music which isn't Classical or Jazz

The bar scene was very refreshing as we see that a positive view of the future doesn't have to ban club music.

Proper use of time travel

With all the complaints made about the plot people forget one important thing. The time travel wasn’t under anyone’s control it happened by accident! This avoided many of the pit falls that plagued Star Trek Voyager and Star Trek Enterprise. It wasn’t used as a magic trick which could allow characters to do what they liked and try again if they failed. It ine of the main reasons people hate the movie but its use is far more effective than in many Star Trek stories.

The shot of the Enterprise rising above Titan

One of the best ship shots in any of the Star Treks.
The best compliment I can give this movie is that it took me back to my childhood. It felt like I was watching classic Star Trek again. A feeling I haven’t had since Trials and Tribulations. The director JJ Abrams and the writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman are clearly fond of Star Trek being loyal to what its about. They have also rediscovered the raw excitement and cowboy style that has been lost over the years. It will hopefully have saved Trek the way Wrath of Khan had.

Copyright © Nathan Groves http://wondersandparodies.blogspot.com/
This Work Is Not To Be Reproduced With Out Permission.

Reasons To Love Rather Than Hate The X Men Movies

Effort made to make the universe believable

Bryan Singer went to great efforts to bring a sense of realism to a fantastical universe that has been well translated from the comic books.. If strange sci fi concepts put you off they are always well explained and are used to tell a story rather than dominate it.  This was lost slightly with X Men 3 and Wolverine but they still managed to keep the settings mostly recognizable and everyday.

Working as a team

Unlike most super hero movies X Men doesn’t follow one lone character but many varied characters. Team work allows us to see the different personalities, their strengths and their weaknesses. Their interaction also gives us greater insight into who they are and why they fight. Having to depend on others makes the characters more engaging and relatable as humans rather than just super beings.

Unique action

The combination of a team and a large variety of powers makes for some spectacular action. This brings us many unique scenes and situations which can have an unpredictable out come.

Strong female characters

Unlike the classic Lois Lane’s and Mary Jane’s the women in X Men are also strong characters and play key roles in a story rather than just reacting to it. There are few women super heroes but in the X Men series they play an equal part to the men and have some of the best story lines and powers.

Complex heroes and villains

One of X Mens greatest strength is the depth and complexity of its characters. Few of the mutants are black or white but come out as a shade of grey. Being neither purely good nor purely evil. They are given reasons for their action and we can understand what motivates them even if we disagree with them. The friendship/foe dynamic between Professor Xavier and Magneto is fascinating to watch and believable as their opposing views clash.

Other characters like Beast, Rogue, Cyclops, Night Crawler, Mystique give us a sense of the alienation they feel which a lot of the audience can relate to. Everyone can feel different and out of place at some point in their life.

Copyright © Nathan Groves http://wondersandparodies.blogspot.com/
This Work Is Not To Be Reproduced With Out Permission.

Reasons to Love Rather Than Hate Doctor Who

Dr Who is  causing  great excitement on television.  Whether you’re a regular sci fi fan or not Dr Who can entertain and thrill you. These are some of the reasons the show is so well loved.

A long history of quality episodes

Debuting onold black and white televisions across the UK Dr Who holds the record for the longest running science fiction series. 23rd of November 1963 is the date it started making television history an it had been enjoyed by a wide audience ever since. Its being enjoyed across the world and and growing more and more popular in America.
The shows staying power can be attributed to the  dedication and love of all those involved in the show. From actors to directors. Writers to designers. You can tell that those  who have created fantastic episodes over the years have really cared about the show.

Fantastic stories

The premise of show allows the writers to do a rich array of stories.The Tardis can go anywhere, anytime and this has certainly been put to great use over the years. The Dr can interact with manyfamous people across historyand it is always fun to see how they interact with him.
Steven Moffat has done a brilliant job since taking over as show runner. Taking Dr Who seriously whilst still making the show fun. He has wonderfully simple ideas made scary in the shows and mixes in with this complex and engaging storylines which run throughout the series. This balance has made this show continue its tradition of entertaining adults and children alike.



Great characters

Whether a character is in Dr Who for one episode or is in multiple series a lot of effort is put into making them fascinating to watch. The stream of companions over the years have been perfect for the Dr and  audience. The Dr has had company to share experiences with and to help him in histravels. Whilst the audience has characters they can relate to easier than the mysterious Dr. Rory and Amy are wonderful as the first married couple to travel in the Tardis creating a refreshingly new dynamic for the series,
The Dr, whose true name we still don’t know, is thrilling to watch in all 11 incarnations. His regenerationshave affected his personaility as well as his appearence but deep down he is still the same oldloveable rogue timelord. There are many layers to his character and the continued mystery makes him all the more facinating. Matt Smith is perfecly cast as the 11th Dr mixing fantastic comic timing, with charm, intelligence and emotion.

Memorable villains

One of the most famous villains of all time has come from Dr Who. The Daleks. Quintesentionally British and afantastic design they have become an icon. The Cybermen, Sontarans, time lords, the master, and many more have kept us enthralled as they foolishy went up against the Dr.
Even villains who are seen in one show get a lot of effort put into them and become memorable. The villains keep the show scary in delightfully imaginative with their use of many clever and evil methods.

“Special” effects

The show started with a tiny budget and money has continued to stay tight ever since. But this has never dettered Dr Who which has always come out with ambitious storylines. Yes the city in The Daleks is clearly a model. And yes they expanded the corridors with painted sheets but they created an engrossing story. Special effects may impove over the years but the past effects are still good to watch and serve their purpose. It is good to see the new series has kept a slightly cheesy feel to some effects and make up as it adds to the charm and makes the show feel truly Dr Who.

In the future it will not be the special effects that are remembered but the fantastic stories.

 

Copyright © Nathan Groves http://wondersandparodies.blogspot.com/
This Work Is Not To Be Reproduced With Out Permission.