(This blog is directed to another blog that endeavors to prove their undying loyalty of Star Trek to the haters of the latest Star Trek incarnation)
Hatred?
You are writing this article to answer the "hatred" directed at this movie? Why bother? This movie is making money and doing well, there is no need for you to answer the fools that hate this movie.
I did not like the movie and I expressed as such. Immediately, I was accused of hating the movie and that attitude amazes me. I was amazed because I expressed my opinion and because I dared do so, I was accused of hatred towards the grammatically incorrect "Star Trek: Into Darkness."
I am no fan of J.J., and I will never be. So what? That doesn't matter, the only thing that matters is if we have Star Trek on television, internet or in Cinema. Hell, fan productions qualify as Star Trek being alive.
For you to state that "the franchise was dead in 2005" don't really understand Star Trek at all and frankly, you are simply repeating what others have said many, many times before you. Star Trek is not simply a movie, or a TV show, or a fan production - it is us, those that believe in Star Trek. The believers will always watch Star Trek in all of its forms, then pass judgement on that particular episode or movie.
A true believer, is one that listens to others and returns to his or her Star Trek no matter what anyone else says. That is what makes a Star Trek fan, it doesn't matter what anyone says about "My" Star Trek.
If you are listening to all of the "hatred," well, good for you. Don't get angry about it, don't worry about it because they won't listen to any logical argument that you could make. EVER.
IMHO, this movie was, not a great movie. If you want homages to original Trek, this one is laced with them. If you want one that returns to one of the best movies in the entire series and tries to give a new take just for the sake of giving a new take on hallowed ground, you must bring more. Why go back? Are the producers that empty that they must go back and use elements of classic Trek so they could tell a better story? They already have the keys to the car and they choose to ride the parental car only to say that they drive better then their parents?
What happened to exploring strange new worlds, and seeking out new life forms? Both J.J. Movies have lots of revenge. So now, anger, makes good movies? Sure it does, but is this all that Trek has become?
Needless to say, as a sophisticated Trekker myself, I am saddened by the plot holes in this movie, just like in all other movies. Just too bad that these last two movies went out of their way to not care about those points and respect the universe.
All things change. I expect that from life as I do in Trek, but I want something that will entertain, remind me of what I am watching, but take me to places that I have never been before.
War with the Klingons? Khan? Kirk willing to break rules for his crew to survive? If i remember correctly, the goal of producers was to bring us to a point where we could see how are heroes became to be the heroes that we know today. But, wait a minute, we have changed the entire universe and circumstances of these same heroes and what do we get? Different people. So, we really aren't learning how our heroes came to be who they are. We are being taken on a conveniently manufactured timeline that allows the producers to do whatever they want.
Fine. If those are the rules, I get to play too. You want me to believe these are the people that I know and yet, you want to change how they became the people that I know? This isn't the James T. Kirk that I know. He lives in a different timeline and I don't like the Kirk you have created. The Kirk in the J.J. universe is a spoiled brat. He is not the warrior/philosopher/diplomat that I know from Star Trek. This isn't the same guy, more so because of the changes to his life. Why should I be invested in this? You are giving me someone new, someone that I don't recognize all too well.
Alright. You are making changes. I get that. I will allow you to make the changes if you entertain me.
How about we talk about the ages of the crew and how it is impossible for Checkov to be a part of this crew. This whole thing about Checkov being with the crew so early in the game is a glaring, glaring problem with continuity. Checkov should be in middle school. No matter, the changes to the timeline could have changed his date of birth - I get that. I am willing to let that go, because for one, I have no choice, and two, it really doesn't matter if it is a good story.
Spock? Why isn't he trying to get back to his timeline? Proper history? The logic of his partaking in this universe goes against what we know of that Character. Spock would die trying to set things back to the "normal" flow of history. Tell the crew about Khan??? OMG! This not the Vulcan that I grew up with.
You know, one thing that made Star Trek entertaining is that they actually consulted with scientists to try to make their science plausible. The current writers haven't even tried.
Why does Marcus need new weapons when you have trans-warp-beaming? Dude, why do you need Khan to make new weapons? You can send conventional weapons to any place in the galaxy with trans-warp-beaming? You don't need troops and you don't need ships with Trans-Warp-Beaming! HELLO? Anyone out there?
How about showing up at Chronos with a ship that doesn't have cloaking technology and nothing happens to 'em? Where were the Klingon Defense Forces?
How long does it take for me to warp from Chronos to Earth? Really? These points are not minor issues, this is taking the Star Trek universe and taking and choosing what you want and ignoring everything else.
Really? Rather weak if you ask me. I was disappointed with the basic story. Too many holes. Story is WHAT matters. The universe you tell that story in matters too! Respect the universe and you will be able to do wondrous things, but when you pretend to respect by doing cheeky homages to cover up glaring, Mack-Truck sized plot holes, it leaves some people feeling empty. I know people like Swiss cheese. I don't.
Star Trek XII is making money, lots of it. Why? It was written for the masses. Star Trek was never written for me, a Star Trek fan. It was written with stuff that I recognize, but you changed it, not for me, but those that don't know Trek. These people don't fathom who Kirk is. They don't care.
I do.
So. You will never convince others of how good or bad a movie is, because the unique thing about Star Trek is that it reaches each and everyone of us! Star Trek speaks to me. It always has and it always will. Often times it will have a different accent and I will struggle to understand the accent, but I will always listen, because at its heart, Star Trek tells me that the future is bright and worth making a fight to get there.
To others: they'll never get it, they will always hate, or they will simply be stupid because they will never understand my take on Star Trek.
Everyone will see Star Trek XII in their own way, use their own understanding and interpret in their own manner. Let them. Don't answer them because they hate something. Not worth your time to begin with.
If someone 'hates' this movie - let them hate! They are watching and when no one watches, then, and only then, will Star Trek be dead.
Star Trek is alive and while the language has changed, Star Trek still speaks to me and I to it. I will always listen to it and if I disagree with it or even hate it - well so be it. It is may right to do so.
I am a citizen of the Federation. Always have been, always will be.
