Now that I have briefly (and probably in-cohereantly) described my Trek pedigree…let me say again…I really enjoyed the new film. It has many of the strengths of the original series (the cameraderie and solid acting) without dwelling on some of the weaker points (how this future society is actually structured and the constant techno-babble…although I think that was more a weakness of Next Gen) and throws in some actual excitement and action…two things Trek is rarely known for (except the exceptional DS9).

However…I have to say that I feel for you devout Trekkies out there…if I was one of you…I would despise the new movie…period.

In those aspects of geekdom in which I revel, I demand absolute respect for canon from the creative forces involved. If one does not want to make a Star Trek film while respecting what has come before…one should not make a Star Trek film. Using the old different timeline argument is just plain lazy (and probably my biggest problem with Star Trek overall…alternate timelines always make for lame sci-fi).

So while this film was a well crafted one in every aspect…and good enough that I am able to forgive the lazy time travel aspect…I don’t see how any true Trekkie could defend it…

As a true Star Wars junkie I know how pissed I would be if some nut rebooted the franchise and tried to have a little Jake Lloyd fall for a decidedly different woman so we could see a certain smuggler tooling around the galaxy with his Wookie buddy using the force to try to redeem his asthmatic father. Alternate timeline or not…that is a film I simply could not defend…well done or not.

You Trekkies should take pride in your geekness and demand the canon be returned for future installments…even if it means more time-travel wackiness.

Actually, rus in chicago, El Diz might be the Mirror Universe version of me.

El Diz, I could use your arguments for any stupid movie and say it was good. But most people agree with you, so obviously my perceptions or interpretations are wrong.

So, lack of Pinto chemistry — totally subjective. Worked for me, didn’t work for you. That’s one!

Lack of character-establishing conversations — this I have to disagree with. I started making a list but it got too damn long because pretty much every conversation in the movie did double duty as plot and characterization. What exactly did you feel was lacking in characterization?

I found the script quite clever, again doing the double duty of serving long-time fans and those new to the franchise. What exactly about the script leads you to say it wasn’t smart?

Also, I found romance in the script, namely between Spock and Uhura. I admit it was understated and quite chaste – he is a Vulcan after all – but it was there. What exactly would have to be different for you to see that relationship as romantic?

Although I disagree with you on the opening, especially the idea that a 30 second conversation that ends in the Captain’s death was boring, I congratulate you for stating this as your opinion instead of as what you think the general audience might think, as you did in your original review. That’s two!

“The lack of demanding effort required to appreciate the film was a downside for me”. Now we’re getting somewhere. The fact that the film is accessible to a general audience somehow lessens your enjoyment. That’s three!

Lack of emotional resonance — again a subjective thing. Either you feel it or you don’t, and you didn’t. That’s four!

And no, I did not misunderstand your whining about ENT. Yes, it had a similar premise (pre-TOS, time travel shenanigans to hand wave any continuity issues) but my understanding is that the execution of those premises were miles apart – I can’t speak to my own opinion on the issue, as I didn’t have UPN, but the consensus seems to be that ENT sucked hard, especially at the beginning.

So to sum up: you weren’t feeling the Pinto chemistry, you didn’t like all that icky talking in the middle of the space battle, you resent that the film found an audience outside Trekkies like us and the film didn’t touch you emotionally. Those are opinions! That’s a review! Congratulations!

I don’t want to sound defensive in regards to defending my view of the Star Trek film, so please don’t take any of my following comments as attempts at ignoring any of your points.

I do indeed refer to Rotten Tomatoes, but I admit I haven’t read all the reviews. I took the time to read the reviews you recommended. I didn’t agree with some of the statements made, and as you might have guessed, I didn’t find any of the three reviews to be particularly enlightening. I’ll just touch on a few of their positive points that I disagree with or that don’t really make the film enjoyable for me.

I didn’t find the chemistry between Quinto and Pine as Spock and Kirk to be especially strong. I don’t feel there were enough conversations between any of the characters to establish much cast rapport. I did think the actors did a fine job with their respective characters with what little some of them had to do.

I did not find the script to be smart, funny, or romantic. I’ll admit that Pegg as Scotty had some quaint lines. Oh, I’ll even admit that none of the previous Star Trek movies or episodes are particularly laugh out loud funny to me.

I didn’t find the beginning to be that enthralling although I expect people are talking about the space battle and not the part with Nero conversing with the Captain of the Kelvin. The space battle was neat, but not enough combined with the rest of the film to make me think the film was “good.”

I’ll half-heartedly agree that the film was a great introduction to Star Trek for non-Trekkies. Unfortunately, the lack of demanding effort required to appreciate the film was a downside for me. I would hope people could see this from my Trekkie standpoint. I know there are Trekkies who think the film is great, but I’m a Trekkie who wanted a more challenging film. I could have been swayed with a film that affected me emotionally, but unfortunately, I just didn’t feel enough.

BTW, it was clever of you to use the line, “I dare you to do better.” Unfortunately, I’m only a James T. Kirk wannabe.

Oh, when the DVD of Star Trek comes out, I’ll watch it trying to have an open mind, and I’ll try to write another review giving my opinions and reasons for my opinions.

Have you tried Rotten Tomatoes? Surely with 95% of the reviews being positive you’ll find one reviewer that “fully explains” why they think it’s a good movie. I’ll even get you started.

This reviewer thinks it’s because Trek lives or dies on the Kirk / Spock dynamic and the movie delivered:
http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/973/973956p1.html

This one covers the multiple levels they think the movie succeeds on:
http://www.popmatters.com/pm/post/92523-new-trek-should-live-long-and-prosper/

And this one even breaks down everything the movie got right into helpful bullet points for you:
http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20090508-ENTERTAIN-90508048?nocache=1

“In my opinion, with a movie like Star Trek, there isn’t much to discuss beyond the intricate details that Trekkies love to obsess about.”

I don’t know, you seem to be getting plenty of mileage out how no one agrees with your vague and incoherent reasons for not liking it. Your latest excuse seems to be about everyone hating on Enterprise, which means that everyone should be hating on Trek 2009 too? And the fact that people love 2009 but hated ENT is some kind of logic bomb that is threating to blow up your brain? Or something?

Here’s an idea. Take what you’ve heard from everyone else about why this movie was awesome and go see it again. Look for what everyone else is seeing and maybe you’ll see it too. Or maybe you won’t. But either way you’ll hopefully be able to put into words the reasons why or why not. Sure, you can keep whining about not getting it while throwing in the occassional physics nitpick and rant about Enterprise.

I dare you to do better.