The Nitpicker's Guide to Star Trek Into Drakness Part 4

Is it over yet?

The Nitpicker's Guide to Star Trek Into Darkness Part 3

Okay the stupid twist has been revealed so why does the film keep getting worse?

The Nitpicker's Guide to Star Trek Into Darkness Part 2

Well themes and ideas are gone so let's throw logic, creativity, and diversity out the airlock while we're at it.

The Nitpicker's Guide to Star Trek Into Darkness Part 1

Happy 85^th birthday to Mr. Bill Shatner!   

And what a year it is for Star Trek.  The Original Series is celebrating its 50^th anniversary on September 8^th a new TV Series is due out in January 2017 and they already have great talent on board like Nicolas Meyer.  And finally Star Trek Beyond is hitting theatres this summer and with a whole new creative team this third film in the reboot franchise might actually not suck. However, none of that is saving this film and so it’s not getting spared the nitpickers treatment.

Short Subject: Leonard Nimoy’s Boston (2014)

Well I couldn’t let this day pass without a nod to Leonard Nimoy on what would have been his 84^th birthday.

Let’s Review a Movie: Get a Life! (2012)

It’s William Shatner’s 84^th birthday so I’m taking a look at one of his most recent works on what he called the most dedicated fanbase in the galaxy.

Let’s Review a Movie: Star Trek Into Darkness or Star Trek XII: Boldly Going Nowhere (2013)

All right after several months it’s time to take a better look at the most recent release from the franchise that kicked off this blog.  And oh boy is there a lot to discuss.  As I’ve said before all my early thought opinions are subject to change and this is such an occasion.  In my first thoughts review I originally said that this film was better than the 2009 film and I have changed my mind.  This outing is not better than the last movie this is worse, so much worse.

Star Trek: Into Darkness – Early Thoughts

The first review I ever did for this blog was on Star Trek 2009.  I didn’t like it and spent a lot of time discussing the few pros and the laundry list of cons I thought that film had.  So now that the sequel has finally arrived what do I think of it?  Well…let’s just say there’s still a lot to talk about.  This review contains FULL SPOILERS for the film you have been warned.

A few notes on Star Trek: Into Darkness

Well anyone familiar with my blog will know that I don’t care that much for the latest incarnation of Star Trek.  With the sequel just days away now I thought I’d give my views going into this next release.

Let’s Review a Movie: Star Trek VII: Generations (1994)

“I hate this!  It is revolting!”

Let’s Review a Movie: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991)

Well it’s a happy 76^th birthday for George Takei today.  To celebrate the occasion I’m taking a look at the last film with the original cast and it’s a damn find send-off.

Let’s Review a Movie: Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989)

“It’s going to be of interest mostly to trekkies, and then only so they can analyze what’s wrong with it.”

Well I agree with Mister Ebert so let’s get this ball rolling.  The sooner I start the review the sooner it’s over. 

Let’s Review a Movie: Mind Meld: Secrets Behind the Voyage of a Lifetime (2001)

Happy 82^nd birthday Leonard Nimoy!  I hope Shatner saved birthday cake to share.  Sometimes I still can’t believe that these best friends who on top of knowing each for over half their lives, playing iconic characters, were born only four days apart.  Life is really amazing sometimes.  And what better way to celebrate than looking at the project where they reminisced about their lives together.

Let's Review a Movie: The Captains (2011)

It’s my pleasure to wish a very happy 82^nd birthday to William Shatner.  A man who apparently doesn’t know the meaning of the word retire.  He is still going strong today as he was when he was a young man.  So in his honour I will be looking at one of his most recent projects.

Let’s Review a Movie: Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986)

James Doohan would have been ninety-three years old today.  So in honour of the man who seemed to enjoy us fans so much, was a great actor, and a genuinely nice guy it is my pleasure to review my favourite of all the Star Trek movies on his birthday.

Let’s Review a Movie: Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984)

Well, last time we had a film that dealt with aging, death, and no-win scenarios.  This time we have a film about friendship, loyalty, love, and resurrection, and is it as good as Wrath of Khan?  No not really.   

Let’s Review a Movie: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)

You know this film really should have been horrible.  People came in to head the project that weren’t familiar with Star Trek, and the project was a sequel too.  And sequels are usually quick cash ins that studios crank out for money regardless of whether there is a real story to tell or not.  With the theme of aging the filmmakers were acknowledging that the actors, and thus the characters, weren’t the bright thirty something’s they were in the original series anymore, something that the last film avoided like the plague.  The film crew was working on a much smaller budget and if that wasn’t handled properly the film could look very cheesy. Then to top it all off they wanted to kill off a main character, a move that is often done just for the sake of shocking the audience, but with no real substance to it.  This film should have sucked and sucked hard. 

Let’s Review a Movie: Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979)

Well Star Trek: Into Darkness is hitting the theatres in less than six months, and so in the run up to the release I decided to take a look back at the other films in the franchise.  

The Avengers - Early Thoughts

Well I’ve decided to start going to see some superheroes movies in the run up to the release of The Dark Knight Rises.  So let’s take a look at the latest release with Marvel’s characters.  As always my review will contain full spoilers.

 

 

The Nitpicker's Guide to Star Trek 2009 Part 2

The reason I brought up the whole idea of this franchise being more than entertainment is that, for me, that is the biggest sticking point in all of this.  Having entertainment is of course important.  You can have a deep concept, but if you don’t present it a way that’s interesting to an audience people won’t care.  Star Trek: The Motion Picture certainly has this issue.  The film has a high concept, and it’s less interesting than watching paint dry.  However, making something entertaining is, in my opinion, the surface layer of a project.  You can make a fun ride of a movie and then you make a fun ride of a movie that means something.  That a viewer can see multiple times and keep finding new things to think about, or different ways to view characters.  This film does not do that, the creators don’t even seem to consider that they should do that, and no where is that more noticeable than in the special features on the DVD of this film. I’m talking specifically about the “A New Vision” featurette.