So it would appear that there was a deeply dormant Trekkie fan within me that was just waiting to be set free, because now that she is, she is running full-throttle. I have been in complete and utter Trek!geek mode ever since the movie came out. Besides for seeing the movie several times already (I won’t admit to the actual number), I have been watching
TOS online. Also, I’ve reinstated my Netflix account in order to rewatch the movies. So far, I’ve seen the
Wrath of Khan and
Nemesis (which was the only one we own on DVD). The
Wrath of Khan is a great one to rewatch after seeing XI—with all its Kobayashi Maru references. ^_^ And
Nemesis was better than I remember it being, though I don’t know if its because I’ve only seen it once (when it first came out) or because I’m seeing it now through my new Trek!geek eyes. And as for
TOS, while some episodes (I will admit) are so bad they are painful to watch, most are just delightfully cheesy. No matter what, however, Spock remains beyond cool. I have become such a Spock fangirl—old and new—in the past week (though I only really lust after new!Spock). He is just the master of awesome.
But watching so much of the original and talking with a few long-time fans, I have come to several realizations about the movie. Mostly in understanding why certain fans wouldn’t like it as much as I did. One particular conversation with a co-worker (who hadn’t yet seen the movie) said that he was hesitant because it seemed too much like an action film. Watching
WOK and
Nemesis, I think I understand his point. While Trek has never lacked for space battles, there is also an emphasis on intellectual battles as well—out-smarting and out-thinking your opponent as much as blasting them to hell. Not to mention there are internal battles to be fought and difficulties to be overcome. Admittedly, there is less of that in XI—it is very much an action film. But I didn’t find it particularly lacking at all because it. It was still a fantastic movie that, I believe, stayed true to the spirit of Trek even if it did have a more action-oriented plot. Personally, I adore a good space battle, but I can see his point.
Along those lines, I do have a nitpick myself. There are two scenes in particular, neither of which advance the story, I believe the movie could have done without.
( SPOILERS BEYOND THIS POINT )But for this fan, more than anything else, Star Trek XI was more than just awesome. Seeing it re-awoke a part of my childhood, set free the Trek!geek within me, and reminded me of the joy that Star Trek was. May it continue to live long and prosper. (Jeez…I
am a geek. ^_^)