Reviews

To begin with, as a standalone SciFi action-adventure movie, it will be great fun. This probably even more true for non Trek fans who are not well versed Trek lore or the so-called "Trek Universe." The effects were outstanding and most of the leads did goods jobs bringing iconic characters back to life. Karl Urban did particularly well as bones.

The problem with this movie is with the lack of continuity with the 40 plus years of Trek lore that preceded it. There are simply too many things that will have Trek fans going "huh?" Abrams and the writers seem to be trying to explain these away with an alternative time line but it just doesn't work. There are too many to ignore or dismiss. even in that context of an alternate time line many of the more glaring continuity issues don't make sense.

I'm not one of those Trek zealots or purists, nor do I generally sit there while watching a movie looking for gaffs. In fact, my usual response to such criticisms is, "It's a movie, get over it." However, in this case if you mess with the continuity as often as they did in this movie it becomes a distraction to the viewer, as it did for me in this case. Which is why I gave it an 8 instead of a 9 or 10.

The continuity issue aside, I recommend that anyone who enjoys SciFi or just a good action filled flick go see this on the big screen. It's worth the 11 bucks.

I'm a big fan of SciFi and as with many who love the genre, I considered the 1951 version a classic. So, I was quite anxious to see the remake. The obvious change in the primary point of the plot, (war/violence to environment/climate) seemed workable, and if properly executed, had potential.

As it turns out, it was potential unfulfilled. I left the theater thinking that was 2 hours of my life that I'd never get back.

Mediocre acting can sometimes be overcome by a really good story and script but no amount of great acting or special effects, which this film definitely did not contain, can overcome a lousy script.

SPOILERS FOLLOW

In the original the scenes of the Earth standing still occurred at a point in the story line that made sense in the flow of the story. The point was to demonstrate that the aliens did indeed have the ability to destroy the earth. In this version they choose to plug that event in at the end of the movie leaving viewers wondering why.

The change in the plot from advanced races sending a being to evaluate and warn us to changes our ways to one in which the decision to destroy humanity has already been made guts the point of the original story and makes this noting more than another "B" aliens come to destroy the Earth movie.

Finally, the acting in this bomb leaves much to be desired. Keanu Reeves was emotionless, as usual. Jennifer Connelly was almost as bad. Perhaps the most disappointing was Kathy Bates, who is usually a great actor, although I do not know that anyone could really do all that much with the flotsam of a script they were saddled with.

Bottom line is that this film is definitely not worth the cost or time and effort of a trip to the theater. If you must see it, do yourself a favor and wait for it to make it to the movie channels or show up in Red Box.