Once again I was interviewed by the team over at New York Cine on topics related to technology and pop culture. This time out I was asked to specifically talk about the new film by director JJ Abrams, “Star Trek: Into Darkness”. I was not a fan of the first movie. I thought that Abrams essentially damaged the franchise by implementing huge changes in the source material. However I was willing to give his take on Star Trek a second chance.
The movie was visually stunning. It looked better than any of the previous movies. The acting, and the casting, were very good. The film starts off like gangbusters and fools you into thinking that it is gonna be great. However, near the second half, story becomes extremely derivative and predictable. It was apparent from many parts of film that the director is barely aware of what Star Trek is all about. It felt as if Abrams heard all of the criticism about the first film and had someone gave him a few episodes to sit down and watch. But he doesn’t get Trek and it comes through in the film. And for the record, other than the Star Trek films, I like nearly all of his work.
Anyone that knows me would understand that I have been a Trek fan since it was highly unpopular to be considered a Trekkie/Trekker. Back when you could get beaten up and your lunch money taken for quoting the Prime Directive. So it is safe to say that when Abrams took over the Captain’s chair of one of my all time favorite series, a show that helped form my moral compass on everything from friendship to social justice, and has the audacity to state that he didn’t like Star Trek because it was too philosophical, it makes me wanna send him back to that island he created on Lost.
What really scares me is that Abrams has been given control over the new Star Wars movie as well. He is like some weird little Brooklyn wannabe hipster super villain with the power to totally destroy Captain Kirk AND Han Solo. After I finished watching the new Star Trek film I had only one thought. My opinion of JJ Abrams now truly mirrors Tony Montana’s feelings for Caspar Gomez and the Diaz Brothers. If you don’t know who they are, Google it!
Now I am pissed again. Here is the damn podcast.
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