Star Trek (2009) Retrospective/Review - Star Trek Retrospective, Part 16

[@RowanJColeman]

HELP THE CHANNEL GROW: www.patreon.com/rowanjcoleman

[@Napoleonic_S]

btw I thought that was not pre thor chris hemsworth, that was his sibling.

[@MollaiAnne]

Just started watching your videos. I'm completely obsessed with then star trek stuff. They are excellent and focus on all the details I want to know. Thank you so much

[@tomcruisenukedmyaccount5388]

09 is a junk commercial product which trashes the characters if we are honest. Into Darkness is much better. The acting is good though.

[@birdsandthingsbeachandbush1064]

My girlfriend said it's Days of our lives for guys. 😂

[@ricardioscarbonara102]

Props to this film for having one of the best opening acts I've ever seen

[@jplonsdale7242]

I really enjoyed it when it came out and watched it multiple times I haven't seen it in years I think it's time to revisit these films

[@jinsakai8157]

I got to the theatre late and was forced into the front section so I was right up to the screen. I remember being embarrassed about audibly choking up while sitting next to my friends. It was very powerful and unexpected.

[@bluntman5312]

As a lifelong Trekkie, I went to see this movie with the decision of going twice. The first, to rip it apart and absolutely hate it. The second, to take it on its own merits and give it an honest chance. I was hooked on first viewing by the time "Star Trek" popped up on the screen. After "Into Darkness" I stopped caring.

[@claytonberg721]

I'll say.

[@dangerouslydazzling]

You haven't seen many filims then

[@matthewburdick4966]

I respectively disagree that this Kirk is in line with the young Kirk we heard about in ToS, and that's the point. In the original series young Kirk is described as "a stack of books with legs". But this a Krik who grew up without a father, and who was acting out because of it.

[@m.e.3862]

When I heard they were doing a reboot I was really hoping to see the events on tarsus 4 which was forgotten but one of the things I liked about TOS Kirk. It made him a more 3 dimensional character. I was disappointed again because we got delinquent Kirk instead.

[@christheghostwriter]

Kirk was described that way in one episode. He was largely portrayed as a swashbuckling womanizer (and alien-izer).

[@zhitchcresttail3387]

Which is one of the worst, overdone tropes ever

[@marvinhacking5777]

Ya this character and actor were the worst thing about this mostly well re-done movie . And my addition to the writing team would be ... Since it is an alternate time line ... how bout we kill him off about half way through the movie ? Seems Bills movie input strikes again eh ?

[@AnIdiotAboard_]

And is still a stack of books on legs.

[@razorfett147]

As a lifelong fan of the tos film series, i enjoyed ST 09. The plot is largely forgettable, but the casting and character writing were inspired. The fact that Nimoy himself loved it so much is reason enough to let it have its due.

[@dosmastrify]

Mccoy lacked depth. Seemed a parody to me that. And I love urban

[@dosmastrify]

Liked movie otherwise...except for red matter

[@JcBravo8]

I'd disagree, partially because ITD was so bad its plot is actually more memorable than 09.

[@nathancochran4694]

@@dosmastrify That's because his part in the trio is largely replaced by Uhura, because she is Spocks love interest (can't believe I had to put Spock, Uhura, and love interest in the same sentence).

[@zacharyjochumsen9677]

@@nathancochran4694 and this movie basically did to star trek what star wars epidode 1 did for star wars revie the frnchise in a huge event manner and looking back inthe mythology and lore of ther respective franchises help bring both respective franchises back I the pop cu.gure sci fi landscape that had left behind for a while

[@jo_rellvs..]

At 61, Star Trek is, MY BLOOD!! This CREATION of JJ`s... Gell`d the Entire Franchise for Me.. giving ALL the Timelines a New Twist, a New Look to them.. Which you.. Just Highlighted once Again, SPOT ON, Bro!!... Bring`n it around FULL CIRCLE...( I LOV`D the LENS FLARE!! by the way) Thank you for your GREAT Effort!!..... " Beam me up Scotty!!"

[@thearchivist250]

I legitimately laughed out loud at "But Vulcan has no moon." "I'm not surprised Mr. Spock." I had not seen that one. Thank you for all your work. I will donate to the Patreon.

[@niallwatson6851]

I dragged all my friends to go see this when it came out, and we all ended up really liking it. After that it was a lot easier to get them to watch the old movies, so win win!

[@jplonsdale7242]

Which of the old movies do you really like?

[@niallwatson6851]

@@jplonsdale7242 The Undiscovered Country is my favourite, but First Contact and The Voyage Home are also wonderful. Star Trek is pretty near to my heart, so the only one of the movies I don't like is Into Darkness, and even it has its moments.

[@KinglyDagon]

​@@niallwatson6851 Voyager got me into Star Trek, but the movies made me watch the original Star Trek, Star Trek TNG, and I just got done with Deep Space Nine which I got to say was way better that anticipated.

[@Reject101Personal]

Star Trek (2009) is one of those films that I think shows Karl Urban to be one of the absolute BEST character actors in current times.

[@henryb.little3399]

Agreed. He embodied the "Bones" character and made it his own. Really liked his McCoy

[@lorddcheddar]

​@@henryb.little3399Call me crazy, but I kind of prefer his interpretation compared to DeForest Kelley's

[@phyzicsAV]

Spot on as McCoy!

[@christheghostwriter]

Pine talks about not imitating Shatner, but there's a scene in the Jellyfish ship where he says "Spock!" and he perfectly nails that clipped, punchy way that Shatner spoke the name

[@loftus4453]

@@peanut1001x I disagree. Pine did just enough substantive imitation without crossing the line into absurd mimicry. Shatner’s distinctive choppy delivery is tough to reproduce without stepping over the line and making fun of him. I love Shatner’s performance of Kirk, but even as a life long fan I can see the flaws in his performance. He tends to overact which even as a child didn’t sit well with me. Pine hit just the right notes in my opinion.

[@DoctorSmock]

28:10 I got goosebumps whenever that music hit! It brought me back to when I was sitting in the theater, watching this for the first time. Another great "retroview", Rowan! Keep up the amazing work!

[@seraiharper5553]

You can really feel Giacchino's Trekkerness in the score. He knew exactly what was required.

[@cassivellaunushonestus4927]

@@seraiharper5553 It was the best part of the movie.

[@jorgezarco9269]

The late Anton Yelchin was a good "young Chekov". He had a supporting role in The Beaver(2011). He lost his life in 2016.

[@Wargasm54]

Yeah. Sad that he is no longer with us. Such a freakish accident. RIP Anton

[@tycannah4271]

Your review is spot on. If it wasn't for this film ST franchise may have withered to reruns.

[@techpassion4126]

New retrospective episode is out, been looking forward to this! I mentioned this in another comment, but Star Trek 2009 was my gateway to the franchise when I was 12! Since then I've dived into a lot of the older films, played Star Trek Online through my teens, read Star Trek novels, and watched a ton video essays on the franchise and it's lore over on KZbin all the way through to my adulthood (with the Retrospective series being my newest addiction!) A lot of my favorite Star Trek movies come from the classic Kirk and Picard era, but 2009 and New Trek in general always had a special place to me. I know some some og fans are worried New Trek will make new fans that only enjoy new star trek and see old Trek as just a "slow" show, but there's quite a bunch of us that enjoy old Trek thanks to new Trek! We're just quietly enjoying our time in this franchise and all it has to offer, and we love all things Star Trek too ^^

[@Kralich]

Aah, someone else who was absorbed by Star Trek Online. It was part of my Christmas celebration to do that event each year for the Breen ship, though I stopped paying attention to it once they gave away the Fek'ihiri stuff instead. I wasn't old enough to watch Enterprise as it was airing (I was born in 2000) so there was this brief period from about 2006 to 2009 where I watched the older stuff (though at the time the only thing I liked was Voyager - wasn't quite old enough to appreciate the deeper, more methodical storytelling of DS9, or patient enough to sit through TNG's slower moments, both of which came with growing older). There's only three films that made me go "wow, I can't believe I'm seeing this in a cinema again" - Transformers in 2007, Star Trek in 2009, and The Force Awakens in 2015. Of the three, the one that has the most enduring legacy as a genuinely good film to me is Star Trek. Into Darkness was a stumble but not by a long shot as big a stumble as the second entry in the other two franchises, and Beyond is simply incredible. At this point it's looking increasingly doubtful, but a bit of me still hopes we'll get another JJVerse Trek again, and see the new Enterprise-A in action.

[@esecallum]

Enterprise Incidents with Scott & Steve Upon their arrival at the planet Gamma Hydra IV to resupply the Federation science team stationed there, the Enterprise crew is shocked to discover that all of the colonists have died or are dying of a bizarre affliction that has caused them to age rapidly. But soon after beaming back to the Enterprise, Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and the rest of the landing party find that they too have started aging at an accelerated rate -- that is, all except Mr. Chekov, the reasons for which could provide the key to their survival. With less than a week to live until their bodies give out -- and less time than that before senility sets in -- it's a race against time to find a cure and reverse the aging process. The hits just keep on coming in "The Deadly Years," a provocative, superbly-acted and emotionally resonant Season 2 episode that is far better than it is often given credit for. Chalk it up to a concept that has gained relevancy over the years, especially among longtime fans who have come to relate to its themes, resulting in an unqualified "Star Trek" classic that has quite literally gotten better with age. You can follow Enterprise Incidents at: Facebook facebook.com/EnterpriseIn...

[@steveanderson6170]

I've never heard of the Screen Machine. What a cool idea! And a great way to bring first run movies to fans in remote locations.

[@jasonjayalap]

JJ Trek felt to me like a mirror universe where the Red Squad are the heroes.

[@YamixYuugi]

This is simultaneously the funniest and most accurate take I’ve ever seen on the jj Star Trek film

[@christheghostwriter]

Not gonna lie, I teared up a little when Nimoy was addressing the cast and crew at the end of filming

[@RobinusPrime]

You're not alone..

[@gabsrants]

You just keep hitting these out of the park. Your story about the Screen Machine actually brought me to tears.

[@Digital_Ninja279]

A month and a half before this movie came out, my mother suddenly died and it started a downward spiral in me and my brother's lives. I dropped out of college to look for job, and was not having luck, my brother was struggling with his. I was giving an invite to a special screening to this film and we went cause we wanted to see it and we were strapped for cash so a free movie was the highlight. This film helped us get through our roughest patch in our lives, even though Amanda's death scene affected us pretty hard. We were glad we got away from reality for that bit. I wanted to see it again so I would have friends invite me and I would stay in the theater watching it 2 or 3 times on days I go.

[@thetohoapologist4240]

How are you now if you don't mind my asking

[@Outlawstar0198]

I hope you're doing well, Digital Ninja 279

[@dragonskunkstudio7582]

I was always confused about the antagonist. He wants revenge on Spock and Vulcan for trying to save his planet? And earth too, why not. I know there's a deleted cut that answers his motivations, but going strictly on the movie for its own sake, I was getting tired of the overly motivated crazed villain trope.

[@andromidius]

He blamed him for failing, not trying. Or for even letting it happen while lying about trying to help, because Romulans are often extremely paranoid.

[@jimcook7053]

Spock was representing the Vulcan Science Council (the intellectual puppets of the federation!) & he was supposed to be saving the Romulans. When he failed all the above got the blame for his failure & had to be destroyed. Not sure how making a black hole out of a sun with red matter would save anything but you know film logic!

[@ssm100]

He was told help was on the way, and then it did not come. What better definition of tragedy?

[@inkermoy]

It's even worse than that. Nero and the Narada are thrown back in time, but in all the 25 years from when they arrived, they don't even try to contact Romulus of the danger. Yes, I know they were captured by Klingons and even that doesn't make sense in that the Klingons would just let some future tech sit around. If you haven't caught it.But let's kill billions of people for something that didn't happen yet. And if you never caught it, Sweded Star Trek kzbin.info/www/bejne/emjNpHiZoMaEasU

[@mikenolan73]

@@inkermoy Agreed. Even at the risk of a paradox why wouldn't Nero attempt to warn Romulus about the supernova? It makes little to no sense. Simply giving the Romulans the technology of a ship from nearly a century in future would make them the dominant power in the quadrant. If Nero had been captured in the past why wouldn't the Klingons have stripped his ship of technology they could retrofit their fleet with?

[@Jo1Mo182]

Thank you so much for this video. As a lifelong Trek fan, I always felt like a traitor because I enjoyed this film so much. But the behind-the-scenes information presented here helped me realize that they really did try to honor the past as they brought Star Trek into the future. I love your whole retrospective series, it lets me relive the best parts of Trek without having to dedicate the enormous amount of time I don't have to rewatch every show from start to finish. Keep up the great work!

[@ScaricoOleoso]

I'm surprised you let the other JJ-isms slide--especially the whole "it sure was lucky Kirk was marooned not just on the same world, but the same neighborhood as Old Spock, and it also sure was lucky Scotty was right there, and that the Millennium Falcon was just sitting there (hehe, other JJ-ism)!"

[@honzasenbauer612]

He specifically said that many of the plot points were contrived, such as kirk being promoted from Cadet to First officer. This belongs there thought.

[@Sakrysta]

I was fighting tears listening to Leonard Nimoy’s speech at the end of filming. And then you had to go and tell your background story and share about seeing the movie with your mum, and I just 😭🥰😭🥰😭!!!

[@alasdairgoudie9459]

As a fan of the channel who lives on the Isle of Islay, I just wanted to say it was a real unexpected surprise getting to hear you talk about The Screen Machine! It's a beautiful, bizarre little cinema that's thankfully still managed to stay open all throughout the pandemic, and it really was a lifeline for a cinephile stuck in the Hebrides. The fact that you even used a picture taken by the Maltings at 26:52 was bizarrely surreal for me, haha. Anyway, I just wanted to say it's been great to see a Scottish Trekkie's channel doing so well (there are a surprisingly high number of us, percentage wise) and I'm looking forward to the upcoming retrospectives.

[@kaciusmaximus1809]

The change to characterization of Kirk, like them or not, makes sense as in this timeline Kirk never knew his father, which of course would change a person. Instead, he had a trope bad stepfather played by JJ lucky charm Greg Grunberg.

[@seraiharper5553]

Meh. I think the movie forces it. He just doesn't feel like the same guy. Yes, his circumstances suck, but they leaned way too far in the other direction, in my opinion. The Kirk in TOS wouldn't have turned into a sloppy brat. He would have hardened up and worked even harder to get the hell away as fast as he could. He wouldn't have been as pleasant and maybe he'd never have made Captain - but I can't see him becoming that kind of jerk.

[@Ottophil]

@@seraiharper5553 why can’t you just accept that the movie can’t read your mind? Why does every fan think they know better than the people who get paid to do this stuff? I’m so sick of internet comments of losers that can’t accept things the way they are.

[@seraiharper5553]

@@Ottophil Um, a MOVIE cannot DO anything. It is an object made by humans. And honestly, it's pretty hilarious how you HARRUMPH over other people having opinions as if YOU didn't have any of your own. What you are peeved about is really the fact that you OPTED to read my comment and it didn't live up to YOUR standards. That's on you, honey. Your sniffing is not impressive.

[@YggdrasilAudio]

The part when Kirk was walking on the ice planet, logging a complaint about Spock, he sounded just like William Shatner! Chris Pine does not get enough credit for his role.

[@CalvinNoire]

I'm pretty sure JJ intended to do this so he can have character development and turn him into a better character.

[@jdjenvey]

Great to see that so many people love this film. For me however this hit very differently. I went with friends to see this at a midnight screening. We were all big Trek fans. After the credits rolled we just sat in silence for a while. None of us saw anything but a by the numbers action film that night. We were gutted. The Star Trek tone we had grown up with was over. This was for a new generation, and not for us. It was bittersweet. Things must move forward and Trek had to evolve, but it did so without my investment from then on.

[@bencheevers6693]

You're absolutely right, I can't believe half of the comments, a lot of people are saying well the film sucks but the casting was great, I mean what kind of defense is that. I wrote this comment: I know you can't shit on anything because of what you want in your career Rowan but this movie was dogshit and the beginning of the precipitous decline and destruction of this IP. I absolutely love the rest of your content about ST when it was great. The biggest tragedy I see about this movie is how they went to Leonard Nemoy and conned him into thinking they were making a good movie and now this is a stain on his legacy. And the point is people are super happy they got previous actor's 'input' and casting approval but they made a horrendous product and it's literally a tarnish on all of these people's legacies and it's like the defense has to defend the movie in order not to denigrate the original actors. It's a shame we can't recognize how much Star Trek has gone to shit, how awful bad robot is and how absurdly awful Picard is. We'll never get good Star Trek again and I'm ok with that.

[@CaptainPikeachu]

@@bencheevers6693 Why are haters like you always so goddamn dramatic? A stain on Nimoy’s legacy? Are you serious? Do you need to go outside and touch grass or something? His legacy is perfectly fine and he played a huge part in a successful and well received film. Just because you didn’t like something doesn’t mean people’s legacies have been ruined. Grow up.

[@bencheevers6693]

@@CaptainPikeachu I don't think his legacy is damaged I just wish people would stop being afraid to acknowledge how bad the film is because they are afraid of tarnishing the legacy of people like Nemoy, I want them to stop pretending the film isn't shit and whatever anger they feel towards that relating to how awful the last Star Wars projects that Nemoy was able to do in his life should be directed squarely at Bad Robot for their abyssmal filmmaking and stewardship of the series.

[@McDisneySoft]

Your videos are among the best star trek content around. Something about them captures the spirit of the shows/movies so well--with the feeling of adventure, exploration, optimism and hope! I almost feel like I'm *watching Star Trek,* as opposed to watching content *about Star Trek.* Rowan, you nailed it. You ARE Star Trek. Keep up the great work!

[@allthingsnerd.4484]

As a longtime Trek fan, I really enjoyed this take on the franchise. However, the best thing about this movie is that it got my wife (a non-fan and nigh-hater of TOS specifically) not only INTO Star Trek, but, she then watched all the other series with me and is now a huge fan. Say what you will about the Kelvin movies; the fact that they brought my wife into the fold is reason enough for me to love them.

[@burningitchingstinging4698]

As always a fantastic retrospective. The clip of Leonard Nimoy on the last day was a F'n tear jerker. R.I.P. Leonard

[@sergioortiz6703]

I was maybe 13 when I found this movie surfing through channels, even though I missed like the first 15 minutes, I was hooked, my mind got blown by the concept of time travel, alternate, realities and a ship whith a full 100+ people crew, getting to this retrospective has been like coming full circle

[@Its__Good]

There is so much about this film that's absolutely great. And i've watched it many times and enjoy each viewing. But I have to say that at its core it lacks that 'element' that excites me when I watch (most) Trek. It's like this amazing replica of Trek that exceeds the original in lots of areas, apart from the ones that really matter. I remember thinking at the time that it was a fantastic basis from which they could go out and tell new amazing Trek stories. But looking back, I wonder if it was actually the death knell for what got me hooked in the first place. The imaginative, mind-bending, outer limits/Twilight zone sci-fi writing. The film had a plot that made less sense than The Final Frontier - but it made $400m - so maybe that didn't matter. . . . . . . . . ..

[@razorfett147]

The plot was almost played down cliche, and largely forgettable. It seems to have been little more than a vehicle for the character interaction. Thats where the film shines: great casting and enjoyable character scenes. I would love for there to have been a more interesting and unique central plot, but if i had to choose between great characters and great story ill choose great characters everytime

[@Story2ScreenMovieReviewPodcast]

Personally I think this is Abrams best film as a director, next to MI3.

[@Its__Good]

@@lance7607 I had a very similar conversation with my friend directly after seeing it. I said that it felt like one of those US war films, where they had made a great, exciting drama by ignoring what actually happened and making it up. I don't know if that makes sense . . .

[@mikenolan73]

Abrams is a great director with moment to moment action for individual scenes but the connective tissue to link those scenes into a coherent plot isn't there so you end up with lots of contrivances. You can see Abrams repeat those types of contrivances in the star wars sequel trilogy. Having that said the film is exceptionally well cast, the actors feel like they're properly inhabiting the charaters and not just doing a parody of the original actors.

[@Its__Good]

@@Story2ScreenMovieReviewPodcast I don't like any of the MI films apart from the first one. Maybe that explains my views a bit.

[@Grindhead_Jim]

Rowan, you continue to fly the flag of a new standard for retrospectives. You certainly inhabit aspects of previous forerunners, while bringing your distinct voice and style to the genre. I cannot wait to see where you go next after Star Trek has run its course for you. You are a blessing to the community, and I will support you as long as you keep up this level of passion and quality.

[@nredding1]

Your retrospectives are very well done - thank you for your hard & thoughtful work!

[@justinhoneycutt3307]

You know, it would be absolutely enjoyable to hear you give the Star Wars franchise the same treatment as you did with this series.

[@Scripture-Man]

If anyone wants something similar with Doctor Who - I highly recommend the "Clever Dick" retrospectives - which were, in fact, the inspiration for Rowan's videos.

[@dentoncrimescene]

The contrived nature and kirk being promoted so quickly really spoils this film for me.

[@j.d.b.4683]

I agree. It told me they did not take the material seriously. No military structure (sorry Roddenberry) would do that. They would be hundreds of people they could and would promote before him. AS you said, it spoils it. It seems small, but it is big. It has that Wesley Crusher thing about it that is distasteful. I always felt Kirk EARNED his command.

[@seraiharper5553]

I agree, but for me the fun outweighed all the nonsense. I just decided it wasn't canon, it was fanfic, and so it didn't matter that it wasn't true to the original. (Sadly, it turned out to be a progressively dumber WIP that flopped out, but hey, at least we got one flick that was fun and not trying SO DAM HARD to make fans happy without knowing what they actually wanted.)

[@m.e.3862]

Meh it was a battlefield promotion so I went with it. You know who also got his first command in an emergency? Picard. In fact JJ Kirk and Picard are a lot alike: both were arrogant, womanizing a holes in the academy, both got their first command during an emergency and both had to have close brushes with death to get their shit together. TOS Kirk earned his command through merit, unlike those 2😜

[@SVSky]

A cadet getting a three grade promotion to O-3 would be irresponsible, to O-6 would be ludicrous. HOWEVER such a circumstance has happened in history at least once.... William Sitgreaves Cox

[@TheInternetHelpdeskPlays]

The best bit of the JJ movies was the casting, you could see the younger versions growing up in to the TOS versions. It was a good movie.

[@kevinthomas2036]

This was the first bit of “Star Trek” I ever saw and it still blows me away to this day. I love the character interactions, humor, story, and action sequences of it. Had I not seen this when I did, I might not be the Star Trek fan I am today.

[@steveh4114]

oh, ... so you are in the camp of newer Trek .. well , see my comments, and we must meet up in a pub, and discuss 😛

[@geronimovallejos7232]

YESSSS, me too! I started with this movie! So i decided to watch TOS, TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT and i loved them all

[@princeeverlove]

The 2009 Re-Trek was such a pleasure to watch....Such a Ressurection of Hope and True Trek...Well done with so much to gain or lose🚀

[@jamesbryan1731]

These retrospectives are simply excellent. Rowan, it would be a crime if your aren’t able to parley all this hard work into broader creative success, however you define said success. Please like this comment, not for my sake, but for Rowan’s.

[@rickharrison1887]

These retrospective videos are what got me to rewatch Star Trek, and I haven’t regretted it

[@BrickworksDK]

Sure, Star Trek can be flashy and full of lens flares. Though that was never what it was about. The problem is that many directors, J. J. Abrams certainly among them, seems to think that flashy effects are a suitable replacement for an actual story. And that's the main issue with this movie (indeed, with many modern Hollywood movies). There's a lot of eye candy, but the story is really weak.

[@billmiller2522]

Sad, but VERY true!

[@christheghostwriter]

The story is great.

[@randomlyentertaining8287]

Meh, the story worked fine.

[@gs032009]

Exactly. Read my comment above.

[@christheghostwriter]

"Star Trek should go back to telling great stories"! Sincerely, Spock's Brain and the Space Hippies

[@pocketheart1450]

14:18 RIP Anton, such a cool guy :'(

[@micvlog87]

I wouldn't call my self a die--hard Trekkie by any stretch, but I am a Star Trek fan. I was in college when the 2009 movie came out and it was one of the most enjoyable movie experiences I'd ever had, especilly since I didn't have any knowledge of what exactly I would be seeing beforehand. My interest started waning about five years ago, until I found this KZbin channel duing the pandemic. To see the two things that have fueled my fandom meet was extremely enjoyable and this is by far my favorite in the Retrospective series. I think with it being 13 years, it feels like just the right amount of time has passed to revisit it's creation. Pretty incredible when you think about how young many of these future stars would become, all the way down to a pre-Thor Chris Hemsworth.

[@zacharyjochumsen9677]

Mathew was your dad or mom much into star trek

[@seraiharper5553]

I'm amazed at anyone thinking a half-naked Kirk is "gratuitous". There's hardly a more classic bit of TOS trope than Kirk with his shirt off. (Hell, _Galaxy Quest_ got one of its best, nerdiest laughs off the image.) I do agree he was a bit overblown, though, and the rather desperate retconning to explain his jerkitude felt forced. I really enjoyed Chris Pine's take, but as written, it just didn't feel like the same guy (even given the different timeline). I couldn't feel the serious, committed man from the series even in a nascent form in the drunken, self-indulgent brat in the movie. It was a tough go to MacGuyver him into the guy I've known since the 60's. Luckily he was engaging enough as an original take on the name James T. Kirk that I didn't care to wince more than once or twice. So the carjacking - yeah, beyond the pale. And the horndogging does rely on the neverending and seriously misguided trope of Kirk as a heartless lothario, getting his ashes hauled every chance he got. Still, though, like I said, Pine made New!Kirk fun!

[@MLB9000]

I think Chris Pine was the perfect choice, in many ways he's kind of the modern day equivalent of Shatner.

[@billmiller2522]

An awful lot of things in this movie were "forced". Some to the point of absurdity!

[@nickasaro8789]

I remember I was in middle school when this movie came out and I wasn’t expecting much from it but then me and my parents, who introduced me to Trek in the first place a few years earlier, went to see it one day and we were all blown away. Definitely one of the best movie experiences I ever had.

[@LebrettJames]

Thank you for all the hard work and EXCELLENT content Rowan!

[@stankythecat6735]

Agreed ! This is superb content

[@BL-mf3jp]

This was my favorite of the new trilogy. Saw it in theaters right before 8th grade promotion. Loved it. Currently watching TOS for the first time, pretty impressive writing, plots and acting.

[@cwildeman]

Thanks, I just realized that I haven't seen this movie in a couple years. I'll have to give it another watch with a more deeply informed perspective, thanks to your consistently excellent videos.

[@rayvus]

the part i loved the most about your retrospective was the story about you and your mum watching the move in the travel theater. it made me well up. great story telling my friend

[@chelmrtz]

The Kelvin movies aren't my favorite (except Beyond, I really enjoyed that one) but that doesn't matter. I really enjoyed watching this deep dive on the first of the reboot films and I like the work you do on looking at everything that goes into production of a Star Trek piece.

[@ApacheSmash]

This film is the reason I love Star Trek. The reason I watched every one of your retrospectives in one long binge. Really great channel and content.

[@seanodeli7031]

Probably the best love letter to this film I ever watched You didn’t hide your love for this film at all and at the same time admit there are faults with it I wish more KZbin reviewers had that kinda moxy I enjoy it for what is it’s a main stream re entry for a large franchise it’s the Star Wars version of a Star Trek film and at that point it’s exactly what the franchise needed I think starting at kirks birth and the Spock and Kirk as kids segments could easily been cut along with the lens flare especially on the deck of the enterprise Kirk goes from cadet to captain as you mentioned is silly they should have had Spock and Kirk both as commanders going on a mission w pike Spock would be the first officer but Kirk eventually becomes captain I find the third Abrams movie the best and perhaps better than most of the TNG films Anyways Rowan as always an excellent job loved learning your history w Star Trek how you saw this film personally I had no idea they had mobile theaters

[@rickgaine3476]

Nicely done. I didn’t realize you were as young as you are. You are very well spoken. Your attention to detail is wonderful. I started watching Star Trek in the mid 80s. I remember when the 20th anniversary came up. I thought it was an old show then. That was before TNG. The first movie I saw was Search for Spock. That was after seeing TOS reruns. I was a bit confused as to what was happening. You do an extremely nice job with your videos. I always enjoy when another one pops up in the notifications. Thanks for your efforts. I usually wouldn’t take the time to write a comment like this, but you deserve recognition and I wanted to convey my appreciation.

[@ydna]

I too enjoyed this one. it was different, less cerebral, but the action was very entertaining and it was a great injection of fresh eyes onto the franchise. I wasn't really on board with some of the "hypercharged" characters, but I guess it makes us more invested in the crew coming together to fulfil their tasks.

[@roncolonna7653]

I have been watching every one of these and really enjoy hearing a well researched and thoughtful opinion on a franchise I have loved almost all of my life. My favorite part in this one was when you gave us the peek behind the curtain. To realize how different your experience of Star Trek is from mine (lifelong New York/New Jersey USA resident who watched tos in the mid 70s after school and saw everything from the movies on at release) and yet being united in the joy coming to us from this franchise is just wonderful.

[@bemindful924]

Excellent work like always, Rowan. I just hate that we're slowly running out of retrospectives.

[@seanodeli7031]

Well there’s a ton of sci fi out there to retrospect SG1 has a huge universe Babylon 5 is another smaller universe but much beloved Or he could get whacky and review the 100 seasons of dr who

[@bonghunezhou5051]

Go back to the TOS retrospective and start over (one might catch stuff that was missed on prior viewing(s) ~

[@choosecarefully408]

Well, he can continue with ST because kzbin.info/www/bejne/aXiQq5yKd6aemLM has several great, compelling episodes. & although the same can't be said of Star Trek New Voyages, kzbin.info/www/bejne/omW3dGitoZV8sKc I dare say is a classic episode.

[@techniqueswithtodd]

Many thanks for creating this series. i have greatly enjoyed these. I'm in my 50s now and I have loved TREK from the first time I saw TOS on tv when I was a child. I have memorized the dialogue of entire seasons of shows like DS9 and TNG. I really appreciate you researching and presenting this content here on youtube. It's amazing. Well done. You are amazing.

[@goodbyesheesha]

Despite growing up with TNG, I didn't get 'into' Star Trek until I started watching TOS in my teens in the 2000s. I remember being really... not necessarily antagonistic, but wary and disappointed with 09. My current attitude towards the film and its sequels is a lot more tempered than it once was, but they still aren't for me. I feel like there are so many sci-fi *action* films, and coming to Star Trek and finding something more philosophical and mellow was a breath of fresh air in comparison. Star Trek 2009 feels very generic in a way that I don't connect to, because I find action sequences really boring and I would rather someone monologuing an interesting idea. This is also why my biggest gripe with Discovery is that the seasons are too short and they have to put too much momentum in without any breathing room. I do just think that Star Trek works best in certain forms, and movies aren't necessarily the best medium for what makes Trek 'work' for me. Nor are fast-paced concise series. I need more filler episodes!

[@inkermoy]

There's something to be said about episodic vs. serialized TV. With episodic TV, if you don't like a particular story, you can wait till next week and get a brand new story. With serialized TV, if the season arc doesn't grab you, you're not going to watch the show.

[@goodbyesheesha]

I also got a Star Trek tattoo in 2008, and people really read into it following 2009, lol. Maybe I'm just still annoyed about that.

[@goodbyesheesha]

@@inkermoy If nothing else, I'm glad I can skip certain Ferengi episodes of DS9 upon rewatch without it making a difference. Because an entire season of Profit and Lace would... Oh. Oh. Oh no.

[@zacharyjochumsen9677]

Sheesha and pruple compare the hse Kelvin timline star trek movies to trsnsfo era movies

[@zacharyjochumsen9677]

@@goodbyesheesha fun fact this was the last stat trek movie to get any toys from plsymstes toys

[@loftus4453]

Your experience with 2009’s Star Trek movie mirrors my experience with Star Trek The Motion Picture in 1979. My parents both loved Star Trek and introduced me to the show when I was very young. I also cannot recall what episode I saw first or when Spock became my hero. I grew up in a small town in Texas in the 70’s and it was tough to even watch episodes at all. I saved my allowance every week and spent it all on books about Star Trek, my favorites being the photo novels which presented shots from iconic episodes with the dialogue presented in comic book fashion. Needless to say, I was SO hyped when a Star Trek movie was announced. I begged my mom’s friend to drive me to a nearby town with a movie theater to see the movie in December 1979. At least you got a great movie out of the 2009 release. I wasn’t as fortunate with my first movie. Even as a huge fan who had been waiting my whole life for new Star Trek content, The Motion Picture was a huge disappointment. Luckily they course corrected a few years later with the Wrath of Kahn. 😃

[@williamjackson6705]

I was there on September 8, 1966, when Star Trek premiered. Unlike a lot of OG fans, I understood that this was a parallel universe & thought the updates & changes were quite good. I love all three Kelvin-verse movies because I knew this was a different universe & somethings would change. Sort of like the Bond films. At its core, I think that they respected the core characters. The cast was wonderful & I always thought that there was more to the Spock/ Uhura relationship than we knew. I loved it. This was a wonderful documentary. I`m an old man now & shouldn`t tear up every time I see Mr. Nimoy on screen but I do. His portrayal of Spock was very meaningful to My life & his passing hit Me like a beloved relative had died.

[@MsSissiePooh]

Thanks for your thoughtful commentary and analysis of Star Trek (2009). I had lost interest in Star Trek halfway through Star Trek: Enterprise‘s run, but the 2009 film rekindled my interest in the franchise, because it had action, humor and fun, the actors in the film were so perfectly cast and I fell in love with the orchestral score and the cinematography.

[@faithkerns1626]

As one of those vocal core fans you mentioned, this is what got me into star trek. But after being a star trek fan, I started to think very little of it. Now I would rate it below all the tos films and only above it's sequel, nemesis and insurrection.

[@Kaden10]

I saw this with my dad who is a huge fan and to see him so blown away by it was just amazing, and this got me into Star Trek and I couldn't imagine a better way than seeing it with my father.

[@ExhaustedWombat]

I loved Star Trek 2009 in much the same way I really liked Star Wars The Force Awakens. It was a fun, fresh and stylish adventure that got you jazzed watching it and felt like a good launch pad for an old series too push into a new direction. It’s a little ironic that much like Star Wars, the new direction almost immediately involves a misstep and gets bogged down in a quagmire of nostalgia bait and reheating old ideas.

[@avocadothecat]

At least beyond was great again... in contrast to whatever tf Star Wars 9 was

[@ExhaustedWombat]

@@avocadothecat I’ve only seen Beyond the once and I thought it was alright but really should give it a rewatch

[@ab5olut3zero95]

My biggest problem with ST09 was the timing. One does not simply just directly from Cadet to commissioned officer, much less an O6 Captain. That’s not how that works.

[@Snowman_Style]

Excellent video essay! Trek 09 isn't perfect, nothing is. But you were able to show how much passion and heart the cast and crew really had for the film. The 2000s and 2010s were plagued by over-the-top hyper critical comedic movie review channels, they ripped apart Trek 09 and I think too many people absorbed that hate through osmosis. The film deserves a fair rewatch from everyone and 'some folks' need to give it a rest with trying to prove noticing a plot hole invalidates the fun happening on the screen.

[@VgnRaj]

That story of how you saw Star Trek for the first time on The Screen Machine? Best part of this upload. Thank you for that alone.

[@seanmcmullen4274]

wow. how nice to share your home town life with us

[@alandoane9168]

That was unexpectedly cool!

[@seanmcmullen4274]

@@alandoane9168 yup

[@AbhiMoz]

After hearing all the stories of StarTrek from my dad and hearing it's message of hope and optimism, this movie finally let me realise Star Trek in my lifetime. It was big, cerebral and haunting. Inspired my love for VFX and strange new world's. Finally Star Trek was back and bigger than ever. When I think of cinema and blockbuster this is what always what comes to mind. 10 years on I'd love for a continuation of these films world. Also I listened to this theme is perfect. Alien and haunting

[@HistoryWes]

It’s interesting to hear how this movie influenced your love of Star Trek. I can see how that would be for you, with it being your first new Star Trek. My first Star Trek was the episode The Doomsday Machine, from the original series, which I watched when it aired- I was eight. I’ve generally liked all the versions of Star Trek, and I didn’t hate this one (although I come close to hating some of its sequels). But I didn’t love it. I liked the look and the action and the acting, but the story seemed so silly and contrived that it constantly took me out of movie. Simply, I didn’t get the sense of wonder that I love in Star Trek. Some of this is probably due to my age, since each successive iteration of most of my favorite franchises seems to offer less wonder, but I don’t think it’s entirely due to that. I’ve enjoyed the new Star Trek Paramount Plus shows more.

[@steveh4114]

Fascinating ! I mostly agree with your review until you ending ... you enjoy STD on Paramount+ ? ???

[@HistoryWes]

@@steveh4114 Mostly. I like Picard. I haven’t watched the new season of Discovery, but I found the first two just okay. I really like Lower Decks though.

[@pengwin_]

my first episode was "The Devil in the Dark" the Horta Episode.

[@ab0186]

I'm a bit older than you so I had already moved to Glasgow and saw this film on my 23rd birthday weekend with my friends from uni but I grew up in the countryside too and I *felt* the joy of the screen machine coming to town/the island in your retelling. Don't normally leave comments but just wanted you to know you did a good job at both discussing Star Trek and the excitement that the screen machine provides.

[@terriblecertainity]

this, to me, is where Trek died. I really tried to go into the cinema with an open mind despite the trailers not looking good to me. I wanted to leave the cinema 15 (!) times, a record only bested by " The Force Awakens". After this movie, all depth, all nuance, all exploration of the human condition where missing from Trek. It turned the franchise into meaningless blockbuster schlock. A state that, to me, holds true up until today.

[@karlkammer3050]

Always a gripping presentation! Whether I like the iteration of Star Trek you are covering, I watch them all as you balance the facts and your own opinion with honesty and respect. I always look forward to when you post a new one. Keep up the good work Mr Coleman!

[@jeffhazel1945]

What a fine review of a movie that reinvigorated my love for Star Trek, having been a fan since The Motion Picture. Thank you for your talented dedication to these retrospectives. Interestingly I drove to see this one straight from my masters degree commencement. I was about to start a new job as a high school principal. This story about taking risks, developing loyalty, and working with a moral purpose in mind for the greater good spoke to me then, and continues to remind me, of educational leadership.

[@muticere]

I’ll always have affection for this film. This was the final motivator for me to fully get into Star Trek. Until then I had interest, had seen a fair share of episodes with Trekkie friends, but hadn’t really made the leap myself into the franchise. Then I saw this movie with a group of Trek nerds in the theater, and finally I wanted to know more. Now I’ve seen everything, enough to know why a lot of trek people have mixed feelings about the film. Still though, I appreciate it for bringing me in and for helping to bring Trek back.

[@jdraven0890]

Yet another excellent video in this series. I've probably seen 2009 Star Trek more times than any other ST movie. JJ and Co excel at making an entertaining movie. However, as you noted it's often contrived, and it's become obvious that JJ has certain scenes he wants to film -- and the story must bend to serve that, no matter the consequences. This becomes far more of a problem in "Into Darkness", but I could still put that in the player and enjoy it right now,.fully realizing that it's all surface level and I don't dare think very hard about it. Ciacchino's score contributes so much, I am beginning to like his work as much as I do Poledouris.

[@noneya3635]

What I never get is why fans of a show that made you think and was the spring board for so many successful astronauts scientist etc, has become acceptable as "turn your brain off and just enjoy the pretty pretty sights?" Trust me i get watching stuff just to be entertained, just re watched cowboys and Aliens because it was just B movie film fodder that gave you exactly what it promised. ST 2009 is a bastardization of a famous name brand for short attention span fan fic writers that love the phrase "how badass would it be if..."

[@jdraven0890]

@@noneya3635 I actually do not disagree with you. Star Trek shouldn't be turned into Fast and Furious, and the logic and lore of the ST universe shouldn't be broken just because a filmmaker wanted to film a particular scene. And they do need to be understood and kept as a separate timeline (even if they rely heavily on references from real ST that I'm not sure JJ really understands or cares about). But I can't deny that I like the Nu Trek movies. And I wanted to see what Tarantino would do with it.

[@noneya3635]

@@jdraven0890 Fair enough, we like what we like, but glad to see that this isn't just another "well it's not your star trek boomer stfu argument. But QT being in charge of a ST movie with time travel involved... Excuse me while i revisit my breakfast, BLLLLLURRRGHHHHH! Seriously though, QT makes good movies but him being in charge of a ST set in the modern era or the past is just going to be a lot of people calling Uhura an N word, Sulu a word that describes a chip taken out of ones armor, and an excuse for ST to have a lot of gratuitous violence with guns and blood, because by QT's own admittance in a famously used video clip, "because violence is fun Jan." I have no doubt it would be a quintessential Quentin movie, but again, it would ONLY be cashing in on the name Star Trek with zero respect for the shows cultural impact. The sad truth is that Trek is and always will be a nerd fringe show to the general public. Even in the age of superhero movies galore Star Trek gets very little mention outside of how hot Chris Pine is.

[@jdraven0890]

@@noneya3635 Yeah, I am definitely not making excuses for it, or telling you that you don't understand some hidden genius that Nu Trek has! It's completely surface level and should not be considered Canon. So Lower Decks, actually I find to be legitimately respectful of Canon, and it wouldn't work if it ignored real ST because it doesn't work at all if you don't catch the references. And it's intended to be comedy, so I give it a pass on that basis. Now what JJ (and f--king Rian Johnson) did to Star Wars is an abomination. I don't know why it offends me way more than what they did to ST. Maybe because they started their awful and vapid tendencies with ST, and just blew a hole out the side of logic and reason when they went on to ruin SW.

[@philipa.stephenson1549]

Just...thank you for sharing that lovely story about the mobile cinema coming to town and going to see Abrams' Trek with your Mum. It's just really a lovely story.

[@Wuvlycuddles]

The movie had excellent actors and a great visual style, I just couldn't get over the stupid story.

[@pengwin_]

"Hi chistopher im nero.........." :|

[@YggdrasilAudio]

@@pengwin_ That's dialogue but ok

[@YggdrasilAudio]

I think the story is pretty good! Didn't find it any more silly than any of the other times Star Trek dealt with time travel.

[@MarCuseus]

"great visual style"?????????

[@Wuvlycuddles]

@@MarCuseus Yeah, minus a few issues I think the visuals of the movie are great. It's pretty much the hallmark of JJ Abrams, his films look great and are distinct, he just doesn't know how to do compelling or sensical stories.

[@inkermoy]

An additional thought: Roddenberry has said his inspiration for Kirk/Pike was Horatio Hornblower. I've only started listening to the Hornblower audiobooks on YT and doing some reading into the history of the Hornblower series. From what I read, the author wrote books originally with Hornblower a seasoned Captain to higher ranks. It was then he went back and wrote books with Hornblower in his beginnings as a sailor. It's an ironic parallel that these two series should follow in the same manner, going back to the beginning to see how it all started. I only bring this up because there's an excellent version of young Hornblower in the A&E/BBC TV Movie series starring Ioan Gruffudd. I sometimes wonder how awesome it would be to have Cadet Kirk's movie adventures like Midshipman/Lieutenant Hornblower's. And you wouldn't have had the excuse of an alternate timeline.

[@esecallum]

Upon their arrival at the planet Gamma Hydra IV to resupply the Federation science team stationed there, the Enterprise crew is shocked to discover that all of the colonists have died or are dying of a bizarre affliction that has caused them to age rapidly. But soon after beaming back to the Enterprise, Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and the rest of the landing party find that they too have started aging at an accelerated rate -- that is, all except Mr. Chekov, the reasons for which could provide the key to their survival. With less than a week to live until their bodies give out -- and less time than that before senility sets in -- it's a race against time to find a cure and reverse the aging process. The hits just keep on coming in "The Deadly Years," a provocative, superbly-acted and emotionally resonant Season 2 episode that is far better than it is often given credit for. Chalk it up to a concept that has gained relevancy over the years, especially among longtime fans who have come to relate to its themes, resulting in an unqualified "Star Trek" classic that has quite literally gotten better with age. You can follow Enterprise Incidents at: Facebook facebook.com/EnterpriseIn...

[@m.e.3862]

And there's a lot. The massacre on tarsus 4, his hesitation on phasers that caused the death of his captain, the hazing he endured as a plebe at the academy... So much stuff I hoped to see but instead it was delinquent Kirk

[@inkermoy]

@@m.e.3862 In the Star Trek Debt of Honor graphic novel by Chris Claremont he does touch on the aftermath of the cloud incident. The only drawback to having that as a premise for a movie is that there's no resolution to it until TOS' Obsession. And there's plenty of time in Kirk's academy/cadet days to make up a new scenario. For example, I don't believe it's been said when Kirk first encounter a Klingon? Orion Pirates? My first thought of a trilogy of Kirk's academy days would be to introduce Kirk meeting and becoming friends with Mitchell, encounters with Finnagan as an antagonist setting him up for failure, going on a cadet cruise where something happens and Kirk starts making his mark. You could have cameos with some of the future crew. Maybe Kirk could have asked/bribed Scotty to help him change the programming of the Kobayashi Maru simulator. The other crew might be tougher because they'd be freshmen or something. The trilogy could conclude with Kirk being assigned captain of the Enterprise. But instead, they have to shoehorn the entire TOS bridge crew in their positions by the end of the first film. As they say, sometimes it's not the destination that's important, but the journey itself.

[@abraxsmith01]

Cadets don't get command positions straight out of the academy and the odds of all being posted to the same ship is ridiculous. Then after winning the day a cadet wouldn't be given command of the Enterprise. Into darkness takes it one step further attempting to send Kirk back to the Academy after violating the PD? That coming from Pike always takes me right out the movie. Small note: Spock refers to Uhura as a LT?? Yeah it's a nitpick I watched it in the theatre when it came out and enjoyed it for what it was. Love Bana but he turned out to be a weak ass villain too. Beyond is my favorite in spite of the CD take on it but Pike really stole the first two movies until they killed him. But as the saying goes... "That's all I've got go away now"...Lol!

[@davebo9615]

They totally went for "the chosen one" idea for Kirk. Which dismissed his accomplishments and his character. It's nitpicky. I guess I was hoping for Patriot Games meets Star Trek, and what it felt like was Fast and Furious.

[@AndyMcCavish]

I've watched this film many times but the best by far was watching this in the Royal Albert hall with a live orchestra & choir, no Start Trek theme has ever brought tears to my eyes before that.

[@TomGallagherSuperboyBeyond]

I knew Yelchin first in Spielberg's mini-series "Taken" which is one of my favorite sci-fi shows of all time. I absolutely love it.

[@Maya_Ruinz]

Thank you for this retrospective, I was 25 when this came out and my family was hyped beyond belief to see a new Star Trek movie. I come from a diehard Trekkie family and so it was a family event where everyone came for the experience in cinema. We loved it and thought it was great, fresh and perfect for the time it was released which was right after the depressing year of the 2008 market crash.

[@campbellsoup93]

I really like this movie. The next two might be of a questionable quality but this one waa absolutely solid. Casting was great, the story was great, the visuals were great.

[@JoshMartin123]

YES!!! So, I’ve been following your channel and your Star Trek retrospectives for a while now and while I’m mostly a causal fan when it comes to Trek (I’m more of a Star Wars guy), I will say that getting this point where you talk about Star Trek ‘09 was exciting and fulfilling as this was my first introduction into the world of Trek. I was about 10 years old and had never heard of Trek before, thinking people got it confused with Star Wars. But, I remember seeing it opening weekend with my dad and being blown away. A year or two later, I went to an exhibit where they displayed a timeline of all the Star Trek movies and shows, making me realize how rich of a franchise it is and since then, while I still need to sit down and watch Next Generation, DS9, Voyager, and Enterprise, I have consumed the majority of TOS and love it. As for the movie itself, I love it, flaws and all. It’s fun, action-packed, but rich with a dynamic of characters you root for! And funny enough, I will actually be starting up a new job on the Paramount lot tomorrow! But thanks, for doing these retrospectives. Similar to the exhibit, I have learned a lot about Star Trek, the franchise, and the people who made them which has given me a whole new appreciation of the franchise itself!

[@applesaurusrex8075]

This movie is really good in general, but I want to point out how awesome the soundtrack is. It’s one of my favorite Star Trek soundtracks. Honestly it might be my second favorite theme after TNG.

[@-k7228]

Just want to comment and say I really dig your Star Trek retrospective video series, I’ve watched all of them and listen to them at night when I go to sleep

[@TheMysteryDriver]

Sounds like I need to move to rural Scotland and open a movie theater or 3. Would 30 min be too much of a drive? Sounds like if I'm creative with location I could just build in the middle of a field.

[@RowanJColeman]

Haha thankfully since then both Fort William and Oban cinemas have reopened. Though the Screen Machine still makes the rounds :)

[@heartgenerator4967]

Hearing you talk about the screen machine gave me such specific nostalgia, the kind you only get from growing up in Scotland in the late 2000s haha

[@jtyezbick]

I was turning 8 when this movie came out and I watched it at least 5 times in theaters, dragging my parents to see it again and again. I love the score, I love the action, I love the heart, and I still love it as much today as I did as a young kid experiencing it for the first time in theaters

[@scottkrametbauer90]

You kids are making me feel old

[@JohnnyWednesday]

I imagine you'd find most episodes of "the next generation" incredibly boring - there's barely any explosions and tons of talking.

[@ObsidianBlk]

Damn... the closer you get to the present day Trek, the sadder i feel in that sooner than later these retrospectives will end. A wonderful job as always! Love these videos so much!

[@THXSwitch625]

Of the Kelvin Trilogy, the first is easily my favorite. What really stands out to me is how genuinely funny it is. And I love the use of a brewery as Engineering.

[@FelonyBellend]

This series is truly a phenomenal work. Thank you for the time and care you spent on making these videos ☺️❤️

[@andromeda5414]

I love how well researched and well presented these retrospects are. Again, very nice work.

[@allenking806]

One thing I could never get past, was kirk, as an academy cadet, gets leapfrogged to be a starship captain. This makes no sense in any movie or TV show where someone with no experience at all, is put in charge and especially not in a military setting. This would have been better if Kirk had been a Commander with some baggage, and then gets the Enterprise. At least that way you could show experience and knowledge as opposed to a fresh college graduate.

[@MrPoeGhost]

This movie makes me feel like such a boomer even though I'm in my twenties and wasn't into Star Trek until a few years ago. Problem with JJ's Trek is that I don't watch Trek for the action or the (lens) flare, I watch it for the concepts and philosophy.

[@YggdrasilAudio]

Then watch JJ's Trek for the concepts and philosophy?

[@vysharra]

@@YggdrasilAudio what philosophy? Please no head canon

[@JohnnyWednesday]

My thoughts exactly. I don't know what episodes of Star Trek the writers were watching but it was 90% thought provoking sci-fi and 10% action. New trek is 70% action, 25% sex and 5% fan service. I don't know how you get from "Measure of a Man" to ripping somebody's eye out of their brain.

[@Edax_Royeaux]

@@YggdrasilAudio Making a line for line scene remake of Wrath of Khan makes watching it for the concepts and philosophy pointless, I could have just watched Wrath of Khan instead.

[@YggdrasilAudio]

@@vysharra * '09's very intricate exploration on the various ways trauma can affect a person. * The philosophical conflict between Spock and Kirk that becomes a personal conflict in Into Darkness, and the ultimate conclusion on what it truly means to take responsibility. * Into Darkness challenging the notion that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. * The War on Terror paralels in Into Darkness. *How Mankind's evolution and strife towards peace serves as the backbone of the conflict in Into Darkness. * Beyond's exploration on individualism vs. collectivism and diversity vs. exceptionalism. I don't think any of these movies are perfect or anything, but they have concepts and philosophy. However if the action is so distracting to you then I suggest watching something else.

[@ryougahibiki941]

The problem with these reviews is that I was already subscribed before Rowan started these full series retrospectives. This results in excitement when the next one is about to come out, one day of repeated listening, followed by roughly a month of patience for the next glorious instalment. I wish I found you for the first time at the middle of 2022, so I could binge them all for the first time in one continuous sitting.

[@nathanjames1142]

I probably need to rewatch this one as I haven't seen it since 09. I remember enjoying it but like all JJ Abrams films, found it shallow and forgettable. However, I did like it enough to make me want to see Into Darkness, which ended up killing Star Trek for me. I haven't even watched the third one.

[@johnjames1374]

The third one is fun. Kinda cleansed the stink of the second one from my nose. Not great, but fun.

[@Scripture-Man]

I'm with you. Saw this film once in 2009 and never again. Enjoyed it, but forgot about it. Didn't see the others.

[@evertonporter7887]

@@johnjames1374 I've seen Beyond twice. It's the most fun of the three movies.

[@kookoobrick54]

I'm going to be honest, when i was young I did not like Star Trek at all, I was a Star Wars kid and saw the two as opposites. When my mom brought this movie home, I sat down and saw it with her. I loved it, and it drew me to wanting to watch the Original Series, then the Next Generation and so on. Even though I later disliked it because of how different it was from the rest of the series, technical details and other nitpicks. But now that I'm older, I can say that I still love this movie. Also, in my headcanon, the 1st divergence to make this world are the events of the Temporal Cold War in Enterprise.

[@onemoreshotgaming7049]

I’m like 10 minutes in and this instalment is as engaging and well done as its predecessors.

[@RA10H56]

My first memory of watching it specifically was Balance of terror on a portable black and white TV that traveled from room to room at home. It was on early Saturdays in 80s. Cool stuff! Love your stuff.

[@LebrettJames]

Thank you for all the hard work and Excellent content, Rowan!