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tealinSo ... I [finally] saw it.
Aaaaand it was awesome.
Yes, did you hear that? It had egregious scientific errors and logic gaps and whatever, but it was so much fun I didn't care.
1. All L.A. filmmakers (and actors) intending to make a film that features a frozen wasteland or, indeed, any severe wintry conditions should be required to spend a week in Winnipeg in January. Get a feel for what real cold is like. Familiarize yourself with how it slaps you in the face when you open a door. Learn how to breathe when you can feel every molecule of air freezing the inside of your nose. Wear a hat.
2. Sherlock Holmes quote! [high-five J.J. Abrams]
3. I think someone saw Treasure Planet and thought 'I could do way better than that.' I mean, not the whole thing, but Troubled Daredevil Young Jim and Let's Surf The Explosion From Inside the Black Hole are ... kind of ... familiar.
4. You know what I don't care about? Sound in space. I mean, I do care about it, and yes it was inconsistent in this movie, but every time the choice presented itself – sound or no sound – they went with the choice that would have the most dramatic impact. I respect that.
5. Stranding a 'Scott' on an ice planet ... I like it. Perhaps it was unintentional but I like it anyway.
6. CHARACTERS = YES. Except perhaps Uhura who seemed to be there mostly for the same reasons as Lupin in the last three books of the Harry Potter series: exposition, hugs, and giving other characters motivation. I might find this disappointing but there were so many other really great characters that I ... just ... really don't care. Nice casting, whoever was in charge of casting! (And I don't just say this because they cast Simon Pegg.) I didn't recognize many names, so I hope this movie launches all their careers.
7. A couple times I got distracted by my own thought process about last-minute changes on Frog (the sort of thing my brain can gnaw on for hours, uninterrupted) but the movie pulled me back in. That's how fun it was.
8. A thought occurred to me when I saw Star Wars for the first time, which occurred to me again tonight: I wonder how much a good score that takes itself seriously can counteract what might otherwise be perceived as hokeyness in a movie. Take away the John Williams score and Star Wars is, in many ways, just another corny mid-century scifi flick – if Star Trek did not have Michael Giacchino, would it have had the dramatic integrity that it did?
9. Okay okay okay, you know what's awesome? The new warp ... thing! The way they go 'neeeeooooowwwwww ... PK!' and they just GO! Like, with one or two frames favour just to let you know they're moving forward, but you can feel the force, it's so cool.
10. That little green dude with the wrinkly head could so have been the annoying-voiceover sidekick. But it WASN'T! Mr Abrams, I could kiss you! (... if I were Uhura. Which I am not.)
Aaaaand it was awesome.
Yes, did you hear that? It had egregious scientific errors and logic gaps and whatever, but it was so much fun I didn't care.
1. All L.A. filmmakers (and actors) intending to make a film that features a frozen wasteland or, indeed, any severe wintry conditions should be required to spend a week in Winnipeg in January. Get a feel for what real cold is like. Familiarize yourself with how it slaps you in the face when you open a door. Learn how to breathe when you can feel every molecule of air freezing the inside of your nose. Wear a hat.
2. Sherlock Holmes quote! [high-five J.J. Abrams]
3. I think someone saw Treasure Planet and thought 'I could do way better than that.' I mean, not the whole thing, but Troubled Daredevil Young Jim and Let's Surf The Explosion From Inside the Black Hole are ... kind of ... familiar.
4. You know what I don't care about? Sound in space. I mean, I do care about it, and yes it was inconsistent in this movie, but every time the choice presented itself – sound or no sound – they went with the choice that would have the most dramatic impact. I respect that.
5. Stranding a 'Scott' on an ice planet ... I like it. Perhaps it was unintentional but I like it anyway.
6. CHARACTERS = YES. Except perhaps Uhura who seemed to be there mostly for the same reasons as Lupin in the last three books of the Harry Potter series: exposition, hugs, and giving other characters motivation. I might find this disappointing but there were so many other really great characters that I ... just ... really don't care. Nice casting, whoever was in charge of casting! (And I don't just say this because they cast Simon Pegg.) I didn't recognize many names, so I hope this movie launches all their careers.
7. A couple times I got distracted by my own thought process about last-minute changes on Frog (the sort of thing my brain can gnaw on for hours, uninterrupted) but the movie pulled me back in. That's how fun it was.
8. A thought occurred to me when I saw Star Wars for the first time, which occurred to me again tonight: I wonder how much a good score that takes itself seriously can counteract what might otherwise be perceived as hokeyness in a movie. Take away the John Williams score and Star Wars is, in many ways, just another corny mid-century scifi flick – if Star Trek did not have Michael Giacchino, would it have had the dramatic integrity that it did?
9. Okay okay okay, you know what's awesome? The new warp ... thing! The way they go 'neeeeooooowwwwww ... PK!' and they just GO! Like, with one or two frames favour just to let you know they're moving forward, but you can feel the force, it's so cool.
10. That little green dude with the wrinkly head could so have been the annoying-voiceover sidekick. But it WASN'T! Mr Abrams, I could kiss you! (... if I were Uhura. Which I am not.)
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Date: 2009-06-26 01:11 am (UTC)Dialogue of a friend and me during the IA scenes:
"What? There are no cliffs in Iowa."
"They're mining for something."
"Whaaat?"
"Lithium?"
"The only reason they'd be mining for lithium is if it came from corn or pigs!"
*cut to dusk scene outside Des Moines and fields of... cabbage?*
"Oh great. Lets hope Des Moines has a freakin' nightlife in the future."
(happnin' club)
"Apparently it does."
"NOOOooooo!"
You make a good point about the cold planet. You can't NOT have a hat. I was impressed by Kirk who had classic pretty-boy looks but was actually really good at comedy. You're right--the characters all had what felt like naturally occurring interactions based on their personalities and circumstances. And the soundtrack. Horngasm. But the purchasing of the CD made me realize just how reluctant stores are to carry them! They list the whole orchestra and choir roster! I've never seen that before! *inspired*
no subject
Date: 2009-06-26 01:28 am (UTC)Was that supposed to be Des Moines? I must have missed the reference ... I thought it was just Random Town on the horizon. Oh well. the great big spaceship hangar things were cool though! They reminded me of Vandenburg Air Force Base, which you can see from the LA-SF train, and took me very much by surprise because it looks like a sci-fi moon base. I plan to take pictures next time.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-26 03:40 am (UTC)*Darn you and my english lit classes. Both of you are to blame for now I can no longer just completly enjoy something without over analyzing it.
no subject
Date: 2009-06-26 03:49 am (UTC)As for the gorge, either it's a quarry or some lazy set design/matte painting. :)