Re: The Movie Thread: New, Rented, Whatever....I don't care
I disagree with the take that the new Star Treks are all action and no substance - I won't dispute the notion that these are not "Star Trek" movies as I've never been a Trekkie and wouldn't know. I have enough knowledge to get many of the references and winks that are happening, but not enough to be constrained by canon or feel.
To me, in an era of special effects laden blockbusters with no heart and no character development, it's hard for me to like any of these type of movies. What's always key to me is whether I connect with the characters.
I LOVED these two Star Trek movies because of the chemistry that you could feel amongst the characters. It really had little to do with the Star Trek story. Could have put theses actors in a different Sci-fi universe and it still would/could have been a heck of a lot of fun.
It comes down to whether I was entertained and with these movies, I was thoroughly entertained. I laughed (a lot), I enjoyed the heart that was developed amongst the characters and there was plenty of eye-candy in terms of effects. They were perfect summer popcorn flicks and the fact that they were in a universe that is part of American pop culture was a bonus - Trekkies excluded.
The other side of the coin (imo) is Pacific Rim. Could have been a cool movie but sorely lacked in character development although Del Toro's action movies tend to be like that...
almost good. The Hellboy movies come to mind. Good-ish movies, but almost
really good movies.
Of course the second Hobbit movie is quite possibly the worst movie of this type ever made, which is funny coz it really should never have been "this type" of movie. Like I posted on Peter Jackson's Facebook page... "Even Michael Bay is embarrassed for you." Not that multi-millionaire PJ cares what I think, but I felt better.
Hoping Godzilla is good, but not holding my breath.