new movie-- thumbs up!

[timepiececlock]

Saw Star Trek: Nemesis tonight. Didn't intend to, it was one of those situations where you come home and find out there's A Plan, and it involves movies. Weirdly, I liked the film a lot. Our newspaper (S.J. Mercury) gave it a so-so review (2.5/4 stars), but I actually would place it second to The Wrath of Kahn in the ST movie-verse.

I loved the interation with the Shenzhan, the younger Cpt. Picard clone. The actor did a very good job, and he had a lot of screen chemistry with Patrick Stewart (who still reigns as the best actor to appear on anything ST). There were high tensions, and the writers did a nice show of playing the two off each other, and the actors rose to the challenge to make it look even better. Shenzan, the clone/nemesis of Picard, showed a good blend of curiosity, sulky bitterness, and overcondifidence, and seemed to embody a lot of what were Picard's character weaknessness (even with a touch of the formality that made Picard so stiff in the early seasons of ST:TNG).

The only that didn't impress me much were the Romulans. They didn't serve much purpose in the movie, except being expendable for both sides. Personally, if I was Romulan, I'd want the semi-crazy Shenzan guy leading me over them simply because he was doing SOMETHING without having to be pushed into it by someone else.

They had a pretty darn cool finale. I miss Data. I liked his ending-- I found it one of the most affecting scenes for this cast/crew. I loved how Picard was so shocked at this point at witnessing [his own] death and by events in general, that he could only stare wordlessly at Data, and then instead of a flowery speech, there was just "Goodbye," very softly. I liked how this had less of the cute quippiness, and went more for the drama and subtle emphasis on characters, which was always what made TNG better than the other ST shows. Though there were some good quips. I liked "On screen." when the whole front of the ship was blown out.

Speaking of, the crashing ships was a damn cool sequence.

Anyway, I liked it. Better writing than the last ST movies I've seen in theaters.


Hm... I turned in my final essay in my Social Problems class. I'll put it up here later.

Comments

[juliet-demarcus.livejournal.com]

As it turns out, I saw Nemesis tonight as well and I totally agree with your assessment. The last two movies really were lacking. Date was my favorite ST character period, I'd say. But I thought it was a good ending. Though I'm sad...sentimental fool that I am.
:) It did seem fitting.
I loved the themes being played off Picard and the clone.
And the effects were awesome as well. I was very pleased with it.

Re:

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I was very pleased too. I'd thought that First Contact was decent, but that's just cause story plots with the Borg are usually smarter than other story plots. Generations was alright, but not great. I thought Insurrection was fairly unimpressive, but mostly cause I didn't like that lead woman. And there weren't any real, deeper character developments. Nemesis had those, which I appreciated. And I liked that they weren't explained out unnecesarily either-- like when Riker went after the Reman guy the audience KNEW it was because of his mental invasion of Troi, and the movie didn't have to spell it out to us. I appreciate subtle stuff like that in films, where they assume the audience has half a brain.

[dragolyn.livejournal.com]

I saw it tonight also and liked it. The guy who played Shenzan was great. And Patrick Stewart is never, ever a bad thing. I love him. Agree with you about Data's good-bye- so glad they went for sad simplicity over gushy triteness. Of all the things he could have said, good-bye was by far the best. How sad was the look on Picards face right when Data slapped the transporter-thingy on him and pushed the button?

There were a few holes that nagged at me(like, when Data switched with the other android and rescued Picard, why the hell did he only bring one transporter thingy?), but I ignored them and enjoyed. It's fun to see Next Gen films- like seeing old friends again, all comfy and nostalgic.

Re:

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

The guy who played Shenzan was great.

Yes. I couldn't decide if he was cute or jsut interesting-looking, but he did wonderful acting. Better than you usually get from ST movie villains.

And Patrick Stewart is never, ever a bad thing. I love him.

Oh, I'm so with you there. I love his voice, his face, and his amazing talent for drama. I can watch him in anything, from star trek to tv movies to to XMen to shakespear, and I would never get bored of just *watching* him act. It's actually very few actors that I instantly am interested in and will watch, no matter the role. And its not sex appeal at all (although he's not unattractive), its jsut pure interest. He's very arresting on screen (big or small), and grabs at your attention. And he's cool because he's also got this great reputation outside of Star Trek, and so I don't even think of him as "Picard" (like I think of Leonard Nemoy as "Spock"), I simply think of him as Patrick Stewart.

Re:

[dragolyn.livejournal.com]

And its not sex appeal at all (although he's not unattractive), its jsut pure interest. He's very arresting on screen (big or small), and grabs at your attention. And he's cool because he's also got this great reputation outside of Star Trek, and so I don't even think of him as "Picard" (like I think of Leonard Nemoy as "Spock"), I simply think of him as Patrick Stewart.

The Husband and I were just talking about this tonight. Patrick Stewart is has this huge... presence. It doesn't matter what he's in, he's always impeccable. He must just be incredibly charismatic, but that word feels off for some reason. I can't wait for the next X-Men to come out. I never read the comics or anything, but with Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, and Anna Paquin, it can't go wrong.

I couldn't decide about the guy who played Shenzan either. I wouldn't call him cute, but I definitly found him sexy. I like that intensity in men. The scar on his lip bugged me though- I couldn't stop watching it when he spoke because he had such an expressive mouth, it kept drawing my attention. Or maybe that's just the sexy thing, lol. ;-)

Re:

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't call him cute, but I definitly found him sexy. I like that intensity in men.

Hmm. Yeah, it was the intensity of his acting and his character that I found attractive as well. Cause I didn't at all think that picture of the same actor as a younger Picard was cute at all. I think he's one of those people that can very attractive or very unnattractive, and its all situational.

One of the benefits of being English...

[mrthursday.livejournal.com]

I have had the privelige of seeing him live on stage in a production of Hamlet (he was Claudius...excuse my spelling). If you think he is excellent on screen you should trying being in the same buliding as him!

He was In King Lear not so long ago, but I missed that...mores the shame!

Re: One of the benefits of being English...

[rashaka.livejournal.com]

Are you talking about Patrick Stewart? Cause we were talking about the younger guy who played the "clone".

Re: One of the benefits of being English...

[mrthursday.livejournal.com]

aaahhh.


Yeah I am stupid!

Lost track of the thread