!!!

I’ve always generally liked the Star Trek shows, but I was also pretty young when most of them were airing and don’t remember them very much (except for Enterprise, which was super hoaky). Star Trek in general was definitely something I inherited from my father, and one of the things we could share. No matter what, because of that, I’ll always think of it fondly. I think that is true for a many Star Trek fans around my age.

I have to admit something though – I don’t think I’ve ever really enjoyed any of the Star Trek movies all that much. Maybe if I sat back down and watched them again I’d have a different reaction; maybe I was too young when I saw them to be able to enjoy them. But I felt them to be pretty dry, and not focusing enough on character relationships, which is the thing I want to see the most.

My favourite Star Trek movie moment had to do with Data (the android) and Spot (his pet cat). I don’t even remember which movie it’s in. But I guess the Enterprise gets trashed or whatever and Data thinks there is no way Spot could survive. (In this movie, and a bunch of other times I guess, Data is trying to understand and feel human emotions.) They go back and it turns out Spot is okay, and Data is hugging him and he starts crying, and he says “I’m happy, but I’m crying,” and he totally doesn’t understand how that works. Oh em gee I’m tearing up just thinking about it!

Anyways, that’s the sort of thing I love about, well, any movie or show. And I don’t recall a Star Trek film ever really rocking my world.

But the new JJ Abrams version! Oh my stars!

Grade: A++ would see again (immediately.)

What’s it Bechdel Test Score?:
Like Adventureland, I’m giving this one a 99%, even though it technically passed. But consider this! I didn’t really think this movie was going to get higher than a 33%, so I was VERY pleasantly surprised. The reason I am not going to give it the full 100% is that the scene in question where Uhura talks to her female roommate (about something other than a man), is also a scene where Kirk, hiding under the bed, watches her strip. BUT! It’s really not as skeezy as it sounds. Trust me! Anyways, the scene is so short and the only one of it’s kind. And while there are other women who speak besides Uhura and her roommate, it’s not exactly groundbreaking. (I mean, no more groundbreaking than Uhura already is! FRAK she’s so awesome.)

What about Minorities!:
A+!
I was so worried that Sulu and Uhura would be the only minorities in this movie. I was afraid that, like other Paramount projects currently in production, we would be moving backwards in time on this one. But they came through for me! There are minorities everywhere! Doing all sorts of jobs! Some of them are captains! It’s great! Yes, the heroes are still white, and yes whites are still the majority. But at least the minorities aren’t just freakin’ bad guys, unlike other projects I could name. Given how stuck in the stone-age we seem to be when it comes to most films, I’m thrilled that they made an effort to both stay true to the original series and show a somewhat realistic future.

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