Star Trek: Filmography

Warning: minor spoilers ahead, related to aesthetics, no plot spoliers.

As a loyal Trekker, let me start out by saying, I think the people who make Star Trek owe me. I will pose the following question: did the film look and feel like Star Trek? By that question, I do not mean "Did it have cheesy special effects, and sets made of cardboard?" What I am asking is "Did the film look like it belonged in the Star Trek universe?"

It did, for the most part. The sets and ship designs were obviously updated. The bridge also looked "white," and a little too sterile for my tastes (it looked like that set from the third Matrix movie). Engineering section looked good; a little more industrial than typical Star Trek engineering section (i.e., Enterprise), but I guess that's what happens when you get actual $$$ to make a film. The Romulan ship looked stupid. I know it was supposed to be some sort of mining ship, but come on! Who designs a ship like that?

Biggest problem: ILM did the special effects. Did anyone notice how engaging the Warp drive looks a lot like jumping into hyperspace? But, apparently, "traveling through warp ain't like dustin' crops, boy." In addition, the phasers shots (the energy beams, not the guns) looked a lot like "blasters shots" (from Star Wars). I will say, "Bat'leths are no match with a good phaser at your side."

That wasn't my only problem: the music was awful. Sure, it was good, but it did not remind me of Star Trek (some may read this as see that as a positive). I didn't want dramatic musical stings, or that "fight music" from Star Trek, but the composer could have done a better job capturing the spirit of the original music.