As is usually the case, I prefer the inspired products to the inspirations themselves.

You are a sucker for the simulacra.

Saw Star Trek. Was underwhelmed. It was enjoyable enough, but I don't get the big love for it. My main annoyance was the absolute lack of women with any agency or any real meaningful contribution to the plot. Let's recap: Spock's mother (a laughably Linda Lavin-esque Winona Ryder) had to be saved but wasn't, Uhura was there primarily as Spock's girlfriend, and Jim's mother was absent for the entire film. Were there even any other female characters in the movie? I think they could have learned from BSG and perhaps cast a woman in one of the primary, formerly male, roles. Let's bring it into the 21st century, dudes.

I thought Quinto was great and I enjoyed Urban, too. I really disliked Scotty, Chekov, and Kirk.

I get your complaint, GC, but I thought Uhuru had more to do than that. It was her translation of the Romulan that validated Kirk and gave him credibility with Pike. Also, even though she wasn't running around and kicking ass, they did show her to be highly successful and competent at what she does, and was clearly one of the stars of the Academy.

I don't think JJ Abrams has a problem with strong women characters, so I think he did a good job of deepening her character and giving her some centrality. He had a lot on his plate with bringing all the characters together credibly, so I was willing to give it a pass and hope he brings more women forward to play key roles on the ship in the next movie. Plus agency.

He could've had Chekov as a woman, but again, you're not having that character running shooting and fighting. And I want Sulu to be canonically gay on this show, so I'm glad he was a guy.

One of the interesting things to me about the movie was how they played Kirk's character for laughs so much. The physical comedy around getting him on the ship was pretty broad (but pretty funny too).

I don't think JJ Abrams has a problem with strong women characters, so I think he did a good job of deepening her character and giving her some centrality.

But he blew it by having her be Spock's fuckbuddy IMO.

I thought Quinto was great and I enjoyed Urban, too. I really disliked Scotty, Chekov, and Kirk.

Oh thank God,I'd feared I was the only person on the planet with that reaction.

The movie left me wishing we'd get to see Spock's adventures as a member of Captain Pike's Enterprise crew for the next sequel or two.

But he blew it by

I thought that was great. Added real emotional depth to the story and both characters and it was surprising and right.

I loved Scotty, Chekov and Kirk. Pine played Kirk with just the right mix of Shatner with a bit of (I think) Val Kilmer's Doc Holiday. Plus the comedy.

And what's with not liking Simon Pegg?! I vote wrongcakes.

"Do they have sandwiches in the future?"

Plus there was his little cabbage headed Ewok fuckbuddy.

I thought that was great. Added real emotional depth to the story and both characters and it was surprising and right.

Perhaps if there had been any other strong female characters it wouldn't have pinged me so hard. Plus having had her in her bra and panties earlier on in the movie cemented for me just what her role in the film was intended to be.

I really don't think "fuckbuddy" is an accurate description of the Spock/Uhura relationship as it was written. I found it surprisingly mature and respectful on both sides.

played Kirk's character for laughs so much

OMG, his antics with Bones had me in stitches. Real honest-to-dog laughter mingled with advancing the plot.

And what's with not liking Simon Pegg?!

Whereas, while I love SP, Scotty's humour seemed to be apart from the story and characters. Tense scene? Let's button it with a nonsequitur with a one-liner from Scotty! Rinse, repeat! It's not Scotty and therefore SP that I personally didn't like, it was how he was incorporated into the story throughout.

I thought that was great. Added real emotional depth to the story and both characters and it was surprising and right.

Agreed. I don't have a recollection of much interest in Uhura. She always seemed to be the chick repeating the crap she heard, but now there's background and depth and intelligence and mad capability that I could see her being capable of loving someone so reserved as Spock reflecting on why she was so damned good at the linguistics, and vice versa. But the relationship had more bearing on my increased interest in Spock and rounding him out beyond the "logic".

I thought what was interesting about the Uhura in her underwear scene was that the underwear in question was, well, functional. Plain, white, not at all skimpy, no attempt to look sexy. Plus, she didn't even seem phased by the fact that she was seen in her underwear. She came across as annoyed at her roommate and annoyed at Kirk.