Hello, guys! This week I will present 5 films that connect to our current big release of the week, Star Trek: Into Darkness! No, I won’t put EVERY Star Trek movie: that would just be too easy and too obvious! So without further ado, let’s beam up these picks!
5. Star Trek (2009)
Okay, first we’ll have the obvious: Star Trek. First off, I’m not a Star Trek fan: I’m not anti-Star Trek, but I’m not a full on Trekkie. Also, If you guys heard my debut on the podcast, you know that I’m not particularly fond of the work of J.J. Abrams. That being said, I actually liked Star Trek. Sure, the lens flare is a bit jarring at some moments, Mike Tyson was a bit of an odd choice for a villain, and the appearances of both Tyler Perry (not in drag) and Winona Ryder are a bit random, but I still enjoyed it!
First off, It’s a rare reboot that actually works and you don’t have to be a Trekkie to enjoy this film. In a matter of fact, J.J. Abrams said that he wasn’t doing a fan-service movie (a film that catered only to fans), but a movie that non-fans would enjoy as well. In that form, he succeeded Chris Pine was perfect as James T. Kirk, Zachary Quinto was phenomenal as Spock, and I thought that Judge Dredd himself, Karl Urban (no, not Keith), was fantastic and likable as Bones McCoy. Do I recommend anyone to see this? Why yes!
4. Super 8 (2011)
Ok, a secret movie confession. Everyone gather around and close the door. Ready? I didn’t like Super 8. I know, I know, It’s pretty shocking. I found it to be completely boring and overwhelming with the use of lens flares. I had some really high expectations for this and I was let down. Now, I’m not saying it was an all out terrible movie. I thought the train wreck sequence was pretty good and the movie overall was well filmed, but I felt like I was in the theater for 8 days (no pun intended). Like I said with Titanic last week, don’t my dislike for Super 8 deter you from watching it. After all, it is another J.J. Abrams film.
3. The Dark Knight (2008)
A bit out of left field? At first: yes but, Star Trek: Into Darkness has been drawing a lot of comparisons to The Dark Knight. From the bleak turn in story to the mystery surrounding its antagonists. Also, another fun fact about both films: The Dark Knight was the first film to be shot with IMAX cameras while Star Trek: Into Darkness is also filmed with IMAX cameras. Coincidence? I think so.
Now, I’m not saying that Star Trek: Into Darkness is a blatant rip-off of The Dark Knight. I’m just saying that some elements of story are similar to each other. Of course, chances are, you’ve probably seen The Dark Knight. If not, then you are surely missing out! Remember when I said that you didn’t have to be a Star Trek fan to enjoy the 2009 reboot? Well, You don’t have to be a Batman fan to enjoy The Dark Knight.
2. Prometheus (2012)
I know, I know, I know: “You would add your favorite movie on here!”, “This has nothing to do with Star Trek!!”, “Prometheus was a piece of $%@#^!!”. First, I always put an out of left field pick in at least one spot on these lists (ex. The Quick and The Dead on my list for Oz) and make a small, somewhat faint connection to it. Prometheus has three things going for it: Written by Damon Lindelof (who also wrote Star Trek: Into Darkness), The marketing oversimplifies both films (in other words, not revealing much), and the obvious: they both belong in the sci-fi.
As for the movie, It’s actually really hard to recommend Prometheus to anyone. It’s a love it or hate it movie: I personally am on the love it side. Is Prometheus a perfect movie? Far from it: there are numerous plot holes, some characters lack common sense, and it lacks in terms of a payoff. That being said, I loved Prometheus for the fact that it is well acted, visually stunning, well filmed, and that fact that the visual effects team favored more practical effects over CGI. It depends on your expectations.
1. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (2011)
Guess which cast member of Star Trek: Into Darkness is in this one! I’ll give you a hint: He’s the one everybody’s raving about. No, no, not Chris Pine or Zachary Quinto. Benedict Cumberbatch (Coolest name ever, by the way). Yes, Benedict Cumberbatch plays a role in the 2011 espionage thriller, based on the acclaimed novel by John le Carré.
His performance in this one is definitely worth a look! Does he do in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy what he does in Star Trek: Into Darkness? Not really (from what I hear), but he still does pretty darn good in this film. If anything, see it for Cumberbatch!
BONUS: BBC’s Sherlock (2010-present)
Besides sparing the comments that would say “Where’s Sherlock!” “Benedict Cumberbatch is in Sherlock, why isn’t it on this list?!” or “No Sherlock?”, I actually thought long and hard about listing this one, but I had to restrict myself to films. Putting a TV series would just be cheating. (that and listing 5 random Star Trek movies this week) So, to make every reader and their mother out there happy, I put Sherlock as a (history in the making here on Geek Scoop) Bonus. Yes, you are very welcome. I love you too! For those unfamiliar with the BBC series known as Sherlock, Benedict Cumberbatch plays a modern day Sherlock Holmes with Bilbo Baggins himself, Martin Freeman, as Sherlock’s companion, Watson. I highly recommend watching this. Actually, it’s still on Netflix Instant right now.
Alright you Trekkies! I hope you got your Star Trek costumes and Spock ears ready for the latest Star Trek adventure! Make sure to look for our review(s) later this week or the next! (My review will most likely be posted next week as an Alternate Take.) So, live long and prosper out there! (I know, I’m not a Trekkie but, I live with Trekkies so, I picked up a few things,)
Next Week’s Pick: A DOUBLE DOSE (The Hangover Part III and Fast & Furious 6)
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