Summer Movies thus far: Terminator and Trek

I've been busy working this summer, but not to busy to start a blog and catch some summer movies. So far, I've seen Star Trek and Terminator:Salvation. I'm a lifelong terminator junkie, so my expectations were high for salvation. It pretty much delivered on entertainment value, but it never really could measure up. I mean, this was supposed to be it, the epic conclusion the the series, when John Connor steps up the plate and defeats the machines! All that happened, but another character was written into the script that sort of took the limelight away from John Connor; the hero which we've been prepared to love since 1984, through three movies and one tv show. Also, it kind of leaves it open for one more movie...and I wanted to see the grand finale this time around. Christian Bale is outstanding as Connor, but much of the plot revolves around another character that honestly didn't need to be there. When you see it, which you should, you'll understand my point. I did enjoy the film, it's worth it for fans of the franchise, and generally action and sci-fi fans. I took a chance on Star Trek which I wanted to see. I am not a huge fan, though I have taken in a good amount of the original series and next generation, and seen several of the movies. It looked fun and user friendly for the non trekkie, so I risked that I might get a biography of an oppressed Klingon character I did not know anything about. "I can sneak into that awful looking Land of the Lost remake if this is unbearable," I thought. I really enjoyed this film however, almost more than I did the terminator film, whose franchise I have followed more religiously. Star Trek does have a "crowd pleaser" feel to it. It is heafty on the adventure and special effects, which action and science fiction fans generally love. The film is skimpy on the history lessons about alien races, and technology that does not exist, but might some day, but probably won't. I have three or four devoted trekkies in the family, so I know the cerebral appeal of the show is a big reason why a lot of people follow it. These fans might be disappointed. I think most fans of the series will enjoy a well made addition to their favorite franchise. People like me who are fair weather friends of Star Trek (borgs and tribbles, yes, technical specifications of the partical defibulator, no thank you) will be pleased, and buy the tickets thus making it an economic success. It has the feel of a remake of a beloved TV show more than anything, with moments for the fans and fair weather friends to stop and say "aw, it's Ohura, aw, it's Chekov." People who watched the old, beloved TV show can enjoy a modern re-imagining of their characters. Star Trek is worth the ticket to any fan, fair weather friend, or any fan of action packed summer sci-fi "popcorn movies." I don't know if some true fans will feel cheated by this. My tastes are a little low-brow for a lot of trekkies and fans of "high science fiction" (Issac Asimov anyone) ? I love Blade Runner though, and would definitely watch it while eating a boar's head sandwich with grey-pu-pon if anyone is interested. Well, I still need to see Land of the Lost; I'm prejudging. More on that in the next post. I'm seeing Transformers this week hopefully.