Robi-Wan731

So here's the thing. If this was a random sci-fi movie starring Michelle Yeoh it would not be nearly as polarizing as it seems to be in the reviews. It's got fun action sequences, some John Scalzi style sci-fi humor, and although predictable at times the plot has enough twists to not be too boring. The issue is it's set in the Star Trek universe and depending on where you land regarding your preconceived notions of what a Star Trek movie should be, that will ultimately influence how you will feel in the end. When it comes to franchises like Star Trek I am all for taking risks and this one definitely does. If you are a purist and watch with purist expectations save your time because you will not like this movie. If you like the character Philippa Georgiou you might want to watch it anyway just because it adds some to her backstory and answers the question of where and when she ended up when she walked through the door in season three. My opinion is that it was entertaining and I enjoyed it the characters enough I wouldn't mind seeing them turn up in future projects. In the end you'll just have to decide for yourself.

I almost didn't watch this movie because of the reviews however I am glad I did. At the beginning of the movie we hear Natalie Portman's character Laura say "People talk about 'before the war.' The thing is, you never know you're living before a war." This line sets up the subtext for the rest of the movie. You might forget she even said it until the end of the movie if you make it that long but it raises the question "do we ever really know the significance of the times we are living in?" I think the way Rebecca Zlotowski weaves the story through this unprecedented time in history is worth reflecting on. There is no simple way to capture everything going on in the 1930s. It was a time of great achievement and innovation. It was also a time that saw the rise of the greatest horrors of the twentieth century. It's in this context that we see these characters making their way through the universe. The film industry is revolutionizing how we see the world and entertainment. It also becomes a medium for scientific knowledge and journalism. Spirituality, which saw seismic changes following the end of the Great War, continues to be challenged by skeptics just like Harry Houdini did in the 20s. But also finds new converts in people looking for hope in the uncertain future. Then we see the rise of anti-semitism, perhaps clear to us now, but was nonetheless overlooked by many people who were otherwise very forward thinking and missed the dangers right before their eyes. And as the movie makes clear it was not just in Germany. There's one quote that I think resonated tone of the movie for me by Fernand Prouvé played by Louis Garrel- "People say that they write poetry, but it is wrong. It is the poetry writing us." Art says as much about the observer as it does about the artist. And while the movie is certainly not for everyone, if you give it a chance, you might see it captures the beauty, complexity, ambiguity, and ugliness of these times. Personally I have enjoyed reflecting on how all these elements fit together into this story and why she chose this plot line to explore them. Much has been written about the excellent cast and cinematography but I thought these themes were worth consideration for anyone who might be on the fence about watching it.

I adore Mayim Bialik but this series is a miss. On the plus side, because of it I discovered the British series it's based on, Miranda, which is positively hilarious. Watch it instead.