There's only so many films that can get this much hype. There's only a handful more that lived up to it, much less surpassed it. This film, by all accounts, is an epic film. In 3D, you're immersed into Jame Cameron's long awaited dream planet, and it has all the makings of a classic.
As a person who read this as a kid, I was interested in seeing how they made a feature length film out of a 16 page children's book. The result is a great metaphor for growing up, dealing with anger, and pretty much showcasing childhood imagination. The problem is that the film is directed for kids who won't understand it at all, and, to boot, ends without tying up any of those connections at all. More than anything, the kids asking, "Why," to every slide of film buzzkilled this for me, and it's a terrible film to watch in every aspect away from that as well.
This film is unlike anything ever done before. It's shown in a documented style, like the short film it was based on(Alive in Joburg), and takes the concept of alien visitors in such a new light it's a breath of fresh air, for a plot device that's been so overkilled and dull for years and years.
It's groundbreaking, it's astonishing, and there might not quite be another film like this, ever.
I wasn't expecting too much from this movie, which in no way has been plugged like other films on a constant basis, and boy was I in for a shock. The movie was a laugh, and an all out action packed movie you'd want to catch in summer. To boot, for movie nerds out there, it was just amusing to see previous Stephen Sommers' castees from "The Mummy," in this film.
It really was beyond my expectations, and I would hope it springs a sequel.
Rebooting an old franchise, JJ Abrams knocked this one way out of the park. In the way last year's Iron Man stole the early movie brigade's show, this may well take the cake as the best film of the year. It will have you laughing, the action and space sequences will drop your jaw to the floor, and, for the ol' Trekkie fans, this gives an instant kick for many more movies to come from a great pairing of actors lead by Chris Pine.
The film was astoundingly good, far beyond my expectations as a non-Trekkie, and has me wanting to watch more of the original series.