Star Trek: Horizon

Fan made content is usually way too raw to create an enjoyable experience for me, but ST Horizon definitely sets itself apart and can stand on it's own even by regular standards. The production value is pretty good and I even liked their cinematographic choice of using blur and lens flares to hide imperfections. It may not be everyone's cup of tea and needs some time to get used to, but I think it's better this way than to have distracting green screen sets like they used on Sanctuary (TV show). The acting is also decent, Lang carries the movie quite well and Bussell, Thompson and Kaiser deliver performances around him that really feel like a genuine effort. It still is a bit flat at times and the movie had a few difficulties to evoke emotions in me, but it's absolutely no cringe-fest like lower quality fan content.

The story itself is also very good, there are a few flaws in the plot but it's still rock solid and made the movie for me. I got hooked right away and was thoroughly entertained by it. Some of the dialogues could have used some polishing, but that would be nitpicking on an otherwise great experience.

Overall, I can highly recommend the movie to fans of the franchise.

I found this movie to be a worthy effort.

The GOOD: Considering it is crowdfunded, this movie is INCREDIBLE for the shoestring budget that it was made on, and a somewhat enjoyable viewing experience. If you are a fan of Star Trek, then check it out! Special effects are on par and done very well. The plot is well thought out and is intriguing.

The BAD: Some of the acting just isn't there... occasionally a line is delivered and I just sat there saying to myself "Huh". Some line just drop like a rock in the ocean. The seem out of place or lacking any real emotion.

Much of the filming on the "ship" itself leads me to believe that they don't have LED bulbs in the future... they might as well be filming in a cave, everything is SO Dark.

The UGLY: The script is spattered with lines that just don't feel right for Star Trek. Some of the Characters don't feel real, they are a cliché (perhaps more character development was necessary)... I feel like the script needed to be a bit more polished, and some of the acting just isn't on par with the big budget products.

Summary: All and all Star Trek - Horizon, is a worthy effort that is a decent story and worthy of your time if you can forgive some of the bad lines and characters that you just don't connect with. Would I have paid $8 to see this movie?? Probably not, but considering what it is, and how it was made, it is a decent movie.

If I had to rate this along side official Star Trek productions, I would say it falls right in the middle. Much better than the really bad official stuff, but not as good as some of the best Trek out there.

In fact, my only complaint has to do with the videography. There appears to be this ambient haze everywhere, especially inside of ships. I don't know if this is a result of green-screen usage, or just creative license. But I didn't like it. I kept thinking "Why is the ship always full of fog?" But it certainly wasn't a deal-breaker. Really a minor nit-pick more than anything.

The characters and acting seemed different from regular Star Trek, but not necessarily bad. In fact, I'd say these characters were more like real people.

I'm old enough to remember when Star Trek first came out, and I thought it was fantastic. I was ten years old and easy to impress. This movie has some of those same qualities, it looks cheap, sounds cheap and for what it is not a bad job overall.Yes it has its flaws but it also has its strengths. All in all not bad, considering.

Filled with errors and stilted dialogue, this effort by fans is laudable in its vision. But shaky cam and haze doesn't a good film make.

Star Trek: Horizon lacks the grandeur of the feature films: there is no grand stage and Shakespeare feel. What made ST: TWOK great isn't here. There isn't a cracked mirror to see ourselves make things worse: there are ill-fitting uniforms, wooden performances and a very weak enemy. The Romulan Admiral shows how a twenty-something might react to adversity, and probably because the actor playing him is still in his teens.

Here's an example of poor writing: Captain Whatsisname orders the crew to abandon ship. But of course, no one does.

The ship is out of the fracas: shaky cam is still shivering, swaying and generally producing mal-de-mer.

The film would have been better to curb the enthusiasm, spend a little more time on plot, story and dialogue. Who's at fault? The director of course. It *looks* OK on the surface mostly. The CGI effects are compelling, the sets look good, the sound is mostly good. But there is no reason to go beyond the first forty minutes.

Lucky for us it's a freebie.