The Death of Reason

Rating: 5/10 (3 June 2009)

I enjoyed this movie from beginning to end as a generic science fiction action movie. The characters, action and CGI were all excellent. As a generic fiction action action movie this gets 10 out of 10 from me. So why do I only vote it 5 out of 10? Because I'm a Trekkie, have been since I first tuned in to The Original Series as a wide eyed six year old. I would like to give it 0 out of 10 as a Trekkie because I take personal exception to the destruction of the planet Vulcan.
Science fiction is a useful genre for flexibly describing our world as it is, for discussing issues of our time. If Mr Spock and Vulcan symbolised anything during the optimistic '60s, it was the triumph of reason over superstition and religious dogma, and as such, it has always been an important reason why I have been a Trekkie.
I wonder why the writers of this movie destroyed Vulcan. Is it perhaps because the world has moved on such a long way since the 1960s and the human race is now rejecting scientific humanism in favour of a return to religious dogma and superstition? Religious fundamentalism has been on the rise now for quite some time in most of the world from China to America. Only Western Europe, Canada and Australia remain as a refuge for reason in a fatuous world. If that is the reason for Vulcan's destruction, then I guess that is acceptable. However if the writer's did this merely for exploitative shock value then that is lazy and banal IMHO.