The characters are stiff. The dialogue feels forced. The setting is uninspiring. The costume design is bland. You don't feel immersed in history at all. Ben is passionless. There is no moral or ideological conflict. And despite making the friends back home more involved, they make no use of the hologram technology or the strategic resources of a modern military project. Fumbling through leaps with pep talks and gumption worked for Sam, but it isn't working in the reboot.