Star Trek
Rated: PG-13
Runtime: 2 hours, 6 minutes
Directed by: J.J. Abrams
Starring:
Chris Pine - James T. Kirk
Zachary Quinto - Spock
Karl Urban - Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy
Zoe Saldana - Nyota Uhura
Simon Pegg - Montgomery "Scotty" Scott
John Cho - Hikaru Sulu
Anton Yelchin - Pavel Chekov
Bruce Greenwood - Capt. Christopher Pike
Eric Bana - Nero
Leonard Nimoy - Spock
Star Trek and Star Wars fans have been at war for decades because both have devoted fanbases and both titles have the word "star" in them. But even after the tragedy of the prequel trilogy, it was still cooler to be a Star Wars fan than it was to be a Trekkie. The masses simply chose to forget the new films and go back to loving the old ones. But whereas you could still wear a funny Star Wars t-shirt and not only get away with it but make the cultural reference and score geek points, Trek couldn't manage the cool. You could wear the rebel insignia or the imperial insignia but try to sporting the Starfleet insignia and either folks wouldn't get it or they would think it was lame.
It's clear that there are better Trek films ahead and that this re-launch may not achieve the thematic depths some may enjoy but what director J.J. Abrams has done with Star Trek is the most practical and perhaps most arduous task in handling this franchise: he's made it cool again.
That may seem like a shallow measure and leave some wondering why the film couldn't be deep and hip but Abrams has a mission and it's not boldly going where no one has gone before. That's putting the nacelles before the saucer. He has to re-establish the original characters, allow new actors put their stamp on those characters, update the visuals and the universe, connect AND disconnect it to the original series, and, oh yeah, make an exciting summer movie that will have folks arguing over what they loved in the film the most. J.J. Abrams Star Trek is mission accomplished.
The plot is breezy and does some narrative gymnastics to establish that this Trek exists in an alternate universe. It's a smart long-term strategy that allows the writers to create new adventures without having to constantly consider the decades-worth of canon established by the television series (both live-action and animated), books, comics, and motion pictures. But this Trek isn't about the plot as much as it's about the characters and that's why I think it works so well.
The focus of Star Trek isn't so much the world (although there are enough alien races, planets, and references to go around) but the friendship between James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) and Spock (Zachary Quinto) and moving the rest of the supporting crew of Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Karl Urban), Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Hikaru Sulu (John Cho), Pavel Chekov (Anton Yelchin), and Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (Simon Pegg) into place. This film belongs to Kirk and Spock but the film lets each member of the supporting cast have their moment and when it comes to casting the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, they absolutely nailed it.
Trek does have a few minor problems, the first of which will blind you in the first opening minutes: lens flare. Yes, J.J. Abrams has seen the future and it is lens flare effect and even Mr. Abrams acknowledges that he went overboard in using it. The second flaw is the villain, Nero (Eric Bana) who wants to destroy Starfleet because he is evil and Starfleet is good. With the exception of The Wrath of Khan, Trek has never really been known for its villains and it's a character and a performance not really worthy of Bana's abilities. Finally, there are a few minor distractions like a cameo by Tyler Perry (WHY.) or a couple references that aren't worth their set-up.
But what works in Star Trek is absolutely exhilarating. I have to once again call out the cast for their incredible work. They've have not only honored these characters but they have started to make their own mark. With Trek, Chris Pine is now an A-list movie star and everyone will be scrambling to get him in their movie. He effortlessly mixes Kirk's ability to charm, rebel, humor, and charm some more. Even when he takes a brief moment to poke fun at Shatner's iconic pause, the character works.
It's moments like that pause and others where I was amazed at how the film weaved in so many references and made it feel natural. So often does such fan-service feel forced but with Star Trek, the references are organic to the action and rarely break the momentum in order to get the appreciative laugh from the audience.
Finally, I have to acclaim composer Michael Giacchino for his amazing score. His music is loud and constantly attempting to match the size of the spectacle but while some films would use the music as a crutch to deliver the emotions or distract from sub-par effects, Giacchino's score energizes the entire film and it's an even more impressive feat when you consider that it had to exist in the shadow of Jerry Goldsmith's iconic theme. This new score for Star Trek is a must-own.
Some Trekkies may look at the new film and wonder "Why?" Why go out of the way to introduce characters we already know and love but just with different actors? Why not just go full warp ahead and start telling new stories rather than belabor an origin? These Trekkies, sadly, do not understand the favor that J.J. Abrams has just done their beloved franchise. Abrams and his talented cast and crew have brought Star Trek back to the mainstream and after this film debuts, the entire world will be more than ready to boldly go where ever the U.S.S. Enterprise wants.
Words by
Matt Goldberg
5.3.09
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |