Movie: “Star Trek”
Rating: Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence, and brief sexual content.
Release: May 8, 2009
Running Time: 2 hrs 6 mins
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana… IMDB listing
Verdict:
Still baring vivid scars from the horrendous disappoint dealt to me in my adolescence by Lucas’ rape of my favorite film franchise, I approached Abrams’ reboot of my second favorite franchise tentatively, afraid I would once again be burned by my own naive optimism.
I went into the theater expecting – maybe even hoping – to hate this film. Two hours later, I walked out, wondering what the hell had happened. Somewhere in the course of the film, I had stopped noticing the film’s many plot holes and inconsistencies, forgotten my animosity, and been swept up into a bright, exciting story.
It wasn’t the Star Trek I knew and obsessed over. It didn’t carry the weight of a cultural icon. It wasn’t thought-provoking. It was just two hours of light-hearted escapism that I really enjoyed.
I recommend seeing this one on the big screen, where it was meant to be seen, and bringing a friend. Star Trek isn’t going to score high in terms of rewatch-ability, so make the most of it the first time out.
Synopsis:
The greatest adventure of all time begins with Star Trek, the incredible story of a young crew’s maiden voyage onboard the most advanced starship ever created: the U.S.S. Enterprise. On a journey filled with action, comedy and cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind.
The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals. One, James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), is a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy. The other, Spock (Zachary Quinto), was raised in a logic-based society that rejects all emotion. As fiery instinct clashes with calm reason, their unlikely but powerful partnership is the only thing capable of leading their crew through unimaginable danger, boldly going where no one has gone before!
Review:
As a hardcore fan, it’s extremely hard to let go of the characters that I’ve loved since boyhood. Shatner, Nimoy, Doohan, and Koenig have been staples in my life for as long as I can remember. They form a bridge back into a time in my childhood when I was just discovering the wonders of the science fiction genre that I will always cherish. However, looking at what this franchise has become with fresh eyes, I’ve realized that this ephemeral connection, like many things from my childhood, doesn’t bear up well under scrutiny. I’ve loved Star Trek because of its nostalgic value, not because of any vaunted timeless quality it might possess.
In comparison to the growing sophistication of visual effects and innovative storytelling of modern science fiction, the Star Trek I know and loved is beginning to look tatty, even to my own eyes. So I admit, albeit with a heavy heart, that this “reboot” was well justified (maybe even a bit overdue).
Happily, Abrams’ reboot captures the spirit of Star Trek to perfection. All the major characters are largely unchanged, if a bit quicker to humor. The mood and flow of the story is faster than prior Star Trek movies but more in keeping with that of the original television series. All the gadgets fans have come to know and love make their appearance, including the orbital skydiving gear first seen on the Star Trek Generations DVD release.
Even the franchise’s flaws carry over to the new film. I’m speaking, of course, of the McGuffin of a maniac traveling back in time to take revenge on the man who didn’t save his planet from destruction rather then saving it himself. The device might aggravate normal audiences, but to fans, it’s just classic Star Trek storytelling. Nero is only the latest in a long line of mad men with cataclysmic plans, following in the footsteps of such greats as Khan Noonien Singh and Dr. Tolian Soran.
The only place where Star Trek seriously deviates from its predecessors is the frequency of its humor. Star Trek is the funniest film in the Star Trek film franchise since Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. It’s humor, though, consists almost entirely of in-jokes that pander to long time fans. For instance, the film offers an origin of McCoy’s nickname, “Bones,” and plays upon Uhura’s legendary (among fans, at least) lack of a first name. This, in my opinion, is the producers’ attempt to placate any hurt feelings among the franchise’s core fanbase that might have resulted from their attempt to broaden the franchise’s appeal.
The final result is that Star Trek isn’t a reinvention, it’s like meeting good friends for the first time, all over again, and I’m confident that most fans are going to feel the same.
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