Star Trek

Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Karl Urban, John Cho, Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin, and Simon Pegg

Written by: Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman based on characters by: Gene Roddenberry

Directed by: J.J. Abrams

In a bold move, J.J. Abrams revitalizes a franchise that had limped to the end of the line recently in both movies and film. And he does it in style. That’s not to say that the reboot is perfect. Far from it, but the attitude and pure fun make it a worthwhile journey.

After watching this film, it comes as no surprise that JJ Abrams was a big Star Wars fan as he infused some of the best of that saga into this reboot. This Star Trek is far more action/grandiose adventure than the previous incarnations, while keeping the mostly sleek feel of The Next Generation. But it’s almost amusing how much the new film is modeled after A New Hope which in turn is of course the classic hero’s journey.

I mean let’s break it down. Which movie am I?

• I open in space where a bad ass villainous ship attacks a smaller more heroic ship.
• A rebellious farmboy meets up with an older general who pushes the reluctant hero to have a grand adventure in space after some time in a bar full of aliens
• The rebellious farmboy meets up with someone who he is not too fond of at first but by the end share a great respect for.
• The villains have a superweapon that destroys planets and they use it on a main character’s homeworld which the heroes destroy at the end leading to a ceremony honoring the heroes. 

Hmm.  Hell Kirk was more Han Solo than original Kirk.

But comparisons aside, the film was a great thrill ride.  One thing I really want to compliment Abrams on was his device for continuing previous canon while rebooting the franchise.  While perhaps minorly hokey, it is impressive enough that someone took care to try to satiate the rabid fanbase rather than what most of Hollywood would have done…just said screw it it’s a new continuity. 

Having Nimoy in it as Spock Prime was a wonderful addition and it lended an immediate credibility to the new franchise. 

The casting was overall really well done.  Pine was a good Kirk, Han Soloisms aside.  Zachary Quinto was a dead on Spock although slightly more emotional as the story called for it.  Zoe Saldana was a wonderful alluring Uhuru, whose relationship with Spock was one way that they definitely deviated from previous films.   Karl Urban played very well against type and despite looking nothing like DeForrest Kelley, did a great job with his mannerisms.  Cho and Yelchin were serviceable in their more minor roles of Sulu and Chekhov.

Then there was Simon Pegg as Scotty.  Criminally underused.  But then I would say that if the film focused on him, he was that good in his role.  Funny, charismatic.  But I’m not partial as I adore almost anything Pegg does but he really embodied the role like none other and was definitely a highlight.

If  I had one serious complaint about the film it is the villains.  But then again besides Khan (and in a way Q)  Star Trek has never had a true grandiose villain.  It is not Eric Bana’s fault, but the character is just underdeveloped and really glossed over.  It’s almost as if the villains were only a plot device which of course lessens the impact.  The fact that he killed Kirk’s father helped, but it wasn’t enough to make him memorable. 

Overall this is certainly not your father’s Star Trek, but overall a very worthwhile investment and it is my hope to see this franchise continue and hopefully get into some real adventure now that the introduction period is over.

A-