To all of the naysayers: are you out of your Vulcan minds?
STAR TREK
(2009)
Starring: Zachary Quinto, Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana, Bruce Greenwood, Karl Urban, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Simon Pegg, Eric Bana, and Leonard Nimoy.
Directed by: J.J. Abrams (nerd power!)
Rated: PG-13
Okay, so to start with: I am what I'd call a Trekkie-in-training. I've seen several episodes of the classic series (Leonard Nimoy is one of my many sci-fi homeboys, dude) and almost all of TNG, as well as most of the movies. I'm not as well-versed and passionate about Trek as thousands of others, but I have a decent knowledge of the universe and a deep and abiding respect for Roddenberry and Co.
With that said, let me convey my ultimate opinion about this reboot in macro form:
HOLY CRAP, THIS FILM IS INCREDIBLE ON SEVENTY-SEVEN DIFFERENT LEVELS.
Abrams and Co. knew they would be playing in a sacred sandbox when they took on the task of recreating the original story of James T. Kirk (Pine), Spock (Quinto), and the other beloved characters who make up the crew of the U.S.S. Starship Enterprise. So as not to alienate the entire devoted fanbase, Abrams and the film's writers were careful to stay true to the optimistic, adventurous spirit of the classic series and preserve enough of the touchstones of the original show and characters to please the fanboys/girls (keep your eyes peeled for a Tribble in Scotty's first scene, and flail with glee over some very familiar lines and one familiar, point-eared face in particular). However, they also took care to make the film wonderfully accessible to those who don't really know or "get" the old-school Star Trek. And this mixture of homage and accessibility is what makes Abram's Star Trek a real joy to behold.
The film opens with a new take on the origins of Kirk and Spock. We get to see the two famous BFFs as they develop into the ass-kicking intergalactic hotties we all know (and most of us love). We watch as the two meet at the Starfleet Academy under strained circumstances before they are then thrust into powerful, life-or-death decision-making positions aboard the Enterprise. The two are of course joined by their kooky, independent, and genius fellow adventurers: the fiesty and sharp-tongued Nyota Uhura (Saldana), the heavily-accented wunderkind Pavel Chekov (Yelchin), the fencing pilot Hikaru Sulu (Cho), the paranoid doctor Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Urban), and the brilliant and snarky Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (Pegg).
Yay for the multicultural faces of the future!
Of course, the maiden voyage of the Enterprise can't be smooth; things are immediately complicated by the interference of a "particularly troubled Romulan" named Nero (Bana), who carries a serious grudge for Spock. When the Enterprise's first captain, Christopher Pike (Greenwood), is taken hostage after leaving Spock in command, the Vulcan finds himself clashing with the hot-headed Kirk. Problems and surprises ensue, culminating in a pretty epic display of action, emotion, acting, time-bending, and some of the prettiest special effects this side of Romulus.
The film opened six days ago, and I've already seen it three times, with plans for at least two more viewings. It. Is. That. Good. You know when you go to the movies just to be awed, by the scenery and the beauty and the acting and the special effects? When you just want to sit back and be constantly impressed and joyous? When you want a movie experience that will give you shivers? This film delivers all that. Action, romance, emotion, comedy -- Trek's got it all! It doesn't matter if you're an old fan or a complete noob who knows nothing about the Kobayashi Maru; there is no previous knowledge necessary to enjoy this installment in the seasoned sci-fi series.
Not only is the film (and the cast, hoo boy!) beautiful to look at; not only is the action thrilling while serving a purpose and forwarding the plot; not only is the romantic subplot unexpected and touching; and not only is the comedy fast and furious -- the film also boasts some extremely impressive acting.
Having never been a big fan of the Kirk character thanks to Shatner's laughable acting, I found myself pleasantly surprised with Pine's take on the famous Starfleet Captain. Not only is Kirk fun, relatable, and a complete BAMF, he also has enough immaturity, goofiness, and hot-headedness to make him a truly three-dimensional character we can root for. Quinto's Spock is all surpressed emotion and sensuality; a nerd rebel torn between two worlds, not to mention his desire for logic and his need for emotional expression. He truly IS Spock in this film, from his mannerisms (oooh, the eyebrow) to his voice patterns and delivery of dialogue (which truly makes me melt every time). The entire supporting cast shine in their roles, with Karl Urban's outspoken Bones and Simon Pegg's Scotty remarkably fun and manic stand-outs. Bana's Nero is an understandable villain, and Greenwood's Pike is a great father-figure for Kirk and BAMF in his own right. Then there's the legend that is Leonard Nimoy, who continues to sparkle as the multi-layered older Spock.
Cue the "Intergalactic BFFs Kicking Ass and Taking Names" music, Giacchino.
The directing is amazing, the colors pop, the soundtrack sends shivers up and down your spine. This film delivers everything a good film should, and is a hell of a way to start the summer blockbuster season.
Please, do yourself a favor and see Star Trek. It's grand fun of the highest caliber, and will surely leave you feeling satisfied and enchanted. :D
On a scale of 1 to 10: Star Trek blasts off through time and space with a perfect 10!!!
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