Star Trek review -- Redone.
After watching many episodes of the original series and interviews with the cast (thanks to the silly Australian Blunty), I've decided that I should re-do my review for Star Trek.
I don't own any rights to this film. Spoilers for those who haven't seen this film. All ideas and thoughts expressed in this are my own.
First: The movie has stellar (lol) sound effects, visuals and soundtrack. The visuals - they were a wonderful recreation of the space we once found in the 60's sci-fi episodes and, although I wasn't a big fan of the extremely bright Nokia bridge, I thought that it fit well with the film and it's adoration of light distortion. That was another thing I loved - the messing with the lights. All it took was one swing of the camera (and a bit of editing skills afterwards) and the light would flick across a face or create pale speckles across the scene. I really dig that and thought it was very proper for this movie. (That's all I focused on the third time I saw it.) The sound effects were fun, too. It was great that, from time to time, Abrams applied the scientific law of space - no sound in the lack of medium. I think what got me jumping was the warp speed bang; a slow, low rumbling and then, BANG! To be honest, it gave me goosebumps every time. The phaser shots in this one were different from TOS, where it was one, steady shot, as in this, they were short bursts (thanks to the guy who did the sound effects for Star Wars) but it seemed like it was supposed to be like that from the beginning of the franchise. The soundtrack was something else I really enjoyed (the thing I paid attention to the third and fourth time I saw it) because, first, it used lots of brass and percussion that set that action/sci-fi/modern tone but it also had frantic strings behind, forcing your heart to race or to slow with the scene and the notes.
Second: Leonard Nimoy, my lovely, was in there! I was ecstatic when I saw him turn to face Jim, and the camera. Of course, he did a very good job and I loved just seeing him in a reboot of the franchise he pretty much defined. Sure, Kirk was the womanizing, bold captain but I remember that when I was young and I didn't know anything really about Star Trek, I knew Spock. I knew of the pointy eared logical commander. (But I never really cared) In an interview with him and his wife, Susan Bay, (Michael Bay's niece or cousin), she said that several hours after the writers left with their proposal for him to show, he was still sitting in silence and awe. I felt so happy for the man.
Third: The characters, although not my preferences, were properly played and...
Chris Pine (James Tiberius Kirk): That goofy man played a really good Jim Kirk. He brought in his own quirkiness while maintaining the 'Shatnerian' qualities that created the character - the way he sits in the command chair, his crooked smile, his determination - so you get all these qualities that make Jim Kirk.
Zachary Quinto (Mister Spock): He played a convincing Spock, a bit more emotional than Nimoy's but I liked it. One of the most popular scenes for people I know is when he was talking to the high council and they had pissed him off but he didn't show it; he just said 'Live long and prosper' like 'Fuck off and die'. Pretty awesome.
Karl Urban (Leonard Horatio "Bones" McCoy): From my last Star Trek review, I have grown a new appreciation for this man. He is quirky and fun and has a rockin accent. (Mmmm, Kiwi.) As for his acting, I have noticed similarities with DeForest Kelley and he's a good actor. I like him, just not as much as the deceased DeForest.
Zoe Saldana (Nyota Uhura): The hot black chick on bridge, she filled the spot Nichelle carved out very well. (Not to mention, she's gorgeous) She had the snippy attitude the original had from time to time but I guess because her story was different from the original's, she was different.
Simon Pegg (Montgomery "Scotty" Scott): The only actor who didn't have to audition. He received aid from his Scottish wife and the film's first assistant director for his accent although it's more West coast than East. I still think he was a funny Scotty. (I miss James Doohan.)
John Cho (Hikaru Sulu): Asian pilot, he is the knowledgeable botanist turn pilot and he isn't all the involved in the original series but in this movie, he seems to be a small comedic, not a relief so much as a sigh. I didn't find him particularly challenged for his role and he wasn't all that funny. (Just when he left the parking break on.)
Anton Yelchin (Pavel Andreievich Chekov): I really enjoyed seeing 'Jailbait' up on screen but I felt so bad when he did. (When he lost Spock's mama.) I liked his part, especially since he was the comedic relief when it wasn't necessary. "...wiktor wiktor..." Oh, Pasha.
Eric Bana (Romulan Captain "Nero" Ŏ’ŗên): I don't care what Blunty says about him - he did a phenomenal job at portraying his character's hate/spite/vengeance. I'm sure that with more scenes in the films, his character wouldn't seem as flimsy and uninspired. I thought he did good. My favorite scene with him, and my third favorite scene altogether, was when he was so enraged and he shouted 'Fire everything!'. Splendid.
Chris Hemsworth (George Samuel Kirk, Sr.): Oh. My. Lord. As much as I am not impressed by this man's personal presentation, he was like a frickin God on screen! My heart sank every time I watched him die, every time he heard his son being born and his wife wish for him to be there. Every time you could see the painful joy in his sacrifice. He was amazing at putting forth the right emotions and portraying them spot on. Oh, geez.
Faran Tahir (Richard Robau): Although he wasn't there long, I knew I saw him some place else - Raza from Iron Man. Anyway, he did do good when he had his small part.
Jacob Kogan (child!Spock): Oh, he was a cutie. I enjoyed watching him play a twelve year old Spock.
Done.
(Where you can get the soundtrack for free. Let me know if it's not working and I'll fix it immediately.)
Music.