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You’d have to be living under a rock on Delta Vega to have never heard of the Star Trek franchise. Ever since its (tragically-cancelled) run in the 60s, this quaint sci-fi show spawned a dozen films, half-a-dozen spinoff TV shows, and a massive fan base that could constitute its own nation (complete with its own language, customs, and dress code). Slight problem with some of the original films is that they cater specifically to the Trekkies—most casual audiences might find some amusement among the even-numbered films, but the entire saga is a nerd haven more than anything.
So, in 2009, this reboot was released with the casual audience in mind. Even if you’ve never liked or heard of Star Trek before, this film will blow you away! From start to finish, there’s loads of spectacular space battles, shootouts, fistfights, and occasional bursts of witty (and rather silly) humor. The pacing is tight, and the movie overall carries an adventurous spirit that hasn’t really been invoked since Star Wars. At the same time, die-hard Trekkies should be relieved to see some familiar faces, hear some familiar lines, and witness the occasional homage to the classics.
This new saga begins on an emotionally gut-wrenching note: Jim Kirk's birth, in the middle of a starship disaster. This scene alone elicits enough awe and tears to give the film dramatic weight. The rest of Kirk's journey doesn't strive for the same level of emotion, but the character arcs are strong. Part of the film tracks Kirk's maturity from a reckless lost soul to a capable starship captain. Spock gets his own story arc, crammed full of emotional turmoil and identity conflict. Their union underscores key themes concerning destiny (which, is partly about aligning the Trek crew in all the right places, but is also relevant to Kirk and his challenge to make something of himself--it's an inspiring change). On top of that, there are subtle themes of death that emerge. Some of it is passing scenes and dialogue that illustrate the perils of space travel. Other parts analyze the way characters handle life and death situations. These ideas not only give the action weight, but also gives leverage to the sequels.
Unfortunately, the story is not without its contrivances. It does use some clever science to reset the Trek universe and open up possibilities for the new series. In doing so, the film had to link up a few key scenes with some shortcuts (such as the idea of "transwarp beaming," which in turn becomes a sudden possibility because of an unlikely ally). Though I found these shortcuts minor, they do little to mask the film's agenda of tying together nostalgia in a blockbuster package for mass consumption. Some viewers will find this distasteful. Personally, I felt the experience of the film, the strength of the characters, and the overall color and spirit made up for the shortcomings.
Coming from JJ Abrams, you can expect some jittery camerawork and lens flares--some people find these effects annoying, but I think they add realism and intensity to the film. Otherwise, much of the film sports very unusual camera movements and angles, which gives the film a lot of movement and perspective. It's more than style—it's a highly successful way of immersing the audience in outer space. Editing is snappy. Acting is superb—I initially found Chris Pine a little off as Kirk, but the man does emphasize the arrogance and impulsiveness of Kirk with some degree of accuracy. As Spock, Zachary Quinto balances nuance and emotion in a very endearing performance—he has a few moments of angst, but it befits the story. Karl Urban isperfect as McCoy. I enjoy the performances of Zoe Saldana, Eric Bana, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, John Cho, and Anton Yelchin. Winona Ryder is in the mix too, and I didn't even know it was her playing Spock's mom until later. Writing is good overall—much of the dialogue is rather low-key, but the film does expertly balance signature Trek aspects, character-building, and action. Production value is decent—it’s pretty obvious that they filmed many scenes at a beer factory, but most camera tricks are incredibly convincing, and it shows magnificent prowess at using less to make more. A lot of it also serves to make things look creditable—transporter beams, warp drive, red matter, etc all appear scientifically plausible. A lot of costumes and props look sleek and futuristic, but are still classy throwbacks to the original saga. Special effects are spectacular. Music is surprisingly catchy.
The new Star Trek universe is an awesome-looking, epic-scale blockbuster adventure brimming with color and spirit. Its story twists things around in a few contrived ways, but the characters are spot-on, and the experience overall has never failed to elicit feelings of awe and adoration. For those feelings and the adventurous spirit the film embodies, this remains my favorite Trek movie of them all.
5/5
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