Since there seems to be a drought of new ideas these days, movie studios have been combing their already existing properties to see if there is more money to be made from what they already own. Hence, we are in the "Reboot" Era. Batman, Bond...each property has an obligatory origin story that pretends all of the previous films in the series never existed. One of the great golden gooses in film properties, Star Trek, was bound to get its reboot sooner or later. But I really like how they've handled this one. Director J.J. Abrams and his team deftly forge a path open for future creativity while still acknowledging all that came before. Through a neat plot twist involving time traveling Romulans, the new 'Star Trek' franchise is based on the premise that everything we've seen so far in the Star Trek universe has in fact occurred, but this film (and presumably the sequels to come) exist in some alternate universe of time and space.
The plot revolves around the evil time traveling rogue Romulan Capt. Nero (played ably by Eric Bana). Nero is driven by revenge against Spock, whom he blames for the destruction of his home planet of Romulus. His plan involves eye for an eye, or planet for planet(s): the destruction of Spock's duel ancestral homes of Vulcan and Earth. Of course, the film is also the obligatory origin story of all of the familiar 'Star Trek' characters and the Enterprise itself.
ABOVE: The updated Enterprise crew (except Spock). From L-R: Checkov, Kirk, Scotty, Dr. McCoy, Sulu and Uhura.
The reason Star Trek ultimately succeeds is the excellent cast. Kirk, Spock, Sulu, Checkov, Bones, Uhura, Scotty...all are expertly cast with young, charismatic actors who do a wonderful job of channeling the history of each of these characters but without being trapped by that same history. In fact, the entire movie succeeds due to that delicate balance of respecting and loving Trek history but not being anchored by it. Serious Trekkies can take heart and enjoy fun references throughout to Trek lore (such as the infamous Kobayashi Maru simulation...if you don't know what that is, don't ask). But the film is accessible enough for those not fluent in Trek culture. There is an overarching, joyful spirit in this cast. They are almost giddy to be in these roles, and the attitude is infectious. Abrams was smart enough to keep and even accentuate all of the great quirks of these characters (James Kirk is as horny as ever, willing to bed any hot alien chick he comes across. Actually, there is quite a bit of sex here. Even Spock gets some action in a funny little subplot that reverses the roles Kirk and Spock usually play).
Zachary Quinto deserves special mention as Spock, as he struggles with his conflicting logical Vulcan and emptional human halves. When Leonard Nimoy appears as an aged Spock and confronts the young Spock (made possible by the time travel elements of the plot)...it is both a wonderful scene and also remarkable that it is Quinto who looks and acts more like Nimoy in his prime than Nimoy himself. Quinto has taken this role so linked to Leonard Nimoy and made it his own. I also really enjoyed the new character of Admiral Pike (played wonderfully by Bruce Greenwood), who serves as the necessary mentor to the reckless, young Kirk.
ABOVE: Before they were friends. Spock (Zachary Quinto) shows Kirk (Chris Pine) who is (temporarily) boss on The Enterprise.
Things have been updated, of course. This film is heavy on the action and a little lighter on the jargon filled dialogue some Trek fans are used to. It is not perfect. While it is fun from start to finish, when you stop and actually analyze the plot, there are some major holes, leaps of faith, and one coincidental meeting that almost defies logic and the odds, yet is crucial to how things turn out. And the overwrought musical score is annoying at times. But overall the film is a lot of fun and what a summer blockbuster should be. I am definitely eager to join this new Enterprise crew on future adventures...
***1/2 out of ***** (Almost a ****, but some of the plot holes bother me, so I docked it an additional half star for that).
2 comments:
Now, if only J.J. Abrams would do a "reboot" of Wolverine, X-Men Origins...
I rather enjoyed this one. We saw it on Imax and my wife, who has never seen Star Wars or Star Trek, actually liked this flick.
What was also interesting was that the audience looked relatively normal, like you know, they had relationships and went to parties and engaged in sexual intercourses. I was expected some big big folks like you see at Half Price Books or the Public Library, but hell, they looked like normal movie goers.
Anyway, sure, the meeting on the ice planet was ridiculous and totally impossible. This could have been explained away with one line of dialogue somehow, but they did not. The film overall was excellent, and POSITIVE, unlike Battlestar Galactica, which is such a downer that I have no desire to watch it again for a long time, even though it is an excellent show and probably superior to any Star Trek ever in terms of plot and acting.
I liked Captain Pike too, a great character, and hopefully will be back too as a mentor. I thought Pine was good, although some will never get over Shatner. Shatner actually was not that good after Star Trek IV. Star Trek V, which he also directed, was a terrible film and helped send the franchise down a cliff for years.
This JJ Abrams shit is good, so go see it. Even if he copied elements of Star Wars, here and there like that vagina monster and the little laser gun battle with Kirk and Spock. He did not get too into ethics or moral dilemmas like the old ST. But that is fine. People are pretty stupid now and those issues wont sell tix any more
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