New 'Star Trek' - A fan's review

[sagart]

I know the expectaton is building for the new movie's release but I've been very lucky to see it already. A friend in the States asked to write a review so I thought I might share it here -

 

Modern moviegoers have become used to prequels and reboots. 10 years ago The Phantom Menace began the new Star Wars prequel trilogy while the last couple of years have brought us Batman Begins and Casino Royale, both hugely successful reboots of established and much loved characters, bringing something new and fresh to the worlds of The Dark Knight and 007.

 

For all their success however, movie history is littered with, well, let’s just call them misjudgements (hands up who remembers the movie rebirths of The Avengers, Thunderbirds and Lost in Space). Rebooting is a dangerous business. Not only do you run the risk of messing up whatever made the classic a classic but you also risk suffering the wrath of the originals loyal fans. And in the world of TV & movies, no fans are more loyal or passionate than Trekkies.

 

When Star Trek premiered on US TV in 1966, it invited us “to boldly go where no man has gone before†and for over 40 years we’ve followed the exploits of Captain Kirk, Mr Spock and all those who have journeyed into the ‘Final Frontier’. Like most of us though, who are in or around the 40 year old mark, Trek has been showing its age of late. The last movie ‘Nemesis’ was a disappointment, critically and commercially while the most recent TV incarnation, ‘Enterprise’ suffering the indignity of being cancelled after 4 seasons. In the words of Dr. Bones McCoy, the state of Star Trek seemed obvious – “It’s dead, Jimâ€.

 

Now though, in the hands of JJ Abrams, one of Hollywood’s new Golden Boys, on the back of LOST, Alias & Mission Impossible 3, Trek is back with a bang.

 

Premiering this past week in London where I was lucky enough to see it in the company of the director and cast, and opening nationwide on May 7th, Star Trek lays early claim to the Best Summer Movie award and is, quite simply, the most fun I’ve had at the movies in years.

 

Abrams has done something remarkable. He has captured the pioneering spirit and youthful passion of the 60’s sci-fi classic and blended it with modern wizardry and cutting edge moviemaking. This isn’t a reboot, this is a rebirth. This isn’t packaging up something old, only to try and sell it as something new. This is Star Trek as we have never seen it and yet, it’s still so warmly familiar.

 

They’re all here; Kirk, Spock and the crew of the USS Enterprise, new faces but old friends. Just as Daniel Craig slipped into Sean Connery’s Aston Martin and tuxedo so Chris Pine takes his place in William Shatner’s Captain Chair, not imitating the original James T. Kirk, but convincing us all the same, even in this first outing, that the centre seat on the Enterprise’s bridge is his. Zachary Quinto, best known as the main baddie on TV’s ‘Heroes’, takes on the iconic role of Mr Spock, with the original pointy eared favourite, Leonard Nimoy on hand to pass the torch as only sci-fi allows. All the others are present and accounted for. The casting in this movie has to be noted as it is spot on and not just for the classic characters. Our villain Nero, while perhaps a bit thinly written, is played with great relish by Eric Bana, giving us a great movie baddie and not the all too real and disturbing psychopath that most action movies give us these days.

 

Abrams’ long time collaborators Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci provide a script that is both epic and intimate, inventive yet reverential. Having scored Pixar’s The Incredibles and Ratatouille as well as Abrams’ MI:3 and LOST, Michael Giacchino’s music gives the movie a pulsating heartbeat while paying respect to Alexander Courage’s legendary theme.

 

The oft-mocked special effects and sets from the original series are replaced by George Lucas’ Industrial Light and Magic, bringing their digital know-how to the battleground of space and the alien lands of Romulus and Vulcan.

 

All the little pieces of the puzzle, crafted with love and care, create a summer blockbuster that can easily stand toe to toe with the boy wizards, battling robots and caped crusaders recent summers have brought us. As Batman brings us darkness, James Bond brings us grittiness and Transformers brings us mayhem, Star Trek brings us the adventure, excitement and hope that was Gene Roddenberry’s original vision in 1966, which, thanks to Abrams and his new crew continues to Live Long and Prosper.

Edited April 26, 2009 by sagart

[Tanith]

So can't wait to see it :)

 

Trek has been showing its age of late. The last movie ‘Nemesis’ was a disappointment, critically and commercially while the most recent TV incarnation, ‘Enterprise’ suffering the indignity of being cancelled after 4 seasons. In the words of Dr. Bones McCoy, the state of Star Trek seemed obvious – “It’s dead, Jimâ€.

 

100% disagree with this bit though. In my opinion Nemesis was fantastic and my 2nd favorite film of the Star Trek series (First Contact being the first).

 

Enterprise was the best of the Star Trek series in my opinion to. It was the most realistic and its 3rd season was just sexy. Anytime I watch the series through again I always rage at the end going "WHY THE **** WAS THIS ******* CANCELLED".

Edited April 26, 2009 by Tanith

[Charmer]

I'm SO looking forward to seeing this movie! Hopefully in the next two weeks! I have to kind of agree with the above poster on Nemisis though. I don't think it was the worst ST movie either. It had some of the best space battles in the who franchise and was pretty enjoyable. I personally place it about 6th or 7th over all!

[dragonmate1]

So can't wait to see it :)

 

 

100% disagree with this bit though. In my opinion Nemesis was fantastic and my 2nd favorite film of the Star Trek series (First Contact being the first).

 

Enterprise was the best of the Star Trek series in my opinion to. It was the most realistic and its 3rd season was just sexy. Anytime I watch the series through again I always rage at the end going "WHY THE **** WAS THIS ******* CANCELLED".

 

 

I totally agree.. I never understood the degree of criticism that Enterprise received. I thought each series was an improvement on the previous one. Looks like the new Trek films will rekindle the franchise which is good to see. I dont think it will be long before we see someone from the new film announced at either CM or LFCC.. I look forward to it..

 

PS technically with Leonard Nimoy announced, he is the first......

[Christoff]

I liked Nemesis and Enterprise too, agree with what everyone else said. Thanks for the review, I'm really looking forward to watching this

[Will Jones]

I am booked in to see this on Friday. Looking forward to it immensley, but am in the frame of mind that it is something new and not a prequel/sequel etc etc

[Lizzy]

100% disagree with this bit though. In my opinion Nemesis was fantastic and my 2nd favorite film of the Star Trek series (First Contact being the first).

 

 

 

Nemesis bugs me (apart from the fact I always spell it Nemises first time!)... the writing was great and had the potential to be a great story. But a few things let it down. The car scene for one... why? Too much obv CGI! Direction wasn't fantastic. I don't think Shinzon was well developed, but was good when he became all bad ass.

 

Actually looking forward to the movie- just worrying me that lots of non Trekkies may be at the cinema!

[zebredy]

I am booked in to see this on Friday. Looking forward to it immensley, but am in the frame of mind that it is something new and not a prequel/sequel etc etc

 

 

 

Very tempted to see it on the 7th as previews are then, my OH says he doesn't mind if I see it before him and then again with him but I'm not to sure.

 

As I said very tempted.

 

 

Anyone going to see this at the cinema, if you get a choice of screen then try the Empire cinema, anyone into collecting drinks holder/cups can get regular or medium cups with the new trek characters pics on. There for four regular/medium cup styles (please do not quote me on this)

 

As far as I am aware the Odeon and the Vue do not do these cups.

 

 

 

 

 

 

LLAP

Edited May 4, 2009 by zebredy

[crippsy_99]

I saw it earlier..

As a scifi action flick then yes, its a good film..

 

But as a trek film, I think its just not up to what I was hoping..

Cant say anything else without major spoilers...

 

But will say the new look enterprise is gorgeous!

[Mich]

Well I thoroughly enjoyed this film.

[Starbuck73]

I won't post any spoilers whatsoever, but you HAVE to see this movie, it was amazing... the effects alone are spectacular!

 

Chris Pine & Zachary Quinto did an amazing job playing Kirk & Spock respectively, their chemistry was brilliant!

 

 

Best of all, Simon Pegg as Scotty was just hilarious, he had some of the best one-liners in the movie!

 

 

See this movie... NOW!!! :ph34r: