Star Trek

I’m a casual Star Trek fan. I’m much more familiar with The Next Generation than The Original Series. But I still had high expectations for this film. This series has over 40 years of history behind it and a lot of detail oriented fans. It would have been easy to screw up this film. But J.J. Abrams’s version of Gene Roddenberry’s beloved series gets it just right. Star Trek should appeal to the Trekkies and win over new audiences.

The reboot does a good job of upholding the Star Trek canon. The events in this film take place in an alternate timeline to the one in TOS. And this is referenced subtly by Leonard Nimoy, the original Mr. Spock. Starting over in another timeline gives the writers room to play and respect the Trek history while not adhering to it.

Moments of nostalgia and nerd bliss abound. The red-suited guy in the away team bites the dust. The classic lines are there. “Live long and prosper.” “Damn it, Jim!” “I’m giving her all she’s got!” They all feel organic. Spock tells Sulu to turn off the inertial dampers. I’m geeking out.

Chris Pine is an excellent James T. Kirk. He doesn’t merely impersonate William Shatner, but he makes Kirk his own. Karl Urban absolutely nails Dr. McCoy. The attitude and expressions are all there. The only letdown is how Spock (Zachary Quinto) is handled, but that’s more at fault with the writers than the actor.

Without giving too much away, Spock’s arc in the film interestingly parallels the Spock from TOS. We’re set up for a different kind of Spock in the inevitable sequels, and I’m not sure I like it. And while it’s actually kind of clever, they’ve made Spock way too pouty. If he lived in our time he’d shop exclusively at Hot Topic.

New audiences are going to be lured in by all the badass action. Opening and closing spaceship battles bookend the film, and we’re treated with plenty of action set pieces strewn in-between. The most exciting scene is when Kirk and Sulu (John Cho) fight Romulans on a drill miles above the surface of Vulcan. It feels like they’re actually cheating death and not just playing around in front of a green screen.

Part of this danger is instilled by the ruthless villains, the Romulans. They cause irreconcilable, catastrophic damage that further drives this away from established Trek-lore. I was literally shocked in one instance, and had to take a minute to sort it all out. The scale of this film is massive, in story and visuals. This is the biggest budget ever for a Trek film and the images are incredible to look at.

Unfortunately, this reiteration of the sci-fi franchise skimps on Trek’s usual philosophy and ideals and throws in a couple clichéd, summer blockbuster-esq thoughts to nibble on instead. This was disappointing.

Nit picks aside, this film is a hell of a lot of fun. Abrams gives the Star Trek series a much-needed kick in the pants. Trek is fun again. Go see it right now. And if you’re not a Trekkie now, you just might become one.

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