When I heard that director J.J. Abrams was going to make Star Trek appeasing to the mainstream movie-going audience, I'll admit that I was worried. All I could picture was scantily-clad female aliens, or cheesy, complex love triangles dominating the storyline. To my immense pleasure, not only did Abrams steer clear of the traditional mainstream vehicles, but he made the Star Trek genre into something cool, something that everyone - nerds and non-nerds alike - can revel in.
On the movie's opening night, the theatres were packed. I was a bit disappointed at the lack of costumes, though: my girlfriend wore her communicator pin, and we noticed a wayward Klingon surveying the concession stand. But despite the lack of physical nerd attire, you could feel the excitement in the atmosphere. It's been years since Enterprise was taken out of its misery, and Star Trek fans have been chomping at the bit. I'm sure every person in that theatre, starving for Vulcans, Klingons, and intellectual banter, felt the goosebumps at the opening sequence.
You get sucked into the Star Trek lore almost immediately. Within minutes, we're completely immersed in the back story of Kirk, Spock and Bones, and it's scintillating. One can almost forget the campy William Shatner when Chris Pine appears on screen. Besides being completely believable (appearance-wise) as a younger Kirk, he has that smarmy charm/cockiness down cold.
Same goes for Zachary Quinto (Sylar from TV's Heroes); even though nobody on Earth could ever replace Leonard Nimoy as Spock, Quinto plays the part so well we forget his evil TV counterpart. Karl Urban plays Bones, and we're not sure if he's a genetic clone or what, but he nails it, too. And that's the best part of the film - the seamless casting allows us to believe what's going on on-screen - since no energy is wasted on picking apart why this actor sucks, or why that dialogue is terrible, we're allowed to just focus on the plot.
Sure, there's a lot of time travel that may leave you scratching your head, but that's par for the course with Star Trek. Abrams manages to include all the necessary sci-fi conventions like space battles and otherworldly creatures while including his own personal touches: depth of character, excitement, and breathtaking special effects. Little rewards are rampant in the movie: Winona Ryder plays Spock's mother (arguably her best role in years), there's a guest appearance by Leonard Nimoy (and NOT Shatner), and Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry's late wife reprises her voice role as the Enterprise's computer.
Certain quotes from the original series ('Damn it, Jim! I'm a doctor, not an engineer!', for example) are repeated, but cheers and laughter erupt from the audience instead of groans. Abrams pays homage to the classic series without mocking it, and in doing so, revives the franchise for a modern audience. For the first time in a long time, I actually left the theatre wanting to see the movie again.
There are at least two sequels planned, and I can't wait. Beam me up!
FEED
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1. I agree, a terrifc way to bring back the ailing Star Trek franchise. Gret surprise seeing Winona Ryder on screen and it is the best thing I have seen her do in ages. I did not get the strange lighting effects while in ship though. I just found the constant strobing of that white light kinda annoying. Would love to hear why the director did that. Definately worth checking out on the big screen if you get a chance, Trekkie or not.
Cheers,
Russel
Posted at 3:15PM on May 11th 2009 by Russel Hale
2. Not only was it a great Star Trek movie, it was one of the unequivocally best action/scifi movies ever made, hands-down, no argument. Anyone who could see it and think otherwise is in as deep denial as a current member of the GOP. The very concept and intention of Star Trek feels completely and flawlessly realized for the first time, and I've seen every episode, every movie, every cartoon. Gene Rodenberry, I believe, would be totally blown away.
Posted at 2:21PM on May 12th 2009 by Noah Vale
3. Fraken Great
Posted at 8:54AM on May 13th 2009 by Michael
4. I was very disappointed with this movie...too much of a visual frenzy and too many rules broken. If it is going to be the baseline story before the original series then tell me...where was Jim Kirk's older brother...McCoy was much too young to have been married...Chekov could not graduate the academy at 17 when it takes 4 years and admissions start at 16. If I didn't have a date with me I would have walked out in disgust.
Posted at 1:35PM on May 14th 2009 by S.Scherr
5. i thought the new star trek was pretty weak. The storyline itself was nothing to write home about and generally boring.. And the fact they were so damn transparent with all those old star trek cliches (i.e. kirk making out w/green chick) was kind of annoying. i could care less about the accuracy of the original series, but this movie was all sizzle and no steak.
Posted at 9:20AM on May 15th 2009 by jj
6. Well I guess Spock is dead in a few years, if you can't get back to his planet... and why they would make a cadet kid, who is up for expulsion, Captain over the obvios choice spock is beyond me.. they have destroyed the original timeline.. for people who don't understand what im talking about,, they will enjoy the movie,,, it's a sell out... if you watch the extra's for star trek 2,, its all the things you can't do in a good Star Trek movie..Abrams blu it, by not watching the original series..
Posted at 8:47AM on May 19th 2009 by steve
7. I liked the movie because it paid great respect to the orignal TV series.The characters looked mostly like the originals. Kirk looked too young. However in the original series they would have gone back in time and corrected the time line and Vulcan would have been saved.
Posted at 8:47AM on May 19th 2009 by Buck
8. For those who were complaining about inconsistencies between the movie and the original series...were you paying attention? The bad guys came back in time, and thus creating an alternate reality for all the characters. At one point, on the bridge, Spock even said it: (paraphrasing) "whatever our lives were to have been they have been altered now."
I thought that was brilliant. What a way to legitimize whatever changes the writers and producers want to make for the next story.
The characters were uncannily like their progenators. I thought the entire thing very well done!
Posted at 8:49AM on May 19th 2009 by Susan Charman
9. This was one hell of a good movie. I really enjoyed it and can't wait for the next one.
Posted at 8:49AM on May 19th 2009 by Dale
10. For those who have nothing better to do than complain about the movie, just be thankful that there was a resurrection of the Star Trek saga. The reason we go to movies is to be entertained and to be honest, the advancement in movie technology far exceeds that of the original series. While true that we can never duplicate the esssence and character development of the original series, the objective is to capture the interest of a new generation of Trekkies who can relate to a modern day presentation of a classic television series that honestly can never be reproduced. I felt that the movie beautifully captured the cohesive nature of the original cast in a truly imaginative and refreshing way.
Posted at 9:06AM on May 20th 2009 by Kermit
11. I first wish to say Thank you to all in this movie
you really shown respect to the first S.T. crew
I was very happy to seeMr.Leonard Nimoy in his rolas `Spock`
You are a Very good actor, I would LOVE to meet you
and be able to Thank you,
I was born in 1965 and grew up with Star Trek,
my dad was a BIG fan of the show ( as was I)
I am in New Jersey and HOPE to go to my first
Trek convention. I really would love to meet
Leonard Nimoy before I die.
aloha, TW
aka
DOG
Posted at 9:00AM on May 21st 2009 by Thomas wetzel
12. It's been a long time since I walked out of a theatre and said "WOW". As someone who not only watched the original series when it was original, I can't say enough about this movie. There was a good solid story line, and enough action, but not so much that the characters were lost. The casting was incredible! Looking and Leonard Nemoy and Zachary Quinto side by side, I was struck by the resemblence. Even Christ Pine did a passable job looking like Shatner. I'm looking forward to the next movie with the same cast.
Posted at 9:19AM on May 22nd 2009 by Berth G
13. This was a great movie!!! I enjoyed every bit of it. Can't wait for the next one. The characters were amazing. What a nice blast from the past.
Posted at 9:10AM on May 25th 2009 by Kathy
14. You'd have to be awfully jaded not to enjoy this well constructed, well executed movie. I was born in '54 and I used to rush home from high school to watch the original Star Trek series with friends, so I have a profound affection and respect for the old series and wasn't sure if anyone could do a good job reprising the original characters to convey the unique tenor of the friendship and repartee between them, which in itself was why we were all so hooked on the series. However, Karl Urban and Zachary Quinto nailed it, spot on! The addition of Leonard Nimoy to the cast allows us to see, through the eyes of our lifelong affection for him, just how humourous and humanized, yet still very Vulcan, young Spock will eventually become, and we know it's because of his unshakable friendship with Kirk and Bones. But if anyone had a tough challenge, it was Chris Pine, playing Kirk...silly, slightly smarmy, yet effective and lovable Kirk. Hats off to Chris Pine...he was brilliant in the character capture, right down to the typical closing scene, gazing at the great beyond through the helm window, with that Mona Lisa smile on his face, which always said "I knew we'd get through that, let's go get some more!" The timeline was clever, permitting the plot some license to stray from the exactitudes of the original series. Other cast were good too. Maybe the current Uhura is a little more "she's all that" than Nichelle Nicols was, but her intellect and compassion shine through, as it always did, and it's intriquing to think that Spock, for all his seriousness during the early phase, could have succumbed to an attraction to a very human girl! As for Simon Pegg, well, he became a little more Scottie than Simon Pegg towards the end of the film, and I've no doubt he'll morph well as time goes on. So, relax! Enjoy it, for heaven's sake! Two thumbs up for this one!
Posted at 9:11AM on May 25th 2009 by Patricia W
15. I saw this movie and was blown away. Way better than Star Wars, but i havent seen the originals do i cant compare. fun fact: 80% of trekkies arent married
Posted at 6:18PM on May 29th 2009 by Nick
16. I am a huge trekkie and loved the movie. Kirk and Spok were great with the new actors. The relationships were well done especially with Ohora and Spok. Kirk was a womanizer in the early days. Well done with the time travel and cameo of Mr. Nemoy making the "reality Check" for Jim and Spok. Captain Pike got to be captain after all. Can't wait for part 2.
Rod
Posted at 9:14AM on Jun 1st 2009 by Rod Smith