| Star Trek (2009) | |
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Rating: 7.9/10 (619,624 votes) Director: J.J. Abrams Writer: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman, Gene Roddenberry Stars: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg Runtime: 127 min Rated: PG-13 Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi Released: 08 May 2009 |
| Plot: The brash James T. Kirk tries to live up to his father's legacy with Mr. Spock keeping him in check as a vengeful Romulan from the future creates black holes to destroy the Federation one planet at a time. | |
I have to admit a degree of scepticism on the run up to this film’s release. As a huge Trekkie, particularly of ‘classic’ Trek, I was not all that convinced that the film would work, and worried that it would be a poor man’s attempt to cash in on a once great franchise. The writers, Orci and Kurtzman, have less than impressed with turgid output such as Transformers, or Fringe. Director JJ Abrahms has only really delivered one big screen adventure in the guise of MI3 which was enjoyable hokum, but nothing to get too giddy about. Always seeming more of an ideas man (with Cloverfield, Lost, and the like showing his talent at a great concept for others to nurture), could JJ really do Trek justice – especially given his own confession that he was never really a fan of Kirk and the gang? Well, Trekkies of the world rejoice, for JJ has made our beloved franchise fun again!
The film starts off with spectacle, and finishes with spectacle, with tons of action fuelled spectacle throughout. Moving along at a swift speed, it certainly delivers on the action. However, unlike other action-packed films, it never takes away from the characters or the plot, and the action feels like it is part of the story as opposed to just a bit of eye candy for the masses. From start to finish I was hooked to the screen. taking in all the staggering beauty of the effects, but more than that I was enjoying the adventures of a group of characters that are fun to watch.
Casting for the film was sometimes perfect (Zach Quinto as Spock) and sometimes uncertain (Simon Pegg as Scotty), but amazingly they all fit so perfectly in the film that it all makes sense in the end. Sometimes paying homage to the representations in the original series, the cast mostly make the roles their own. Chris Pine captures the essence of stubborn, rebellious nature that made Kirk so much fun, only here he now has a valid reason for his nature. Never trying to ‘Shatner’ the role, he makes it his own, and only teases a couple of times with old-school Kirk mannerisms. Zach Quinto as Spock plays the role as one struggling to balance his human emotions and Vulcan logic. Karl Urban’s Dr McCoy is one of the roles pretty much the same as the legendary Deforest Kelly’s representation, being all gruff natured but kind hearted. Pegg plays Scotty for the laughs, and offers some great comic relief moments towards the latter half of the pic. Everyone gets their moments to shine, with Chekov (Anton Yelchin), Sulu (John Cho) and Uhura (Zoe Saldana) being more than just seat fillers on the bridge. More than anything, the banter and dialogue between the characters feels so fluid and natural, and recaptures what made them such likeable roles back in the 60s TV series.
The plot device is a great way to reboot the franchise, and the film makes itself very clear that this is an alternate universe to the one we have seen before, and so any whinges about conflicting continuity should be left at the door. The much-mentioned cameo by Leonard Nimoy to link it with old-Trek is much more than a cameo, and is actually integral to the plot.
Plenty of nods and references to past-Trek are included throughout, but don’t let that make you think that you must be a Trekkie to enjoy it. Far from it! This is a Trek film that anyone can enjoy for what it is… an action packed, family friendly, fun adventure film.
