Posted this on my LiveJournal blog account:
It’s Trek, Jim, but not as we know it! The new film modernises the franchise and brings it up to (star)date for ‘the next generation’. OK, Trek clichés aside, go and see JJ Abrams new Star Trek reimagining. It’s honestly a far cry from the original series upon which it is based. If you’re a fan of prior Treks, you’ll love the in-jokes, and the re-introduction of the classic characters. If, on the other side of the coin, you have never seen the show in your life and do not know a Romulan from a Vulcan; the movie caters for you as well. The USS Enterprise, for possibly the first time since The Undiscovered Country (1991) or First Contact (1996) feels like a genuinely exciting place to be. The SFX are a wonder to behold. This is the Trek universe done with the high budget it deserves. I have been a fan for more than half my life (since I was 11 years old), and have fervently followed each of the 5 television series (comprising over 700 episodes in all) and all 10 previous movies; so I was looking forward to this film for some time.
The film has a harder, more realistic edge to it, contains more action than usual, and has more naturalistic (and less stagey) dialogue. As well as a hip, trendy young cast. Fronted by Chris Pine as James Tiberius Kirk, and ‘Heroes’’ Zachary Quinto as the famous half Vulcan/half human Mr Spock; this new crew should appeal to the youngsters turned off by the ageing Next Gen and Original Series cast. In short, this is easily the most hip, accessible, and dare I say it, mainstream, Trek production ever made. If this movie does not make a killing at the box office, I will be most surprised. If this film cannot lift the unfortunate social ‘stigma’ of Trek, then what will, damn it?
Quinto nails Spock with absolute precision. Not only does he bear an uncanny resemblance to Leonard Nimoy, but he expertly has the man caught between two worlds, between logic and emotion, down pat. I’m still on the fence about Pine’s Kirk, though. I know Shatner’s interpretation of the iconic character was always a tad cocky and arrogant, but this guy is very smarmy indeed. There is a slight Anakin Skywalker vibe to hi performance. This movie blows those glib Star Wars prequels out of the water, however. Bruce Greenwood, the veteran character actor, is great as the Enterprise’s first captain, Christopher Pike. Anton Yelchin’s Chekov is hilarious, and is used mostly for comic relief. As is ‘Run Fatboy Run’s Simon Pegg as the famous Montgomery ‘Scotty’ Scott. I didn’t think I’d like Pegg much, but his role was actually quite funny. Eric Bana’s tattooed Romulan villain Nero doesn’t get much opportunity to chew scenery, but he was quite commanding and suitably psychotic in his role. Karl Urban’s Leonard (Bones) McCoy is fabulous, and a real scene stealer. He has done the late DeForrest Kelley proud. Best of all was seeing original Spock, Leonard Nimoy, again (possibly for the last time?)
Is it perfect? No. The time travel/alternate universe story has been done many, many times before in Trek’s 43 year film and TV history, and more coherently. The movie is stylish, sure, but if you’re looking for cerebral, thought provoking Trek, then look elsewhere. The film is a straight action adventure for the most part, with not much hard SF in evidence. The film is designed to win over new fans. The hardcore fanbase, Paramount knows, will go and see it, no matter what. The film needed to have a broader appeal, beyond the core Trekkies, to make a profit. Abrams, the creator of other cult hits Alias, Lost, Felicity, Fringe, and Mission Impossible 3, has certainly succeeded in his aim to make a standalone film for a mainstream audience. A lot of the first hour is character exposition. Hopefully, in the next film, now that Abrams has set the scene, we will have a little more depth in the plot department.
While not being my personal favourite Trek movie (time will tell. I may have to see it a few more times before I make a final judgement), it is certainly a vast improvement on the last couple of lacklustre Next Generation era flicks. Is it as good as Wrath Of Khan? No, but then, what is? The movie was marketed as not being ‘your father’s Trek’. The most recent TV series in the franchise, Enterprise, also boasted this in its promotional material, but that show didn’t really deliver on that promise, instead feeling like a Voyager retread. In many ways, Abrams’ Star Trek debut feature is what Enterprise so desperately wanted to be: a new Trek odyssey for a new generation of fans. It’s Enterprise done right, in other words. Will it get newbie’s interested in seeing the other shows they’ve missed out on? Perhaps, but I worry that the new converts might be turned off when they quickly discover that every prior Trek instalment is noticeably different from Abrams’ interpretation.
Could the story have been told without rebooting the series? Maybe, but I suppose an alternate timeline scenario allows the writers to keep us on our toes. We don’t necessarily know how events in the Original Series timeline will play out, now. All bets are off. Characters very well could die. The destruction of Vulcan and the premature death of Spock’s mother Amanda (played by a barely recognisable Winona Ryder) were big shocks for me. Past Treks have featured bold and shocking dramatic devices, too, ranging from the death of Spock in Wrath Of Khan, to the demise of the NCC1701 in Search For Spock, to the fiery doom of the Ent-D in Generations. It was a risky and brave move on the screenwriters part, I think. The Spock/Uhura relationship subplot was very weird, though. The only hint I remember about something like that in TOS was in the ep ‘Charlie X’.
The real test for Abrams will be if he can deliver a good follow up to this film for Trek 12. As Q said in Next Gen’s ‘Q Who?’( and I loosely paraphrase): ‘The hall has been rented, the orchestra has been engaged, it’s time to see if you can dance’. Will Trek 12 be ‘The Dark Knight’ (hopefully) or the equivalent of the somewhat underwhelming ‘Quantum of Solace’? Now that he has established his new playing field, it’s time to see if he can deliver a more sinewy, meaty story next time around. The worst part about the Trek XI experience is that we have to wait years to see what JJ comes up with next.
It’s Trek, Jim, but not as we know it! The new film modernises the franchise and brings it up to (star)date for ‘the next generation’. OK, Trek clichés aside, go and see JJ Abrams new Star Trek reimagining. It’s honestly a far cry from the original series upon which it is based. If you’re a fan of prior Treks, you’ll love the in-jokes, and the re-introduction of the classic characters. If, on the other side of the coin, you have never seen the show in your life and do not know a Romulan from a Vulcan; the movie caters for you as well. The USS Enterprise, for possibly the first time since The Undiscovered Country (1991) or First Contact (1996) feels like a genuinely exciting place to be. The SFX are a wonder to behold. This is the Trek universe done with the high budget it deserves. I have been a fan for more than half my life (since I was 11 years old), and have fervently followed each of the 5 television series (comprising over 700 episodes in all) and all 10 previous movies; so I was looking forward to this film for some time.
The film has a harder, more realistic edge to it, contains more action than usual, and has more naturalistic (and less stagey) dialogue. As well as a hip, trendy young cast. Fronted by Chris Pine as James Tiberius Kirk, and ‘Heroes’’ Zachary Quinto as the famous half Vulcan/half human Mr Spock; this new crew should appeal to the youngsters turned off by the ageing Next Gen and Original Series cast. In short, this is easily the most hip, accessible, and dare I say it, mainstream, Trek production ever made. If this movie does not make a killing at the box office, I will be most surprised. If this film cannot lift the unfortunate social ‘stigma’ of Trek, then what will, damn it?
Quinto nails Spock with absolute precision. Not only does he bear an uncanny resemblance to Leonard Nimoy, but he expertly has the man caught between two worlds, between logic and emotion, down pat. I’m still on the fence about Pine’s Kirk, though. I know Shatner’s interpretation of the iconic character was always a tad cocky and arrogant, but this guy is very smarmy indeed. There is a slight Anakin Skywalker vibe to hi performance. This movie blows those glib Star Wars prequels out of the water, however. Bruce Greenwood, the veteran character actor, is great as the Enterprise’s first captain, Christopher Pike. Anton Yelchin’s Chekov is hilarious, and is used mostly for comic relief. As is ‘Run Fatboy Run’s Simon Pegg as the famous Montgomery ‘Scotty’ Scott. I didn’t think I’d like Pegg much, but his role was actually quite funny. Eric Bana’s tattooed Romulan villain Nero doesn’t get much opportunity to chew scenery, but he was quite commanding and suitably psychotic in his role. Karl Urban’s Leonard (Bones) McCoy is fabulous, and a real scene stealer. He has done the late DeForrest Kelley proud. Best of all was seeing original Spock, Leonard Nimoy, again (possibly for the last time?)
Is it perfect? No. The time travel/alternate universe story has been done many, many times before in Trek’s 43 year film and TV history, and more coherently. The movie is stylish, sure, but if you’re looking for cerebral, thought provoking Trek, then look elsewhere. The film is a straight action adventure for the most part, with not much hard SF in evidence. The film is designed to win over new fans. The hardcore fanbase, Paramount knows, will go and see it, no matter what. The film needed to have a broader appeal, beyond the core Trekkies, to make a profit. Abrams, the creator of other cult hits Alias, Lost, Felicity, Fringe, and Mission Impossible 3, has certainly succeeded in his aim to make a standalone film for a mainstream audience. A lot of the first hour is character exposition. Hopefully, in the next film, now that Abrams has set the scene, we will have a little more depth in the plot department.
While not being my personal favourite Trek movie (time will tell. I may have to see it a few more times before I make a final judgement), it is certainly a vast improvement on the last couple of lacklustre Next Generation era flicks. Is it as good as Wrath Of Khan? No, but then, what is? The movie was marketed as not being ‘your father’s Trek’. The most recent TV series in the franchise, Enterprise, also boasted this in its promotional material, but that show didn’t really deliver on that promise, instead feeling like a Voyager retread. In many ways, Abrams’ Star Trek debut feature is what Enterprise so desperately wanted to be: a new Trek odyssey for a new generation of fans. It’s Enterprise done right, in other words. Will it get newbie’s interested in seeing the other shows they’ve missed out on? Perhaps, but I worry that the new converts might be turned off when they quickly discover that every prior Trek instalment is noticeably different from Abrams’ interpretation.
Could the story have been told without rebooting the series? Maybe, but I suppose an alternate timeline scenario allows the writers to keep us on our toes. We don’t necessarily know how events in the Original Series timeline will play out, now. All bets are off. Characters very well could die. The destruction of Vulcan and the premature death of Spock’s mother Amanda (played by a barely recognisable Winona Ryder) were big shocks for me. Past Treks have featured bold and shocking dramatic devices, too, ranging from the death of Spock in Wrath Of Khan, to the demise of the NCC1701 in Search For Spock, to the fiery doom of the Ent-D in Generations. It was a risky and brave move on the screenwriters part, I think. The Spock/Uhura relationship subplot was very weird, though. The only hint I remember about something like that in TOS was in the ep ‘Charlie X’.
The real test for Abrams will be if he can deliver a good follow up to this film for Trek 12. As Q said in Next Gen’s ‘Q Who?’( and I loosely paraphrase): ‘The hall has been rented, the orchestra has been engaged, it’s time to see if you can dance’. Will Trek 12 be ‘The Dark Knight’ (hopefully) or the equivalent of the somewhat underwhelming ‘Quantum of Solace’? Now that he has established his new playing field, it’s time to see if he can deliver a more sinewy, meaty story next time around. The worst part about the Trek XI experience is that we have to wait years to see what JJ comes up with next.
