Weird, I gave this movie an A+ in the poll on release but never posted a review. Or at least, I didn't see it after scanning 89 pages and doing a search.
This remains my favorite of the Bad Robot Treks. Mostly because it's primarily serious, has a really well crafted story (especially when you consider how quickly this one came together), and finally gives us the Jim Kirk I'd been waiting for since the end of 2009. The whole "frat boys in space" feel it gone. Kirk isn't a oversexed horndog saying "helloooooo ladies" and there aren't any gratuitous underwear shots. It's not a reinvention or a rewrite, it's a proper Trek movie which while it isn't novel, still feels more original than the prior two.
This is a film that almost requires multiple viewings. They peppered all of the clues and hints to what was going on and why throughout and going back and re-watching reveals all the little bits that seemed unimportant but weren't.
I've read more than once in this thread that it was "Fast and Furious in Space." Well, firstly, the FF movies were never this well written and performed and secondly, if Justin Lin never did any of the FF franchise, nobody would say that.
I - do - feel Lin's direction is overbaked and his camera is far too active. All that spinning, bobbing and weaving gets a little old. The saucer escape which kill Kalara is just a bit too much. How Kik and Chekov jumped far enough away is a mystery. Other than that, Lin does action well. However, I get it, you're the director and can do what you want, but your kid's cameo on Yorktown is too obvious and pulls me out of the movie every time. Having said that, some shots are truly inspired. The new warp effect is great, and the "mounted camera" fisheye lens shot as the Enterprise leaves Yorktown is beautiful.
While I don't feel this is Michael Giacchino's strongest score of the series (Into Darkness gets that nod from me), he still provides some gorgeous music, with "A Night on the Yorktown" being the standout.
The film starts off shakily, much like STID with a far too over the top comedy sequence (much like the Kik and Bones comically running scene in the prior film). Scotty is particularly dense when Kirk is literally screaming to be beamed up. However, the reveal of tiny aliens was funny as hell. As was "I ripped my shirt again." After that, though, the movie dials back the comedy more than any of the prior two films. And yes, we've seen the Enterprise destroyed before, but I got a sick feeling in my gut when I saw the nacelles floating free. It was like watching a friend's arms getting amputated.
I love the focus on the original Big Three rather than the prior Kirk/Spock/Uhura. More McCoy and Spock for the win.
Yeah the Beastie Boys thing was off kilter but it ties into the first film, so we know the music exists in that period. And it is an exciting sequence. Honestly, it's the first film of the three that I didn't have a major problem with. 2009 pissed me off with making Kirk a captain while still on academic probation. I Was fine with Into Darkness until they did the fake Kirk Death and the mirrored dialog. This one? All good. I wish it was a bigger hit, but if this is the last we see of this group, they went out on top.
Now I'm gonna listen to the music again.