Let me start by saying that I am the farthest thing from a Trekkie. I could not tell you the difference between a Vulcan a Klingon or a Romulan. I know my Wookies and my Jedi’s but clueless on this side of the galaxy. So going into the new Star Trek epic I was standing on the hopes of director J.J. Abrams above anything else. If anyone could make Kirk and crew cool in my eyes it would be him. William Shatner had always been to me like the Roger Moore of the spy films. Sort of greasy and pompous and not someone I could like. Growing up I could not change the channel fast enough when I heard that annoying Start Trek opening theme. My reason for saying all of this is to let you know that my review is simply from a film standpoint and not as a Star Trek groupie. Is that clear? OK. Then just let me say this film was freaking amazing!
This edition chronicles the life of Captain James T Kirk (Chris Pine) from when he was simply a farm boy from Iowa and his journey to the helm of the Starship Enterprise. And not simply Kirk but also the entire crew is introduced as we watch the events that led them to becoming the most famous team in Sci-Fi TV history. Spock (Zachary Quinto) as the young genius Vulcan struggling with his human emotion. Plus Uhura, Sulu, and ‘Bones’ McCoy as academy cadets all trying to find their place in the final frontier. It is funny that even though I never watched the show, these names where still familiar to me. Granted not with the same impact as the lifelong fans but still enough that it was entertaining to be introduced. This crew of cadets led by Capt. Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood) go out on what they think is a routine saving mission but find themselves head to head with a ticked off Romulan. As they put their training into action they establish the roles we find them in for future generations.
This film does everything correct for the genre. I seriously can find no flaw with it. From the casting to the pacing to the humor to the out of this world look and effects. It is exactly what a summer blockbuster and a Sci-Fi adventure should be. It meant very little that I was not a series fan. From the opening scene I was locked in and hooked. They waste little time setting up the story and the two hours fly by. Pine plays a perfect bad boy Kirk. He has enough of the attitude to offset the seriousness of Spock. That dynamic made for solid characters and lots of fun animosity. I found myself with a whole new respect for James T. The action is spot on and gone is the normal cheesy space elements that often plague a film like this. In its place is fast, in your face action that catapults you into a riveting ride. There is a lot of humor in this as well. Not slapstick by any means but well developed humanistic humor that makes the characters live and breath with personality.
Star Trek is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence, and brief sexual content. It is totally safe for those 10 and up and a great ride for all generations. Hearing the cheers and applause through out the film from the diehard Trek fans I can assume that this pays homage respectfully. As each character makes their appearance it was to whoops and yells from the audience. Part of me wishes I had know a little more about the main players as many times I felt left out of some of the excitement. But that did not hinder me from loving every minute. I very rarely give out perfect scores for films unless they meet the entire criteria for the genre and what the audience goes in to see. Star Trek does just that. Therefore I unashamedly give it 5 out of 5 of those things that beam people up. Whatever they are. This is a fantastic way to get into the summer film mindset. As a Sci-Fi action film it boldly goes where most films only attempt. So may the force be with you! Or Na-nu Na-nu! or Live Long and Prosper. Whatever, just go see it. You will not regret it.
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9 users commented in " Star Trek – Movie Review "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackI am a Trekkie and and CANT WAIT TO SEE IT THANK YOU I KNEW IT!!! ♥♥ LOVE IT!!! YAAAAY 🙂
As a non-trekkie myself, I was pretty surprised at all the hype this movie seemed to get. But from everything I’ve read (from Rotten Tomatoes to Newsy.com), it sounds like it’s a very solid movie in its own right (as I’d expect from Abrams). I’ll have to go see it sooner or later.
I just got home from seeing the new Star Trek film at the local cinema. Wow!!!
I’m a trekkie who grew up watching the original series in syndication on television.
I LOVED this new incarnation of Star Trek! They did a great job of breathing new life into the story!
GO SEE IT!
I haven’t had this much fun at the movie theatre in years.
Way to go JJ, cast, and crew!
I have to see it!!! My eight year old boy wants to see it……Schweeeet!! ♥
I just returned from the theater. Having watched the TV show as a kid, and being a HUGE fan of “The Wrath of Kahn”, I was disappointed in the new Star Trek movie. The story is solid. The special effects, amazing. But the dialogue is so lame most of the time. I just cringed every time Bones opened his mouth. The actor wants to be Deforest Kelly so bad, but fails over and over. The WORST was the Kobayashi Maru scene. No way would Kirk be that arrogant. He’d be sly and underplay it. I wish the writers would focus as much on the dialogue as they do on the the action sequences.
Mary are you serious? Lame sauce…STILL GOING!!!!!!!!!!!! 🙂
OOOH, I can’t wait to go see it with my husband! Roddenberry changed everything in our culture!
I think that this is possibly the worst star trek movie ever made.
I wish somebody would explain the time line to me.For example !If he destroys the ship that baby James T kirk and his mother escape from then goes back in time.Wouldnt he now be in a time long before J T Kirks birth.If he goes back in time then does the above .What was he doing while J T Kirk was growing up?twiddling his thumbs. ?Either way it dont make sense.
Also to me this movie has so many similar aspects to Nemisis i thought i was watching Nemisis for a while.Example.Not another evil Romulan with a ship that even looked a lot like chinzons.or what ever his name was.Even with a similar doomsday weapon.Couldnt they think up something better than that?.Also when young J T Kirk throws a car off a cliff ,this indicates to me that he is more likely to grow up a delinquent rather than a captain of a ship.I was viewing the special features disk,where they were talking about that stupid looking red monster,and they were saying they were trying to convey to the audience that this creature was out of its normal habitat,and thats why it looked akward in its movements,giving Kirk the possiblity of escape.Sorry to inform them,but i had no idea thats what they were trying to convey .To me it just looked silly.Also until they told me i had no idea that it heaps of eyes.
Also why does it have to have sex in it>Star trek has never had this in it.Maybe a kiss or two but not something thats almost pornographic in nature.Not only that i never took Kirk to be the kind of guy who would jump a green chic.God almighty in the original series he wouldnt even touch his yeoman,and she was hot.So out of character.I suppose they were trying to sex it up for todays audiences.Just like they destroy every movie with these days.
I also thought that the ship buliding yard would be in orbit,not on the ground.In the original series,there is no indication that large starships can land.Exept for Voyger.Basically i could pick this crap movie forever.
Just to ammend some things,from my first post.In the beginning i am taliking about Nero,going back in time of course
.In every previous movie any depiction of ship yards have always been in orbit.This conveys to me that starships cant really take off or land from planets.Voyger could but thats another time line and story.
Monster had heaps of eyes.Really.
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