Star Trek

Overall score:

Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Anton Yelchin,
Simon Pegg, Eric Bana and Leonard Nimoy
Screenplay by Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci
Directed by J.J. Abrams
 
"Space. The Final Frontier." This familiar refrain has been thrilling sci fi geeks around the world since 1966, when Gene Roddenberry brought a modest little show that was pitched as "Wagon Train in space" to ABC. Ostensibly, "Star Trek" only lasted three seasons, but its legacy would live on forever.
 
That was, until it ran out of steam with the disastrous Star Trek: Nemesis, the fourth and final "Next Generation" movie. Even as die-hard fans, as much we wanted to love it, instead of provoking awe and excitement, Nemesis got a resounding "meh" from fans everywhere. This tired remake of Wrath of Khan was not without its redeeming qualities, but it was a sad demonstration of how far this titan of science fiction had fallen. In the age when Star Wars had returned, and The Lord of the Rings reigned supreme, Star Trek finally had lost its relevance.
 
After several years of hiatus, Paramount has boldly gone back where they have gone before, returning to the original crew, but bringing a cavalcade of fresh faces and breathing an exciting new life into the greatest and most enduring science fiction franchise of all time.
 
The story begins with the U.S.S. Kelvin, a Starfleet ship that is attacked by a mysterious vessel that emerges out of a black hole. When the Captain of the ship is killed, a young officer named Kirk is forced to take command, and save the lives of everyone on board, including his pregnant wife, who gives birth to their son in a shuttle craft, naming him James Tiberius Kirk. Sadly, the elder Kirk does not live to see his son. As any dedicated fan knows, this is not the past that we know Kirk lived. From the moment the mysterious vessel comes out of the black hole, an alternate timeline is triggered.
 
But when the grown up Kirk (played by Chris Pine) gets himself into a bar fight with some Starfleet Cadets while trying to impress a beautiful young woman who will only give him her last name--Uhura--he finds himself approached by a seasoned Starfleet Captain named Christopher Pike (the always reliable Bruce Greenwood). Pike challenges Kirk to enlist in Starfleet and live up to his genius potential. After some deliberation, young James accepts the challenge, and on the way to the Academy he meets a gruff doctor named McCoy who complains that his wife "took the whole damn planet in the divorce, leavin' me nothing but my Bones."
 
Three years later, Kirk is getting ready to graduate, and surprises everyone by becoming the first cadet ever to beat the no-win scenario Kobayashi Maru test, which catches the eye of a hardnosed superior by the name of Spock, who is convinced that Kirk must have cheated. All of these issues get pushed to the back burner when the fate of the Federation is threatened by a mysterious threat. So, Pike and his unseasoned young crew board the U.S.S Enterprise to get to the bottom of the situation.
 
The threat turns out to be a Romulan ship, Captained by a mysterious, tattooed Romulan by the name of Nero (played to the hilt by the great Eric Bana, who gives us the series's most memorable villain since, dare we say it . . . KHAN!!!).
 
To give away any more of the story would only spoil what is destined to be the most joyous, exciting and utterly engaging movie event of the summer, if not the year. Abrams, who has given us "Alias" and "Lost," as well as helming the underrated Mission: Impossible III is in top form here, handling what is by far the biggest Trek film yet with a decidedly deft hand; and the script by Abrams standard scribes, Kurtzman and Orci, is the perfect mixture of lovingly reverential to the original and accessible to movie goers who have never been to a Star Trek film. Abrams keeps the pacing at warp 7--this movie has more action than any other threeTrek films put together. But it does so without sacrificing the intelligence and philosophical depth that is at the heart of the best of Trek. This is a rare blockbuster that succeeds on every level.
 
Pine is a revelation as Kirk, figuratively stepping into William Shatner's girdle with much more ease and cool than we expected. This is a slightly different Kirk than we are used to, with a strong touch of Top Gun's "Maverick." It is essential to remember that this an alternate reality--it's not a reboot. Parallel universes have been a part of Treklore as long as sexy green alien babes and puddy ears, and while it may sound confusing, it all works beautifully on the screen. Even more satisfying than Pine is Zachary Quinto as Spock. His voice may be a bit high, but his performance is dead on, and the moment he raises his eyebrow is a moment that will stop the heart of any true Trekker.
 
But the most entertaining performances come from the supporting crew, including Simon Pegg (Shaun of the Dead) as Montgomery Scott, and Karl Urban as Leonard "Bones" McCoy. Urban is a revelation--who would've thought former Lord of the Rings warrior and Bourne villain had the versatility to channel the late Deforrest Kelly to utter perfection and yet still make the character his own. This is a performance that, even if it is showered with praise, will still never get the attention it deserves, he is simply that good. And with a harrowing sword fight high above the surface of Vulcan, John Cho's Hikaru Sulu is finally the formidable, ultra cool character that Vonda N. MacIntire's novels tried so desperately to convince he was, and Zoe Saldana is a delightful Lt. Uhura. Last but certainly not least, however, is Anton Yelchin as a 17 year old cadet named Pavel Chekov (perhaps we should dub him "Anton Chekov" to avoid confusion). The moment Yelchin speaks, we found ourselves echoing the sentiments of "Futurama's" Phillip J. Fry: "Eeeeeeeeee! Now say 'Nuclear Wessels."
 
This is a glorious film, full of wonder, action, intrigue, suspense, and a sense of hope and optimism for the future in the fact of impossible odds. In other words, it's Star Trek in its purest form, and it is cause for rejoicing among fans and non-fans alike. After that speed bump that that was the summer's first big release, Wolverine, this is the movie that reminds us why we spend the bright, sunlit summer months in a darkened theater. Abrams helps the once floundering tent pole of Paramount encounter new life and new civilizations, and boldly go where no movie has gone before.
 
Live long and Prosper, Mr. Abrams.
 
Star Trek is rated PG-13 for violence, language and mild sexuality.

NOTE: for the truly devoted fan, do yourself a favor go to your local bookstore and pick up a copy of the graphic novel "Star Trek: Countdown," the prequel to the prequel, which bridges the gap between "Next Generation" and the new film, and gives much greater insight into the motivations of the mysterious Nero. Trust us, this is well worth your time.

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Written by The Brothers Gibbs on May 05th, 2009