Is There A Glitch In The "Infinite Improbability Drive?"
Written: May 11 '09 (Updated May 11 '09)
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Exceptionally Accurate Casting, Decent Story, Phenomenal Special Effects. Epic.
Cons: The story felt contrived at times.
The Bottom Line: I would highly recommend the latest installment in the Star Trek saga. Same characters, new actors. Excellent!
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| coldsteel7's Full Review: Star Trek |
Let me start by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed Star Trek. The updated version introduced us to new actors as well as linking the film to the past. The action segments provided seat-gripping fun with seamless CGI providing additional intensity. The performances were exceptional...keeping surprising continuity with the original actors. My only issue with this film was the storyline. It wasn't bad, but I found it lacking at times. Either way, this was still an epic film in the Star Trek tradition.
If you aren't familiar with Captain James T. Kirk, then you probably live in a cultural vacuum. Regardless of your feelings about the Star Trek genre, the groundbreaking television series has had a lasting effect on our culture. But what do we know of Kirk's early life. And is what we know the way things really are, or will be. Or can the course of history be altered by the appearance of a galaxy altering presence from the future? This concept becomes the premise upon which the latest Star Trek film draws inspiration.
In the first reality, Captain Kirk's father (George Kirk, played by Chris Hemsworth) lived to attend Kirk's graduation from the Star Fleet Academy. Reality altering events present a new reality in which Captain George Kirk holds the title of Captain for just twelve minutes. James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) grows up fatherless in Iowa, living his life with reckless abandon. A chance encounter with Captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood) lands Kirk in the Starfleet Academy where he becomes close friends with Dr. Leonard McCoy (Karl Urban), more familiarly known as "Bones."
Kirk is introduced to Spock (Zachary Quinto) under less than the best of circumstances. The two don't like each other and engage in an early conflict based on academic dishonesty. The two are thrust together under the command of Captain Pike and are forced to settle differences. However, the conflict creates an undercurrent of competitiveness and differing opinions that appears unable to be gapped. In the process, the galaxy appears under threat of attack and the two must find resolution in order to save Earth and ultimately the galaxy (or would that be universe?)
In the process of developing the story, we are introduced to many of the regulars in the Star Trek genre, to include Scotty (Simon Pegg), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Sulu (John Cho) and Chekov (Anton Yelchin). These are the young guns of the Starfleet Academy and they quickly rise to their respective positions. The casting was exceptional, with special emphasis placed on creating believability. The characters were certainly credible in the roles they were cast in. Even with the young Spock typecast in my mind as the vicious Sylar from Heroes, his performance as Spock was re-defining. He could not have been cast better.
Okay, so I grew up on Star Trek. I was never a "Trekkie," but I have always found the concept to be interesting. JJ Abrams did a good job directing the latest installment. All of the classic elements appeared to be in place. Selling the story was the key to success. The writers, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, appeared to do a good job in remaining true to the characteristics given to these characters by their true parent, Gene Roddenberry. The back stories created for the characters were interesting and intelligent., not to mention credible. The story was complex but lacked originality at times. Not that it was too far-fetched, but it seemed that in creating and introducing all of the new characters, we missed something along the way. The way the characters were introduced seemed contrived at times, and there times when the story just didn't seem to have the polish it should. It is hard to explain what I felt was lacking...I guess it seemed the story was diluted somewhat in order to accommodate everything they wanted to get done. It is a difficult task that I'm sure involved a lot of discussion. But I came away with the feeling that the story could have introduced the characters while evolving a little bit more fluidly.
The CGI effects, camera work and overall polish in the cinematography were exceptional. Everything was done big and done well. If you like to watch things blow up, you can watch them blow up big. If you like chase scenes and scary aliens, you get both. The scale was carefully constructed through a variety of overlapping size models to help create the illusion. Imagine a shuttle packed with cadets with a camera view pulling away to the massive USS Enterprise where the rather miniscule shuttles circle to dock. Every detail from the uniforms to the weapons, to the ships were carefully constructed (or destroyed) with great diligence. I was completely sold on the special effects and was drawn in without hesitation. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the world they created!
Star Trek was rated PG-13 by the Motion Picture Association of America. The film was rated to attract the greatest number of viewers. 76 Million dollars in the first weekend says it all. The viewers turned out in droves for this film which contained very little objectionable material. The aliens were scary, the action was gripping, there were some risque encounters, but no nudity. The fight scenes included violence, but no gore. I would allow children of any age to see this film.
There was a great deal to like and not much to dislike in this film. Although I thought that the film short-cutted the story-line a few times, the overall finish was epic. The size of the special effects, the casting, the creation of an all-encompassing illusion that I sunk my teeth into, it all came together in a film that meets the standard that would make Gene Roddenberry proud. A new generation of actors were introduced to carry on the saga. Actors who expertly crafted their characters within the tradition set by their predecessors. It was fun. I would give Star Trek four stars out of a possible five...and for the future installments that are certain to be forthcoming I can only say that this Institution should...
...Live Long and Prosper.
As Star Trek contains the heroes of my youth (even if William Shatner has passed his prime...spending his days now as the Priceline, Ne-Go-Tiator!) The imagination that this series cultivated in me...the creativity...they were in a sense, my early heroes. For that reason, I am submitting this review to Talyseon's "I Need A Hero" write-off. A tradition that beckons back to simpler days.
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Action Movie
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
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