You’d have to be living under a rock on Delta Vega to have never heard of the Star Trek franchise. Ever since its (tragically-cancelled) run in the 60s, this quaint sci-fi adventure show spawned a dozen films, half-a-dozen spinoff TV shows, and a massive fan base that could constitute its own nation (complete with its own language, customs, and dress code). Slight problem with some of the original films is that they cater specifically to the Trekkies; most casual audiences might find some amusement among the even-numbered films, but the entire saga is a nerd haven more than anything.
So, in 2009, this reboot was released with the casual audience in mind. Even if you’ve never liked or heard of Star Trek before, this film totally rocks! From start to finish, there’s loads of spectacular space battles, shootouts, fistfights, and occasional bursts of witty (and rather silly) humor. The pacing is tight, and the movie overall carries an adventurous spirit that hasn’t really been used since Star Wars. At the same time, die-hard Trekkies should be relieved to see some familiar faces, hear some familiar lines, and witness the occasional homage to the classics.
The story might seem off-putting at first, but it all comes together and brilliantly kicks off a franchise that’s distinct and separate from the previous incarnations of Trek. It’s pretty darn fun seeing the origins of the characters and how they come together. The characters themselves are very well-developed and portrayed; it’s hard not to like the lot of them, and they do exceptional justice to the original characters. I also admire the film for showing some of the dangers and peril of space travel.
Coming from JJ Abrams, you can expect some jittery camerawork and some stylish lens flares; some people find them annoying, but I think they add to the realism and intensity of the film. Otherwise, the camerawork shows a fine balance between being steady and being hectic, and there are plenty of good camera movements and angles. Editing is decent too. Acting is superb; I initially found Chris Pine a little off as Kirk, but the man does emphasize the arrogance and impulsiveness of Kirk with some degree of accuracy. Zachary Quinto and Karl Urban are perfect as Spock and McCoy, respectively. I enjoy the performances of Zoe Saldana, Eric Bana, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, John Cho, and Anton Yelchin. Winona Ryder is in the mix too, and I didn't even know it was her playing Spock's mom until later. Writing is good overall; the plot is laid out in a way that's neither too high-brow or too low-brow. Production value is decent; it’s pretty obvious that they filmed many scenes at a beer factory, but most camera tricks are incredibly convincing, and it shows magnificent prowess at using less to make more. A lot of it also serves to make things look creditable; transporter beams, warp drive, red matter, etc all appear scientifically plausible. So overall, there are lots of interesting sets, props, costumes, and gorgeous special effects. Music is surprisingly catchy.
Recommended!
5/5 (Entertainment: Perfect | Story: Perfect | Film: Perfect)
This film appears on my list of Top 100 Favorite Movies at #10.
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