So there's this thing I do whenever I want to see a movie but don't want to admit to anyone I want to see that particular movie: I take my younger siblings. See, as the oldest brother of a 10-year-old and a 7-year-old, I can basically always use the excuse, "They want to go see it, so I'm taking them." I used this most recently with Star TreK, J.J. Abrams' reboot of one of the most celebrated...and nerdiest...shows of all time. The series has become syonymous with geeks, 40-year-old virgins that live at home, guys with long beards and glasses who snort in laughter whenever someone refers to Captain Picard as Patrick Stewart and spend their days arguing over internet forums about which episode is the best and which alien is the hottest provided they have any interest in women.
J.J. Abrams, essentially, took all the geekiest elements of the Star Trek universe and injected them with Jason Giambi's special blend, because I'll tell you what, the most appropriate thing I could possibly say about this 2-hour thrill ride is this: it kicks Vulcan ass.
Star Trek is a movie that achieves a perfect balance between pleasing the old followers while updating it, bringing it into a more modern pethora of action film. See, as much as you watch it and see all the explosions, the effects, Eric Bana trying to act badass, you still are never lost from the feeling that this is Star Trek that you're watching. Abrams does a good job of never deveating so far from the source material that it becomes something else entirely (ala The Honeymooners) while at the same time bringing a fresh look.
I've never seen a single episode of Star Trek. Never. Not once. Maybe clips when I was a kid, but nothing I can actually remember. Yet, the miraculous thing, is that I recognize all the characters. It's so perfectly cast, so perfectly written, and so perfectly directed that even though the only familiarity with the original characters I have is what I know from pop culture references, I still know who everyone is. It never feels forced, though. Abrams doesn't point t the people and say, "Look! This is how he got started! See! I'm a genius!" Instead the characters and famous lines (set phasers to stun) just feel like part of the framework of the film and not needless, obvious homages.
If I do have a complaint, it's that much of the plot centers around time travel, and while I know that's a big part of the whole Trekkie thing, it gets really annoying at times, and (spoilers) feels more like an attempt to get Leonard Nimoy on screen rather than what the writers may have originally envisioned. Nonetheless, it's not enough to really scare you away from the expereince it has to offer from beginning to end.
Star Trek is a movie you need to chuck your ego aside for. You need to put away all your prejudices, especially you Star Wars fans, and go see it. It's got heart, it's got humor, it balances homages with originality, and there may never be a more perfectly casted remake, anywhere.
I know I usually try to be funny with my reviews, but it's hard to when a movie is so good. So I will say this, I went to a Saturday afternoon showing and there were at least 5 or 6 middle-aged guys in there by themselves, undoubtedly there so they can go home and argue about it with their friends online while sipping their mom's tea in her basement.
There you go. Now go see it. Because unlike all the Star Trek movies before it and all the nerdinss associated with it, Abrams version stands apart as something everyone can enjoy while never spitting in the faces of what came ahead of it. It boldly goes where no remake has gone before. (Except for maybe like, Batman Begins)
Score: 9/10
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Another Take:
By Scott
[Scott is a regular guest blogger on Geoff Klock's popular blog Remarkable (geoffklock.blogspot.com), and for the sake of comparison I've posted his review, which can also be found o Geoff's blog.]
Star Trek was everything that X-men Origins: Wolverine was not; more than that, it has everything that an ‘origin’ movie should have that XMO: Wolverine did not: fun, emotionally engaging, beautifully paced. The characters have depth and beloved icons are brought to life in a way that is both faithful to the original interpretations and entertaining for new viewers.
I’m not a huge Star Trek geek, but I’m just familiar enough with the mythology to get most of the references. That being said, you don’t HAVE to get the references to enjoy the movie; they are done in such a way that they are just seen as another part of the story. Case in point, the film depicts a famous instance from Star Trek mythos, Kirk beating the supposedly unbeatable Kobyashi Maru simulation at Starfleet Academy. Fans of the series will immediately recognize the scenario and will love getting to see it played out on the big screen but, for those who aren’t fans of the series, it is an entertaining scene that further establishes and develops the character of James T. Kirk (none of the ‘and that’s the origin of that’ feeling of Wolverine).
In another case of Wolverine versus Star Trek, let’s take a look at how the two movies brought a fan-favorite character, known for having a particular accent, to life. Wolverine has Gambit. The actor playing Gambit cannot do a Cajun accent but he still tries. Also, he can’t act and he’s just sort of there so you can go “Oh, look! Gambit!” Star Trek has Simon Pegg as Scotty… ‘nuff said. (The guy playing Dr. McCoy was also great for that matter).
Most importantly, the use of time travel in the film is not merely a device for Leonard Nimoy to make an appearance; it actually serves an important purpose, not just in terms of plot, but for reinvigorating the franchise as a whole. In addition to explaining any continuity gaffs for the hardcore Trek geeks, it also allows the franchise to be rebooted while still acknowledging the original all within the same film. A pretty daring feat if you ask me. Also, it allows us to have a ‘new’ James T. Kirk; one who is, essentially, the same character we know and love but, due to events depicted in the film, experiences a different formative history which allows him to be a little darker, a little edgier, a little more modern.
All this and Scotty even gets to have a cute little alien buddy!
You might have heard that it's 'this summers Iron Man'... it's not... it's better!
