film review: "STAR TREK"

I went and did something that I originally said I wasn't going to do....I went and saw the new "STAR TREK" movie.

I fully intended on not seeing it, mainly due to my closed mindedness to the possibilities that someone other than the late great Gene Roddenberry (father of the "Star Trek" universe) could successfully re-envision the all too familiar and traditional world of Trek....I WAS WRONG!

I would not go so far as to say that I am a "trekker" but I am a fan of the show, especially TOS (the original series 1966-1969) I grew up with that all too familiar crew of the starship Enterprise with the now iconic names like Kirk, Spock, McCoy, Scott, Sulu, and Uhura. So when I first heard a few years back that Paramount was re-launching the franchise with different faces I was skeptical to say the least, I consider myself a bit of a purist when it comes to certain things and "Star Trek" is one of those things, in my narrow perception there is only one Kirk(William Shatner), one Spock(Leonard Nimoy), and one "Bones" McCOY(Deforest Kelley). I had seen the aggressive ad campaign for the new film, seen the trailers and was initially impressed with the special effects work, so after much inner debating I re-considered and chose to see the film and give it an open minded look...and also to write this review of it.

Director J.J.Abrams (Lost) has boldly gone where no director has gone before, successfully directing a fresh new look into the Star Trek mythos and re-introducing to the world both young and old to the gallant crew of the starship "Enterprise".

As for the crew, the faces have changed but the names stay the same; the cast comprises of some top young talent some familiar , some not so...

Chris Pine(Smokin Aces) portrays the young James "Tiberius" Kirk, the man who would be Captain is played as a rather cocky, independent and rebellious type with a knack of getting into trouble.

Zachary Quinto(Heroes) plays the enigmatic and at times way too logical Mr. Spock, half Vulcan/half Human he is the picture of discipline and logic while within himself he is at constant odds at controlling his mixed pedigree's turbulent emotions.

Karl Urban(Chronicles of Riddick) is Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, a gruff doubting individual whose faith and trust are lacking in both the individuals around him and the technologies that they control.

Zoe Saldana(Pirates of the Caribbean) is communications officer Nyota Uhura, the beautiful and bright lieutenant who carries a secret.

...and the crew is rounded out by actors Simon Peeg(Shaun of the Dead) as Montgomery Scott ,and John Cho(Harold & Kumar) as helmsman Hikaru Sulu.

All the principal actors turn in fine performances in this action packed film. The story(written by Robert Orci and Alex Kurtzman) is a time travel adventure with the Romulans as the antagonists, featuring Eric Bana(Hulk, Troy) as the main baddie, a bald tattooed cat by the name of Nero hell bent on revenge against those who cost him everything ,his life, his family, his world.

Leonard Nimoy reprises the role of Mr. Spock albeit an aged version from the future, and the character of Spock both old and new is pivotal to the storyline. Bruce Greenwood(Nowhere Man) plays Captain Christopher Pike, the original Captain of the Enterprise and mentor to the young Jim Kirk.

But ye be warned for this is not your daddy's STAR TREK, whereas the original spirit and flavor of the classic series is intact with this, the 11th and latest cinematic adventure, there are some subtle visual and character changes to be noticed...In my opinion the big character treatment belongs to a rather minor crew member, helmsman Pavel Chekov(Anton Yelchin) who has been transformed into a confident and quite intelligent character who saves the ship and crew on at least two instances in the film from certain destruction...a far cry from the bumbling uncertain young navigator originally portrayed in the series by Walter Koenig.

Some surprising acting choices are evident in the roles of Spock's parents; Ben Cross plays his father Sarek while Winona Ryder portrays Amanda, his human mother...I guess my biggest reservation visually is shared by many in the re-design of the Enterprise herself, while retaining the general look of the original design it has been given a "hot-rod" treatment, it looks like its on steroids! While I begrudgingly accepted the new look of the ships interiors with the exception of some of the lower decks which resembled a factory floor or at times a plumbers nightmare ,I draw the line at messing with the external look of the now legendary profile of the Constellation Class Starship, especially when you consider that other original ship designs from the series like the shuttle craft were virtually untouched.

All in all the film was acceptable, a lot of action, fine performances turned in by all and with the somewhat disappointing villain and at times muddled storyline it still works on the big screen, and with a few minor exceptions I think the old man(Gene Roddenberry) would have liked it.

The film is dedicated in memory to the series and franchise creator Gene Roddenberry and his late wife Majel Barrett (#1, Nurse Chapel) who re-recorded the ships computer voice for the new film shortly before her death.

-live long and prosper/peace ;)