There are few movie franchises that inspire a following, much less a iconic reign within film making lore. To have found the power to create year after year something so powerful, so incredibly drawing to those that watch it, it is indeed a rare quality. James Bond recently went through a rebirth that was a punch to the cranium with Casino Royale and was then followed by a Bourne-esque Quantum of Solace that while thrilling, failed to inspire the very Bond it was trying to channel. James Bond it was, but to me it was still missing the key ingredients that when mixed with a dash of fire can bring about some great moments.
Star Wars failed completely in this when they returned to the story that brought us the impeccable trilogy that has inspired generations to watch over and over. The new prequel films were a joke punctured by terrible direction, horrifying script writing and then slapped about the face in the final chapter with an ending that made just about everyone roll their eyes and throw up a little in their mouths. Or in some cases, lose it all on the floor.
Which brings us to the perennial whipping boy that has shown us what happens when people in corporate positions forget the lore of the past and the greatness that came with Roddenberry’s creation. Star Trek has been in a tailspin of flames and debris careening around the hallways of Paramount. First it was the awkwardly uninspiring show Enterprise that made us all wonder why they had gone back when going forward had been a working formula. Then it was the waning viewership. The “Old Yeller” moment of truth came with the series finale wherein the good old trusty Bob Newhart mechanism is used. The bad math of the entire episode brought about a long silence in Star Trek media.
There are of course independent projects that have garnered the attention of The Original Series crew (Star Trek New Voyages for one) and there’s been rumblings of a “Bring Kirk Back” for years. Nothing solid had caught our pointy ears.
Until now.
For me Star Trek began when I was young. I was a dreamer. I would use a giant cardboard box to lord over the sea as a captain of ill regard. Sticks became guns. Rooms became the bridge of my pirate ship. Then I found Star Trek: The Next Generation. It spilled over into The Original Series. Soon I was a Trekkie. Ever since the ideals, the beliefs and hopes of Gene Roddenberry remain in my heart. Today, the dream was born again.
Star Trek is back and for the first time we’ve got hope. Not “Hope and Change”, but hope that someone isn’t out to destroy a valued and once strong franchise. The director of “Nemesis” whom I will not name was infamous for not caring, not knowing and not wanting to try to do anything like Star Trek. If you can stand to watch the disaster that is that movie, you’ll see what someone hell bent on destroying whatever has come before looks like. You might even need some therapy after.
I feared this was the case with JJ Abrams. Mission Impossible 3 was tepid at best. Cloverfield made me wonder if he’d lost his damned mind. His best successes came from Alias (good television) and Lost (once good, but now off the tracks and in the ocean) both television shows. He had never pounded out a good product for mass appeal onto the big screen that had the staying power one needs to become great.
To say the least, Star Trek takes a different direction. If you don’t want to be spoiled, look away.
Not looking? Good. Here we go.
An alternate universe is created allowing Abrams and his able bodied crew to bring new life to old characters. James Kirk is here and echoes of Shatner exist. The way he sits in the chair brought a smile to my face. There is a deviant grin hiding behind this character’s eyes, as if he’s dimly aware of what history is to come and just how much of a badass James T. Kirk will be. Played perfectly to the pitchj of how it should be.
Doctor McCoy signs on as the doctor. It is hearting to see DeForest Kelley’s mannerisms and even parts of his voice back again. The Spock versus McCoy fights start late in the movie, but its classic when Spock is called a, “green blooded hobgoblin” and you cheer right along with it. We have all yearned to see these characters return to us in some fashion with their moments and Star Trek rewards us.
Uhura is here and breathed much new life. Spock and she share something. It feels odd at first, but you grow to accept it. She does indeed get her first name and no, Kirk doesn’t sleep with her. Who he fools around with is hilarious if you know Star Trek history. Oh and he loves the women. Chekov is spot on and given some room to grow. When the sequels begin I know we’ll see more of him and his partner at the center console, Sulu. Hikaru is the least put upon officer and it’s saddening. George Takei was actually supposed to have a show with Grace Lee Whitney as Rand before Enterprise came into being. So to have Sulu with little is one of the fewer nitpicks. He does get to swordplay and it is a welcome harkening to the future of the Real Sulu.
Scotty is introduced and played to the hilt. Simon Pegg plays up the engineer with comic relief. You see his miracle work, but it’s missing the Doohan touch. Mind you, nobody could ever be as good as Jimmy Doohan, so take that for what it is.
The Enterprise herself is impressive, but we’re missing out on her. Where before she was almost the extra crew member, here she’s simply a ship. Maybe that will change with future sequels.
All in all, a grand entrance for Star Trek to return. Mind you, I still hold “Wrath of Khan” as the best. Eric Bana’s villain is evil, but lacks the punch. This will be a repeat viewing, a DVD buy and definitely a movie I enjoyed seeing.
Mr. Abrams, you done good. Just don’t jack up the sequals, k?
