You're Gonna Dig This Five-Year Mission

STAR TREK
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Bruce Greenwood, Eric Bana, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, Karl Urban, John Cho, and Leonard Nimoy
Written by: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman (based on the television series created by Gene Roddenberry)
Directed by: J.J. Abrams
Release Date: May 8, 2009



If someone were to ask you who the most dangerous people on Earth were, what would you say? Terrorists? Serial killers? Postal workers? Well, all three guesses would be wrong. The group of people who deliver the worst wrath are actually nerds. Sci-fi nerds, to be specific. Because if you were to ruin (or what they consider "ruining") their most favorite and beloved franchises, your credibility amongst your target demographic would be instantaneously destroyed. Look at George Lucas. 


After creating the most successful and popular film trilogy of all time, he ended up following them with what many consider to be the WORST trilogy of all time (massive box office success notwithstanding). So after the failure, critic-wise, of the Star Wars prequels, how would the nerds (and mainstream moviegoers) react to the resurrection of another popular spacefaring franchise?


After the dismal results of 2002's Nemesis, it seemed as though the "Star Trek" saga had run its course. After five television series and ten movies, could anything give Gene Roddenberry's creation a new lease on life? Director J.J. Abrams certainly thought so.


The year is 2233, and the Federation starship U.S.S. Kelvin is investigating a freak lightning storm in space, from which a massive and seemingly advanced Romulan mining craft, the Narada, emerges. After the Kelvin's captain (Faran Tahir) is murdered, first officer George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth) assumes command, ordering an evacuation of all onboard, including his heavily pregnant wife (Jennifer Morrison). Though George sacrifices himself to save his crew, his wife survives and gives birth to their son, James.


More than two decades later, Jim Kirk (Chris Pine) has grown up to be an impulsive, womanizing, anti-authoritarian troublemaker in Iowa, who nonetheless attracts the attention of one Captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood) of Starfleet, who believes the boy to possess plenty of untapped potential. Pike convinces Kirk to join Starfleet Academy, where Kirk's rulebreaking nature doesn't mesh well with the other cadets and officers.


One such officer is Commander Spock (Zachary Quinto), a half-human/half-Vulcan instructor. Though brilliant, Spock has always struggled balancing logic with emotion, especially since the latter is frowned upon by his Vulcan brethren. However, Spock's annoyance with Kirk is put on hold when Starfleet receives a supposed distress call from Planet Vulcan. As such, the fleet makes way for Vulcan, including the newly constructed U.S.S. Enterprise, led by Pike, and a crew including helmsman Hikaru Sulu (John Cho), Russian navigator Pavel Chekov, acerbic medical officer Leonard "Bones" McCoy (Karl Urban), communications officer Uhura (Zoe Saldana), and Kirk, who manages to sneak onboard despite being on academic suspension.


However, the crew of the Enterprise learn that Vulcan is experiencing no natural disaster, but rather an attack by the Narada, whose captain, the bloodthirsty Nero (Eric Bana), bears a specific grudge against the Vulcans and Spock in particular. After tensions between Kirk and Spock come to a head, Kirk eventually encounters Scottish engineering officer Montgomery Scott (Simon Pegg), as well as an older version of a certain Enterprise crewmember who encourages Kirk to fulfill his destiny by taking control of the Enterprise and stopping Nero before it's too late.


It was certainly a huge challenge for Abrams to resuscitate a dying franchise while still staying true to the original series' heart and soul. And thankfully, he succeeded on all fronts. Simply put, this film is everything that the Star Wars prequels should have been: faithful and respectful to its predecessors' roots, while at the same time giving it a fresh, original, and satisfying feel. Having seen a few of the movies (Wrath of Khan having been my favorite) and only a handful of episodes from the original 60's TV series, this writer admits that he is by no means a Trekkie. But this film is for both diehard fans, and newbies like myself. Sure, the film makes some tweaks to the original canon of the franchise, but why gripe? A smart screenplay by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, as well as devoted direction by Abrams, help make Star Trek not only the best film in the series, but also one of the best science fiction movies ever made.


But let's not give all the credit to the guys behind the camera; the casting of the film is absolutely flawless. Chris Pine is fantastic as the soon-to-be-Captain James Kirk. Ruggedly handsome and charming, Pine stays true to the rebellious, womanizing, impulsive nature of the Kirk character, while still making the role that William Shatner pioneered his own. Zachary Quinto (of TV's "Heroes", making his film debut) nails the role of Spock, delivering an intense yet introspective performance.


The rest of the cast is pitch-perfect, with standouts including Karl Urban hilariously channelling DeForest Kelly as "Bones" McCoy, and Shaun of the Dead's Simon Pegg having a blast as Scotty. The only weak link was Eric Bana as the film's villain Nero, because although he gives a good performance, his character and his storyline seemed far too similar to Ricardo Montalban's titular character in Wrath of Khan. Technical credits are excellent across the board, with a rousing score by Michael Giacchino, and outstanding special effects work that rivals, nay, EXCEEDS the last Star Wars film. 


But what was most impressive and admirable about this film was the complete and utter respect it paid to Roddenberry's original creation. While updating itself for a 21st century audience, Star Trek stays faithful to the spirit and essence of the television series, tossing in several easter eggs for the fans (including but not limited to the obligatory death of a red-shirted crewmember), and a very special (and welcome) extended cameo by one of the original cast members of the show. Funny, awe-inspiring, visually magnificent, emotionally gratifying, and an absolute blast to watch and behold, Star Trek is proof that an old franchise can certainly learn new tricks.


LETTER GRADE: "A"