Star Trek
posted April 24, 2009 9:35 AM
Ideal for the novice and the Trekkie alike
It will always be risky to tamper with a well-known and well-loved franchise, especially one that seemed to have reached its natural conclusion. But behold: J.J. Abrams, who made Mission Impossible III and the hit TV series Lost, has achieved the impossible with Star Trek, and reinvented it such that it should attract new admirers and please the loyal fan base alike. Stand by ticket takers: It’s guaranteed to start a box office stampede.
With the Star Trek chemistry any newcomer in the director’s chair had to be clear about preserving the franchise’s traditions, humor and ideals. J.J. Abrams accomplishes this feat to perfection, yet proceeds to push the action forward at a rollicking pace that barely leaves time for breath.
It should obliterate the disappointing track record of recent offerings in the franchise, such as the Star Trek Nemesis seven years ago, which seemed to signal the end of a series that had lasted five decades. Paramount’s budget investment of more than $150 million on the new Trek should be recouped in spades—and that will likely inspire a collective corporate sigh of relief.
Abrams goes back to the series’ ’60s roots and the early days of the SS Enterprise by revealing the formative experiences of our legendary heroes Kirk and Spock, and laces this origin story with a youthful zest and some enjoyable self-parody. The intergalactic vistas and pop art interiors are constantly stunning.
It’s in his astute choice of cast that the director draws much of the film’s strength, including Chris Pine as a youthful Kirk who has all the character traits that were exploited so successfully by William Shatner, Bruce Greenwood in commanding form as Pike and Simon Pegg’s bubbly and heavily accented Scotty. Zachary Quinto (best known as the monstrous Sylar in TV’s Heroes) makes a wonderful forerunner to Leonard Nimoy’s Spock and, in an intriguing piece of time-jumping, manages to come face to face with him.
Karl Urban makes a deliciously cynical Dr. McCoy while Eric Bana shows his bad boy tendencies as the vengeful Nero who threatens the United Federation of Planets, leading to some incredible action scenes as he zaps around the galaxy in his state of the art spaceship.
Given that Abrams has completely reinvented the series with such aplomb, he should be given the chance to continue his good work by beaming them all up for yet another saga.
Distributor: Paramount
Cast: Leonard Nimoy, Zachary Quinto, Anton Yelchin, Zoe Saldana, Eric Bana, Winona Ryder and Chris Pine
Director: J.J. Abrams
Screenwriters: Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman
Producers: Damon Lindelof and J.J. Abrams
Genre: Science Fiction/Adventure
Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence, and brief sexual content.
Running time: 127 min
Release date: May 8, 2009
30 Comments
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Bill Kraft said:
Mr. Mowe,
I am elated by the early raves for the new "Star Trek." I am not a casual fan. I spent 13 years in a successful mission to have "Star Trek" honored on a postage stamp. That stamp was issued on Sept. 17, 1999. Endorsement letters for the stamp came from the likes of Ray Bradbury, Arthur C. Clarke, Isaac Asimov, members of Congress and many from the scientific community. Their support is testimony to the enduring impact and appeal of a pop culure phenomenon. Gene Roddenberry gave us exhilarating entertainment and hope for a bright future. I hope the new "Star Trek" becomes the feel good flick of the year after last year's dark-themed films. Heaven knows we need some optimism and uplift for an ailing morale. "Star Trek" just might be the antidote.
April 24, 2009 2:29 PM
fan boy said:
Can't wait for the movie to release, it's going to be great.
April 24, 2009 7:36 PM
Trekkie said:
The previews look great, but these are huge shoes to fill. There will be many critics...actually everyone's a critic, present company included. I can't wait to see the movie.
April 24, 2009 7:42 PM
Zeiram said:
I'm a Trek and movie fan but at the same time, I grow tired of all these self-important, fanboy-esque, sycophantic rants the world has come to be familiar with in the last four years or so. Once and for all, I'm simply going to look forward to this movie and enjoy it for what it is: A fun-filled, adventure movie for the summer. When I can remember to just sit back, relax, enjoy a good soft drink and simply be a kid again. We've grown to be a cynical age of late when gas prices, world terrorism, faltering economies and pig flu scares run rampant in our conscious minds, thus preventing us from having any kind of open-minded, positive thinking. Isn't it about time the over-smart college generation just shut up for one second and we finally stop and smell the fresh air for a change. The youth-filled optimism of this movie just might be the ticket. There will be those out there quick to criticize this movie for being simply a money-making, product placement scheme. I say to hell with that, the world is full of too many people who think "that way". Just shut up, enjoy the movie and go home happy!
April 27, 2009 4:00 AM
Anonymous said:
gogogogogo
April 28, 2009 2:22 PM
Mark said:
I didn't champion a postage stamp. I haven't chimed in on the New/Original cast comparisons. I don't have any credentials...only a love of Star Trek and a real brimming sense of excitement. This is going to be awesome!!! let's face it, we all survived Shatner's Folly (Star Trek V) so let's relax and enjoy the ride. There's going to be so much cool stuff riding on the coattails of this movie...It's a good time to be a Trek Fan.
April 28, 2009 6:52 PM
Selina said:
This is going to be my first Star Trek movie :) The reviews here seem to be good.
May 1, 2009 5:14 AM
Ray said:
I watched the very first show aired... and all the rest. I just saw the clip of Kirk and Bones. My eyes were ! Hahaha... This is going to be good!!! I can't wait! :~)
May 1, 2009 2:36 PM
Lord Lunacy said:
Young minds, fresh ideas...it was about time. Trek is too iconic, like Star Wars to just up and vanish. All Star Trek needed was a Monster energy drink and some cosmetic surgery to get up and running again.
May 2, 2009 9:51 PM
CAT said:
its cold. I dont know how it got above origins of wolverine. I guese it must have had a bribe
May 4, 2009 5:32 AM
Montana said:
Saw Star Trek at the Hollywood premiere last week. The movie is flat-out great. Fast paced, with plenty of action and humor. True to the original TV series. Can't wait to see it again.
May 4, 2009 7:17 PM
Sammy said:
This should be great.
May 7, 2009 1:40 PM
Tim said:
Just saw the movie. It was AWSOME!!! Great cast and action. Blows Wolverine away. Most I have enjoyed a movie in a long time.
May 7, 2009 8:21 PM
chriskirza said:
just saw the movie.i must say it was awesome.was very impressed.best star trek movie
May 7, 2009 11:53 PM
Anonymous said:
i just went to see this movie yesterday. it was great. finally a origin story done right.(yes im talking about Star Wars...)it the best star trek film since the wrath of khan...
May 10, 2009 8:44 PM
Laura said:
This movie was freaking awesome! I grew up on Star Trek: Next Generation but caught some of the originals with William Shatner and I have to say, this is THE BEST Start Trek movie I've seen! I can't wait to go see it in IMAX! This is one movie that I would TOTALLY be willing to pay the 12.50 to see it in IMAX. I think it would totally make the action sequences and FX effects stand out even more and make them look even better than they already are!! Even if you're not a trekkie fan, this is definitely a must see movie! Definitely out does Wolverine Origins, which I saw the day after seeing this movie!
May 11, 2009 5:47 AM
Eric crider said:
Bravo Mr. Abrams bravo
May 11, 2009 12:25 PM
GoodOBoy_101 said:
I just saw the movie blue my ****in mind ,yeah good job Mr. Abrams.
May 11, 2009 12:32 PM
Mitchell Vasallo said:
My wife and I just watched the movie. Wow! Great story, great cast selection. And quite a few surprises. It was a really amazing first film for a revamped franchise. You know it's funny how when you do a revamp of an old franchise. The technology seems more modern and complex despite it being the first time Captain James T. Kirk and Spock take their first voyage together including the rest of the cast. I will definitely purchase the DVD two disc edition. I want to see all the extras that come out. I have to admit this movie is the best Star Trek film ever. And I wouldn't be surprised that it surpasses the other Star Trek films in gross sales. I'll be giving more of my comments on this website with other movies to follow eg; Terminator, GI Joe, Transformers, Harry Potter, the list goes on and on. My wallet is going to be empty before the summers through.
May 12, 2009 1:22 AM
karim elsharkawy said:
verr goog movie myth
May 14, 2009 3:08 AM
Abdulaziz said:
It is a good film !
May 16, 2009 5:34 AM
Nick said:
This is everything a summer blockbuster should be. Amazing effects, cracking cast, and it doesnt slow down for a second. I absolutely loved it. It blows other prequel films out the water. i.e The Phantom Menace. And I'm a big Star Wars fan not a Trek fan.
May 21, 2009 10:35 AM
Defiantmacho said:
Well... Wasn't that a hit on the bullseye! Very well made, awesome special fx, brilliant choice of cast, and Nimoy!!! Ufff! Even the fate of Vulcan made a great choice in plot twists... Who's to say the new colony isn't the Vulcan we've come to know? And the new updated Enterprise is just beautiful. I really liked how the original character traits were preserved. Granted, romulans looked different, but hey, didn't the Remans take over?looked more like them. So yes, this was all I had hoped for and more... The kovayashi maru(sorry if I've mispelled it) test was expected, and even then JJ surpassed my expectations! I say leave JJ on board. He obviously knows what he is doing. Newcommers, this will be the best spent money this summer. Go and enjoy the rare gem this movie is... And don't forget to check out past series and movies as well. After all, Trek is what it is thanks to it all. I will see this again, and then, I will get the Blu-ray!!!
May 22, 2009 1:21 AM
stephen m grasso said:
Ive been a trek fan since i first saw it on t.v when I got out of the service in dec. 1966. i have since seen every movie read all the trek books and am blown away with this new and innovated movie. i hope it makes 300 million at the box office so i can see more of these movies. MAY YOU LIVE AND PROSPER.....THANK YOU FOR THIS NEW SERIES....STEPHEN
May 25, 2009 4:01 PM
Rick said:
Wow! The new Star Trek is just great! Well done JJ. Best movie of the year.
May 31, 2009 9:02 AM
Paul said:
As a devoted 'Trekkie', I approached the movie with a sense of anticipation tinted with trepidation for what kinds of liberties they might take with the original plot and character lines. Thankfully, my fears were unfounded; I cannot imagine a better crafted prequel. Well done indeed.
June 6, 2009 4:21 PM
Mike said:
I love star trek I'm a huge fan but this was by far the best. I saw the moive 5 times my girl is still mad lol. but she'll get over it. star trek fan have not really had a great moive outside of star trek 2 & 4 but this is better then both of those moives, good job. rest in peace to the crew members that are no longer with us but they would be proud.
June 7, 2009 1:22 PM
f2z said:
yo mike you said you love this mpvie man u are gay any way this movie sucks
July 5, 2009 9:42 AM
Jenn said:
I went in fully expecting to hate this movie. You do NOT mess with the Trek. However... I have to say that this is the best Star Trek movie I have ever seen (and I quite enjoyed the TNG movies) and I am thrilled beyond words that we have more Trek to look forward to.
The casting was sublime, it could not have been better. The story line was terrific, and had a few surprises that no one could have expected. I love the twist that allows for this to continue unfettered by cast-in-stone Trek history.
Awesome, awesome movie.
July 6, 2009 7:51 AM
sabas Jr. said:
This Star Trek movie is the one of the year. This movie was awsome but I have to say that Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan is still the best.
July 27, 2009 11:21 PM