BAM review: “Star Trek”
Director J.J. Abrams (TV’s “Lost” and “Alias”) boldly takes the venerable and influential ”Star Trek” into the future with his movie reboot, which takes the classic 1960s sci-fi series back in time but seems destined to create new and future fans of the franchise.
In fact, the film goes all the way back to the birth of James T. Kirk, the future captain of the Enterprise. Kirk’s father, George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth), is first officer on a ship that comes under attack by a ship commanded by the vengeful Romulan Nero (Eric Bana). Little James is born on an escape pod, but his father doesn’t make it.
Growing up in Iowa without a father, Jim Kirk (Chris Pine) is a brilliant rebel without a cause, unless you count chasing skirts and starting bar fights as a reason for being. But when Capt. Pike (Bruce Greenwood) challenges him to join Starfleet and make something out his life, Kirk decides to give it a shot.
Meanwhile, on the planet Vulcan, a youngster named Spock endures ridicule and struggles with his conflicted nature: His father (Ben Cross) is one of the logic-driven Vulcans, but his mother (Winona Ryder) is human with the usual human emotions. As a young adult Spock (Zachary Quinto) must choose between going into the Vulcan Science Academy and Starfleet, and he surprises everyone by choosing Starfleet.
This sets Kirk and Spock up for a collision course in Starfleet, and they collide in rather fun and dramatic fashion. But soon, everyone’s racing to their ships because an attack is occurring that sounds awfully similar to the one that cost Kirk his dad. That means Kirk and Spock have to work together – but not that they have to like it.
Along the way, we get introduced to all the other classic “Trek” characters and see how they are flung together: From headstrong communications officer Uhura (Zoe Saldana) and brilliant young ensign Chekov (Anton Yelchin) to awkward but tough helmsman Sulu (John Cho) and funny genius engineer Scotty (Simon Pegg). But the standout is Karl Urban as crabby, dramatic Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy; it’s clear Urban spent many hours studying the late DeForest Kelly’s performance because he nails the Bones vibe.
Back when it was announced, I thought the casting looked terrific, but it’s even better on film. The actors – Pine in particular – are true to the spirit of the original characters without ever getting into caricature territory. And they all have cohesive chemistry.
The special effects are stellar, Bana makes an effective baddie and Abrams does a good job of guiding the audience through the complex sci-fi plotline. We get the wonderful Leonard Nimoy back for one more adventure as “Spock Prime.” And since the plot involves time travel, that raises the stakes – and makes for more suspense along the way.
The reboot pays fine tribute to the original series and subsequent films but cleverly finds a way to forge its own territory into undiscovered cinematic country.
My rating: 3 1/2 stars of 4.
-BAM
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