"I’m givin’ her all she’s got." Indeed, Paramount and director J.J. Abrams have done just that. Breathing fresh life into the dormant "Star Trek" franchise, Abrams and his screenwriters create a very tactile experience for first-timers and include enough substance for Trek veterans. The ship, the crew, the danger; they all emotionally resonate, creating a visually and psychologically compelling experience. The characters are treated with respect by this new creative team and are fully realized by a young group of actors. The defining traits of the Enterprise crew are realized onscreen for consistency and comedy, without the filmmakers mocking these legendary characters. This popular re-imagining of the Trek franchise works on an emotional and intellectual level, pleasing all but the most rigid Trek enthusiasts.
Time travel is nothing new in the "Star Trek" universe; generating a sense of drama and high stakes in both the television series and movies. The new film explains much of the lingering "YATI" (Yet Another Trek Inconsistency) dilemmas by the use of an alternate timeline created by the actions of the villain, Nero. Nero is a nasty-looking Romulan (pointy-eared like Vulcans but devious and emotional) on a vengeance kick, traveling back from the future to destroy Starfleet (the UN peacekeeping force of the future). Coming back in time with Nero is -- (spoiler) -- an elder Spock (graciously performed by the original actor, Leonard Nimoy) -- (end spoiler) who seeks to stop the madman before he changes the future. It falls ultimately on the fresh, new Enterprise crew of trainees; consisting of a willful troublemaker on academic probation (James Kirk), a half-human/half-Vulcan first mate still dealing with this dichotomy (Spock), and the rest of the classic characters; to stop a technologically advanced ship and her crazy captain.
"Star Trek" pulls at the viewer's heartstrings from the very beginning, with the ultimate sacrifice being made because of Nero's actions. This human connection early on bodes well for those watching, proving the story won't be overly cerebral and require prior knowledge. The filmmakers boldly present Kirk and Spock as children before continuing the story with young adult versions of the characters. This creates a back story possibly referred to but never seen by the Trek faithful.
The young adult Jim Kirk, as played by Chris Pine ("Just My Luck"), is cocky and self-assured with a fire in his eyes. Pine doesn't fall back on trying to imitate William Shatner's manner of speech, to the movie's benefit. Zachary Quinto's (TV's "Heroes") Spock is generally ruled by logic, suppressing his emotions, but with a streak under the surface he has not quite learned to control. I am willing to accept Spock is on the path to becoming the serene intellectual everyone knows; therefore I can accept this character evolution as long as Spock continues to evolve into what is expected.
The actors who perform Scotty, Sulu, Chekov, and Uhuru are given larger roles to establish these supporting characters than in prior "Trek" installments. Worthy of note is Karl Urban ("Pathfinder") as Dr. "Bones" McCoy who nails the role as the irascible country doctor who is out of place jaunting around the galaxy. The roles offered Urban in the future will broaden, as he proved to be a capable character actor and not simply an action star.
"Star Trek" is not without a few minor flaws, including a final dramatic battle scene which loses a little momentum. The villain, Nero, was worthy of deeper internal exploration to understand his angst, but for the rapid pacing of the story. Overall Eric Bana ("Munich") and the make-up crew did a worthwhile job of creating a threatening but believable adversary. The movie manages to surprise its audience with unexpected developments while also providing a multitude of "throw away" references only a true Trekkie would appreciate. I am pleased with this new interpretation of a classic and will be excited to find out what happens next, now that Trek is once again in uncharted territory.
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence, and brief sexual content.
