Movie Review: Star Trek (2009)


I didn’t think I would ever say it this is my lifetime, but it looks like the science fiction obsessed, dressing up and convention going social outcasts known as Trekkies are now getting their due. J.J. Abrams has finally dropped Star Trek into the theaters, a movie which may be the most highly anticipated reboot in years (James Bond and Batman had restarts that were salivated over by their fan bases too).

It was no small task either. Abrams and the writing duo of Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (responsible for Transformers) deserve the utmost credit for what was, no doubt, an incredibly tedious developmental process. They needed to create a movie that kept true to the source so as to not alienate the existing rabid fans, while at the same time reinvigorating it to draw in new movie-goers. A lot can go wrong with this scenario and, increduously, they’ve walked the tightrope without falling.

It all starts with an intense, 15-minute space battle between the U.S.S. Kelvin, commanded by George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth), and the Narada, a Romulan warship helmed by the Khan-like Nero (Eric Bana). It ends poorly for the good guys, but is surely puts a taste for more in our mouths, especially when Nero scampers off in wait of his real target . . .

At the same moment, a skirt chasing James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) is contemplating his next move and ultimately decides, at the behest of Captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood), to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the Starfleet Academy. He eventually finds himself on the majestic and technically awe inspiring U.S.S. Enterprise with fellow cadets: Spock (Zachary Quinto), Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Karl Urban), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Sulu (John Cho) and Chekov (Anton Yelchin). It’s all fun — Kirk wants to get friendly with Uhura (who wouldn’t) — and “friendly” competition — Kirk and Spock each look to one up each other — until Pike goes down and they’re forced into action.

There is no shortage of action or adventure in Star Trek but what was a most unexpected treat was at how well the two main roles were defined and acted out. Kirk, played extremely well by relative unknown Pine, gets to show off multiple facets of his character as he matures — cocky, uncaring playboy to daring, resolved leader. Spock, played just as well by Quinto, is especially complex as he deals with internal anger stemming from his half-blood roots. The two believably portray contempt and ultimately admiration for each other, as if this is the fourth installment they’ve starred in together and they’ve been through it a thousand times. The rest of the crew do a good job (some more so than others), albeit, mostly for well placed tension breakers with humor or sexual innuendos. I suspect, and hope, they’ll play a larger part in upcoming sequels. Adding Leonard Nimoy in as future Spock was a great touch too.

But how dare I simply gloss over the effects and action. The ships are modeled with great precision and it was good to see the U.S.S. Enterprise looking better than ever. Future San Francisco with its towering towers is a civil engineers wet dream. The fight and chase sequences are jam-packed and well choreographed. The explosions are big and many. The film starts off with a bang and rarely slows down enough for you to catch your breath; J.J. Abrams knew what this franchise needed and delivered it.

Although I tend to cringe into the fetal position when I see or hear the words “reboot”, “remake” or “retelling” attached to a movie (they usually signify the lack of creative juices in Hollywood), even I felt the Star Trek franchise needed a new beginning. Star Trek is a great start over. So much so that I even look forward to the sequel due in 2011.

Critical Movie Critic Rating:
5 Star Rating: Fantastic

5

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The Critical Movie Critics

I'm an old, miserable fart set in his ways. Some of the things that bring a smile to my face are (in no particular order): Teenage back acne, the rain on my face, long walks on the beach and redneck women named Francis. Oh yeah, I like to watch and criticize movies.


'Movie Review: Star Trek (2009)' have 9 comments

  1. The Critical Movie Critics

    May 6, 2009 @ 11:14 pm Gaviin

    Thanks for the nice review. I’m anxious to see this.

  2. The Critical Movie Critics

    May 7, 2009 @ 9:55 pm Ray

    I’ve never been much of a Star Trek fan but with all the positive reviews, I think I’m going to have to check this out over the weekend!

  3. The Critical Movie Critics

    May 10, 2009 @ 4:01 am Nomad

    I dare say this new Capt. James T. Kirk is a more accurate embodiment of all that is Capt. James T. Kirk (better than the original)

  4. The Critical Movie Critics

    May 10, 2009 @ 6:22 am Cohen

    I’d go further than the previous commenter – this movie is better than the orginal Star Trek.

    This is what Gene Roddenberry envisioned.

  5. The Critical Movie Critics

    May 11, 2009 @ 5:39 pm O'Neel

    I wouldn’t exactly say Spock and Kirk go through a friendly competition considering Spock tries to get Kirk thrown out the Academy and beats his ass..

  6. The Critical Movie Critics

    May 12, 2009 @ 9:44 pm BlaznXazn

    Love it! Saw it at the IMAX. Well worth it! Saw it a second time with friends who couldn’t make it to the IMAX, not as good, but still really good.
    Action! Lots of it!

  7. The Critical Movie Critics

    July 8, 2009 @ 11:48 am Rosie

    After second viewing, I came to the realization that STAR TREK is one of the most badly written movies I have seen in years. Very disappointing.

  8. The Critical Movie Critics

    August 11, 2009 @ 2:13 pm Alone?

    Why does everyone love this movie? I wanted to like it. I tried HARD to like it. It looked good, it sounded good, the characters and acting were good. The story was STUPID. I suspended disbelief as long as I possibly could, but please… Kirk gets beamed onto a random planet, chased by a pointless monster that should have caught him in 3 steps, falls into a cave… and happens to bump into… Spock?!?!? Who then explains the convoluted and ridiculous plot to him?!?! And the bad guy was 2 dimensional and silly; “I’m going to travel back in time and make Spock watch his planet explode??? Really??? That was his plan??? The space scenes looked cool, but the bridge of the Enterprise looked like a health spa. And the Enterprise has a water slide now??? A good start at reviving Star Trek. Go ahead and add all the action you want, change the rules, alter history… FINE; but next time try to have it make sense.

  9. The Critical Movie Critics

    March 31, 2012 @ 10:00 am Jackrabbit Media

    Probably one of my favorite installments, liked your review. I think I enjoyed this version more than any of the others.

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