Star Trek (reboot series)
STAR TREK (12)
D: J.J. Abrams
Paramount/Spyglass/Bad Robot (J. J. Abrams & Damon
Lindelof)
US 2009
127 mins
Science Fiction
W: Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman [based on characters
created by Gene Roddenberry]
DP: Dan Mindel
Ed: Mary Jo Markey & Maryann Brandon
Mus: Michael Giacchino
PD: Scott Chambliss
Chris Pine (James T. Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Spock), Zoë
Saldana (Uhura), Karl Urban (Dr. Leonard McCoy), Simon Pegg (Montgomery Scott), Anton Yelchin (Pavel Chekov), Eric Bana (Nero), Bruce Greenwood (Christopher Pike), Ben Cross
(Sarek), Winona Ryder (Amanda Grayson), Leonard Nimoy (Spock Prime)
More Star Wars than Star Trek, which may leave some of the
fanbase feeling like they've been shafted by director J. J. Abrams' re-imagination of their favourite show, but for those who are too young to have experienced the original TV show, this
provides a good introduction.
Technically, it's a visual spectacle, with top-notch
special effects, makeup and production design, and while the story has a lot of thrilling action scenes, it misses the point of what set Star Trek aside from the rest of the sci-fi genre,
settling on an origin story with a simple revenge plot made complicated with time-travelling technicalities. The characters aren't quite the same either, with a far too arrogant Kirk, a far
too emotional Dr. Spock and an Uhura who is, well, just about that.
For a new generation of fans, this is perfectly entertaining,
but nothing will ever usurp the original series, despite any cinematic breakthroughs in the fields of visual effects and sky-high budgets.
6/10
STAR TREK: INTO DARKNESS (12)
D: J. J. Abrams
Paramount/Spyglass/Bad Robot (J. J. Abrams, Bryan Burk,
Damon Lindelof, Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman)
US 2013
133 mins
Science Fiction
W: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman & Damon Lindelof [based
on characters created by Gene Roddenberry]
DP: Dan Mindel
Ed: Mary Jo Markey & Maryann Brandon
Mus: Michael Giacchino
PD: Scott Chambliss
Chris Pine (James T. Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Spock), Zoë
Saldana (Uhura), Karl Urban (Dr. Leonard McCoy), Simon Pegg (Montgomery Scott), Anton Yelchin (Chekov), John Cho (Sulu), Benedict Cumberbatch (Khan), Peter Weller (Alexander Marcus),
Alice Eve (Dr. Carol Marcus)
There have been many Trekkies going as far as describing
this as the worst Star Trek movie. Rather harsh considering Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (qv) had a much weaker story and the original Star Trek: The Motion Picture (qv) was arse-numbingly
boring. This is actually on a par with J. J. Abrams' 2009 reboot of Star Trek, and though it may not be directly aimed at the show's huge fanbase, it does a good job for a new generation of
fans. Intelligence has been toned down in favour of a more action-based science fiction for the new direction, but at least the two films are entertaining.
The plot here takes a huge slice of inspiration from Star
Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the superior villain who aims to destroy Starfleet. Chris Pine still plays Kirk as a douchebag, but Zachary Quinto is a perfect
replacement for Leonard Nimoy as Spock, though Zoë Saldana's take on Uhura is still trying to be too sassy and sexy for someone who is merely a background character. The performances are
immaterial however, it's the visual effects, makeup and technical achievements which attracts an audience for these new Trek adventures, and in that respect it doesn't disappoint
entirely.
5/10
STAR TREK: BEYOND (12)
D: Justin Lin
Paramount/Skydance/Alibaba/Bad Robot (J.J. Abrams, Roberto
Orci, Lindsey Weber & Justin Lin)
US 2016
122 mins
Science Fiction
W: Simon Pegg & Doug Jung [based on characters created by
Gene Roddenberry]
DP: Stephen F. Windon
Ed: Greg D'Auria, Dylan Highsmith, Kelly Matsumoto &
Steven Sprung
Mus: Michael Giacchino
Chris Pine (Capt. James T. Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Spock), Karl
Urban (Leonard 'Bones' McCoy), Simon Pegg (Montgomery Scott), Zoe Saldana (Nyoto Uhura), Idris Elba (Krall), Sofia Boutella (Jaylah)
Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry probably wouldn't be too
impressed to see what the Star Trek movies have now become and neither would most self-confessed Trekkies.
The most recent Star Trek movies have emulated Star Wars
rather than the original television programmes and series of movies, and though the scenes of action are very well presented, this just isn't Star Trek.
This third film of the reboot series, directed by Justin Lin
after J.J. Abrams gave up the reins, sees Captain James T. Kirk and crew ambushed by a malevolent alien species which destroys the Enterprise, leaving them deserted on a foreign planet, where the
wreckage of another starship lies dormant.
Penned by Simon Pegg, the plot pickpockets from Avatar, Flight
Of The Phoenix, Star Wars and other inspirations, but is as far from Star Trek as Gene Roddenberry ever would have hoped.
The highlight of the film is certainly the attack which
cripples the USS Enterprise, but occurring so early in the movie the remainder is completely anti-climactic.
5/10
