Star Trek

Released: 2009
MPAA rating: PG-13
Run time: 2:07


Any one who grew up with me would be shocked to find it took me this long to see this film.  I was a major Trekkie and would definitely be the kind of guy in a lawn chair lining up for the first midnight showing, but just did not get around to it.  Bias alert: As already stated, I am a huge "Star Trek" fan, but I am also a huge J.J. Abrams fan, so the combination of those two elements would have to go horribly wrong for me to not like this film.  The first brilliant move by Abrams was to include the "Kobayashi Maru" test in the storyline.  This is a simulation test where this is no possible winning move for the candidate: the "no-win" scenario.  As legend has it, Captain Kirk is the only one to beat the test, by "changing the conditions of the test".  The sequence works both as a nod to the history and mythology of "Star Trek" and as a metaphor for the film itself.  J.J. Abrams taking on this project was a "no-win" scenario in itself:  How do you reboot an extremely popular franchise with a devout fanbase and somehow make it fresh.  Well, he "changed the conditions of the test" by introducing a time-travel element that releases the shackles of being tied to an existing storyline to adhere to.  Brilliant move on his part.  Of course, until that is explained, the first third of the film is a little confusing for fans as changes in the mythology are introduced early on.  When it is explained, the movie all clicks and you realize what a brilliant move it was.  Abrams now has a clean slate to develop future films and storylines.  The movie itself is a winning combination of action set pieces and intelligent dialogue which makes it accessible for varied audiences.  The casting worked out perfectly with Chris Pine leading the charge as a fiery young Cadet James T. Kirk and Zachary Quinto nailing the role of a young Spock.  I was actually most impressed with Karl Urban, who channeled DeForrest Kelley while playing Doctor McCoy.  One minor critique was that the character of Uhura was given way too large a role in the film and her relationships with both Kirk and Spock just didn't jibe with what I would imagine a young Uhura would be like.  The compression of events was just a  bit unrealistic:  Kirk goes from cadet to Captain of the Enterprise in a ridiculously short amount of time.  I understand it is sort of necessary to get the franchise where it needs to be, however.  Bottom line, this was a magnificent effort by Abrams and everybody involved.  I am now looking forward to rediscovering the characters as they embark on a completely new timeline in the years ahead.


Grade: A




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