| STAR TREK (2009) | | | | Leonard Nimoy's, he makes up for it with a well-timed, |
| Director: JJ Abrams | | | | one-eyebrowed raise. And since we're on the subject |
| Year: 2009 | | | | of Spock, Leonard Nimoy hasn't lost a step when it |
| Review written by: Joe Yang | | | | comes to reprising his most famous role. |
| Synopsis: It's the 23rd Century. The story focuses on | | | | Karl Urban is fun to watch as Doctor McCoy, and |
| the early days of Captain Kirk, Spock, and the | | | | channels enough of the late DeForest Kelley without |
| legendary crew of the starship Enterprise. A vengeful | | | | going overboard. And of course, Simon Pegg's |
| Romulan starship captain named Nero (Eric Bana) | | | | much-anticipated interpretation of the beloved Scotty |
| threatens the peaceful United Federation of Planets, | | | | doesn't disappoint. |
| and arrives in a giant ship that resembles the Bloomin' | | | | Many familiar lines from the original series and movies |
| Onion appetizer dish from the Outback Steakhouse. | | | | are recited, and many other background elements, |
| Meanwhile, in Riverside, Iowa, James T. Kirk (Chris | | | | such as tribbles, are referenced. This is sure to bring |
| Pine) is an unruly but brilliant young man who enlists in | | | | back fond memories for fans (and yes, they kept |
| the Starfleet Academy after a chance encounter with | | | | those '60s styled mini skirts in case you were |
| Captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood). On his | | | | wondering). |
| first day, he befriends a cynical medical officer named | | | | The action in this Star Trek reboot far surpasses that |
| Leonard McCoy (Karl Urban), aka "Bones." | | | | of the previous six big-screen adventures featuring the |
| Adhering to his rule-breaking ways at the Academy, | | | | original characters, and the special effects/production |
| Kirk sparks the ire of one of his instructors, who's none | | | | design are everything we'd expect out of a big budget |
| other than a young Commander Spock (Zachary | | | | sci-fi flick. |
| Quinto). | | | | And even though director JJ Abrams pays lip service |
| But an emergency situation occurs near Spock's home | | | | to the technical geekery famous for getting fanboys |
| planet of Vulcan, and all Starfleet cadets are called into | | | | beaten up at school, here, he pays more attention to |
| action once a distress signal is received. Captain Pike | | | | stuff like having the characters get stuff done (as |
| assumes command of the fleet's new flagship, the | | | | opposed to sitting around a conference table talking |
| USS Enterprise. | | | | about it). |
| At the helm is Hikaru Sulu (John Cho), and the | | | | The Bad: Eric Bana's Nero isn't that great of a Trek |
| navigator is a young, talented Russian cadet named | | | | villain, compared to the likes of, say, Ricardo |
| Pavel Chekov (Anton Yelchin). But the Enterprise's | | | | Montalban's iconic Khan. Nero's just a grumpy-looking |
| new communications officer, Uhura (Zoe Saldana), | | | | guy who wields menacing objects and makes nasty |
| offers evidence that they're heading straight into a | | | | threats as he sulks around his giant, flying "Bloomin' |
| trap. | | | | Onion." Thankfully, he doesn't take himself too seriously. |
| Outgunned and outmatched by Nero and his "Bloomin' | | | | Although all the characters are given pivotal roles, |
| Onion," the Romulan presence turns out to be more | | | | Uhura, Chekov, and Sulu are a little underused. |
| than just a hostile action. Somehow, the space/time | | | | Furthermore, the chemistry and camaraderie among |
| continuum has been disrupted! | | | | the crew doesn't gel as nicely as it did during the '60s. |
| Emotions flare as Kirk and Spock find themselves at | | | | And finally, the starship Enterprise is a little problematic. |
| serious odds on how to resolve the situation. Will the | | | | No, I'm not going to complain about how it looks (at |
| Vulcan science officer's coldly logical approach guide | | | | least they didn't paint flames on it). Rather, in the TV |
| them through the crisis, or will James T. Kirk's irrational, | | | | show and previous films, the Enterprise itself was |
| unorthodox methods save the day? | | | | practically a character. Not only did the crew bond with |
| As Earth itself becomes a target, Kirk is further helped | | | | each other, they also bonded with the ship. But here, |
| by Montgomery Scott (Simon Pegg) an underrated | | | | it's sort of just there and not much more than a prop in |
| engineer, and another unexpected ally who claims to | | | | the background. |
| have traveled back over a hundred and twenty years | | | | Who would like this movie: Fans of the original Star |
| from the future... | | | | Trek series, of course, are most likely to enjoy this film |
| The Good: This re-imagining of the original Star Trek | | | | and get the most out of it. |
| series is an adrenaline-fueled, action-packed adventure. | | | | I expect that the religiously obsessed sci-fi geeks will |
| It's a much-needed, warp-powered kick in the pants | | | | nitpick the questionable science, the time-travel |
| that the franchise has been waiting for, and is the very | | | | element, the absence of anyone using the Jeffries |
| opposite of the slug-paced Star Trek: The Motion | | | | Tube, and the fact that young Kirk listens to the |
| Picture (which made the Latin translation of the Book | | | | Beastie Boys at one point. |
| of Leviticus seem exciting by comparison). | | | | But on the whole, the goal of the movie isn't meant to |
| Chris Pine does an excellent job as Captain Kirk, and | | | | see how well JJ Abrams can satisfy a couple of |
| brings all the familiar cockiness and charisma to the | | | | nerds sitting in the front row of the theater. It's |
| character. He manages to play Captain Kirk, not | | | | supposed to be fun, and (gasp!) accessible to a wider |
| William Shatner. Zachary Quinto is a dead ringer for a | | | | audience. As pure entertainment, Star Trek succeeds. |
| young Spock, and although his voice isn't as deep as | | | | |
