I've been thinking about this review since I saw the movie last weekend, and quite frankly, I still don't REALLY know what to say. Simply put there is absolutely NO excuse for not seeing this film. Even if you have to wait to see it at a second-run theater for two dollars it must be seen with a big screen and big sound. I mean, it's space opera, multiple speakers are necessary.Now, last year we had releases such as Iron Man and The Dark Knight. There's no way in hell that I'm going to say that Star Trek was as good as Dark Knight, because it wasn't. To be honest I still think that Dark Knight is the best movie I have ever seen. I saw it three times in theaters and I don't think I took it all in even then. Some may scoff at my statement, as I've seen a lot of movies in my day, but I mean it honestly; if the only thing someone can complain about is a too raspy Batman voice in a film like that, then there is virtually nothing wrong with it. I think I would plop Trek right in between Bruce and Tony. There's a vast distance between first and second of course, but still.
Let's get the easy crap out of the way. Yes, this is just another studio trying to jump start an epic franchise -- see Casino Royale (and it's vastly impotent by comparison sophomore outing, Quantum of Solace) or Batman Begins -- and, yes, Trek uses what some may see as the oldest and dumbest trick in the book, time travel, in order to bring us the infancy of characters we love, while also opening up a wholly alternative group of potential story lines. So what? Are we seriously going to bicker about Hollywood redoing shit that's already been done? It happens every year. Plus, if any franchise is capable of supporting time travel, Trek would easily fit the profile. Come on! They can teleport from far off planets onto ships flying faster than the speed of light. I think they can handle a little black hole action.
That said, for me, the film's biggest problem was Nero. Amongst all these other great performances, poor Eric Bana is completely left in the lurch. He got one good scene in before they tamed him out completely, and that was the first time we see him on screen. His anger, vengeance and frustration in that scene were what I expected the whole time from him, but instead they gave him empty lines and a crappy crew. Yes, his ship was wicked cool, but it's not enough. Part of this franchise's legacy is layered villains. People who you live to root against. But here I actually felt bad for him and his history, while misguided I understood him and I wanted him to have a slightly more important role. I know he was just a plot device, but still, they could have tried a bit harder.
Our heroes on the other hand, were nothing short of right on the money, and yes, I totally teared up when (a) different future Spock says to current outcast Kirk "I was and shall always be your friend." and (b) different future Spock told current Spock "Put aside logic, and do what feels right." In all truth I teared up here and there throughout the film. I think each actor was given just enough to remind us of our old friends, but not BE them completely.
Pine's Kirk was brash yet clever, hot-headed and somewhat uncouth, a trifle funnier than Shatner's version but just as sexy. Quinto's Spock is nothing short of remarkable, his flippant "Live long and prosper," at the Academy of Science almost completely sums up his conflict between logic and emotion, as does his expression just after his mother dies. He seems utterly confused by his reaction whether it be anger or grief or logic trying to block out the emotion. Yelchin is fabulous as young Chekov "I can do that, I can do that! Move, move move!" and Cho is great as newbie helmsman Sulu, plus his combat fencing is badass. Saldana got sold a bit short, but I imagine her role will be written up more in future installments and I liked that they gave her a witty confidence, rather than just putting her in as eye candy for the male audience. Bruce Greenwood totally classed up the place as kidnapped starship captain Pike, and I adore Simon Pegg and thought his Scotty was great, just enough funny to work the tension, and the classic line he got to shout just made me all tingly inside, "Cap'n I'm giving her all she's got!"
But, the icing on the cake for me was Karl Urban. He absolutely WAS Bones McCoy, the sarcasm, the disdain, the panic when Kirk gets puffy hands and numb tongue. His opening scene with Kirk when we learn why he's named Bones and why he hates space is golden, "Don't pander to me kid, one crack in the hull and our blood boils." And come on! He got to say "green blooded hobgoblin" and "Dammit man, I'm a doctor not a physicist!" How awesome was that?
Anyway, you've got great story-telling, great characterization, thrilling effects, and flat-out epic film-making. I may hate Lost, but I loved Alias and Cloverfield actually freaked me out. Abrams does a fantastic job with Trek, and I hope the success of this film just means we will get to see a lot more of our Enterprise pals in the future.
P.S. Leonard Nimoy was brilliant, but him saying the intro? Not cool. I know they passed on the Shat being in the movie, but come on, a few lines of voice-over couldn't have been out of the question, right?
