It took until near the end of its run in theaters, but I finally saw the new Star Trek movie today. I’ve never been quick to see films in theaters, and sadly I never get the chance to see many even when I want to since my schedule just doesn’t match up well to the schedules of those I would go with. My brother and I both had some free time today though, so we decided yesterday to meet at a theater halfway and go see it (he’d already seen it once though).
I went in to this movie really not sure what to expect from it. When I first heard about it, I was among those convinced that the idea was flat out foolish. I knew I didn’t want a franchise that was practically one of the staples of American cinema and television to die out, but I wasn’t feeling too good about this reboot idea with new actors playing the classic roles when I heard that it was how they were going to bring the franchise back to life. It was obvious that something needed to be done to bring Star Trek in to the 21st century, and to take it off life-support. The mess that was Nemesis did prove that trying to take what was already present and liven it up to a newer style just didn’t work. So, a reboot? It worked for Battlestar Galactica I guess, but BSG was much more out of date than Star Trek, since the films and new series had kept the franchise reasonably alive until a bit more recently. I knew something had to be done, but I just wasn’t sure this was it.
I’m happy enough that my concerns ended up being quite unfounded. The movie wasn’t completely flawless, but it was far from the disaster I feared it might and was, in the end, a very well done and enjoyable movie. The cast was my biggest concern when I first heard of it. I mean, why revive old characters with new actors when you could just get another ship, another crew, and bring the series back to life like that? Honestly, I still kind of wonder why they didn’t go that route. Was it because the currently existing Star Trek universe had just become too much of a mess after four long lasting series and ten major motion pictures, as well as how many books and comics? I guess I can see the appeal they may have seen in having a clean slate to work with.
Zachary Quinto was probably the best casting choice of the film in my opinion. I had come to roll my eyes everytime his character came on screen in Heroes, but there was no denying that Spock was a perfect role for him. I may have tired of Sylar, but Zachary is a talented actor, and one of the only reasons Sylar was still tolerable. There were some scenes where he really looked almost just like Spock, and he certainly had the traits of a vulcan down. I wasn’t so sure about Chris Pine as Kirk, as he was very different from Shatner in almost every way, but I guess I kind of liked the new take on the character. Kirk really seemed like a vital character of his own in this movie, instead of the ladies man who depended too heavily on his crew to do it all for him, which is the way he seemed to be in many of the prior films and the series (“Wrath of Khan” being a notable exception).
Zoe Saldana played a much sexier and fiestier Uhura, but she still adapted to the role quite well. Simon Pegg played a hilarious Scotty, adding a bit more humor to the character, but still showing the same quirkiness that his predecessor often showed, though a bit amplified (it was Pegg after all). John Cho was a perfect pick for Sulu, and probably the most natural choice of all the cast next to Zachary Quinto. Anton Yelchin certainly played Chekov with quite a bit more of his Russian heritage showing through, but he did a great job of it. He was maybe a bit more excitable and almost hyper than his predecessory was, like the portrayal of Scotty, but he pulled the character off quite effectively. Then there Eric Bana as Nero, a new character for this movie, and a portrayal I wasn’t concerned about in the least. Eric Bana is a great actor, and a natural for characters such as Nero, and he showed those acting skills here with the kind of authority you expect from Bana.
The oddest casting choice when I first saw the list was Karl Urbans as Dr. “Bones” McCoy. I mean, this is a guy who played Eomer in the Lord of the Rings movies, the nemesis of Riddick in Chronicles of Riddick, the assassin who chased Jason Bourne in The Bourne Supremacy, and also had roles of similar style in other films and shows like Xena and Hercules, Pathfinder, Commanche Moon and so on. He really seems to be an action actor, and does quite well at it, and here he was cast to play one of the more laid back, though mouthy, characters in Star Trek. He did it though, and was almost unrecognizable from the action actor in most scenes aside from his gruff appearance when we first meet him, when he still resembled his character from the Bourne Supremacy. I guess it just goes to show that just because an actor is typecast for his roles, doesn’t mean he’s incapable of going another direction.
The method that they then used to essentially reboot the Star Trek universe was a bit predictable, but at least a bit more well done than all the time travel scenarios we’ve seen before. This time it wasn’t a bunch of deliberate acts and intentional tinkering with time, but rather the result of a fairly unfortunate incident. Honestly, I still think they could have done what BSG did and just ignore the original and start over without any real explanation as to why it’s not the same. I think the audience is smart enough to determine it’s a reboot without a story element implemented to make an excuse for it. Still though, they did it well enough so that it at least didn’t feel out of place or too much of a stretch, and it gave them a chance to give Nimoy a cameo.
The storyline definitely did have a more modern feel to it though, as well as the sets themselves. Everything had a much more gritty and realistic look and feel to it, and the characters felt quite a bit more human as well, even Spock, heh. The whole relationship between Uhura and Spock seemed to come way out of left field and seemed a bit out of place, but otherwise they managed to portray a more modernized Star Trek that still retained the feel of Star Trek. I’m sure that, like BSG and Transformers, there will be those appalled by a modernized version of their beloved cheesefest, but then they still have reruns and DVD’s to live those days if they want to sit in the past. Honestly, this movie was what Star Trek needed, just as I still firmly believe that the Transformers movie is what that franchise needed. Yeah, it’s a bit more action and a bit more lively, and in some ways it might have tried a bit too hard, but overall it pulled it off I think.
I really honestly came out of that theater hoping we see another one, maybe even an updated take on the whole Khan scenario. Star Trek 6 may be my favorite of the previous line of movies, but there is no denying that Star Trek 2 presented one of the most interesting conflicts of the entire franchise. Honestly, I don’t know what to expect from the Star Trek franchise next, and I really hope this isn’t all we’re going to see of it now that the reboot is said and done with. They’d be foolish to disregard the franchise after the success of this film, but I guess you never know what actors might not want to return or what the studios will think about the next one. The franchise, heck, the entire genre, could really use the jump start this rebooted franchise could provide it. I still think Serenity is the better film, and one of the best true sci-fi to hit the screens in some time, but outside its loyal fanbase it just doesn’t have the notoriety to do much for the genre. Star Trek does, and this film showed audiences that sci-fi isn’t just space opera for nerds, and I’d love to see more from this franchise to elevate Star Trek and sci-fi again.
© 2009, Keonyn. All rights reserved.
Tags: Bad Robot, Paramount Pictures, Science-Fiction, Spyglass Entertainment, Star Trek
