SebastianPiccione
Sunday, May 10, 2009, 07:54 AM
Ok, so STAR TREK was always more my wife’s thing than mine. I’m more of a STAR WARS guy. But, the trailer for STAR TREK looked good, and Angie REALLY wanted to see it. So, we got her sister to watch our daughter, and off we went.
I am SO glad we did.
OK, if you haven’t seen it yet, go read something else. Check out The Proving Grounds, and see what anesthesia-less surgery Forby preformed on someone’s script THIS week, ‘cause there be spoiler ahead.
Ya hear that, I said SPOILERS.
Ok, you’ve been warned, so either you’ve seen it or you like to have things spoiled. It’s all on you.
So, this film is part prequel part, reimagining, part reboot; a pre-re-re. Not even John byrne ever attempted a retcon of this proportion. And it’s a good thing he didn’t, ‘cause he’d never have pulled it off even half so well.
In the future’s future (i.e. post Next Generation) Romulus is destroyed. Spock attempted to save it, but he arrived too late. He was able to save the rest of the galaxy, but not Romulus. Nero, captain of a Romulan Mining ship and his crew are the last Romulans. Sadly, this does not become the Romulan version of Red Dwarf. Instead, Nero blames Spock and tries to kill him. Spock’s ship and Nero’s plunge though an artificial black hole and end up in their past (our future) on the day of James T. Kirk’s birth. George Kirk is able to hold Nero off long enough for his crew (and wife as she gives birth) to escape. Hearing his son’s first cries and coming up with the now famous name of James Tiberius Kirk, George Kirk dies.
This attack by time-traveling Romulans alters the timeline we all know, some of us a little well…you know who you are….yes, Sykora, I’m lookin’ at you!
So, we now have a timeline with just-past-juvenile delinquent Kirk almost NOT joining Starfleet, and definitely not Captain.
Yeah, that’s enough of the premise, I don’t want to give it all away, just enough to let you know that this both IS and IS NOT your father’s STAR TREK.
What it is, is brilliant. It is faithfull enough to the original to make most die-hard trekkies…trekkers…geeks…really happy. My wife made noises I found frightening yet exciting, through the whole film. At the same time, it is decidedly fresh and makes it abundantly clear that just because you THINK you know how their future/history plays out, you don’t.
The casting is perfect, and their acting is superb.
Chris Pine delivers a convincing performance as Kirk. He has the stance, walk, and mannerisms down. And, while he doesn’t attempt the Shatner speech pattern, he manages to deliver several lines in a very Kirk fashion. And am I the only amused by watching Christopher PINE have lines with Christopher PIKE. The English teacher in may likes fun with words. How sad am I?
Zachary Quinto does an excellent Spock. This is even more impressive, considering he does this in the same film, and, ultimately, in the same scene, as Leonard Nimoy. Yes, this is a more emotional Spock than we’re used to but, considering the extenuating circumstances, the fact that this is now an ALTERNATE timeline, and realizing that as we say in SEARCH FOR SPOCK’s young Spock sequences (Pon Farr, anyone) that young Spock was not as “in control” of his half human heritage (that’s alliteration right there kids! His Half Human Heritage)Quinto, like Nimoy before him, does a great job of conveying so MUCH with just his eyes, while the rest of his face (and manner) portray nothing but stoic resolve.
Simon Pegg is a great Scotty. He just is. End of story.
John Cho, with one awkward moment and one kick ass katana scene, proves a worthy heir to the mantle of Sulu.
Zoe Saldana not only fits well into the role of Uhura, but she fits even into her little red skirted uniform. Yeah, that’s right, I’m hailing you on ALL frequencies, Zoe!
Anton Yelchin, while he may not sport the Beetle’s haircut of Walter Koenig’s Chekov, more than capture’s the character’s enthusiasm and benevolent nature.
But, one actor stands apart in all this. Karl Urban doesn’t just play Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, he lovingly and respectfully plays DeForest Kelly playing Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy. He nails it. He does the speech, the voice, the mannerisms, the look, the eyes, the bags under the eyes, the muttering, the bitterness, the loyalty, the everything. Karl Urban steals every scene he is in, and you can’t wait for him to be back on the screen during scenes that he isn't.
The visuals effects are gorgeous, everything is well edited, and well done.
So, all in all the movie that goes back to where no man (or no one, depending on your GENERATION) has gone before, leaves you wanting more, and has reset the timeline for infinite possibilities. Quite the ongoing mission, if you ask me.
I am SO glad we did.
OK, if you haven’t seen it yet, go read something else. Check out The Proving Grounds, and see what anesthesia-less surgery Forby preformed on someone’s script THIS week, ‘cause there be spoiler ahead.
Ya hear that, I said SPOILERS.
Ok, you’ve been warned, so either you’ve seen it or you like to have things spoiled. It’s all on you.
So, this film is part prequel part, reimagining, part reboot; a pre-re-re. Not even John byrne ever attempted a retcon of this proportion. And it’s a good thing he didn’t, ‘cause he’d never have pulled it off even half so well.
In the future’s future (i.e. post Next Generation) Romulus is destroyed. Spock attempted to save it, but he arrived too late. He was able to save the rest of the galaxy, but not Romulus. Nero, captain of a Romulan Mining ship and his crew are the last Romulans. Sadly, this does not become the Romulan version of Red Dwarf. Instead, Nero blames Spock and tries to kill him. Spock’s ship and Nero’s plunge though an artificial black hole and end up in their past (our future) on the day of James T. Kirk’s birth. George Kirk is able to hold Nero off long enough for his crew (and wife as she gives birth) to escape. Hearing his son’s first cries and coming up with the now famous name of James Tiberius Kirk, George Kirk dies.
This attack by time-traveling Romulans alters the timeline we all know, some of us a little well…you know who you are….yes, Sykora, I’m lookin’ at you!
So, we now have a timeline with just-past-juvenile delinquent Kirk almost NOT joining Starfleet, and definitely not Captain.
Yeah, that’s enough of the premise, I don’t want to give it all away, just enough to let you know that this both IS and IS NOT your father’s STAR TREK.
What it is, is brilliant. It is faithfull enough to the original to make most die-hard trekkies…trekkers…geeks…really happy. My wife made noises I found frightening yet exciting, through the whole film. At the same time, it is decidedly fresh and makes it abundantly clear that just because you THINK you know how their future/history plays out, you don’t.
The casting is perfect, and their acting is superb.
Chris Pine delivers a convincing performance as Kirk. He has the stance, walk, and mannerisms down. And, while he doesn’t attempt the Shatner speech pattern, he manages to deliver several lines in a very Kirk fashion. And am I the only amused by watching Christopher PINE have lines with Christopher PIKE. The English teacher in may likes fun with words. How sad am I?
Zachary Quinto does an excellent Spock. This is even more impressive, considering he does this in the same film, and, ultimately, in the same scene, as Leonard Nimoy. Yes, this is a more emotional Spock than we’re used to but, considering the extenuating circumstances, the fact that this is now an ALTERNATE timeline, and realizing that as we say in SEARCH FOR SPOCK’s young Spock sequences (Pon Farr, anyone) that young Spock was not as “in control” of his half human heritage (that’s alliteration right there kids! His Half Human Heritage)Quinto, like Nimoy before him, does a great job of conveying so MUCH with just his eyes, while the rest of his face (and manner) portray nothing but stoic resolve.
Simon Pegg is a great Scotty. He just is. End of story.
John Cho, with one awkward moment and one kick ass katana scene, proves a worthy heir to the mantle of Sulu.
Zoe Saldana not only fits well into the role of Uhura, but she fits even into her little red skirted uniform. Yeah, that’s right, I’m hailing you on ALL frequencies, Zoe!
Anton Yelchin, while he may not sport the Beetle’s haircut of Walter Koenig’s Chekov, more than capture’s the character’s enthusiasm and benevolent nature.
But, one actor stands apart in all this. Karl Urban doesn’t just play Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy, he lovingly and respectfully plays DeForest Kelly playing Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy. He nails it. He does the speech, the voice, the mannerisms, the look, the eyes, the bags under the eyes, the muttering, the bitterness, the loyalty, the everything. Karl Urban steals every scene he is in, and you can’t wait for him to be back on the screen during scenes that he isn't.
The visuals effects are gorgeous, everything is well edited, and well done.
So, all in all the movie that goes back to where no man (or no one, depending on your GENERATION) has gone before, leaves you wanting more, and has reset the timeline for infinite possibilities. Quite the ongoing mission, if you ask me.