Star Trek has been around longer than I have been alive, so I grew up around it. I’ve seen all the movies and love all the characters. It was a bold move for anyone to make a new movie with new actors playing those beloved characters. How could they make an original show without trampling on what had been done? They make an alternate reality.
I have to admit to being a bit confused until future Spock does a mind meld with the young Kirk, so the audience finally finds out what happened. Future Spock, you ask? Well, yes, time travel through a black hole is how the alternate reality is formed. Old Spock, who is an ambassador, causes a chain reaction in time that permanently changes not only his future but Kirk’s as well. So now all our favorite characters will have new challenges to face as they tour the universe on the Enterprise.
The best part of the movie for me was the unexpectedly humorous role of “Bones” by Karl Urban. He must have watched every old episode with his character to get a feel for the doctor, and I enjoyed every scene with him. “Good God Man! I’m a Doctor, not a Physicist!” Sometimes it was easy to forget that it wasn’t just another space movie, but old and familiar lines like that made me laugh and reminded me what this story was supposed to be about.
The next surprise was thoroughly enjoying Zachary Quinto as Spock. When I first saw him on Heroes as Sylar, I wanted him killed off immediately. I despised his character and was irritated when I heard that he had been chosen as Spock. What had they seen that I didn’t? Well, now I know. He was Spock, even though a much different version than played by Leonard Nimoy.
Though I never got the impression that he and Uhura ever had any romantic entanglements, the two openly show their affection in the new movie, which I didn’t feel was appropriate for either character. Keep it private. Even Kirk looked on in surprise and discomfort. It was probably the most unreal moment for me during the entire movie.
What did I think of the new Kirk? I personally feel that anyone could have done just as well as Chris Pine. Since Kirk was the most affected by the alternate reality; however, any performance would have been believable. He wasn’t the same person, so it didn’t bother me that Chris didn’t even try to perform the role as William Shatner.
The chemistry between Chris and Karl was just as strong as the bond between William and DeForest. The funniest scene in the movie was when Bones made Kirk sick to get him on the Enterprise. I missed some of the dialogue from laughing so much. Kirk and Spock have their own humorous moments, mostly due to the animosity they have for each other. It was an interesting change from their close friendship, though it’s certain they will eventually regain that affinity.
There were a few puzzling moments. For instance the coincidence that Kirk is sent to the same planet where old Spock was banished, and stranger still where Scotty also makes his first appearance. Seemed a bit too convenient to me.
Overall, it was an enjoyable movie. It leaves us with endless possibilities for sequels. They truly are going “where no one has gone before,” and that is refreshing. I look forward to the next installment.
My Rating: 4 Stars
Runtime 127 minutes
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action and violence, and brief sexual content.
Paramount Pictures
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puXPozd-kuc
