A Brilliant Revamp Of A Classic Series

Rating: 10/10 (4 May 2013)

I'm a huge fan of Star Wars, that is no doubt, but I was always a fan of Star Trek: The Next Generation which often aired on Spike TV or the CW during my schooldays. I was never really into the original Star Trek and never understand it as much as The Next Generation, but all of that would change once J.J. Abrams' reboot graced the screens. 2009's Star Trek is not only my favorite Star Trek film (that might change when Into Darkness comes out), but one of my favorite sci-fi films in general and it really delivers in so many areas which I'll cover as the review materializes. It is a fact that Abrams didn't create Star Trek, but the way he revisions it is really something breathtaking. He reimagines the worlds that Roddenberry incepted in a more modernized and stylized fashion and it fits for today's movie going and sci-fi loving audience. Hopefully, this is something that carries on when Abrams helms Star Wars: Episode 7 and let's hope that if Abrams includes lens flares in that film, he makes them work in their own right and doesn't make them distracting from the rest of the picture.
Getting back to Star Trek, Abrams shows his talent for storytelling as well as his understanding of the Star Trek lore and mythos. Even though this is an entirely new Trek based on an old Trek, it still has that outgoing, adventurous Star Trek feeling that really makes it stand out from all the other films in the 11 (soon to be 12) film series. Simple put, this is a film Gene Roddenberry would be most proud of, for it showcases his brainchild in a new shell and in a new light. All our favorite Star Trek characters have their place with James Tiberius Kirk and Spock leading the pack. Of course, Kirk is more troublesome and slick in this version, but he still retains the leadership and benevolence of Shatner's Kirk and the ability to take on the command chair. Spock is also much more emotional and aggressive this time around, but still retains what made the character stand out to begin with and he even gets a few pointers from the old Spock, played brilliantly by the legendary Leonard Nimoy.
All the other characters are spot on as well. Uhura is the sassy chick with a skill for communications, Bones is the ill tempered medical expert, Sulu is the high flying swordsman, Chekov is the mathematical wiz, and Scotty is the rambunctious engineer who loves to shout and run around like a loon. The main villain of the film, Nero, played by Eric Bana is also a highlight, delivering that perfect balance of tyranny and determination to take out the good guys. He's one dude you don't want to pee off and when you do, he'll impale you with his sharp staff of terror. As I said before, the great Nimoy is in this picture and he portrays the prime Spock in a dignified, wise manner. He tells his younger self to put aside logic and do what he feels is right and persuades him to stay in Starfleet, saying that he can't deprive him of his inevitable friendship with Kirk.
The special effects and sound effects are also something to write home about. The man behind Star Wars' sound effects, Ben Burtt did the sound effects for this film and they are very Star Trek like and fitting for each scene they are in. The space battles sound like Star Trek space battles and when characters are beamed off the Enterprise, it's the classic transporter sound from the 60s TV show. I also like the Phaser sound effect, not exactly like the classic sound from the show, but really intriguing and sci-fi like. Instead of the fizzing sound from the original, this phaser sound effect is more of a solid clink or clank. I also admire the new design of the Enterprise, which is obviously much bigger and more advanced than the one in the original show. The bridge also doesn't have all those massive buttons and levers, it looks much more advanced and technological.
Although this film is well loved, many Trekkies were offended by this flick, feeling that it was less of Star Trek and more of a mindless action flick. Abrams did however reboot the franchise in a way that it doesn't ignore the other Star Trek series, but you'll have to see the movie yourself to understand what I'm talking about. It really is an excellent movie and it doesn't require you to know about Star Trek to get into it. Hopefully, Abrams can carry on the same magic in the upcoming sequel, and fingers crossed that he will reboot The Next Generation. James Franco as Riker, anyone? Just kidding.