Film Review

Rating: 7/10 (15 December 2013)

The film, Star Trek (2009), is a story following James Tiberius Kirk, a young man that lost his father in the line of duty on Starfleet, as he becomes the Captain of the Starship Enterprise, following in his father's footsteps. The plot plays out through Kirk's interactions with main characters such as Spock, Scotty, and Pike, as well as his fight against the angry Romulan, Captain Nero, who is set on destroying Starfleet, Earth, and the Vulcan home planet. James Tiberius Kirk is played by Chris Pine, Spock is played by Zachary Quinto, Captian Christopher Pike is played by Bruce Greenwood, and Captain Nero is played by Eric Bana. The film's theme is that of destiny and one's path to achieve that destiny. It's about Kirk's destiny to become Captain of the Enterprise. Spock Prime, played by Leonard Nemoy, points out destiny as he is helping Kirk return to the Enterprise to take over command and even helps him by showing him the way of winning command from the present day Spock. The film is also about Spock's destiny of being a support and confidant of Kirk, as it would be impossible for Kirk to remain Captain without him. This theme is strengthened in the film and made more complex by the presence of time travel, which, according to Spock Prime and later present day Spock, can alter destiny and "the flow of history." This later is strengthened by Kirk still becoming the Captain even though the flow of history has changed. This theme is complicated even more in the sequel to this film, Star Trek Into Darkness, where Kirk's command is taken from him because he was not intellectually ready to receive that destiny. The story uses the motif of emotion versus logic almost to the point of it being a theme. In The Art of Watching Film, Boggs and Petrie tell us that motifs "are variations or aspects of the major theme" (p.33). Emotion versus logic plays a large role in the forming of Kirk and Spock's destinies and intertwines the two characters together. This motif first shows itself when young Spock loses control and fights other Vulcans for calling his father a traitor. Kirk is then connected to this motif when Captain Pike suggests that Kirk is following impulse or emotion rather than trying to achieve his destiny of following in his father's footsteps and achieving greatness. A very interesting scene in which this motif and the overall theme are achieved is when Kirk finally succeeds in becoming the Captain of the Enterprise by getting Spock to show that he is emotionally compromised. What I noticed while watching this scene is the camera view. It uses the extreme close-up technique, which, as Boggs tells us in The Art of Watching Film, requires that we focus on Kirk and Spock arguing, with it being so close "that we cannot look elsewhere" (p. 136). I think this technique was used to create the illusion that we were there in the room, observing the interaction as if we were part of the crew. After making this observation, it appeared to me that much of Star Trek was filmed in this manner. This technique made me part of the film. I believe that the use of this technique allows us as the viewer to become immersed in the theme of the film as well as any motif that is used to support it.