The New Final Frontier

Rating: 9/10 (11 May 2009)

As a moderate Star Trek fan, I came into the film with an open mind, hyped by the extravagant trailers and ad campaigns Paramount ran pre-release. I enjoy the Star Trek franchise because of its premise: the adventures of members of a quasi-military peacekeeping "armada", as Christopher Pike puts it, fending off formidable foes both human and alien. The idea of yet another franchise reboot turned me off at first, but after considering Batman Begins and The Dark Knight as well as James Bond and other sagas, I knew this one would be worth it. J.J. Abrams has done it again, as well as Roberto Orci, and Alex Kurtzman, who I personally think are two of the greatest screenwriters of our time. Once again they have created a plot so complex yet so understandable that it is beyond worthy of being used in a Star Trek project. And for once, it ain't the Klingons that are the prime opponents. We barely see them this time around. Instead it's those ruthless Romulans (who were more pawns in the last Trek films than the main foes).
Now for a history lesson.
Enter 2387: A star/sun in the dominion of the Romulan Star Empire (which we learn in the comic prequels is called Hobus) is on the verge of supernova, threatening the capital planet Romulus as well. Ambassador Spock, still working with the Romulans at least since the Vulcan-Romulan reunification movement 20 years prior, volunteers to solve the problem with the help of the Vulcan Science Academy by trying to use "red matter" to compress the star into a black hole via an experimental ship. Before he can do so, Romulus is destroyed and Spock and the Romulan mining ship Narada are sucked into opposite ends of the black hole.
2233: The Narada, commanded by the vengeful Captain Nero, comes upon the Federation starship Kelvin, overpowering it with its advanced weaponry and forcing its Captain Robau to come aboard to discuss terms, killing him when they figure out they're too far in the past to kill Spock for his failure. Meanwhile, first-officer George S. Kirk takes control of the Kelvin, evacuates all crew and passengers (including is wife, in labor with his newborn son), and sets a collision course for the Narada when autopilot fails. Before dying in the collision, he names his son James Tiberius and says goodbye to his wife. The shuttles make it to the safety with an important passenger onboard with his mother.
2240s: Kirk and Spock are briefly shown with their own conflicts as they grow up.
2255: Spock rejects the Vulcan Science Academy and the emotion-shedding Way of Kolinahr, deciding in stead to become an officer and instructor at Starfleet. Kirk gets into a scuffle over Nyota Uhura in Iowa, after which he meets Christopher Pike, who persuades him to enlist in Starfleet and Dr. Leonard McCoy, who becomes his fast friend.
2258: Spock Prime exits the black hole seconds after entering it 129 years in the future, and is captured by Nero, who strands him on the near-Vulcan wasteland of Delta Vega while the fanatic prepares to destroy Vulcan as payback. Meanwhile, Kirk cheats his third try at the Kobayashi Maru, earning the ire of its designer: Commander Spock. During court martial, while Kirk argues with Spock, a distress signal is sent from pacifist Vulcan that has command send all of Starfleet, cadets included, to help. Kirk, on academic suspension, is grounded from the relief mission until McCoy gives him hilarious illnesses to get him onboard with him to the new Starfleet flagship Enterprise while Uhura uses Spock's "favoritism" to get her on NCC-1701 as well. Captain Pike and crew, including Sulu and Chekov, make way for Vulcan after Sulu turns off the external inertial dampeners. The journey begins.
Will they reach Vulcan in time? Will they save Nero's next inevitable target: Earth? Will we see Ambassador Spock Prime? Where the bloody hell is Montgomery Scott?! See the movie and find out.
The plot easily and fluidly transitions in a pleasant way that keeps you enthralled but not overwhelmed. And Orci and Kurtzman, genius that they are, use the Narada and Spock Prime's time travel to create an alternate reality (surpassing predestination paradox) where anything can happen rather than the Trek history we know. Basically, it's a clean slate. And Michael Giacchino's soundtrack is unique yet eerily similar to Jerry Goldsmith and James Horner yet not. It's indescribable. His music sells the film, with its Goldenthal Batman flare, Chinese-like Spock theme, and comedic tones. The recurring theme that comes up almost as often Morricone's Gabriel's Oboe in The Mission is a masterpiece that some may say is overused but I say keeps continuity.
The quality of picture and cinematography in this film is breathtaking. I plan to see it in its limited IMAX format, which to me is the only way to see movies with the current HD formats of films. And with the realistic and epic scale Abrams has used in this project, you are guaranteed to be blown away, regular theater and/or IMAX. If you are looking for a good time, and enjoy the Star Trek pantheon, I recommend this film. Even if you're not into sci-fi, I've been telling everyone since before I saw this flick, its just as much action now as it is science, which keeps fans like myself and fundamentalist Trekkies reeled in. You will leave the theater motivated to join Starfleet and fight the enemies of the Federation, Klingons, Romulans, the Borg, Cardassians, etc. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.
In the words of Spock, "Live long and prosper."