For better or worse: A re-imagined Star Trek

Rating: 7/10 (17 May 2009)

I can understand why hard core fans hated this film. And, I can understand why those unfamiliar with Canon loved it. I'm one of those fans that falls somewhere in between and can be slightly more objective. I admit I don't study the Star Trek Canon and I've never been to a convention. But still there are a few things that bother me, even if I'm supposed to believe this is an alternate reality.
Lets start with the core character, the hero of the movie, Kirk. Kirk was a reckless, womanizing maverick in the original trek. Yet, tactically, he was as clever as a fox. He knew how to boldly save lives, and that made him indispensable as a Captain. The producers captured this core essence of Kirk, and offered a more animated version of it. He seemed destined for star fleet but was an undisciplined train wreck at the same time. I think the change in his history and the loss of a father figure in his life had something to do with this. Was he promoted to first officer? Yes, but Pike saw something in Kirk that the rest of didn't see in this edited 2-hour fast paced movie, I suppose Pike was something of a cowboy himself, and these were desperate times. Afterall, Vulcan was under attack. Even with all this, I do agree it was a reach for his to be promoted so suddenly.
Spock. The young Spock (or even Nimoy himself) wasn't Vulcan enough for my taste. They both seemed a little bit too much in touch with their human side. Could this be explained by being emotionally conflicted due to the destruction of Vulcan: perhaps.
The destruction of Vulcan bothers me. Yes, I understand, this is a different reality, so the producers feel they could take liberties. But the Vulcan home world means something tremendously to the Star Trek Universe. A good analogy would be: destroying Vulcan to Trekkie's is a bit like burning the American flag to veterans and patriots.
Star Trek does mean something else to Trekkie's that was not captured in this newest film, and I believe the hard core fans do deserve more. Now, for the younger audience, who know little about Star Trek, I'm not one of them, so I really don't know. But I would have to imagine they thought this movie was breath-taking.
Here's the rub. The Star Trek franchise has not been doing so well. The previous two movies were box office flops. I guess the producers felt making a Star Trek film that was true to Canon and 100% accurate with characters who were created in the 60's wouldn't make much money. You know what? It's hard to hear, but they were probably right.
I think the producers were hoping bringing a villain in from the future would give them liberties to change the time line and they hoped this would satisfy those who follow Canon. And, it would provide them with a great story for the younger crowd at the same time. They were half right. Hard Core Trekkie's would still find holes, and they did. And, some of those unfamiliar with Canon might find this movie to be just remotely cooler than transformers.
Having said all this, I liked the movie. It was a bit of a guilty pleasure. I think it started out fast and furious, the characters weren't as developed as in a true trek film, the story was predictable, implausible and not in keeping with star fleet's code of conduct. But I enjoyed Seeing Leonard Nimoy reprise his role as Ambassador Spock. I was not completely offended enough to enjoy seeing fresh faces take on the roles introduced so long ago. Star Trek does mean something to hard core Trekkie's. But it means more to the history of film. If making a 100% canon film meant the further deterioration of a franchise that I feared faced extinction, then bring on the re-imagined movie! Despite its flaws, it also breathed new life and rejuvenated the franchise and, in the process, it quite possibly made some new fans. Yes, the Trekkies deserve more, and I hope they get more in the films to follow. But this movie does not deserve a rating of 1, 2 or anything below a 5. It was a good movie. I didn't feel like I was watching Star Wars, or Transformers, or even Superman Returns. I felt like I was watching something much, much smarter. On its own merits, it was wildly entertaining, a great thrill ride, the writing was smart (for the most part), the story was solidly told (again, for the most part), it was brilliantly directed, and the acting was exceptional.
Bottom line: If you don't have a Star Trek reference book of any kind on your book shelf, or Vulcan ears in your closet, then see this movie on the big screen and enjoy. Then go home, scratch your head and hope for something a little better next time.