A Brilliant Re-Invention of a Long-Loved Franchise

Rating: 9/10 (24 November 2009)

It has been a long time since I've been so blown away by the Star Trek franchise, with most of it's films in the past 20 years being underwhelming (with the exception of FIRST CONTACT). I was a fan when I was a kid but the later series and films caused my interest to wane of the years. So, when news was released the there was not just another movie in the works, but a reboot, I wasn't entirely thrilled. The inclusion of J.J. Abrams as director grabbed my attention but I was waiting to reserve judgment until it was released. For a STAR TREK reboot movie to truly succeed, the casting would have to be spot-on and it would need to excel where the recent films had failed: plot. After having seen the film in theaters (and multiple times since on DVD), I was blown away at how epic the final product was. STAR TREK was back, and thanks to Abrams, it was better than ever.
The plot is probably the weakest element of the film but it was still done well enough that any minor plot grievances on my part were instantly forgiven. The film brings us back to the very beginning, as the familiar crew of the USS Enterprise are completing their run in Starfleet Academy and are first assigned aboard the ship under the command of Captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood). On it's initial mission, the Enterprise crew encounter a disgruntled Romulan from the future intent on destroying the Federation, one planet at a time, in an attempt to avenge the death of his family and the destruction of his homeworld. In general, it's no so bad but the inclusion of the mysterious, unexplained "red matter" and use of black holes for time travel felt cliché and didn't fit into the established epic scope of the film.
The special effects in the film were amazing! I loved the sleeker, more graceful redesign of the Enterprise and all of the space battle sequences were some of the best since the original STAR WARS trilogy. Granted, Abrams use of lens flares may detract from the style of the movie but the production design was easily one of the most impressive aspects of the film. Everything...the bridge of the Enterprise, the planet Vulcan, everything down to the smallest shuttlecraft...was beautiful.
Finally, the most important question in my mind prior to watching the movie: how were the performances of those brought in to replace the original actors for these legendary characters? I was worried the younger cast was going to give the film a WB melodrama vibe but it couldn't be farther from the truth. Each of the cast seemed to embrace the spirit of those who came before them. Chris Pine as James Kirk came off as a bit too abrasive at first, but there were moments where you could see some inspired Shatner in his performance (particularly the Kobyashi Maru simulation scene). One performance I loved that I wish had been given more screen time was that of Simon Pegg as Scotty, who unfortunately doesn't make an appearance until the second hour of the film. The biggest surprise in the film (as I never saw it coming) was Karl Urban's portrayal of Dr. Leonard McCoy. Seriously, Urban captured every mannerism and speech inflection of DeForest Kelley and did his great justice in his performance.
Going in with low expectations to this film, I was happy to find it actually ranks as one of my favorite movies in 2009. Abrams has reinvented STAR TREK and made it cool; of all the films in the franchise, this film is the most accessible to non-fans of the series and it can be enjoyed by just about anyone. It's a blast to watch and it's reinvigorated my interest in the franchise after years of disinterest. Enjoy...