Movie Review: Star Trek

中文版
Rating: Worth breaking out the Tarvorkian Powder Cake for
One line Synopsis: How it all came together

Making a movie with as much history and undyingly loyal fans to consider as Star Trek must not be an easy thing. Fortunately, the writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman make the forty plus years of baggage seem light in presenting us an ingenious piece that blends the new story line with the spirit and letter of the old.

In Star Trek, the tale follows the birth of James T. Kirk to his ascension to Captain of the Enterprise. Less a coming of age story than a tale of the formation of the original Star Trek Crew, the movie shows the series of happenings and serendipity of how the beloved crew came to be. Loyal fans will appreciate new revelations and the brash youthful versions of characters they know. New comers will enjoy the Gatlin gun pacing and riveting tale of how an imminent threat to the Federation is thwarted by this unlikely crew.

Kirk, played by newcomer Chris Pine, is presented as the quintessential American hero, naturally gifted, an outsider with the legacy of his father on his shoulders. He joins Star Fleet on a whim and bests the many cadets around him, finally convincing the brass and doubters like the already highly regarded Spock that he is worthy of being the captain. Here, the character development seems a bit weak, as his maturation is skipped over. There is no moment of truth, no overcoming of his own weaknesses (like Skywalker does when his is with Yoda) and no noticeable change in his character. In other words, he was always good, a smart aleck whom others just needed to learn to respect.

*Spoilers Following*
Spock on the other hand, unlike the wise Vulcan we know on the original series, is extremely smart, but has yet to overcome the conflicts of his identity owing to a Vulcan father and Human mother. He denies his feelings when he sees his mother die and allows the calm of logic belie the seriousness of the Romulan threat. Played by the talented Zach Quintos, Spock steals every scene with his at once calm and tortured energy

Winona Ryder, Eric Bana, John Cho and Karl Urban round out the cast nicely by all playing against type in interesting ways. Uhura, played by Zoe Saldna, is also a notable character, a smart and tough woman of the twenty-third century. Though in someways nothing change as she plays a minuscule role in overcoming the Romulans or the development of the plot. Her character, sadly, is alternately eye-candy and moral support for the male characters.

Nonetheless, there is a beautiful symmetry in the story itself. A technologically advanced phantom ship, the death of Kirk's father twenty five years ago, and the search for Spock (no, not the 1984 movie) all play a part in the central mystery of the movie. That it runs in parallel with the formation of this young Enterprise crew is no coincidence and doubly strengthens the idea that the Enterprise is the true destiny of the crew and its legacy is our fate.

Despite its flaws, most of which lie with the characters, the movie itself is wonderful. We all enjoy seeing the moment greatness is made. And with this story, we see the assembly of the dream team in all it's glory. It also achieves what another sci-fi blockbuster franchise could not: The excuses of too much history and too much hype seemed reasonable when Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace was brought to the screen. Star Trek side steps those questions and gives us a solid good movie, regardless.