The science fiction genre hasn't seen a real landmark hit in quite a long time. It seems like people have been waiting for a movie to invigorate the genre again, bringing back the feelings of the glory days of the 1980's, when Star Trek, Star Wars, and other science fiction landmarks like Blade Runner reigned supreme. Well, the new 2009 version of 'Star Trek' appears to be the film to take up the mantle this time around, mixing together a blend of science fiction and action, sprinkled with a bit of comedy, and topped with a dose of humanity.
Before we get into this, I'd like you to know that I've never seen an episode of Star Trek, and I've only seen one other movie (The Wrath of Khan). However, this didn't affect my viewing experience for the worse, in fact, it made it even better, as I was introduced to a glorious, grand, and epic world by the action visionary J.J. Abrams. I call him visionary because his story in this film not only serves as a prequel to the longstanding series, but through his story, Abrams reinvents the story of the series without ignoring the previous landmark achievements. It's a bold, respectful, and tasteful move on his part, one Trekkies everywhere should appreciate. Through his storytelling actions in the film (and those of the writers Orci and Kurtzman), a new beginning is created for the series, one that should be cherished and embraced by fans and non-fans alike. It's a clever metaphor that you won't notice at first, but once you notice that a certain plot device is Abrams way of changing everything, it's a peaceful transition.
Now...the film itself. I don't think I can start anywhere other than the technical marvel of the film. It features visual effects that are flash, explosive, epic, and even some that are simple subtle changes. It boasts marvelous set decoration (Oscar worthy in fact), as each set contributes to this new, yet familiar world Abrams is creating. The design of everything is so intricate and meticulous, while it is flawlessly edited together with seamless (and sometimes flashy) transitions, backed by an Oscar worthy sound mix and escapist film score. 'Star Trek' is the most technically perfect film of 2009, and is the 2009 equivalent of 'The Dark Knight' in this regard.
As if it wasn't perfect enough, the cast of the movie is marketed as an ensemble (despite holding numerous high profile names and faces), and performs as such. Each character plays off the other so well, you'd think these people worked together for 10 years (and if any sequel is half as good as this is, they'll be working together a lot longer than that). Zachary Quinto is probably the best cast member of the movie, as his portrayal of Spock is exactly what the character calls for...a brilliant being that seems emotionless, but packs a world of anger, love, cunning, and wit under his motionless scowl. His counterpart Chris Pine as the legendary James Kirk is no less satisfying, as he brings the charisma, charm, and leadership presence to the character as required. Eric Bana disappears into his role as the villainous Nero, a villain who is much more than he seems. I really appreciated that he was not just a man bent on universal domination. The rest of the supporters, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Karl Urban...all fantastic.
'Star Trek' is a thrilling ride that will appease pretty much any kind of viewer. Despite the extreme roots in science fiction and fantasy, this is a film with even deeper roots in a more common theme - humanity. It's a movie full of raw emotion stemming from problems and conflicts we all see and maybe even deal with ourselves every day...such as the loss of a loved one, or sacrificing oneself for a greater good and cause. It's a heroic movie, a landmark in the genre that should go down as one of the best of its kind. Whether it be for the technical perfection of the film, or the enjoyable story, or for the nostalgic Trekkie to get their fix, 'Star Trek' is unmissable.
Though the film clocks in just over two hours, I felt like it lasted both for a lifetime, and as if that life wasn't enough. It's a movie that will leave you feeling satisfied with the story, but insatiable in that you'll hunger for more the second Abrams' name pops up on the screen. It's an adventure that will undoubtedly end up both as a classic and as a prime fixture in my DVD collection. Basically, to sum it up, 'Star Trek' is so good that it became the only movie I've ever watched twice...in one day.
Before we get into this, I'd like you to know that I've never seen an episode of Star Trek, and I've only seen one other movie (The Wrath of Khan). However, this didn't affect my viewing experience for the worse, in fact, it made it even better, as I was introduced to a glorious, grand, and epic world by the action visionary J.J. Abrams. I call him visionary because his story in this film not only serves as a prequel to the longstanding series, but through his story, Abrams reinvents the story of the series without ignoring the previous landmark achievements. It's a bold, respectful, and tasteful move on his part, one Trekkies everywhere should appreciate. Through his storytelling actions in the film (and those of the writers Orci and Kurtzman), a new beginning is created for the series, one that should be cherished and embraced by fans and non-fans alike. It's a clever metaphor that you won't notice at first, but once you notice that a certain plot device is Abrams way of changing everything, it's a peaceful transition.
Now...the film itself. I don't think I can start anywhere other than the technical marvel of the film. It features visual effects that are flash, explosive, epic, and even some that are simple subtle changes. It boasts marvelous set decoration (Oscar worthy in fact), as each set contributes to this new, yet familiar world Abrams is creating. The design of everything is so intricate and meticulous, while it is flawlessly edited together with seamless (and sometimes flashy) transitions, backed by an Oscar worthy sound mix and escapist film score. 'Star Trek' is the most technically perfect film of 2009, and is the 2009 equivalent of 'The Dark Knight' in this regard.
As if it wasn't perfect enough, the cast of the movie is marketed as an ensemble (despite holding numerous high profile names and faces), and performs as such. Each character plays off the other so well, you'd think these people worked together for 10 years (and if any sequel is half as good as this is, they'll be working together a lot longer than that). Zachary Quinto is probably the best cast member of the movie, as his portrayal of Spock is exactly what the character calls for...a brilliant being that seems emotionless, but packs a world of anger, love, cunning, and wit under his motionless scowl. His counterpart Chris Pine as the legendary James Kirk is no less satisfying, as he brings the charisma, charm, and leadership presence to the character as required. Eric Bana disappears into his role as the villainous Nero, a villain who is much more than he seems. I really appreciated that he was not just a man bent on universal domination. The rest of the supporters, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Karl Urban...all fantastic.
'Star Trek' is a thrilling ride that will appease pretty much any kind of viewer. Despite the extreme roots in science fiction and fantasy, this is a film with even deeper roots in a more common theme - humanity. It's a movie full of raw emotion stemming from problems and conflicts we all see and maybe even deal with ourselves every day...such as the loss of a loved one, or sacrificing oneself for a greater good and cause. It's a heroic movie, a landmark in the genre that should go down as one of the best of its kind. Whether it be for the technical perfection of the film, or the enjoyable story, or for the nostalgic Trekkie to get their fix, 'Star Trek' is unmissable.
Though the film clocks in just over two hours, I felt like it lasted both for a lifetime, and as if that life wasn't enough. It's a movie that will leave you feeling satisfied with the story, but insatiable in that you'll hunger for more the second Abrams' name pops up on the screen. It's an adventure that will undoubtedly end up both as a classic and as a prime fixture in my DVD collection. Basically, to sum it up, 'Star Trek' is so good that it became the only movie I've ever watched twice...in one day.