Star Trek (2009)

Paramount

R4 DVD & Blu Ray

Star Trek was the longest running science fiction TV series (having started in 1966) and has spawned spin offs from cartoons to books and comics. The movies have all proved highly successful and ten have been made to date. It is hard to follow in the footsteps of such an established legacy, if you do not change, the sequel will be billed as “much the same” if you change too much, you will evoke the ire of the fans and the fans in this case are quite a devoted bunch.

The latest Star Trek film is a prequel and hence has been able to bring a totally new range of actors except for the appearance of the elderly Spock. This is an innovative choice as it means new life can be breathed into the characters and a younger and new audience can be attracted to the series. At the same time it does mean that you need to have characters which have “affinity” with the originals (Bones, Scotty, Spock, Kirk etc) and this has been remarkably well achieved. The way in which the new actors have been able to “walk into the shoes” of these well established characters is testament to their own skills and excellent plot writing. There is a sense of both nostalgia (especially for Trekkies) and innovation as these actors make these roles their own but still play homage to the heritage of the series and films.

The film opens with a battle between the U.S.S. Enterprise and an unknown vessel. Its commander, Nero, has demanded the captain come aboard and negotiate. Nero asks for the location of Ambassador Spock, but soon realizes that he is in the wrong time period and kills the Captain. As the crew is evacuated Kirk realizes that the auto pilot is damaged and stays on board to ram the ship into the attacking vessel. The crew are saved and James Kirk is born the same day but without a father.

Some twenty years later Kirk has scored well on all his exams but is a rowdy and drunken presence in his community. After a particularly messy brawl he is challenged by Captain Christopher Pike to follow in his father’s footsteps and join Starfleet. As soon as he does trouble follows not far behind, but before he knows it they are on their way to Vulcan to investigate what seems like a natural disaster. Kirk knows better and alerts them to a possible attack and the action begins never stopping to the very end of the film. With a new and brash crew showing much younger versions of those we have come to know and love from Bones to Sulu, Chekov to Uhura and of course Spock and Kirk this brings Star Trek into the 21st century!

Star Trek is action packed, filled to the brim with nostalgia and memories for lovers of Star Trek and has its foundation in a solid plot. The character development is excellent especially considering these are young actors walking into well established roles. Some Trekkies have criticised the film as being too “action packed” but to be honest I think the franchise really did need a reboot. It has been around 43 years and the last film Star Trek Nemesis was made in 2002 and so something very new had to be done to bring it to a new and younger (and perhaps more cinematically jaded audience). Everything down from the new James T Kirk, rebellious, sexy and brash to the marvellously evil Erica Bana as Nero works exceptionally well. Simon Pegg as Scotty is a real joy and the give and take between the old and new Spock is impressive.

Sure this is a film which emphasizes the whizz bang factor but what special effects they are, a beautiful looking film in which not one scene is out of place. A marvellous addition to the Star Trek series and must see science fiction.

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This review will appear in Volume 2 No.6 (2009) of the digital and print edition of Synergy Magazine.

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