By Malice Intended
One word comes to mind when describing Star Trek: dynamic. The film pulses with a giddy energy that is truly infectious. It flies past the viewer with the force and speed of a high caliber bullet. Blink and you might miss it.
Director J.J. Abrams and company have constructed a Star Trek movie that is very contemporary. It starts at warp speed and never looks back, pulling the audience along with it, providing both a great jumping on point for those who are not familiar with the series, as well as a great start for the summer blockbuster season.
The film is essentially an origin story that reveals how the crew of the Starship Enterprise came to be, and also takes us along on their first mission to the planet Vulcan to investigate a distress call. Upon arrival they are confronted by Romulan Captain Nero (Eric Bana), who plans to destroy Vulcan (among other planets) as part of an elaborate revenge plot.
Any good Star Trek story depends on characterizations and chemistry. Thankfully, Abrams has cast his story with actors who are up to the challenge. The actors who comprise the crew of the Enterprise find just the right balance by capturing the essence of those iconic characters without allowing their performances to become mere impersonations. Simon Pegg nearly steals the show in his manic turn as Montgomery Scott.
The FX work provides a good template for how visual FX for space operas should be done, and they exemplify J.J. Abrams’ approach to the material. Lean and mean. Nothing is overdone or hanging on for too long. The visuals are colorful and intricate but do not overblown. The landscapes and backgrounds are beautifully rendered but are never the main focus. They are simply a backdrop for the action to unfold, and that is how it should be. The characters and story are always the focus.
The action scenes follow the same principle. While there are perhaps too many close-ups and medium shots, efficient editing keeps things moving. JJ Abrams may not be adept at fight scenes and gun battles, but he knows how to keep things moving and maintain pace and energy.
If the film has a weak spot, it would be in the script department. As a villain, Nero is somewhat underdeveloped. The writers give him a solid motivation, but they don’t bother to flesh him out. For most of the film’s run time he exists in the periphery of the story, never really being part of the central focus. He’s mainly used as a target for the Enterprise crew; A plot device to keep things hurtling toward the final act. That’s a shame, because a truly classic villain could have put this movie into the stratosphere.
It is to J.J. Abrams’ credit that the film works wonderfully despite its few but noticeable flaws. Star Trek is one highly entertaining space opera. Like any good franchise opener it leaves you hungry for more. By the time the end credits roll you will be eagerly awaiting the next voyage of the U.S.S Enterprise. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters.
Out of 5
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