Movie Review Rewind: Star Trek (2009)

Brandon Vick flips the calendar back to 2009 for a look at Chris Pine in Star Trek on this edition of Movie Review Rewind.

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I have never seen a Star Trek series on TV or a Star Trek movie in theatres. And when I saw the teaser for this Star Trek, when it was scheduled to be released on Christmas of last year, I didn’t think much about it. But I must say I was impressed with this one. It has that feeling of a summer blockbuster. Star Trek takes us back to the beginning, when Spock and James Kirk first met, how they got to the U.S.S. Enterprise, and how Kirk became Captain. Things get personal as the crew faces Captain Nero, who has traveled in time to destroy Vulcan (Spock’s planet) and who was responsible for the death of Kirk’s father.

Chris Pine plays James Kirk so well. This is a tough role to play because we only see one face that goes with that name and that’s William Shatner. But, for younger and newer audiences, that will change. The character is arrogant and a show-off, but Pine mixes that with courage and intelligence. Spock is played by Zachary Quinto from Heroes. He adds a freshness to a man who is the most knowledgeable and by-the-book character. Spock is also supposed to be emotionless, but that is not the case, especially when it involves his home planet and his own family. However, for the fans who have been there from the beginning, Leonard Nimoy (Original Spock) makes an appearance that is an important role for the story.

Eric Bana plays Captain Nero and you cannot even recognize him. Bana has played struggling characters, but there are good qualities found inside of them (Lucky You, Munich) or simply the hero (Troy, Hulk). But you won’t find any of that in this character. He’s out for revenge and wants everyone to pay. He starts with Vulcan and Earth is next on his list. Then, there is a great supporting cast that includes Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Karl Urban, and Bruce Greenwood. They all make up the crew and give a lot to the story and the movie. Pine and Quinto have the biggest shoes to fill and they do it quite well.

J.J. Abrams produced and directed this movie. He is known from TV with hits like Alias, Fringe, and Lost. He made an impact by producing Cloverfield, which was a big hit in early 2008. But, he has only directed one movie before this: Mission Impossible 3. So, this marks his second movie that he has directed and it’s his best for now. He makes Star Trek feel fresh and gives it an updated look. There are awesome FX in this movie, but they do not overshadow the story. Abrams provides time to construct a story and gives the characters time to develop. Time is a big factor for a movie like this, especially when you are trying to start from the beginning.

Star Trek has a great cast and a director that could put this on the big screen and make it to where the fans will enjoy it, but the general audience can appreciate it as well. Being able to serve both sides is a nice achievement. This movie will definitely be a big movie this summer, and it deserves to be. It delivers on sci fi action and entertainment, but doesn’t forget about its characters. It can be a little confusing at times because of the time traveling, but don’t let it bother you. It’s a fun movie – once it starts, it doesn’t stop.

Brandon Vick is a member of The Music City Film Critics’ Association and the Southeastern Film Critics Association, the resident film critic of the SoBros Network, and the star of The Vick’s Flicks Podcast. Follow him on Twitter @SirBrandonV and be sure to search #VicksFlicks for all of his latest movie reviews.

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