Star Trek – 2009
Movies based upon material fuelled by a niche audience or cult following often faces hurdles right off the start. Aside from a loyal core audience, adaptations of television shows, comic books, certain books or even starring a certain actor need to up the ante for a big screen treatment. There are certainly times when a film is specifically intended to strike out only a small wedge of the public, but these are often low budget, spring releases baked later by DVD sales. For big budget, summer blockbusters on the other hand the studios chequebook is on the table along with the hearts of fans, and in the case of Star Trek they hit the jackpot.
As far as the Trek world is concerned I am the epitome of a novice. I have never seen a Star Trek movie, I have never watched any of the numerous and long-running television series and I constantly jest my friends who do. Drawn in by impressive trailers and a director who I more than respect, any doubt (or embarrassment) I had was whisked away faster then The Enterprise at warp speed. Funny, engrossing, from what I gather loyal buy wildly accessible and infinitely entertaining, director J.J. Abrams has infused a slowly withering slice of pop culture with pizzazz and heart. In the same vein that Iron Man last summer drew in non-fans with likeable actors, flawless production values and endless wit and charm, Trek neither panders to the fan boys nor ignores them and if this is to become a trend for blockbusters to come it would be most welcome.
Along with the budget and special effects, or to be more accurate, more importantly then the technical elements, Star Trek pulsates with life and the human element thanks to a superb ensemble cast. Before production began, all eyes were on the casting; chiefly that of James Kirk (famously played by William Shatner). Choosing a relative unknown, Chris Pine, for the infamous role could have sunk the film right off the dock yet his boyish charms, smooth line delivery and charismatic presence fills the role to the top. Equally if not more important is the role of Spock, played by Heroes star Zachary Quinto who nails it home with a nuanced but blistering performance. Not an actor does wrong in Trek, and the leads are bolstered further by the likes of Karl Urban as ‘Bones’ McCoy, the always hilarious Simon Pegg as Scotty, Zoë Zaldana as the silky Uhura, Harold and Kumar’s John Cho as Sulu and up and coming star Anton Yelchin as Chevok.
In this origin story we see the slow assembly as the classic crew beginning with James Kirk’s birth on the USS Kelvin in the heat of battle which results in the tragic death of his father. Years later, a misfit and self-proclaimed charmer he is sucked into Star Fleet by Commander Pike (Bruce Greenwood) who offers him, simply, more. Rising to the top of his class he soon finds himself and his future crew thrust into action at the whim of a Romulan madman known as Nero (An unrecognizable Eric Bana). As the stakes grow higher so do the tempers of the cocky Kirk and subdued Spock and it is this dynamic that makes the film truly great. The more detailed plot surrounding the story is complex but never confusing and I will leave it for you to experience.
When all is added up in the end, there is little fault to be found in Star Trek. The effects are sensational but remain secondary to characters, the performances are uniformly excellent and the pace is taut and the drama often tragic. So even to those (like myself) with really no initial interest in the Trekkie universe, give it a chance as it is an infusion of pop culture relevance and unmatched entertainment.
© 2009 Simon Brookfield
