One to see: Star Trek (2009)
April 9th 2009 12:04
Having a boyfriend in the film industry definitely has its advantages: I was fortunate enough to attend the world premiere of the new Star Trek movie on Tuesday night at the Sydney Opera House, and let me tell you, I was absolutely blown away by this film! Never before have I seen an intelligent movie with so much action - or for that matter, an action movie with so much intelligence. Director J.J. Abrams has created a thrill ride that will delight both Trekkies and non-Trekkies alike, and kept me on the edge of my seat for the whole 122 minutes.
The film opens aboard a doomed starship, 25 years prior to the film's main time frame. It's the day of James Tiberius Kirk's birth, but there is serious trouble afoot: negotiations with the evil Romulan Nero (masterfully played by Eric Bana) have failed, and he consequently takes down the ship. James' heroic father George (former Home and Away star Chris Hemsworth) is at the helm for a total of 12 minutes, and manages to save more than 800 crew members, but goes down with the ship minutes after James' birth in a scene that is truly heart-wrenching.
We then move to the Vulcan planet, where young Spock is in training, and is the target of bullies as the result of his half-human pedigree. We learn straight away that emotion is an ongoing concern for this character, and makes him an anomaly to both himself and other Vulcans, who value dispassionate logic above all else. We're then taken to Iowa on the planet Earth, where young James Kirk is already displaying the rebellious, devil-may-care attitude that later makes him such an unusual leader: he's no older than twelve as he's being chased down the highway at top speed in a stolen convertible, which he promptly sends over a cliff in a scene that is both funny, exciting, and indicative of his future actions.
Several years later and the two young men are leading vastly different lives: Dr Spock (played by Zachary Quinto - Sylar from Heroes) is a respected staff member of the Starfleet Academy, while Kirk (Chris Pine) is starting fights in sleazy bars. A chance meeting with Captain Christopher Pike (the always solid Bruce Greenwood) gives him the encouragement he needs to join the academy, and three years later both Kirk and Spock are on the U.S.S. Enterprise's maiden voyage. Aboard, we meet the rest of the ship's crew, all brilliantly cast and with distinct similarities to the actors who played them in the late 60's - Medical Officer Leonard "Bones" McCoy (played by Karl Urban); Helmsman Sulu (John Cho, in his first "serious" role); Russian-born technical whiz Chekov (Anton Yelchin) and Communications Officer - and Spock's romantic interest - Uhura (Zoe Saldana).
The ship encounters trouble from the vengeful Nero almost immediately, with Captain Pike taken hostage and Spock, as the ship's first officer, forced to take over the captaincy. There is dissent between Spock and Kirk - who is technically not meant to be on the ship anyway - and Kirk is banished to the ice planet Delta Vega, where a dramatic special effects sequence ensues. He is rescued from scary alien creatures by none other than the future Spock (played, of course, by the legendary Leonard Nimoy), and the pair meet up with the ship's future Chief Engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (hilariously played by Simon Pegg). Scotty manages to beam himself and Kirk back to the Enterprise, Kirk now possessing the knowledge and direction needed to properly assist the crew in overcoming the wrath of Nero.... and that's it for the spoilers!
Everything about this movie, from the script, to the casting, to the editing, soundtrack, special effects, costumes and sets, is truly at the top of its class. I simply cannot fault it. There are some really funny moments, and the themes of bravery, persistence, friendship and knowledge-seeking are encapsulated to perfection. J.J. Abrams has truly outdone himself as a director; this is, without exception, his best work to date. And while it does help to have some background knowledge of Star Trek, it's not necessary to be a diehard Trekkie in order to appreciate this film - its action sequences, moral underpinnings and colourful characters are more than enough to satisfy even the least sci-fi-inclined among us, though the film does remain true to the franchise.
In short, the new Star Trek film is a truly sensational production that I can wholeheartedly recommend. The official release date is May 7th, 2009. Don't miss it!
The film opens aboard a doomed starship, 25 years prior to the film's main time frame. It's the day of James Tiberius Kirk's birth, but there is serious trouble afoot: negotiations with the evil Romulan Nero (masterfully played by Eric Bana) have failed, and he consequently takes down the ship. James' heroic father George (former Home and Away star Chris Hemsworth) is at the helm for a total of 12 minutes, and manages to save more than 800 crew members, but goes down with the ship minutes after James' birth in a scene that is truly heart-wrenching.
We then move to the Vulcan planet, where young Spock is in training, and is the target of bullies as the result of his half-human pedigree. We learn straight away that emotion is an ongoing concern for this character, and makes him an anomaly to both himself and other Vulcans, who value dispassionate logic above all else. We're then taken to Iowa on the planet Earth, where young James Kirk is already displaying the rebellious, devil-may-care attitude that later makes him such an unusual leader: he's no older than twelve as he's being chased down the highway at top speed in a stolen convertible, which he promptly sends over a cliff in a scene that is both funny, exciting, and indicative of his future actions.
Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto
Several years later and the two young men are leading vastly different lives: Dr Spock (played by Zachary Quinto - Sylar from Heroes) is a respected staff member of the Starfleet Academy, while Kirk (Chris Pine) is starting fights in sleazy bars. A chance meeting with Captain Christopher Pike (the always solid Bruce Greenwood) gives him the encouragement he needs to join the academy, and three years later both Kirk and Spock are on the U.S.S. Enterprise's maiden voyage. Aboard, we meet the rest of the ship's crew, all brilliantly cast and with distinct similarities to the actors who played them in the late 60's - Medical Officer Leonard "Bones" McCoy (played by Karl Urban); Helmsman Sulu (John Cho, in his first "serious" role); Russian-born technical whiz Chekov (Anton Yelchin) and Communications Officer - and Spock's romantic interest - Uhura (Zoe Saldana).
The Enterprise crew
The ship encounters trouble from the vengeful Nero almost immediately, with Captain Pike taken hostage and Spock, as the ship's first officer, forced to take over the captaincy. There is dissent between Spock and Kirk - who is technically not meant to be on the ship anyway - and Kirk is banished to the ice planet Delta Vega, where a dramatic special effects sequence ensues. He is rescued from scary alien creatures by none other than the future Spock (played, of course, by the legendary Leonard Nimoy), and the pair meet up with the ship's future Chief Engineer Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (hilariously played by Simon Pegg). Scotty manages to beam himself and Kirk back to the Enterprise, Kirk now possessing the knowledge and direction needed to properly assist the crew in overcoming the wrath of Nero.... and that's it for the spoilers!
Eric Bana as Nero
Everything about this movie, from the script, to the casting, to the editing, soundtrack, special effects, costumes and sets, is truly at the top of its class. I simply cannot fault it. There are some really funny moments, and the themes of bravery, persistence, friendship and knowledge-seeking are encapsulated to perfection. J.J. Abrams has truly outdone himself as a director; this is, without exception, his best work to date. And while it does help to have some background knowledge of Star Trek, it's not necessary to be a diehard Trekkie in order to appreciate this film - its action sequences, moral underpinnings and colourful characters are more than enough to satisfy even the least sci-fi-inclined among us, though the film does remain true to the franchise.
In short, the new Star Trek film is a truly sensational production that I can wholeheartedly recommend. The official release date is May 7th, 2009. Don't miss it!
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Comment by Cibbuano
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I think they will... the film is well-scripted, with very little empty baggage...
Comment by Journeywoman
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The thing with this new movie is that it's enjoyable even if you don't understand the histories of Romulus, Vulcan and so forth.... I honestly don't think it will matter to non-Trekkie audiences; they'll just take it as the awesome action flick with a brain that it is.
But of course, we'll just have to wait and see...
Comment by Cibbuano
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