Since I was about the age of 9, I have always been a Star Wars fan. I would only watch Star Trek if I was bored or if it was an episode from the Original Series (1966) or The Next Generation (1987) series. However, I didn't really get into the Star Trek franchise as much as I was into the Star Wars franchise; but tonight, after watching the new Star Trek movie (directed by J.J. Abrams) I have to say it got my attention.
The movie is young and hip in a way the franchise has not been since the '60s. As far as performances go, Chris Pine is outstanding as Captain Kirk. Zachary Quinto is brilliant in creating an emotionless man without being robotic (Spock). Bruce Greenwood, Eric Bana, Karl Urban, and John Cho (woot!) are all explosive and command the attention when they're on. Simon Pegg as Scotty provides a very funny comic presence that goes beyond the easy jokes and makes every one laugh, plus his accent is awesome.
The new Star Trek movie is easily the best Trek movie since The Wrath of Khan, and a captivating adventure that grabs you from the first moment and doesn't let go. The movie's first 5-10 minutes are brilliant and had me immediately on the edge of my seat. The effects are staggering (it's J.J. Abrams, enough said) and finally what the series has deserved so richly. There are enough huge fireballs, lasers, ear shattering explosions and exciting fights to go around.
The weight of the story has always been on Kirk and Spock, and they do not disappoint, and I can safely say that I like the new Kirk. He's still Kirk, but there's more humanity to him. Old Kirk was sometimes a dick because, well, he just was. This Kirk feels a little more pity, and a little more pain. Plus he really goes out of his way to save his crew, which makes him easy to root for.
Zachary Quinto as Spock, aside from the obvious physical resemblance (he looks like the old Spock), also feels right. Quinto does a good job conveying the inner turmoil and barely suppressed emotions boiling underneath the character's surface. The only issue I have is that a lot of the character development of Spock seems to be compressed into a very short time in the movie. In one scene, Spock seems to undergo a complete attitude adjustment in about five minutes. Consumed with rage and violence one minute then suddenly, after a quick epiphany, positive and collected and ready to help in any way he can the next. It feels like they cut something out.
There are several bits that feel rushed but overall the time flies by with very few lulls in the pacing. The movie reinvigorated characters and a franchise that had, lets be honest, grown boring. More than anything else, the movie just feels so much more fun than any previous film. There's more humor, more thrills, far more energy and a much better production than anything I've seen from Star Trek since the Picard days in The Next Generation. It is a fantastic movie in it's own right, and one I would definitely recommend to a Trekkie and new fans alike.
Peace and Much Love To Ya :)
*Note: Leonard Nimoy was the only Original Series cast member in the movie
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