Star Trek (J.J. Abrams, 2009): USA

Reviewed by William Conlin. Viewed at the Camino Real Cinemas, Santa Barbara.

For over 40 years the Star Trek franchise has been a television and motion picture standard. When the first Trek film opened in 1979, it garnered three Academy Award Nomination. But as the years progressed, the franchise lost its edge, culminating in the disaster that was 2003’s Star Trek: Nemisis. But after a six year wait, die hard “Trekkies,” casual fans and people completely new to the series will be surprised, thrilled and thoroughly entertained by J.J. Abram’s amazing reboot, simply titled Star Trek.

By taking some liberty with the holes in characters’ histories and adding some “alternate universes due to time travel” ideas, writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have created a whole new world featuring the original crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise. When rebel turned cadet James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) finds himself onboard the Enterprise in the middle of a crisis, he takes the opportunity to try to save the universe and establish himself as the best and the brightest that Starfleet has to offer.

The film follows traditional ideas from Star Trek past, but updates the series to accommodate what appears to be the future from today instead of the 1960’s. The incredible production designs by Scott Chambliss, combined with the special effect created by Industrial Light and Magic, craft a vision of the future that will make any person sit up and pay attention.

Although I’m not a devoted fan of the series, I have seen my share of Star Trek, on both the small and big screens so I was able to pick up on plenty of inside jokes in the film that will surely make a die hard fan smile. Additionally, the entire cast treats their characters with great respect and admiration for the people who portrayed them before. To me, the standout performance was Karl Urban’s portrayal of Leonard “Bones” McCoy. His blending of DeForrest Kelley’s distinct attitude with a modern twist places the character in a great position for both drama and comedy.

I’d like to think that after last week’s embarrassment that was Wolverine, Star Trek will mark the true beginning of this summer’s movie season. Trek is so good that I am sure I will be seeing it at least one more time before it leaves theatres and will certainly own it when it comes out on Blu-Ray. Even if you don’t like the series, go see this film, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised.

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Published:: 05.10.09 / 12am

Category:: Films

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Film Review Club: Reviews of current film releases, streaming films, and revivals by student members of the SBCC Film Review Club.

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Film Festival Course: FS108: Film Festival Studies: Santa Barbara International Film Festival and AFI Fest: Hollywood (2 or 1.5 units). Field course at film festivals to study U.S. and international fiction, experimental and documentary films.

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Keith Chancey 05.10.09 / 10am

Even if you don’t like the movie, don’t walk out on it, just sit back and listen to it. I thought the movie was pretty good, but the sound design and score was probably some of the most impressive work done in years. I couldn’t believe how good this movie sounds.

Julia Turpit 05.11.09 / 11am

I have never been a big Star Trek fan because I never really got into the shows and films. However, I was very curious to see how this new Star Trek film would be received by viewers and film critics. I believe this review of the film is a positive and thorough one. This review offers everything. It describes a short history of past Star Trek releases, past actors, and then compares and contrasts older versions to the newest release. Because of all the hype around the new film I have considered going to see it because I thought it sounded pretty great. This review really gave me a better understanding of the world of Star Trek and all the great things the newest film incorporates, such as great acting and special effects. I am really interested in seeing the film after reading this honest and unbiased review from a non devoted fan.

Zac Smith 05.11.09 / 5pm

I went to Star Trek without reading any reviews (which is pretty rare for me), and I walked out thinking that the reviews on the film would be pretty mediocre. I was wrong. Just like everyone I watched the movie with, critics love the film! I did think that it was consistently entertaining throughout, but some parts were pretty cheesy (especially the first five minutes… which led me to take the entire movie less seriously). I also had a problem with the film because I couldn’t quite grasp the storyline with all of the time travel. I was, and still am, thoroughly confused about certain parts of the movie (mainly the ‘bad’ guy’s motivation for destroying everything in the universe). Revenge, I know… but why?
Overall, I thought it was a good summer movie, and I’ll recommend it to friends. But I guess the Star Trek franchise isn’t really my cup of tea. I really like the possibilities of what they are exploring, but I thought it came out a little shallow and dry.

Ally Perry 05.14.09 / 7am

I was never a big Star Trek fan and was fairly young whenever my brother was watching it but I still gave this film a try because I went and saw it in an IMAX theater. I went into it expecting not to understand most of the film because I couldn’t remember the last time I had seen a Star Trek film or show but I was very surprised on how much I enjoyed the film. You don’t have to be a “Trekkie” to enjoy or even understand this film. I loved the comedic twist throughout the film and thought Chris Pine did a great job as James Kirk. I definitely recommend adding this to your summer go-see list.

James Teal 05.15.09 / 3pm

Star Trek has every component necessary to fulfill the role as the first big blockbuster of the summer season. It has a classic American wild west/coming of age storyline, great characters, and awesome special effects and musical arrangement. In all the films easy accessibility and revamped storyline caught me by complete surprise and a I may just have to go see it one more time in theaters before it comes out on Blu-Ray ; )

Maxwell Leatherman 05.16.09 / 10pm

J. J. Abrams’s reincarnation of the classic Star Trek story is a blast from the past that leaves the uninitiated stunned and the long-time Trekkies cheering with nostalgia. While Abrams takes several liberties with the plot, including a romp into the concept of time-travel that leads Spock conversing with his future self, he stays true to the classic storyline, filling in the blanks only where there are blanks to be filled, leaving the canon improved rather than invalidated.

There are plenty of references and homages to the original series to satisfy those who are familiar with the story, but the film is inclusive to casual viewers as well, leaving everyone thrilled with this example of exactly how a franchise can be modernized without being compromised.

Molli Christensen 06.18.09 / 9am

Like many people who saw the new version of Star Trek I had never watched an episode of the series I was more into Star Wars, however I thought J.J. Abrams remake was surprisingly very good. I was thoroughly entertained throughout the entire movie, the actors were very well picked I thought Spock and McCoy stood out, although all the actors did an amazing job at portraying the iconic characters. This movie had action which at times was nail biting and funny one liners especially when Scotty joined the film. It had a great combination of romance, action, comedy and pure fun. This version brought a new energy to the series, it revamped the story and gave the series a new image. I also thought it was very clever to have the original Spock in the film as well.

Scott Percival 06.26.09 / 10pm

J.J. Abrams delivers Star trek in a new way… something not for the die hard trekies you might say. Myself never exploring the galaxies of Star trek and never really being the interested in sci-fi movie unless if you consider Star Wars found myself in a pickle. Why you might say… Well this modernized Star Trek really brought something to the table and i took it all in. This film was a roll coaster of fun. I personally opted to see the film in Imax to make the experience that much more enjoyable and interesting. The overall plot of the story was excellent i might say and really liked black hole aspect with time travel. I personally would recommend this movie for anyone looking for an action movie seeking great special effects and computer imaging.

Amelia Shugrue 07.03.09 / 11am

J.J. Abrams’ has not only created on the of the summer’s must-see films, but also revived a dying franchise with the making of the best Star Trek film yet. I had never been a “Trekkie”, or had ever felt the urge to follow closely the story of these famous characters upon their ship the U.S.S. Enterprise. Abrams’ film however, reaches out to a wide audience, mixing this sci-fi classic with today’s comedy and drama. Long time fans– no need to worry. This new adaption of your favorite sci-fi adventure story does a great job staying true to the original story line, including jokes from previous films and T.V. show episodes. This is a movie that will please all audience members. Star Trek (2009) is that gripping and riveting sci-fi story we have missed so much over the years. The story line is easy to follow, the actors give amazing performances, the special effects are absolutely jaw dropping, and the phenomenal cinematic use of sound pulls you even more into this exciting film. I guarantee Star Trek is a summer blockbuster you will want to see more than once before it leaves the big screen.

Austin Jones 07.16.09 / 6pm

I remember sitting next to my father as a child and watching the Star Trek with him and thinking to myself, “this is boring”. Well the new Start Trek is far from boring and actually has a pretty interesting story line. Maybe I was too young to understand the story or maybe the old star trek was just plain boring. Either way, the new edition of Star trek is non stop riveting action movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat for the duration of the movie. I thought it was interesting how they showed the background behind Spock and how his race is raised almost like computers to show no emotion and make essential decisions with no hesitation. I recommend this movie to anyone that is interested in a great summer action flick.

Linda Witfoth 10.14.09 / 6pm

I, too, believe that Star Trek, was a great opening to the summer’s movies. After watching this movie and talking with both avid Trekkies and absolute non-Trekkies, both gave high reviews.

This version of Star Trek had the advantage of humor and a fresh look at 40 year-old characters. As the reviewer says, the portrayals of the original characters were done with great respect. They played their part with similar wit as was written for the original series.

To bring a current generation into the fold, the writers provided interesting background stories to each character and inter-twined them into an action-packed contemporary plot. Sound, special effects, and action sequences were spectacular. It was exiting to hear all the chatter in the lobby from the viewers just leaving.

This one was a hit for me. Great review, too.

Carl Hallstrom 11.29.09 / 10pm

Prior to seeing this Star Trek film I had never seen or shown interest in seeing the previous Star Trek shows or movies. However, I have to say that this film was one of my favorites this year. I was originally worried that because I was never a Trekkie I would not be able to follow the film. Instead I found myself following right along with even the hardcore Trekkies dressed for the occasion. The film has everything that today’s generation loves. Not only does the film pull you in, it is one of the more visually stunning films this year. This witty and action packed film keeps its audience on the edge of their seat from beginning to end. I have to thank this film for turning what I thought to be a boring show that only my grandpa liked to watch to my new obsession. Star Trek is a definite must see.

Thomas Baker 03.19.10 / 2pm

While I have not watched any other Star Trek films, I would have to agree that this film did bring excitement and adventure. While I did not get most inside jokes they made, I still found the movie very entertaining. The Film did represent a mainstream film, due to how appealing the narration and pictures played out. The film offered many high-tech fighting scenes, which were very fun to watch. I have to admit I was pulled into the film.

While I am new to Star Trek films, they did a good job to introduce the movie. In the beginning they showed how the boys father died in the ship, which helps draw the viewers into the movie.

Alexandra Rathman 03.26.10 / 6pm

I have never been a big fan of any of the star trek movies and or television shows. This was my first star trek experience and I felt that this movie was very interesting and I was very intrigued. The story of the movie was played out very well and since I have never seen a star trek movie it was very easy for me to follow. The movie had intense actions scenes which made the movie eye catching as well as the comedy and drama to keep me entertained. I liked how the two main characters Spock and James Kirk were equally important in this movie. The characters were played by the actors with intense power which made it seem real, I really enjoyed watching this movie and would recommend it to anyone. Whether you are a Star Trek fan or not.

Vanessa Cloyd 07.05.10 / 1pm

I initially was a little hesistant when I was asked to go see this film, I remember my dad was always watching Star Trek when I was a child and I thought they were a little cheesy. But nevertheless I was intrigued and liked the cast that was in the movie such as Eric Bana and Zoe Saldana. This film was more updated and played a more futuristic movie that had any viewer hooked on the intense opening scene. The opening scene set the tone for the whole movie. I liked the action adventure, humor and intense moments the characters were faced with. I surprisingly enjoyed this film!

Tanisha Camacho 10.12.10 / 3pm

I don’t think the word amazing properly covers it when speaking of the film Star Trek – The Future Begins. One thing that I think stood out and made this film what it is was the raw portrayal of human emotions. You see a man give up his life for his family and his people to start off the film, that is simply amazing to begin a film so emotionally. Throughout the movie you see loss, success, failure, confusion, evil, lust, greed, revenge, all of this adds up to this conclusion of success in this film. One of the best things about the films is the choice of actors. I do not believe they could have chosen better lead characters as Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto the way they worked together was absolutely marvelous; the emotion they portrayed made you believe they truly did have this passionate dislike for each other. Even better than together they worked wonderfully apart, each passionate for their individual roles. The effects of the movie were amazing all on their own, certain scenes of destruction left you in pure awe.
Not only “trekkies” and Science-Fiction lovers will love this film, but every single type of person can find a reason to like this film, it seems universal.

Max Junge 10.24.10 / 2pm

This franchise is so old and also so good. It has its moments of tension. Based on the story the movie is fantastic telling you how everything started from point one. Also the actors of the movie is doing a great job, the best is the trio Zoe Saldana, John Cho and Anton Yelchin. It’s a movie everyone will start to love and be amazed by. Great movie!

Robert Herr 10.24.10 / 4pm

This Star Trek really took the original story line to Hollywood. The cast is young and beautiful, which is a good way to hype up the “Star Trek” idea. I personally enjoyed the movie. The innovative future technology they used was cool, everyone likes the gadgets. The special effects were also really great, especially when the planet implodes. It was really well put together. I never followed the original series so I’m not sure how accurate the story was but I definitely was taken by it. I would recommend this movie to someone who likes fast pace, action movies.

Matthew Eastwood 11.17.10 / 8am

I’ve never been a fan of “Star Trek”, not because of the nerdy following that fend people away from liking it, but simply because it in no way, shape, or form appealed to me. So naturally, when I went to see the movie I was skeptical at first. It only ended up taking the very first scene for me to get sucked into the movie’s world, going along for the ride with anticipation and angst. Though there are a few plot-holes, the movie in general was superb and equally gripping. The great characters, action, story, cinematography and editing set this film so far above the old “Star Trek” that I could honestly see the new “Star Trek” outlasting the older series. At least, I hope it does.

Adrian Wenisch 07.15.11 / 9pm

As a great fan of nearly all the Star Trek series I was somewhat disappointed with this movie. Although I do not think that “Star Trek” by J.J. Abrams is a bad movie I do believe that it lacks many elements I love about this series. I found that the science is not as detailed and that the time travel element of the story is not quite right. I do agree that this movie had intriguing portrayals of the Enterprise crew and that the story, at times, was quite interesting. However, I can not get over the feeling that this movie is a “dumbed down” version from the previous Series and that action is more important than the journey of the human species and its consciousness.

Daryl Boman 07.07.12 / 7am

Though I understand the reasoning behind using Roddenberry’s characters like they are traditional characters of literature, such as Hamlet or King Lear, and I’m sure that Mr. Roddenberry would be pleased at the analogy; this film just falls flat for me. The acting is barely more than imitations of the original actors. Chris Pine does an excellent William Shatner but, it doesn’t hold up through an entire film. The sets are cheesy and not in a good way as in the original series. The sounds and music are entirely too cacophonous. The story is a mash up of practically every fantasy or science fiction film of the last four or five decades. Just really disappointing and Star Trek deserves better.

shuyu Ning 07.26.14 / 10pm

Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment film. Most of American youny man watched this film. It became very popular in China too. I watched some of them clips then I love the new story in the space. The first reason is the handsome man stared this film .for example, Captain James T. Kirk and Commander Spock, played by William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy .they have very good training and very responsible when they have missions. The second reason is I like the Star Trek creator, producer and writer Gene Roddenberry who is so amazing writer on science fiction story which is so unimaginable.

Karen Fortunato 04.11.16 / 8am

I enjoyed reading your review, wish it was a bit longer, but nevertheless enjoyed it. I agree that Karl Urban’s performance was amazing, he does in fact blend the comedy and drama of his character almost seamlessly. I’m a huge Trekkie and I really enjoyed this movie, I’ve probably seen it about six times now. Where as I agree partially with some of the comments that this film’s narrative was a bit “dumbed down” for this new generation of viewers, I don’t think it is a deal breaker. The cinematography and score were amazing and Abrams did an amazing job directing this film, you can really feel and see his personal connection to this franchise while watching. Now we are awaiting the third and possibly final Star Trek film, with Into Darkness doing very well in the box office, I can’t wait for this next installment, Abrams is sure to deliver another amazing film.

Clinton Ku 03.05.21 / 6pm

I really like how you made the connection between the traditional ideas from Star Trek’s past and the modernization of new ideas of this time period. Personally I really enjoyed the movie for what it was. I also agree that the characters seem true to the original series. Watching the new “Bones” really brings back memories. I also feel like they took a lot of notes on how to do Blockbusters right and I feel like they nailed it.

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