Movie Review: Star Trek (2009) directed by J.J. Abrams
The U.S.S. Kelvin is cruising through space when a spacial anomaly opens, disgorging an unknown, highly advanced technology ship that promptly attacks. It turns out to be captained by a Romulan named Nero, who has a grudge against someone named “Ambassador Spock.” In the absence of that person, Nero is perfectly willing to destroy Federation vessels. Acting Captain George Kirk is able to evacuate the ship and then ram it into the enemy vessel to protect the evacuees at the cost of his own life. Among the survivors is George’s newborn son, James Tiberius Kirk.
Twenty-two years later, Jim Kirk is a directionless rebel, with high potential but no prospects in Iowa. After a bar brawl, Kirk is offered a chance to go to Starfleet Academy and make something of himself. It helps that recruiting officer Pike knew Jim’s father.
Three years into his Academy training, Kirk is up on charges of cheating when word comes that Nero is on the move and about to attack Vulcan. Now’s his chance to prove his mettle! If only Jim weren’t grounded….
When the original Star Trek began airing in 1966, it started in media res. The Enterprise was already several months into its five-year mission, the main characters had been in their positions long enough to have established working relationships, and there was minimal discussion of their backstories. Bits and pieces of the past were revealed over the three television seasons (largely made up on the spot by the writers as they went) and it was up to the fans to try to work out a coherent overall narrative.
By the time the movies came out, the continuity had largely been established, and with the actors aging, it was deemed best to keep going with an older crew.
But in the 2000s, the people who now controlled the Star Trek franchise decided it was time for a “reboot”, casting fresh young actors as the familiar characters in new stories. And since they were starting all over, why not have the new movie be an origin story for Captain Kirk, Spock and the Enterprise?
Rather than break all ties with the original series, the “reboot” instead used time travel to establish that the new Trek was an alternate universe, with Leonard Nimoy reprising his role as Spock from the original timeline, while Zachary Quinto played the young Spock of the new timeline. (It’s obvious to the long time fan that the changes to the timeline began before Nero arrived, but his attack jolted it into a whole new path.)
Good stuff: All the familiarly-named characters get at least one moment to shine and show why they’re important crew members for the Enterprise. (Chapel and Rand are either cut out or reduced to wordless cameos, not sure which.) Some very nice action scenes and explosions. Leonard Nimoy is very good as Spock Prime.
Less good: Spock has a character arc learning to handle his emotions more constructively, but Kirk has no reciprocal arc learning to be less of an ass; instead his arc is about getting other people to realize just how awesome he is. And make no mistake–this Jim Kirk is an ass. The film plays up the stereotypical cocky and horny Kirk qualities, without the moderation or consulting of his officers of Classic Kirk.
Also, I am really not keen on making someone who hasn’t even graduated from Starfleet Academy the full-time captain of Starfleet’s flagship vessel. Classic Kirk was the youngest Starfleet Captain ever, but that was still after he’d had real experience as a subordinate on other ships.
I am disappointed as well that the social commentary aspect of Star Trek seems to be entirely missing. It’s one of the things that makes Star Trek different from the other science fiction franchises.
Still, it’s a good popcorn movie, and I still have tapes of the classic series.
