MediaBox 7: Star Trek
First, a test:
If you know the difference between Star Trek and Star Wars, raise your hand.
Keep it raised if you know what a Romulan is.
If you can hum a few bars of any Star Trek theme, keep it up.
Lastly, if you can explain—in detail—the difference between the colors of Starfleet uniforms from series to series, may you live long and prosper. Geek.
The good news is that—regardless of your pre-existing Trekkie (or is it Trekker?) aptitude—the new Star Trek film is a must-see. (Yes, I just wasted your time with that quiz, but what else do you have going on, really?)
What has been pitched as an origin story for the classic Enterprise crew is actually something much deeper, something more enjoyable and more satisfying than a pedestrian retelling of lore with which you may or may not be acquainted. JJ Abrams and co. manage to capture what it is that makes Star Trek so worthwhile—its mystery, its humor, its air-tight tension—and craft it into fiction that matters to the 21st century. In a world where pocket sized communicators and laser guns are an obtainable reality, Star Trek somehow miraculously takes the viewer’s breath away with its future-tech driven spectacle. It’s the Space Age all over again, and its still cool.
The movie isn’t perfect. We could quibble over inter-dimensional plot holes all day long, and we’d certainly be within our rights to call out the meandering ice planet excursion (yes, I know we have to pick up these characters somewhere, but get on with it). But the story is tight and snappy, and any modern epic that doesn’t make me compulsively check my watch is OK by me.
A brief note on the IMAX experience: Don’t bother. Abrams’ penchant for handheld-shot action sequences doesn’t translate well to the giant screen. Quick cuts, jerky cameras, and blurred images are a sure-fire recipe for a headache. Traditional theater-goers, however, should be fine.
In the end, Star Trek transcends the popcorn-movie miasma that so often carries us through the summer. A perfect storm of bombastic action, snarky dialogue, and timeless optimism, the film stays fun while feeling worthwhile.
1square Seal of Approval, for sure. Root to that.
Tyler
