They Finally Made a Trekkie Out of Me 5

by Sinoun • Reviews • Tags: , , ,

I was really excited about watching Star Trek, and I’m not even a Trekkie or anything. In fact, I’ve never seen an episode  – I always thought it was…you know, lame. But this Star Trek is different. This is the stuff of the new generation -  a cooler kind of mission with a hotter rendition of the original cast – after all, it’s meant to appeal to superficial people like me, right? And did it? Indeed. Indeed it did.

Now, story-wise, there’s little I can say on that front. You would have to watch the movie and pay attention and keep your ears peeled for all the inside jokes only the true Trek fans would understand. Who’s the lame-o now? But even if you’re not into the sci-fi stuff, you’ll nonetheless appreciate all the outer-space scenes complete with black holes consuming entire planets and space-crafts battling against a backdrop of stars and celestial particles and ominous-looking elements. Truth is, I can’t quite remember what all these elements were, but that’s not really important.

The reason I’m just glossing over the (main) story is because it isn’t where all the good stuff takes place. This is one of those “it’s not the destination, but the journey” type of joints, and on board this space vessel, the journey is all about getting along with your peers, no matter how odd or intolerable they may seem.

Odd? Spock.

Intolerable? Kirk.

It’s the dynamic interplay between the two youthful leads that bring new-found zest to an ageless story. And let me just say, these two really made the movie.

The reason I was so excited about the film specifically was for Zachary Quinto, who’s brilliant Spock interpretation made a convert out of me. There was none more suited to play the emotionally-void Vulcan-humanoid, thanks to years of embodying the soul-less Sylar on Heroes. It’s funny because whenever Spock got mad at someone, I kept waiting for him to point and sear a line across their forehead, the way Sylar would on the show (but luckily no such dramatics occurred). Instead we witness an identity crisis that has him grappling with the duality of heritage – the Vulcan part of him that operates solely on logic and reason, and the human side that inspires feelings and emotions. An unrecognizable Winona Ryder plays his Mother who assures him that he will be loved regardless of who he chooses to become. Reason takes reign, but he does allow himself the indulgence of a human relationship with Uhura (the lovely Zoe Saldana) which was quite pleasing to see.

So, Quinto in the lead was already worth the price of admission for me and everything else was just icing on a cake that was light on fluff, heavy on stuff. Well, it’s not the kind of movie that requires one to ponder any complex conundrums, (except a whole space-time continuum thing) as the film’s pretty much meant to simultaneously attract a younger audience while remaining loyal to the old-schoolers. Hence, the casting of Harold and Kumar’s John Cho (whom I like), a mighty fine Chris Pine (who I now like) and a very much revered appearance from Leonard Nimoy (judging from all the hootin’ and hollerin’ and hand-clappin that happened in my theater). I also have to single out Anton Yelchin (Charlie Bartlett, watch it) who really brought the funny with his exaggerated Russian accent as Pavel Chekov, and oh yes, the comical Scotty played by the ever so clever Simon Pegg (Run Fatboy Run, rent it!)

I have to commend the entire cast and the writers on successfully rebooting the franchise and making it fresh for the uninitiated, the rest of us who were just too cool to watch the original. For those who have followed the series, there will be a tug of nostalgia (I sensed the inherent joy around me) and I’m guessing, the satisfaction that their beloved Star Trek was done justice. The standing ovation made me believe this was so.

This is a film that is kind of hard not to like. Between all the intergalactic explosions and inter-stellar happenings is a great back-story about the beginnings of the Enterprise and this vision of the utopian future where different races (even species) converge for a unified mission. It kind of made me want to go back and school myself on the Star Trek legacy, or at least Wikipedia the main gist of it. I haven’t done that yet, but I will. After all, I would like to appear informed, if I am to attend future Star Trek conventions.