I went to see the new Star Trek film yesterday. I think it was a good, but not great film. For a long, detailed review, see Jonah Goldberg’s on National Review Online.
Spoiler Warning.
A few spoiler-filled comments of my own below:
The point of the film was to reset the series, using time travel to hit the “reset button”. It certainly did that. It was neither subtle or vague – the reset button was hit with a sledgehammer. Characters (especially Nimoy’s Spock) practically shouted that this was a reset. Personally, I would have preferred a little more subtlety, but it did work.
Most of the actors did a good job with the characters. While their characterization was different from that of the original actors, that is easily explained by the altered timeline changing the circumstances in which they grew up. Kirk was more of a “bad boy” type character than in the original series. Spock, while still very logical, was more accepting of his emotional half than he was the first time around. The rest of the cast was similar – major characteristics were the same, but there were clear differences in the characters.
A few things which I didn’t like about the film:
First, all of the major characters made it into the film, even though they had to stretch the laws of credulity to get them in. I think it would have been better to focus on Kirk, Spock, McCoy and Uhura, leaving the rest out at the moment.
Second, Kirk was in a about half-a-dozen fist-fights. Nothing unusual about that. However, he didn’t win any via pugilism. The one he actually won, involved him shooting his opponent. Kirk should have been clearly victorious in at least one of his fights.
Third and last, I can’t believe that Kirk would be given the Captaincy of the Enterprise at the end of the film. He just doesn’t have the experience. I can buy his temporary assumption of command in the crisis but not the rest. There is no way Star Fleet would give a newly minted ensign fresh out of Starfleet Academy to the permanent command of the federation flagship, even if he did just save the world. It would have been better if they had the commendation ceremony and then a “five years later” (he is a prodigy, after all) scene where they show him assuming command.
Despite the above criticisms, the film was definitely worth the $6 I paid for the ticket. None of my childhood memories were ruined and much of the cruft *cough*Voyager*cough* has been removed for future tales.
The one question I have is where does it go from here? I would prefer a TV series – the time between movies is simply too long for the sort of character growth and development that made me fall in love with Star Trek when I was a child.
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