Short version: While hard core Trekkies may have some problems with it, this long time classic Star Trek fan found this reboot fun, fresh & exciting.
Screen Rant reviews Star Trek
Where to start? (This is going to be a long one, folks. If you want to skip the preamble and get right to the review itself click here.)
Some people are Star Wars fanatics, others go nuts over Transformers or X-Men. While I’m a huge Iron Man fan, Star Trek is my true love going back well over 30 years. My favorite of all the shows? The Original Series (aka TOS). You may look at it now and think it looks cheesy (however I highly recommend you check out the digitally remastered version with brand new visual effects on DVD or Blu-ray), but remember the original Star Trek is over 40 years old.
At the time the other big Sci-Fi TV show was the cheese-fest called Lost in Space – so keep that in mind as a comparison. 
I have Star Trek prop replicas on my bookshelves (some pretty damned nice ones) along with a copy of the original Star Fleet Technical Manual by Franz Joseph and a set of blueprints of the original U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701 (which shows the location of a bowling alley on the ship!). I’ve memorized every episode of the original series – I can tell you which one each one is within seconds of any of them starting. And I’ve seen every movie.
Yes, I’m into Trek “canon” – tracking all the little details that tie the whole Star Trek universe together, however I’m also aware (though some fans seem to be in denial about this) that over the course of hundreds of episodes across five different series, Star Trek itself has violated its own canon many times.
Why am I telling you all this? So you have some context for my review of J.J. Abrams’, Roberto Orci’s and Alex Kurtzman’s reboot of the Star Trek universe. However this is not a review just for “Trekkies,” and that’s appropriate because neither is this film just for that group of die hard fans (among which I include myself).
Also, I did read the four part prequel comic that tells the story which leads to the events that take place in the film. If you have a chance I recommend you find it and pick it up at your local comic book store as it really fleshes out the “villain” in the film, Nero.
Some fans may disagree, but this franchise was in desperate need of a reboot, re-imagination, fresh “take” or whatever you’d like to call it. Star Trek, as a brand, was whithering on the vine and was in danger of being put on the shelf for who knows how long – until Paramount might decide enough time had gone by to give it another go. This was due to a number of factors, among which included the subsequent series being taken in directions by Rick Berman (and to some exent, Brannon Braga) that the fans did not agree with. Essentially it was a case of “the fans don’t know what’s good for them – we’ll tell them what they want.”
From this we gained the ignoble death of Captain Kirk in a transition movie with a stupidly weak plot device, Star Trek: Voyager, the Lost in Space of Trek, progressively crappier movies and finally Enterprise: At least an attempt at something fresh in Trek, which unfortunately went off in some half-assed direction – and Manny Coto’s efforts to bring the show back to what it should have been in season 4 were too little, too late.
So… when it was announced that the new film would go back to before the original series crew had met I was both excited at the prospect and terrified of how it might turn out. I mean we’re talking about recasting iconic roles. Bill Shatner? Leonard Nimoy? DeForest Kelly and James Doohan?
Sacrilege!
But I tried to be cautiously optimistic over the course of very early news, pre-production and through the production. I listed this film as my most anticipated of the year…
And I was NOT disappointed.
So finally – the review…
Click here to continue reading our Star Trek review…
Our Rating:
4 out of 5
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This was a better movie than Wolverine but only so much in that all the main characters here were well developed and each had their moments to shine with practically every character helping/saving Kirk at one point or another. The story was also much more entertaining. (Wolvie on the other hand had a boring story and made no attempt to develop most of its characters but had better action).
The action was good enough. Although I have to nitpick with Sulu doing some silly acrobatic spinning moves which I don’t believe are part of fencing training. Even so the moves were poorly executed and looked really silly/pointless in the context of the fight.
The red shirt killing himself was hilarious though.
Nero’s ship looked menacing but at the same time totally impractical. Kind of reminded me of the Tumbler in Batman Begins which was impractical (despite what the designers of it claimed) and looked ugly.
How often was the transporter used to save/bail out characters? The first time it was neat and exciting with Kirk & Sulu but it seemed to be grossly overused and overly powerful in subsequent uses. It seemed like a lazy plot crutch more than something clever.
Kirk meeting Old Spock? How random was that?
Kirk escaping death from Nero and the other Romulan…just so tired and cliche.
I’ve watched a decent number of Trek shows but wouldn’t really know what the true essence of the show is and wasn’t particularly a big fan of TOS.
I will say that McCoy was by far the best out of all the characters, great acting there and great presence.
Scotty was also a funny and notable performance. He takes second place although maybe he just seemed memorable because of his accent and exaggerated personality.
Original recipe Spock was really good but that shouldn’t be a surprise.
Kirk was adequate. Despite his rebellious antics I found Pine’s performance to be rather subdued, certainly not the scenery chewer that Shatner was but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. I think Pine lacks a bit of that screen presence though.
Spock was also adequate. With the mom stuff it just gave me deja vu of Sylar from Heroes’ last season. Perhaps this is more a fault of my own perception than the Quinto’s performance.
Uhura really wasn’t given much to do other than be the love interest. Too many movies of late have the lone female character whose main purpose is to be a love interest and nothing else.
Cho was fine as Sulu. I wouldn’t know whether he captured any of Takei’s Sulu but nothing really struck me as particularly memorable about Cho’s performance. Chekov’s youthful enthusiasm was kinda fun except I hope they tone down the accent in future movies.
Nero was a generic villain, disappointing but this movie wasn’t about the villain which makes this acceptable. However, a truly formidable foe would’ve really made this movie a lot better and more consequential.
The strongest part of this movie were the main characters themselves whom were either great or at least adequate. Plot was entertaining and well paced but mostly forgettable once the movie ended.
It’s nice to see JJ Abrams is taking care of the environment by recycling old plot devices from most other parts of the franchise! A time-travel plot, so passe, that’s the kind of old chestnut writers admit they used to pluck out when they had nothing better to use on a quiet week in any of the series!
Whilst this was an enjoyable enough popcorn flick, and the cast looks like they could really shine as a unit given the right vehicle; they once again blew too much of the budget on the razzle-dazzle SFX, they should have skimmed a few bucks to throw at a halfway decent writer first IMHO!
Oh, and FWIW, people weren’t tired of the Trek franchise per se, they just got sick of it being ruined by Berman & Braga! This dynamic duo assumed total control of all things Trek, completely ignored the input of every person who had ever contributed to the success of Trek, actor, critic, fan & professional alike, then rode it into the ground their own way! Not opinion, fact!
Abrams inherited a win-win scenario, and hasn’t resurrected anything himself in reality; once the two parasites were removed, the franchise was always gonna revive of it’s own accord, even with a ho-hum vehicle like this one the concept Roddenberry spawned is a proven winner!
@ Stewballs
From what I put together this is not the ordinary time travel movie, unlike Voyage Home and First Contact, this is a whole new drive into an alternate timeline. Everyone hates the special effects, let me guess you used to watch TOS didn’t you… They are in fact the new thing and what all of us new school Trek fans. What is Star Trek anyway but space? I know there will always be the haters and the likers but to blame it on to much SFX… I happened to like the other movies, except Insurrection, Nemesis I only disliked because some moron decided to kill Data I mean seriously whats up with that.
Great review, I saw it on 7th, and I totally agree with you Vic, I was waiting very long for that movie, and wasn’t disappointed at all. New effects, e.g. warp, phasers, viewscreen, etc are perfect, and bring us closer to what it would look like if we only could bring it to reality.
I love its SFX, it brings a lot of enjoyment, and I hope there’ll be a sequel.
To all hard core fans, exhaling their hatred to JJA and others, because of the fact that ST XI is new and modern movie, with very delicate connection to the cannon: don’t watch it, and stop whining!
Cheers
Finally someone who agrees. Just don’t see it, remember the old movies, have a fiesta watching them over, and don’t watch the new one.
I just wanted to say – Chris Pine – for Captain America!!!!!
I have to say I really liked the film! But with trek as a whole the time travel thing is ugh! But am I the only one to watch this and question in the 4th movie they go back for a whale but old spock won’t tell them how to zip around the sun to save vulcan and romulus?? So a whale vs say 30 billion people just a nod and go on with this. And the biggist thing of that Spock says he was wrong about with calculations or whatever in every aspect Spock was never wrong case in point the whale thing ten feet from the sun but open space he needed a road map little insulting to Spock.
As for TOS I loved the old but my little pev with Trek the old series had dry walls a satilte dish etc okay we’ll go with it and then the movie comes out makes a point to say we redid whole ship great! then they come up with enterprise show and it’s like the movies and everyone doesn’t acknowledge that seems insulting. (I never have seen the voyager where they are on old enterprise was always curious if keep the dry wall or computered over it.
As far as the movie was great (though still atternate timeline??) which if you look at something as out of control as trek it is like in comics like Byrne did on superman took him from destroying a planet to being more real so can go from here I look foward to Khan this Kirk can meet a new Khan (2nd movie again anyone??!!) great actors great script still hard for me to get past the dry wall etc LOL. but I know people not like engine room etc but I like it it looks real (though in conflict with the bridge (think Titanic?) other than the old spock things and just saying go from here a fun way to the future say movie 5/6 a young Picard? it’s endless and can take the best of series/movies cut it down and use. the effects are beyond THANK YOU effects dept I wish they could go back and add space scenes to wrath of Khan (still love those effects but after 1st movie the ship got smaller like a toy) If can keep this up I’m there but lets take a page from Sienfild fly into the sun before you kill characters like Data in movie 12/14/57? was stupid! Just to kill someone and go oh this is where you’re supposed to care (by then not.)
Saw it at the Imax last night….
And this is how I grade a film on my feelings right after and a day later…..
Now I’m a huge trek fan not die hard but I know my stuff… And I loved what I saw it was fresh it was exciting it was fun and it payed huge homage to the original series…
Yeah there was probably some things the anoraks didn’t like but to be honest fanboys will never be pleased.
I was simply left opened mouthed threw out the most of the film so many key scences that just gave me that kiddie smile
* Kobayashi Maru (just before they mentioned it you knew what it was)
* Bones’s opening scence (wow everyone was like THATS BONES)
* Chekov ( I found him hilarious a bit thick but made you smile)
* The enterprise rising out of a cloud over saturn the way the panned on her that extra second
….
* The enterprise coming out of warp all guns blazing to the rescue
* Kirk coming on to the bridge in the gold uniform and of spock saying those famous lines. I swear everyone in the cinema was whispering them aswell…
I could go on but that was off the top of my head. I was very happy with Star Trek everyone was clapping at the end. and i’m going to see it again…
I would like to reiterate – I loved it
And fanboys will never be pleased lol…
The problem with this film is it was written by turds! I mean if you are going to write for a film with major backstory you have to acknowledge that backstory and not just use excuses to go where you are going. First of all, all Star Trek time travel is without changes to the main casts constant timeline, that is simply because they are what they are and that is why you like them, things like a major ST planet blowing up, the home of a major ST character, are just ruinous, the Death Star can blowup Alderann because we have no tie to it, it’s a planet from the past and because we have not seen the past it is alright because we come in on the story as if it were the present. Now, if they made a Star Wars episode 7 and they blewup Tatooine THAT WOULD SUCK! Also, with the last like, 6 ST films with time travel and with the episodes the goal is always to set time right. IT’S A PRIME DIRECTIVE ISN’T IT?!?!?! Spocks planet is gone and he can’t manage to say screw you people i’m going to set time right! Here is what’s wrong with the story, first, blackholes are worse than supernovas, lets just make that clear! Spocks story about failing and having Nero show up feels almost like realtime, Spock fails to save Romulus, some guy shows up a few minutes later (in an all powerful……..MINING SHIP?!?!?!) and accuses him of destroying his planet but they then get sucked into the blackhole and through time. However when they arive in the future the Romulans act as if they are not at all surprised to be there and act as if they were trying to get there all along, just to look for Spock. Also, don’t the Romulans have contact with home I mean, how long did the Romulans back home know that their sun was exploding? Don’t they have a way to be contacted, THEIR PLANET IS GOING TO EXPLODE! The Romulans also don’t seem to have computers or basic knowledge about Federation Starships, as their mining ship (The Star Wars equivalent is a Sandcrawler, only the “Sandcrawler” in ST can destroy an entire Federation Fleet) seems to dwarf a major Federation ship of the time. The real problem is the plot holes! This film is really just B*%%$(#t. JJ Needs stay away from well established much loved characters and continue making subpar TV crap . I just don’t know if I can wait anylonger for JJ Abrams “Hamlet II: Pigs in Space!!!!”
@ John
I ask you did you watch the movie at all? At the beginning they ask whats the Stardate. You probably missed that part. And why does a mining ship dwarf a major starship of the time? Compare it to a standard crap ’09 car and a model T, the crap ’09 will surpass that model t nomatter what. Now for the Spock errors, did you think he might have said we don’t want to change whats been changed? Everything was back in its place except for his home planet which yes changes things but thats the point, the point of the movie was to now have this movies ending go in play with the other movies, hence a reboot. And mining ship or not Romulan technology hence torpedoes would easily overtake a ship built for pure speed so of course he surrendered and they took his red matter. And as for Spock… it’s Spock… jesus man the whole point is he is emotionless why would he feel like doing that? I don’t think your as much of a Trekkie as you say.
@ John
This should patch up a few holes in the plot for you. The Next Generation > TOS tie-in was represented in the form of a 4 part comic book series. You can read about the plot here. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_trek_countdown
Abrams, and crew, simplified Old Spock’s back story in the movie for time and clarification. Keep in mind that this movie is supposed to attract the “non-fan” as well as the die hard Trekkie. Extraneous information regarding TNG would have bogged the pace of the movie down IMHO. Besides, why would old Spock discuss Picard and Data to a young Kirk who doesn’t even know the characters?
As far as the “transporters” are concerned, the elder Spock does not state exactly when Scotty makes the transwarp transporter discovery. It may have taken place during the TNG era after the “Relics” episode. The formula that Spock reveals to Scotty could make “transwarp transporting” to standard “transporting” what “Warp” is to “Impulse”. Of course, IF they can now beam across vast distances of space, one has to wonder why they would even need warp capable vessels at all.
Regarding the notion that a black hole is more dangerous than a supernova, well in true science, that is the case. However, the science behind “red matter” is fictitious and, thankfully, isn’t fully explained. For all we know, red matter can only create a temporary black hole. Perhaps the compound is even used in those banned “subspace weapons” that were mentioned during Insurrection. In addition, modern science has estimated that a supernova explosion can only move at 1/10th the speed of light. Even if the explosion of a single star could consume an entire galaxy, which it can not, it would take billions of years for it to do so. So the supernova premise is a little “out there”, but hey, this is Science Fiction after all.
The one thing that did bother me was that Abrams has stated the new 1701 to be approximately 2,500 feet. This would make the new ship slightly longer than the Enterprise-E. With the alterations in the time line, I could still buy this except for the fact that the in movie SFX would suggest that this new Enterprise is roughly the same size as the original 1701. The shuttle scenes, as well as the zoom out of the main bridge window, would seem to support this. I guess that I’m just a bit bothered by the inconsistencies. I thought that the days of 99-decks on a Constitution Class starship died after Star Trek 5. BTW, I am a fan of the new view screen, which works more like a modern day “HUD” than the tried and true television-like design.
Anyway’s, enough geekdome! lol I enjoyed the movie, and found it to be very imaginative. From the tear-jerking opening scenes to the end credits, this movie was well thought out. For the average movie fan, the characters are very likable, and the pacing of the movie is good. Unlike the Star Wars prequels, the main character is not a pansy who goes about spewing terrible, and sometimes disturbing, dialogue. For the Trekkie, there is enough techno babble, TNG/TOS tie ins, and visual eye candy to keep us entertained. The Special Effects bring a completely new look to the Trek films, and though some scenes do have that “Michael Bay feel” to them, I think that they worked. Well…either they DO work, or my mind is getting used to seizure inducing cuts of modern cinema geared towards a society plagued with cultural ADD. The plot is well thought out, and I dare say that this is the best of all the Trek films, and I believe that the box office + DVD sales will reflect that. I can’t wait to see what we’ll get for the sequel.
@Jake I hope it wasn’t lost on you or others how Spock’s logic for providing the solution to Scotty on transwarp beaming was directly releated from the events in Star Trek the Voyage Home.
If you recall in that film, Scotty provided the metallurgic solution to Transparent Aluminum to the CEO of that manufacturing company so they could provide a “fish tank” for the Whales.
Remember when asked about altering the timeline in terms of the development of Transparent Aluminum Scotty says, “who knows maybe he invented it”.
The new film has a lot of references from the old Star Trek films…
@790
That sounds like “cheating”. lol You are correct that there are a lot of references, and it will probably take me another viewing or two in order to catch all of them. BTW, I think that there was a nod to the “Back to the Future” film series towards the end of the film. Listen to one of the quotes by the elder Spock.
@ Vic:
Vic, is this where we of the ‘spoilers’ thread are welcome to re-gather? I think it is, as you did say ‘Star Trek Review’, when you closed the ‘spoilers’ board down.
I don’t blame you, Vic, it was getting out of hand, what with all of us getting off-topic and the overload of Screen Rant notices in my mailbox, we clogged it up so much that we KILLED it! Somebody had to do something.
Anyway, Steve, Katherine, Fury2701, Purist, NCC-1704, K Bone, and Ken, and all others on there, this must be the place…and I really mean that.
Here, presumably, we can chat til our hearts’ content, hahaha!
JOHNNY-O
This is why I wanted to know of free forums I can set up so some of us can chat about anything, not just about movies, as much as I LOVE talking about movies, there are other things I like to chat about as well.
Man, I’m waiting for my friend to get his ass in gear so we can go watch Star Trek (again for me, first time for him).
Lets all remember that this story is so wrong, so “out there” that it’s been classified by the writers as being an alternate universe, which means that this film means no more than any issue of Marvel Comics Presents: What If…. I kept waiting for the Watcher to come out and tell the audience that this film ment nothing to the current timeline. Was it enjoyable, yes, it dosn’t mean ANYTHING in the timeline but it was fun, was it worth it……..no. If you can’t write a TRUE to the Star Trek timeline story then you are just wasting everyones time. Lets also not say that the other Star Trek films were bad, they weren’t as good as others but lets face it, these films are really just high budget episodes. Also, lets not forget why Enterprise really failed, IT SCREWED WITH THE TIMELINE!!!!! Never go backwards, I thought that was one thing the SW prequel trilogy taught us.
@ Steve:
I’ll be damned, you were absolutely right!
The TOS episode about Bones’ old GF, Nancy, WAS called ‘The Man Trap’!!!
I don’t know where I got the idea that it was called ‘The Unreal McCoy’, I guess I read about it somewhere & just assumed that since the chapter/article referred to it by that, that was the name of the episode.
It was not the first episode filmed (that, of course, was the Pilot), but it was the first one aired.
As you were not yet BORN (hahaha), you won’t remember this, but as I recall, I didn’t pick up in the series until a few shows had already aired – I believe the first fresh episode I ever saw of ST/TOS was ‘The Naked Time’, about the mutated water molecule that had been brought onborad & infected the whole ship.
I remember being fascinated by the transporter effect, I had never seen that before and was tranfixed by the idea!
It took me a bit to pick up on the fact that, This was the way they got on/off borad the Enterprise.
And to THINK, it was invented only because Roddenberry couldn’t land & take off the ship every week!
JOHN
@ Ken J:
HEY, buddy! Welcome to the new thread, so glad you found the place!
I presume the others of our cabal will eventually figure it out, as you & I did, and start drifting in.
I hope the Doc (Steve), and our sweet little Ingenue, Katherine, find this thread. Hate like hell not to be able to trade friendly barbs with those two again, not to mention NCC-1704, Purist, K Bone, & Fury2701.
I think I’ll go hit those other two threads I was on (still got the shortcuts), ‘First Look’ & ‘Fresh Look’, just to steer them here.
Good to see ya again, pal! Later…
JOHN
Ken isn’t that what Twitter and Facebook are all about?
@Johhny-O, Ken J, et al…
Please describe the nature of your medical emergency.
Cheers,
-Doc
@ 790:
You may well be right…have to explore that, I haven’t familiarized myself with Facebook or Twitter yet. I suppose it’s about high time I did.
This would be a good place to gather for the interim, though, and it was at Vic’s invitation, so…
JOHN
@Steve , (correction)
“Please state the nature of your medical emergency”
I actually preferred the ECH, Emergency Command Hologram.
Activate the Photonic cannon!
@ Steve:
Hi Doc, how’s my favorite Bones?
It really threw everybody for a loop, not having the Spoiler sounding board anymore, didn’t it!?
And to answer your question – I got a POSTING JONES!!! Hahahahaha!
Good to hear from ya, Paisan,
Giovanni-O
PS: OMG, I just got your ‘Doctor from Voyager’ reference!!!
Very funny, Doc! You’re a droll soul…feel like you’ve been, I dunno, TURNED OFF? Lol!
Just saw it in IMAX. I’d say the movie itself is worth a 3.5/5 or a 4/5, I’m not a huge fan and never got into it before. But the IMAX experience puts it to a 4.5/5, I wish there was one or two less glares put on the screen though.
@ 790:
790, Steve IS a doctor, so of course he HATES the ECH; can’t say as I blame him, really, I mean, professionally, it’s like, insulting (Beverly Crusher didn’t like the Doctor either, as I recall from ‘First Contact’).
I think he shows a wonderful sense of humor even referencing it, if you ask me!
And for the record, I did like Robert Picardo – he was also good as the rather iffy Woolsey in Stargate Atlantis, which blows its predecessor series (SG-1) away, I think.
But that’s just me.
JOHN
Giovanni-O, Dr. Steve, and others, I have returned.
Who’s this new John guy? He seems pretty fired up.
Guess he didn”t like the movie . . .
@Johhny-O, don’t mis-read me, I’m not endorsing Twitter/Fbook,,, Screen Rant has a open forum its called “Open Discussion” its up all the time and resets on wednesday mornings.
There we can all talk Star Trek, B5, Terminator, LEXX,,, anything entertainment topics, movies, tv shows,etc / related Screen rant topics.