J.J. Abrams and Chris Pine on the set of Star Trek

MOVIE REVIEW: ‘Star Trek’

4 stars

By Greg Vellante

I had planned on beginning this review by saying I was a “Star Trek” virgin, but after seeing some of the series’ most loyal fans, I realize that my intro could be taken with a hint of double-meaning (and I wouldn’t want to offend any Trekkies out there). But it’s true; before seeing J.J. Abrams’s new, revamped spin on the intergalactic franchise, I had never once seen nor been interested in an episode of the TV series or any of the movies. I’ve always been a “Star Wars” man myself, so sitting down for my first “Star Trek” movie after all these years was like stabbing the Force in the back with a red light saber.

But I was wrong. “Star Trek” is a magnificent, engaging, tour de force of entertainment bliss. Within five minutes, you’re sold, and there’s no coming back to reality until the credits.

With a heaping helping of everything that defines true entertainment, this movie will strike a chord with all movie goers. Looking for elaborate character development? Edge-of-your-seat hand-to-hand combat sequences? Romance? Wise-cracking humor? Amazing special effects? “Star Trek” has it all, and isn’t afraid to flaunt it.

Most appealing is the casting. I’ve never specifically mentioned casting directors in a review before, but the ensemble that “Star Trek” manages to mesh together is worthy of the utmost reverence.

So kudos April Webster and Alyssa Weisberg! Your ability to flawlessly cast a perfect ensemble, and a large one at that, caused me to search for your names in the closing credits. I needed to know who to thank for choosing the performers who delivered such effective performances while also overlooking the general mass of A-list money-makers and instead choosing lesser known Hollywood fare.

Chris Pine as James Tiberius Kirk? What a choice, despite the fact that his biggest films to date were the crime/action drama “Smokin’ Aces” and the indie film “Bottle Shock.” A role that could have gone to any actor went to one who truly deserves it, and he delivers a performance that sets the film’s intelligently humorous yet solemn tone. And Zachary Quinto as Spock? Another spot on choice, as Quinto’s role combines line of high I.Q. and emotionless expressions that somehow contain all of the emotion in the world. Brilliant.

These two actors lead the pack, but the rest of the ensemble delivers as well. Zoe Saldana as Uhura, Simon Pegg as Scotty, John Cho as Sulu, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, and a completely unrecognizable Eric Bana as the villain, Captain Nero. The list could go on and on until I’ve named every speaking role in the film, but it seems like “Star Trek” hit the casting lottery and cashed in big.

I was undeniably satisfied at the end of “Star Trek,” but a part of me still wondered how I would have been feeling had I seen anything “Trek”-related before. That question ceased to exist as the entire theater erupted with applause, the majority coming from the fans in the back row who showed their true “Star Trek” colors by donning official costumes - Spock ears, capes, you name it. This is when I knew that J.J. Abrams had struck gold.

Revamping and reshaping a franchise into your own creative baby is always a tough ordeal to overcome, especially when you’re dealing with a series as big as “Star Trek.” But now that I think about it, I shouldn’t have doubted Abrams. Look at what Christopher Nolan did with “Batman.” It can be done - it just has to fall into the right hands.

Abrams’s hands molded this new “Star Trek” into something special. It’s obviously got a bit of an edge to it (I doubt any of the past “Star Trek” movies had a young Kirk joy riding while rocking out to “Sabotage” by the Beastie Boys on the radio), but it’s this edge that gives it something truly transforming when it comes to the common viewer.

Before the film started, I looked at all the fanboys dressed up and giddy about the film, and all I could think of was, “Get A Life”. But once the movie ended, the only thing on my mind was, “Where do I sign up?”