Jun 22, 2009 09:29 AM
1998 Views
(Updated Jun 22, 2009 09:31 AM)
I went for this one because I used to be a big fan of the Star Trek television series that used to be aired on Doordarshan. My brother and I never missed even one. And then we even used to enact it – I always got to me Mr Spock and he used to be the Captain!
But then, to be honest, I was a little disappointed with the movie. I think I went expecting an edge of the seat thriller – and this didn’t live up to that. It was silly, childish, cute and predictable. It was also kind of like watching an extended version of the Star Trek television series. Although of course with all the breathtaking special effects that one has started taking for granted these days!
The film opens with the Star Trek space craft being attacked by a spiky, technically ultra superior Romulan space ship captained by a tattooed and ever-snarling Nero. This lays the foundation for the story as little Kirk is born amidst all this and manages to survive while his father saves 800 other lives and sacrifices his own. Little Jim Kirk grows up to with a superlative IQ, but a completely rebellious nature. Spock in the meantime has a troubled childhood in his home – Vulcan (amazing sets here!). Despite his startling academic success, he gets constantly ribbed by other Vulcan kids because he is half human and therefore prone to being emotional. Having laid this foundation – the director JJ Adams brings the two together aboard the spacefleet. And thus begins the predictable action!
Chris Pine who plays Kirk – does his role well and his expressive blue eyes carry the movie through. Zachary Quinto as Spock needs to keep an impassive face all though the movie and he does so with ease – no acting prowess needed there. The supporting players--Simon Pegg (Scotty), John Cho (Sulu), and Anton Yelchin (Chekov) do their parts admirably well and provide for cute little touches of humour.
Music is predictable. Computer graphics and effects – like I said before are plenty and really well done. Some unnecessary special effects seem to have been added – like Kirk being chased across the icy landscape by a red colour dragon. I never did figure our where and why that came from? The mysterious 'red matter' that seems to destroy entire plants - is rather hilarious because it is never really explained as to why this 'mysterious matter' is so powerful.
My personal favourite scene in the movie is the destruction of planetVulcan. Really awesome special effects there – as the whole placedissolves and transforms into a black hole.
So the deal is – you go and watch the movie just to have fun. Yes, the young team of good guys win and the bad man is destroyed. The story and somehow even the background score, is predictable from scene one! You go just to watch all these characters assemble together, how their characters are etched out and how they clash and yet how in the end – they all come together as one big family.
It’s a relaxing, pop corn fare for all Sci-fi and Star Trek fans. And I believe the film has laid the foundation for sequels to follow. So go for it. Don’t expect much out of it. Just have fun.
