Year: 2016
Director: Justin Lin
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Sofia Boutella, and Idris Elba
Synopsis: Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the crew face off against a new enemy on an unfamiliar planet.
Synopsis: Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the crew face off against a new enemy on an unfamiliar planet.
Review
When the first trailer premiered, my initial reaction was "oh no." I was afraid the new director (Justin Lin) had ruined Star Trek. Rest assured he did not. Not at all. In fact, he delivered a rip-roaring romp that fits neatly into the Star Trek universe. Star Trek Beyond is a blast.
I will say, compared to the two reboot predecessors, this one isn't as narratively strong. The comparison to an extended episode of the original series is not unfounded. And I'm sure if I thought about it long enough and hard enough, I'd find various plot holes. But as I watched the film, it held together. And above all, it was a fun trip with beloved characters.
As we've come to expect, Beyond has loads of action, lots of combat, and many explosions. It's definitely a film that benefits from the theatrical experience. There are also some impressive set pieces, the most notable being the Yorktown: a space station which is the pride of the Federation (and looks like a gargantuan Perplexus toy).
Beyond retains the humor from the previous films. Simon Pegg's Scotty is as enjoyable as ever. For instance, in one scene, Jayla (a new, alien character) grabs her heavy-hitting staff as she approaches unknown trespassers. Not to be left out, Scotty grabs the only thing he can: a rock. As enjoyable as Scotty is throughout, it is Bones and Spock that really stand out this time as the two of them are stranded together for an extended period. Bones' cantankerous cynicism pits well against Spock's (near) emotionless logic (apparently a prominent feature of the original series) and provide ample humor throughout the film.
As a side note, it is also nice to see two men who think completely differently and even disagree on many subjects, yet clearly have a deep and abiding respect for each other.
As villains go, Benedict Cumberbatch as Khan is a tough act to follow. This time around we have Krall. He's an ominous villain with brutal tactics. But I couldn't help but notice his propensity for monologing. He's constantly monologing to Uhura: explaining his plan, the weapon he's after, and his anti-Federation sentiments. It works within the film. But it still made me think of Syndrome from The Incredibles. Krall is (intentionally or not) a timely villain. His ideology is that peace and unity breed weakness. Thus to him, the galaxy needs war to foster strength. Of course in the end it is unity that wins the day.
Unlike its reboot predecessors, Beyond is happily scandalous free. No romantic adventures on the part of Kirk. And no gratuitous female-changing-clothes shots. Thank you, Director Lin.
If you haven't already, go see Star Trek Beyond. It really is a rip-roaring summer blockbuster that entertains from start to finish.
*** Spoiler Section ***
I thought it very appropriate that the final scene of the movie is a birthday party for Kirk. Why? Because I saw the movie on my own birthday.
As a musician, I love that it is music that ultimately saves the day by throwing off the alien swarm's ability to communicate. I would have picked different music. But I enjoyed it nonetheless.
As for the twist -- the reveal that Krall was once Balthazar Edison, captain of the USS Franklin -- it worked for me. I didn't see it coming, yet it made sense based on what had been previously revealed. Plus it played into Kirk's personal struggles with feeling lost and without purpose.
I will say, compared to the two reboot predecessors, this one isn't as narratively strong. The comparison to an extended episode of the original series is not unfounded. And I'm sure if I thought about it long enough and hard enough, I'd find various plot holes. But as I watched the film, it held together. And above all, it was a fun trip with beloved characters.
As we've come to expect, Beyond has loads of action, lots of combat, and many explosions. It's definitely a film that benefits from the theatrical experience. There are also some impressive set pieces, the most notable being the Yorktown: a space station which is the pride of the Federation (and looks like a gargantuan Perplexus toy).
Beyond retains the humor from the previous films. Simon Pegg's Scotty is as enjoyable as ever. For instance, in one scene, Jayla (a new, alien character) grabs her heavy-hitting staff as she approaches unknown trespassers. Not to be left out, Scotty grabs the only thing he can: a rock. As enjoyable as Scotty is throughout, it is Bones and Spock that really stand out this time as the two of them are stranded together for an extended period. Bones' cantankerous cynicism pits well against Spock's (near) emotionless logic (apparently a prominent feature of the original series) and provide ample humor throughout the film.
As a side note, it is also nice to see two men who think completely differently and even disagree on many subjects, yet clearly have a deep and abiding respect for each other.
As villains go, Benedict Cumberbatch as Khan is a tough act to follow. This time around we have Krall. He's an ominous villain with brutal tactics. But I couldn't help but notice his propensity for monologing. He's constantly monologing to Uhura: explaining his plan, the weapon he's after, and his anti-Federation sentiments. It works within the film. But it still made me think of Syndrome from The Incredibles. Krall is (intentionally or not) a timely villain. His ideology is that peace and unity breed weakness. Thus to him, the galaxy needs war to foster strength. Of course in the end it is unity that wins the day.
Unlike its reboot predecessors, Beyond is happily scandalous free. No romantic adventures on the part of Kirk. And no gratuitous female-changing-clothes shots. Thank you, Director Lin.
If you haven't already, go see Star Trek Beyond. It really is a rip-roaring summer blockbuster that entertains from start to finish.
*** Spoiler Section ***
I thought it very appropriate that the final scene of the movie is a birthday party for Kirk. Why? Because I saw the movie on my own birthday.
As a musician, I love that it is music that ultimately saves the day by throwing off the alien swarm's ability to communicate. I would have picked different music. But I enjoyed it nonetheless.
As for the twist -- the reveal that Krall was once Balthazar Edison, captain of the USS Franklin -- it worked for me. I didn't see it coming, yet it made sense based on what had been previously revealed. Plus it played into Kirk's personal struggles with feeling lost and without purpose.
Quotable Quotes
- "Fascinating." "Ominous. Dark. Dangerous." -- Spock and Bones describing the same cavern
- "You gave your girlfriend a tracking device?" "... That was not the intention." -- Bones and Spock
- "This is where the frontier pushes back!" -- Krall
- "More or less" -- Kirk and Spock
ISFS
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