Latest ‘Trek’: Phasers on stunning
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, May 03, 2009
Those who think “Star Trek” is an annoying excuse for a comic convention may have to change their minds.
“Star Trek,” the much-talked-about 11th movie in the sci-fi series, is shaping up to be not only a 21-phaser salute to kick off the summer blockbuster season, but perhaps the magic that will breathe new vigor into the whiskery “Star Trek” franchise.
Industrial Light and Magic
Kirk, via wormhole, is young again. Chris Pine does the job.
That kick is probably thanks to director J.J. Abrams, creator of “Lost,” “Fringe” and “Alias,” and a television wunderkind who has, with “Star Trek,” set his cinema phasers to stun.
Without giving away anything too important, here’s a guide to what will get both newbies and veteran Trekkies jazzed when the movie opens Friday:
Time Travel Element I: A Romulan bad guy creates an impressive little device that yanks himself and Old Spock (Leonard Nimoy) through a wormhole, allowing Spock to visit with his younger self (Zachary Quinto). Effects mavens will delight in the set piece that shows a planet sucking itself out of existence.
Time Travel Element II: We see the growing up years of Spock and James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) in classic prequel style. Spock’s half-human ancestry later plays a pivotal role. Yes, the new, young cast is better-looking than the aging originals, but as critic Harry Knowles says, fear not: This isn’t “Star Trek 90210.”
Captain Kirk/Chris Pine: One can’t help but associate Kirk with the glazed ham that is William Shatner on “Boston Legal.” Pine remakes the role but maintains a smug twinkle that channels the Shatnerian tradition.
Mr. Spock/Zachary Quinto: Viewers of the television series “Heroes” suggested early on that Quinto’s character Sylar had a Vulcan look about him. Now, in an example of type-casting, Quinto gets to wear the famous pointed ears. Is he as good as the “real” Spock, though? Discuss among yourselves.
Eric Bana as Romulan villain Nero: Reflecting on Bana’s badness, fans will think back to bare-chested Ricardo Montalban as the scenery-chewing Khan in “Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan” but will be glad that the tattoo-faced Bana doesn’t wear a fur stole.
One-liners: “Star Trek” followers will probably be cheered by a movie that takes the lore seriously but treats itself lightly.
An example: The movie plays with the conventional antipathy between Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Karl Urban) and Spock, but amps it up when Spock decides to banish Kirk from the ship. The way Urban’s McCoy pronounces the chestnut, “Are you out of your Vulcan mind?” makes the phrase sound like the profane pun that it is.
