Initially, one would think that I wanted to see the new Star Trek directed by J.J. Abrams because of the fact that it is Star Trek. Or because I grew up on Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Wrath of Khan, Search for Spock; Final Frontier, The Undiscovered Country and the television shows and movies that followed after them. Frankly, that does have something to do with it, and so does the rumor of the film being a re-imagining of what Trekkies around the world have come to love.
Re-imagining is an understatement. This is a film turns the accepted history of Star Trek and its most beloved crew on its ear! In fact, after my first and second viewings I could not help but compare the events to what I knew from reading Star Trek books based on Captain Kirk's history and the events that take place in the film. Since I don't like to give too much away, suffice it to say that effectively this is an all new Star Trek with the crew and the ship really the only familiar elements. Those knowledgeable enough in Star Trek history will find themselves counting the differences.
Although this was a large influence on my reasons for wanting to see the film, it is not the reason I went to see it thrice and even desire to go a fourth.
No. The most compelling part of this movie is the essence of it. No matter how many times I have seen it, I cannot overcome the pure excitement I feel when, in one scene, James T Kirk: played by Chris Pine, has boarded a shuttle craft en route to Starfleet Academy and is accompanied by none other than Dr. Leonard McCoy portrayed brilliantly by Karl Urban who, launches into a classic Bones tirade about the dangers of traveling in space. The inflection, mannerisms, and attitude that Deforest Kelly made so famous was all there and Urban looks enough like Kelly in the early days of Star Trek that the effect is not eerie, but nostalgic.
The same can be said of all the actors cast as the younger versions of the famous crew. It was as if they spent all of their free time going back and studying their respective characters in order to capture the essence and spirit of them. They accomplished this and more. They made the characters more believable and human. Yes, even Zachary Quinto's Spock.
This is what drew me to seeing it as many times as I have and to anxiously await the DVD, that a cast could take something known to all the world and make it their own while still maintaining the spirit and excitement that is Star Trek intact is phenomenal at best.
In short, this is an amazing film as exciting and breathtaking as it is refreshing and thought provoking; a master piece.
If you have not seen it yet, it is still in some theatres across the country playing at least once or twice a day. Otherwise, it is a definite must see for DVD enthusiasts.
