Star Trek

Star Trek

Directed by J.J. Abrams

Written by Alex Kurtzman and Robert Orci

Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, John Cho, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, and Anton Yelchin

It’s hard to avoid a cultural phenomenon like Star Trek. I’ve never seen an entire episode of any Star Trek series (I have, however, seen, like, two movies) and yet, despite it all, I know more about Gene Roddenberry’s creation than I want to admit. For example:

I know that Vulcans are a species fueled on logic, not emotion.

I know that there was a Captain Sisqo, a Captain Jane, and a Captain Picard.

I know what a mirror universe is.

I know the Klingons have some sort of honor system that defines them.

I know that Data is a humanoid artificial intelligence.

I know what a “Tribble” is. That they are, indeed, trouble.

I know that guy with the visor was on Reading Rainbow (Jordi?).

I know that everyone loves Wrath of Khan (no, I’ve never seen it)

I know that Kirk died falling from a bridge in Generations.

I know that Spock learned to embrace his emotions by serving on the USS Enterprise.

I know George Takei (Sulu) is gay in real life.

I know “The Borg” assimilated with Captain Picard.

I know that Captain Kirk was a p@ssyhound, and that he and Uhura shared the first interracial kiss on television.

I also know that Roddenberry intended Star Trek to be a “space-western” --- a kinda Bonanza meets science fiction. It’s the space-western angle that always made me want to watch Star Trek, but the overt sci-fi-ness of the original’s predecessors (Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, etc. --- all of which we’re the only Star Treks that existed during my lifetime) always kept me away. I wanted less philosophy, less “aliens-are people-too”-crap, and less stationary spaceships shooting at each other while the actors swung their bodies right to left. I wanted less sci-fi and more western.

I guess director J.J. Abrams must have felt the same way, ‘cause this new, shrewdly named Star Trek film is exactly that. Abrams intentions are clear at the exact moment we’re re-introduced to James T. Kirk. He’s involved in some pre-teen grand theft auto (read: horses) and narrowly avoiding death by letting his Corvette drive right off the cliff like a runaway stagecoach. There are quite a few nods like this in the film, from saloon fights to old west shoot-outs on Romulan ships.

Yeah, there is a lot of action in the new Star Trek film, almost to point of interfering with it’s nimble comic book-styled plot, but never at the risk of under-characterizing the film’s magnificent seven. Chris Pine (Kirk), Zachary Quinto (Spock), John Cho (Sulu), Anton Yelchin (Chekov), Zoe Saldana (Uhura), Simon Pegg (Scotty), and Karl Urban (Bones), all glisten charisma. Abrams, along with, screenwriters, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman prove that they are adept at writing for ensembles (they first worked together on the TV show Alias), and the actors all manage to tightrope that median between pop impersonator and personal interpretation (though, Urban’s Deforest Kelly is so spot-on that you never want him to leave a scene).

Surprisingly, the only small disappointment is Eric Bana as the heavy, but you’ll be too concerned with when the sequels coming out to think about that. This non-Trekkie sure was.