"I like this ship!"
It is to Paramount's credit that they finally had the guts to stop indulging the Next Generation actors and (almost) wipe the slate clean and start over with a budget that gave the movie franchise a fighting chance in today's market. Whilst Insurrection and even Nemesis were not necessarily bad films as such, they were more like average TV movies which had lost touch with the general movie-going public. Thankfully, the exuberance and spectacle of the 2009 re-boot remain intact on the small screen, making it a joy to revisit on DVD. Praise is due to Chris Pine and particularly Zachary Quinto as the new incarnations of Kirk and Spock, not for impersonating the 60s versions but for two finely-judged and detailed performances. Karl Urban nails Dr McCoy's demeanour from his first entrance, and the rest of the ensemble provide fine support, not just the crew members but solid performances by the likes of Ben Cross and Winona Ryder as Spock's parents and a brief but telling stint by Chris Hemsworth as Kirk's father in the truly stunning opening scenes. The special effects sequences are beautiful in scale and realisation, and Michael Giacchino's terrific score hits the mark every time. The time-travelling narrative excuse for the new timeline still doesn't quite convince, and the appearance of Leonard Nimoy seems fan-pleasing rather than necessary, but overall the shiny new Star Trek is hugely enjoyable. One can only hope that the inevitable (and now much anticipated) sequel will go into new territory, rather than go over old ground or already-used characters/villains.
It is to Paramount's credit that they finally had the guts to stop indulging the Next Generation actors and (almost) wipe the slate clean and start over with a budget that gave the movie franchise a fighting chance in today's market. Whilst Insurrection and even Nemesis were not necessarily bad films as such, they were more like average TV movies which had lost touch with the general movie-going public. Thankfully, the exuberance and spectacle of the 2009 re-boot remain intact on the small screen, making it a joy to revisit on DVD. Praise is due to Chris Pine and particularly Zachary Quinto as the new incarnations of Kirk and Spock, not for impersonating the 60s versions but for two finely-judged and detailed performances. Karl Urban nails Dr McCoy's demeanour from his first entrance, and the rest of the ensemble provide fine support, not just the crew members but solid performances by the likes of Ben Cross and Winona Ryder as Spock's parents and a brief but telling stint by Chris Hemsworth as Kirk's father in the truly stunning opening scenes. The special effects sequences are beautiful in scale and realisation, and Michael Giacchino's terrific score hits the mark every time. The time-travelling narrative excuse for the new timeline still doesn't quite convince, and the appearance of Leonard Nimoy seems fan-pleasing rather than necessary, but overall the shiny new Star Trek is hugely enjoyable. One can only hope that the inevitable (and now much anticipated) sequel will go into new territory, rather than go over old ground or already-used characters/villains.
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