Star Trek
A young James T. Kirk glimpses his destiny as captain of the Enterprise, but his rebellious attitude places him at odds with both the administration of Starfleet Academy and its star cadet, Spock. The cadets must come together to defeat a threat from the future: Nero, a vengeful Romulan. Fortunately they have help from a friend . . .
Spock's back! And the rest of the gang, naturally. It's been 18 years since we last saw the Vulcan, in The Undiscovered County and Unification. Director J.J. Abrams clearly realized the character's tremendous appeal, casting both a new face, Zachary Quinto (best known as Sylar from TV's Heroes and the venerable Leonard Nimoy to share the role. This is not, in fact, a "forget all you know" reboot, but rather, a very Star Trek way to reset things: setting the film in an alternate time line. All we know from TOS and the other series and films still occurs in its own continuity. So, the producers can take liberties, presenting characters and situations familiar to us but slightly different than once remembered. The new cast is a resounding success, with everyone channelling their predecessors while making the characters their own. Karl Urban is most like De Kelley as Bones McCoy, while Simon Pegg as Scotty drifts far from Jimmy Doohan. Eric Bana's Nero is the only significant new character, and while not quite a Khan, at least stands up next to Kruge and Chang.
A big-budget action adventure, this is a fun, spirited movie with a "getting to know you" feel. Certain to delight both TOS fans and the general audience, this is the best relaunch for the franchise we could hope for. If anything is missing, it's a big idea or concept, or even some little ideas. Beyond character moments and a string of events (called plot, we suppose), there isn't much beneath the surface. Still, everything is in place for a stirring sequel, which will bump the familiar up against the unknown.
Themes: Destiny, cheating and winning, retribution, intuition vs. rationalism.
Production: The bright primary colours and shiny chrome surfaces of The Original Series get a future-pop update. Considering the show's set designers had to fish things out of the dumpster, it's refreshing to see the TOS "look" executed with a proper budget. The space effects are flawless, though the Enterprise occasionally looks like a Hallmark Christmas ornament when confronting Nero's ginormous, spindly ship. The Starfleet uniforms retain '60s mod coolness without the dork factor. Bunching the pants rather than puffing them out seems to do the trick.
Spock: As in 1986's The Voyage Home, the last Star Trek film marketed to a general audience, 2009's Star Trek condenses Spock's overall character arc to a digestible length. But unlike the Whale Movie, this film also expands him in new directions. And matters are complicated further since there is not one Spock, but two.
Zachary Quinto's Spock has the poise, wit, and intelligence we have come to expect. Yet since he is younger than in the classic episodes, he has not yet tempered these qualities with humility and compassion as the film begins. " Arrogant prick" might not be too harsh a description. After being treated as a second-class citizen on Vulcan, he likely enjoys his superior position among humans. Kirk disrupts his position by thinking around the problem Spock devised, the Kobiyashi Maru test. To an even greater extent than in TOS, Kirk represents intuition and chaos, a contrast to Spock's rationalism and order.
Worse still, Vulcan's destruction at Nero's hands reorders Spock's universe. With his mother gone and remaining Vulcans few, he is, as he records, "a member of an endangered species." Fortunately, another woman is providing emotional guidance: Nyota Uhura. This is Spock's first-ever sustained romantic relationship, and its future is unclear. In the meantime, they are a solid match, both providing a rock for one another.
Sarek conveys Amanda's wisdom, telling Spock not to repress his anger toward Nero but use it productively. It takes Kirk to push Spock to emotional release (just as in The Paradise Syndrome and Amok Time), but working through emotion, he gains the strength to help defeat Nero. He has gained some understanding of himself, along with the requisite humility and compassion, but not laid all demons to rest.
Leonard Nimoy's Spock is just as we remember, and the product of the long road Quinto's Spock has yet to walk. His characterization is consistent with The Undiscovered County and Unification, resting on the logical display of emotion. Saving Romulus is fitting for one integrated into its culture. Spock is wise in not storming in to fix things, but influencing this alternate time line so all can have rich and rewarding lives within.
It's the Spock in between the young cadet and the old ambassador who is most fascinating, and one we definitely hope to see very soon. Zachary Quinto is no doubt ready and waiting.