Out of the Ashes...

Trek...

Okay, well... Cam and I went to see the new Star Trek movie, and he was into it. I never really got him into the older Trek series and films. His age was part of that, our separate living arrangements another, but mainly it was because he really showed no interest. As he got older, however, and his imagination grew to seemingly monumental proportions I figured he might actually enjoy some rather action-oriented sci-fi. After all, he did like Terminator (all of them), X-Men, and a couple of others I can’t recall off hand.

What better way to introduce the mini Mr. Wonch to the Trek universe than a RE-introduction to me for a new vision for the franchise. In short, going in we were both new to it (him a bit more than me, of course).

Which leads me to the main point of this quick blog entry. My opinion...without revealing too many plot points. Tor will probably be interested in this. If you aren’t, click out now.

Since this film is actually about the original crew of the Enterprise, the movie starts at the very beginning for the two main characters. Kirk’s birth, an important life-shaping event right after, as well as a short look into the future captain’s rather troubled childhood. Lemme just say, oddly enough, the vintage convertible coupled with my all-time fav Beastie Boys tune called Sabotage. Out of place as those things seemed, it actually worked.

Then there’s Spock. He’s shown at first on his homeworld as a half-Vulcan, half-Human child tormented by his peers, then as a young man rejecting the same prejudice from his world’s ruling council, and finally as an officer serving aboard our beloved Enterprise.

The film starts out fast and doesn’t really let up. Where there is no action there’s humor and/or pivotal plot points. The film itself is more about the characters than the ship, it’s technology, or even the time-frame in which this all takes place (kinda seems like 100 years from now rather than the canon’s 300 or so). Or maybe it’s just a realistic view of how human society really does progress - key tech progress, slower social progress, and overall everything else remains the same.

Just so you know, Trek fans, Chris Pike is in charge...at first. What follows is pretty fun to watch. Pike’s taken out of the game early on, but not in a bad way. Once you see how that’s done, you know dang well he gets to come back later.

The film itself nods to the original canon, however the changes are explained in a very Star Trek manner (thus we have no choice but accept it). Time travel is involved as is, of course, revenge...which ends up creating an Alternate Timeline. For example, Trek fans know Kirk worked his way up the chain of command (faster than usual, but still hit every rung). We also know Kirk always had some kind of direction in his life. So the events at the start of the film actually changed all that. However, the silent argument of Predestination throughout the film bears out that what was supposed to happen in one way would still end up happening in another.

One thing I didn’t like was the cop-out aspect of how everyone found themselves in command positions (right out of the Academy, mind you). I can see a doctor suddenly finding himself Chief medical officer following the death of HIS boss. That’s kinda realistic...to a point. Spock as original First Officer given acting captaincy by Pike is another totally realistic happenstance. However, if you view the film and know ANYTHING about military/corporate protocols, would never be given the position of acting First Officer after first being sneaked (snuck?) aboard (after being officially grounded for “cheating” on a test). And then, of course, after being booted form the ship (by Spock) again sneaking on board only to end up - captain? Using regulations, to boot. There is no way that would ever happen, even in a pirate fleet. It was a bit reminiscent of how promotions are taken as outlined in the original series’ Mirror Mirror episode (Terran Empire).

And frankly, the fact that Mr. Scott deserted his official post on some backwater planet to help Kirk back aboard the Enterprise...and ended up immediately in the Chief Engineer’s slot? No...aw hell no. BRIG! And then, maybe...after a couple years in a penal colony.

Now, it IS possible that a seriously junior officer end up commanding a ship. Yes, that can happen. However, NEVER are they given command rank AND an official line command fresh out of an Academy.

But still, it’s Trek, so we can forgive that - kind of. Honestly, that was the only thing with which I had a serious “Oh come on!” problem. The way it was done seemed far too rushed.

Other than that, it’s a good film and superb “reboot” of the franchise. If you are a fan of the Trek of the past (event he recent past...like me), then leave your preconceptions at the door. Start fresh.

I will warn you of one thing, however. An entire race...an IMPORTANT race...within the Trek universe gets wiped out (with only 10,000 surviving out of several billion). I won’t say which one, but I will say they KEEP it that way rather than doing the usual Trek trick of setting it right (somehow).

Since the film has now outperformed current releases, even popular ones from a week or two ago, I believe it’s safe to say the sequel already being worked on will get the green light from Paramount. Especially since the studio and JJ Abrams successfully brought in an entirely new generation of fans who will demand it.

I think Gene Roddenberry would be pleased as much as, if not more than, Glen Larson was at the Battlestar Galactica “reimagining.”

All in all, well done. I look forward to more, and I think you will, too.