Nerdfighters Gazette

Space, the final frontier. These are the ramblings of non-Trek fan. My ongoing mission…alright, enough of that. Let’s get this review started, shall we?

So hot back in the day...

Now I know that I’m a little late on this one, but there is a reason for that: I just now saw the flick. Why? Because I’m not a Star Trek fan. Never really have been. I used to watch the original series when I was like 8, not because I was a fan but because they were on at 11pm and they helped put me to sleep. I never dug the Next Generation, although I do have fleeting memories of pre-pubescantly fantasizing about the short haired blonde chick who was also in Pet Sematary (thanks to Playboy).

So not being a fan, I wasn’t really interested when this movie hit theaters, even though I was a big fan of J.J. Abrams and Simon Pegg. Which ultimately is why I decided to Netflix a copy to my PS3 and watch it last night. And boy, let me tell you…

I dug it. I thought the acting was really well done and of course the visual effects were amazing. I did end up pausing it a few times so I could Google certain things that were being referenced (Kobayashi Maru, Romulan and Winona Ryder naked amongst others) but ultimately they seem to be nods to the die-hard fans and not things that I needed to understand fully to enjoy the flick.

I thought Zachary Quinto played Spock very well and I liked how they were able to bring Leonard Nimoy into the plot as more than a cheap cameo. I also dug Zoe Saldana’s Uhura (and had no clue why they were making a big deal of her first name until I Googled Uhura naked and stumbled upon the fact that her first name was never given). Chris Pine was fine as Kirk, but I didn’t quite buy him as Captain material. Then again, maybe that’s because I’m not supposed to?

Now for the negatives: Simon Pegg. As the comic relief, he should have been more prominent in this flick. He pops in halfway through the movie and he’s not given but a handful of lines. I hope he is utilized more in future sequels, or else I can’t see myself bothering with them.

Another negative was the cinematography. Now I liked how the Enterprise felt new and shiny, but it seemed like in every shot there was a lens flare or 10, and they quickly became distracting. I actually felt like I needed to put on sunglasses to watch some of the scenes.

Finally, the look of the Romulans. I know what you’re thinking: “But if you weren’t aware of them from the series, why does it matter?” It matters because mid-movie I Googled them, remember? I saw pictures and immediately got used to the pronounced facial bones and bowl cuts. But these new Romulans just looked like biker-wannabes with stupid facial tattoos. I couldn’t even find a picture of an old-style Romulan with any tats. Way to throw in random character traits, production staff.

All in all, the movie was an enjoyable watch and I can’t knock it too much as I wasn’t expecting a whole lot going in. It surpassed my expectations and I think J.J. and Co. will go on to make more great Trek films in the future…or in the past. Or in an alternate reality. I don’t know. I’ve been watching too much Star Trek and LOST recently to fully understand what is happening, what did happen and what will happen/could happen. And now I need some aspirin.

THE VERDICT
This movie felt like going on a blind date. You don’t really expect a whole lot going in, but when you get there surprisingly the girl is cute and you have a good time. Then afterwards you make out in the front seat of your Mustang and cop a feel before she says good night and leaves you with a raging hard on and nothing to do but jerk off to Playboy pictures of the short haired blonde chick from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

NEXT REVIEW
The Invention of Lying starring Ricky Gervais