From watching the chic young ‘90210’ cast of J.J. Abrams’ rebooted Star Trek movie franchise, it’s hard to fathom that Gene Roddenberry’s venerable sci-fi space opera just turned 50 this year. Then again, it’s equally hard to imagine that ‘Star Trek: The Original Series’ (TOS) was axed by NBC back in 1969 after just three seasons as a result of dismal ratings, only to become a big hit in syndication and remain one of the most enduring cultural phenomena of our time with legions of fans called Trekkies (I mean “Trekkers”) five decades later.
‘Star Trek Beyond’ is the third
entry in the new ST cinematic universe (to borrow Marvel’s terminology) and is
the first not directed by J.J. Abrams who, in an act of betrayal worthy of Kylo Ren himself, took
on a certain other space opera project and stayed on only as producer this time
around. Holy Benedict Arnold,
Batman! Filling in
is Taiwanese director Justin Lin, who’s everything Ang Lee isn’t and whom I regard as the Chinese answer to Michael Bay. For those unfamiliar, Lin is the guy responsible for pulling 'Fast & Furious' out of straight-to-DVD obscurity and making it into one of the most inexplicably lucrative film franchises in recent memory. Lin brought his fast-and-furious style to this
latest installment, making ‘Star Trek Beyond’ the most fast-paced and
jam-packed-with-nonstop-action ST movie we’ve seen yet. Case in point, while it took Abrams most of
‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ just to damage the Enterprise, it only took Lin the
first half hour or so to totally obliterate the iconic starship at the hands
of the movie’s baddie, a villain by the name of General Krall (Idris Elba).
In spite of its cinematic excess, ‘Star
Trek Beyond’ managed to be another solid addition to the ST
franchise, providing viewers with a fun and action-packed deep space adventure yarn in
the grand tradition of popcorn movies.
Filled with individual exploits of derring-do, dastardly villainy and a colorful cast of
characters (including the feisty alien heroine played by Sofia Boutella shown below), it is an immensely satisfying thrill ride worth taking
not just for the diehard Trekkers but for anyone who simply enjoys a good
sci-fi/action flick.
Well well well.... Look who's the Captain now!
Grade: A
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