STAR TREK BEYOND (2016)

Genre: Sci-Fi/Action
Director: Justin Lin
Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Joe Taslim, Idris Elba
Runtime: 2 hr 3 mins
Rating: PG13 (Some Violence)
Released By: UIP 
Official Website: https://www.facebook.com/StarTrekMovie

Opening Day: 21 July 2016

Synopsis: "Star Trek Beyond," the highly anticipated next installment in the globally popular Star Trek franchise, created by Gene Roddenberry and reintroduced by J.J. Abrams in 2009, returns with director Justin Lin (“The Fast and the Furious” franchise) at the helm of this epic voyage of the U.S.S. Enterprise and her intrepid crew. In “Beyond," the Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.

Movie Review:

How many of us know Star Trek has its roots in 1966 when it first debuted as The Original Series? How many of us know that there are now 13 movies in the Star Trek film franchise? While Star Trek has been a cult phenomenon for decades (fans of the franchise, also known as Trekkies, often spout taglines like “Live Long and Prosper”, “Beam Me Up, Scotty” and “To Boldly Go Where No Man Has Gone Before…”), there is this other little franchise called Star Wars which will always serve as a comparison.

After 10 previous movies, the Star Trek film franchise did what almost every other movie franchise thought was a good marketing strategy – to reboot the series. This third production in the series after 2009’s Star Trek and 2013’s Star Trek Into Darkness is, fortunately, a thoroughly enjoyable summer blockbuster that is bound to go down with critics and common movie goers alike.

Justin Lin, known for his work on The Fast and the Furious 3-6, takes over the director role from J J Abrams (it is interesting to note that Abrams has directed both Star Wars and Star Trek movies) and delivers first class entertainment with this 122 minute movie. With a screenplay by Simon Pegg and Doug Jung, Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto reprise their roles as Captain James T Kirk and Commander Spock respectively, with Pegg, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, John Cho and Anton Yelchin reprising their roles from the previous movies.

Pegg is charming as chief engineer Montgomery Scott, Urban is the sturdy chief medical officer Leonard McCoy, Saldana displays her coolness as communications officer Nyota Uhura, Cho is endearing as helmsman Hikaru Sulu (you probably have read about how this movie will portray this character as a gay – thumbs up for giving the film some pre publicity!) and Yelchin is the very likeable navigator Pavel Chekov (the 27 year old actor died in a very unfortunate freak accident earlier this year). Joining the all star cast is the menacing Idris Elbaas a ruthless military commander and Sofia Boutella as a new ally.

Lin is marvelous as he brings on the thrills and spills of the sci fi adventure. There are breathtaking spaceship chases, impressive explosions, and even a well choreographed motorcycle sequence. Also, watch out for stunning visual spectacles like the enemy attack ships which swarm their target like hoards of insects – giving you the perfect reason to catch this movie in glorious 3D format.

Although much of the movie involves the cast delivering dialogue (at the top of their voices – they are in space after all) to explain what and why their actions, the chemistry between the actors is evident. There is much bromance on display here – Pine and Quinto, Quinto and Urban, Yelchin and Pine – it makes you want to put on that slick space uniform (with the Starfleet insignia, no less) and be part of the team.

Trekkies would approve of this highly recommended summer blockbuster as well. There is an apt photo cameo where Leonard Nimoy appears as Spock Prime, alongside George Takei, Walter Koenig, William Shatner, James Doohan, DeForest Kelley and Nichelle Nichols as Sulu, Chekov, Kirk, Scott, McCoy and Uhura from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. The script pays tribute to the familiar taglines, and there will be a special place in your heart for this movie when the end credits come on, stating that it is dedicated to the memory of Nimoy (who died during pre production) and the cast and crew’s “little brother” Anton.

Movie Rating:

(Buckle up for an epic sci fi adventure that takes you on a Fast and Furious ride in space!)

Review by John Li