Issue #54: Comic Books For The Week Of Wednesday, May 13, 2009 & A Review Of STAR TREK!

Umbrella Academy: Dallas #6 (of 6) (Dark Horse)
Action Comics #877 (DC)
Terry Moore's Echo #12 (Abstract Studios)

I am having to wait until next week to go to Acme Comics http://acme-superstore.com/ , when payday comes, so for this issue I will share my thoughts on the latest Star Trek movie. My wife and I, and our daughter, saw it on Thursday, May 14, 2009. My wife was wanting to wait for the DVD, but her friends at work had such glowing reviews about it she had to see it at the theater. I knew I wasn't going to be able to wait for the DVD, especially after hearing a number of podcasts have an almost unanimous praise for the movie.

When I first heard that the new Star Trek movie would be a prequel about a young Kirk, Spock and crew, it left a bad taste in my mouth. It seemed that it could be another disastrous example of movie executive logic, which is an oxymoron. But being a trekkie I held out a little hope that my first impression might be wrong. The early trailers and TV commercials were more hopeful, and early preview reviews added some more hope. But I was still cautiously optomistic because past movies have looked great in previews but have not held up well after being released, like the Star Wars prequels or Superman Returns.

After buying our tickets and sitting in the theater I was looking forward to seeing the movie. I was not disappointed. In fact, I would put this movie as my #3 favorite Star Trek movie, after Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan and Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country. The story was an almost perfect balance of action and character development. The early scenes showing the growth of Kirk and Spock as boys did a good job of setting up the characters. It moved quickly through their Star Fleet Academy years, but spending enough time developing them as cadets. After showing them as seniors, and then jumping into the main plot of the movie, it's almost non stop action, yet as the best Star Trek episodes and movies do, the development of the stories open a window into the development of the characters, and shows them maturing through their actions.

The cast did an excellent job of portraying younger versions of the Kirk, Spock, McCoy and crew we have become so familiar with. They weren't as polished or assured, except for Kirk of course, because they are shown as younger Starfleet officers. And this prequel also does a great job of not rendering the past episodes and movies as meaningless or saying "This didn't happen." It honors past Trek, with many "easter eggs" for old fans, while taking this new Trek in a new direction that old fans like me can still enjoy.

My favorite actor in this movie was Karl Urban, who channeled DeForest Kelley as Dr, McCoy perfectly. He combined the irascible and blunt McCoy, who let the young Kirk and Spock know what he thought, with his medical genius. It wasn;t until the next day when I realized that he also played a Rohan prince in the Lord Of The Rings movies.

Leonard Nimoy as the elder Spock fit in the movie without making it feel as if the movie stopped to spotlight a popular Trek character, which Star Trek: The Motion Picture did ad nauseum. How he fit into the plot of this movie was also well done.

While the original Enterprise, and the bridge, equipment and uniforms were updated it was still similar enought the the original series design. It was apparent with all of the visuals and story elements and dialogue that the producers respected the source material. They did a tip of the hat to all that has come before in Trek while taking it into a new updated direction. It was not necessary to know anything about Star Trek to enjoy this movie, and it will be a perfect vehicle to hook new Star Trek fans and add new blood to the Star Trek franchise.

J. J. Abrams has set the bar high for the inevitable sequel. This movie shows he has the potential to carry the Star Trek franchise into the 21st century. I'll be among the first in line to buy my ticket to the next Star Trek movie, and it won't be soon enough.

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