How entertaining? ★★★☆☆
Thought provoking? ★★☆☆☆ 21 July 2016
A movie review of STAR TREK BEYOND. |
YouTube review:
|
“We will do what we always do: Find hope in the impossible,” Spock (Zachary Quinto)
Like SPECTRE and THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, after just a few movies Bond and Batman were respectively broken and jaded. An unjustified sudden leap, not in an intriguing way like the ellipsis in THERE WILL BE BLOOD, just in a run out of ideas kinda way. Here, after the wonderful initial foray that gave us the word “reboot” (which has since been sullied beyond seeming redemption by the plethora of mediocre cash ins), and the bizarre misfire to include Khan in the previous instalment, you guessed it, Kirk is already bored.
Like SPECTRE and THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, after just a few movies Bond and Batman were respectively broken and jaded. An unjustified sudden leap, not in an intriguing way like the ellipsis in THERE WILL BE BLOOD, just in a run out of ideas kinda way. Here, after the wonderful initial foray that gave us the word “reboot” (which has since been sullied beyond seeming redemption by the plethora of mediocre cash ins), and the bizarre misfire to include Khan in the previous instalment, you guessed it, Kirk is already bored.
|
|
Nine hundred and sixty six days into the starship Enterprise’s five year exploratory mission and our captain wants his land legs back. Looking to take a cushy vice-admiral gig at the new Federation space station, Yorktown, going against the adventurous, borderline A.D.D. space dog persona we have come to love. Of course there should be character development, but evolve in an organic credible way that has not followed the path of several recent underwhelming sequels. Where are the original ideas?
Justin Lin has taken over from JJ Abrams as director, and one had hoped that he would bring his action cinema chutzpah, seen to thrilling effect in FAST FIVE and FAST & FURIOUS 6. However, his A-game is not present. The combat is fast edited and barely coherent. There is no build up of audience adrenaline. Reminding of recent debacles X-MEN: APOCALYPSE and INDEPENDENCE DAY: RESURGENCE, STAR TREK BEYOND is subsumed within a continuous cacophony of poorly constructed melees. These sequences are tied to a hyperactive pace that does not allow any sort of story to breathe. The resultant scenario is disappointingly flimsy.
|
|
Opening on a diplomatic meeting looking to broker a treaty between two worlds, Kirk (Chris Pine) gives as a gift part of an ancient weapon as a token of peace. He does not know what it does. Would it not be analysed first? Why would the Federation hand over something it was unclear about? Later it will play a key part of the plot, a bland, uninspired McGuffin that the film’s adversary Krall (Idris Elba) seeks. It’s an unelaborated upon bioweapon that dissolves people. During the climax, in a SCOOBY-DOO monologue, Krall handily explains his motivation in a clunky attempt at depth and subtext. Actions speak louder than words, and he comes across the majority of the runtime as two-dimensional.
Do not get one started on the techno jargon and head-scratching technology portrayal. Sci-fi, of course, can have a propensity for tech to save the day from being painted into a corner. Think the conversation in THANK YOU FOR SMOKING between Rob Lowe and Aaron Eckhart:
“Sony has a futuristic sci-fi movie they're looking to make,” Jeff Megall (Lowe)
“Cigarettes in space?” Nick Naylor (Eckhart)
“It's the final frontier, Nick,” Jeff
“But wouldn't they blow up in an all oxygen environment?” Nick
“Probably. But it's an easy fix. One line of dialogue. 'Thank God we invented the... you know, whatever device.'” Jeff.
STAR TREK BEYOND has the movie-length feel of a fudge. Bits of kit chucked into the narrative to get the players to the finish line.
The saving grace is the camaraderie and wonderful chemistry of the Enterprise crew, who own their characters, and rapidly deliver unceasing quips among the fisticuffs. It is a shame then that this winsome coterie is not given an adventure equalling them.
|
|
Using these Google Adsense links help us keep Filmaluation free for all film and arts lovers.