Star Trek Beyond
Starring Chris Pine, Idris Elba
Directed by Justin Lin
Old school charm meets mind-numbing action for the 13th film installment in the Star Trek saga, which is celebrating its 50thanniversary.
Picking up after the events of 2013’s Into Darkness, Star Trek Beyond begins as the crew of the Enterprise is three years into their five-year journey of exploration. Some monotony has set in; Captain Kirk (Pine) even quips, in fine meta-fashion, things are starting to feel “episodic.” But, this is Star Trek and eventually someone or some “thing” shows up to ruin the party. A ruthless alien named Krall (an unrecognizable Elba) launches a devastating attack against the intrepid crew, leaving them separated and/or marooned. This plot development leads to some of the film’s best moments as the script has a real chance to breathe and plenty of amusing character dynamics ensue.
In many ways, the movie is a throwback to the original show and the vision crafted by creator Gene Roddenberry; that is, until the action takes over. Epic space battles and intimate fight sequences have always been an essential part of the Trek universe but Beyond crams so much generic action into the story that is starts to feel bloated. Director Justin Lin, taking over duties from J.J. Abrams, nails the familial bond theme so well-explored in his Fast & Furious flicks but spends so much time blowing things up the film struggles to breathe in sections. Star Trek’s latest adventure ensures the longevity of the series but feels a bit like a mediocre episode.
