"Star Trek: Beyond" Review

Title: Star Trek: Beyond

Directed by: Justin Lin

Written by: Doug Jung and Simon Pegg

Year: 2016


In 2009, J.J. Abrams successfully rebooted the Star Trek franchise with a film that was received well by both critics and audiences. Star Trek (2009) pleased Trekkies and was able to bring in a bevy of new fans to the Star Trek universe. The sequel, Star Trek: Into Darkness, was also met with overwhelmingly positive reviews. And now, the third in this new series has been released. Does Star Trek: Beyond keep the ball rolling, or does it fall short of its endeavor?

The Starship Enterprise investigates the wreckage of a scientific expedition that was attacked in uncharted space. However, upon their expedition, they are attacked and forced to land on the planet below. Now, they must survive against this alien threat and find a way off the planet.

Of the three films, Star Trek: Beyond definitely had the most daunting task. Not only did it have to be a sequel to the previous two films, but it also needed to be a celebration of Star Trek's 50th anniversary, while also catering to newer fans of the series. This film's success hinges on how well it can deliver on all of these fronts.

When this rebooted string of movies began, Chris Pine was nothing to write home about. He was perfectly serviceable, but not too special. However, with each film he has gradually improved. In this movie, Pine has really come into his own as Captain Kirk. Pine exudes a likable charm and gives a wonderful performance as a more experienced and wiser Kirk. Zachary Quinto has been terrific as Spock since the first film, and he delivers another good performance. His line delivery perfectly suits Spock and he does the character justice.

One of the actors that really shines in this film is Karl Urban as Bones. Barring a few wooden lines, Urban is excellent in the role, generating a lot of laughs and having great chemistry with Quinto. Anton Yelchin was always an enjoyably quaint addition to the cast as Chekov. He gets plenty of screen-time in this installment and his magnetic presence will be sadly missed in future films, due to the actor's recent death.

Idris Elba makes for an intimidating villain with a cool design. His voice-work on Krall will take some getting used to, but I found myself enjoying it as the film went on. As a villain, his motivations are not made clear until much later in the picture, but I will expand on that further on. But one of the standouts of this movie is Sofia Boutella as the alien Jaylah. She has such an enchanting presence as an alien who is stranded on the planet. Her performance is absolutely stellar, and Boutella is proving to be a magnificent character actor.

The story screams classic Star Trek. The main plot points being a rescue mission and a marooned adventure are very reminiscent of the original series. The story is very interesting, with new information being introduced frequently that keeps the audience engaged. The first 15 to 20 minutes spend time adding more depth to the crew of the Enterprise. The film establishes where these characters are since we last saw them and how they have changed. Kirk is not sure whether he wants to remain captain; Spock is divided between life decisions; there is a genuine attempt to explore these characters further, which pays off for the most part.

The issue that accompanies the set-up is that the film has a slow start. The plot takes a little bit to get going and it feels as if the film is meandering for a little while. But all that changes with a spectacular extended action sequence, where the Enterprise finds itself in a fight. The choreography and camerawork during this scene is fantastic, making for a thrilling, white-knuckled highlight. This space fight is one of Star Trek: Beyond's finest moments.

Once the crew lands on the planet, the plot really kicks into high gear. The members of the crew are separated, allowing for multiple plot threads to occur. Most of them are very strong and gripping. Kirk and Chekov have great interactions; the banter between Spock and Bones is thoroughly enjoyable; and the scenes with Scotty and Jaylah are magnificently done, imbuing humor and tension incredibly well. The scenes with Sulu and Uhura are easily the weakest, but not bad by any means. The picture finds a way to balance the plot lines in a way that benefits the pacing.

Star Trek: Beyond is not exactly a fast-paced film, but it is constantly engrossing and never boring. The movie proudly takes its time developing the plot. The film never feels rushed and gives every plot point appropriate time to breathe; sometimes too much time. Moments in the beginning and the end tend to overstay their welcome and feel unnecessary. Overall though, the picture is paced wonderfully, despite a few slower segments that drag a little.

Many were hesitant about Justin Lin coming in to direct this third film. I can assure you that Lin brings nothing but positivity to the franchise. His visual flair is surprisingly faithful to the way the previous two pictures were filmed. The tracking shots in space are majestically handled and the action scenes are gems. Lin is known for his work on the Fast and Furious franchise and his experience with that series is clearly on display here. The action scenes are expertly helmed and visually impressive.

The visual effects are staggeringly great. The breathtaking array of colors and mix of practical effects and CGI is excellent. The makeup in particular should receive special praise because it is astonishingly good. The makeup on Krall and Jaylah is very effective and brilliantly designed. As for the music by Michael Giacchino, it is very good. His scores for previous entries have been great and I love the theme he has composed for the series, but I was a bit underwhelmed with this latest outing. The main theme lacked the bombastic nature it has come to take on. It is a good score, but there was a great score lying somwhere beneath it.

As for additional flaws, the third act has a few. This is where the villain's main motivations and history is introduced. It feels a bit like an exposition dump, but the real issue is how the villain changed. I do not want to give too much away, but a number of plot holes come up as a result of the villain's actions. Also, the final chase scene, though well shot, is a tad too hectic. There are plenty of inventive ideas on display, but the stakes are on too big of a scale compared with how the previous acts handled the plot.

Star Trek: Beyond is a solid sci-fi adventure that celebrates 50 years of this beloved franchise successfully. The cast is well rounded and superbly talented, with Sofia Boutella being the standout; the plot calls back to the spirit of the show; the visual effects are mind blowing; Justin Lin's direction fits the franchise marvelously; and the editing and pacing take a risk that pays off. However, the movie is not without its flaws. The film takes a while to get going; the third act presents a few plot holes; and certain aspects of the picture are a tad underwhelming. All in all, Star Trek: Beyond is a satisfying entry in this rebooted series, containing both heart and charm.

Grade: A-