'Star Trek Beyond' Review

Nominated For: Best Makeup and Hairstyling.

Star Trek Beyond picks up with the crew of the USS Enterprise three years into their five year voyage of uncharted space and the long journey has taken it's toll on each of the crew members respectively but that all has to be put on hold when they must investigate the scene of a distress signal only to find themselves under attack from an enemy they didn't see coming, can't predict, and have no hope against, Krall. With the crew now divided on a foreign planet they must use their wit and their will to reunite and stop Krall from waging war on the Federation. That's the basic setup and all you need to know going in for Star Trek Beyond.

Star Trek Beyond has been a worrisome development coming off the heels of the latest/most divisive film in the franchise Star Trek Into Darkness, and the first trailer for the film didn't do it any favors drawing comparisons to Fast and Furious and Guardians of the Galaxy, a complete deviation from the philosophical core of the franchise. Many worried that since Justin Lin was taking over the directors chair he would bring with him the nonsensical action featured in his most notable works from the Fast and Furious franchise (The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift, Fast and the Furious, Fast Five, and Fast and Furious 6). Many feared how this cast would fare with the absence of J.J. Abrams, who kicked it all off with 2009's Star Trek and had his hands busy with Star Wars: The Force Awakens, but the tide turned in favor of Star Trek Beyond with the release of it's subsequent marketing material and I'm overjoyed to tell you that Star Trek Beyond is a blast. 

Lin takes over the helm from Abrams bringing along with him the amusing action sequences from the Fast and Furious films and thankfully ensures Star Trek Beyond is not dumbed down to level of the Fast and Furious with the help of screenwriters Simon Pegg and Doug Jung. Pegg and Jung split up the crew, pairing up characters we typically don't see with one another and the writing duo manage carve out a nice story that explores not just the cosmos but but  crew of the Enterprise themselves. 

The visual effects in Star Trek Beyond are remarkable as the Enterprise looks illustrious traversing the final frontier and is even more beautiful when it engages in warp speed. The make-up, costuming, and production design is top notch creating authentic alien worlds, creatures, and space ship interiors. I must commend the work on Idris Elba's Krall prosthetic that looked magnificent in the first act. The action sequences are infectiously fun featuring exciting space ship combat, a thrilling motorcycle sequence, and the destruction of the NC-1701 that was undeniably awesome to watch. This Trek flick once again boasts engaging futuristic sound design and another one of Michael Giancchio's adventurous scores.

The star-studded cast step onto the Enterprise once more and this time around they feel like they've transitioned more into the personalities that make the Enterprise crew what they are. Chris Pine's Kirk and Zachary Quinto's Spock are provided engaging character drama as they must deal with significant events in their life. Pine brings out a charming captain in Kirk and finally seems to be a responsible leader as opposed to the rebellious daredevil.

Meanwhile, Quinto walks the fine line between reason and emotion, never leaning too heavily on either side, proving he makes for a terrific Spock. Karl Urban's Bones has a substantially larger role in this installment proving to be hilarious when paired with Quinto's Spock as the juxtaposing personality clash brings several laughs with it.

Simon Pegg's Scotty is once again comedic relief for the crew and has his most substantial role in the franchise yet. Zoe Saldana and John Cho still aren't given much to do as Lieutenant Uhura and Sulu but they fit the roles nicely and have a few of their own moments. Saldana's Uhura is primarily there for her relationship with Spock but gets to kick some butt once again and there's a very controversial decision made to portray Cho's Sulu as gay and I will say that it's present but merely a simple moment that doesn't pull focus away from the film.

Anton Yelchin brings perfect comedic timing and a convincing Russian accent to Chekov getting to primarily play off Pine's Kirk as they're stranded together and it was a very interesting dynamic. Sadly this will be Anton Yelchin's final voyage onboard the Enterprise because the actor tragically died in a car accident a few weeks ago. The film also address Leonard Nimoy's passing in a touching and respectful way and I think both Trek actors would have been very proud with the finished product.

Elsewhere, Sofia Boutella is a welcome addition to the franchise after proving herself in Kingsman: The Secret Service. Boutella's Jaylah makes for an awesome addition to the franchise as she can carry an action sequence and stands as a compelling character in her own right. It was fun to see her work off of the various crew members but especially delightful to see her chemistry with Pegg and Pine. 

My only real qualm with Star Trek Beyond lies in it's villain. Idris Elba's Krall is exceptionally malevolent, proving to be an exceptional strategist and overlooking threat to the crew and for the first two acts of the film stayed the course, but his motivation was still unclear. Elba is terrific in the role injecting gravitas and weight to Krall, but once all Krall's secrets are divulged I found myself scratching my head more than feeling a sense of relief. The reasoning behind Krall's actions made sense, but the reveal didn't elaborate enough for me to fully comprehend how he became what he was and if anything detracted from his antagonistic ambiance, a similar problem plaguing many a Marvel villain right now.

I saw Star Trek Beyond in IMAX 3D and felt that the experience was worth the price of an IMAX ticket so I'd recommend it for anyone willing to pay the extra dough. In conclusion, Star Trek Beyond proved to be a wildly entertaining science fiction adventure with fresh direction, astounding visuals, and a remarkable ensemble cast. Star Trek Beyond is bold and dares to go where J.J. Abrams hasn't gone before, crafting a Star Trek movie worthy of adopting the Trek monicker in it's 50th year while embracing the fun of a summer blockbuster.

Film Assessment: A-