Movie Review: Star Trek Beyond (2016)

It's an amazing time to be a Star Trek fan in 2016, especially one that grew up watching "The Original Series" and its sequel-esque film series that includes the epic cult classic "Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan" and the political conspiracy driven finale that is "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country".  The Trek franchise celebrates 50 years come September 8 this year, and much has come past the voyages of the original starship Enterprise - including a "Next Generation" manning a new legacy ship, the exploits of a space station called "Deep Space 9", and the journey of a lost ship called "Voyager". These are just some of the well-known spin-offs that have turned Gene Roddenberry's small science fiction idea into a mega popular franchise - which is honored with the timed release of a new installment in the semi-rebooted "Alternate Reality" film series that began with 2009's "Star Trek".

When Paramount Pictures pushed for production of what would eventually become "Star Trek Beyond" to meet the deadline of 2016 - the franchise's 50th Anniversary, there was plenty of changes and moves that began to make fans wonder how the film would fare under the command of a new director. J.J. Abrams, who directed the 2009 film and its 2013 sequel "Star Trek Into Darkness", would not return as director since he was helming Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens. Instead, he and his production Bad Robot would serve as producers for the new sequel. Eventually, directorial duties would fall on the hands of Taiwanese American director Justin Lin - best known for his involvement in the Fast and Furious film franchise.

Production soon went as schedule, and when the first teaser arrived - it was met with mixed reactions from the fanbase. Eventually better suited trailers (like the one embedded below) were released and felt more appropriate for a "Star Trek" film... But the question was would Beyond meet expectations and serve to catapult more interest for new fans as well as honor longtime Trekkies at the same time? Check after the jump for my thoughts!

Star Trek Beyond | Trailer #3 | Paramount Pictures International
Well, after seeing Star Trek Beyond... I can honestly say YES. Justin Lin, J.J. Abrams, and Paramount Pictures have done what I can simply say is a remarkable job in delivering a good mix of action and nostalgia that will delight fans of old Star Trek, AE Star Trek, and anything that goes beyond that!

Set three years after the events of Star Trek Into Darkness and well into the halfway point of their Five Year Mission on space, Captain James T. Kirk, Spock, and the rest of the U.S.S. Enterprise make a stopover to Yorktown space station. However a plea for help from an alien survivor sees the ship deployed to a nearby nebula - only to be attacked by an unstoppable alien swarm and subsequently destroyed forcing the surviving crew to escape to a nearby planet. With a relentless new enemy named Krall pursuing them for an artifact with the means to unleash a devastating power and the timely assistance of a warrior alien named Jaylah, Kirk and the rest of the Enterprise crew must use all their wits and resources to outwit Krall and stop his planned attack on the Federation.

As the first film in the new Alternate Reality continuity that doesn't stay Earth bound and focuses on the Enterprise in the midst of their five-year mission together, Star Trek Beyond pulls all the right emotional strings for Trekkies like me and does a fantastic job of ensuring that the franchise is in good hands. The first trailer and production dilemmas notwithstanding, everything just fell into place in a good way, and this movie has probably topped its predecessor by leaps and bounds in terms of pace and action.

Idris Elba plays the villainous Krall here, and he's a strange yet effective villain that ultimately has his own twist come towards the final act of the movie. He's a good foil to the already proven team of Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Anton Yelchin (+), and Simon Pegg - who have become their own version of the legendary U.S.S Enterprise crew in this semi-rebooted timeline. The film honors tradition and actually has beats that give a nod to past Star Trek films, primarily "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home" and "Star Trek: Generations" as well as past TV Shows like "Star Trek: Enterprise".

This is anniversary entry entry that has come out on top with deserving and rave review, and I couldn't be happier to see everything come smoothly. Even if the Enterprise is destroyed, the gang's all there and it doesn't take a ship to make them the heroes they are. Also, Sofia Boutella plays an excellent new alien character in Jaylah, who provides the crew with their "new" ship and the means to counterattack their powerful opponents. So much Trek adrenaline and it's definitely on point.

As a movie I was a bit worried about in terms of how it will live up to the legacy put forth by the first two Abrams films and the franchise as a whole, Justin Lin's Star Trek Beyond just proved that there's more fun to things by diving head first into the unexpected and bending the rules like James Kirk would to find a way to beat a "no win scenario". I could say a lot more about the movie, but it's intended to honor 50 years of Star Trek - and it does so beautifully and respectfully as you see the film from start to finish. In fact, the late great Leonard Nimoy is given a mention to honor his Ambassador Spock character one last time. Really good sci-fi stuff here, and I can't spoil anything else. Just watch the movie if you love Star Trek and science fiction. I certainly did when I gave my reactions to the film and was interviewed in Myx Philippines after the seeing the premiere with friends and fellow Trekkies last July 19, Tuesday!


STAR TREK Fans Unite For Philippine Premiere!
Also, check out the official song and music video to the movie "Sledgehammer" by Rihanna!


Star Trek Beyond is now playing in theaters worldwide and in the Philippines on 2D, 3D, and IMAX 3D!