Star Trek Beyond, directed by Justin Lin

People who know me, know I have a history with Star Trek. I have grown up watching Classic Trek and have also learned to appreciate the later series with other characters and other actors. Strangely enough, I found out watching J.J. Abrams' reboot film, Star Trek (2009), that I had no problem with other actors taking these legendary roles.
It is with these characters that Star Trek Beyond, the third film in the Abrams' alternative universe (which has officially been termed the Kelvin Timeline, named after the ship in the first film that opened the alternative universe), really is doing its best work. Justin Lin is a capable director but he too has to concede that characters like Kirk, Spock, McCoy and the rest, they need their own time in the film. That is the good part of the film.

Justin Lin

Interestingly though, a lot of other elements seem to remind one of happenings in Star Trek past, not the least of which is the destruction of the Enterprise (which for the Classic Crew in the earlier films ALSO happened in their third film). This needn't be a surprise as it is quite clearly shown in the trailer (which has bits and clips that are not seen in the film, as well) but in the action scenes, many times I wish for more clarity of what we see, as more often than not we are pressed with the camera right on top of the action, such as in fights or in this matter the Enterprise saucer crash, which has moments where I think, what the hell am I looking at? Whoever came up with that stupid idea that for a movie as costly as these films are, one would want camerawork that is simply un-clear??? (Thank you, Justin Lin, for the absence of unnecessary lense flares!!!)

Sofia Boutella as Jaylah

Another thing is that the villain, played effectively by Idris Elba, has, in his final moments, also to be made, in his own way, relatable. Other elements that remind us of past things are for instance Kirk mentioning that his crew is continuously socializing as well ( referring to romancing each other as well as breaking up, something that Gene Roddenberry did not want to mention explicitly in the Classic Series) and that now and then, it is time for the crew to have some R&R. So they go to an interstellar space station that reminds one of the station in ELYSIUM.

Chris Pine as Kirk

It is no surprise that Michael Giacchino's music fails miserably in reaching the musical glory that Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner and Leonard Rosenman so easily seemed to avail themselves of. Oh, what a shame that their musical legacies are now so easily forgotten! Also, for me the revelation that this Universe's SULU is gay does not surprise or shock me. (A few weeks ago George Takei stated he was disappointed with that as it was not what Gene Roddenberry had had in mind.)

Anton Yelchin RIP

The film has a few touching aspects: one is the news that Spock (Zachary Quinto) receives that Ambassador Spock (Leonard Nimoy) has passed away. Ambassador Spock left Spock a memento of the Classic Trek Team in their own timeline, a really wonderful moment of great poignancy.

Another is the dedication at the end, not only to the late Leonard Nimoy but to Anton Yelchin as well, who was killed in an accident with his car last month. He was much too young to go like that. 

J.J. Abrams has stated that for an upcoming fourth film, which is already being prepared now (and in which Chris Hemsworth will be returning as George Kirk, James T. Kirk's father), Pavel Chekov will not be recast. It will be interesting to see how that will be solved. Killing Chekov off has been an option, says Abrams, but really, Chekov is so much a part of Star Trek that one cannot even try to imagine Classic Star Trek without him. (Yes, I do recall that he only came aboard in the second season.)

A final note: it is said of course that STAR TREK BEYOND is the film to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Star Trek but every hardcore fan knows that that is utter nonsense. Gene Roddenberry produced his first Star Trek Pilot, The Cage, in October 1964. The fact that it was not seen in its entirety until the mid-1980s is irrelevant. Right now, I would like to point out that my focus will be on the upcoming series STAR TREK DISCOVERY, which will start airing in early 2017. Considering that the right people seem to be at the helm, gives me a lot more confidence in that than in another film in the Kelvin Timeline, I am sorry to say.