Star Trek

Star Trek’s first 5 year mission for me was during the late seventies growing up in suburban Meadowbank, Auckland, watching repeats on a Sunday morning. I know that it must have been Sunday because my father introduced the show to me, and this was his only day off of the week. This was a prequel to other noteworthy Sunday telly viewing which included ‘Our World’ with Gael Ludlow, followed by ‘A Dogs Show’ (for which I am still awaiting a return, after all, dancing competitions have made a comeback).

Whilst watching Shatner, Nimoy and the crew we would devour our ‘Sunday Lollies’ – yes Sunday for some was the big day of the week in the biblical sense, but for the Snell family, alternative quaint traditions were the norm.

If I was lucky, by half way through the episode, I would still have a few remaining ‘pebbles’ (later to become M & M’s) and the storyline would not have a love interest for Captain Kirk (boring), and instead had plenty of aliens and phaser battles.

Star Trek – The movie, has returned, and like other franchise rebirths, is placed chronologically prior to the original. This is an excellent opportunity to address burning issues such as the origin of James T Kirks’s middle name, Tiberius, and the nickname of Dr ‘Bones’ McCoy. I slept a whole lot better after this enlightenment. The casting is clever, with the young James T Kirk capturing the roguish, almost camp-like, physicality that made William Shatner’s portrayal so much fun. In fact, the sense of fun, as was the case with the TV series, is the strength of this movie. Never does it take itself too seriously, even when exploring that timeless, Trekkie navel gazing issue - logic Vs emotion.

An interesting 21st century adaptation is the story of Communications officer, Lieutenant Uhura. Her role 40 years ago was nothing more than a glorified intergalactic switchboard operator, but with an African-American in the Whitehouse, it seems more than coincidental that the complexities of her role are clarified in this film, and thus appeasing the PC gods. Not only does she comprehend the subtle differences between the Romulean and Kingon languages, her linguistic skills extend to all 3 dialects of Romulean. And bootyliscious to boot. Speaking of the baddies, the Romuleans (or were they Klingons – who cares) are the ultimate space bogans – like Hell’s Angels on (warp) speed.

Putting aside its relationship with the television series, and judging it purely as an action film, its first class entertainment that screams along at an awesome pace. I was hook, lined and sinkered well before Scotty had ‘given it all she’s got’ and Bones had inquired to Spock ‘are you out of your Vulcan mind.’

So take your favourite confectionary and enjoy.