DVD Review - STAR TREK

To many the STAR TREK movies are sacrosanct. To them, the science fiction world of starships, strange lands and utopian ideals is adored. The idea of changing that which has been successful is either a courageous or foolhardy act. JJ Abrams decided to do exactly that. He decided to "reinvent" STAR TREK. He did so quite nicely. The new STAR TREK film, just out on DVD, moves and entertains while still keeping the past iterations front an center.

This STAR TREK is a re-imagination. Starting from scratch, it re-makes the origin of the STAR TREK mythology. The movie depicts how the diverse crew come together while facing an more powerful adversary. The special effects are top notch and the action sustained. Just as importantly a new crop of good, young actors have assumed the roles of all the main characters. What JJ Abrams has succeeded at the primary goal, resurrect the franchise.

Casting had to be one of the most difficult tasks facing the film makers. Capt. Kirk, Spock, Bones and the rest have become a cultural touchstones. The film cold have landed with a thud if this wasn't done well. Rest assured, the casting is very good. Especially notable is Karl Urban who plays Dr "Bones" McCoy. Not only does he nail the vocal idiosyncratic tendencies of the original, but this makes Urban an actor to watch. Many will recognize him as the Russian assassin in the BOURNE SUPRAMACY. Any actor who can successful play different characters from different backgrounds and become invisible within the film's universe, is an actor to watch.

OK, the movie is fun. The movie is good. The movie is recommended.

The DVD is the disappointment.

The DVD looks and feels obligatory. There is the commentary by all the usual suspects. There is a six minute gag reel where we, the viewers, can see actors flubbing their lines. Ummm, like we haven't seen this before. Obviously someone dug through the rushes and cobbled this together. Couldn't they have found something a little more interesting than flubbed lines? Apparently not.

Then there is the 'making of' extra. This is rudimentary exercise. As expected, everyone praises JJ Abrams as being youthful, visionary, easy to work with and possessing a child-like excitement. Really? How probing? Actually, not very. There are some moments within this segment that is useful, like using old techniques of mirrors to create falling sensation or the use of "flare". Beyond that the self-congratulatory nature of this segment undermines any good information.

But that's it. Nothing more.

The DVD runs around $16 at discount stores like Target. It's not worth it. Wait a couple of weeks or after the holidays and the price will plummet. Then it will be a worthy addition to the sci-fi/action collector's library, but it is for the movie, not the extras. Paramount should have put more time into the extras, like an over view of the Star Trek franchise, some commentary as to why Star Trek has become a cultural phenomena and perhaps adding the wonderful documentary TREKKIES as a bonus feature. Then it would have been worth paying full price.

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