The Star Trek Franchise Continues to Soar!

​Continuing the post-reboot highs, director Justin Lin (Fast Five) takes the Enterprise even further into space with exhilarating space-opera thrills. It’s ‘Beyond’ entertaining. 

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​While providing both homage and excitement, Star Trek Beyond fuels the franchise with more popcorn fun. In 2009, director JJ Abrams rebooted the dying series with new life and adventure. Star Trek came in full throttle, sleek style and a new alternate universe. In 2013, Abrams continued in the director’s chair and released the summer blockbuster known as Star Trek Into Darkness. Into Darkness wasn’t as fresh as its predecessor, nevertheless, the film took the audience by surprise with breathtaking action and set pieces. In the end, Into Darkness set up captain Kirk (a fantastic Chris Pine) and his crew for their five-year mission into deep space.

Add in the new director, Justin Lin, with nonstop action and vivid style and you get Star Trek Beyond. The plot is rather simple this time around, but the homage is grand to past Trekkies and old glories. Captain Kirk (Pine) and the crew (consisting of actors Zachary Quinto, the late Anton Yelchin, John Cho, Simon Pegg, Karl Urban and Zoe Saldana) of the Enterprise encounter an alien warrior race when marooned on a distant planet after the destruction of their spaceship. The main villain goes by the name of Krall (an incredible Idris Elba) and he’s out for blood.

But the real acting chops goes to Sofia Boutella, who plays Jaylah. Boutella nails the heart and soul of the alien scavenger. While Beyond can’t fully capture the freshness and sleekness of it’s first two predecessors, fear not, Lin still manages to pull off an impressive sci-fi episode in retro speed. Lin uses his skill in the camerawork and direction to hurl the audience through space, captivating their minds with fear and nostalgia. Beyond also pays tribute to the original cast (consisting of James Doohan, Walter Koenig, DeForest Kelley, Majel Barrett, William Shatner, Nichelle Nichols, the late Leonard Nimoy, and George Takei) of the Enterprise and will slap a smile on the face of any Trekkie. I guarantee it.

​Scriptwriter/Actor Pegg even goes a step further by giving Sulu (Cho) a boyfriend in the film. This is a nod of respect to the beloved George Takei. All in all, Star Trek Beyond comes right in time when the summer blues start to kick in. Beyond fuels your bones with a sense of excitement and pleasure. In this post-reboot era, the Trekkies continue to soar! I’m eagerly excited for future adventures to follow. “For Anton,” live long and prosper. 

Star Trek Beyond is rate PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned). For sequences of sci-fi action and violence.