By Chris Beswetherick
For the last fifty years, “Star Trek” attracted vast audiences from all age ranges; its applicability to the actual world empathized with trekkies and now, more so than ever, “Star Trek Beyond” creates familiar experiences made for a 2016 audience.
As a part of Western’s Welcome Week, the campus welcomes all students to a free AS Productions Outdoor Movie Night presentation of “Star Trek Beyond,” the newest episode of the sci-fi series. The showing takes place on Tuesday September 20 at the communications lawn (comm lawn) — seating begins at 6 p.m. and the movie starts at sundown.
Last year, the AS organized “Inside Out” and “Mad Max: Fury Road” for their Welcome Week movies, and later in the school year put on “Space Jam.” Each of these films gathered hundreds of students to watch a movie on the south campus field. Now, the credible event seems almost like a tradition. In fact, Star Trek celebrated its 50 year anniversary this year, making it a tradition.
Although J.J. Abrams decided not to be the director, his substitute Justin Lin, director of “Fast and Furious,” constructs the film to amaze and excite the audience, making it a fun movie. While J.J. Abrams in “Star Trek Into Darkness” develops a serious and scary mood, the new film begins on a note of tranquility; the Enterprise crew seems relaxed, almost bored, from a lack of danger. During this time, the sarcastic and arrogant Captain Kirk, played by Chris Pine, along with Spock (portrayed by Zachary Quinto), Uhura (“Avatar’s” Zoë Saldana), and the remainder of the comical Enterprise crew all convincingly interact like a group of old friends, furthering the wit and appeal of the film.
Luckily, but unluckily, the Enterprise fleet is stormed by a new set of villains. Idris Elba leads the attack against the Enterprise as Krall, an unfamiliar, daunting antagonist. In the battle, Starfleet loses its most famous ship and the crew escapes to a nearby planet. There, they find another ship, which they can repair to a functioning state. While so entertaining to watch and so easily enjoyable, the movie loses logical sense with several deus ex machina plot devices which suddenly and too easily progress the film.
These predictable devices lower the intelligence of the movie, but replace it with incredible action and humor. The series introduces a new alien ally named Jaylah, who, like the headstrong young girl from “Kick-Ass,” is a part of the greatest scenes. Jaylah’s tough personality evokes a Riot grrrl attitude, and as a result, makes her a strong force in the movie.
The direction of the movie brings audiences through a retro-future. Beautiful and epic, “Star Trek Beyond” revives the series with anticipation. While technically and graphically pleasing, the overall story lacked creativity. Thankfully, the credibility and love for the series will always ensure a trekkie’s return to the theater.
