Product Description

The greatest adventure of all time begins with Star Trek, the incredible story of a young crew’s maiden voyage onboard the most advanced starship ever created: the U.S.S. Enterprise. On a journey filled with action, comedy and cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind. The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals. One, James Kirk (Chris Pine), is a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy. The other, Spock (Zachary Quinto), was raised in a logic-based society that rejects all emotion. As fiery instinct clashes with calm reason, their unlikely but powerful partnership is the only thing capable of leading their crew through unimaginable danger, boldly going where no one has gone before.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2 in DVD
• Brand: PARAMOUNT HOME VIDEO
• Released on: 2009-11-17
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English, French, Spanish
• Subtitled in: English, French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 126 minutes

Customer Reviews

return of magic
First off let me say that I am a devoted Star Trek fan, but not a die hard trecker. I don't own a Star Trek encyclopedia, never went to an event, don't speak klingon, and don't own a uniform. But I grew up watching the original series in reruns (TOS). I was so hooked, I never missed a single episode if I could somehow help it, come hell or high water. I also loved the motion pictures with the original cast. But they lost me with TNG (the next generation). I really tried to like it, but never came to care for the characters. Enter the Borgs and I was so disgusted that at that point I jumped ship. Everything produced after TNG went straight over my head. From what I learned, I am not the only one.

I watched this new movie three times. Then I spent a lot of time online reading reviews and opinions. I carefully read all the the complains, the criticism. And I can't help but agree. Does this movie carry a message? Other than the hint about water boarding, probably not. Is it about peaceful exploration? No! Does it suffer from ADHD? Is it too fast paced, is there too much action and violence packed in a weak story line, does it have huge plot holes? Is the Kirk character a little over the edge? Does Spock act out of character? Does the whole time travel and alternative universe business stink somewhat? Yes, guilty on all charges. Did I care for this thing between Spock and Uhura? Nay...

Is this Star Trek after all??? Yes, it is!

I loved the movie. In fact, I weeped with joy. This movie makes me feel like being reunited with dear long lost friends that were left behind for dead. Not to mention the fact that it beamed me right back into my childhood.

The key figures of the cast are terrific! Time for a big sigh of relief: Zacchary Quinto was spot on, which is vital for many folks including me who feel that Spock is the character that makes Star Trek truly special. Chris Pine and Karl Urban did a fantastic job too. All supporting characters also are portrayed very well. I admit I didn't care at all for Ben Cross as Sarek. He somehow always lookes like he was pouting.

Some of the characters come with a slightly different flavor. Spock is still a little green behind the ears (pun intended!). Kirk is over the edge rebellious, constantly hanging over a cliff with a bloody nose, and doesn't show any interest of classic literature as of yet . But all that makes sense, its an age thing.

The only really regrettable twist concerns Amanda. Her character hardly gets any attention and than gets killed of. Along with the whole planet Vulcan at that. That is really hard to stomach, I am still chewing on that one.

And still this movie feels so GOOD! It's hard to explain, but I give it a try.

Every once in a while along comes a show or story that simply is somehow...magic. That has the stuff fairy tales are made of. That has something that resonates with a primal common core deep inside. Magic is not just a thing of the distant past; they still make that stuff. Really! Simply by following ancient, time proven recipes.

Walt Disney, for example, knows a thing or two about magic. Cinderella will never go out of style!

Star Trek TOS has that magic. This is why it survived early cancellation in the late sixties. Not only survived, but from there it kept thriving. Despite the painfully cheesy low budget production and reluctant studio bosses who did their best to slash creativity for ratings. Despite the 'Mary Sues' in ridiculously short mini skirts, and terrible special effects. Maybe Star Trek TOS survived and thrived not despite but because it was cancelled, who knows?

Don't take me wrong, many of the episodes contain great drama, good conflict with plenty of thought provoking messages. Reflecting on the war in Vietnam Rodenberry's Starfleet stands for a military force as it should be, using weapons only as a last option, strictly adhering to the prime directive of non interference but still somehow finding ways to stand its ground. What is not to like?

But the main reason for Star Trek TOS's huge success is the character constellation and the chemistry between them. Because they all present old, well known stereotypes.

The Kirk, Spock and McCoy troika forms the core. Spock, superior to the mere humans around him, standing for knowledge, science, reason and control, McCoy for expressing and dealing with lower emotions like fear and doubt, but also deep care and nurture as a healer or doctor. The love/hate relationship between those two provides great drama and charming humor. Kirk consults with these two opposites, puts it all together, adds human instincts, intuition and leadership. Now Enterprise is ready to take action.

This set of 3 is supported by a framework made of the 4 remaining personalities on the Enterprise bridge, each presenting a different corner and culture of the globe. Uhura from Africa the South, soft spoken and exotic. Scott from Scotland in the North, crafty and energetic. Sulu from Japan in the West, calm with a zen like smile. And Chekov from Russia in the East, the youngest in the lot, eager to please, still an ensign and somewhat low in the food chain, so he doesn't post any threat to the sixties cold war audience.

They all line up like ducks in a row or the seven chakras. The Enterprise is the shiny powerful vehicle that holds all the pieces of the puzzle together.

Put it all on a new and exciting stage, a promising, positive future, and success is almost inevitable. But if you take away a piece of the puzzle, or the Enterprise, or change the pattern somehow, things get out of balance. This is why things went downhill with all the spin offs. Over time, Star Trek slowly but surely disintegrated.

So cliche, some complain. But that doesn't always has to be a flaw, Here it is a thing of beauty.

The TOS concept is so simple and elegant, is so immensely satisfying. This is why so many people are fascinated by the Star Trek phenomena. It strikes an ancient cord, it resonates with us.

Now, JJ Abrams, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, put the pieces back together, and Star Trek as we know and love it is back. They captured the essence and take us to the very beginning of the Enterprise saga and its unique crew, and despite all this new background noise (plot holes, ADHD and all, see above) the story still flows seamlessly, still feels right. Again. All hands back on deck, everybody is back on station. The spirit of Star Trek is back. For that I am eternally grateful!!!

If cutting edge special effects and an action filled plot with with lots of humor help drawing wider attention and get more people on board, well, that's even for the better!

Lets hope that in future sequels our friends stay together and are allowed to do some growing up from here, getting a little more reflective and wiser on the way, taking us along for the ride. And that the spirit of Star Trek doesn't get watered down to oblivion again. And I hope and pray that our new alternate universe doesn't come with Borgs!!! ;-)

To cite Nimoy's Spock: "Have faith that the universe unfolds the way it should" (Star Trek VI). And: "Go with what feels right" (Star Trek 2009)

Well, that is the way I feel!

Please excuse my english, I am not from your world, ummh continent ;-)

"To Go [Before] Where No Man Has Gone Before" Is Engrossing but Sometimes Familiar 'Trek'
Growing up watching the first `Star Trek: The Original Series (Remastered) - Three Season Pack' series, I was always transported by the voyages of the USS Enterprise. During the late sixties the show was enticingly different and bound to reach its cult status. It was always a wonderful departure from the endless inane sitcoms and the TV treadmill of rehashed Westerns, variety shows, and other drivel. 'Star Trek' did for TV during the sixties what 'Twilight Zone: The Complete Definitive Collection' did during the late fifties.

How does the Prequel to the series add up? Of course the technology makes this outing as worthwhile as most of the 'Star Trek' movies since the first one in '79, so we have to evaluate the other elements. This time Chris Pine (who reminded me that Paul Walker could have taken the helm) plays a callow Kirk, and the prologue sports scenes of barroom brawls and drag racing in highway space vehicles. More interesting is Spock's evolution as a vulcan valedictorian+. Young Spock (Zachary Quinto*) is half human, half vulcan, so his apprenticeship to the enterprise gives us an offering of a hot-tempered maverick to go with the cool-headed logician--a conflicted young man who has to choose his own destiny.

The plot and places we visit are more familiar than the character exposition. Although these elements are somewhat suspenseful, they are also less worthwhile. In one scene when our heroes are out on a precipice, I felt the camera shots were vertiginous enough to carry the adventure--even if I felt I had been there before. The menace of the villain (aptly named Nero [Eric Bana]) is palpable enough, but not necessarily distinctive. The visuals and methods of their weaponry aren't entirely original, either, but there's enough thrill in the chase to find yourself clinging to your seat.

My favorite aspect-besides Spock's coming-of-age deliberations--is a wrap around time element that is quite effective. I won't give away the guest star, but I got goose-flesh when time warp came into fruition. Indeed, I should mention that with Bruce Greenwood, it is a bit of an indictment that the elder members of the cast carry the show far better than their younger counterparts.

As escapist adventure, `Star Trek' more than satisfies, but the beginning adventure doesn't always "Go where no man has gone before". Especially for the ones in the audience.

+ figuratively, not literally
* source IMDb

The perfect sci-fi adventure! The reinvention of a legendary brand! Star Trek rules!
Well... I'll keep this short and concise.
This is terrific film where everything is simply great: screenplay, dialogs, casting, direction, special effects, cinematography, music, action sequences, jokes, performances, direction, etc, etc, etc... I simply cannot find a flaw in this film that is worth noting.

More than a Summer blockbuster, STAR TREK is a quality blockbuster made with lots of care and love.

Some die hard fans were quick to note all the divergences from the original source. But, hey... this is NOT the original thing. It is reinvention that manages to keep all the fundamental elements that work while giving itself the freedom to breath some fresh ideas that ALSO work. So in my opinion, this film has lots of respect for all the audiences that are targeted here: old fans and new ones.

Basically, the film tells the story of how all the Enterprise crew members met (Kirk, Spock, Uhura, McCoy, Scottie, Sulu and Chekov) upon the backdrop of two main narrative drives: personal (how the clashes between Kirk and Spock shaped their friendship) and plot (they must prevent a mad Romulan who came from the future from destroying the Earth). Obviously, the actual story has many twists that I do not want to spoil...

So I think this is a beautiful film that deserves to be seen. One last note: all the actors are fine. In fact, this is one of those projects where everybody seems to be loving what they're doing.

Favorite lines:
KIRK "You know, traveling through time, changing history... that's cheating."
SPOCK "A trick I learned from an old friend."
-----
SAREK "Speak your mind, Spock."
SPOCK "That would be unwise."
SAREK "What is necessary is never unwise."
-----
SPOCK "I am now a member of an endangered species."

One last note: this film should be seen in blu-ray... because the visuals are a wow!
Recommended long, and prosper!