Abrams, J. (Producer and Director) & Lindelof, D. (Producer). Star Trek. [Motion picture]. (2009). United States: Spyglass Entertainment & Bad Robot Productions.
Plot Summary:
This is the adventurous story of a young crew’s maiden voyage onboard the most advanced starship ever created, the U.S.S. Enterprise. In the midst of their journey full of optimism, intrigue and comedy, the students must find a way to stop evil from threatening all of mankind.
The fate of their galaxy becomes a rivalry between James Tiberius Kirk, a defiant, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy who is also a natural-born leader and Spock, an outcast due to his half-human background, who is intelligent and quietly sensitive. Kirk and Spock could not be more different, yet in their quest to save the world, they soon become competitive and begrudgingly best friends when their mission is successful achieved.
Critical Evaluation: The latest installment of this cult favorite franchise, this movie may not please hardcore Trekkie fans, but with it’s young stars, updated visuals and high action sequencing, this film is sure to appeal to teens and bring in new fans to the Star Trek legacy. The quest for power being defeated by athletic, clever and ingenious young people is almost as exciting as the dynamic fluctuations between character relationships. Kirk and Spock must form an otherwise contentious partnership in order to succeed, Uhuru must resign herself to mostly unrequited affection from Spock, Kirk must deal with his own inner demons and Spock must cope with the loss of his family and home planet. This movie is not deep, but it will deeply affect teen viewers who can easily associate their problems in daily life to this well-done sci fi movie.
Reader’s Annotation:
Two young leaders with very different talents are determined to save the Vulcan world. Time is running out and neither one is sure that he can pull it off by himself. It’s the most challenging mission this crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise will ever have…
Information About the Director:
J. J. Abrams is a film and television producer, screenwriter, director, and founder of Bad Robot Productions. An Emmy and Golden Globe-winner, he is known as the creator of the television series Felicity, Alias, Lost, and Fringe, and as a director of films including Mission: Impossible III. Born in 1996 in New York and raised in Los Angeles, Abrams is the son of television producer Gerald W. Abrams and executive producer Carol. He attended Sarah Lawrence College, is married to Katie McGrath and has three children.
Genre:
Teen Issues: Death and Deadly Disease
Contemporary Life: Coming of Age
Adventure: War
Alternate/Parallel Worlds: Time Travel
Science Fiction: Adventure, Aliens
Curriculum Ties: Humanities class, Social Studies class, Filmmaking class, Social clubs
Movietalking Ideas:
1.) The progression of friendship in this movie
2.) The history of Star Trek and this new addition
3.) Spock’s conflict and quest to save his people
4.) Kirk’s childhood and how it shaped his character
5.) The experiences and relationships of the crew characters
Reading Level/Interest Age: Ages 15 - 25
Challenge Issues/Defenses:
Potential Challenges:
• Depictions of violence
• Adult language
• References to sexual behavior
• Content includes characters drinking
Defense Strategy:
• Provide our Collection Development Policy (which includes Young Adult scope): http://ww2.cityofpasadena.net/library/collection.asp
• Refer to awards won by this movie from reputable organizations:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796366/awards
• Provide movie reviews by professional movie critics and their reputable publications:
http://www.moviefone.com/movie/star-trek/29301/critic-reviews
• Provide movie reviews by actual viewers on a publicly accessible website:
http://www.moviefone.com/movie/star-trek/29301/user-reviews
• Provide advisory reviews for parents about this movie’s content and age appropriateness:
http://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/star-trek
Why This Movie Was Included: I didn’t expect to like this movie, as I’m not a big Star Trek fan. But this rendition was entertaining, had likeable characters, a strong narrative, cool style and was accessible to all ages. Adult and teen audiences will both like this well-received film and the DVD will probably be stolen many times from library shelves!
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