The Kelvin timeline has been a mixed bag for many fans ever since its debut in 2009, separating itself from the prime setting of the television shows and previous films to tell stories in an alternate universe. While the cast has been almost universally well received, the story and tone of the films are often said to not fit in with the Star Trek that so many know and love. There was even greater contention when a new director was brought in, the early trailers (admittedly) felt off, and we're immediately made aware that the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) doesn't make it out intact. However, these films are much more faithful than many would care to admit. Not only are they a perfect gateway to the rest of the franchise, but this movie captures the feel of the franchise in a better way than its immediate predecessors.
It begins with a botched attempt at diplomacy, as Captain James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), is presenting a peace offering from one alien race to another. Everything Kirk says is perceived as a threat by these aliens, who at first seem to be large and foreboding. But as their leader jumps down to assault Kirk, we see they're no bigger than a well-fed Tribble. Kirk's beamed out of there as they try to bring him down (accidentally transporting one of them up with him), and the artifact is stowed away on the ship.
And here's where the beauty of this movie begins. The next several minutes do a wonderful job showing off deep space, the Enterprise, and creating pathos for Kirk and his crew. It's been 3 years since Star Trek Into Darkness, and Kirk's birthday is coming up. It's a sore topic for him, not only because his father sacrificed is life to save his family and Kelvin shipmates, but also because Jim has now outlived George Kirk. He still takes pride in his position and his crew, but is considering taking a desk job as a station Admiral. Commander Spock (Zachary Quinto) and Lieutenant Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana) have broken off their relationship, and she attempts to return his mother's necklace to him, which Spock declines. The ship arrives at the Yorktown space station, and it is beautiful. All sorts of people and species living in the same biosphere. Lieutenant Hikaru Sulu (John Cho) is revealed to have a daughter and a
husband living on the station. (This was an initial point of controversy, but it's incredibly
subtle, and could easily be overlooked. Overall, well handled.) Almost as soon as the crew settles in, Spock is pulled away by some other Vulcans. Ambassador Spock (the late Leonard Nimoy), his own future self from the prime universe, has passed away. Many would expect Justin Lin to turn this into an all style and no substance action film, but these quiet scenes leave the viewer proven wrong.
An alien female then arrives at Yorktown in a panic, begging for help, and the Enterprise is set off again on another mission. After making their way through a nebula, the ship is literally swarmed by alien ships let by a monstrous alien named Krall (Idris Elba). The crew attempts to fight back, but like Kirk in the prologue, the size and multitude of the aliens proves to be too much. This is the third time the Enterprise has been destroyed on film (The Search For Spock, Generations), and it would be too easy to hate the film just for that, but the emotional impact is there. You feel frightened for the crew, and saddened by the loss of the ship. Krall and his forces infiltrate the ship and he attempts to steal the artifact, but Kirk manages to hide it away. The ship goes down and the crew is scattered. Many are lost, some make it to the escape pods, Lieutenant Commander Montgomery Scott (Simon Pegg, who also helped write the film) manages to get out in a torpedo (possibly the only reference to the last movie), but a majority of them end up taken by Krall.
Despite this punch to the gut, the following events feel like a classic Star Trek adventure. The crew is stranded on a strange new world, and now they have to regroup, stop a threat, and prevail for the sake of humanity. Kirk is paired up with Ensign Pavel Chekov (Anton Yelchin, who sadly died in an accident before the film was released) and the alien who brought them here, who was working for Krall from the start. She's dispatched after a brief detour back to the downed Enterprise's saucer section.Scotty runs into a female alien named Jaylah (Sofia Boutella), who's survived on the planet for some time, and wants to escape just like the rest of them. Doctor Leonard McCoy (Karl Urban) is teamed with an injured Spock, and their dynamic from the original series is perfectly replicated. Trading quips and insults while making their respect for one another clear. During another quiet moment, Spock confides in McCoy about his counterpart's death, and how he feels he needs to carry on his legacy and help rebuild Vulcan society. To him, that means not only leaving Starfleet, but also leaving Uhura, and joining with another Vulcan to ensure his race's survival. Uhura, Sulu, and the rest of the surviving crew are deep in Krall's stronghold. A female Ensign reveals Kirk cleverly hid the artifact on her person, and gives it to Krall to spare the crew. He combines it with another disc to form a weapon called the Abernath. Much like Krall's fleet, it's a black matter that engulfs things and eats away it until nothing remains, which he demonstrates on the poor Ensign. Krall shows great disdain for the Federation, and plans to use the Abernath to wipe out Yorktown.
Meanwhile, the rest of the crew begins to reunite as Scotty and Jaylah repair the USS Franklin (NX-326) a crashed Federation Starship where she had been living. The ship and its uniforms bear a nice resemblance to the ones seen on the prequel series Enterprise without looking identical. Once Spock has been healed and lock onto a unique radiation signature in Uhura's necklace, they put together a plan to rescue the crew. Kirk and Jaylah provide a distraction on a motorcycle that the Franklin had on hand and a cool hologram trick, Scotty, Chekov continue repairs, while McCoy and Spock go in with transporter beacons to beam out the crew. It's time to take off and save Yorktown.
Krall still has advantage in numbers, but our crew discovers their hive mechanisms can be disrupted by a radio frequency. Spock and McCoy are transported into one of the ships and manage to commandeer it. The Franklin's radio is then fed through the swarm with "Sabotage" by the Beastie Boys, and its use in the trailer finally makes sense. It works in a couple of ways: First, it's a call-back to Kirk's joyride off a cliff in the first film. Second, it literally is a sabotage of Krall's invasion, as the ships begin to crash into each other and blow up. Krall's forces are whittled down to 3 ships. Two of which get taken out, and the Franklin collides with Krall himself. Kirk and Uhura sweep the Franklin and discover not only that Krall has escaped but that he was once Captain Balthazar Edison, Commanding Officer of the Franklin, and a former MACO (Starfleet Marine Corps) who fought in the Xindi and Romulan Wars. His ship and crew crash landed on the planet, and blames the Federation for leaving them to die. The native population had a procedure which prolonged his life (and probably his crew's) and giving them a more alien appearance. He's reverted to his human form and makes his way towards the station's atmospheric dispersal system, and it's up to Kirk to stop him. Edison attempts to call Kirk out on their similarities, the former having given up on humanity and the latter ready to give up his command, but Jim's found purpose again, fighting and willing to die for the salvation of others. Krall is finally consumed by his own weapon as they're both shot into space, with only his Starfleet Command insignia remaining.
Crisis averted and the station saved, we return to our moments of peace, quiet, and pathos. Spock goes through the Ambassador's personal effects, and a box is among them. Upon opening it, he discovers a photographic image of the original crew during the movie era on the bridge of their Enterprise. It's genuinely touching moment, which could likely make even the most cynical fan cry.
Kirk meets with the station's Admiral, as they close the case on the lost crew of the USS Franklin, and he declines the desk job to stick with his command. He adjourns to a surprise birthday party, as he gives a toast to the Enterprise and "to absent friends". (There's an unintentional tug at the heartstrings as the succeeding shot gives you a clear view of Chekov.) Jaylah is offered a place in Starfleet Academy, Spock and Uhura patch things up, Chekov chats up a girl about the inventions of Russia, and we're treated to a sped up circular shot of the construction of a new Enterprise (NCC-1701-A). As that finishes, the film concludes with the familiar narration delivered not only by Spock or Kirk, but by the entire bridge crew. The credits roll through a gorgeous outer space and rendition of the theme music, then fading to black with dedications in memory of Leonard Nimoy and for Anton (Yelchin).
Suffice it to stay Star Trek Beyond gets it right. Unlike JJ Abrams, Simon Pegg and Justin Lin were long time Trekkies with a love for the source material, and it shows from beginning to end. That isn't to say the previous two films were even bad, so much as this one outdoes them. It is a little disappointing that Alice Eve didn't return as Carol Marcus. She had good chemistry with Kirk and meshed well with the crew. Maybe she was reassigned or even requested a transfer at some point during these three years, and her absence may have even been a factor in Kirk's feelings early in the movie. Michael Giacchino provides the music once again. His orchestra creates a powerful atmosphere, and manages to sneak a few familiar cues that would feel right in place in the old series. (The only problem with his variation of the original theme is that he sticks to the version heard in the title sequence, and leaves out the bars that would be heard in the show's end credits. It would be nice if this was straightened out in later films.) The new high collar ship uniforms and away team jackets are great too. The former being similar yet different, while the latter were again similar to Enterprise. The cast all do a great job and work well together, and it's a tad bittersweet knowing we'll never see Anton Yelchin's Chekov again. If this is the Kelvin timeline's finale, they're going out on a high note. However, if there is a sequel, then we can look forward to seeing what's out there.
