Here's What Critics Are Saying About Justin Lin's STAR TREK BEYOND
The first teaser trailer didn't sit well with some fans, but just how accurate a depiction of the Justin Lin (Fast and Furious) helmed movie was that? Here's what the critics are saying about the movie so far...
As of right now, Star Trek Beyond has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 84%, and while quite a few more critics still need to weigh in, the signs are all pointing to the movie being a critical hit. While the reviews aren't overwhelmingly positive in terms of a wave of 5* reviews, there are lots of 4* verdicts and strong 3* ones, with the general consensus being that Justin Lin was a good choice of director.
That flies in the face of what most people said when the Fast and Furious helmer was chosen to take over from J.J. Abrams, though it's the talented ensemble who receive the lion's share of praise. It's going to be interesting now seeing how Star Trek Beyond performs at the box office, especially as the franchise has never done huge numbers. Here are a selection of the most noteworthy reviews:
Star Trek Beyond is far from a miseryfest. The drama never swamps the film's humour, and it combines a glossy Hollywood sense of wonder with that classic Star Trek optimism. In the uncertain world we live in, it couldn't feel more timely. [4*]
SOURCE: Digital Spy
Those concerned by the hiring of Lin to replace Abrams need not be. Yes, he is the man who revitalised the Fast And Furious franchise by taking it in a gloriously OTT, ridiculously stupid direction, but here he dials down that freneticism for something more considered. It’s relatively low on the explosions front, and there are whole scenes here where the camera doesn’t move. But when the action starts, he’s more than capable of handling it, most notably in the bravura extended sequence when the Enterprise is ripped to shreds by Krall’s seemingly unstoppable swarm of bee-like ships. And throughout it all, there’s a lovely reverence for the legacy of Trek. Chances are this rose won’t be losing its bloom anytime soon. [4*]
SOURCE: Empire
The dilithium crystals powering the new Star Trek film are in pretty good shape: it motors along and Chris Pine shows himself again to be a very good actor with easy charm and authority. The bantering relationship between Karl Urban (as Dr “Bones” McCoy) and Quinto is, as ever, very enjoyable. At one stage, McCoy dismisses something Spock says as “horseshit”. Quinto demonstrates great comic timing in the pause he deploys before his dignified reply: “I fail to see how excrement of any kind plays a part.” Maybe this is the real bromance, actually. This new movie could arguably have given Elba more to do, earlier in the picture, but it is the inter-relationship of the Enterprise’s crew which is the real source of drama. An entertaining adventure. [3*]
One of the chief strengths of the reboot series remains its appealing young cast, who approach their iconic characters with respect while keeping their performances loose, enlivening their camaraderie with reciprocal warmth and understated humor. Elba's fierce charisma at first seems obscured beneath layers of prosthetic armor and a Darth Vader-esque heavy-breather voicebox (there are nods to both the Star Wars and Alien universes). But the actor's powerful physicality is evident throughout, and he gets to explore a fuller range in the climactic scenes, as Krall's true identity is revealed. While Beyond won't unseat 1982's thrilling The Wrath of Khan as the gold standard for Star Trek movies, it's a highly entertaining entry guaranteed to give the franchise continuing life.
SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter
On the strength of this encounter, Trek isn’t going to start challenging Wars as the dominant Star franchise, but there’s plenty of evidence it could still prosper. Beyond is a fun, self-contained romp that serves as a sensitive send-off for both Yelchin and Leonard Nimoy, but it never feels like it truly hits warp-speed. [3*]
SOURCE: Total Film
Director Justin Lin brings his bravura action energy and a certain nostalgic flair to the 'Star Trek' series, even as he unboldly goes where too many have gone before.
SOURCE: Variety
Without a TV series to bridge long gaps between movies, each new “Trek” film has shouldered the burden of being many things to a large and varied fanbase. “Star Trek Beyond” forges a path right down the middle of the franchise’s well-defined lane, playing more like a greatest-hits compilation than anything new. Given the various low points in the thirteen-film series, that’s not a bad thing. This episode cuts right to the core of the series’s original appeal, giving the terrific cast a chance to play against one another in a straightforward story. It’s not exactly bold, but “Beyond” does satisfy.
SOURCE: The Wrap