Rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence.
Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Karl Urban and Idris Elba
Directed by Justin Lin (Fast & Furious 6, Fast & Furious)
With Star Trek Beyond, there is a sense that the franchise is losing steam.
The Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a mysterious new enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.
At the beginning of the film, we hear Captain James T. Kirk narrate, “things are starting to feel a little episodic” in his captain’s log. That was exactly how I felt at the end of this movie. Which was a big surprise since one of the co-writers is the hilarious Simon Pegg.
So at the risk of sounding like a cliché myself, Beyond goes where the Star Trek franchise has gone many, many times before. Yes, there is distress call. Yes, it leads them to a strange new word. Yes, there is a villain and they are attacked.
I will say the attack is really cool looking. We see the drones puncture the hull over and over and the camera weaves in and out of holes. But the most memorable image is Kirk’s view of the Enterprise crashing into an alien terrain.
There are a lot of one-liners and Star Trek humor…most of which I got…I think.
The cast is all back and fun to watch, as always. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto are once again perfect in their roles and Simon Pegg makes me laugh in every scene. We do meet a new character and I have to say that Krall has all the making of a perfect villain. That’s all I’m going to say about Krall.
With Director Justin Lin at the helm, there is never a dull moment. Think Fast and Furious in space. Plus, the special effects are great and really enhance the experience.
It’s not my favorite Star Trek film, but it is worth a “Rental” for sure.
SHOULD KIDS SEE IT?
There is no sex or nudity and the language is on the mild side.
There is a lot of violence in this one, and we see many people die, including the starship being destroyed.
CONVERSATION STARTER:
- How would you describe Kirk as a leader?
- Why do you think he often thinks of others more than himself?
- How does Kirk exemplify this in his leadership?
- How can you look to other people’s interest?
Read Philippians 2:4 (NIV)
“…not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.