STAR TREK BEYOND REVIEW

The USS Enterprise crew explores the furthest reaches of uncharted space, where they encounter a new ruthless enemy who puts them and everything the Federation stands for to the test.

Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, and Karl Urban

Directed by: Justin Lin

Written by: Simon Pegg, and Doug Jung

  “Star Trek Beyond” definitely goes above and beyond. There are many things to like in the next chapter of this franchise, the first being the tribute and respect for the original crew. In particular, they go out of the way to salute the one and only Mr. Spock, Leonard Nimoy. Zachary Quinto does justice in role as Commander Spock, and uses his role to share the audience’s pain over the loss of Leonard. They top it off with a classic picture of the original cast.

In another sad note, the USS Enterprise gets absolutely demolished. On the bright side, it’s a truly awesome scene. This new enemy launches a very coordinated attack on the ship ripping it apart both inside and out. The crew scrambles in defense and survival, as Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) squares off with the leader of this new found enemy, Krall (Idris Elba).

The story seems kind of standard, as the crew gets attacked, separated, and struggles to find a way to defeat the enemy. However, there are a few subtle twists that make the difference. For one, there’s more than meets the eye in regards to Krall. He’s not just another alien out to destroy the Federation for no reason. Also, there’s a couple of songs played that the audience probably would never think would be played in a Star Trek movie.

In between some of the aforementioned emotional moments is a good mix of comedy and action. Bones (Karl Urban) and Spock have their usually back and forth, while Chekov (Anton Yelchin) has his spots following Kirk around. However the best pair might be Scotty (Simon Pegg) and his new friend Jaylah (Sofia Boutella). The action is non-stop, and the pace picks up after a slow opening. As expected, it ends with a very dramatic showdown between Kirk and Krall.

It wasn’t until after the credits started rolling that the biggest surprise happened, which was Simon Pegg’s name coming up as one of the writers. It’s hard to tell exactly how much he wrote, but that might explain why movie comes off as if it’s truly written by a Star Trek fan. From the tribute to Leonard, Bones and Spock’s interactions, and a cool time lapse scene at the end, it’s all things fans want to see. Add the great action, and acting from a terrific cast, and I give “Star Trek Beyond” 3.5 stars.

  

  HorrO

MISSION IMPOSSIBLE: ROGUE NATION REVIEW

 Ethan and team take on their most impossible mission yet, eradicating the Syndicate - an International rogue organization as highly skilled as they are, committed to destroying the IMF.

Starring: Tom Cruise, Rebecca Ferguson, Jeremy Renner, and Simon Pegg

Directed by: Christopher McQuarrie

Written by: Christopher McQuarrie, and Drew Pearce

  After "Mission Impossible 3" in 2006 many thought the franchise would end there. However, in 2011 came "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol," which seemed to revive the franchise. To no surprise another movie would be on its way in the form of "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation." Ghost Protocol set the bar high, so could Rogue Nation continue the new found momentum for this franchise?

There's nowhere else to start when talking about Mission Impossible other than with the action. The action made Ghost Protocol, and it does the same for Rogue Nation. There are several fantastic action scenes, starting with a funny one right off the bat. Ethan (Tom Cruise) jumps on a plane, and is hanging on for his life as Benji (Simon Pegg) tries to remotely open the door to the plane.

 

The action gets much more intense than that. Of course there's a car chase, and it doesn't disappoint. It's a nice high-speed chase involving a bunch of motorcycles, and a smooth BMW. In a scene that's a little different, Ethan has to dive into a sealed chamber with no scuba tank. He only has a few minutes to hold his breath, and accomplish his dangerous mission. That's pretty suspenseful, but nothing like the ending scene.

 

The ending is all set up by a great story. This mission really does seem impossible until the very end. The Syndicate has a step on Ethan the entire time. It doesn't help that the U.S. government takes aim at Ethan and the team as well. One of the great things about the story is the involvement of Ilsa (Rebecca Ferguson). The audience continues to wonder whose side she's on, as she plays both sides throughout.

As expected, the acting isn't a problem. Tom does a terrific job, as he seems to have found it very comfortable playing Ethan. Also, he does a great job in the action scenes. Rebecca does a nice job of never giving away her character's intentions. Simon is always welcome with his well-timed humor. Jeremy completes it all with his serious role as William Brandt.

There's no doubt that both Ghost Protocol and Rogue Nation are action packed movies. The action has carried the franchise to new heights. In "Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation," the action just gets bigger, and bigger. Tom has taken the challenge with many of the stunts, and has done an awesome job. It doesn't hurt that a great cast surrounds him. With that said, I give this movie 4 stars!

HorrO