Star Trek Beyond: A Hopefully Unbiased Review

Before I start talking about this movie, a fair warning: Star Trek is my favorite science-fiction franchise. That being said, I'm trying my best to keep this review as unbiased as possible.

What I Expected

Honestly, even long before Star Trek Beyond is released, I had a nagging worry about how this third installment is going to turn out. I blame it on the trailer.

Here is my rant about the trailer I posted on line:

So, yeah. In my mind (and any other Star Trek fan, really), Star Trek is not just a bam-boom-zap action movie. It is a depiction of how the world of mankind will take shape in the future. Unlike Star Wars, which is completely built on a fantasy universe. Also, looking back to the 2009 Star Trek movie, we saw a glimpse of complex plot, complete with alternate timeline and time travel thingy. Star Trek also specializes in teasing the conscience of the viewers, making us think — it's a philosophy.

So imagine my surprise when the trailer came out, giving us loud bangs and scenes designed to make us laugh. I wondered then, is it an attempt to be more like Guardians of the Galaxy? Not that I have anything against that movie, in fact I really like it. It's just that Star Trek is something more...sophisticated and classy.

How The Movie Actually Goes:

Thank Goodness Star Trek Beyond is beyond better than its trailer. On the fkrst few moments of the movie, we are inside Captain Kirk's mind, being shown his existential crisis as a captain of the Enterprise. 'What is the point of exploration when we know that the universe endless?' he mused.

From that point, I knew that Star Trek Beyond is still essentially a part of a franchise that I adore. A science fiction action flick with depth.

So wait, wait, wait. What is this Star Trek Beyond about, again?

Star Trek Beyond tells a story about USS Enterprise crew being stranded on a foreign planet, due to a trap set by an enemy. Attacked with their ship broken, they got to find a way to get back to the nebula while defeating a powerful enemy.

The enemy, goes by the name Krall, is actually a pretty common kind of villain. Strong, driven and blinded by revenge, searching for a powerful device to help said revenge. Pretty familiar plot, huh? 

But not to worry, even with that kind of cliché Star Trek Beyond still manages to entertain us all with its originality and HELLA FUN ACTION SEQUENCES. 

I mean, the graphic is MINDBLOWING. Its like I can feel all the pull of gravity and the impacts of a crash. For full experience, I suggest watching on 3D or quality big screen like IMAX or CGV SphereX. Oh, and also there is a smart use of soundtrack in this movie.

Now about the characters. On this installment, I am happy to see that the story gives members of the crew more depth and more screentime, compared to the previous movies that focused more on Kirk, Spock, and their relationship. On Star Trek Beyond, we get to see more of Dr. McCoy's sassiness (complete with the trademark "Dammit Jim, I'm a doctor not a blabla," quote.). 

For y'all Indonesians looking to find Joe Taslim here, lemme tell you, you're not gonna get much glimpse on his face, but I can tell you his character is not a mere minor.

Also I got a little "baper" watching this especially when our beloved Russian engineer Pavel Chekov is on screen. Can't believe the talented Anton Yelchin is gone now :(

Now that I've covered the good things, moving on to the less-appetizing aspects. On the final scenes, I think there were several plot gaps. Nothing crucial, but enough to make us get all like, 'Wait, what?" I'm not sure whether it was only me, but apparently my friend noticed it too. In the end, I was able to place those gaps in my head myself.

For Those Who Haven't Watch any Star Trek

One of the most common thing people ask me about a movie is: "I didn't watch the previous films, will I be confused watching this newest one?" 

Actually, no. Star Trek franchise tells a different adventure on each of the movies, with different enemies each.

However, there is one scene containing a reference to the first Star Trek installment that will make newbies wonder. Hint to make it easier: in the first Star Trek movie, Ambassador Spock from the future arrived at the present and met the actual-right now-Spock. So they are basically the same person. (mindfucked yet?) remember this little detail and you will be fine. But in order to FEEL the character developments like I did, its wise to do a marathon of Star Trek and Star Trek into darkness.

Rating This Movie

To recap this quite lengthy ramble, I give Star Trek Beyond 8.7/10. It fulfilled my expectations, but it could be a little better in my opinion. (+) to special effects and the overall enjoyment, (-) to a pretty basic plot.

Bonus: Chris Pine aka Captain Kirk is lookin hella fineeee.;)


Live long and prosper,
Captain Heidira.

Area lampiran

Action Movie Reviews! (because UNAS is over!)

Hola amigo!
Pertama aku mau bilang, ALHAMDULILLAH UNAS SELESAI!
I'm happy like crazy. I've done my best kok, lihat aja nanti hasilnya, tawakkal.
Jadi...aku punya hari libur yang panjang. Yang kemungkinan besar tidak akan jadi produktif.
To fill in my spare time....I present!

REVIEWS OF MY FAVORITE ACTION MOVIES IN MARCH-APRIL
Oke sebenernya aku cuman mau cerita 2 film....
Sebenernya aku lumayan sering ke bioskop akhir-akhir ini, nonton: Die Hard 4, Chinese Zodiac, The Croods, GI Joe: Retaliation, Iron Man 3... apalagi ya aku lupa.
Anyway. It's gonna be long if I write them all so I'll just tell you about....


Iron Man 3

Pasti kenal dong sama superhero yang satu ini. Tony Stark, biliuner arogan tapi sebenernya baik. Hahaha. Aku bilang sih Iron Man ini a superhero movie with a twist in character. Lihat aja sifatnya si Tony yang gak kayak pahlawan pada umumnya. Dan itu merupakan hal yang bikin asyik. He's my favorite superhero, my idol, fyi.
Setelah lama ditunggu tunggu akhirnya keluar juga nih sekuelnya. Masih dengan bintang yang sama, the charismatic Robert Downey Jr.
Di film ketiga ini, Tony Stark mengalami banyak panic attack, kayak depresi gitu gara-gara misi terakhirnya di New York (di The Avengers). Tony Stark seperti dikejar musuh dari masa lalunya, yang dulu hanya ilmuwan biasa yang kecewa oleh sikap Tony dan menjadi 'penjahat maniak super jahat yang ingin menguasai dunia'. Musuh ini bernama Adrich Killian. Killian mengembangkan semacam mutasi genetik yang dapat membuat manusia tidak dapat terluka, semacam kekuatan super. Sayangnya efeknya berbahaya dan bisa, literally, meledak.
Dalam beraksi, Killian menggunakan sebuah 'topeng publik' bernama Mandarin. Jadi ceritanya Mandarin ini semacam teroris yang bikin penyerangan di Amerika padahal penjahat sebenernya itu ya si Killian.
Suatu saat, Tony Stark, seperti biasa, percaya diri dan menantang Mandarin. Kemudian rumah Tony Stark dihancurkan. Parah. Abis. Mobilnya yang segudang itupun meluncur bebas ke laut. :"
Tapi...Tony gak mati dong! Secara, ini kan Tony B-) Terus dia terbang ke Tennessee (pake Iron Man suite lah) buat cari bukti tentang si penjahat ini. Waktu itu dia belum tau kalau penjahatnya si Killian.
Di Tennessee dia ketemu anak kecil yang jadi semacam asistennya. Setelah dari Tennessee dan mengalahkan penjahat-penjahat anak buah Killian, dia pergi lagi untuk menyelamatkan Presiden yang ternyata mau dibunuh sama Killian.
Detail-detail lainnya gak usah diceritain lagi ya.
Pokoknya nanti dia sama Rhodey nyelamatin Presiden terus endinnya Iron Man battle sama si Killian, Pepper, yang bener-bener udah dicintai *ecie* Tony, jatuh ke api-api. Dan Tony harus balas dendam pada Killian.

Mendebarkan banget pokoknya. Nontonlah sendiri dan cepatlah karena kamu bisa aja kehabisan kursi di bioskop, hampir kayak aku *curhat*.

*
SUMPAH YAA NIH FILM BAGUS BANGET GILA!
Its pure perfection, pals.
Sayangnya, di endingnya, semacam di 'imply'kan bahwa Tony Stark udah gak jadi Iron Man lagi. Hmm....entahlah. Semoga aja masih ada Iron Man 4, 5, 6, sampe 20 yang akan datang! HAHAHAHA


G.I. Joe: Retaliation

Merupakan film sekuel dari G.I. Joe yang pertama: Rise of Cobra.
Di awal film diceritakan mengenai misi team G.I. Joe untuk mengambil senjata nuklir di semacam gudang senjata di Pakistan. Misi berjalan sukses, tanpa korban jiwa. Tapi ketika mereka hendak pulang, pesawat-pesawat asing datang dan menjatuhkan bom ke tengah-tengah tim G.I. Joe. Mereka tak sempat melindungi diri. Sayangnya, komandan G.I. Joe, Duke (Channing Tatum) gugur juga. Setelah merasa semua G.I. Joe telah mati, pesawat-pesawat itu pun pergi. Yang mereka tidak tahu, masih ada beberapa Joes yang selamat: Roadblock (Dwayne Johnson), Lady Jaye (Adrianne Palicki), dan Flint (D.J. Cotrona).  Mereka menduga bahwa serangan itu hanya bisa dikomando oleh Presiden. Dan mereka akhirnya menyelidiki bahwa Presiden yang sekarang bukanlah Presiden asli, melainkan orang yang menyamar.
Mereka bertiga pun pergi untuk mencari bantuan. Satu-satunya anggota Joe yang masih hidup (dan dapat dipercaya) adalah Snake Eyes, yang tidak dapat mengikuti misi. Snake Eyes merupakan seorang samurai yang tidak pernah bicara atau menampakkan wajah (dia pake helm!!)

Sementara itu di belahan dunia yang lain, Storm Shadow dan Cobra Commander yang merupakan villain utama, sedang dipenjara. Tapi mereka berdua diselamatkan oleh rekan penjahat mereka, Firefly.
Setelah Storm Shadow bebas, dia 'dikejar' oleh Snake Eyes dan Jinx. Akhirnya mereka berdua berhasil menangkap Storm Shadow setelah hampir dibunuh oleh sekawanan ninja Nepal. 
Ternyata, Storm Shadow juga punya dendam terhadap Cobra Commander. Jadi dia bersedia bergabung dengan 'tim pahlawan'.

Setelah Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, Jinx bertemu dengan Roadblock, Lady Jaye, dan Flint, mereka dan pensiunan tentara Colonel Joseph Colton (Bruce Willis) bertemu untuk menyusun rencana dan mengambil persediaan senjata yang diperlukan dalam membunuh Cobra Commander dan menggagalkan rencana jahatnya untuk meluncurkan senjata penghancur terhebat yang pernah ada.

Bagaimana misi mereka berakhir?

*
Salah satu hal yang bikin film action ini lebih menarik dari film lain di genrenya(yang somewhat Military), menurutku, adalah...nama agen sama penjahatnya cool cool! Yah, mungkin emang karena film ini bergenre action/science fiction sih. But still, so cool. Kayak film superhero jadinya. And then, menurutku, Retaliation ini jauuh lebih bagus dari yang pertama, yang terkesan boring dan rumit.
Tapi yang ini, bener-bener fresh dan diselingi dengan adegan adegan lucu jadi tidak membosankan. Sayangnya, di film ini tidak dijelaskan kelanjutan dari kisah Duke dan pacarnya dari G.I. Joe pertama. Tidak dikisahkan juga tentang tim G.I. Joe yang lama, sebelum Duke jadi komandan. Padahal penjahatnya sama lho.
Intinya, film ini recommended banget lah buat yang suka nonton film action yang nggak terlalu bikin mikir (e.g.: Bourne Legacy, aku bingung nontonnya.)


*
Okay thats all! I hope you enjoy;)

Sinceramente,
HEIDI STARK THE SUPERHERO MOVIE MANIAC

MY ANIMATED BOYFRIEND and the best cartoon movie I've ever seen.

Is it possible to have a crush on an animated character? That sounds crazy.
But we all know that some animation boys can be utterly good looking. Need example? Just look at Uchiha Sasuke (insert lovestruck eyes here) from Naruto or Kaito Kid from Detective Conan. Nah.

But a few days before, I met (or saw) a completedly, impossibly good looking character from the best cartoon movie I've ever seen: Rise of The Guardians:


JACK FROST.

You see, he's got this awesome pale skin and awesome white/silver hair and strikingly electric blue eyes.  I've been fangirling over him from the first time I saw him.

Jadi ya, baru berapa detik filmya main di bioskop, kata pertama yang aku keluarkan adalah: Ganteng ya.

(Dan akhirnya aku sadar bahwa aku sangat nerdy sampai jatuh cinta pada seorang tokoh kartun. Oh well.)

And, Jack ini adalah seorang Guardian. To be precise, Guardian of Joy. Dia selama ini invisible karena tidak ada yang percaya bahwa dia nyata. Kasihan ya. Terus dia juga nggak inget tentang masa lalunya sama sekali. 

Poor Jack:(

Jack bisa mengendalikan dan menciptakan salju, es, dan berbagai winter stuff lainnya. Dia juga bisa terbang. Kekuatannya sungguh hebat sampai-sampai........(berhenti bercerita karena nanti dianggap membocorkan cerita film)

Anyway. Jack ini masih remaja, dan sikapnya itu sungguh sangat bikin onar. Seperti quotenya:

"I love being on my own. No rules, no responsibilty, just as good as it sounds"

dan,

Jack: "Am I on the naught list?"

North: "Naught list? HA-HA! You hold the records."

Dan seperti yang dideskripsikan Wikipedia: Jack Frost, the spirit of winter and the Guardian of Joy/Fun. Jack Frost is a teenage hellion who enjoys creating mischief and has no interest in being bound by rules or obligations; he just wants to use his staff to spread his winter magic for the sake of fun, but also wants to be believed in.

Jack Frost juga sayang banget sama anak-anak, sumpah deh, a great personality pokoknya!

Jack Frost and Tooth Fairy

Melancholy Jack?

I'm getting a nosebleed and a fangirling disease.

Besides, aku nggak bohong waktu aku bilang ini adalah film kartun paling asik yang pernah aku tonton. Aku sampai ketagihan: download soundtracksnya, sampai hafal quotesnya, collecting pictures, and such. 

Intinya, film ini mengisahkan perjuangan Jack, North(Santa), Bunnymund (Easter Bunny), Sandy(Sandman), Tooth Fairy dalam mengalahkan Boogeyman(Pitch Black) yang ingin mempengaruhi anak-anak di dunia dengan mimpi buruk dan rasa takut.  Lima Guardians ini punya bakat/core yang berbeda-beda lho.Satu hal favoritku di kartun ini adalah perbedaan karakter satu sama lain yang membuat film ini nggak membosankan. Selain itu, message yang disampaikan film ini sungguh heartwarming.
Thousands thumbs up for Dreamworks Inc.!

Bagi kalian yang belum nonton, click here to watch the trailer.

Lastly, hope you enjoy & be pleased to meet MY ANIMATED BOYFRIEND. ;)

*
nb: aku masih punya crush manusia sungguhan kok, thank you very much.

MOVIE OF THE MONTH!

Hola amigos! 

So here's the thing. Last Saturday, mom and I watched Skyfall. Just the two of us cause Daddy and Sissy went to Jekardah.

And three words to say: amazing, fantastic, and thrilling.

I thought it's gonna be boring because some of my friends said so, and guess what? It's not boring at all! Eventhough the movie goes on for two and a half hour. Yeah.

And, even if it's embarrassing, I just want to tell you that this is sadly the first Bond movie I've watched......

But I'm so glad I decided to watch it this time. Woo-hoo!

Oh, and reciting my mom's comment; "the most appropriate James Bond film ever" .......okay. So there are two kissing scenes...... but it's kind of expected, knowing Bond's playboy personality.

For those who love James Bond movies, in Skyfall, the topics are connected to Bond's mysterius childhood and family stories. So, it's really exciting and making me all-curious.

About the settings, it's very interesting because there are various scenes in various cities: London, Shanghai, Macau, etc.

Anyway. I can't really describe it fully, so, for those who never watched a James Bond film before, you should give this one a shot! It's worth it. You wouldn't be disappointed;)

Watch the reviews here: