We were treated tonight to a marathon of the new trilogy of Star Trek movies, including a screening of Star Trek Beyond. Seeing the first two reminded me how good Star Trek and Star Trek Into Darkness are, and seeing them all in a row made me all the more sure that Star Trek Beyond is my favourite of the three.
The most difficult part about the movie is how it reminds us that we’ve lost both Leonard Nimoy and Anton Yelchin from the Star Trek family. Nimoy was a larger part of the first two than I remembered, and his presence served as a nice reminder that there’s a whole alternate universe of adventures waiting to be rediscovered. He receives a nice tribute in this movie, which I was glad to see.
Yelchin, having died so tragically after filming was complete, is a key cast member in all three and is excellent in Star Trek Beyond (as always). But it’s bittersweet to watch, as his posthumous presence is harder to take than his absence would have been. Every one of his scenes serves as a reminder that there will be no more Chekov in the instalments to come. He will be sincerely missed but it feels right that his role will not be recast. May he rest in peace.
A lesser movie would have been overshadowed by those real-life lossses. Star Trek Beyond is instead comforting and uplifting in their face, providing a classic trip to a strange new world, plenty of humanoid aliens (some good, some bad, almost all English-speaking), and some fantastic interplay between the series’ seven main characters. This time, Bones and Spock are the standouts, getting a ton of one-on-one time and delivering banter that is consistently hilarious and completely fitting for this odd couple. Writers Simon Pegg and Doug Jung do a 
wonderful job of capturing the sarcastic Bones and the quiet pleasure Spock takes in driving Bones crazy, while letting us see that underneath it all there is nothing but love and respect between them.
That is the way all these beloved characters get treated – with love and respect. I just wish Sulu’s coming-out moment had not been such a source of controversy leading up to the movie’s release, because in the movie it comes off as another nice nod to the original cast that also fits with the diversity that is the series’ staple.
I cannot say enough good things about Star Trek Beyond. It provides a massive amount of fan service while remaining accessible and enjoyable to all. Star Trek Beyond is a welcome and worthy addition to this classic franchise and a fitting sendoff to two absent friends.
Sean & Jay enjoyed the Starfleet Academy Experience – hear about it in our podcast:
ASSHOLES WATCHING MOVIES 
Great review! 🙂 I’m seeing the triple bill tonight!
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I am glad we got to see the previous two. I hadn’t seen them in so long, it was almost like I was seeing them for the first time.
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I’ve only seen the first so looking forward to watching them all! 🙂
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Hoping to go this weekend. As a fan since birth I’m not expecting much, just hoping for the best.
RIP Anton.
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Hope you enjoy it!
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Wish me luck!
Why have so many major films had awful trailers lately?
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Great question! This trailer was particularly uninspired. Really, it would have been better for them not to have had one at all.
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P.S. Good luck 🙂
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I’m hoping to see this on Monday. I never thought I’d enjoy Star Trek until these reboots won me over, as lame as it sounds. I loved the first two. Great review!
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Thanks! For me, the reboots have been consistently enjoyable, more so than any three in a row from the original films. And if you liked the first two, you’ll like Beyond too.
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I’m jealous that you bastards got to see this before me : (
But I’m glad you liked it – I can’t wait : )
Although, it appears Bones seems to have some sort of Permanent on his head in your top picture. That may not sit well with me.
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Haha great observation! Jay was making fun of the whole cast last night, for always primping their hair after they took off their helmets.
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I remember when The Next Generation started and a lot of old Star Trek fans hated it. But some of us stuck with it and it earned a lot of new fans too. And it got better. When the spinoffs started TNG was the standard against which they were judged–not the original, although to their credit the spinoffs tried to go in very different directions.
I feel like the same thing is happening with the new movies.
Also, just because:
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That’s a very good comparison! Looking back, the way the reboot was handled was perfect – by creating a different timeline both stories were allowed to coexist. And the latest movies have been sure to remind of us that in small but wonderful ways and Beyond’s reminder is my favourite so far.
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You know, I am not a big Star Trek fan – I haven’t seen any of the new ones – and yet I always enjoy the Star Trek I have watched. Perhaps I should remedy this and do a marathon!
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At this point I have to call myself a fan. I have a soft spot for many of the old movies (2 and 6 especially) but I think the new ones are way more accessible. Whether that’s good or bad is obviously up for debate but I would highly recommend marathoning the most recent ones, and now seems to be a great time to do it!
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Considering how hot and muggy it is outside, any activity where I get to sit inside for a bit of time is not one I am going to object to!
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I grew to love the Star Trek reboot and I’m excited to hear how well received Beyond is which I initially didn’t have high hopes for after the first trailer.
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The trailer was awful. It really took this movie off my radar. I guess the only silver lining was that I went in basically cold as a result but it feels like many people are going to miss the movie because of the trailer being so bad.
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Looking forward to seeing it. They’re all so well cast in these movies, but yes, was very sad about Anton Yelchin.
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It really was. Such a terrible way for him to go. Not that there’s a good way but his death was so random and horrible.
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It is so great to hear good things about the film! I can’t wait to see it.
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I’m actually going to get to see this one in a theater. Probably.
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This is one to see on the big screen. The 3D was good but not essential. I have read complaints that it was dark and difficult to follow but it looked great in IMAX!
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I cannot wait to see this. I actually cried in the theater when I saw the first one of this trilogy. I had missed it something fierce. It made me want to go where no woman had gone before. Harbor Freight! ( ;D )
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The first movie was fantastic, and seeing it this week reminded me of that wonderful feeling when I first saw the teaser. Now that was how a trailer should be made!
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I definitely want to get back on the Star Trek path. I somehow ended up missing the second one.
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I thought the second was nice especially because of its callbacks to the previous franchise, so I’d recommend watching it at some point, but it’s not essential viewing before seeing Beyond.
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This is the review I have been waiting for. Thanks you. I loved the first two installments. Happy to hear number three won’t disappoint.
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Seeing this Saturday. Cannot wait!!!
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Great review Sean. Really gets me excited for this. Seeing it tomorrow night.
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Hope you like it as much as I did!
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I’m a big fan of the first two of the recent Star Treks. They seem to get back to something of the atmosphere of the original TV show. I haven’t seen Beyond yet, but I’m looking forward to it. You’re right about the sadness of Anton Yelchin’s tragic passing.
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I was thinking I’d see this when it hits Netflix of DVD, as I didn’t think the first two were great. Enjoyable enough, I only saw the second one cause I saw the first. If that makes sense. You might have sold this one to me, though. Sounds like it could be the movie I was hoping for.
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Not my kind of movie. Gord saw it, though, and said it was good.
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I saw this last weekend and really liked it. The new character is attractive and strong willed. I got teary eyed twice, my Dad was a NASA engineer and was so excited about Star Trek! I wish he could have seen this new series, younger version with more realistic scenery and interesting plots, too. I highly agree, well worth seeing and ironically, I told my friend I went with that I really liked this one the Best!
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Well it makes sense, it’s fun with lots of action but still had some heart and good character work. I think they’re striking a really nice balance with these that can attract lots of viewers, not just the diehards.
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Not ready to say it is my favorite of the three but it is awfully close. This has lowkey been a great trilogy in my opinion!
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Can’t say that it was my favorite, but I definitely enjoyed it, and appreciated the fact that, after threatening to be pure popcorn movie, it took a more thoughtful turn at the end.
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Patrick Stewart will play the SHIT in new Emoji movie by Sony!
https://funkyferretblog.wordpress.com/2017/01/19/patrick-steward-will-play-the-shit-in-new-emoji-movie/
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