Star Trek: Section 31 Bombs in a Blaze of Mediocrity

A star rating of 2 out of 5.

Initially, when Michelle Yeoh portrayed Emperor Philippa Georgiou on Star Trek: Discovery, her commitments were less busy compared to what they are currently.

Even with my career soaring after winning an Academy Award for Everything Everywhere All at Once in 2023, I’ve managed to make time to reprise my role as Georgiou in the action-packed Star Trek: Section 31. In this feature-length adventure, I find myself drafted into a clandestine division of Starfleet for a high-stakes mission against the clock. As the relentless former despot, I’m once again thrust into perilous situations, where every second counts.

In this covert team, you’ll find familiar faces and various ethnicities, such as the shape-shifting character Quasi (originally named Sam Richardson), who hails from a species previously presented in the 1991 film Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country.

Moreover, we have Rachel Garrett (Kacey Rohl), a character whom followers of The Next Generation are familiar with, eventually assuming command of the USS Enterprise-C.

To put it frankly, while these references to the larger cosmos add some depth, they merely serve as superficial decoration. The end result is a chaotic scenario where the positive spirit and imagery of Star Trek are largely abandoned for a grimy visual style and an ordinary science fiction narrative focusing on a weapon being misused for destruction.

A portion of the issue arises when familiar symbols linked to the series are removed, such as spotless uniforms and shiny spaceship interiors.

As a movie buff, I’d rephrase it like this: The ship where Georgiou and her team sail on seems more like a junk vessel to me, while the scene where Garrett dives into a pile of waste stirs up a Star Wars vibe instead of the usual Star Trek flair.

However, it might be more crucial to scrutinize the essence of Section 31 itself. For those unacquainted, this enigmatic institution was initially introduced in the spin-off series Deep Space Nine, where it played a relatively minor role amidst storylines that delved into the complexities and compromises the Federation faced while striving for its ideals.

In this case, it’s hard not to question whether Section 31 strays too far from Starfleet’s ideals, giving the impression that it contradicts Gene Roddenberry’s optimistic view of the future from the 1960s. Instead of embodying the Kennedy-era idealism, Section 31 appears to be a much darker, paranoid creation reminiscent of the Nixon era.

Additionally, Georgiou grapples with her inner struggles too, often delving into introspection during her numerous combat sequences. She strives to come to terms with her past as a ruthless ruler in an alternate reality Earth.

Or:

Beyond the physical battles she engages in, Georgiou also wrestles with personal turmoil, occasionally taking moments for introspection about her former life as a tyrant on a parallel universe Earth.

However, these worries, coupled with some attempts at humor from Georgiou’s motley team (notably Rob Kazinsky, a former EastEnders star who stands out as an agent with a mechanical exoskeleton), get overshadowed by the loud and frequent explosions.

Or:

Georgiou’s crew tried to inject some humor amidst their concerns, but it was hard to hear over the continuous booms of the explosions. Rob Kazinsky, playing an agent with a mechanical exoskeleton, managed to make us laugh, but the action drowned out his jokes.

More frequently than not, bright, fiery orbs dart swiftly across the display, yet they seldom live up to their full potential for grandeur. A key aspect that seems to have been overlooked is that Star Trek shines most vividly in its moments of tranquility, where thoughtful discussions on philosophy take center stage instead of the detonation of photon torpedoes.

Instead, it seems like the intention is to appeal to fans of Guardians of the Galaxy, however, the dialogue and action scenes lack the agility required.

Given its pre-existing fanbase that appears to be older than the followers of other fantasy series, it’s logical that Star Trek might feel compelled to evolve in order to remain relevant.

As a cinephile myself, I must admit that this movie didn’t quite live up to the anticipation or provide the entertainment value required to draw in newcomers. Veteran film fans might even find themselves regretting their decision to venture into the cinematic unknown, perhaps wishing they had opted instead for a cozy rewatch of their beloved old DVD collection.

2025-01-23 09:34

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