Star Trek: Section 31

Since I seem to be on a Star Trek kick lately, I thought about watching the new movie, created expressly for streaming. That would make me sad, except Trek has long been about going in different directions. Trek has always been the clean science fiction. Nothing ever looks worn or dirty, which is the opposite of Star Wars and almost any other science fiction since that movie made it kewl to look more like the real world. The moral dilemmas portrayed always seem deep on the surface, but the good guys always win, even when they take tiny detours into the muck of real life. They may have encountered increasingly meaner and more evil beings after the original series, but they still stayed clean and moral in the end.

I haven’t caught up in episodes to fully understand Emperor Georgiou’s evil arc of redemption, but I was eager to see Michelle Yeoh as a kickass evil femme. I had an idea what Section 31 is, but not entirely because Deep Space Nine is one of those Treks I could never watch. They’re like the dark part of the CIA, with secret interrogation sites and only passing interest in doing the right thing for the good of all. In other words, they don’t really fit in the traditional Trek universe.

Before tuning in I read a couple of reviews and, whew! Nasty! People are saying horrible things about this movie. Mostly there is a wringing of hands over how unTrekkian the movie is, and that may be, though it has evolved since its beginning and all the iterations since, so what’s another tweak. Even using the evil mirror universe Georgiou as a baddie hasn’t changed the enduring tug toward the good that even manages to redeem the most evil person in two timelines.

So they gave this kinda sorta not quite a murderer anymore character her own movie and my biggest takeaway is that the creators took Trek, Star Wars, Guardians of the Galaxy, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Men in Black, threw them in a bag and shook it hard to make a mishmash of messages and images and depressingly lame film. I didn’t dislike it because it’s not Trek, I disliked it because it’s poorly made.

The first thing I noted was how slowly the plot and dialogue is delivered. Then I was surprised at the Academy Award actress level of scene chewing. No, even that level of actress cannot make scene chewing interesting, funny, or compelling. I also noted the differences in action. Trek does not do extended action sequences like the other kids, they do logic action in short bursts. The camera work at one point made me actually embarrassed to watch. The 360⁰ camera swirl in a fight scene gave me flashbacks to many bad 1970s movies. And, Section 31 is supposed to be deadly masters of the spy game, right? Why is this sad squadron full of buffoons and losers?

I did really like the emperor’s dragon cloak, though. Nifty.

This review is short because there’s not much to say about this Trek except it’s not good. I won’t say it’s as bad as Manos Hands of Fate, but you won’t miss anything even approaching important or entertaining if you skip it.

Triggers: Some nasty imagery. Georgiou is a bad guy of the first order.

Available on: Paramount+

LINKS:

• Star Trek: Section 31 – Official Site
• Star Trek: Section 31 – IMDB
• Star Trek: Section 31 – Wikipedia

CFR: In Addition

Sigh. I love Michelle Yeoh. I LOVE Star Trek (especially Lower Decks). In this time we need Trek more than ever. Alas, this show just isn’t right. The wonderful actors are often flat in their line delivery. The characters are stock and predictable.

I think if this had been grit, like Black Doves with intrigue like Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy, and given us The Day of the Jackal, and added the need to save civilization and kindness/Star Trek, then DAYUM! This would have ROCKED!

I’m sorry it doesn’t. Really sorry.

I will continue to watch because I love Michelle Yeoh and I want to support all Trek. However. WHERE THE BLANK IS MORE LOWER DECKS?!?!

Quick positive note: The show posters are awesome. I mean just look above and down. Michelle Yeoh.