Section 31 is the latest reincarnation of the Star Trek universe. It follows, to some extent, the events that took place in the series Star Trek: Discovery. Although with that said, I couldn’t really explain how or why, even if I wanted to. Section 31 is by far the messiest of all the Star Trek movies. Given that Star Trek: Discovery was also messy and was balancing on the timeline with delicacy. The alternate reality and confusing timeline in that series are spilled over to Section 31.
Section 31 is very confusing
To tell you the truth, I was confused almost from the first frame. Section 31 is by far the worst installment of Star Trek I’ve ever seen. And given that I’ve actually seen them all, some on multiple occasions, that means, of course. This is the worst of them all. So much so that it plants doubt in my mind that there ever will be another attempt to create something new in the Star Trek universe,
It’s not badly acted at all. Michelle Yeoh does a fine job with what she’s got to work with. Many of the other characters are really wooden, though. And I’ve never considered any Star Trek installment as silly as Section 31. I would like to hope that this was the feeling they were aiming for, but I very much doubt it. It feels like everything was rushed and that there wasn’t enough time to either develop the script or the overall production.
Given that it has a PG-13 rating. But that doesn’t mean you have to make it sloppy or childish to this level. I didn’t hate it, but I will probably never ever see it again. I don’t see any reason for even starting to try to understand the timeline, the character, or the events taking place. I just don’t care what happens in Section 31. If everyone died and everything blew to pieces wouldn’t even bother me.
Interesting premise
I think a movie about Section 31 is a very interesting premise, though. It’s a pretty new department or concept, or what you would like to call it. I doubt that it was something that was in Gene Roddenberry’s imagination when Star Trek was created in the 60s. Maybe it should have been, since Star Trek always had a way to reflect reality in a sci-fi context. Section 31 is basically a secret department of agents sanctioned to do whatever is necessary to protect the Federation. It might be dirty, just like real-life intelligence organizations would.
I think the message Gene Roddenberry wanted to come a cross was more about unity, though. Stories about a time when we have bettered ourselves from bigotry, racism, and the Earth divided by countries. A time and place where we are driven by the thirst of seeking knowledge and discovering strange new worlds.
Section 31 is everything but that. It doesn’t even feel like a Star Trek movie. I wouldn’t mind it as much if it were just another Sci-Fi flick, but to label Section 31 as a Star Trek movie? No, that is where I draw the line! The only fun thing about this is when Jamie Lee Curtis turns up in a very small part.
