Page 6 July 28, 2016 Film Review Star Trek Beyond’ is an Enterprising Addition to the Canon By Jared Anderson for www.cinemacy.com When J.J. Abrams’ first “Star Trek“ film came out in 2009, it connected with moviegoers just as “Casino Royale” and “Batman Begins” had earlier that decade. Each were successful bids to breathe new life into a long-standing pop culture mythology and reverently introduce it to a new generation. Fast forward seven short years: while the Craig and Nolan eras of Bond and Batman (respectively) have expired, this reinvigorated movieverse continues. In between, we had “Star Trek Into Darkness,” which was the mirror image of “Quantum of Solace” - a frustrating, risk-averse sequel built on recycled parts. A franchise known for going “where no man has gone before” essentially spun its wheels. Enter “Star Trek Beyond.” Abrams has relinquished the helm of this threequel to resuscitate the other long-standing Space Western juggernaut that is “Star Wars” (where his knack for narrative mystique is better served anyway, as the internet rages on about whom Rey’s parents are). Rather, “Star Trek Beyond” is directed by Anton Yelchin plays Chekov and Chris Pine plays Kirk in “Star Trek Beyond” from Paramount Pictures, Skydance, Bad Robot, Sneaky Shark and Perfect Storm Entertainment. Justin Lin, whose oversight in transforming the “Fast & Furious” franchise produced action adventures that championed the teamwork and diversity that’s always been a staple of “Trek” ethos too. Lin’s color palette isn’t as flaring, but like Abrams before him, he brings propulsive energy to the Star Trek universe. However, this film feels more obsessive and episodic, which is best explained by the upgrade in screenwriters to Doug Jung and, one of the film’s stars, Simon Pegg. The first two films approached standard narratives of intergalactic warfare and vengeance, but “Beyond” opts for an orthodox story established in the original series vibe of voyage and discovery, as they encounter a new foe in Krall (Idris Elba). Much of what did work in Abrams’ films not only carries over but is improved. The banter between the new USS Enterprise cast is always a treat, and actors like John Cho, Karl Urban, and the gone-too-soon Anton Yelchin get more screen time. Everybody seems more comfortable filling such big shoes at this point, and Chris Pine especially steps up his game - before he was characterized as a cocky hothead, but his Kirk here is the wiser and more confident hero that older audiences will recall. The film arrives on the 50th anniversary of Gene Roddenberry’s franchise and offers no shortage of tribute to the original series and its cast, including the recently departed Leonard Nimoy and a winking reference to George Takei. “Star Trek Beyond” is rated PG-13 for sequences of sci-fi action and violence. Two hours. Now playing in theaters. • A Familiar Name Opens New-Format Stores By Rob McCarthy The ampersand hasn’t been kind to Southern California grocers lately, but Smart & Final is determined to succeed where lesser-known competitors failed to change food-shoppers’ habits. The L.A-based chain took over the leases of 33 bankrupt Haggens grocery stores and converted them in six months into Smart & Final Extra! Three of the newly opened locations are in the South Bay: two in Redondo Beach, one in Torrance. The rest are scattered from San Diego to Santa Barbara, and out to the Inland Empire. Smart & Final has name recognition, which is what the now-bankrupt grocers - including Fresh & Easy - were lacking. The Haggen stores opened and closed in a year after buying Albertson’s stores and rebranding them. Even though Southern Californians recognize the Smart & Final brand, they won’t know why or what about the new stores is Extra! Smart & Final was a club store known for carrying large-size quantities of staples that restaurants, food trucks, nonprofits and athletic teams like because of the savings. The company dropped the club-card feature seven years ago, about the same time it expanded its format and added a produce section and food staples for the average household. Smart & Final says the new format serves the needs of its longtime customers who shop for their business and fundraisers but also have families at home to feed. “As a shopper, if I need to shop for my household and I need to shop for my business or my nonprofit on behalf of that group, or as a soccer parent who’s providing the snacks at practice, I can go purchase items for my household and while I’m there I can also go purchase those club-size items,” Smart & Final spokeswoman Marisol Marks said about the crossover store. The opening of 33 stores in six months is a remarkable feat for a small grocery chain that operates barely 300 stores on the West Coast. Smart & Final plans to open another 66 stores in the next four years as part of a 10-percent annual expansion in the West. Since Jan. 20, the chain opened seven new stores in Los Angeles County, 11 in San Diego County, four in Orange County, seven in Ventura County and Santa Barbara counties, and two in the Inland Empire. The grocery business in Southern California is brutally competitive, as both Hagen and Fresh & Easy out of El Segundo learned quickly after they entered the competition. Fresh & Easy tried to innovate the food-shopping experience, including self-checkout and smaller-sized packaging that customers resisted. Haggen miscalculated, by expert accounts, on how willing shoppers would be to embrace an unfamiliar store, even one in their neighborhoods. Price more than anything drives the grocery business here, but interest in natural foods and the demographic changes in Southland neighborhoods have stores - from Whole Foods to Vallarta - adding products and ethnically popular foods to their shelves and meat counters. Smart & Final plans to open 100 stores in the West within four years, which includes the 33 stores opened this year. Most of that growth will happen in the Pacific Northwest and Northern California, according to Marks. Inglewood has a traditional Smart & Final store, and Lawndale was the site of the first South Bay Extra! A sixth South Bay store operates in San Pedro. “As we looked at what our customers wanted and needed, time is of the essence,” Marks said. “None of them have time. What we found was whether it was our business customers or nonprofits, they needed a place they could come in and shop and minimize their downtime.” The new-format stores carry an expanded selection of frozen foods, deli and meats, fresh produce, organic and nature food products and bulk items like a Whole Foods shopper would find. It’s a different shopping experience than what Vons and Ralphs offers, and that’s the challenge for Smart & Final to overcome in Southern California where “innovate or die” is the rallying cry for technology, aerospace, manufacturing and service industries. Recent history says the same doesn’t hold true for the food retailers who now must compete against big-box stores like Costco and Sam’s Club instead of just head-to-head between the local Ralphs and Vons or Albertson’s. Look what happened to Fresh & Easy when it tried to innovate food shopping. It came and went. •
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