The film starts with a very mellon collie scene when Capt. Kirk (Chris Pine) laments his life out in the cosmos as lacking the adrenaline rush on earlier times. His complaints are soon answered as the film ramps up the deeds of daring. The main protagonist this time out is Krall played by a heavily made up Idris Elba. His baddie role is a menacing one but lacks explanation.

It’s interesting that the film really suffers from the in-cinema 3D effect as the heavily CGI crated scenes are both very dark and lacking in sharpness of detail. Save the dosh and see the 2D version in the cinema. Having said that, at home 3D is always much more impressive, so the extra effort might pay off in one’s living room.

Complaints aside, there are some very fine moments of tension and destruction (the poor Enterprise enters the Piñata zone once again) and what little character development there is, is most welcome. Also of note, there is one reveal that social media is reporting on that is very much worth seeing.
Rob Hudson
www.startrekmovie.com.au

It matters nought that the unleashing of a black hole in the midst of our solar system results in little consequence to the neighbouring planets (or galaxies, for that matter); or that Simon Pegg’s Scotty bears zero resemblance to James Doohan; or that an unlikely intra-crew love affair will require some significant (and potentially fascinating) narrative acrobatics in order to segue future franchise installments back into Gene Roddenberry’s timeline. Star Trek is about the fun, the fantasy, and the politics – elements that are tied but loosely to reality – and in this charge, Hollywood hit maker JJ Abrams’ prequel to the seminal 60’s sci-fi TV series succeeds admirably.

The nostalgia factor is high so naturally the proceedings must be commensurate with Trek Lore lest Abrams suffer the hex of a trillion Tribbles. So accordingly Mr. Spock must deliver his mandatory “live long and prosper” line whilst gesturing the corresponding salute; Scotty must declare, “I canna change the laws o’ physics, Capt’n!” (or something similar); the loss of an hitherto unknown crew member must perish during an off-Enterprise expedition; and there must be the obligatory big explodey things, sleek techie space ships, breathtaking hemlines on Uhura’s tunic and mean-looking tattooed aliens resembling Chopper Read. With all the boxes duly and dutifully ticked, the Trekkies/Trekkers/Roddenberrites/Starfleet Cadets (or whatever the hell they call themselves these days) are appeased.

With its young spunky talent and incumbent soap opera tendencies, the film teeters on the edge of Star Trek 90210 but crucially remains on the fun side of saccharine melodrama. The enjoyable cast have a wonderful time caricaturing their celebrated elder selves resulting in a plethora of in-jokes that will keep the fans in giggles. Of particular note is Karl Urban’s playful rendition of Bones McCoy and it’s a credit to Simon Pegg’s performance that he so successfully pulls off his Scotty despite his unDoohan-like appearance. Leonard Nimoy makes his obligatory cameo, indeed the Back To The Future plot seems derived specifically to get him in it; a point further supported by the contrived means by which he is united with the young James T Kirk, subsequently MacGuffining the fledgling Starfleet Captain back into the story. But be that as it may, it’s always a pleasure seeing the big fella with the big voice don the pointy ears just one more time (again). Oddly, though, The Shatâ„¢ is nowhere to be seen.

Gunning for the fun end of the spectrum, Star Trek is undeniably good, solid, undemanding entertainment.

Stuart Jamieson
www.startrekmovie.com