Star Trek - dir. J. J. Abrams

Just over a week ago, I went to see the new Star Trek film. Not being a Trekker, Trekkie, or any other sub division of Star Trek fan, I bought no baggage to the picture, which no doubt aided my enjoyment of it. 

Star Trek takes us back to the beginning of the life of Captain James T. Kirk - literally. In the opening scenes, we see his birth take place as his father dies heroically fighting a Romulan commander. We then jump forward a few years to see Kirk as a rebellious young boy and man. So far, so very Marlon Brando.

The film is sensitive to the expectations of both its new audience and Star Trek fans. There are nods and tips to the original series with some great action sequences. The story itself is light. General Nero is a Romulan Commander who has been sucked through a black hole created by Spock. In revenge, he determines to destroy Spock's homeworld of Vulcan. It becomes for Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise - including a young Spock - to stop him.

This storyline services the coming together of the famous Enterprise crew. Bones McCoy, Uhura, Chekov, Scottie they all turn up. Lest it be thought otherwise, the crew turn up at different times and in diverse circumstances. This allows the story time to breath and develop at least a little.

The acting performances are all good. Karl Urban as Bones and Zachary Quinto as (young) Spock are the outstanding players. Chris Pine is fine as Kirk but given the limitations of his character does not really have a great deal to do except look moody, rebellious, smug or determined. There is also a star turn by Leonard Nimoy as the aged Spock. He did not really need to be there, but it undeniably helps root the film in the original series.

And that is the cleverest thing about this picture. Unlike the other 'reboots' that have come to the cinema (Batman Returns, Casino Royale etc), Star Trek does not deny that the original series took place, but changes the future - allowing for further films - by altering the past. Neat.

It has been a long time since Star Trek was cool, but this film (if one may paraphrase another Enterprise captain) makes it so. A good, fun film. Recommended.