Star Trek Reviews

I didn't really want to see this film at all because it rivals with Star Wars and I am a huge Star Wars but after hearing all of the positive reviews and glory this film has been getting I changed my mind. After seeing it at the cinema, I am not surprised and the film totally deserves it! I have to say that Star Trek is one of the biggest surprises that I have ever seen in my whole life. This film is referred as The Dark Knight of 2009 and I really do think it is. Watching Star Trek at the cinema was one of the best experiences of my entire life. It was like watching another Star Wars film because of the space atmosphere within the film and also the things that are on the planets too which remind me a lot of the Star Wars series. What I really loved about this film was that it was tense, funny, explosively intense and quite dramatic too. Star Trek is a film that is filled with excitement of what is going to happen and how intense the film is going to be. Star Trek wasn't one of my most anticipating films of the year but after seeing it now, I think it's going to be one of the best. What I find to be so good about Star Trek is that despite almost the whole cast has changed around with different actors, effects and director and producers there is a real taste of originality to the series which is absolutely great which is something that the Star Wars prequel trilogy slightly lacked. This is a complex film and so is probably the whole series as well as most science fiction films but despite how weird it was, it didn't become a massive mess or disappointing in any way whatsoever. I enjoyed this film so much; I didn't want it to end.


Chris Pine was absolutely fantastic as Jim Kirk! Pine is an actor who proved Kirk to be reborn so to speak after the other films in the series. We see Pine as a baby and a young child at the beginning of the film. He becomes part of Starfleet and begins to grow deeper into the trust of Captain Pike. Zachary Quinto was absolutely fantastic as Spock in this film. Spock is half-human (human mother) and half-vulcan (Vulcan father). He was an absolutely fantastic choice for Spock because he looks just like the actor who played Spock in the original films who was also in this film playing the same character but a lot older. Leonard Limey was awesome as older Spock with a very powerful performance that goes into great depth of personal moments especially with all of the stories Spock tells about the galaxy and the fate of the galaxy too. I'm going to see him in the previous Star Trek films which I am looking forward to. Eric Bana was really terrifying as Captain Nero who seems like a pure evil guy. One thing that left me a question was whether Nero was human or Vulcan or was both like Spock. Winona Ryder made a mild appearance as Spock's human mother. Simon Pegg made me laugh a lot in this film. He looked and sounded very different than usual because he has a Scottish accent instead of a very English accent and also he has black hair in this one where he is naturally blonde. Karl Urban was pretty funny as Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy who was a good friend to Kirk.


Star Trek was filmed absolutely amazingly by a director who has not done any space films let alone any science fiction films at all. In fact they picked the perfect director for this film. This was a space opera like the Star Wars films but Abrams shows that he can direct them better than George Lucas despite I like Revenge Of The Sith more than this. He sort of shows George how to do it so to speak because George didn't do greatly in Episodes I and II even though they're good films. One thing that Abrams did that was amazing was that not only did he make it like an action-packed thrill ride but also an epic story that was very realistic and mind-blowing.


Despite how much I like Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace and loved it as a kid, I feel now that Star Trek has literally replaced it as an amazing science fiction film within a space franchise. I've never seen a Star Trek film other than this one and now I have become very interested in it. In fact, I'll watch one as soon as I can. Star Trek is a masterpiece that I believe to be the dark horse of 2009 just like The Dark Knight was in 2008. It is the best film of 2009 so far. I think there are only 3 films now that can overtake Star Trek and they are Avatar, Public Enemies and The Lovely Bones. Star Trek is a masterpiece of science fiction films and is now one of my favourite science fiction films of all time and it is number one on most surprising films of all time list.

Star Trek has officially been Re-Booted. Abrams has revamped the Enterprise & brought Gene Roddenberry's classic world into the 21st Century.

Whether you are a die hard Trekker or not, this movie will not disappoint. A fun & visually stunning film with just the right balance of action & storyline. The crew are great & by the end of the movie you really want to go on more adventures with them.

The special effects for the Enterprise are out of this world & have fantastic attention to detail. On the bridge the technology reminded me of the instruments used in the film Minority Report, which gave it a more realistic rather than futuristic feel. Nicely done...Can't wait to see it on the IMAX screens.

TOS fan's can be rest assured the writers have kept to the Star Trek Canon, & in my opinion given it a good hyper-spray to the neck. Truly the movie all Trekkers have been waiting for; the one to share with the rest of the world. Watch for classic references throughout the film... More on Star Trek at [Link removed - login to see]

The attraction that this Star Trek has is that it's very, very truthful to the tales of ye olde Trek. All the characters shown here are believable in the sense that atleast I believed each of them could grow up to be the way they were in the old show. That, the action being pretty nice and Eric Bana being a very good villain, make this an alright action movie. But that's it. There is not a damn thing here to transcend this film from all the other good summer action blockbusters, and it kind of shocks me that it's here. It's a well made picture, sure, but there is very little that could be referred to as original in it. It's also clamped with scenes that are useless and not very entertaining either, such as the comic sidekick Scotty getting stuck into a sewage pipe of some sort for several minutes. In the end this is a film that does entertain it's viewer, but only for the duration of the first viewing. You will not find rewatch value or any other value really from it aside from the fact that it is entertaining to watch most of the time.

Oh Star Trek, I wanted to like you a lot more than I ended up liking you. I found you to be quite often over-hyped, slightly generic and a serious case of flash and style over very little substance. I heard a lot of people talk about the rejuvenation of the franchise with this film, but I felt like it was too often just another Star Wars-lite tale of a farm boy making good on saving the universe from a vengeful, wounded bad guy. That and the lense-flare bothered after the third or fourth go round in the Enterprise. There’s no new ground being explored here, it’s just been pumped full of steroids and ignoring real science, which science fiction was based upon, and telling everyone that black holes make time travel much quicker! And the characterizations are beyond paper thin. Kirk is as cliché ridden as any other generic action hero as of late: troubled childhood, I’m told he’s a badass but he spends the entire movie getting his ass kicked, rebellious nature, ladies man, I’m also told he’s very smart but he keeps making stupid decisions (or he needs very obvious plot points pointed out to him). The best part of the entire movie is Leonard Nimoy showing up as the deus ex machine…I mean…Old Spock. He comes in to wrap up plot points, spoon feed information and basically act like the only intelligent human being in the entire film, which is saying something since he’s an alien who’s not supposed to have human emotions. I didn’t hate Star Trek, but it wasn’t the movie that everyone hyped it up to be. I do have a theory as to why that happened: in a summer with so many terrible films (Transformers 2 and Wolverine being at the top of the list), everyone was probably very glad to see a decent summer film. And that’s all that Star Trek was – perfunctory, generic, loud, slam-bam, brainless popcorn entertainment. I expected something more.

After watching this movie, it becomes obvious that space it not the final frontier,
time is.
While the story was simply okay & the villian pretty forgettable, the use of time-travel as a way of rebooting the series with the original crew & yet, still keeping in with the continuity that has been built up til now, was ingenius.
Now, the potential has been opened up to relaunch the entire franchise using brand new stories but still with the old gang of Kirk, Spock, Sulu, Uhrura, Bones, Chekov & Scotty.
The sets & technological designs of this installement, IMO, were bright, stylishly updated & detailed, but still kept with that particular flair that made the early series uniquely it's own.

I think that while fans of Star Wars are going to continue to grumble all over the internet & at sci-fi cons of how low their beloved franchise has fallen,
with this latest movie, Trek fans, old & new, have been given A New Hope for a future filled with the possibilty that, as Trekkies, they will now truly be able to....well, y'know.....
live long & prosper.

Sorry.
I had to fit that in somehow.




8.5/10

"Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Starship Enterprise. Her ongoing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life forms and new civilizations; to boldly go where no one has gone before."

A reboot in a similar vein to Casino Royale and Batman Begins, J.J. Abrams' Star Trek represents a dynamic resurrection of the iconic franchise of the same name. To effectively revivify the series, this Star Trek is a new beginning, starting the timeline from scratch and introducing fresh faces on both sides of the camera. To the credit of Abrams and his crew, they manage to achieve the impossible, creating a blistering science fiction action-adventure that should retain long-time Trekkies while simultaneously making the Trek universe accessible to a new generation of movie-goers. Although the film suffers from average-at-best scripting, Abrams's visual treatment of the flick is glorious, making this one of the most handsome and involving blockbusters of the 2009 summer season.

A young rebel whose heroic father died aboard the U.S.S. Kelvin, James T. Kirk (Chris Pine) spends his time indulging in booze and getting into trouble. But Captain Pike (Bruce Greenwood) senses great leadership qualities in Kirk, encouraging him to enlist in Starfleet to fulfil his potential. Kirk follows through and heads to Starfleet Academy, where he meets medical officer "Bones" McCoy (Karl Urban) and embittered science officer Spock (Zachary Quinto), among others. A threat soon emerges in the form of rogue Romulan Captain Nero (Eric Bana), who threatens peaceful planets with a doomsday device. A crew assembles onboard the newly christened U.S.S. Enterprise for protection, and Kirk is forced to assume a leadership role to find a way to defeat the enemy.

Star Trek is held back from excellence by its mediocre screenplay, penned by Transformers writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. Several narrative elements are actually reminiscent of Top Gun for whatever reason, and it's too "cute" for all the requisite characters to meet through a series of increasingly unbelievable coincidences. Added to this, the plot is a total mess, requiring a substantial amount of exposition to keep it barely comprehensible. Moreover, the plot is hindered by the constraints of the "origin story" format; the bigger picture of the narrative plays second fiddle to these characters meeting, which seems unnecessary. Did we really need to see Kirk's first meeting with Uhura (Zoe Saldana) in a bar when he tries to flirt? It is also bothersome that Kirk rises from cadet to captain in such an expedited fashion. Perhaps the most controversial aspect of Star Trek is that it's hardly a cerebral blockbuster. The Gene Roddenberry years were more high-minded, whereas Abrams's film is less sophisticated. Another gaping flaw is the lack of peril and edge-of-your-seat tension - there is never a sense that the crew are actually in danger, probably because Nero's plans are too vague.

Fortunately, Star Trek succeeds because of Abrams's direction, and the competent filmmaking in practically every aspect. The pace is mercifully brisk, and the film barely feels its two-hour length as it works through the eye candy and character interaction. Abrams expertly orchestrates multiple space battles, chases, shootouts, and all the other staples one expects from a blockbuster, and it's all hugely exhilarating in Abrams's hands. Plus, Star Trek has never looked better. Although prior Trek pictures suffer from budgetary constraints, this is no longer an issue. With a blockbuster budget at Abrams's disposal, the special effects are spectacular, with borderline photorealistic CGI. There are a number of expansive interior sets as well, which give the picture a lived-in feeling. Michael Giacchino's score is also suitably zippy, melancholy and grand, perfectly complementing the visuals. The heroic main theme is very memorable indeed. However, Abrams relies too much on lens flares and hyper-polished photography at times, which can be obnoxious to the point of distraction.

Although Star Trek is an action-oriented blockbuster, Abrams and his writers properly establish the ensemble before sending the characters into action. As a result, you will never mistake Bones for some interchangeable supporting character. The franchise's heart and soul is the duo of Kirk and Spock, and this Star Trek excels in the casting of Pine and Quinto. For both actors, this is their first big movie, yet their inexperience is not apparent - they are engaging and natural. Pine did not set out to mimic William Shatner, instead embodying the essence of Kirk's character, combining charm, cocky arrogance and welcome humanity. Quinto is even better - his thoughtful performance effortlessly conveys the dichotomy that makes Spock such a fascinating character: his frustratingly logical surface persona concealing a barely suppressed well of emotion. Abrams fortunately allots ample time for Kirk and Spock to engage in verbal battles, and we get to watch as they build their friendship with a glue of muted aggravation and burgeoning respect.

An interesting angle of Star Trek is that it's not strictly a reboot - it exists in the same continuity as the original movies and the television show. See, a time travel angle is built into the plot, establishing an alternate universe that merely sets the Enterprise crew on a new path. To solidify this, Leonard Nimoy cameos as an aging Mr. Spock, known as Spock Prime. It's a treat for Trekkies to see Nimoy back in his iconic role, and it's even better that Nimoy still commands the screen whenever he appears. Fortunately, the supporting cast is just as good, with Simon Pegg and Anton Yelchin most notable as Scotty and Chekov, respectively. Other actors include Bruce Greenwood, John Cho, Winona Ryder and Chris Hemsworth, all of whom hit their marks. Bana is an underwhelming villain, though.

To be fair, Star Trek has never been great from the first movie. After all, Star Trek: The Motion Picture is often regarded as dated, stilted and underwhelming; it wasn't until The Wrath of Khan that the series took off. Ultimately, Star Trek leaves us with the sense that this is merely a good beginning for what can become greatness. Nevertheless, it's still a fun time, and it is worth watching for its best moments.

7.1/10

I have never seen any of the t.v. shows for Star Trek. This movie was nothing like I expected it to be! I expected it to be some boring space movie, and it turned out to be one of the best movies I have ever seen!

''Your father was captain of a starship for twelve minutes. He saved 800 lives, including yours. I dare you to do better. Enlist in Starfleet.''

A chronicle of the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS Enterprise crew members.

Chris Pine: James T. Kirk

To put it simply Star Trek isn't just a reboot of a dying franchise, Star Trek isn't just a summer blockbuster, Star Trek isn't just sci-fi effect laden fun, Star Trek is an adventure, experience and humourous coming together of characters and creatures. This gives Star Wars a run for it's money and ultimately taps into something new the originals and new sequels lacked, spontaneity.



It's not just fresh visuals and new characters the music is new also giving the whole film a fresh, reborn, vibrant feel. J.J Abrams has successfully tapped into his vein of originality, poise and vision with stunning effectiveness. LOST, Mission Impossible 3, the writing behind Cloverfield and now Star Trek show us how imaginative a director Abrams is, and that we can expect more to come from this man.
Star Trek features some of the best effects and action sequences, to rival anything Transformers or Wolverine can throw at us. Indeed they surpass the former attempts in some cases. An example of a fight scene on planet Vulcan, on a very large coil, was an amazing adrenaline rushing experience, with swordplay and fisticuff fighting between Kirk and some Romulan assailants. The space battles were competition for Revenge of the Sith with some of the best visuals to appear to date, reminiscent of the Halo series in terms of looks and execution.

''Live long, and Prosper.''

Characters are relatable and likeable to audiences. Whether it be rebellious Kirk, Intellectual Spock and their fiery relationship and clashing of personas, wonderfully played by Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto, who strike the nail on the head perfectly. Eric Bana plays villainous Nero effortlessly, Bruce Greenwood excels as Capt. Christopher Pike, Karl Urban is likeable as the quirky witty Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy, Zoe Saldana is the beautiful Nyota Uhura, Simon Pegg is the comical Scotty, John Cho the sword trained Hikaru Sulu, Anton Yelchin the Russian Pavel Chekov, Ben Cross as Sarek and Winona Ryder as Amanda Grayson Spock's Mother.

The film has been compared to Iron Man in more than one review the similarities are clear. Both films feature excellent dialogue and character interactions, swift, clever characterization, a minimum of laborious exposition, and also have a common flaw: a rushed plot which overall is almost a side plot. The only reboot to truly escape this pitfall thus far is Casino Royale, which successfully told a very tight story and also consistently developed Bond as a character. Bana is menacing enough and his ship is well-designed but overall he's no Khan or Chang and was much better-written in the Countdown prequel comic than in the film itself. There are also a series of massive contrivances to get everything where it needs to be which will have viewers rolling their eyes, but even these are handled well by the script, which is smooth and fast as opposed to clunky and sterile. Plus, they're necessary for this origin story not to be a typical boring origin story and become what it is.

It's a new directive, yet totally faithful to Trek where it needs to be: in spirit and inspiration. In a world of dreary blockbusters and 'dark' reboots, this Trek, though grittier in terms of design than anything before, shines, from opening to closing, as an example of optimistic, exciting, thrilling, humorous, and thoroughly enjoyable adventure action packed sci-fi cinema.

''Space... the final frontier.''

loved it, I thought it was the best star trek movie yet.

JJ Abrams reboot is fantastic, bringing a freshness and lightness of step that has been missing from previous Star Trek movies. Even the overused time travel plotline works in this occasion because in rewriting Star Trek history as we know it, Abrams lets us explore a different Trek universe without being hemmed in by the dictates of canon. This was the problem that the tv show Enterprise experienced making for boring viewing.

This eleventh Star Trek is not boring at all. It's fast-paced and exciting with exciting action points and character development. We have fully-fleshed realizations of the TOS characters. Though Shatner plays Kirk best, Chris Pine did a remarkable job of capturing Kirk's arrogance and carefree spirit. I especially loved Karl Urban's portrayal of Dr. McCoy.
Zachary Quinto was excellent in capturing the simmering emotions beneath Spock's surface - a study of barely leashed anger and passion. All the other actors - Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Anton Yelchin and Simon Pegg - were also spot on in their performances.
Only poor Eric Bana didn't have to do as the evil Romulan, Nero. I didn't completely believe in his motivation for what he was doing - if the writers had fleshed that out a bit more, this movie would have gotten a 9 out of 10.

What was unexpected for me was the humor! Star Trek is really funny, a lot of humor are throwbacks to the old series and movies. My favorite one was the Red Shirt reference.

I had a great time watching Star Trek - I was on the edge of my seat at certain points, laughing out loud at others some great lines. I'll be watching this again.