Star Trek
Review
by Anthony Morris
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Writer / director J.J. Abrams (Mission Impossible 3, TV series Lost and Alias) is very good at what he does.
But it is only now, with Star Trek, that he has been given a project where what he does has matched what is required.
He is brilliant with characters - so long as things are kept light, funny, and (sometimes) sexy.
He can put together thrilling action - so long as we're not meant to think anyone's in real danger.
And
he can pace a film so you barely have time to catch your breath - which
is only a good thing when the story and the characters don't require
any kind of in-depth analysis.
In his previous projects, these strengths have often verged on weakness: here they are exactly what this reboot of the Star Trek franchise needed.
Tthe result is one of the most fun and exciting Hollywood blockbusters of the decade.
The
story is surprisingly easy to follow, especially considering it
involves time travel and two versions of one character walking around
at the same time.
When the evil Nero (Eric Bana) appears from
the future in a giant spaceship and starts trashing the galaxy, it is
up to cocky space cadet James T Kirk (Chris Pine) and the emotionless
half-Vulcan Spock (Zachary Quinto) to figure out how to get along for
long enough to save the galaxy from the bridge of the Starship
Enterprise.
All your favourite characters from the original Star Trek
are here, and they all get just enough on screen time to be both funny
(Karl Urban as Dr. "Bones" McCoy is a kak) and competent, while the
interplay between Kirk and Spock is the heart of the film and both
actors play it to perfection.
With a very large cast of
characters (Spock's parents also get a look in) and a lot of action to
cram in, something had to give and sadly it is Bana's role which ends
up being more of a plot device rather than a classic Trek villain.
But that is the only flaw here and it's a very minor one.
If there is a better blockbuster of any kind this year, then 2009 will be an amazingly good year for movies. 4.5 out
of 5
Star Trek
Australian release: 7th May,
2009
Official
Site: Star Trek
Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Karl Urban
Director: J.J. Abrams
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