Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Leonard Nimoy, Eric Bana, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana
Directed by: J.J Abrams
Having not been a fan of the Star Trek phenomenon, I was unsure of what to expect when seeing this film. Were they going to use references to the television show that I would not understand or was it going to be a film for hard-core enthusiasts or ‘trekkies’ to enjoy? Well I’m pleased to say that this film is not only accessible to those outside of the realm of Star Trek fandom, but also it is by far one of the best action films this year. It is a re-imagining of the Star Trek franchise and no prior knowledge is needed to follow the story of Captain Kirk and co.
The action starts immediately with an exciting yet very emotional beginning, which takes us straight into the story and shows the tragic fate of Captain Kirk senior. It is here where we are introduced to the enemy Nero (Eris Bana) who wants to exact revenge on Captain Spock for reasons that become clear later. As this is an origin story the characters are introduced to us and we see Spock (Quinto) and James Kirk (Pine) grow from children to Starship enterprise teammates. After the death of his father, Kirk rebels against the expectations bestowed on him from his father's death and he is seen joy riding and engaging in troublesome behavior. The more interesting story is of Spock who is born half-human and half-Vulcan and struggles with his two identities. While he wishes to be Vulcan and to educate and lead the fellow starship crew in doing so he must hold back his human emotions and feelings for a fellow Starfleet member.
Filling Spock’s shoes is Heroes bad boy Zachary Quinto. His deadpan delivery is effortless and he plays his character with great ease making it the standout performance of the film. Chris Pine while no doubt attracting the ladies fills the shoes of William Shatner earnestly and there is a great chemistry between the two leads. As the film’s only female presence, Zoe Saldana more than holds her own against her male counterparts she is given a strong empowering role and is not just the film’s eye candy. Simon Pegg also stars as Scotty and delivers some terrific one-liners in what is already a surprisingly funny film. All the actors give great performances and considering that director JJ Abrams took a gamble when hiring familiar yet not A-list actors they make the characters their own. We are introduced to a new crew and one that we can expect to see more of in the future.
JJ Abrams guides the ship and armed with a great script makes the story accessible to new fans of the franchise. The film is well structured and doesn’t let up on the action for a second, while the cinematography and special effects also deserve a mention for making the film truly come to life. It is a moment of pure escapism when we are taken into the scenes in space, which are so beautifully shot. Accompanied by a wonderful score Star Trek is a thrill ride and no doubt will convert some non-believers. It works in it own right as an ambitious blockbuster, epic as well as pleasing the existing fans. With action humour and even a budding romance Star Trek is definitely no longer just for nerds.
Rickee Bhardwaj
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