Star Trek
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Editorial
According to recently discovered 23rd-century history, James Tiberius Kirk was literally born of battle — the last fight he ever backed away from was the one he was delivered into. In purely Darwinian terms though, Jeffrey Jacob Abrams was forged by a 21st-century crucible far more unforgiving than a field of photon torpedoes: network television.
From the moment "Bones" McCoy comically smuggles an academically suspended Kirk onto Captain Pike's U.S.S. Enterprise, Star Trek XI hits warp factor IX and, save for an obligatory sojourn with Spock senior, maintains a velocity that would give Scotty night terrors.
Abrams can do character on the run and the plot deftly deals in decent-sized roles for all of the famous seven. Karl Urban's gruff McCoy and Zachary Quinto's piercing Spock stand out, and despite internet rumbling, Chris Pine is also absolutely fine. Both Bruce Greenwood's stoic Captain Pike and Eric Bana's wounded Nero forage earthier notes amid the SFX sheen.
That Trek weakness for warping plotlines does bring the usual convolutions, but whenever the Vulcan side of your brain is tempted to pose frequently asked questions about time travel, the breakneck pace drags you forward through the movie's own brisk running time. Indeed, where XI ultimately falls short of the very best Trek, or indeed of all great science-fiction since Jules Verne, is in its want of big ideas. As a MacGuffin the movie boasts red matter but it doesn't find enough time to showcase the grey variety.
Very much like its dynamic young cast, this Trek is physical and emotional, sexy and vital even, but it is not cerebral. The movie is not exactly empty-headed; indeed it has some smarts, but it doesn't live up to the high-mindedness that was part of Gene Roddenberry's original mission statement
Colin Kennedy
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Harry Georgatos
May 08, 2009
This movie is the best out of the lot. Unfortunately by the end of the day it's just another STAR TREK movie that seems all too familiar. It has slick production design, slick cinematography and excellent visual effects. The movie moves at an entertaining pace. Bana's character is just a stock villian. This movie has one of the best action set-pieces that can only be appreaciated on the Darling Harbours IMAX screen.
Harry Georgatos
May 08, 2009
By the end of the day this just another STAR TREK movie that seems all too familiar. It has slick production design, slick cinematography and excellent visual effects. Bana's character is just a stock villian. The film has one of the best set-pieces that can only be viewed on Darling Harbours IMAX screen.
Rizal Dua Darah
May 19, 2009
I came away from the film with more enthusiasm than commentary box regular, the learned Harry. This entertaining, glossy, & contemporary retelling of Roddenberry's timeless themes of inter-racial harmony, & the journey into space always reflecting a journey within one's self, is exactly the medicine that the franchise needed to capture an entirely new audience. It is a shame that there is no IMAX here in Canberra because the space-scapes are the best in modern cinema - a balance of Lucas' imagination tempered with Kubrick's minimalist discipline.
Mandy
May 26, 2009
I would highly recommned this movie. Even sci-fi haters would enjoy this. It's jammed packed with action, surprises, laughs and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I thoroughly enjoyed it - the characters were true to the story, fantastic effects - you will miss a good movie if you don't see this one!
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