An OK start to a new era, shows promise

Rating: 7/10 (26 June 2009)

JJ Abrams revamp of the tired and much mocked franchise sees Star Trek re-invented for a new generation as we see how the original crew of the Starship Enterprise came together after a villain from the future changes the past and the destiny of James T Kirk.
There's no denying it, you've never seen Trek done like this before. Bold, brash and exciting there's no doubt this film will re-invigorate the franchise but as I said last night, I went in wanting to love it but only found it enjoyable at the most, distracting and disengaging at worst.
And after thinking about it, I think I know what the problem is. In trying to please both the fans of all the original series, the movies, the Next Generation and people who have no idea what Trek is, they've created a hotch potch of a continuity. The time travel element really didn't work for me at all and I found it quite insulting that (as I understand it) all the Star Trek I've watched before has now never happened. It was this that just kept bugging me throughout the film and I'm not even a big fan! It's the kind of bold ret-conning you see done in comics everyday but I don't think it worked in this instance.
I think the film would've worked a whole lot better as a straight prequel.
No time travel elements, no continuity with previous "Generations" and no cameo from Leonard Nimoy (as nice as it was to see him, he just served to remind how good the original cast was so after his cameo I then found myself comparing Pine, Quinto and the rest, who up to that point we're doing a good job of re-inventing their characters) Sod the continuity and the fan boys and just be brave enough to start again, from scratch. By trying to please all of the demographics, they've sacrificed the storyline.
Add to that some bizarre casting decisions (Bana and Pegg woefully miscast) and some very odd acting decisions (the Chekov comedy accent was overdone) and it kept on throwing me out of the movie when I wanted to be involved, this was especially the case with any scenes set in the Engine Room on the Enterprise which was obviously filmed in a factory on location. I didn't think it was especially well directed, far too many close ups to draw you in and the action scenes were a jumbled edited mess at times.
But despite this moaning I did enjoy the film, I just didn't love it and I think the new torch bearers made some bad creative decisions. I know I'll be in the minority but what the hell, you can't please all of the people all of the time. Perhaps I need to see it a second time? Still a 7/10