There is only one J.J. Abrams!

Rating: 9/10 (29 May 2009)

J.J. Abrams had done it, he actually made Star Trek exciting compared to all the other Trek media that has existed before hand. This is the Star Trek film for all non-Trekkies, including myself.
After the success of the prequels/re-boots of Batman and James Bond, Hollywood wonder boy J.J. Abrams suggested the same treatment for Star Trek which had become no more then an object of parody in shows like Futurama and films like Galaxy Quest. Abrams has just kick-started the franchise.
In a alternative time-line a Romulan spaceship travels back in time and attacks a Federation ship. George Kirk sacrifices himself and saves 800, including his wife and new-born son James (Chris Pine). The film fast forwards and focuses on both James and Spock (Zachary Quinto), who rebels in there own way. James gets involved in petty crime and fights, whilst Spock is discriminated against because he is half-human and joins Star-fleet to prove a point. James Kirk was recruited by Captain Pike (Bruce Greenway), who knew his father. Whilst in the training academy and working on USS Enterprise Kirk and Spock entered into conflict and took a dislike to each other. Spock dislikes Kirk's attitude acting before thinking and rebelling against orders, whilst Kirk dislikes Spock's cold and heart-less way of working. The USS Enterprise is called into action after Vulcan, Spock's home planet, is attacked by the Romulans. Captain Nero (Eric Bana), hates Spock, blaming him for the destruction of his home planet. He sets out to destroy Vulcan and Earth. After the destruction of Vulcan and capture of Captain Pike, both Kirk and Spock wrestle for command of the Enterprise.
What J.J. Abrams does is treat Star Trek as an action film. The action is exciting, and done with great CGI and editing. It makes Star Trek a good watch. He makes the film a bit like Star Wars with the style of space based action, to fights with the Romulans, to the different types of alien species. The scenes at the academy also reminded me of the good film Starship Troopers. Abrams wanted to make Star Trek accessible to non-Trekkies and does it by restarting with the characters and the world it was set in. There is a good cast. Chris Pine is an up-and-comer in Hollywood, who plays Kirk as an arrogant kid but at the same time does have a charge in impersonate William Shatner. Zachary Quinto is famous from Heroes and does well as the cold Spock. Karl Urban from Lord of the Rings, is good as Kirk's friend Bones. Simon Pegg is given too little screen time as Scotty. The excellent Eric Bana does well as the villain and Zoe Saldana is a good choice for Uhuru, both as an actress and looks wises.
The film is basically a set up for the new franchise, much like X-Men and Batman Begins were; but it is cleverly written by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (Alias, Transformers, The Island). They use science fiction, action and comedy well. There are some in-jokes I didn't get but Trekkies will like it.
The film did drag some times and get a little slow. I also did not like Anton Yelchin's comedic Russian accent (which is surprising seeing he is from a Russian background). I thought we had moved on from the 60s where taking the mike of the Russians was more acceptable.
But the film is exciting and gripping from it first moments.
3 out of 5.