Lighthearted thrillride. An excellent reboot

Rating: 8/10 (9 May 2009)

Last night I sat down to indulge in JJ Abrams take on Gene Roddenberry's classic series and I must say I wasn't disappointed. It seems the critics might be right for once as Abrams delivers a fun fast-paced movie that is filled with witty quips and funny moments and yet maintains emotional depth.
The cast is young which makes it all the more surprising they did so well, every cast member, even the oft mediocre Karl Urban, does well in their role. This film will go from making you laugh to having you on the edge of your seat in a millisecond.
The only weak link in the acting chain is Eric Bana, I've got nothing against him personally, but every movie I've seen him in he has been unequivocally awful and this film is no exception. He plays a vengeful Romulon from the future and the main villain of the film and I really found myself wishing Abrams had cast someone else.
The plot is pretty solid, it has found an interesting balance between comedy and action that it somehow manages to maintain. The only plot complaint is the unnecessary inclusion of Time Travel, which leads to an unnecessary, albeit welcome, cameo from old Spock (Nimoy). Spock essentially becomes Captain Exposistion and goes around explaining things and it does seem a bit silly...
So the film is not without its flaws, but it makes up for them and becomes the first truly good Summer Blockbuster in 2009. So whether you're a trekkie from way back or someone who's just hearing of the franchise now, go see Star Trek.