Familiarity breeds brilliance

Rating: 9/10 (24 May 2009)

Stardate 2009.05 Star Trek rocks into the 21st century.
First of all, let me state I'm not a trekkie. I grew up on the TV series, and liked it quite a bit, but previous attempts to project it onto the silver screen failed dismally in most cases in my view.
Perhaps it was because the early films insisted on maintaining the original actors, who were mostly past their sell by date by then. Nimoy and Kelley excluded. It was like trying to kick off Batman on the big screen with Adam West and Burt Ward. It was sadly comical and pathetic, if not impossible, to visualise a tough Enterprise crew with beer guts galore and grey hair.
Then in flies this gem, at warp speed, no less!
I do not want to comment on its plot at all, save to say that there IS a brilliant one, and a script to match it.
Neither will I say that this entry has taken special effects to another level. What it does do, however, is exploit today's CGI to the edge, making everything look so beautifully believable and tantalisingly thrilling.
I will, however, say something about the casting: flawless. And the acting is very real. The actors all give their heart, mind and soul in this.
One last thing. Conflict. There's plenty of it, and supplied not only by a superb villain, space battles, and monsters, but there's conflict within and between the characters. All this makes for a fabulous film.
If you're a trekkie, see it. If you're not, see it. If you like sci-fi, see it. If you don't, see it. If you like cinema, see it. If you don't see it.
But do yourself a favour, and do see it. And I want more.