Star Trek XI

Rating: 8/10 (9 April 2015)

J.J. Abrams has reinvigorated and revitalised the Star Trek franchise with this witty and convoluted 11th film, breaking the cursed odd film amalgamation. Scriptwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman have worked out a cunning way to keep Trek fresh for audiences old and new. The story is simple yet intricate; an alternate reality and a new time-line of events have been created due to Spock's undoing. Thus brings Chris Pine's James T. Kirk, a brash youngster that's persuaded by Bruce Greenwood's Captain Pike to join the Academy and outdo his Father's heroic actions. Events lead him to the Captain's chair of the Enterprise, where he's in charge of a group with a large personality. Quinto's (younger) Spock and Karl Urban's Bones McCoy are stand outs. Both constantly bereave Kirk for his behaviour. Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin and John Cho bring character traits we've seen before, and manage to add new spice to them as well. Star Trek XI upholds a consistent story, but the ending isn't as grand as it feels like it leads up to. Eric Bana's Romulan captain has limited potential even if his villain is intimidating. Maybe the next outing will see a more engaging brute, but for now, Abrams has hit the spot of our sci-fi needs.