Star Trek Gets A 21st Century Facelift!

Rating: Null/10 (24 August 2015)

Freeing itself from the baggage of the previous instalments by setting its plot in an alternate timeline, thus preserving the contents of the original series without entirely depending on it, Star Trek is the reboot of the highly popular franchise of the same name that attempts to resurrect its vast universe from the ground up for a new generation of viewers but it has a lot in store for the old Trekkies as well.
Taking place in an alternate reality from the original series, the story of Star Trek follows the early years of James T. Kirk & Spock, covering their time in Starfleet which is soon followed by them travelling aboard the USS Enterprise to go against Captain Nero; a Romulan from the future who has traversed back in time and is hellbent on destroying the Vulcan planet to avenge the destruction of his own home which takes place in the near future.
Directed by J.J. Abrams, Star Trek presents a much revamped look & post-modern feel and is crafted in a manner that makes its mythology more appealing & accessible to newcomers without alienating the devoted fans of the original series. The plot unfolds at a vibrant pace thanks to Abrams' kinetic direction and although the screenplay does feature an interesting story, it never really ups the ante & stays at the same level from start to finish.
Coming to the technical aspects, the production design team does a fabulous job in putting up some truly impressive sets on the screen. Cinematography makes extensive use of its colour palette while the dynamic camera-work carries a momentum of its own. Its 127 minutes of runtime is rarely felt, visual effects & make-up are undeniably state-of-the-art stuff, and Michael Giacchino earns a high score for chipping in with a soundtrack that simply fits.
The cast comprises of Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Leonard Nimoy, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg & others, and although everyone fails to make a lasting impression, none of them can be considered a disappointment either. Pine & Quinto are quite believable as Kirk & Spock, respectively, and their developing chemistry only works out in the film's favour. Also, Nimoy delivers a shot of nostalgia by reprising the role of original Spock from the original series.
On an overall scale, Star Trek manages to get most things right than wrong and yet, I don't feel much love for it as, just like Star Wars, this series never interested me in the first place. The technical brilliance of this reboot cannot be denied but its main story packs in nothing that's captivating enough to change my mind. An eye-popping production that features an engaging story but lacks escalation, Star Trek is a 21st century makeover of a classic franchise for 21st century filmgoers. Worth a shot for sure.