An instant classic that opens the doors for a whole new series

Rating: 9/10 (30 November 2012)

I first watched the new Star Trek film after it came out on DVD, having not bothered to go to the cinema. I regret it now. Hugely. This is an instant classic that is done with such high quality, I feel it needs to be ranked against some of the best Sci-Fi films of all time. After a while, I felt the need to turn up the volume - you have to watch this film loud! And make sure you have some really good speakers with plenty of bass. That way you'll get the full, awesome experience. This new film completely revolutionises's the entire Star Trek universe, by starting with a brand new story line. That will almost certainly annoy some die- hard Trekky's, but boy did it get off to a good start.
I'll start with what I loved this film. The biggest thing you'll notice, especially if you have seen previous Star Trek films/TV series's is that everything has been modernised, yet Abrams was able to do this without ruining the basics that made the original Star Trek so good. All the original characters are back, but everything is much more glitzy and futuristic. The Enterprise looks fantastic, and it is by far my favourite version of it. Another thing that I love (and that many other's loves) is the new warp scene - it looks and feels so much better than previous warps. There's no doubt this is the best looking Star Trek, and despite the use of CGI instead of models, it look incredible. And, once again, the story was great. Surprisingly I didn't find hugely predictable. It's not one you have to watch twice to understand it, but there are a good few twists to keep you going. What's really good though is that it feels original. It's not been turned into a stupid clichéd bit of sci-fi nonsense that seems to be rather popular these days. The story, while wiping all previous films, including the original series, and starting fresh, opens up the basis for what could really be an incredible reboot to the Star Trek series, and for plenty of films to come - 'Into Darkness' isn't far away at the time of writing, and I will definitely being seeing it.
However, I do feel the need to be critical - this is a review after all! I am being very brutal here, just so you know. One thing I felt a little annoyed with was the music in some areas. In some important scenes, it didn't quite add the feel that I felt the scene required, so they didn't seem quite as good. Also, there were some slightly cheesy/clichéd moments which are very easy to pass. If anything, they add a bit of comedy into the film. And lastly, I felt the use of light blinding the camera in a straight line across the screen (you'll know what I mean when you see it/have seen it) was a little overused. It works fine with shots from in space, but when on board ships and on planets it didn't feel necessary.
That said, this is a seriously, seriously good film. I for one can't get enough of it, so much so that I am starting to become a Trekky myself! If you need a really good sci-fi thriller, here's everything you'll ever want. Star Trek is amazing, and I wait for the second, and hopefully third films that come after this one.