KEPTAIN on the BRIDGE (R.I.P. Anton Yelchin aka Checkov) The 5 Year Mission Begins but we shall Miss Him

Rating: 9/10 (11 June 2013)

JJ Abrams reboot 4 years ago was surprisingly brilliant (if not a 10/10 film then it's a 9)
So is "Into Darkness" better? no, but boy does it come mighty close to matching that inventive reboot.
JJ and co have balls, the subject matter of this film was very, very, very risky, like most i'd read the rumours was he wasn't he? does he doesn't he? Really, I can't believe they took on this story, they could have ended this series here & now but it's so Entertaining & well structured that even a Star Trek fan like me can only applaud the audacity of playing out this story.
It's Fun with a capital F...brilliantly paced with some truly gorgeous shots of the USS Enterprise. There's some interesting twists & surprises and it features a super villain :-) in the form of Benedict Cumberbatch.
A wonderfully political film with sensational action set-pieces (the likes of which "A Good Day to Die Hard" can only dream of)
The picture starts of with a brilliant James Bond type pre-title sequence with a nice fun nod to "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and I love the resolution to this early encounter & what the aliens inhabitants scrawl in the sand...Kirk was always disobeying the prime directive (do not interfere with other civilisations...yeah right!)
Then comes the set-up for the film with a dying girl...after this it's wonderful scenes of fun, action & political discussion / tactics.
A well known race shows up (looking a little different but I liked 'em) after Kirk & co try try set up a meeting with them but which ends up in a fun space chase (JJ's gonna love playing with the Millienium Falcon, although I still think the Enterprise is the better looking ship)
We have a terrorist attack on Starfleet, a space suit flight that is thrilling & an interesting Space Battle / Stand-Off resulting in some truly epic shots of the Enterprise in trouble and we have Spock sprinting through the streets phaser drawn...this sounds simple and it is but it's thrilling.
I love we got to hear Alexander Courage's TV theme at the end of the film setting up the 5 year mission to boldly go where no one has gone before.
There will always be JJ haters (the lens flares are nearly always mentioned but it's pretty much his signature now, although i'm hoping we get just the 1 or 2 in the new Star Wars film & we know what they should be right? a light-saber suddenly appearing perhaps being wielded by someone surprising? and a bright sun suddenly glaring due to the Millienium Falcon flying out from it with Han on his way to save the day)
Star Trek: Into Darkness is a very well made film that Entertains all the way.
This cast is just Brilliant...An adventure like this every 2 or 3 years is OK with me.
Chris Pine is Kirk (I never thought Shatner could be surpassed) Zachary Quinto is spock Karl Urban is Dr McCoy (great quips here but it would be nice to set the 3 of them interact more like in the TV series) Simon Pegg is scotty (and he's brilliant & fun here) Zoe Saldana is Uhura (and sorry but that tight fitting costume she's wearing early on in the film is just sensational) John Cho is Sulu (superb moments piloting the shuttle early on & then taking the Captain's chair) Anton Yelchin is Checkov and IS the guy who says "Keptain on the Bridge"
Alice Eve well you'll see, she's gorgeous & sensational & will be a fine addition to the crews future adventures.
A mention should also go to Peter Weller who's brilliant.
It was mentioned years ago that Star Trek might go the young Starfleet Academy route but I wasn't convinced, instead we've got a younger Kirk, McCoy & Spock and co heading into their 5 Year mission on the Big Screen and that thrills me. Yes it's not the Trek we all really remember on the TV screens & you may not like JJ's choices but cinematically it works perfectly.
JJ will do well to get a cast this good for the next Star Wars.
Paramount should sign them ALL up for at least another 3 more films as they are PERFECT together.
BTW Just heard that the new Star Wars will be filmed in 35mm & that they are going old school with model sfx...done right, this is gonna be a nostalgic triumph!
Another Super "Star Trek" film with an up up & away rating of 9/10.
JJ Abrahams two Star Trek movies might not be as the original TV Series but boy do they make for GREAT & ENTERTAINING Movies.
UPDATE: I've updated this review and changed the summary above to honour a young guy (a wonderful cast member of these JJ Trek films) ANTON YELCHIN who so sadly died yesterday. He was a GREAT, FUN 'Checkov' & I loved how he raced to save Kirk by using the transporter.
He was brilliantly cast...they ALL have been brilliantly cast, they are the NEW CREW of the STARSHIP ENTERPRISE and I for one will dearly miss seeing him on the BIG screen engaging on more Missions (I really hope STAR TREK : BEYOND is a good 'un)