Better than the first one, but still uninspired

Rating: 6/10 (4 September 2013)

While I found the first remake to be just bad, the second try by JJA is better, story wise. That is mainly due to the fact, that it is now somewhat more believable that Kirk is actually in charge of the ship. Not necessarily because he acts like he is a Captain who, after gaining a lot of experience has finally gained command of his own starship, but because this is the second movie and at least it feels like he did not take command after a mere few days at the academy. The biggest problem with JJAs whole vision for the remakes is still that it feels like he would rather make an 1980s coming of age movie. The villain in this movie is good. Not as good as Heath Ledgers Joker, but still good. The FX is of course great, though using a brewery as the setting for the ships machine room stills feels wrong. The story is OK, though there are is a terrible deus ex machina at the ending. No themes which have not been incorporated into any Star Trek story in the past, but solid action. The references to Star Trek lore are sometimes funny, sometimes they feel like the writers had no better idea, and some are simply misplaced. All in all a solid movie and good entertainment, but like the first one uninspired.