Great film that stays true to the Star Trek faithful.

Rating: 9/10 (16 May 2013)

So, I treated myself to a night out, on my own, at the IMAX for a bit of Trek. Granted in 1966 when Shatner first eyebrowed his way to the forefront my father was 14 and I was 20 years from conception. I am no uber Trekkie but I did grow up watching reruns and know the series well. I was prompted to write a review by mutterings I heard from a young whipper snapper (i'm an aging 26) as I left the screen on Wednesday night. He said "The overacting was ridiculous." I would echo this sentiment in the most positive way possible. In every way the overacting was ridiculously true to the original cast.
The film itself was great. From the special effects filled beginning (reminiscent of Insurrection) the plot jumps straight in. The side plot, difficult relationship bit, as in the 2009 reboot, is between Kirk and Spock. This is very well done, appropriately cheesy at times. Quinto does a great job of showing an emotionally immature Spock and gives a great performance all round. Pine seems to have settled in to his role much more this time around. Maybe not quite getting the inappropriate pauses in all the wrong places but that will come. With time.
The plot continues to unfold at great pace giving us our villain Khan. Cumberbatch is menacing, scary and cold with his reptilian stare, truly making the role his. I think even the most faithful will agree that his performance is brilliant. At no point does he seem 'just like Sherlock' which is an achievement in itself. He portrays emotion with apparent ease and bring a new interesting Khan angle to the Trek canon.
The action continues relentlessly throughout the film. Although at no point does this feel inappropriate it is great when the action slows. It is worth a note that the film clearly benefits from not having to re- introduce all the characters and relationships. The IMAX screen did the SFX great justice with the 3D truly complementing the fast paced action. I do still find 3D motion blur a tad distracting and feel this sort of Abrams SFX bomb will really benefit when technology catches up with this issue.
The film finishes with a long and epic climax. The 'dragged along' girlfriend on my right (not mine I might add) clearly amused by my involuntary fist pumps but am I bothered? no. well a little.
The show stealing performances were without a doubt, Quinto's Spock and Cumberbatch's Khan. However that should not take away from the rest of the cast who were not overshadowed by these performances. Urban was great as Bones. Very true to the original in standing up to Kirk at times and talking in riddles.
I have heard criticism of Pegg's Scotty from a number of people. I am going to respectfully disagree. He puts his own spin on the character slightly more than the rest of the cast but not to any detriment. I am yet to understand the problem with employing a Scot to play a Scot but it is a theme.
One smaller role worth a mention is John Cho as Sulu. I love this guy. Mainly because whenever I see him I remember watching him shout milf at a portrait over ten years ago. He plays a young Sulu wonderfully. At times his character balking but then rising to responsibility handed to him.
The fact I have gone over some of my favorite performances here should not take away from the great show given by the rest of the cast. Bruce Greenwood continues as the father figure that our new, alternate reality Kirk never had. Zoe Saldana plays on as the Uhura that Spock always dreaded about and Anton Yelchin is a hilarious as the nervous but very competent Chekov.
Where the first film was introducing characters and explaining alternate realities, this film is pure action and plot. Very enjoyable and a great addition to the Star Trek canon. Rodenberry would be proud.