By Kevin Irwin - Star Trek, the final frontier in nostalgia, a crass ploy for box office kerching or a celebration of sci-fi's most iconic forefather? Well, a touch of all three as it turns out.
Star Trek (2009)
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted:275
Fresh:260
Rotten:15
Average Rating:8.1/10
Consensus: Star Trek reignites a classic franchise with action, humor, a strong story, and brilliant visuals, and will please traditional Trekkies and new fans alike.
Rated: 12A [See Full Rating] for sci-fi action and violence and brief sexual content.
Runtime: 2 hrs 7 mins
Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy
Theatrical Release:08-05-2009
Synopsis: Those prepared to hate the reboot of STAR TREK--whether they’re diehard fans or those in the anti-sci-fi camp--may be convinced to lower their shields after seeing this fun, action-filled film.... Those prepared to hate the reboot of STAR TREK--whether they’re diehard fans or those in the anti-sci-fi camp--may be convinced to lower their shields after seeing this fun, action-filled film. Best known for creating mythology-driven series like LOST, J.J. Abrams has imbued his version with the elements that have made his shows such mind-bending entertainment while still keeping the soul of the saga intact. STAR TREK begins with an attack by an impossibly advanced Romulan ship captained by the tattooed, snarling Nero (Eric Bana). Among the survivors is the infant version of James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), who grows up to wreak havoc on the Iowa countryside. When Captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood) meets an adult Kirk, he encourages him to join Starfleet, giving him the opportunity to meet Spock (Zachary Quinto), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), and the rest of the characters audiences have loved for decades. Abrams has assembled a fine cast who seem to be aware of their predecessors but never resort to impressions. Both Quinto and Pine do a fine job with their portrayals of Kirk and Spock, and Karl Urban couldn’t be better as Leonard McCoy. The supporting players--Simon Pegg (Scotty), John Cho (Sulu), and Anton Yelchin (Chekov)--all capture the essence of what drove their characters, though their screen time is limited. STAR TREK manages the nearly impossible: it pleases hardcore fans with plenty of in-jokes and references (and an appearance by the original Spock, Leonard Nimoy), but it doesn’t alienate newcomers with tons of technobabble. The action and effects rank with any other top-tier summer blockbuster, but there’s plenty of humor to balance the excitement. For anyone who (wrongly) felt he had to hide his trekker tendencies, this undeniably cool version of STAR TREK offers a chance to wear the "geek" label with pride. [More]
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Bruce Greenwood
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Bruce Greenwood, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Ben Cross, Winona Ryder, Leonard Nimoy, Chris Hemsworth
Director: J.J. Abrams
Director: J.J. Abrams
Screenwriter: Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci
Producer: J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof
Composer: Michael Giacchino
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Reviews for Star Trek
Here is a film that slaps your expectations around with surprise after surprise, leaving you shaking your head in disbelief that a Star Trek film could be this good.
The movie begins with a bang and it's one of the loudest SF movies ever made.
A genuinely entertaining thrill-a-minute sci-fi romp, whether you loved the series or not.
By resurrecting Kirk, JJ Abrams has not only revived and revitalised Star Trek, he's given it a dose of Viagra.
The overall impression is one of unbridled enthusiasm on the part of the film’s makers, both for its predecessors and for the brave new universe Abrams and his crew are exploring.
It's Star Trek, Jim, but not as we have known it. A masterclass in how to rebrand and relaunch a franchise. Sign us up for more alien girls, punch-ups, phasers, photons and misbehaving black holes.
J. J. Abrams’s thriller Star Trek is the first tent-pole film that has made me sob with pure pleasure.
Fast-moving, funny, exciting warp-speed entertainment and, heaven help me, even quite moving - the kind of film that shows that, like it or not, commercial cinema can still deliver a sledgehammer punch. It sure didn't feel like a trek to me.
This is a grand success – perhaps a new populist benchmark in what to do with a flagging franchise, and a witty, light-on-its-feet prequel which makes instant toast of X-Men Origins: Wolverine. May it live long and prosper, by which we mean, sequels, soon
Star Trek used to be smarter. But it was never this fast, fresh and exciting.
Funny, moving and fine escapist entertainment, the magnificent Star Trek is cranked up to Warp Factor 11 by the cast and crew. May the franchise live long and prosper under the guidance of J.J. Abrams.
Star Trek is fresh, funny, exciting and – biggest surprise of all – emotionally engaging.
This is impressive stuff. Abrams moves the plot at breathtaking speed, yet still has time to feature heroic acts from all the original show's key players.
A revamp everyone can get on board with, from die-hards to those who wouldn’t be seen dead at a sci-fi convention. Buoyant, buffed and with the promise of even better to come, this is the freshest Trek in decades.
Star Trek is the first great blockbuster of the year and is undoubtedly a bona fide masterpiece in the family genre.
This is everything a summer blockbuster should be. Star Trek is a film that will delight fans and impress people who have usually steered clear of the franchise.
Overall, it makes for an entertaining, if uneven, couple of hours, although non-Trekkies may not find it the intergalactic go-see they'd hoped for.
Star Trek pulsates with adventure and thrills, infectious with its boyish enthusiasm to entertain and respectful enough to pay tribute to the cult series that came before it. See it.
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