"If you have to see one sci-fi film this year, or be converted (albeit gently) to the sci-fi genre, make it this one… Prepare to be fully beamed up and taken on-board!"

The mere mention of yet another cinematic remake of a much-loved film/TV classic is enough to signal a wave of sighs across the fan base. We totally understand their initial anxiety as the latest, Star Trek (2009), hits the big screen on Friday 8th May. But their fears are unwarranted because this exciting prequel that concentrates on how Kirk, Spock, Scotty et al actually come to be is outstandingly enterprising and entertaining, and much funnier than you could possibly imagine, without belittling its respected pedigree. The comedy is sure to impress new, non-sci-fi explorers (the challenge is getting them to the cinema in the first place) and, possibly, make them reach for previous material to see how their new heroes’ fare in space later on.

Truthfully, if you are a die-hard fan, you won’t be disappointed as the film-makers claim to have kept very close to the brief and the core concept - even consulting true Trekkies on fan sites, if there was any doubt. In fact, with such a monumental task on their shoulders, the new Star Trek actors of Chris Pine (as Kirk), Zachary Quinto (as Spock), Simon Pegg (as Scotty), Karl Urban (as Bones), John Cho (as Sulu) and Anton Yelchin (as Chekov) boldly and sensitively take up the gauntlet, and brilliantly capture the essence and personality of their iconic characters exceptionally well - even if Pegg’s Scots accent wavers at times, he is still highly amusing all the same.

The cameo of the legendary Leonard Nimoy as an ‘older Spock’ stuck in another time parallel just seals the deal, emphasising the historic importance of this futuristic saga for many: There was even an obvious audible gasp from the audience when the old and new Spock meet for the first time. Eric Bana (under all that tattooed make-up) delivers a new ‘baddie’, a Romulan warlord called Nero, into Star Trek history books, whilst managing to portray this crazed being’s tortured and tragic side at the death of his loved ones by a Federation ‘accident’, instigated by Spock Senior.

Zoe Saldana as crew member hottie, Nyota Uhura, also gets more character dimension to really sink her teeth into, proving that brainy chicks really do ignite the screen. Saldana’s feisty performance is certain to make all those self-confessed Trekkies yearn for a fellow travelling companion just like her. Indeed, director J.J. Abrams’s version proves to be a daring, solid and masterful piece of film-making with its latter-day widescreen special effects and breathtaking battle scenes - and it all pays off, too, bringing this series bang up to date for the 21st Century adventurer.

Without giving any more of the much-loved characters’ self-development journey away, if you have to see one sci-fi film this year, or be converted (albeit gently) to the sci-fi genre, make it this one… Prepare to be fully beamed up and taken on-board!

Synopsis

The story of a young crew’s maiden voyage onboard the most advanced starship ever created: the U.S.S. Enterprise. On a journey filled with cosmic peril, the new recruits must find a way to stop an evil being whose mission of vengeance threatens all of mankind. The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals. One, James T. Kirk, is a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy. The other, Spock, was raised in a logic-based society that rejects all emotion. As fiery instinct clashes with calm reason, their unlikely but powerful partnership is the only thing capable of leading their crew through unimaginable danger, boldly going where no one has gone before.

Film Facts

Official site: http://www.startrekmovie.com/

UK Release Date: 8th May 2009

Director: J.J. Abrams

Writers: Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman

Cast: Chris Pine ('James T. Kirk'), Zachary Quinto ('Spock'), Leonard Nimoy ('Spock Prime'), Eric Bana ('Nero'), Karl Urban ('Dr. Leonard ‘Bones’ McCoy'), Zoe Saldana ('Nyota Uhura'), Simon Pegg ('Scotty'), John Cho ('Hikaru Sulu'), Ben Cross ('Sarek'), Bruce Greenwood ('Capt. Christopher Pike'), Winona Ryder ('Amanda Grayson'), Anton Yelchin ('Pavel Chekov')

Distributor: Paramount Pictures UK

Certificate: 12A

Run-time: 126 mins

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