CINEMA REWIND

Director J.J. Abrams and writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman could not have picked a better time to swoop in and give Star Trek the fresh start it very much needed. Their film, entitled simply Star Trek, establishes a new beginning for the franchise while still maintaining a link to previous installments for the die-hard fans. Along with the original start comes an excellently casted ensemble of actors to fill the iconic roles. They really are the main strength of the film itself. While the pacing is fast and the action extremely exciting, much of the weight is put in character development. And luckily the acting all clicks very well, making for an engaging action film.

Plot is really Star Trek's only major downfall. After a brilliant opening scene, the journeys of Kirk and Spock from childhood to the Enterprise felt rushed and truncated. For instance, instead of showing too much of anything from the academy we are instead only given a "3 years later" caption and are thrust straight back into what is basically constant climax for the remainder of the film. The main conflict also resembled the opening scene a little too closely. I cared about the characters and enjoyed their interactions, but wished they were engaged in situations that felt a little more original.

Still, Star Trek is ultimately a very successful reboot. It's fun, entertaining, exciting, very well acted, and involving - even if it began to feel a bit repetitive. Michael Giacchino's score is superb and the cinematography, filled with lens flares and breathtaking shots, gives the film a distinctive and beautifully colorful look. Like Iron Man did last summer, Star Trek sets the bar high for the upcoming blockbusters.