Star Trek (2009)

3 out of 4

Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Simon Pegg, Bruce Greenwood

Director: J J Abrams

Time: 126 mins

Viewed: Regal Marlboro 8, New Jersey

With many established franchises having had reboots over the past few years (Batman Begins, Superman Returns, Casino Royale), it's now the venerable Star Trek's turn, following 5 live-action TV series, 10 films, and many, many conventions. Director Abrams (Mission: Impossible 3 and TV's Lost) takes us back to the youth of the original series' characters, from the rebellious James T Kirk (Pine), to the half-human, half-Vulcan, Spock (Quinto), and the rest of the diverse crew. Story ingeniously sets up this "new" team as a legitimate franchise bearer while keeping the original crew's adventures intact, throwing in vengeful Romulans (including the chief villain Nero, played by Bana), pulsating action scenes, and a plethora of splendid visuals. Purists may be offended, but this is a Trek for the 21st century - enthralling, energetic, and, yes, even enterprising (pun intended!).

(c) Joe Wong (9 May 2009)