Set phasers to ‘love’

April 22nd, 2009 at 10:09am Will Pfeifer

It doesn’t open until May 8, but the advance reviews are starting to trickle in for J.J. Abrams new version of STAR TREK, and so far, they’re solid raves. (Click on links in credits to go to the full reviews.)

Blasting onto the screen at warp speed and remaining there for two hours, the new and improved STAR TREK will transport fans to sci-fi nirvana. Faithful enough to the spirit and key particulars of Gene Roddenberry’s original conception to keep its torchbearers happy but, more crucially, exciting on its own terms in a way that makes familiarity with the franchise irrelevant, J.J. Abrams’ smart and breathless space adventure feels like a summer blockbuster that just couldn’t stay in the box another month.

STAR TREK rockets along like a beautifully engineered vehicle you can’t help but admire for its design and performance. It shifts gears often but always smoothly, and accelerates again and yet again when you suspect it might be tempted to ease up for good. The series trappings remain, but this reincarnation is dynamic where the old one was often stodgy, stylish instead of a bit square.

 – Todd McCarthy in Variety

It zips along and is enveloping and beautiful to watch — highly pleasurable to just friggin’ look at. It’s buoyant and bountiful of spirit, it’s pop celestial, it’s Young Men in Space. The massive super-cities shrouded in mist in the Iowa flatlands — superb concept! Zachary Quinto’s Spock has focus and authority, and was my favorite for that. Pine, for me, has the necessary force and swagger and I applaud Abrams’ balls in not casting a Shatner clone.

– Jeffrey Wells at Hollywood Elsewhere (based on an hour of footage)

J.J. Abrams has made a fabulous film that excels in all its elements. While it feels fresh in every way (an achievement in itself, for this 11th STAR TREK film), great care has been taken to be respectful of the franchise and the characters created by Gene Roddenberry in the 60s, when they became cult favourites. Technically, everything stacks up. The sound and the sound mix is superb and rivals the extraordinary visuals for attention. Script - tick. Casting - tick. Direction - tick. Special effects - tick. It’s an extraordinary achievement and great entertainment for all as we partake in an edge-of-seat thrill-ride.

– Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile

Entry Filed under: Sci Fi, Movie review reviews