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The story

The story for J. J. Abrams’ rebooted Star Trek is just that – a rebooted Star Trek! Set in an alternate, split-off reality, the plot begins with the death of James Kirk’s father by an intruding ship of Romulans inadvertently coming through from another universe via a black hole.

Growing up without a father – though his life ultimately follows the same beats as the Kirk we knew in the ‘60s – as young James Kirk develops there are subtle differences. It’s a genius way to reboot from within.

The plot involves the Romulans – who blame Leonard Nimoy’s aged Spock for the destruction of their home-planet – setting out to destroy Vulcan as revenge. It’s up to maverick Jim Kirk and a younger, Zachary Quinto-shaped Spock – along with Sulu, Chekov, Uhura, and the rest of the Enterprise – to step up and stop them.

Best moments

Kirk’s introductory scene, as a young boy stealing a car and damn near driving it off a cliff, serve to demonstrate superbly what a little rebel the kid has grown up to be without his pa, and it’s all set to a perfect soundtrack in the Beastie Boys’ ‘Sabotage’ (which is thankfully still popular in the distant future!)

Some of the most entertaining moments are unquestionably the frequent cropping up of classic Star Trek catchphrases, which this reboot could easily have ditched, but instead revels in bringing back for a new generation. “Set phasers to stun.” “Dammit, man, I’m a doctor, not a physicist!” etc.

Sulu and Kirk’s sky-diving exploits make for a fantastic set-piece, and truly consign the retrospectively stagnant action sequences of the past films into the annals of history.

There’s also the gloriously tongue-in-cheek moment when the obnoxious crewman in the red jump-suit meets an unfortunate end, while the scene when Leonard Nimoy’s Spock turns up is a crowd-pleasing moment like no other for Trek fans.

Trivia

» In an example of questionable equality, communications officer Uhura was never given a first-name by Gene Roddenberry. This led to the running joke about Kirk trying to discern her first name during his attempts at flirting with her in Abrams’ version. “If you don’t tell me your name, I’m gonna have to make one up”, he says. It’s eventually revealed to be Nyota.

» Heroes actor Greg Grunberg has appeared in all of J. J. Abrams’ movies, with the director citing him as a “good-luck charm”. He had to turn down a role here, but was able to provide the voice of Kirk’s stepdad over the phone.

» The supposed curse of the odd-numbered Star Trek movie is well known. Star Trek was the 11th Trek film, and features Simon Pegg as Scotty the engineer. Years earlier, Pegg’s character in Spaced joked that every odd-numbered Star Trek film being “shit” was a fact of life. Star Trek was by far the highest grossing Trek film ever. In a later interview, Pegg commented that “Fate put me in this movie to show me I was talking out my ass.”

» The sound made by the motorcycle Kirk rides is the same sound used for the flying “cars” in the animated 60’s show The Jetsons, while the sound of the automatic doors opening aboard the Enterprise is a Russian train’s toilet flushing.

Best quotes

» Pike: “Your father was a Starfleet captain for twelve minutes. He saved eight hundred lives, including your mother’s, and yours. I dare you to do better.”

» Spock: “Nero, who has destroyed my home planet, and most of its 6 billion inhabitants. While the essence of our culture has been saved, in the elders who now reside upon this ship, I estimate that no more than 10,000 have survived. I am now a member of an endangered species.”

» Spock: “If you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, however unlikely, must be the truth.”

» Nero: “…And when I lost her, I promised myself retribution. And for 25 years I planned my revenge against the Federation, and forgot what it was like to live a normal life. I did not forget the pain. And it’s a pain that every surviving Vulcan now shares.”

» Spock Prime: “I have been, and always shall be, your friend.”

The verdict

It was almost unthinkable before its release that Abrams’ Star Trek reboot would be able to please everybody, but that’s just about what it did. A hit at the box-office, a hit with the critics, and even a hit with most Trekkies, the film was a resounding success.

A far more dynamic affair than any Trek that came before it, the sex appeal, the soundtrack, the CGI and the set-pieces were all wildly more assured and exciting. The characters are all very much the guys we know and love from Trek lore, but they’re discernibly different in this altered time-line, and the film provides a hot blast of nostalgia to the face whilst simultaneously providing something fresh and innovative.

The big moments – such as Vulcan being entirely destroyed – are on an unprecedented scale for Star Trek. Abrams’ handles the action with aplomb, while Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman’s script is vibrant, funny and alive. The casting too, should be praised, as Zachary Quinto turns in an uncanny portrayal of Spock, while John Cho, Karl Urban and Anton Yelchin are wonderful fits for Sulu, Bones and Chekov respectively

J. J. Abrams’ has since been handed the reins for the new set of Star Wars films, and based on the evidence he presented here with Star Trek, he’s entirely capable of handling a big sci-fi franchise. The only worry is that he’s going to have a hell of a job topping himself!

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