Star Trek Into Darkness - The posh of Khan

Star Trek: Into Darkness pretty much continues where the 2009 reboot took off. It's hard to imagine there are too many people watching Into Darkness who don't know what to expect. This film is very `JJ Abrams,' i.e. it's full of flashy computer special effects and even more flashy lens flares.

However, if you can look past the polish then you'll find that there's actually a pretty involving story behind it. The actors - once again - put in excellent performances, imitating their `older' incarnations perfectly (some even getting better the second time around - Simon Pegg as `Scotty' being the main improvement). There's plenty of room for character development as the film is over two hours long as Kirk and co take on John Harrison (aka a new British (?) `Khan') who has sworn to destroy the Federation.

You don't actually need to have seen the last big screen outing where Kirk and Khan squared off. However, if you have seen `Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan' then you'll probably enjoy watching how the `tangent universe' we're now watching, mirrors the old Star Trek universe.

The best thing about both new Star Trek films is that they both retain their `Star Trek feel,' even with updated special effects. You would probably never confuse these movies with any from the Star Wars franchise. The new Trek movies play to their strengths, rather than try to imitate Star Wars.

Perhaps the only criticism may be that `we've seen this all before.' But that would most likely be from those of us who watched the Star Trek films the first time round. Yes, some bits feel a little too recycled, but there's definitely enough that's original here to make this an excellent, high-budget action movie which should - hopefully - appeal to long-standing and new fans alike.

9/10 almost as perfect as The Godfather

Star Trek (2009 reboot) - A great Trek (begrudgingly)

I have to confess to being one of those people who never thought they should `reboot' the original Star Trek franchise. William Shatner and co were so engrained in their respective roles that I didn't think anyone could fill their exact shoes (even if they were supposed to be their younger selves).

I was wrong.

Star Trek (XI) is undoubtedly the best of the franchise since The Wrath of Khan. If follows the early years of the most famous crew in sci-fi history. Yes, every actor nails his or her character (possibly with the minor exception of Simon Pegg as Scotty, but that's a minor gripe). Also, this isn't just `Star Trek The Early Years' - the story cleverly weaves in the old mythology - I won't say too much on that in case you're not aware of how it all plays out.

I will say that (if you can forgive JJ Abrams slightly overused `lens flare effects') it is the most exciting of all the Trek movies. There's plenty of action and decent special effects. It doesn't quite rival Star Wars - it seems to be able to maintain its `alternativeness' to the other great sci-fi franchise. It doesn't just breathe new life into the franchise (Star Trek X was a little disappointing), it makes `Trek' accessible to the masses. If you don't know your Tribbles from your Borg, it really doesn't matter - this starts everything again and you don't need to know the backstory - you only need to be in for a good, popcorn-munching, sci-fi ride.

May this franchise live long and prosper.

9/10 almost as perfect as The Godfather

Star Trek: Nemesis - Not bad, but badly flawed

Like many Trek fans, I have mixed feelings about The Next Generation's final big screen outing. On the surface, it's actually a pretty good little film. It has action (quite a lot, actually), drama and a few lighter moments.

However, there's something about it that just leaves you (and me and the wider audience) a bit cold. I didn't notice the numerous similarities to (Trek II) The Wrath of Khan until I read other people's comments on the internet. My reasons for not looking at it as a classic are due to a lot of it not really making much sense. Despite listening to fans' criticism about Star Trek 9 being little more than a glorified TV episode, the film-makers have tried to go all out on the action front, but, while doing so, have left many glaring gaps in logic which don't ever get addressed. I heard a lot of the film was left on the cutting room floor in an attempt to speed it up and it certainly does come across as rushed.

If you like Trek (or at least the Trek films) you'll probably get at least some entertainment out of Piccard and co's last outing (Piccard and Data are - once again -the central characters. The others all get their moments, but most seems a little forced and the fight scene between Riker and a Romulan near the end seems simply added to remind viewers that he is also just as heroic as Piccard).

Perhaps its major flaw that most people who have watched it have almost loved it. And, in some ways, a film that could have been great, is worse than a film that is simply bad.

7/10 if I woke up on Groundhog Day and had to watch this again, I could live with that

Star Trek: First Contact - The best `Next Generation' trek film, by far

Piccard and his crew didn't get as much (big) screen time as Kirk, so there's not that many other of his movies to compare First Contact to. However, it is definitely the best of all the next generation's filmic outings.

Possibly its greatest strength is that it can be watched by people with no prior knowledge of Star Trek lore. It's about a race of (effectively) space zombies, known as `the Borg' who travel back in time to take over Earth. Therefore Piccard and co must follow them back and teach `em not to mess with us earthlings.

What you have here is a fun, sci-fi adventure with plenty of action and space aliens. If you know Star Trek, you'll probably already have seen this one. However, my challenge goes out to all those out there who consider `Trek' to be the domain of spotty nerds in their mothers' basements - if you're in any way interested in sci-fi, try this one out with an open mind, you may get a pleasant surprise.
Note: I do happen to live in my mother's basement, but I don't speak Klingon.

9/10 almost as perfect as The Godfather

Star Trek Insurrection - Good Trek - not so good film

It's been said many times that Star Trek 9: Insurrection, is little more than an extended TV episode. There's little more I can add to that. And, if you liked The Next Generation's small-screen outings, then you should enjoy this.

However, the films were always supposed to appeal to a wider audience, therefore they were expected to be bigger, bolder and louder. Plus Insurrection follows the excellent Star Trek 8: Fist Contact, which really took `Trek' in a new, more action-orientated direction. Therefore Insurrection always felt like a step backwards.

There's nothing wrong with this film, in fact, it's actually quite enjoyable. However, unless you're a die hard fan, you probably won't find it that interesting and there are certainly better Trek movies than this one.

5/10 a hard trek, a bit like unicycling to Mordor and back

Star Trek Generations  - Trek for everyone?

Star Trek (VII) `Generations' had the difficult job of trying to please everyone (or every `Trekkie' at least) by bringing together both Captains of the Enterprise in the same adventure, while, at the same time, not giving too much screen time to the more tried and tested filmic icon, James T Kirk, in favour of the Next Generation.

So, out went the bankable old crew and in came the untested marketing enigma of whether the Next Generation's success on the small screen would translate to the big screen. And it was made so. Just.
Star Trek lore tells that the even numbered films are better than the odds. And, when you compare to the previous `Undiscovered Country' (number 6) and the following `First Contact' (8), you may be inclined to agree.

Generations is not a bad film. It's definitely one of the better odd numbered Star Trek films, but it was hampered with the impossible mission of bridging the gap between old and new. It does its best. The small time the two Captains are together is good fun to watch, just woefully too short. But then again, it's supposed to be the new lot's film, not another James T Kirk affair. Also, back with Kirk, there were only really three main characters (Kirk, Spock and Bones). Since the Next Generation, every regular cast member has been given his or her own set of episodes, therefore all of them are - almost - given their own screen time. Unfortunately, most people only prefer the more interesting characters of Piccard and Data, meaning you have to put up with Beverly Crusher and Ryker at the same time.

Generations won't really win too many new fans over to the Trek Universe. It's more a labour of love. I don't know anyone who truly loves it. They sort of put up with it as a necessary bridging gap between old and new. It's not the best, but it certainly isn't the worse (films 5 and 9 get my vote on that one).

You probably need slightly more than a mild interest in Trek to really enjoy this.

7/10 if I woke up on Groundhog Day and had to watch this again, I could live with that

Star Trek 6 - Undiscovered Country - A fitting send off for the old guard

Anyone who dares to admit to being into the Trek films will know of the theory regarding how the `even' number films are all a lot better than the `odd' number movies. So, here we have Star Trek 6: The Undiscovered Country and, as the theory goes, it is pretty good.

It's the last full feature film of the original (and now very old) cast and what better way that to duke it out with their old foes - the Klingons. There's less comedy than in Star Trek 4 and less banter than Star Trek 5, it's more a product of its time, set when the Federation are trying to make peace with the Klingons (and released in the cinema not long after the end of the Cold War). It tries - and doesn't quite make it - to be like second outing (The Wrath of Khan), i.e. pitting Captain Kirk against an opposite number/captain. It may not have the drama or suspense, but it is a good adventure which most people should enjoy.

In the wake of the reboot, I'm not sure how many new fans The Undiscovered Country will win over, but, for all of us who remembered the original cast, it's a great and fitting send off for those who have boldly gone for so many years.

8/10 The Force is definitely strong with this one