An exciting, special effects laden, couple of hours. It starts with frenetic action and you wonder what has happened to the characters but then, the scene set, Simon Pegg and Doug Jung's script pauses for belated breath and allows us to enjoy something of the spark that first endeared us to the original TV series. Spock (Zachary Quinto) and Bones (Karl Urban), bickering their way through adversity, and Kirk (Chris Pine), were always the very heart of the original Star Trek, and they are given time to interact and charm the audience in a way that's possibly been missing for over 40 years. Pegg (Scotty) has written himself something more interesting too, as he encounters a new and interesting alien character, Jaylah (Sofia Boutella).
Idris Elba plays the one dimensional baddie, Krall, with some verve but his character isn't explored or explained sufficiently and may prove forgettable. This is a negative compared to the previous instalment, where the bad guy almost stole the movie.
Once the characters have been allowed to bicker a little, it's back to frenetic CGI action. It's fast and furious, if a little confusing. As to exactly what is happening and why is never entirely clear, but we know who the good guys are and can cheer them on, unashamedly.
Perhaps the weakest film in the current reboot, this gains from rediscovered characters, but the confusing action and one dimensional bad guy serve to undermine what might otherwise have been an excellent entry in the franchise. Worth a watch though, just don't expect to follow exactly what is happening!
Idris Elba plays the one dimensional baddie, Krall, with some verve but his character isn't explored or explained sufficiently and may prove forgettable. This is a negative compared to the previous instalment, where the bad guy almost stole the movie.
Once the characters have been allowed to bicker a little, it's back to frenetic CGI action. It's fast and furious, if a little confusing. As to exactly what is happening and why is never entirely clear, but we know who the good guys are and can cheer them on, unashamedly.
Perhaps the weakest film in the current reboot, this gains from rediscovered characters, but the confusing action and one dimensional bad guy serve to undermine what might otherwise have been an excellent entry in the franchise. Worth a watch though, just don't expect to follow exactly what is happening!