I am speaking for the non Trekkie in this review. I couldn't possibly start to critique it in the way a die hard fan would and so I will review it the way I would review any movie.

I went to the cinema to see Star Trek 2009, with no expectations to enjoy it. The only reason I was going was because my fiance's brother had let him down at the last minute, and he really wanted to see it, so bearing in mind that he has watched quite a few of my type of movie, I put on a brave face and we toddled along to the cinema.

Star Trek's 2009 opening sequence was already more exciting than what I thought it could ever be. As the movie played on, I found myself being drawn in. Being a non Trekkie, I was relieved to find that this re-visiting of the Star Trek franchise was going back to the start, revealing background to me on characters that I knew very little about, letting me know that I would not have to sit through the movie confused by who was who and what he had been doing in the last installments that I had failed to watch.

So I sat back in my chair, lifted my legs over the seat in front of me so I'd be more comfortable, and cracked open my bag of sweets. And you know what? I enjoyed myself. I relaxed, let my brain take a rest and took in some good old fashioned escapism..

The opening sequence of Star Trek 2009 sets the pace for the rest of the movie. It is action filled, there are some fantastic special effects sequences, as well as more traditional one on one combats between the goodies and the baddies. The development of the characters does not slow down the movie in any way, instead they are introduced in the heart of the action.

The movie is void of the usual "cheese" breaks, the moments in most films that can make your skin crawl slightly. There is no pathetic dialogue, no drawn out half hearted romantic scenes. Everything is done neatly, concisely. Everything has a place and time. The plot is simple enough to bring a new breed of fans in, not too simple that you may feel your intelligence is insulted slightly.

Overall, this movie is fun. Chris Pine is charming and mischeivious, funny and smart. A new teenage heart throb, I'm sure. Zachary Quinto is cold, detached with that little bit of vulnerbility peeking through, just like a good Spock should be. Eric Bana is underused as the villian. His performance here is good but stilted, if somehow it is possible that he is brought back for the sequel I hope he will have a much bigger part. His talent deserves it.

Every member of the cast puts their heart into their role. There is no one appearing in this movie just for the pay check. They are doing their job and they are doing it well. I enjoyed this movie, and I really hadn't expected to. I thought that for the first time ever I would have fallen asleep in the cinema.

I don't agree with telling the whole plot of a movie in a review, as I think that cancels out the reason for the reader to go and see the movie, all I will say is, if you like watching action movies with humour, warmth, a good story and great performances, than you could do a lot worse than wander into a movie house and spend an hour or so watching Star Trek 2009.

Learn more about this author, Anna Maria Ryan.
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