What Do The Critics Say?

"It's Star Trek, Jim, but not as we have known it. A masterclass in how to rebrand and relaunch a franchise. Sign us up for more alien girls, punch-ups, phasers, photons and misbehaving black holes." Matthew De Abaitua CHANNEL 4 FILM REVIEWS "Star Trek strikes a beautiful balance, with enough allusions to Trek mythology to please longtime fans and enough 21st century verve to wow even those viewers who know nothing of Star Trek." Carla Meyer SACRAMENTO BEE "May it live long and prosper, by which we mean, sequels, soon." Tim Robey DAILY TELEGRAPH "Star Trek is the first great blockbuster of the year and is undoubtedly a bona fide masterpiece in the family genre." GQ MAGAZINE "Star Trek comes out with its high beams on, its pacing hyper, and its phasers set to "stoked." And it never hits the brakes." Mike Ward RICHMOND BLOG POST "The wit and youthful energy that's been infused into the new Star Trek should enable this venerable franchise to live longer and prosper more handsomely." Joe Williams ST LOUIS POST-DESPATCH "entertainment, the magnificent Star Trek is cranked up to Warp Factor 11 by the cast and crew. May the franchise live long and prosper under the guidance of J.J. Abrams." Ben Rawson-Jones DIGITAL SPY

"The result is a triumph, certain to be regarded as not just one Trek's better moments, but one of the finest films made in the sci-fi genre." Ian Cuthbertson THE AUSTRALIAN "Don't be surprised if you feel just like me when you leave the theater. I was ready and eager to see my newfound friends in their next space adventure." Steve Rhodes INTERNET REVIEWS "This is impressive stuff. Abrams moves the plot at breathtaking speed, yet still has time to feature heroic acts from all the original show's key players." Rich Phippen SKY MOVIES "A new Star Trek film so full of life, wit, smarts, thrills and sheer gratifying entertainment that it launches the mind on a stream of merry somersaults." Shawn Levy OREGONIAN Fast-moving, funny, exciting warp-speed entertainment and, heaven help me, even quite moving: the kind of film that shows that, like it or not, commercial cinema can still deliver a sledgehammer punch. It sure didn't feel like a trek to me." Peter Bradshaw UK GUARDIAN "With a warp-speed 'Wow!', Abrams&Co. has taken a spent franchise and, unlike a heavy-handed plastic surgeon, has reinvigorated it without destroying the original look." Kimberly Gadette INDIE MOVIES ONLINE

The Inside Story In its more than fourty year history, one that has impacted upon multiple generations, "Star Trek" has carved out an iconic place in modern pop culture as the only ongoing story that encapsulates the awe, wonder and bold audacity of the human desire to reach for the stars. With the indelible opening words of the original nineteen sixties television series, "Space, the Final Frontier", a succession of journeys were launched across the cosmos that did and, to this day, still celebrate the thrill of adventure, the pioneering spirit of exploration and the drive to create an ever-more amazing future full of possibilities. The daring and provocative voyages of the Starship Enterprise, and the many ships that would soon follow in her flight path, have appealed to the stargazer in all of us, and our hopes and dreams that technological and cultural advances will bring out the best of our humanity. The original TV series was not a hit when the pilot first aired in September 1966 (with Jeffrey Hunter in the chair as Captain Christopher Pike, Leonard Nimoy as Spock and from episode one with Canadian-born actor William Shatner cast as Captain James T Kirk), but later caught on like wildfire among the ever-growing legion of fans who responded to its compellingly funny, contentious, charismatic personalities and its five year mission to peacefully engage new worlds and cultures. But how did that mission begin? What brought together this disparate group of brash, brilliant, ambitious young men and women and drove them to explore new frontiers? And how did they forge that special chemistry and sense of purpose that would inspire so many discoveries and fantastic adventures for years and even centuries to come? For director and producer J.J. Abrams ("Mission: Impossible III"), going back to the beginning after more than six television series and ten feature films was the only way to forge into the future. His vision was to literally start fresh, beginning with James T Kirk and his one-day First Officer, the Vulcan Spock's advancement in the Starfleet Academy and their extraordinary first journey together. Abrams came to the project with great respect for series creator Gene Roddenberry and all that "Star Trek" had achieved as the creator of an archetypal modern myth and cult phenomenon. However, he also wanted to take the story where it had never been before: making a state of the art action epic about two heroic leaders as brash young men in the making. "I was a fan of the original series, although I was never a Trekker," says Abrams. "Yet I always felt there was something that had not been done with 'Star Trek'. There have been ten movies, but this is the first time that a movie has dealt with the fundamental, primary story Gene Roddenberry originally created in 1966. What I hope with this movie is that you never have to have seen anything about 'Star Trek' before to really enjoy a comical, romantic, suspenseful adventure, but that it also does proud the lasting, brilliant world that Gene Roddenberry created. The brilliant thing 'Star Trek' brought to the world was a dose of optimism and I hope this movie continues in that tradition." While many anticipated a total re-boot from Abrams, he was excited to go in an unexpected direction, heading way back, as it were, into the never seen twenty third century launch of the U.S.S. Enterprise. When he brought the idea of a 'Star Trek' origin story to producer Damon Lindelof, with whom Abrams (along with Jeffrey Lieber) created the contemporary television phenomenon "Lost", the producer was instantly taken by the idea. "For me, the idea that no one has ever told an origin story for Kirk and Spock and all these characters was very cool." "We had a great conversation about how this crew of people might have come together and learned to sacrifice certain parts of their personalities to get along. It was really fun and, next thing I knew, Bob Orci and Alex Kurtzman were writing a script," says 2005 Emmy Award winner Lindelof. "The incredible thing about the initial 'Star Trek' television series is that it was so energetic, optimistic and cool. It presented the future the way we’d like to believe it will unfold. It’s a future to aim for." "We envisioned this "Star Trek" as a truly grand adventure about two very different men whose destiny is not only to become true friends, but iconic partners, guardians and explorers," executive producer Bryan Burk ("Cloverfield") explained. "It has that fresh, imaginative, intergalactic storytelling, but is also very grounded in the idea of young men and women with a lot of heart and camaraderie," says Jeffrey Chernov who executive produced Gil Junger's 1999 romantic comedy "10 Things I Hate About You" (starring the late Heath Ledger as Patrick Verona). "When you add J.J.’s mastery of action and love of scope, you have something very fun and entertaining." The characters of "Star Trek", especially Captain James T Kirk and his loyal but contentious First Officer Spock, are among the most instantly recognizable fictional characters created in the twentieth century. But Abrams needed writers who could take these well-established personalities and reverse engineer them to get back what forged their hopes, dreams and motivations in the first place. To do so, Abrams went straight to a team he knew could attack the story with a high-intensity, suspenseful action style and an authentic allegiance to its legacy, writing team Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman ("The Legend of Zorro" & "Transformers"). Orci (whose brother J.R. Orci worked on TV's "Alias"), in particular, has had a lifelong passion for all things Star Trek. "When I met Bob in high school, one of the first things I remember about him is that he had an Enterprise phone and the Bridge would actually ring!" Kurtzman says with a laugh. So what was their initial reaction to the offer to write the screenplay? "We paused because we knew it would be such a huge responsibility," Kurtzman recalls. "The challenges were a bit terrifying. But when you’re scared to do something, I think you also get the feeling that there’s a personal challenge there you need to meet. After our initial trepidation, we began talking to J.J. about it and then decided to just sit down and dive in." Orci and Kurtzman were exhilarated by the chance to do two new things: imagine the never before seen youth of Kirk and Spock and their development into friends and leaders; and devise the USS Enterprise’s very first mission. The writers spent an equal amount of time developing Nero into a worthy adversary for the Enterprise crew; one who is full of tricks, savvy and unpredictability. "In the best tradition of complex villains, Nero is someone who legitimately feels he has been wronged and believes he has a genuine bone to pick with Starfleet," says Orci. The writers relied on the skills of researcher Sean Gerace, who assured that, nothing in "Star Trek" would be in conflict with what had previously featured in the stories of the Starfleet. Gerace wrote a detailed report on Romulan mythology, watched each of the original TV series seventy nine episodes and all the motion pictures, taking detailed notes on personal histories and personality nuances. "Working with Bob and Alex and the producing team on the screenplay was an effortless exchange of ideas," says Abrams. "What was great is that we all had different gradients of experience and knowledge." To find a young actor who could play the role that William Shatner made so unforgettable, the filmmakers embarked on their own epic quest. It was only when they were nearing the end of their search that Chris Pine ("Smokin' Aces") auditioned for them, and took them by surprise. "Chris had this amazing confidence and swagger without being cocky or pretentious," says Burk ("Six Degrees"). "He was spot-on and we knew immediately we had found our Kirk." "Chris has the wit, sharpness and athleticism of Kirk, but, equally important, he can be a complete goof and very vulnerable," Abrams explained. "He made Kirk very real, which was everything we wanted." Pine says "Because we get to see Kirk as a young man, we are able to establish where his energy and passion come from and why he has to struggle to live up to his potential. It was incredibly overwhelming to step into Mr Shatner’s shoes and the whole canon of 'Trek' film and television history. We all agreed it would be a mistake to try to recreate what he did. The challenge was to make it my own." "Star Trek" gives audiences a chance to experience Spock in his formative years facing the choice between his human side and his Vulcan side. "Spock has to decide if he should control his emotions or embrace his humanity and struggles with the duality of who he is throughout the story," says Abrams. "I loved the idea of this character trying to figure out his place in the world." When the filmmakers saw Zachary Quinto (TV's "Heroes), Abrams was convinced they’d found their Spock. "Zach had an intelligence and thoughtfulness that is rare in a young actor. He was able to honor what Leonard achieved without in any way becoming an imitation." "I was very drawn to the character of Spock," says Quinto ("24"), who revealed he wanted the part of Spock, badly. "Spock was always fascinating to me because of the conflict between his mind and his emotions and by his ability to maintain equanimity no matter what is going on around him. In this new version, you get to see him figuring out how to find the balance that will allow him to achieve greatness." Quinto also enjoyed working with two other classic characters: Spock’s bi-galactic parents. His earthling mother Amanda Grayson is played by Winona Ryder ("The Age of Innocence" & "Little Women"). His Vulcan ambassador father Sarek, is played by Oscar ® winning British actor Ben Cross ("Chariots of Fire"). "Winona brought a real tenderness to the role,” Quinto says. "Ben was such a great energy to be around. He has such certitude and a groundedness as Sarek that I was able to connect with him right away." To play the role of the man who will become known simply as 'Bones', the filmmakers turned to Karl Urban ("The Bourne Supremacy"), a lifelong Trek fan. "Karl was so much like 'Bones' it was uncanny, almost creepy," says Abrams. "He’s this craggy, sardonic, pissed-off guy and yet you can’t help but love him." "I think underneath he’s a true humanist with great feelings of compassion," Urban reflects, "it’s just that he delivers that in this cranky, cynical, irascible way." When it came to the role of Montgomery 'Scotty' Scott, there was only only one person the team had in mind. They wanted British comedian, actor and filmmaker Simon Pegg ("Shaun of the Dead" & "Hot Fuzz"). "He is one of the funniest people we know, which made him perfect for Scotty," Burke said, But Pegg wasn't sure he could pull it off. Finally Abrams received an email from and "luckily for us, he soon enough said yes." The audience first meets Scotty on the ice planet Delta Vega. "He’s kind of lost and drunk and has no idea he’s destined to become a great inventor in the history of Starfleet," Pegg notes. Synopsis

The fate of the galaxy rests in the hands of bitter rivals born worlds apart. One is James Tiberius Kirk. Raised without a father he's become a delinquent, thrill-seeking Iowa farm boy, a natural-born leader in search of a cause. The other is Spock. He's grown up on the planet Vulcan as an outcast due to his half-human background, which makes him susceptible to the volatile emotions that Vulcans have long lived without. Despite this he has grown to be an ingenious, determined student, who will become the first of his kind accepted into the Starfleet Academy. Kirk and Spock could not be more different. Yet, in their quest to figure out who they really are and what they have to give to the world, they soon become competitive cadets in training. With their drastically opposite styles, one driven by fiery passion, the other by rigorous logic, they also become defiant, contentious adversaries, each equally unimpressed with the other, each going all out to be among the chosen few to join the crew of the most advanced starship ever created. Both its technology and a crew will be sorely tested in battle. That ship is the mighty, U.S.S. Enterprise.

The Verdict "J.J. Abrams takes audience on a voyage never undertaken before. A voyage that will amaze, excite and send audiences hearts racing as they are reintroduced to the breathtaking beauty and mindbogling splendour of "Star Trek", a bright new star, shining in all its magnificent glory on cinema screens right across the world. It's almost impossible to describe the emotion evoked by what will probably go down as one of, if not, the greatest epics of all time. While they are worlds apart, films such as "The Ten Commandments", "Ben Hur", "The Magnificent Seven", "Gone With The Wind" and yes, even the original "Star Wars" (all of which I loved) don't hold a candle to this glorious tale that will have film junkies hanging out for their next "Star Trek" hit. Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes Abrams has, in the greatest miracle since Lazarus was raised from the dead, totally reinvented the wheel when it comes to reinvigorating, no, make that rebirthing the long running television and film franchise that is "Star Trek". The cast is undeniabley first class. Chris Pine exudes (as Daniel Craig does with the Bond character) the right mix of rebellion, angst and charm. His James T Kirk is a rebel without a cause. Frustrated by the past Kirk is prepared to fight anyone. His win at all cost and fight dirty if he has to attitude, brings him into conflict with Zachary Quinto's Spock, who himself is somewhat of a ticking time-bomb waiting to explode. Quinto's faultless performance is such a standout it must surely make him worthy of consideration when Oscar nominations are put forward in 2010. It shouldn't come as any surprise then, that the strenght of "Star Trek" is not just in its lead actors or its whiz-bang SFX, CGI and action but in the supporting cast, one which is hard to fault, and that includes AFI winning aussie actor Eric Bana who is excellent as the films 'bad guy', Nero. It will be interesting to see, if and when a sequel does comes, how all these characters develope. It won't be an easy job putting together a sequel, because the film's writers and its director, have set the bar so very high with their first production. "Star Trek" is one film you really must see on the biggest screen possible and these days there are plenty around. Most highly recommended. 5 STARS." Who Plays Who?

Chris Pine Zachary Quinto Bruce Greenwood John Cho Ben Cross Simon Pegg Winona Ryder Zoe Saldana Karl Urban Anton Yelchin Eric Bana Leonard Nimoy Jimmy Bennett Spencer Daniels Mark Bramhall Chris Hemsworth Antonio Elias Greg Ellis Jonathan Dixon Christopher Doohan Diora Baird Majel Barrett-Roddenberry Michael Berry Jr

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James T Kirk Spock Capt Christopher Pike Hikaru Sulu Sarek Scotty Amanda Grayson Nyota Uhura Dr Leonard 'Bones' McCoy Pavel Chekov Nero Old Spock Young Kirk George Samuel Kirk Junior Vulcan Elder George Kirk Officer Pitts Chief Engineer Olsen Simulator Tactical Officer Starfleet Officer Orion slave girl Enterprise Computer Romulan Tactical Officer

The Production Team

Director Writters Original TV series Producers Original Music Cinematography Film Editors Casting Production Designer Supervising Art Director Art Direction by Set Decoration Costume Designer

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J.J. Abrams Roberto Orci & Alex Kurtzman Gene Roddenberry J.J. Abrams & Damon Lindelof Michael Giacchino Daniel Mindel Maryann Brandon & Mary Jo Markey April Webster & Alyssa Weisberg Scott Chambliss Keith Cunningham Curt Beech/Dennis Bradford/Luke Freeborn Beat Frutiger/Gary Kosko Karen Manthey Michael Kaplan

Run Time 122 minutes Rated M [AUST] Copyright ©2009 - Paramount Pictures - All Rights Reserved ©1999-2009 All Rights Reserved The Movie Pages - Protected by Australian, International, Copyright & Trademark Laws.