Star Trek

I never really got into the original Star Trek series or films. Star Trek: The Next Generation, and subsequent films on the other hand, I love. This is why I wasn't all that sure whether or not I would like the film or not. That, and I'm not a huge fan of J. J. Abrams.

However, much to my excitement I did enjoy it. It took me a while as I didn't really like the beginning, but once it got going I found it pretty good.

The acting was very good, as were the visual effects. There were quite a few things I found I didn't like about the film though.

First off is the beginning. It took way too long for the story to actually develop. Most of it was necessary, but there were definite parts which I thought could have been shortened or deleted to cut to the chase a bit faster. The shaky camera work really bugged me at the beginning, as did the fast pans. I felt I couldn't see anything for like the whole of the first scene. It seems everyone is trying to film it Saving Private Ryan/Bourne style these days. It wasn't as bad as Quantum Of Solace, but it was still pretty bad. After the first scene the shaky camera seemed to calm down a bit and the fast pans went altogether.

One thing that didn't go or calm down though was lens flare. Sure lens flare looks real nice when you see it now and then. But it was cropping up every minute in this film and I for one found it very off putting.

Another thing that bugged me to the core was the rock music. Wtf? Pretty much all of the scene where James T. Kirk is being chased in a car when he is a kid is in one of the trailers. In the film it has rock music over it. I thought the trailer music used over that scene in the trailer worked way better. The product placement was a bit too 'in your face' for me as well.

Then there is the rest of the music. The film is scored by Michael Giacchino and sure he does an okay job. But that is about it. The more emotional stuff seemed to work quite well in the film, but other than that it was pretty average. I was expecting (or more like hoping) some kind of Star Trek theme to turn up in the movie. The original Star Trek theme was used in the end credits, but Giacchino's own themes weren't all that impressive. But then maybe I like the Star Trek: The Next Generation theme too much, as I was kind of hoping that it would appear, although really knowing that it wouldn't.

Overall though I thought the film was good and whether you're a Trekkie or not, it is worth seeing.