"Star Trek" (film review)

Gene Rodenberry has a lot to answer for!

The creator, and original producer/director/etc. of "Star Trek", has left a huge legacy, an entertainment equivalent of the Big Bang.

Star Trek is its own expanding universe, and a great example of what I was raving about in my earlier blog, "Infinity and Beyond".

Not being a particularly obsessive "trekkie", I have lost track of how many different TV series there have been, and whether the current movie is number 5, 6 or 7.

What I can report, however, is that the lastest addition to the Star Trek canon is hugely worthwhile, entertaining and gripping.

This is a "backstory" type Star Trek, showing us why James T. Kirk was good for the Star Fleet, how Spock's psychological dilemma came to be, why "Bones" is called "Bones" and giving us a preview of the stressed-out, batty and lovable Scotsman who came to be known as...er..."Scotty".

We follow the crew of the Starship Enterprise on a mission to deal to the nasty Romulans, the catch being that we must travel with them into and back from the future.

Confusing?

Perhaps, as far as timewarp movies go, but anyone who has watched an episode of Star Trek will be used to this "psychological complexity", and the storyline of the movie is as clear as glass (the movie is directed by J.J. Abrams, so expect plenty of action along the lines of "Lost").

A particularly attractive feature of the show is the way in which the relationships of the crew, and in particular that of Spock and Kirk, develop.

One of the key elements of ANY Star Trek is the personification of "logic" and "emotion", and the struggles between these 2 sides of the human/vulcan/romulan/etc. psyche - this movie is no exception.

Another key element is humour, and althought there are huge explosions, laser fights, chases and general hard knocks, the humour is not lost.

A lucid, energetic and hugely appealing space romp for 13 year olds and over.

To go boldly where no man has gone before?

G.