L-R: Chekov (Anton Yelchin), James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), Scotty (Simon Pegg), and Bones (Karl Urban) in ‘Star Trek’

The new ‘Star Trek’ is a breathtaking reimagining of the old series.

Twenty-five years later, James T. Kirk is an untested Starfleet officer-in-training who has stowed away onto the USS Enterprise. Its mission: to answer the distress call from a Romulan ship harbored off of Vulcan. Kirk, remembering his father’s demise, puts two and two together, and realizes the Romulan ship is not in need of help, but is attacking the defenseless planet.

Will Kirk be able to warn the officers in time to save the ship? Will he be able to live up to his father’s example and fulfill his destiny as captain of the USS Enterprise?

From where I’m sitting

Remake-mad Hollywood has brought us another retelling of a classic series. More correctly classified as a ‘reboot’ rather than a ‘remake,’ “Star Trek” starts the series all over again with fresh, young faces playing the well-loved characters.

Indeed, the best part of the movie was seeing the old gang again – Bones, Scotty, Sulu, Chekov, Uhura… especially Kirk and Spock.

The movie moves at lightning-speed, taking you away with the opening sequence and never letting go until the credits roll. Though this makes the film unquestionably fun, there is a drawback – it never gives itself time to develop actual human drama and conflict, leaving you with a nervous rush at the end but no substantial emotional experience.

Who’s in it

Zachary Quinto (Spock), Chris Pine (Kirk) – the two main leads are relative unknowns, with both Quinto and Pine doing most of their work before this film in TV. Quinto plays a substantial role on the popular series “Heroes,” while Pine’s most famous film to date has been “Smokin’ Aces.” Both do a capable job in this movie, but Quinto is especially engaging as the Vulcan torn between logic and emotion.

Eric Bana (Nero) – Bana is one of those actors who consistently gives outstanding performances but somehow seems to stay just outside the limelight. He was great as the lead in Ang Lee’s “Hulk,” and in “Troy” as Hector, the man killed by Brad Pitt in that breathtaking one-on-one fight scene. He hit it out of the park as the main character in Spielberg’s too-little watched political revenge drama “Munich.” He is almost unrecognizable as an alien in “Star Trek,” and packs a powerful punch as the film’s main Romulan baddy.

The supporting cast is a smorgasborg of interesting choices. Karl Urban, who played Eomer in the “Lord of the Rings” series and the lead in “Pathfinder,” gives a great turn as the sarcastic Bones. John Cho, aka Harold of “Harold and Kumar,” plays Sulu, while Simon Pegg from the hilarious “Hot Fuzz” plays Scotty and Winona Ryder comes in as Spock’s mother.

Technically speaking

This film definitely bears the mark of its creators, a writing-directing team that has collaborated before on the TV show “Alias” and the underwhelming “Mission Impossible III.” Director J.J. Abrams and his writers seem to consider plot and character simply tools to set up really cool action scenes.

Though it has an interesting premise, the movie is basically one scene after another of the main characters cheating death in progressively spectacular fashion. Luckily, the filmmakers have a wealth of history and characters to draw from, and occasionally drama and character conflict shines through all the admittedly fabulous action set-pieces.

In a somewhat peculiar choice, Abrams has decided to give the crew of the Enterprise all the costumes from the old 1960’s TV show, even though the ship itself has been given a sleek make-over. The Romulans and their ship look extremely 24th century, and have the Sam Jackson attitude to match.

It is a credit to the advancement of the special effects industry that the amazing effects of this film are just about taken for granted. They are used well in creating breakneck action that keeps you breathless.

Though in the end “Star Trek” does not engage us in any significant way, it’ s a fun two hours. It asks you to check your mind and heart at the door as it whisks you away and boldly goes where the series has never gone before.

Don’t take my word for it

“Star Trek” has earned itself an almost unheard of 95 percent fresh rating on www.rottentomatoes.com, with the critics calling it a brilliant reboot of a tired series, and praising its exciting pace. The world agrees – the two-week box office count is US$230 million and counting.

Reported by Aaron Toronto