SINGAPORE : On the black and white TV screen back in the 1960s, the Captain of the USS Enterprise used to intone at the start of each adventure, “to boldly go where no man has gone before...”

Taking that cue director JJ Abrams (Mission Impossible:III; Lost) decided to bring Star Trek into a new element while trying to keep faithful to sci-fi history with “Star Trek: The Future Begins”.

It is touted as one of 2009’s most anticipated blockbuster and seems set to lead to a new league of Trekkies without old-hands jumping ship.

Spanning four years in production and arriving a long seven years after the last unpopular “Star Trek: Nemesis”, the newest Star Trek instalment appears to be as director Abrams had promised - mainstream with freshness to the sci-fi classic that has ‘Trekkies’ and non-fans alike hyped-up.

Going right to the beginning, this 11th movie with the Star Trek name, chronicles the start of James Tiberius Kirk and Spock, and USS Enterprise’s early adventure - giving both the uninitiated and fans alike, an introduction to Kirk’s eventual rise to Captain of the Starship.

Bursting straight into its plot, the opening scene starts with trouble for Enterprise’s forerunner USS Kelvin. Setting a fast pace which continues, the film then introduces and establishes both characters and plot, with repeated juxtaposition.

Our first meeting is with young Kirk (Chris Pine) - a rebellious, testosterone-driven, rash, drunk brawler, looking like he fell far from the apple tree and an unlikely headhunted Starfleet Academy recruit. In also comes young Spock (Zachary Quinto) who struggles with being half-human half-Vulcan.

Both land up on Enterprise during its maiden voyage, and end up taking over the helm from Captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood). As they navigate the Starship through a crisis, they end up launching their first concerted ‘save the world’ attempt.

A great part of the story is devoted to teasing out the tough teething relationship between Kirk and Spock. Both actors, whom audiences might connect more with TV series, were convincing in their delivery, especially Quinto, whose character demands ‘emotion versus logic’ tensions which he consistently expresses.

Accompanying the Captain in fighting galactic baddies is the crew of Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Sulu (John Cho), Leonard “Bones” McCoy (Karl Urban), Chekov (Anton Yelchin) and Montgomery "Scotty" Scott (Simon Pegg). Although not A-listers, this supporting cast delivers good acting and substantial comic relief.

The heavyweight in casting has to be Eric Bana (Troy, Black Hawk Down) who plays evil villain Captain Nero. Similar to “Nemesis”, this enemy is a bald Romulan ruler bent on destroying Vulcan and Earth. However, Nero lacks screen time and appeared under-developed.

Giving aid to the credible acting is an interesting script. Expect one-liners and sarcastic witty dialogue drawing humour during tense periods especially from ‘Kirk’ who displays his Alpha-male cockiness through wise cracks.

Besides humour, the show is also action-packed with exciting rescue missions that move the story along.

The only odd appendix is the love element which drops in from nowhere. This would most probably have hard-core ‘Trekkies’ distressed, but fortunately, there is little else that would set their teeth on edge.

There are many familiar but improved elements, such as the uniforms of the space voyagers and the Enterprise Starship, which is more stylish and technologically updated while retaining its original elements.

‘Trekkies’ will also enjoy their cosmic travels through latest CGI which give vivid reality to the different environments and action sequences.

Overall, this latest episode is ‘trek-able’ for non-fans, while flag bearers will savour this wistful trip made even better with a cameo from Leonard Nimoy, a commendable effort by Abram to link the present with the 1960s’ TV series.

So sure is Abrams of winning over fans with “Star Trek: The Future Begins”, he has a sequel scheduled for 2011. Like it or not, Star Trek is set to “live long and prosper”.

- CNA