STAR TREK BEYOND (2016)
Genre: Sci-fi
Certification: 12A
Duration: 122 minutes
Directed by: Justin Lin
Starring: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, Idris Elba, Sofia Boutella, Joe Taslim
KRS Releasing Ltd
Released just in time to mark the 50th anniversary of the original TV show’s debut in 1966, Star Trek Beyond is the 13th film in the Star Trek film franchise and the third instalment in the reboot series, following Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek into Darkness (2013).
The first leg of a five-year mission takes the USS Enterprise into uncharted territory. Here the spacecraft is nearly destroyed and strands Captain Kirk (Chris Pine), and his crew on an abandoned distant planet with no means of communication. Commander Spock (Zachary Quinto) Montgomery ‘Scotty’ Scott (Simon Pegg) and the rest of the crew must work with the elements to reunite and get back to earth. But it is all easier said than done as a new ruthless enemy is plotting the demise of the Federation and puts the team and everything they stand for to the test.
The sci-fi film, directed by Justin Lin (Fast and Furious), has received positive reviews from critics with many lauding the visual effects.
The Rotten Tomatoes’ critic consensus reads: “Overall, Star Trek Beyond is an exciting and fun movie; a sturdy feature that is the first step in hopefully a refreshing direction for the vaunted franchise.”
Richard Roeper of Chicago Sun-Times said: “What a load of fun. Even with its big-screen pyrotechnics and its feature-length running time, Star Trek Beyond plays like an extended version of one of the better episodes from the original series, and I mean that in the best possible way.”
Variety film critic Owen Gleiberman was not, however, convinced about the originality of the plot. He commented: “Star Trek Beyond is a somewhat diverting place holder, but one hopes that the next Star Trek movie will have what it takes to boldly go where no Star Trek movie has gone before.”
The film marks one of the final film appearances of Anton Yelchin, who died in a car accident a month before its scheduled release. It is, in fact, dedicated to the memory of Yelchin as well as fellow Star Trek actor Leonard Nimoy, who played Spock in the original series and who died during this film’s pre-production.
Since its premiere in Sydney earlier this month, the film has grossed $89 million worldwide.
JASON BOURNE (2016)
Genre: Action
Certification: N/A
Duration: 123 minutes
Directed by: Paul Greengrass
Starring: Matt Damon, Tommy Lee Jones, Alicia Vikander, Julia Stiles, Vincent Cassel
KRS Releasing Ltd
Matt Damon reprises his role as CIA’s super-assassin-gone-rogue in the latest instalment of the film franchise, following 2007’s The Bourne Ultimatum – which had starred Matt Damon as Bourne.
The sequel also reunites the actor with director Paul Greengrass, shedding light on an important piece of the character's background story.
Several years after the events of the 2012 film, former CIA assassin Jason Bourne (Damon) resurfaces just as his former employers are implementing a new programme aimed at hunting him down.
Now fully recovered from his amnesia, he teams up with Nicky Parsons (Julia Stiles) to search for answers and to uncover the hidden truths about his past and family. Little does he know CIA director Robert Dewey (Tommy Lee Jones) is assigning hacker expert Heather Lee (Alicia Vikander) to draw him out of the shadows as Bourne finds himself back in action battling a sinister network that utilises terror and technology to maintain unchecked power.
Directed and written by Paul Greengrass, this spy action thriller is the fifth instalment and a soft reboot of the Bourne film series and the direct sequel to The Bourne Ultimatum (2007).
The film still has to open internationally, including in Malta, on Friday. Some critics, however, had already had their say.
One of these is Peter Bradshow of The Guardian who called the film “a fun but forgettable action revamp”. He also says that it may be time for Damon to hang up his Glock and give someone else the chance – possibly co-star Alicia Vikander.