Boldly going to a new frontier

It is everything you want from a summer blockbuster, a reboot or a TV remake. The latest Star Trek is popcorn perfection, delivering pyrotechnics, visual excitement and three-dimensional characters. As a reboot of a popular franchise, it takes viewers back to square one in a way that feels both familiar and fresh.

Director J.J Abrams' Star Trek redux captures the essence of the original while allowing the big-screen version to expand in new and thrilling directions. Screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman create a story that is easy to get behind. They also add the humor and humanity that has encompassed the series since its infancy. It has been seven years since the last Star Trek film (Star Trek: Nemesis).

The storyline of Star Trek revolves around rogue Romulan commander Nero (played by Eric Bana), who is hell-bent on exacting vengeance on Spock (Leonard Nimoy). He travels back in time and destroys the U.S.S. Kelvin, in a spectacular opening scene. Instead of seeing his son grow into the Federation's finest captain, Lt. George Kirk (Chris Hemsworth) sacrifices himself to save his newborn son and the rest of the crew. This event changes the timeline and an alternate universe is established. James Kirk (Chris Pine) grows up a rebel, longing to know his father. Worlds away on Vulcan, the young Spock (Zachary Quinto) faces constant ridicule for his half-human heritage. He feels anger, but buries his emotions. Kirk and Spock cross paths at Starfleet Academy. They are bitter rivals at first, but an alert that Vulcan is under attack throws these men into combat. There they will face Nero and forge a friendship that is the lynchpin of Star Trek.

Other films shown at cinemas include:

Touch of the Panda

The images of cuddly pandas and the stunning landscapes of rural Sichuan, leave one in no doubt about the central theme of this movie.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

This prequel to the X-Men film trilogy focuses on the mutant Wolverine and his time with Team X, before Wolverine's skeleton gets bonded with the indestructible metal adamantium.

I Corrupt All Cops

The film tells of the founding of the Independent Commission Against Corruption and of police corruption in the wild 1960s and 70s.

Chen Nan