Star Trek Beyond (12A)
Directed by Justin Lin
5/5
WHEN Chris Pine, first-rate as space legend Captain James T Kirk, commander of the USS Enterprise, shouts: “Let’s make some noise!” and boldly goes to save the day, he neatly describes Justin Lin’s invigorating direction of the 13th thrills-and-action-packed feature spawned by Gene Roddenberry’s classic TV series.
Lin, of Fast and Furious fame, delivers a Star Trek reboot that exhilaratingly blends lashings of noise, action, excitement and superb special effects into a sequel that’s certain to delight both Trekkies and devotees of science fiction spectaculars alike.
The screenplay by Doug Jung — co-written with Simon Pegg, who also plays Enterprise engineer Scotty — recalls to good effect the flavour of the early television series, with the Enterprise and her crew facing danger and death in deepest space.
There they battle murderous lizard-like alien Krall (Idris Elba), whose no-holds-barred fight to regain a strange “death machine” crashes the Enterprise on a bizarre planet as part of his plan to destroy its crew and the Federation forever.
That leaves Kirk and co to save the day which, naturally, they do. In the process, they deliver everything anyone who enjoys a briskly told story, amazing action, thrills galore and state-of-the-art film magic could ask for.
It says much for Star Trek’s innate back-story strength that the classic characters are never overwhelmed by special effects, most notably when they are separated as a team after the Enterprise crashes, marooning them on an alien world.
Chris Pine is first-rate as Kirk — his bout with Krall certainly shows the villain what’s what — while Zachary Quinto’s Mr Spock and his medical saviour Karl Urban’s Bones are an amusing and credible double act.
Scotty making a play for sexy alien Jaylah (Sofia Boutella) is a treat, as is Kirk demonstrating his TT skills astride a futuristic motorcycle.
Review by Alan Frank

The BFG (PG)
Directed by Steven Spielberg
4/5
IF THERE is one thing that Steven Spielberg knows how to do best, it is to make a classic children’s film.
Roald Dahl’s beloved The Big Friendly Giant was never in safer hands and the end result is a magical and enchanting adaptation which totally captures the spirit of Dahl’s work.
Written by the late Melissa Mathison, who also penned E.T., this version will delight young fans of the book.
It’s punctuated by a storming performance from Mark Rylance in motion capture as the Big Friendly Giant who is bullied by his nine much bigger brothers.
His touching friendship with orphan Sophie is illuminated by a superb performance from newcomer Ruby Barnhill.
Warm-hearted, yet with a trace of menace, this is amusing and heartfelt fare which takes the fart joke to a whole new level.
The settings, though, confuse somewhat. There’s a Victorian look and feel about it, with Sophie living in a Dickensian-style orphanage. But when Penelope Wilton later appears as the Queen, she looks more like the current monarch, Corgis in tow to boot. The shift is to the here and now, albeit one where giants reside.
That minor cavil apart, this is a magical film for kids.
Review by Maria Duarte

Chevalier (18)
Directed by Athina Rachel Tsangari
5/5
NOWADAYS sexism and misanthropy flourish when opinions on films are proferred.
Which, presumably, is why the preview of the female reboot of Ghostbusters became notorious for being the most reviled trailer in Youtube history.
So one might have expected anti-sexist howls at the ultra-masculine activities in this extraordinary, riveting fable about six wealthy male friends on fishing trip aboard a luxury yacht.
Driven by testosterone and boredom, they indulge in increasingly odd made-up games, with the coveted chevalier ring going to the winner.
The contests include assembling an Ikea flat pack — is that actually possible? — comparing sleeping positions, washing windows and, naturally, competing over the lengths of their erections.
So why no Ghostbuster-style howls against sexism?
Because, I guess, director Athina Rachel Tsangari — who wrote the script with Efthimis Filippou — is a woman who self-evidently deflects any accusations of sexism. Vividly conceived, cleverly executed and ideally performed black comedies don’t come more memorable — or blacker — than this.
The unknown — to me, at any rate — Greek male actors make a splendid and completely convincing team, whose acute characterisations make their increasingly reprehensible behaviour fascinating from start to finish.
A one-off black comedy that could well reward more than one viewing.
Review by Alan Frank