J.J Abrams having created the Firefly TV series and Serenity movie is no stranger to space fantasy (Correction: Abrams is behind Lost, Joss Whedon is behind Firefly & Serenity. My bad.). At the same time many of the Star Trek motion pictures have been terrible. Then add in that retelling a space fantasy as fabled as Star Trek and the bar is pretty high.

I’m happy to report after seeing this afternoon’s showing of Star Trek along with our whole family ($75 later after tickets, popcorn, candy and drinks) that Abrams and company did very well. This is the Star Trek motion picture that long time and new fans should go see. Is it perfect? No. The whole time travel cliched plot device was used to help pave the road for a different Star Trek than we remember going forward. How that will equate in the guaranteed-to-be-coming-down-the-road sequel mill will be left. If they do continue making Star Trek using the new Original Series crew, then please, please, please do something with the Gorn next.

The movie takes place by thrusting us into an alternate time where baby James Kirk is being born in the midst of his father captaining a ship fighting a vengeance-driven enemy from the future. Fast forward to a rebellious Kirk with fast cars, run-ins with the law and bar fights with Starfleet officers. Don’t worry, not too much time is spent in history mode which is what the writers of Wolverine should have figured out.

Throughout the movie we are treated, and don’t take that word lightly, to the introduction of the other famous members of the original series crew like Scotty, Bones, Chekov, Sulu and Uhura. There is some weird romantic thing going on with Uhura and one of the other members that I won’t ruin here, but this is one distraction that didn’t work for me. Always seems to be some hollywood urge to thrust romance into every plotline where it’s not needed.

Then again there could be some tension to this side story in a future sequel. There is more than a cameo part by the original Spock. I’m going to stop here before I ruin any of the movie for those who haven’t seen it. I think even the most hardened Star Trek fans will be hardpressed to find much wrong here. Go see it in the theater, it’s well worth it.

Grade: A

Did this post make you go hmm?

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