The new Star Trek has landed, an impressive reboot at the hands of J.J. Abrams which captures the spirit of the '60s television show with spiffily updated visuals and a fresh cast. I took seven boys from Mem House to see the movie on its opening night, and even those not steeped in Trek lore like I am really enjoyed it. So Paramount may have what it wanted: the chance to introduce a new audience to "the final frontier."
A time travel element woven into the story basically gives the filmmakers a blank slate in reshaping the Trek universe. Assuming this movie meets its high box office expectations, its sequels presumably will be much better unencumbered by forty years of continuity given a rabid fan base eager to identify incongruities.
The movie itself was a blast: a great mix of character development, humor, well-paced action sequences, and sharp special effects. The Kirk/Spock relationship was at the heart of this story, but future films should have lots to work with in the new incarnations of McCoy, Uhura, Scotty, Sulu, and Chekhov--all of whom were skillfully incorporated into this version of the Federation flagship.
Star Trek will probably lure me back for a repeat showing in the theater, preferably on an IMAX screen.
