To tell a story of this magnitude, one must begin as the beginning. As I can not do it justice, you must search elsewhere for a synopsis. Instead, let's examine what makes Star Trek an early contender for best summer blockbuster.
Wunderkind J.J. Abrams has successfully reinvented the sci-fi franchise with obvious admiration and respect for it's predecessors. Tracing the early days of the Federation, Abrams weaves a multi-faceted story that layers origins, mythology, and top-notch CGI to create a stunning film.
Abrams is a casting genius; you can't imagine this story without these key actors. Chris Pine stars a James Tiberius Kirk, an impetuous youth and natural leader. Pine is equal parts youthful rebellion and sheer charisma. Zachary Quinto, a logical choice for Spock, maintains the prerequisite cool attitude. But it's not just them. It's Simon Pegg as Scottie, Anton Yelchin as Chekov, and my personal favorite, Karl Urban as Dr. McCoy who nails it! The entire cast is a believable cast that seems to have a natural chemistry in the early years of the Federation.
Visually, Star Trek is impressive. Every black hole, every alternative universe is gorgeous. Abrams' penchant for detail is overwhelming (notice Kirk's costuming in comparison to the ship's crew) and beautifully rendered. The U.S.S. Enterprise has undergone quite a transformation. Gone is the clunky space ship; in its place is a sleek, minimalistic sportster of ship that moves flawlessly.
Under Abrams' direction, a solid foundation has been laid for untold stories. It's exciting to think what the future holds for the franchise with Abrams at hand.
A few key scenes demand discussion including the drop of Kirk and Sulu onto the Romulon drill. Notice the lack of sound through the few frames, then a slow build of breath into an explosive arrival on Vulcan. Awesome stuff.
Leonard Nimoy was an unexpected pleasant surprise. His interactions with Kirk on Hoth, er, the ice planet, were genuine. I can't say the same for Winona Ryder. As Spock's mother, I found her a complete distraction.
As a Star Wars fan, I often found myself making comparisons to my beloved trilogy. From the green alien, Hoth and the Tauntaun... even Spock's ship was rather unoriginal--but this is all inane nit-picking.
As I see it, Star Trek is exactly what you want this time of year. Intense action sequences, dazzling CG, crazy good performances with strong character development and just the right touch of humor--J.J. Abrams can do no wrong. Star Trek is a smart, original reboot that I hope will live long and prosper. {Sorry, couldn't help myself.}
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