Star Trek - 3.5 out of 4 Stars

Who Would Love This Movie: People who liked Transformers last summer

Best Mood to Walk In With: Carefree, looking to lose yourself in a fun journey for a few hours

Don't See This Movie If: You are looking for something with social or ethical commentary or a film with strong female characters


I thought only Trekkies would enjoy the newest Star Trek movie, and I was wrong. Very wrong. Not only was the script a well-thought out story while still being easy to follow, but the acting was much better than I anticipated. Although my friend Eric loves Cloverfield, this has been the first J.J. Abrams film I've ever cared for (I mean, Joyride...really?).

Something that most summer blockbusters have a hard time with is character development, and it usually doesn't matter because we're so taken in by the big explosions (G.I. Joe) or the hot actors and actresses (Megan Fox in Transformers 2). Star Trek gives you the action and the hotness, but also surprisingly delivers characters that you can't help but love. The only drawback is the sad lack of female characters as anything but love interests for the more fascinating men that surround them. However, this is a flaw with Hollywood and not only this movie. But for a franchise that brought us the first interracial onscreen kiss in 1968, I would have liked to see them push the envelope yet again with a (gasp!) real story line for underutilized Zoe Saldana as Nyota Uhura.

Other than that one minor disappointment (which most other people probably would not notice), Star Trek delivered it all: funny one-liners, tear evoking loss, high powered chases (both on Earth and in space), hand-to-hand combat, great special effects, romantic interludes, scary scenes in the snow, alternate realities, and enough geeky-cool details to satisfy the hidden nerd in us all (or the not so hidden nerd if you get the privilege to sit next to someone dressed like a Vulcan).

Keep Your Eyes Closed For: Jim Kirk pulling bloody tissues out of his nose and looking at them (GROSS!).
Keep Your Eyes Open For: Any scene where Spock says "Live Long and Prosper" or some variation there of. (This is very cleverly done!)

Again, I have to give the director kudos. His newfound love for Star Trek translated just as easily to film as Peter Jackson's love for Lord of the Rings. J.J. Abrams has helped create the "Next Generation" of more mainstream Trekkies and may have given us the best summer blockbuster until July 17 when Harry Potter Avada Kedavra's every other movie. ;)

Movies are Life. ~ K