What had to be done

Rating: 9/10 (7 July 2009)

You know, when I was a kid, Star Trek took me away from myself for 30 minutes each week. Even now, nearly 40 years later when I know its not a space ship I'm still able to suspend belief and enjoy it for what it was. That was Gene's magic, not lore, or scientific (something that is way more NG than ToS) mumbo jumbo, but his ability to make us believe that a group of bad actors with crap props was actually a real star ship with real people discovering new civilisations.
This movie does exactly the same, it changes and challenges established things, asks you to suspend belief, sometimes a lot but if you can, then like ToS it has all the magic and energy with better effects, production and way better acting. Put simply it took me away like ToS used to, something that only Wrath has managed since. I've watched it twice now and every time I don't want it to end. With the exception of Scotty (whom I found irritating) the cast was impeccable and did an excellent job.
Yes, it has plot holes, yes it breaks some lore, but A) it's a film not a text book and B) Roddenbery wanted to take us away from ourselves. He didn't care about accepted lore, that is why he had a black woman on the bridge when you didn't have either a black person or a woman in such a role in the 60s. For fans to become so encumbered by the status quo or the rule book is practically anti-Gene.
TOS was nothing more than a vehicle for Gene to express his political views, but ultimately outside of those it was simply a camp romp in space. Shatner isn't a good actor, he has 4 facial movements for Christ sake, want proof see Whom The Gods Destroy. So I find it odd when they and the series outside of its concepts are immortalised in such a way that bears no resemblance to the reality. Also, whilst it had some of its roots in science, transportation via beaming in 1969 was no more believable or scientific then, than red matter is today.
Despite its poor production, poor acting and often horrifically bad scripts I loved ToS and I still do. Likewise, despite this films holes, slips and issues it is lovable in the extreme.
I think it is time for all of us fans to be honest, Star Trek had nowhere left to boldly go, this movie or something similar was its only option. Gene always tore up the established order of things, JJ has done the same.
If it's not your cup of T, then I totally understand, but remember that Star Trek was ground breaking (in its day) not for its lore but for its ability to rewrite the rule book.
Being down on this film because it does what Gene did so well seems ironic and reminds me of those people who were morally outraged when Uhura kissed Kirk.
Despite all this movies faults and yes it has them, it gives something that Star-Trek hasn't for a long time, a great movie.