Even for the novice, "Star Trek" is worth beaming up

Rating: 8/10 (25 May 2009)

I walked into "Star Trek" a near-complete novice: years ago, I tried watching its various television incarnations, only to be met with an indifference that didn't encourage subsequent viewing; similarly, I am also oblivious to the television/film work of director J.J. Abrams. So to say I entered the theater with nary an idea of what to expect would be an understatement. But I'm glad I did. With a keen eye for eye-catching special-effects, coherently-edited action, and fully developed characters (with a surprising amount of gleefully tongue-in-cheek moments), "Star Trek" not only sets the bar for this summer's explosion-laden, big-budget blockbusters, but could very well be one of the best films of 2009, period. The notion of tearing down the well-established mythologies of iconic characters and franchises in favor of a fresh start (Christopher Nolan's Batman films come immediately to mind) is a sometimes-risky venture, depending on who's at the helm; luckily, Abrams and co-writers Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman find a happy medium that will appease fans and newcomers alike. The villain this time out is a Romulan ruler named Nero (Eric Bana), seeking vengeance against Mr. Spock (Zachary Quinto), who he alleges responsibility for the destruction of his home planet; in the meantime, Abrams gives welcome attention to his characters' backstories, from James Kirk's (Chris Pine--"Smokin' Aces") posturing as a James Dean-esquire rebel, and Spock's persecution for being half-human and -Vulcan. While the story is intricate enough to avoid lazy summer predictability, what really elevates "Star Trek" (in addition to its mind-blowing effects) is the personalities and emotional dilemmas of its characters.