These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise............

Rating: 9/10 (9 May 2009)

The USS Enterprise is a cultural icon that has defined not only a generation but the entire idea of science fiction. James T. Kirk, Spock, Sulu, etc., are names that have been handed down through the years to new generations of fans and which stand out as characters as memorable as any other. Star Trek isn't just a show, its a vision of what humanity is capable of. J.J. Abrams has created a miracle by recreating not only the show and characters but also giving a new light to what the vision is.
James Tiberius Kirk (Chris Pine) is man living with no real purpose in his life. Growing up in Iowa after the death of his father, Kirk has spent his years in rebellion and trouble. One night Captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood) approaches Kirk with an offer. Kirk's father was a hero who saved the lives of his crew including his family. Pike dares James to follow his legacy and become a Starfleet officer. Kirk himself is not to excited about the idea but he realizes that he wants something in his life and Starfleet may have the answer.
Spock (Zachary Quinto) is a half Vulcan half human growing up on the world of his father. While Kirk is rebelling against the law and his parents, Spock discovers that he has no place among the people of his father due to his heritage. When he discovers that even the science ministers of Vulcan disapprove his blood, he turns down a prized seat in the science academy and joins Starfleet. It is there that he will meet a most unlikely friend.
Kirk soon becomes friends with two of his fellow cadets who have their own reason for joining Starfleet. Nyota Uhura (Zoe Saldana) and Dr. Leonard 'Bones' McCoy (Karl Urban) quickly befriend Kirk despite his issues with authority and rules. This includes cheating to defeat the infamous Kobayashi Maru Scenario which was designed as impossible to beat. It is this act that catches the attention of Spock who is the creator of the scenario.
Disciplinary actions against Kirk are prevented due to an emergency distress call that quickly mobilizes Starfleet Academy's cadets. Vulcun is under attack and Starfleet his forced to deploy the inexperienced cadets to rescue the Vulcans. Through some rather dubious means, Dr. McCoy is able to bring Kirk on board the Enterprise which is not only Captian Pike's new ship but also recently built and ready for her first mission. A new officer by the name of Hikaru Sulu (John Cho) is finding that his first mission is one of both excitement and danger. Later, an engineer by the name of Scotty (Simon Pegg) will also join the crew to defeat not only a threat to the Federation idea of space time itself.
Star Trek is centered upon not only the story of Kirk and Spock but the idea of time and history. Nero (Eric Bana), a Romulan from the future, destroys Vulcan in order to gain vengeance against the future Ambassador Spock (Leonard Nimoy) who he believes is responsible for his world's destruction. Spock himself travels back in time and witnesses not only Vulcan's loss but how his relationship to Kirk began. The destruction of Vulcan cannot be avoided and thus the history that Ambassador Spock knows now no longer exists. The Enterprise of his history is gone and that leaves cadet Kirk and cadet Spock to create a new future.
J. J. Abrams was bold in deciding to create not only a new movie but also a new universe for Star Trek. The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine, Voyager, etc., have been excluded from the history that we have come to know. There is freedom to not only make more movies but also a new history for the Federation. Star Trek needed this and while some will of course disagree, the Star Trek universe was drying up in terms of ideas and interest. The idea of a new universe is not only a sign of creativity but of Star Trek becoming more than what it once was. Star Trek is better than ever before.
9/10