To boldy go where everyone has gone before ...

Rating: 5/10 (20 May 2009)

Honestly, I came out of the movie feeling exhilarated. The action was non-stop and the characters were enjoyable. Kirk, Spock and Bones were all played spot on and had me believing in them as younger editions from TOS. Scotty, Ohura, Sulu and Checkov all had makeovers from the originals, keeping only remnant characteristics intact - but nonetheless, entertaining. The CGI and special effects were fantastic, except for the first door at the star fleet base on the ice planet. No, I don't have a particular thing for doors, but this looked like it came from Home Depot.
And here in lies the problem. I realize now that I have been successfully dumbed down by Hollywood. All through the movie in the back of my mind I found myself questioning the logic, the very simple plausibility of it all.
For starters, there are the undeniable Star Wars plot similarities. Time travel - please, this is getting to be so passe. Although I understand the desire to start a new time line from the original, more thought should have gone into hammering out the details then to have some coal miner from the future hunt down future Spock for trying to save his world (groan). The chance meeting with future Spock in an ice cave - this was killing me inside. I hate these esoteric, universe connecting moments that stand utterly and completely outside the realm of reality. But what really had me was the use of something called 'Red Matter'. I had to laugh. It's like souped up vampire blood mixed with anti-matter. This was so lame. And as another reviewer stated, only drops were needed to create black holes but Old Spock was carrying around gallons of the stuff. WTH! And if only a drop creates so much destruction then when the mining ship is destroyed at the end you'd think the whole universe would have been obliterated. I mean there were, many, many drops in future Spock's ship. Whoever thought of this as the Death Star should be shot. And what is with the lack of old people in the future and by old I mean people at least over 30. Do star ships only get piloted by children? And why does a mining ship from the future have the extraordinary ability to destroy so many star fleet ships. I mean it can't be shielding as the Kelvin clearly did some damage to it when it rammed it. It certainly can't be maneuverability, look at the size of the thing. Perhaps, it is the sheer alien ugliness of it all that just strikes fear into the hearts of all those who fly before it. I mean give me a break, a mining ship from the future- WTF! Since when do mining ships come fitted out as battle cruisers. One last thing - what about the time police from the very far future? Were they watching porn when this whole event unfolded and simply missed the ball.
But, as I previously mentioned I somehow entered a dumbed down, less critical, blithering mass of exhilaration. I was drawn into the action, allowing myself to transcend the ridiculous story elements. Only after wards, in fact the next day, did some common sense come seeping back.
So for me the movie is a mix of greatness (loved the characters) with a mix of ridiculousness (Hollywood style). Would it be too much to ask for things that make some sense?