My worst fears were left unfounded...the movie is AWESOME!

Rating: 9/10 (9 May 2009)

Wow...that is all I can muster...wow! Look, I am a die hard trekkie through and through. I am a fan of all the series' and mythology (except possibly "Enterprise") but still have to rate the original series as my top choice. I am also a purest with regards to Trek history and timelines...which is to say that I grow irritated when newer series' decide to do things like include the Borg even though, officially, they are introduced in the 2nd season of Next Generation, but somehow they end up in Enterprise, which is set 100 years before the ORIGINAL series. Those kinds of liberties are the things that can kill any good will that may have possibly been generated in me for series's like that.
That is why I initially held a certain amount of apprehension with regards to the movie. Of course I was going to see it regardless, but I retained a healthy dose of skepticism about how they were going to pull off the feat of having all the primary members of classic Trek meet on the Enterprise, as opposed to how conventional Trek history dictates their collective histories unfold separately. I was very satisfied with how this was resolved...it was cleverly conceived, plotted and written! It never seemed like a half-assed attempt to throw the disparate elements together in the hopes of having it somehow come together.
The characterizations were probably the greatest strengths of the movie. In particular, for me, Karl Urban as McCoy and Simon Pegg as Scotty were absolutely priceless and spot-on! Urban was especially believable as the younger, but still cantankerous "Bones." He not only bore a striking physical similarity to youthful DeForest Kelly, but his vocal mannerisms and facial expressions were so accurate as to be almost frightening!
OK, to sum up, new Star Trek movie = an unparalleled YAY! My worst fears...the ones of this being a lame, uninspired, tacky and confusing rip-off appear unfounded! This is a welcome edition to universe of Star Trek and I sincerely hope that we can enjoy this ensemble for many years to come!