You are fully capable of deciding your own destiny.

Rating: 10/10 (10 December 2009)

In 2009, a new film with a new cast portraying old favorites returned to the series' roots to explore strange new worlds populated not by new civilizations but more complex and understandably functional sets and wondrous special effects that improve not on the spirit but certainly the look and feel of the old classics while delivering a film that at once both satisfies the demands of longtime fans and welcomes newcomers eager to accept this version of "Star Trek". Smartly and effortlessly blending the new with the old, maintaining the spirit of series creator Gene Roddenberry's vision but at the same time providing to the material a fresh and modern approach, Director J.J. Abrams' Star Trek is more than a summer blockbuster; it's a rekindling of an important milestone in Science Fiction while at the same time boldly plotting a new course towards a limitless, fascinating, and exciting universe of possibilities.
Not delving much into the plot, the biggest challenge facing a reboot of Star Trek -- particularly on this scale -- was threefold: the necessary re-casting of iconic characters, the re-design of the Enterprise, and the explanation as to the hows and whys of the differences between the 2009 edition of Star Trek and the long-established and cherished history of the people, places, and things of years past. Abrams' vision succeeds at each level. While the film might have gotten away with little-to-no regard for the latter -- the explanation for the altered reality -- the film not only explains it away but also integrates the reason into the film as the primary plot device. In addition, this is not the first time that "Star Trek" has seen itself drastically altered. Abrams' too does that, considering his masterful job of exploring both sides equally in Star Trek, mentioning Starfleet's purpose of being a "humanitarian and peacekeeping armada" while at the same time including plenty of action and cementing it all in a decidedly militaristic structure.
Most importantly, Star Trek features a cast that might not absolutely resemble the actors that played in Gene Roddenberry's original "Star Trek," but they each understand not only their character's mannerisms but also the importance to the fan base to portray them with a dignity and compassion. In fact, the filmmakers have integrated additional character traits into the story for both dramatic and humorous effect, and the script's understanding of the complexities of the characters further allows the actors to effectively portray them as fans demand. For instance, Sulu's (John Cho) prowess with the blade is utilized in one of the film's pivotal action sequences. Chekov (Anton Yelchin) struggles with the pronunciation of the letter "v" in what is the film's funniest scene. Actor Karl Urban delivers the closest approximation of his character through his effort as Dr. McCoy; the speech patterns, the catch phrases, and his attitude towards Spock make for an almost uncanny resemblance to what DeForrest Kelley did with the character. Bruce Greenwood's portrayal of Captain Pike steals the show; he's superb throughout, and his character, too, winds up reinforcing the film's themes of destiny as well as any other with a simple but highly effective nod to the "Star Trek" universe when all is said and done. Zoë Saldana's Uhura undergoes the most noticeable change from 1966 to now. She's scripted as a more important character with an attitude and surprise revelation that breaks the norms of established "Trek" lore but fit in nicely with the entirety of the film. Zachary Quinto both looks and acts the part of Commander Spock. Spock proves the most pivotal character in the film; his half-Vulcan, half-human heritage plays a crucial role in the movie, and his ability to command his half-human side proves vital to the outcome of the story. Quinto makes for the best Vulcan since Leonard Nimoy, fully understanding not only what it means to be Vulcan but also what it means to be Spock. As James T. Kirk, Chris Pine might be just a bit too rambunctious, but as the film develops, shades of William Shatner emerge, culminating with a scene at the end of the film that's unmistakably Kirk. There's not a bad performance to be found, and more importantly, there's not a badly-interpreted character in the film. This crew meshes about as well as the old crew, and given that this is their first go- round together, it seems destiny has more in store for them than simply one great film.
Finally, it's important to note just how strong the production is from top to bottom. J.J. Abrams' visual style fits in wonderfully with the tone, story, and themes of the film, not to mention the approach that nicely compliments the set design. The extensive use of lens flare might distract some, but it reinforces the bright interior of the Enterprise, which also plays in stark contrast to the ugliness of the Romulan vessel and the urgency and sadness that play crucial to the crux of the film. Abrams' approach to the material is respectful and graceful, but also aggressive. In addition, Star Trek's humor never falls flat or overwhelms the picture in any way. In fact, it generally enhances the tone, pace, and urgency of the film and the development of the story and its characters. Star Trek also delivers impeccable special effects. The ship and the action both are superbly realized in the digital realm, and there is no single effect that appears as anything less than perfect. Star Trek is perhaps the current pinnacle of special effects;sheer immersion, attention to detail, and absolute seamlessness, they don't come any better. Lastly, Michael Giacchino's score is elegant, strong, and endearing. Like the film, it enjoys its own identity but listeners familiar with the broad range of music found in the "Star Trek" universe will note subtle similarities that allow it to nicely integrate with the works of Alexander Courage, Jerry Goldsmith, Dennis McCarthy, and others.